38 Non-Touristy Things To Do in Washington DC Besides Museums and Monuments

Skip the Smithsonian queues and the selfie-stick scrums on the Mall. As a former local, I’ve written this guide to the Washington D.C.’s best non-touristy things to do: from a neon-soaked art house in a former church and underground drag shows in an old streetcar tunnel, to embassy parties, hidden speakeasies and Sunday drum circles. Here’s how to experience DC like you actually live there.

If you are looking for things to do in Washington, DC, images of monuments, museums, and government buildings probably come to mind. But what you may not realize as a visitor is that there is SO. MUCH. MORE. to this city than meets the eye.

Cute neighborhoods, obscurely-themed pop-up bars, and underground art exhibits are all part of the mix. Intrigued yet? I hope so!

To help you plan your trip to Washington, DC, I’ve written this guide, packed with 37 different non-touristy things to do in DC that aren’t museums, monuments, or memorials. This list spans from art installations, embassy parties, outdoors activities and restaurants. I should know, I used to live in DC after all. 

Take your pick to avoid the tourist crowds in DC!

If You Only Do Five Things

Short on time? Here are the five that best capture the side of DC most visitors never see:

• Catch a show in the Dupont Underground — an art space and event venue built inside a long-abandoned streetcar tunnel beneath Dupont Circle.
• Wander Blagden Alley — a hidden Shaw backstreet of murals, cobblestones and tucked-away restaurants that feels like a secret.
• Go to a pop-up bar in Shaw — elaborately themed bars that completely reinvent themselves through the year, from Halloween horror to full-blown Christmas.
• Spend a morning at Eastern Market — DC’s oldest continually operating public market, best on a weekend when the outdoor flea stalls spill onto the street.
• See Great Falls — just outside the city, where the Potomac thunders through a rocky gorge in a genuinely jaw-dropping set of falls.

Non-Touristy Things to Do in Washington, DC Besides Museums and Monuments

Check Out Some Local Art at Culture House DC (Formerly Blind Whino)

Hidden away from all the tourists in the streets of Southwest DC is a formerly abandoned church that fell into a vat of neon pixie dust, and opened its doors to the art community.

Now known as Culture House DC, this 1886 building was once the Friendship Baptist Church. When developers were legally prevented from demolishing the century-old structure, they instead commissioned Atlanta artist HENSE to transform it, and the result is extraordinary: a riot of psychedelic colour that wraps the entire facade and continues through the interior. It’s become one of the most photographed buildings in the city.

Inside, the 15,000-square-foot space hosts an ever-changing rotation of exhibitions from local artists, along with live talks, shows and community events, so there’s always something new to see.

Visit The Dupont Underground

Dupont Underground is another of the city’s most unusual art spaces, and one of its best-kept secrets, located right beneath Dupont Circle.

It’s literally an underground tunnel, built into a long-abandoned streetcar station, that now hosts art exhibitions and live events. From street art to photography, light shows to immersive installations, anything goes here, and the raw, cavernous setting makes every exhibition feel like a discovery. It’s the kind of place you’d walk straight past at street level without ever knowing it was there.

From street art to photography, light shows to paintings, anything goes here, and most of the exhibits are absolutely fascinating. This is one of the best undiscovered gems in the city. 

See DC’s Street Art Hotspots

All around Washington DC, you can find awesome, colorful, sometimes politically-infused street art. From watermelon houses to psychedelic murals, this city has a lot of street art to offer.

Some, like Adams Morgan’s Madam’s Organ Mural have been around so long they’ve become local icons (that mural was completed in 1997 and has been drawing in admirers ever since). The same can be said of Mural Un Pueblo Sin Murales, a work that was created in 1977 by Felipe Martinez, Carlos Salozar, Carlos Arrien, and Juan Pineda on Adams Mill Road. 

There are much newer pieces to explore too. Blagden Alley in particular, thrives with pieces from local artists including Lisa Marie Thalhammer and Cita Sadeli Chelove.

Run in a Scenic Road Race

Running is a huge activity in Washington DC, and you can find people running almost all hours of the day on the city’s sidewalks.  If you’re a runner yourself, you can get to know the city by joining a road race! Races in DC (and in the DC area) happen very regularly, so you can almost always find one if you really want to.

