Places to visit in Dulles

If you have never been to Washington DC, you should plan an adventure by exploring the history and heritage of the nation's capital. It is full of monuments and museums to see.

A Washington DC trip would not be complete without seeing these top attractions. On your visit, you might consider the following activities:

• Explore Washington's Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
• Climb the Lincoln Memorial's steps.
• Visit the Washington Monument's apex.
• Pay your respects at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
• Explore the numerous exhibits at the National Gallery of Art

As a tourist in Washington, DC, you should not touch the artwork or go over the red ropes that mark boundaries.

You'll likely walk past them during your stay, so keep your eyes open. You might accidentally trip and fall into a famous landmark if you're not careful.

We've researched some of the best things to do in D.C., and you can also check getyourguide.com for more attractions in the area.

Here are our recommendations.

Washington DC: Guided Landmarks Bus Tour & National Archives

Take a luxury tour bus around the presidential hotspots of the nation's capital, Washington, DC, and learn about the area's history.

• Take advantage of the National Archives and Capitol's free guided tours.
• Relax on a panoramic bus with modern amenities
• Summer free boat cruises

As you travel throughout the city, make sure to stop by each memorial that is along the National Mall.

Visit the most significant landmarks and have your guide fill you in on the area's background as you get on and off the bus at your leisure.

This excursion starts with an in-depth look at the city's most moving sights and sounds, such as the White House, the war memorials, and the United States Capitol Building.

After lunch, go on a relaxing boat cruise in the summer while taking in the picturesque views of the Potomac and Georgetown Waterfront.

In the meantime, the winter months bring a picturesque bus tour through Virginia in the afternoon, which visits The Pentagon, the Air Force Memorial, the Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial, and Arlington National Cemetery.

As the tour's final stop, you will have the opportunity to get a fascinating look at the interior of the National Archives.

Washington DC Monuments by Night Bike Tour

Experience the beauty of America's capital city at night. When the atmosphere is calmer, there are fewer people at the monuments, and the views of the city's illuminated landmarks are breathtaking.

• Take a guided bike tour to learn about D.C.'s history.
• Visit famous attractions in the evening when crowds are smaller.

During this three-hour tour, you will travel by bicycle to the significant attractions of Washington, DC.

Your tour guide will take you through the National Mall and around the Tidal Basin near the Washington Monument, the war memorials, the Lincoln Memorial, the FDR Memorial, and the Jefferson Memorial.

The memorials and monuments light up magnificently as dusk settles over the city.

Along the way, you will have the chance to learn about each of the attractions and spend some time walking through the memorials and experiencing them from a different perspective.

This ride is easy because it covers primarily flat terrain and is only 4 miles long. Every rider receives a reflective vest and a safety light as part of the package.

Washington, DC: Capitol Hill and Library of Congress Tour

A guided walking tour through the political heart of Washington, DC, including admission tickets to the Library of Congress and the Capitol Building, is a great way to get a feel for the city's political scene.

Take in the sights of Capitol Hill and the Supreme Court building while educating yourself on the country's legislative and judicial branches of government.

• Travel back in time to explore the U.S. legal and political systems.
• Benefit from a local guide's trivia and facts.
• The Library of Congress has priceless books and manuscripts.
• Take a photo in front of the Capitol before entering.
• Learn how Jenkins Hill became the U.S. political heart.

When you start your tour at the top of "the Hill," your local guide will provide interesting anecdotes and trivia about the country's extensive legal system and laws.

Understand how quickly this area became the epicenter of American government and politics. It was formerly known as Jenkins Hill.

The next stop on your itinerary should be the Library of Congress, which is not only the national library of the United States but also the oldest federal cultural institution.

Please follow your guide to the Capitol Building, where you can take in the neoclassical design and iconic architecture while they explain the building's extensive history.

Before the end of your tour, make sure to stop by "The Marble Palace," also known as the Supreme Court building, and the other office buildings in the area that house Congress.

Washington, DC: African American History Tour

By taking part in this fascinating African American history tour of Washington, DC, you can relive some of the most memorable events during the civil rights movement.

Learn about some of the fascinating episodes in the course of history, and then sit back and watch as your guide paints a picture of the city from the point of view of African Americans.

• Use your pre-purchased Smithsonian admission ticket to enter the Museum.
• Learn about the civil rights movement in the U.S.
• Ride an air-conditioned bus and learn about off-the-beaten-path landmarks.

You will be picked up at the United States Navy Memorial and taken to landmarks such as the Emancipation Statue and the Howard Theater, as well as to thriving black communities in the surrounding area.

Feel the world's weight on your shoulders as you stand in the same spot that Martin Luther King stood in when he delivered his famous "I have a dream" address.

Continue to Howard University, one of the oldest black universities in the United States, after getting a glimpse into the past at the Home of Frederick Douglass.

You will be able to pay your respects at the statue of Mary McLeod Bethune, an educator, an activist, and the founder of the National Council of Negro Women, as you pass through Lincoln Park on the way to Howard University.

After you have finished admiring the stunning grounds of Howard University, you should take a drive through Le Droit Park, the Shaw Neighborhood, and Historic "U" Street.

In the early 1900s, this city was home to the most significant urban African American community in the United States.

As a result, it developed its very own "Black Broadway," which is now and has long been home to entertainment legends from the past and the present.

Next, please make your way to the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum to gain an understanding of the role that these soldiers who were denied their citizenship played in determining the outcome of the war.

After that, you will travel into the heart of downtown Washington, DC, where you will visit the White House, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, Freedom Plaza on Pennsylvania Avenue, and the National Council of Negro Women's national headquarters.

After arriving in the downtown area, make your way to the Logan Circle historic district to check out the Mary McLeod Bethune Council house and the historic Metropolitan AME Church.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture will serve as the final stop on tour. Once inside, take your time to look around the fascinating artifacts and displays at your own pace.

