Editorial List
10 Free Things to Do in DC That Don't Suck
The list is not 'take a walk.' These are actually things worth doing, and they all cost zero.
The ThingsToDC Editors
Published July 1, 2025 · Updated May 2, 2026
No. 1
National Gallery of Art
The only Leonardo painting in the Americas. Free. There is not a better deal in the city, probably in the country. Go on a weekday afternoon when the tour groups have cleared out and spend 30 minutes in the Vermeer room.
Visit pageNo. 2
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
Free, world-class performance every single day at 6 p.m. Jazz, dance, chamber, hip-hop — no ticket required. It is the single most underrated thing in DC.
Visit pageNo. 3
Tidal Basin
The 1.5-mile Tidal Basin loop passes the Jefferson, MLK, and FDR memorials. Cherry blossoms in April are the obvious draw, but sunrise anytime is just as good.
Visit pageNo. 4
Theodore Roosevelt Island
88 acres of forest on an island in the middle of the Potomac. A bronze Teddy at the center, boardwalks through the swampland, and zero traffic noise.
Visit pageNo. 5
Lincoln Memorial
Skip it at noon. Go at 10:30 p.m. when the Mall has cleared out and the quote on the south wall still hits.
Visit page