How to Spend a Weekend at the Smithsonian Museums in Washington DC
The best way to see the Smithsonian in a weekend is to pick four or five museums, group them by location and stay somewhere central so you can walk to each. From Riggs Washington DC in Penn Quarter, the National Portrait Gallery is less than one block away and the National Mall is roughly a 10-minute walk. Admission to every Smithsonian museum in DC is free.
Here's how we'd spend it.
Friday Evening: Start Across the Street
Check in, drop your bags and walk one block to the building shared by the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It stays open later than the museums on the Mall, which makes it the perfect Friday warm-up. Don't miss the presidential portraits, then linger in the glass-roofed Kogod Courtyard.
Back at Riggs, dinner is at Café Riggs. End the night downstairs at Silver Lyan, our award-winning cocktail bar tucked into the building's original bank vault. Yes, the vault door is real.
Saturday: Smithsonian’s Best Of
Fuel up with breakfast at Café Riggs, then head towards Constitution Avenue where you can visit:
National Museum of Natural History
Arrive at opening. The Hope Diamond and the dinosaur hall draw crowds by late morning.
National Museum of American History
Next door. The Star-Spangled Banner and the First Ladies collection of dresses from Inaugurals are the essentials.
National Air and Space Museum
Cross the Mall in the afternoon. Some of their exhibits require entry passes. They are still free but timed so be sure to check their website before you go.
Sunday: Make the Most of Your Last DC Day
National Museum of African American History and Culture
Plan at least three hours, starting in the history galleries below ground and working up. Free timed-entry passes are required, so reserve ahead on the museum's website or ask our team to assist prior to your arrival.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
A short walk down the Mall for modern and contemporary art. The outdoor sculpture garden is a good place to slow down before heading home.
Why stay in Penn Quarter for a Smithsonian weekend?
Location does the heavy lifting. Riggs sits at the corner of 9th and F Street NW, so you can walk to the museums, come back midday, and head out again without a car. Complimentary city bikes are available to guests if you'd rather ride the Mall.
The building has history of its own. Built in 1891 and later home to Riggs National Bank, it was known as the "Bank of Presidents." Each of our 181 rooms and suites nods to that past, down to the minibar inspired by an antique bank safe. A weekend spent among the nation's treasures ends, fittingly, in a former bank.
Planning Tips
-Most of the museums open at 10am. Arrive at opening for the busiest ones.
-Fall and winter weekends are quieter than spring, when cherry blossom crowds peak.
-Wear comfortable shoes!
-Book our Stay the Night, Stay for Breakfast offer so breakfast is handled before the museums open.
FAQs
Are the Smithsonian museums free?
Yes. All Smithsonian museums in Washington, DC offer free admission. A few, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture, require free timed-entry passes.
How far is Riggs DC from the Smithsonian museums?
The National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum are one block away. The museums on the National Mall are about a 10-minute walk.
How many Smithsonian museums can you see in a weekend?
Four to six is comfortable. Pair museums that sit next to each other and give the largest ones a half day each.
