Things to do in Arlington

Washington D.C. · 6.3km from Arlington

794 reviews

The Washington Monument stands in the center of the National Mall. Built to commemorate George Washington, the first president of the United States, it is an obelisk approximately 169 meters tall, standing out prominently in the predominantly low-rise urban landscape of Washington, D.C. Construction began in 1848, but was halted for over twenty years due to funding shortages. The federal government then took over the project, and construction was finally completed in 1884. Because the two sections of stone were sourced from different periods and locations, their varying degrees of weathering have resulted in a distinct color dividing line on the monument, a clear marker of this turbulent construction history. The monument is entirely simple, devoid of elaborate carvings, and tapers to a four-sided pyramidal apex at the top. The tower is hollow inside, with nearly two hundred commemorative stones embedded in its inner walls, donated by various states, cities, organizations, and countries across the United States. One particularly special stone is a Chinese inscription donated by a person from Ningbo during the Qing Dynasty. The inscription is taken from a passage praising Washington in *Yinghuan Zhilue*, a work by Xu Jiyu, a renowned official of the late Qing Dynasty, and is the only Chinese inscription among these commemorative stones. Inside the tower, there are nearly nine hundred spiral steps, but these are not open to visitors. The only way to reach the top is by elevator, which takes about 70 seconds to reach the observation deck at a height of approximately 150 meters. While downhill ride the elevator, pay attention to the commemorative stones flashing by on the inner walls. The observation deck has two viewing windows in each of the four directions: east to the U.S. Capitol Building, west to the Lincoln Memorial, south to the Jefferson Memorial and the Tidal Basin, and north to the White House. Daily access to the tower is limited, so advance reservations are recommended.

2026 Americas 50 - Night Attractions

United States Capitol

7.4

Washington D.C. · 8.5km from Arlington

591 reviews

United States Capitol is an iconic building in Washington D.C. The iconic cast-iron dome was designed by architect Thomas U. Walter, and is topped by the bronze Statue of Freedom created by Thomas Crawford. The entire building features a neoclassical style. Its core interior spaces include the Rotunda, the Crypt, and the National Statuary Hall. The Rotunda is located directly beneath the dome. At the center of the dome is the fresco "The Apotheosis of Washington," painted by Italian-born artist Constantino Brumidi in 1865. The painting hangs approx. 55 m above the floor, featuring a grand composition of allegorical figures surrounding George Washington. Above the walls of the hall is a "Frieze of American History," which depicts important historical scenes in a continuous sequence, from Columbus's arrival in America to the Wright brothers' first flight. Directly beneath the Rotunda is the Crypt, which displays a portion of the statue collection from various states. Next is the National Statuary Hall, a semicircular hall that once served as the meeting place for the House of Representatives. Its curved ceiling once caused a significant whispering gallery effect, where a whisper on one side could be clearly heard on the other, though this was later reduced through renovations. Today, the hall displays statues of historical figures contributed by each state. The entire collection consists of two statues per state, but as they are distributed throughout the building, only a portion is displayed here. The visitor entrance is located at The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. Emancipation Hall, located within, displays the original plaster model of the Statue of Freedom, and the exhibition hall features interactive exhibits that tell the history of Congress and the building.

No. 1 of Night Attractions in Washington D.C.

National Mall

Washington D.C. · 6.1km from Arlington

137 reviews

The National Mall is a green park in the center of Washington D.C., stretching approx. 3 km east to west, extending from the Lincoln Memorial in the west to the United States Capitol in the east, and is often called America's Front Yard. This rectangular area is lined with numerous Smithsonian museums, as well as cultural institutions such as the National Gallery of Art and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The most iconic structure on the mall is the Washington Monument, standing in the center. To the west of the monument, a long reflecting pool leads to the Lincoln Memorial, and to the east is the dome of the United States Capitol. The World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and many other commemorative facilities are scattered throughout, which, together with hundreds of monuments and sculptures in the surrounding area, form a memorial axis that encapsulates the historical memory of the United States.

No. 4 of Best Things to Do in Washington D.C.

