Verdict

Washington DC on a budget

Worth the spend, plus the free and near-free wins.

Independent, never pay-to-rankGraded for who you areHow we decide
Washington DC travel
  1. National Gallery of Art1.National Gallery of ArtOn a budget, National Gallery of Art still earns its price.
  2. Tidal Basin & Cherry Blossoms2.Tidal Basin & Cherry BlossomsOn a budget, Tidal Basin & Cherry Blossoms still earns its price.
  3. Lincoln Memorial3.Lincoln MemorialOn a budget, Lincoln Memorial still earns its price.
  4. Jefferson Memorial4.Jefferson MemorialOn a budget, Jefferson Memorial still earns its price.
  5. National Portrait Gallery & American Art Museum5.National Portrait Gallery & American Art MuseumOn a budget, National Portrait Gallery & American Art Museum still earns its price.
  6. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum6.Smithsonian National Air and Space MuseumOn a budget, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum still earns its price.
  7. National Museum of African American History and Culture7.National Museum of African American History and CultureOn a budget, National Museum of African American History and Culture still earns its price.
  8. Library of Congress (Thomas Jefferson Building)8.Library of Congress (Thomas Jefferson Building)On a budget, Library of Congress (Thomas Jefferson Building) still earns its price.
  9. The National Mall9.The National MallOn a budget, The National Mall still earns its price.
  10. US Capitol Tour10.US Capitol TourOn a budget, US Capitol Tour still earns its price.
  11. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History11.Smithsonian National Museum of Natural HistoryOn a budget, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History still earns its price.
  12. US National Arboretum12.US National ArboretumOn a budget, US National Arboretum still earns its price.
  13. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial13.Franklin Delano Roosevelt MemorialOn a budget, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial still earns its price.
  14. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial14.Martin Luther King Jr. MemorialOn a budget, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial still earns its price.
  15. The Kennedy Center15.The Kennedy CenterOn a budget, The Kennedy Center still earns its price.
  16. Udvar-Hazy Center (Air & Space annex)16.Udvar-Hazy Center (Air & Space annex)On a budget, Udvar-Hazy Center (Air & Space annex) still earns its price.
  17. US Holocaust Memorial Museum17.US Holocaust Memorial MuseumOn a budget, US Holocaust Memorial Museum still earns its price.
  18. Great Falls Park (day-trip)18.Great Falls Park (day-trip)On a budget, Great Falls Park (day-trip) still earns its price.
  19. Arlington National Cemetery19.Arlington National CemeteryOn a budget, Arlington National Cemetery still earns its price.
  20. Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden20.Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture GardenOn a budget, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden still earns its price.
  21. Vietnam Veterans Memorial21.Vietnam Veterans MemorialOn a budget, Vietnam Veterans Memorial still earns its price.
  22. Rock Creek Park22.Rock Creek ParkOn a budget, Rock Creek Park still earns its price.
  23. Georgetown23.GeorgetownOn a budget, Georgetown still earns its price.
  24. Eastern Market24.Eastern MarketOn a budget, Eastern Market still earns its price.
  25. Ben's Chili Bowl25.Ben's Chili BowlOn a budget, Ben's Chili Bowl still earns its price.
  26. Old Town Alexandria (day-trip)26.Old Town Alexandria (day-trip)On a budget, Old Town Alexandria (day-trip) still earns its price.
  27. Korean War Veterans Memorial27.Korean War Veterans MemorialOn a budget, Korean War Veterans Memorial still earns its price.
  28. Supreme Court of the United States28.Supreme Court of the United StatesOn a budget, Supreme Court of the United States still earns its price.
  29. Renwick Gallery29.Renwick GalleryOn a budget, Renwick Gallery still earns its price.
