Washington DC Tourist Attractions and Sightseeing

(Washington, District of Columbia - DC, USA)

As the most powerful city on the planet, the tourist attractions of Washington have quite a reputation to live up to and they certainly won't disappoint. Places to explore include Lafayette Square, L'Enfant Plaza, the National Mall and Dupont Circle, all of which are highly suitable for a memorable afternoon stroll.

Also in Washington DC is the Naval Observatory, Ford's Theater and the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, where attractions include regular American football games. Tourists may also like to pay a visit to the Washington Bureau of Engraving and Printing, where dollar bills are actually printed, and in the evening, take in a show at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, or maybe even catch a concert at the Verizon Center.

Lafayette Square

Address: H Street between 15th and 17th Streets, Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia D.C., 20006, USA
Tel: +1 202 426 6841
Lafayette Square is a park situated in Downtown Washington, opposite the White House. Named after the Marquis de Lafayette, a hero in the American Resolution, tourist attractions at Lafayette Square include landscaped gardens, a statue of Andrew Jackson riding his horse and this is a popular spot for protesters in the city. Lafayette Square is situated close to the Farragut West Metro Station.

L'Enfant Plaza

Address: D Street Southwest, Washington, District of Columbia D.C., 20024, USA
L'Enfant Plaza, at the 12th Street Expressway, is a large paved square, in the southwest area of the city, close to the National Mall district and a number of the popular Smithsonian museums. The square is at the center of a large office, hotel and retail complex and there is a large underground shopping mall, with many popular stores and several restaurants.

Dupont Circle

Address: Connecticut Avenue, Washington, District of Columbia D.C., 20036, USA
Dupont Circle is a lively neighborhood, situated between N and T streets Northwest, and offers many attractions for tourists visiting Washington DC. These include trendy shopping areas, art galleries, good restaurants and popular bars. Dupont Circle is one of the most fashionable districts in Washington and attracts people of all ages.

United States Naval Observatory (USNO)

Address: 3450 Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia D.C., 20392, USA
Tel: +1 202 762 1467
The Naval Observatory in the Georgetown district is a working observatory with tours available to the public. Attractions include short films about astronomy, a high-powered telescope and also the home of the vice-president, which is situated in the grounds, although it is not actually open to the public.
Admission: Public tours by request: selected Mondays - 20:30 to 22:00, submit request at least six weeks prior to scheduled tour

National Mall

Address: 10 Street and Constitution Avenue, Washington, District of Columbia D.C., 20001, USA
Tel: +1 202 485 9880
The National Mall is located between Constitution and Independence Avenues and is full of an enormous range of sights to see and places to visit. Attractions include a vast, open park area, running from the US Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, a number of popular museums and the impressive Washington Monument. The National Mall is home to a many large festivals, concerts and events in Washington and these are usually held on the main lawn area.

Ford's Theater

Address: 511 10th Street, Northwest Washington, District of Columbia D.C., 20004, USA
Tel: +1 202 347 4833
Ford's Theater, in Downtown Washington, is a popular attraction for tourists visiting the city and is steeped in history. The theater is particularly famous as President Abraham Lincoln was actually assassinated here in 1865. There is an interesting Lincoln museum in the basement area of Ford's Theater, displaying a number of artifacts, including the actual gun that was used to kill the president. Petersen House is situated opposite Ford's Theater and this is where Lincoln died, shortly after he was shot.
Open hours: daily - 09:00 to 17:00, hours may vary due to rehearsals and performances
Admission: charge

Washington Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Address: 14th Street and C Street, Southwest Washington, District of Columbia D.C., 20228, USA
Tel: +1 202 874 2330
The Washington Bureau of Engraving and Printing is located in the National Mall district of the city, close to the Smithsonian Metro station. This popular tourist attraction is where the paper currency for America is printed and guided tours of the factory are available. Each day, around USD 500 million is printed at the city's Bureau of Engraving and Printing and visitors can observe every stage of the production line.
Open hours: Visitor center: September to March, Monday to Friday - 08:30 to 15:30; April to August, Monday to Friday - 08:30 to 19:30; Tours: September to February, Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 10:45 and 12:30 to 14:00; March, Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 14:00; April to August, Monday to Friday - 08:30 to 19:00
Admission: free, tours: September to February no ticket required; March to August free ticket required

Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium

Address: 2400 East Capitol Street, Southeast Washington, District of Columbia D.C., 20003, USA
Tel: +1 202 587 5000
The Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium was opened in 1961 and this large outdoor stadium can seat almost 27,000 spectators. Attractions at the stadium includes regular soccer matches, featuring the city's famous DC United soccer club, numerous summer festivals and many large open-air concerts.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 17:30

John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

Address: 2700 F Street, Northwest Washington, District of Columbia D.C., 20566, USA
Tel: +1 202 467 4600 or 1 800 444 1324
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is situated in the Waterfront area of the city, close to the Foggy Bottom Metro train station. This is one of Washington's major tourist attractions and features six theaters, with regular performances of plays, ballets, operas and movies. Guided tours of Washington's enormous John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts are available.
Open hours: daily - 10:00 to 21:00; tours; Monday to Friday - 10:00 to 17:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 13:00
Admission: free tours

Capital Crescent Trail

Address: Water Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia D.C., 20009, USA
Tel: +1 202 789 7000
The Capital Crescent Trail runs for around 11 miles / 17.5 km through northwest Washington. This trail is an excellent place to walk, cycle and roller-skate, and there are many scenic areas, including views of the Potomac River. The Capital Crescent Trail starts in the Georgetown district on Water Street.

Verizon Center (formerly MCI Center)

Address: 601 F Street Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia D.C., 20004, USA
Tel: +1 202 628 3200
Opening in December 1997 as the MCI Center this huge USD 200 million arena hosts over 200 public events in the city each year, including many attractions, such as concerts, family entertainment and local college athletics, as well as a number of professional sports games by the Washington Capitals NHL hockey team and the Washington Wizards NBA basketball team. Renamed the Verizon Center in 2006, the facility is close to the Gallery Place Metro train station.