The White House

Washington D.C. · 6.4km from Arlington

1k reviews

The White House is the office and residence of every U.S. president, and since John Adams became its first resident in 1800, the building has been closely linked to the executive power of the United States. It was designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban in a neoclassical style, partially inspired by Leinster House in Dublin. The first president, Washington, personally participated in the selection of the architectural design and chose the final plan. The exterior walls were built of sandstone, and in 1798, craftsmen applied a lime-based white wash to the exterior walls to protect the porous sandstone from moisture erosion. During the conflict between Britain and the United States in 1814, British troops set fire to the interior of the building, leaving only the exterior walls standing, and post-war reconstruction began immediately. Today, the complex includes the main building, the West Wing, and the East Wing, with the Oval Office located in the West Wing. The building features an Ionic portico on the north side and a semicircular portico on the south side. It has a representative long-standing tradition of public tours — a tradition that began during the term of the third president, Jefferson, and has continued ever since, except during special periods such as wars. Visitors can enter the East Wing and some of the state floors.

2026 Americas 50 - Night Attractions

Lincoln Memorial

6.5

Washington D.C. · 5km from Arlington

728 reviews

Lincoln Memorial features an ancient Greek temple-style design, with an exterior built from Colorado white marble and surrounded by 36 Doric columns, each representing one of the 36 states in the Union at the time of Lincoln's death. The interior of the memorial is divided into three chambers, with the central hall serving as the core area, housing the seated statue of Lincoln created by sculptor Daniel Chester French. This statue is carved from Georgia white marble and stands nearly 6 m tall. The walls of the north and south chambers are inscribed with the full text of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address, respectively, accompanied by murals created by Jules Guérin that depict the spiritual ideals of Lincoln's life through themes such as freedom, justice, and unity.

2026 Americas 50 - Family-friendly Attractions

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Washington D.C. · 7.6km from Arlington

584 reviews

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museumis located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., United States. The entire building is constructed of glass, marble, and steel, with a simple and modern exterior that spans three full blocks. The spacious and bright design provides an excellent environment for displaying a vast collection of aviation and space exhibits. Upon entering the museum, the first thing that catches your eye is the expansive central hall. The massive open space is visually striking, with various aircraft suspended from the high ceiling and rockets and spacecraft standing in the center of the hall, making visitors feel as if they are on a grand stage of the aerospace era. Due to the massive size of the exhibits, the museum features high-ceilinged spaces, allowing aircraft wings, engines, and aerospace equipment to be presented to visitors in their true form. Strolling through, you can observe these aircraft that changed human history up close and feel the awe brought by technological advancement.

No. 2 of Night Attractions in Washington D.C.

Capitol Hill

Washington D.C. · 9.3km from Arlington

176 reviews

Capitol Hillis one of the historic neighborhoods in Washington D.C., the capital of the United States, and an important place for travelers to learn about the history and culture of Washington D.C. The streets are lined with trees and neatly arranged with many historic residential buildings, including typical Federal-style architecture and Victorian row houses. The old brick walls, exquisite door and window designs, and the well-laid-out street layout give the entire neighborhood a rich historical atmosphere. Upon entering the attraction, you can see open lawns, neatly arranged trees, and beautiful garden views. Strolling along the garden paths, travelers can appreciate the solemn beauty of the architecture while enjoying the tranquil atmosphere provided by the natural environment.

No. 1 of Family-friendly Attractions in Washington D.C.

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Washington D.C. · 7.1km from Arlington

4.7/5

369 reviews

The National Museum of Natural History is located on the north side of the National Mall. It is one of the 16 museums in the Smithsonian museum system. Since its opening in 1910, it has collected more than 120 million exhibits, ranging from primitive dinosaur fossils to early human origins. Cultural relics, rare animal specimens and precious mineral gems around the world have well preserved the heritage of natural science and human culture. 1. The symbol of the museum - The African Wild Elephant Museum collects and exhibits various and precious animal specimens. The layout is so careful that even the living environment of the animals is truly reproduced, trying to restore the lifelike natural biological chain. Among them, the African wild elephant specimen in the center of the hall on the first floor is very large. This specimen vividly restores its original appearance on the African grassland, and is regarded as the symbol of the National Museum of Natural History. There are also separate themed pavilions for mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects and marine life. 2. The treasure of the town hall - the blue diamond "Hope Star" is located in the mine and gemstone exhibition hall on the second floor. It is famous for the blue diamond "Hope Star", which flashed by in the movie "Titanic" But left an indelible impression on the world. Rough diamonds that once weighed more than 112 carats were cut into blue diamonds that now weigh 45 carats. Once this so-called "cursed diamond" has been around the world for nearly 300 years, now it brings more than 100 million visits to the museum every year.