  30. Basilica of the National Shrine30.Basilica of the National ShrineOn a budget, Basilica of the National Shrine still earns its price.
  31. World War II Memorial31.World War II MemorialOn a budget, World War II Memorial still earns its price.
  32. US Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima)32.US Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima)On a budget, US Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima) still earns its price.
  33. Washington Monument33.Washington MonumentOn a budget, Washington Monument still earns its price.
  34. Smithsonian National Museum of American History34.Smithsonian National Museum of American HistoryOn a budget, Smithsonian National Museum of American History still earns its price.
  35. National Archives35.National ArchivesOn a budget, National Archives still earns its price.
  36. Dupont Circle36.Dupont CircleOn a budget, Dupont Circle still earns its price.
  37. Ford's Theatre37.Ford's TheatreOn a budget, Ford's Theatre still earns its price.
  38. Mount Vernon (day-trip)38.Mount Vernon (day-trip)On a budget, Mount Vernon (day-trip) still earns its price.
  39. C&O Canal Towpath39.C&O Canal TowpathOn a budget, C&O Canal Towpath still earns its price.
  40. National Gallery Sculpture Garden40.National Gallery Sculpture GardenOn a budget, National Gallery Sculpture Garden still earns its price.
  41. Thip Khao41.Thip KhaoOn a budget, Thip Khao still earns its price.
  42. Smithsonian National Zoo42.Smithsonian National ZooOn a budget, Smithsonian National Zoo still earns its price.
  43. Washington National Cathedral43.Washington National CathedralOn a budget, Washington National Cathedral still earns its price.
  44. Planet Word44.Planet WordOn a budget, Planet Word still earns its price.
  45. The Wharf45.The WharfOn a budget, The Wharf still earns its price.
  46. The Phillips Collection46.The Phillips CollectionOn a budget, weigh it — The Phillips Collection isn't cheap for what it is.
  47. Monuments by Moonlight Night Tour (Old Town Trolley)47.Monuments by Moonlight Night Tour (Old Town Trolley)On a budget, weigh it — Monuments by Moonlight Night Tour (Old Town Trolley) isn't cheap for what it is.
  48. Union Market48.Union MarketOn a budget, weigh it — Union Market isn't cheap for what it is.
  49. Rasika49.RasikaOn a budget, weigh it — Rasika isn't cheap for what it is.
  50. Maydan50.MaydanOn a budget, weigh it — Maydan isn't cheap for what it is.
  51. Riggs Washington DC51.Riggs Washington DCOn a budget, weigh it — Riggs Washington DC isn't cheap for what it is.
  52. Old Post Office Tower52.Old Post Office TowerOn a budget, weigh it — Old Post Office Tower isn't cheap for what it is.
  53. Rose's Luxury53.Rose's LuxuryOn a budget, weigh it — Rose's Luxury isn't cheap for what it is.
  54. White House (exterior view)54.White House (exterior view)On a budget, weigh it — White House (exterior view) isn't cheap for what it is.
  55. Old Ebbitt Grill55.Old Ebbitt GrillOn a budget, weigh it — Old Ebbitt Grill isn't cheap for what it is.
  56. Le Diplomate56.Le DiplomateOn a budget, weigh it — Le Diplomate isn't cheap for what it is.
  57. Wharf & Georgetown Sightseeing Cruise (City Cruises)57.Wharf & Georgetown Sightseeing Cruise (City Cruises)On a budget, weigh it — Wharf & Georgetown Sightseeing Cruise (City Cruises) isn't cheap for what it is.
  58. Eaton DC58.Eaton DCOn a budget, weigh it — Eaton DC isn't cheap for what it is.
  59. The Hay-Adams59.The Hay-AdamsOn a budget, weigh it — The Hay-Adams isn't cheap for what it is.
  60. Fiola Mare60.Fiola MareOn a budget, weigh it — Fiola Mare isn't cheap for what it is.
  61. The LINE DC61.The LINE DCOn a budget, weigh it — The LINE DC isn't cheap for what it is.
  62. Willard InterContinental62.Willard InterContinentalOn a budget, weigh it — Willard InterContinental isn't cheap for what it is.
  63. The Watergate Hotel63.The Watergate HotelOn a budget, weigh it — The Watergate Hotel isn't cheap for what it is.

Itineraries are prefiltered verdict lists — every spot is graded honestly, not pay-to-place.