Some of the most popular races are the Army 10 Miler, the Marine Corps Marathon, the Rock and Roll Marathon and Half Marathon, and the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler. Even if you don’t like running, it’s worth heading to the races to spectate if your visit happens to coincide with one of them!

Head to a Show or Concert

Washington DC’s arts scene is always popping off with a diverse and vibrant range of experiences that cater to pretty much every taste. Because Washington DC is so centrally located, many artists (big and small) that are making the rounds in the US stop here. As a result, you can see basically any artist you love at some point in this city.

Venues range from giant stadiums, like the 20,000 seat Capital One Arena  or the legendary 9:30 Club, to smaller, more intimate spaces like Black Cat and The Atlantis, a 450-capacity sister venue to the 9:30 Club that opened on U Street in 2023.

If fine arts is more your thing, check out the listings for touring Broadway plays, National Symphony concerts, or ballet shows. Many of these take place at the iconic Kennedy Center, right on the river. Others are hosted around the city at various venues.

Explore the City By Night

One of the most beautiful times of day to see Washington, DC is at night, when the monuments are all lit up amidst the night sky.

I know, I know, I promised no monuments on this list, but seeing them lit along the city’s main thoroughfares is a different thing altogether, and going after dark lets you avoid the daytime crowds.

One of my favorite places to visit at night is the area near the Washington Monument – here, you can see the monument itself as well as the WWII Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Capitol building all lit up.

Party it Up at an Embassy

Throughout the year, DC’s embassies open their doors to the public for nights of cocktails, culture and events. Mexico’s embassy, for instance, has hosted Day of the Dead celebrations open to the public, exactly the kind of one-off cultural event worth keeping an eye out for. The most famous is the annual Around the World Embassy Tour each spring, when dozens of embassies welcome visitors in for free to sample their food, music and traditions.

Some of these events are even free to the public. This is a great way to see DC and avoid the tourists. Typically you have to buy a ticket in advance for these parties, but it depends on the event. 

Visit the National Harbor

DC doesn’t really have a Coney Island, but the closest thing is our National Harbor, just across the river in Maryland. Home to dining, shopping, a casino and lively waterfront walking areas, it’s a great place to spend an evening.

Its best-known sight is the Capital Wheel, a 180-foot observation wheel that gives you sweeping views over the Potomac, and on a clear day, all the way to the monuments, the Capitol and Mount Vernon. While you’re there, look out for The Awakening, a striking sculpture of a giant emerging from the sand.

Admire The Cherry Blossoms Around The Tidal Basin

In late March and early April, one of DC’s most iconic sights arrives: the cherry blossoms, whose pastel-pink blooms appear right across the city. The most famous place to see them is the Tidal Basin, where thousands of trees, originally a gift from Japan in 1912, ring the water.

Grab a jacket and take a walk, admiring how the pink colors reflect off the water. It pairs beautifully with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which runs across several weeks each spring.

Or, if you’re feeling ambitious, enter the lottery for the Cherry Blossoms 10 miler and go for a run through these beautiful, flowered streets. It is an excellent complement to a museum day in late March/early April.

Hit Up Jazz in The Garden

In the summer, the National Gallery of Art’s sculpture garden opens its gates for live jazz music and pitchers of sangria.

On Friday evenings from late May through August, you’ll see DC’s young professionals flocking in with picnic blankets, snacking on wine and cheese, and unwinding to the quality jazz that fills the air among the towering sculptures. It’s one of the most beloved summer traditions in the city, and one of the loveliest ways to spend a warm Friday evening.

When I first moved to DC, this was one of the first events I ever went to! It’s so fun to sit back and unwind with friends amidst the towering sculptures in the garden.

Or Go Ice Skating in That Same Garden

In the winter, the sculpture garden’s fountain area turns into an ice skating rink! For a small fee, you can rent skates and go ice skating there. Families, hockey players, and young professionals alike swirl around the rink during the day. It’s definitely a fun way to spend some time outdoors in the chill of the winter.

Hop on a Boat Ride in Georgetown

Summertime is the perfect time to go boating, and Georgetown offers plenty of options. From boozy party boats to elegant dinner cruises by the DC skyline, or simple tourist water taxis, there’s something for every kind of visitor here. There are many tour companies that offer boat tours in DC.