No. 6 of Best Things to Do in Washington D.C.

Library of Congress

Washington D.C. · 8.9km from Arlington

4.8/5

128 reviews

The Library of Congress is one of the four official national libraries of the United States. It is a federal cultural institution with a very long history in the United States. It has become the largest treasure house of knowledge in the world. It is an important symbol of American knowledge and democracy and occupies an important position in American culture. . It consists of three parts: Thomas Jefferson Building, John Adams Building, and James Madison Building. 1. Rich collections There are more than 30 million books, covering 470 languages, and more than 58 million manuscripts, including the manuscript of President Lincoln's important speech at Gettysburg, which can be said to be a very large collection of rare books in the United States The place, the world's first letterpress "Gutenberg Bible" is the treasure of the town hall. In addition, there are millions of U.S. government publications, newspapers from around the world, microfilm reels, legal documents, maps, music, and more, making it the world's largest repository of knowledge. 2. Stunning architectural art The Library of Congress consists of three buildings named after the president: the Thomas Jefferson Building completed in 1897, the John Adams Building completed in 1939, and the James Madison Building completed in 1983 building. Among them, the Thomas Jefferson Building is in Italian Renaissance style, which stands out from many Greek colonnades or Victorian Gothic designs. With civilization and thinking, there is also a statue of the goddess of wisdom in the corridor.

No. 3 of Activities in United States

Museums in Washington D.C.

6

Capitol Museum Exploration in Washington provides a unparalleled journey through human history, innovation, and culture. The Smithsonian museums on the National Mall offer free access to world-renowned collections, from the Hope Diamond to the original Star-Spangled Banner. These institutions cover diverse fields including aerospace, natural history, and American art, presented in grand, purpose-built edifices. The experience is designed to be educational and inspiring for visitors of all ages, embodying a spirit of public access to knowledge and celebrating collective human achievement.

United States · Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. · 4.9km from Arlington





Traveller favourites curated for you

Georgetown

5.8

4.2/5

78 reviews

View all Attractions

Arlington Cemetery Audio Tour: Graves of Honour

Arlington

Free cancellationBook now for todayDuration: 1.5 hrsEnglishLimited-time sale

20% off

FromTRY 291.63TRY 364.54

View all Culture & history

2D1N • Philadelphia, Amish Country & Washington D. C. Tour From New York · One Vehicle Throughout

Take a round trip from NYC to Philadelphia, Amish Country, and White House, Capitol Building in Washington, D. C. | Unlock hidden gems with a customized trip. Our experts are ready to help design your perfect journey. Optimized itinerary avoids long hauls, giving you more relaxed enjoyment. | With over 8 years of driving experience, regularly maintained vehicles, and full insurance coverage, your safety is our top priority. No hidden fees, just relax, and focus on the views.

EnglishGuaranteed departureArr. & dep. transfers incl.Choose your hotelMultiple car types availablePrivate Tours

From TRY 38,101

View More Private Tours in Arlington

Trip.Select

2D1N • Philadelphia + Washington

4.9/5

100 reviews645 booked

(Highly Recommended) Annual best-selling East Coast US short trips, quality hotels, breakfast included, ensuring a worry-free journey. | [Historical Landmark] Stroll through Independence National Historical Park and experience the rich history of Philadelphia. | Visit the Lincoln Memorial, the "Heart of America," and see the exterior of the White House

Max. 53 peopleMandarin and EnglishGuaranteed departureNo mandatory shoppingTour guide includedFree cancellationGroup Tours

From TRY 11,866

View More Group Tours in Arlington





Experiences you can't miss in Arlington

Featured Culture & history in Arlington

View all Culture & history

󱌍

DC Monuments by Night: 10+ Landmarks | Open-Top Upgrade Available

4.7/5

· 2.7k reviews

Duration: 3 hrs

English

Free cancellation

Book now for today

90.7% of travelers recommend

FromTRY 2,902.18

󱌍

Washington D.C. Landmarks Day Tour from New York

5.0/5

· 1 review

Duration: 9.7 hrs

English

Free cancellation

FromTRY 5,515.38

󱌍

1-day tour to Washington D.C., White House and United States Capitol [Daily departure from New York] join-in tour

