• Introduction
• 1. Berlin
• 2. Chicago
• 3. Florence
• 4. London
• 5. New York
• 6. Paris
• 7. Rome
• 8. San Miguel de Allende
• 9. Vienna
• 10. Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

It’s not all about politics in the U.S. capital: Venerable art institutions like the National Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Museums, Corcoran Gallery of Art, and Phillips Collection go toe to toe with national sights like the Lincoln Memorial, Reflecting Pool, and White House. It helps that the city is home to the only Leonardo da Vinci painting in the Western hemisphere – a 15th century oil portrait of Ginevra de' Benci – at the National; an original Louis XVI salon doré, in the elegant Corcoran (the city’s first art museum); and Renoir’s Luncheon of the Boating Party, at the first-rate Phillips. Halfway along the Mall is another great art treasure: the Smithsonian’s stunning Sculpture Garden, containing dozens of outdoor works by the likes of Calder, Miro, Lichtenstein, and more. And, when you’ve had your fill of great masters, head to the National Museum of American History, which houses some of the country’s most prized artifacts: the original Star-Spangled Banner, Lincoln’s signature top hat, and Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, among them. Best of all, much of the city’s art is free to see – few museums here charge entrance fees. Though, one worthwhile exception will be made at the normally free National Geographic Museum, which will be charging guests an entry fee for the blockbuster Terra Cotta Warrior exhibit, on from November 19, 2009 through  March 31, 2010.

See Chicago Travel Guide | See New York City Travel Guide | See New York Travel Guide | See Paris Travel Guide | See Rome Travel Guide | See Vienna Travel Guide | See Florence Travel GuideSee San Miguel de Allende Travel Guide