Washington DC: Hop-On Hop-Off City Sights Bus Tour

Washington, DC, is home to several historically significant landmarks, many of which can be seen while riding open-top buses.

• The ticketing period includes unlimited hop-on and hop-off privileges.
• Double-decker bus upper decks offer scenic views.
• Deluxe, Premium, or Traditional are your options.

Take advantage of the freedom to explore the city and get on and off the bus at any stops along with either of the two routes that circumnavigate the city.

The official tour of the National Mall, known as the Red Loop, stops at several historic sites and landmarks. These include the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the United States Capitol, and many more.

For shopping, the Blue Loop will take you across the Potomac to visit Arlington Cemetery and through the beautiful past of Georgetown. It will also take you through the present (and to the shops and restaurants).

If visiting only for a day, this ticket can grant you access to the hop-on, hop-off bus for one day and free bike rental for one hour.

If visiting for a little longer, you can select the Premium or Deluxe Iconic Washington, DC Landmarks by Day ticket, depending on your preferences. Both options grant you hop-on, hop-off access to all Big Bus Tour loops for two days.

With your Deluxe ticket, you get unlimited hop-on hop-off access to the Big Bus Tour around the National Mall. Your ticket is valid for two days.

A panoramic night tour lasting for ninety minutes is included in the price of this ticket. On this tour, you will be able to see the city's most famous landmarks as they are illuminated.

Washington DC: Museum of Natural History Tour for Families

Visit the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, District of Columbia, on a private tour catered to families and children's needs.

Visit the famous Dinosaur Hall and the Mummies exhibit at the National Museum of Natural History on a fun outing for the whole family.

Participate in kid-friendly activities encouraging interaction, such as holding insects at an insect zoo.

You can tailor your private tour to meet the needs and interests of your family.

The private tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History on the National Mall is for families. They can be adapted to reflect the areas of interest most important to your group.

Participate in kid-friendly activities such as holding bugs at the insect zoo and marveling at the well-known Dinosaur Hall and the mummies exhibit. These activities are kid-friendly and interactive.

Explore the vast collection that includes artifacts from early human civilizations, natural gems and minerals, a living coral reef, and much more.

Discover one of the world's largest and most famous natural history museums in the company of a knowledgeable guide while gaining access to exclusive behind-the-scenes information.

Washington DC: Arlington National Cemetery Ticket & Tram Tour

This fully narrated tour will take you through the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, District of Columbia.

Pay your respects to the heroes who have served the United States in the past, visit the burial sites of former President John F. Kennedy, and more.

Pay your respects to the brave men and women who served the United States of America.

Make a detour to see the grave of John F. Kennedy, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Arlington House.

Take a circuit that lasts for exactly half an hour without stopping to get a fantastic overview of Arlington.

Learn more about where former President John F. Kennedy was laid to rest.

During your visit to Arlington National Cemetery, you will have the opportunity to learn about the memorial park.

Today, it stands as an enduring tribute to the men and women who have committed their lives to defending the ideals of the United States of America.

Discover the sacred land that once belonged to George Washington Parke Custis, who was adopted by George Washington and became his son. This land spans over 600 acres.

Custis bequeathed the property to his daughter Mary Anna Randolph Custis in 1857. At that time, she and her husband, Robert E. Lee, made it their primary residence as a married couple and family.

Throughout its existence, the grounds have been put to several different uses.

During the Civil War, it was also used as a camp and a headquarters for the Federal Troops. A haven for enslaved people transitioning to freedom after the abolition of slavery also existed there.

On May 13, 1864, the first military burial occurred at Arlington National Cemetery.

Today, it is the final resting place for more than 400,000 active duty service members, veterans, and the families of those who died while serving their country.

You can also visit here the gravesite of John F. Kennedy to pay your respects.

You can also pay your respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to honor the men and women who gave their lives while serving their country.

Washington DC: Museum of the Bible General Admission

You are invited to encounter the Bible in a way you have never done at the Museum of the Bible.

You engage with the past, present, and future of the Bible through its history, narrative, and impact.

You can explore all seven floors of the Museum, which feature rare and beautiful artifacts and captivating interactive experiences.

You are welcome to enter the Museum before it officially opens to the public (except Sundays).

Visit the exhibit "The World of Jesus of Nazareth" to gain new insight.

Discover artifacts, manuscripts, printed Bibles, books, and artwork relating to the Bible from various cultures and periods.

The Museum of the Bible is an innovative, global, and educational institution that invites all people to engage with the Bible. It is a few steps away from the National Mall in Washington, DC.

The Bible Museum provides visitors with an immersive and personalized experience with the Bible and its ongoing impact on the world by displaying rare and fascinating artifacts spanning 3,500 years of history and offering visitors the opportunity to ask questions about the Bible and its history.

Admission grants access to seven floors of informative and interactive displays and exhibits and a film that is approximately 12 minutes long and focuses on Jesus Christ.

The remarkable tale of how the people who followed Jesus came to form a thriving community is presented in the video.

In addition, it features a thirty-minute investigation into the experience of the Hebrew Bible. During this time, viewers will encounter compelling narratives, such as the accounts of Noah's ark, the burning bush, and the Passover.

You will have exclusive early access to the Museum beginning at 9:00 AM, one hour before it opens its doors to the general public at 10:00 AM. It will allow you to explore the Museum without having to contend with crowds.

You can also upgrade your ticket to receive the "Washington Revelations" Flight Simulator video, a six-minute presentation.

Experience a breathtaking and multi-sensory tour while "flying" past biblical references in and around Washington, D.C., starting at the Lincoln Memorial and ending at the Library of Congress.

Guests must be at least 42" in height to purchase this option.