Head to The Downtown Holiday Market

During the holiday season, DC steals some of the traditional Christmas market flair from Europe and brings it to its own streets. What results is rows of street stalls selling artisan items, baked goods, condiments, and more. Of course, along with any holiday market, there are traditional drinks like mulled wine, as well as non-alcoholic delights like hot chocolate.

In the wintertime, bundle up and head to the Downtown Holiday Market to enjoy the sights and sounds of the holiday season.

Explore The Historic Fish Market

The Municipal Fish Market at The Wharf is a wonderfully unusual sight. A handful of floating stalls on the waterfront, it looks much as it has for generations, all weathered facades and bustling vendors. But the charm of the fish market is just how unpretentious it feels – vendors are there to sell fish, and sell fish alone.

Established in 1805 – it’s actually the oldest continuously operating open-air fish market in the US! Each vendor has ice boxes showcasing their catches of the day, and lines here often get very long to buy the cream of the crop. In addition to buying several varieties of fish and shellfish here, there are also stalls that sell meals like gumbo, fried shrimp, etc.

For seafood lovers, this is a unique place in DC that’s definitely worth a visit, if even just to see where the magic happens.

Wander Through a Farmer’s Market

Except for the winter time, there are farmer’s markets all over the city of Washington DC. Two of the largest ones are Dupont Circle and Columbia Heights, but there are many others you can peruse as well.

Farmer’s markets offer fresh produce, artisan food items, prepared food, live music, and often, the best part…FREE SAMPLES. My favorite farmer’s market is the Dupont Circle market, because it spans a few blocks and seemingly has everything. These are a great place to people-watch, too!

Peruse The Stalls at Union Market

Located in the up-and-coming NoMa neighborhood, Union Market is a newer warehouse-like establishment featuring many indoor food vendors and boutique shops.

It’s the most polished of the city’s markets, designed as a place to graze your way through dozens of local food stalls, sip a glass of wine and catch up with friends. The surrounding district has exploded in recent years too, with restaurants, bars and a rooftop scene, so it’s worth leaving time to explore beyond the hall itself.

Or Wander Through the Streets of Eastern Market

Eastern Market is a neighborhood in DC, but it’s also an interesting weekend street market that I didn’t group into the “farmer’s market” category because it is so unique.

At weekends, the outdoor stalls sell everything from antique maps to clothing, handmade soaps and local art. The weekend flea market is the real treasure, a mishmash of old finds and small made-in-DC businesses.

Alongside it sits the historic 1873 market hall, the oldest continually operating public market in DC, housing butchers, produce sellers and the famous blueberry-buckwheat pancakes at Market Lunch. Surrounding cafés and brunch spots open their doors to hungry market-goers, so it’s easy to lose a whole morning here.

Duck into The Charming Blagden Alley

I mentioned Blagden Alley in the street art entry but it’s such a cool spot that it deserves an entry of its own. 

Tucked behind some unassuming buildings in Shaw is a peculiar alleyway that doesn’t look like much from the street. However, this alley houses a coffee shop and a few restaurants and bars, as well as a street mosaic and strange cobblestone streets. Then there’s the street art – bold and wonderful – a mini-open air art gallery for all to see. 

It’s one of those weird things I would have never known about if a friend of mine hadn’t taken me there and shown it to me. If you’re hanging out in the Shaw area, Blagden Alley is definitely a cool thing to see.

Wander Around The Wharf

One of DC’s newer constructions is a waterfront area in Southwest DC, near Navy Yard, called The Wharf.

Easily reached by Metro, it’s lined with shops, restaurants and bars, plus the Anthem, a superb mid-size concert venue that draws major touring acts. There are fire pits, piers and floating bars right on the water, making it a lovely spot for a drink at sunset or a night out with friends.

Visit A Historic Home

OK, OK, I know these are ~kind of~ museums, but they never get mentioned anywhere in museum posts, so I thought I’d include them here.  Historic homes are an often neglected attraction in Washington.

Because DC was so central to the formation of the United States, it’s full of historic homes you can tour. In Georgetown, the Old Stone House is the oldest building in DC and the only pre-Revolutionary colonial structure left in the city; built in 1765, more than 85% of it still dates to the 18th-century original.

