Craft your own DC exploration around major artistic celebrations of American identity and beyond.
There’s no better place to celebrate America’s 250th birthday than Washington, DC. In the itinerary below, we present just some of the many arts and culture experiences that are essential to not just the city’s identity, but the nation’s identity.
Whether you plan to visit the nation’s capital in 2025 or 2026, the itinerary below will serve your adventure well. Visit dc250.us for more details on how the District plans to honor the semiquincentennial.
Your stay: DC has a lot of cool hotels that would suit your arts and culture-focused itinerary perfectly.
Day 1
Morning
The Phillips Collection
What better way to begin your cultural excursion than a visit to America’s first museum of modern art, The Phillips Collection? Multiple floors of seminal works – including the famous Rothko Room – showcase perspectives from a wide range of experiences both in the U.S. and abroad. The cross-cultural conversation continues with the exhibit Miró and the United States (March 21 – July 5, 2026), which traces Spanish artist Joan Miró’s relationship with American artists from the 1940s-60s.
Afternoon
National Portrait Gallery
For a delicious lunch in a sophisticated setting outfitted with beautiful art, reserve a table at The Hamilton. The restaurant doubles as a live music venue, so check the calendar to see who’s playing during your stay.
Fill out the rest of the afternoon at the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, two free-to-visit cultural landmarks that share a building. The former museum focuses on (you guessed it) the power of portraiture; America’s Presidents offers the nation’s only complete collection of presidential portraits outside The White House.
Evening
Shakespeare Theatre Company performs in two theaters, the 451-seat Klein Theatre at the Lansburgh and the 761-seat Harman Hall, creating a dynamic, cultural hub of activity that showcases the company as well as outstanding local performing arts groups and nationally renowned organizations. The Company's artistic mission is unique among theater companies: to present theater of scope and size in an imaginative, skillful, and accessible American style that honors the playwrights’ language and intentions while viewing their work through a 21st-century lens.
Day 2
Morning
Just near the White House, turn your attention to the gem of a museum that is the Renwick Gallery. Dedicated to exhibiting the finest American crafts from the 19th century to the present, the Gallery wants you to picture yourself in art through the showcase of bold and innovative creations.
Afternoon
The Vue
Lunch time means prime time for views of the Washington Monument. Located inside the Hotel Washington – which has cheeky art with funny quotes from famous Americans in its lobby – VUE also overlooks the White House and serves up craft cocktails. Toast to your adventure with phenomenal vistas.
Make sure you save some energy for an afternoon visit to the National Museum of Women in the Arts. The only museum solely dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women artists was recently given a wondrous renovation. Among its collection are pieces by Frida Kahlo, Judy Chicago and Amy Sherald.
Evening
Woolly Mammoth Theatre
DC is home to a diverse culinary culture that includes an outstanding roster of Black-owned restaurants. Adventures are in every dish at Ethiopic, legendary half-smokes can be enjoyed from Ben’s Chili Bowl, locals love the Korean flavors of Anju, Jeanine Prime’s Cane has earned raves … and that’s just a sampling.
Get a little offbeat for your night-time entertainment. Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company goes well beyond the conventional with their thought-provoking productions while you can see Shakespearean works through a new lens at both Folger Theatre and Shakespeare Theatre Company.
Day 3
Morning
National Gallery of Art
Centuries of masterpieces line the walls of the National Gallery of Art (NGA). So vast is the museum’s collection, it requires two buildings, with Leo Villareal’s Multiverse installation serving as the portal. The sculpture garden is also a must-visit and offers an ice rink in the winter.
Afternoon
Hirshhorn Museum
Whether you conclude your journey through NGA in the East or West Building, lunch and coffee options are available with plenty of seating in a gorgeous setting. Walk a few blocks to your afternoon destination: Hirshhorn Museum. Last night’s theme of outsider art can continue here; the Hirshhorn is known for edgy, innovative and transcendent exhibits. The campus’ Sculpture Garden is slated to debut a $68 million revitalization in 2026.
Evening
At the center of DC’s cultural conversation is The Wharf, a multi-purpose development filled with restaurants, shops and waterfront activities that can fill an entire day, not just an evening. Cap it off with a concert at The Anthem, Pearl Street Warehouse or Union Stage.
If you prefer a play, Arena Stage is right across the street. Across a gamut of productions, the distinctly American theater showcases award-winning playwrights, directors and actors in plays that often provide a unique twist on U.S. history.