Duration: 8.3 hrs

English

FromTRY 8,787.28

󱌍

DC Monuments Tour with 10+ Stops & Washington Monument Entry

Duration: 3 hrs

Free cancellation

Book now for tomorrow

FromTRY 2,951.15

󱌍

DC: Arlington Cemetery Tour + Changing of the Guard & JFK Flame

4.9/5

· 21 reviews

Duration: 2.5 hrs

Free cancellation

21 consecutive positive reviews

FromTRY 1,950.77

󱌍

DC: Arlington Cemetery Tour + Changing of Guard & JFK Flame

5.0/5

· 1 review

Duration: 3 hrs

Free cancellation

Book now for tomorrow

FromTRY 1,960.88

󱌍

Small Group Arlington Cemetery & Changing of the Guard Tour

4.5/5

· 2 reviews

Duration: 2 hrs

Free cancellation

Book now for today

FromTRY 2,251.28





Featured Food & drink in Arlington

View all Food & drink

󱌍

DC: Evening Local Neighborhood Food Tour with DrinkEatWalk

5.0/5

· 1 review

Duration: 4 hrs

English

Free cancellation

FromTRY 8,453.50

󱌍

Washington D.C.'s West Market: college life, food hall, and the Foggy Bottom neighborhood

Duration: 2 hrs

English

Book now for tomorrow

FromTRY 11,397.43

󱌍

DC's Original Food & History Neighborhood Tour

5.0/5

· 1 review

Duration: 3 hrs

Free cancellation

Book now for today

FromTRY 5,620.88

󱌍

Washington DC: Food Tour with 6+ Local Favorite Bites

5.0/5

· 2 reviews

Duration: 3 hrs

Free cancellation

Book now for tomorrow

FromTRY 5,040.65

󱌍

Washington DC: Best Donuts & Sweet Treats in DC Walking Tour

Duration: 2 hrs

Free cancellation

Book now for tomorrow

FromTRY 3,751.56





More things to do

Group Tours in Arlington

View More Group Tours in Arlington

4D3N • New York, Philadelphia & Washington D.C. Highlights with LGA or JFK pick-up

4.9/5

12 reviews

Max. 55 peopleEnglishNo mandatory shoppingTour guide includedArr. & dep. transfers incl.Group Tours

Explore top U.S. landmarks including the White House, U.S. Capitol, and Independence Hall in Philadelphia. · Experience New York City's vibrant culture with visits to Times Square, Wall Street, and the Brooklyn Bridge. · Enjoy optional activities like the Statue of Liberty cruise and One World Trade Center Observatory for panoramic city views.

From TRY 30,687

4D3N • Niagara Falls, Philadelphia, Washington DC, 4-Days from NYC

6D5N • Niagara Falls + New York

Max. 13 peopleMandarin and EnglishNo mandatory shoppingTour guide includedArr. & dep. transfers incl.Group Tours

1 review

Step into the dazzling Corning Museum of Glass and admire its elegant and unique glass collection. · Enjoy a paid cruise to admire the Statue of Liberty and take in the beautiful downtown New York skyline. · 3-diamond hotels throughout the trip, visiting New York + Niagara + Washington, D.C.

From TRY 40,074

4D3N • New York, Philadelphia, D.C. 4-Day Tour with Airport Pickup

EnglishNo mandatory shoppingGroup Tours

From TRY 40,228

5D4N • NYC: Niagara Falls, Toronto, Philadelphia & DC 5-Day Tour

EnglishNo mandatory shoppingGroup Tours

Cruise through the amazing 1000 Islands along the St Lawrence River · Experience the historic town of Washington DC, with its museums and memorials · Explore Watkins Glen State Park in the heart of the Finger Lakes region

From TRY 49,930

Free things to do in Arlington

United States Capitol

7.4

Washington D.C. · 8.5km from Arlington

591 reviews

National Mall

Washington D.C. · 6.1km from Arlington

137 reviews

The White House

Washington D.C. · 6.4km from Arlington

1k reviews

Lincoln Memorial

6.5

Washington D.C. · 5km from Arlington

728 reviews

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Washington D.C. · 7.6km from Arlington

584 reviews

Capitol Hill

Washington D.C. · 9.3km from Arlington

176 reviews

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Washington D.C. · 7.1km from Arlington

4.7/5

369 reviews

Library of Congress

Washington D.C. · 8.9km from ArlingtonBook now for tomorrow

4.8/5

128 reviews

National Gallery of Art

5.9