Or visit the Heurich House, also known as the Brewmaster’s Castle, built in the 1890s for German brewer Christian Heurich and packed with cutting-edge features of the day, right down to early electric lighting.

The Old Stone House offers tours throughout the day. The Heurich House runs tours Thursday to Saturday with pre-registration, and its lovely Biergarten is open seasonally.

People Watch at the National Mall

The National Mall is full of museums and monuments, but some of the prime viewing here is of the people around you. Grab a bench, pick up a bag of popcorn and watch the world go by – it can often lead to some pretty funny or interesting insights about the humans of DC.

Food and Drink

Check Out The Latest Pop-Up Bars

Remember the Game of Thrones bar? Or the Cherry Blossom bar? DC is home to some weird and wonderful pop up bars all over the city that rotate throughout the year. One minute, it’s a terrifying Halloween-themed bar, the next, it’s Christmas!

The most well-known pop up bar is located in the neighborhood of Shaw, and it’s worth going there any time of year to see what the new theme is.  The themes rotate constantly. It’ll be a terrifying Halloween bar one month, a glittering Christmas pop-up the next. The seasonal Miracle Christmas bar is a perennial favourite that pops up around the holidays, but the line-up changes year-round, so it’s always worth seeing what’s on. Think of it as a different adventure every couple of weeks.

Hit Up The Hottest Happy Hours

DC young professionals LOVE happy hour. For many of us (myself included) happy hour is the new dinner. Typically occurring from 4-7 PM, people flock to some of the best bars in Washington, DC for discounted food, drink, and social time.

There are happy hours all over the city, but some of the most popular areas to go are Dupont Circle/Adams Morgan, 14th Street, U Street, Shaw, and Gallery Place.

Visit a Speakeasy

Hidden behind closed doors of seemingly abandoned buildings lie a set of super unique underground bars called speakeasies. Much like the Prohibition era, these bars are difficult to find, but when you stumble upon a good one, it’s a strangely amazing experience.

My favorite speakeasy in DC is called The Gibson – it’s in the U Street area, but I’ll leave it up to you to find its exact location. There are many other speakeasies in DC – for a complete list, visit this site.

Wine and Dine at a Historic Institution

Martin’s Tavern…Old Ebbitt Grill…what do they have in common? They’re all historic dining institutions in DC, where the likes of US presidents would hang out and discuss important political matters.

When you step inside one of these fascinating places, you step into a world of history and grandeur, with wood-paneled bars and tables, and furnishings that look like they’ve been around a century. If you go to Martin’s Tavern in Georgetown, you can even request to sit at the table where JFK and Jackie got engaged.

While Away The Afternoon at a Brewery

Breweries and beer gardens are extremely popular hangouts in Washington DC, especially in the summer months. 

• Wunder Garten in NoMa is a standout, offering a mix of local brews, German and Austrian beers and food on its large patio. 
• The Red Bear Brewing Co is a cool 100% gay-owned brewery with excellent craft beers.
• If you love sour beers, you need to head to Right Proper Brewing Co which specialises in the very same. 

Many allow you to bring your own food, sit back with friends, and sip on some local brews in open air. 

Go To One of DC’s Michelin Starred Delights

If you prefer high-class restaurants, the fine dining options in DC are competitive with most major cities in the world. Ranging in type from new American fare to sushi, there’s plenty of variety in the Michelin-star world of DC.

Some of the standout names on the Michelin list are Rose’s Luxury, Pineapple & Pearls, Little Pearl, and Jônt

Sit back at a Locally-Owned Coffee Shop (or a Teahouse!)

DC’s coffee scene is fabulous, and this is coming from someone who spends a LOT of time in coffee shops working on…ahem…this site. You can head to a city favorite like Compass, Peregrine, or La Colombe, or go to a one-off tea shop like Calabash in Shaw.

If you don’t want to decide between your coffee brews and your cocktails, check out Tryst in Adams Morgan, which serves coffee, tea, AND cocktails behind their bar. Why choose if you can have both?

