Washington DC is an amazing museum destination. Between Smithsonian, National Gallery of Art, and other free museums around town, visitors will find no shortage of great places to visit. With these tips from a veteran Washington DC tour guide you’ll have the best possible museum experience.
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~Resources from this video~
Favorite fast casual restaurants – https://youtu.be/mH-NLNdfWNI
Best cheap eats – https://youtu.be/mH-NLNdfWNI
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~Video Chapters~
0:00 Washington DC museum ecosystem
2:00 Welcome to Trip Hacks DC
2:26 DC museum tickets and reservations
3:24 Check out less popular museums
4:23 Leave the National Mall
5:12 Avoid museum fatigue
6:38 Wear comfortable shoes
7:16 Go against the flow
8:17 Pack light
9:28 Make a lunch plan
10:53 Beating the crowds
12:21 Split up
What became very evident since my 1st trip to DC in the 70s, there will never be enough time to see all you would like to see.
Have any of you been to a tour in the White House? I am not particularly interested in it. I'm going to D.C. for the Passport DC program and the museums again. This will be the second time I go there. Since Renwick Gallery is one of my favorites in D.C. and the White House is across the street, do you think I should book a tour in the White House? I am a fan of fine arts and history, especially artworks and secret tunnels in castles. So, I am not sure if it is worth it for me to join the tour.
I liked the botanical museum
My favorite museum is the Steven F. Udvar Hazy Center of the Air and Space Museum out by Dulles Airport. The whole thing is stacked with full size specimens of air and space craft. Because it’s so huge it doesn’t feel too crowded even if it is. The docents were amazing and knew their stuff. Plenty of food options around as well. It is a drive or bus to get there. What I am not sure is how the Silver Line on Metro interfaces with the bus to get there. It was under construction last time I visited.
Fui este verano y muchos autobuses llegan al museo😉
When my husband's college roommate and his family were in DC, my husband took the bulk of the group: mom, dad and the kids, to the Natural History Museum. I split off with our friend's father-in-law to have a whirlwind tour of the National Gallery of Art. Grandpa and I could move quickly because it was just the two of us. It is one of my favorite museums and I love showing my new friend my old friends among the exhibits.
In my opinion the natural history museum is the worst, its target audience is little children and last time I was there I felt like I was in a Chuck E. Cheese.
Hate the ticket system. I was just there. Haven't been in 24 years. Was unaware of it. We couldn't get in. We're from Canada, don't know when we can get back. They already pay people to manage the entrances. Why not do a first come first served and let people in as people come out? That way people that make the trip don't get turned away.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is amazing. My favorite part is the fourth floor – entertainment and music. But it barely brushes the surface. I understand there’s a more thorough music exhibit in a city in TN or somewhere.
My favorite museum is the Museum of the Bible. It is massive and so eye-opening.
@TripHacksDC gonna be staying navy yard for the Nationals Yanks series at the end of august. Any recommendations for cool gift shops like the one at franklins brewery? Especially if you know of a halloween spooky type stores
How's the first week of March ?
These tips are so valuable. Love the way you present them and so I've subscribed to your channel 🙂
So many great museums but my favorite is the Air & Space was my favorite! Went there every day even if only for like an hour before I went off to other museums/sites.
We were in DC for a week in late April to see the typical stuff but mostly visit in real life a bunch of sites featured in the game "The Division 2" which is set in DC
We did find that the Smithsonian cafeterias were solid lunch plans – our favorite was the American Indian cafeteria. We just thought about our lunch as a substitute for entry fee.
Over 100,000 steps on our visit
Hey Rob, can you get food take out or to go from the museum cafes and eat it outside on the national mall picnic style? Or do they not let you take the food with you?
Liked Air and Space but it was under construction. Missed the Space Shuttle at Dulles. Too many activities.
Technically the museums have a chaperone policy and all groups must have someone 18+, is this enforced? -bored dc teenager
I've been to Washington DC three times in the last 8 years. I think the American History museum is my favorite. Even though the Library of Congress is not a museum it still feels like one. My favorite museum that is not part of the Smithsonian family is the Museum of the Bible.
the 3 Sisters wrap (vegetarian choice) @ the National Museum of the American Indian was one of the best things we ate on our trip this past spring. I am NOT a vegetarian, but we tried it along with the bison chili. Both were definite winners! Also off the mall across the street from the National Law Enforcement Memorial is the National Building Museum. The inside is amazing!
I’m a lifelong Alexandria resident. Although I don’t usually go to the museums, my favorites are the Air and Space Museum and Botanic Garden.
I was not impressed with the walking surface on the mall. It seemed 3rd world to me.
I will say the hot chicken sandwich at the Am. History museum was one of the best museum sandwiches I have had
I’m so glad you mentioned the Renwick Gallery! It was beautiful and had great picture opportunities. It’s not very big so it felt like a win to see everything in an hour or two before our flight home that evening. Thank you for your videos! I love DC.