Go Out For a Night Out on The Town

While it’s not Las Vegas, the nightlife scene in DC can be super fun, if you know where to go. Some of the hotspots for night time activity include Adams Morgan and U Street, but there are bars all over the city, from Navy Yard to Columbia Heights.

Some restaurants even turn into clubs at night – the one that always makes me laugh is the club on the third floor of a quaint Russian restaurant, Mari Vanna, in downtown DC.

Sample International Cuisine

Because of the presence of so many embassies and international organizations, DC hosts incredibly diverse and delicious cuisine. You can find traditional foods ranging from Japanese to Swiss to Senegalese to Georgian, or you can sample fusion foods like Peruvian-Chinese.

One of my favorite fusion restaurants is called Compass Rose, which serves shared plates inspired by countries all over the world, including more unusual cuisines like Georgian khachapuri (the famous cheese-and-egg bread boat). It’s the kind of place that captures DC’s international character on a single menu.

Outdoors Activities in Washington D.C

Meander Through the National Arboretum

If you’re looking for a unique outdoor experience, head to the National Arboretum. A little removed from the downtown bustle, this 446-acre oasis is home to winding paths, wildflowers, bonsai collections and, most famously, the National Capitol Columns, 22 sandstone columns that once stood at the US Capitol, now standing dramatically in an open meadow. It’s a wonderful spot for a long, peaceful walk, and one many visitors never make it to.

Go To A Dog Park

If there’s one thing about DC that’s true all the time, it’s that it’s a dog city. Everyone and their mother seems to own a dog. Even if you don’t have a dog, you can head to a dog park and watch the dogs sprinting around, barking at each other, and having fun.

It’s always a lift in spirits to be around pups, and even more when they’re running freely in the open air.

Paddle Through the City on the Potomac River

Sometimes people forget that the Potomac River runs right through some of the city’s most spectacular sights, and that you can see a completely different perspective of the US capital from the water.

If you love being outdoors, or are looking for a unique, romantic thing to do in the city, go kayaking in DC and explore the city from the water. You can rent a kayak! Exploring the city from the water will give you a unique perspective that not many visitors get to see.

Join a Drum Circle at Meridian Hill Park

In my opinion, this is one of the wackiest things to do in DC. On Sundays at 3 PM, there’s a large, ongoing drum circle at Meridian Hill Park. Anyone can join or watch the drum circle, and it’s fascinating to see people just drumming along with complete strangers, nodding their heads with grins on their faces.

You might think it sounds like a bunch of drums beating out of rhythm, but it actually stays pretty in sync. This is definitely something to experience if you’re looking for a unique thing to do in DC.

Go For a Walk in Rock Creek Park

Rock Creek Park is one of DC’s outdoor gems. With 1,700+ acres of forested park area in the middle of Washington DC, it’s perfect for the outdoor enthusiast or people who enjoy exploring urban green spaces.

One of the oldest national parks in the country, it has miles of trails for walking, running and cycling, plus a nature centre and planetarium, the historic Peirce Mill, and even horse-riding stables. You could easily spend a whole day here escaping the chaos of the city without ever leaving it.

Or Do Some Hiking at Great Falls

If you have a car (or access to one), you can’t miss Great Falls. Although it’s located a little bit out of the city on the Virginia-Maryland border, I’ve included it on this list because it is an absolutely spectacular sight.

Here, the Potomac cascades and crashes over sharp rocks in a canyon-like area, causing a mesmerizing set of waterfalls. It’s truly like being in another world there. There are several miles of hiking trails here, ranging from flat, easy hikes to tricky rock scrambles. You can take your pick.

Explore the City on Wheels

There’s really no better way to get around Washington DC than by bike. Because it’s a fairly small city, it’s easy to get around from place to place on a bike. You can get to the main landmarks while still being able to see some interesting sights along the way. DC boasts a popular bike tour that takes you through some of the city’s iconic areas and through charming neighborhoods, too.

If you’re on a budget, companies like Capital Bikeshare offer rental bikes by the hour for reasonable prices – you grab one and hit the road to explore this weird and wonderful city at your own pace.

Read More Washington DC Guides 

• A Weekend in Washington DC: Step-by-Step Itinerary
• Brilliant Day Trips from Washington D.C
• Where to Stay in Washington DC
• The Ultimate USA Bucket List

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