# The best Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C.

All free: the Smithsonian museums most visitors shouldn't miss, by visitor numbers and guide recommendations.

- 1143 votes · 13 items
- Nov 9, 2025 · Corey Hunter
- https://even.best/en/l/562/the-best-smithsonian-museums-in-washington-d-c

## Top 10

1. **National Air and Space Museum** (100 · ▲132 ▼32) — The most visited Smithsonian museum, with the Wright Flyer and the Spirit of St. Louis. <https://airandspace.si.edu/>
2. **National Museum of American History** (97 · ▲104 ▼7) — The Star-Spangled Banner, Dorothy's ruby slippers and Julia Child's kitchen. <https://americanhistory.si.edu/>
3. **National Museum of Natural History** (94 · ▲117 ▼23) — Hope Diamond and the David H. Koch Hall of Fossils, reopened in 2019. <https://naturalhistory.si.edu/>
4. **National Museum of African American History and Culture** (84 · ▲97 ▼13) — Opened in 2016, its timed passes are among the most sought after in D.C. <https://nmaahc.si.edu/>
5. **Smithsonian's National Zoo** (76 · ▲84 ▼8) — Free 163-acre zoo in Rock Creek Park with more than 2,000 animals. <https://nationalzoo.si.edu/>
6. **National Portrait Gallery** (66 · ▲76 ▼10) — Presidential portraits including the Obama portraits by Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald. <https://npg.si.edu/>
7. **Smithsonian American Art Museum** (61 · ▲71 ▼10) — American art in the same Greek Revival building as the Portrait Gallery. <https://americanart.si.edu/>
8. **Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden** (59 · ▲66 ▼7) — Circular museum of modern and contemporary art on the Mall. <https://hirshhorn.si.edu/>
9. **National Museum of the American Indian** (54 · ▲61 ▼7) — Native cultures of the Americas, with a well-reviewed café. <https://americanindian.si.edu/>
10. **Smithsonian Castle** (38 · ▲50 ▼12) — The Smithsonian's red sandstone headquarters from 1855.
11. **Freer Gallery of Art** (32 · ▲44 ▼12) — Asian art and Whistler's Peacock Room. <https://asia.si.edu/>
12. **Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center** (30 · ▲44 ▼14) — Air and Space's huge annex near Dulles with the Space Shuttle Discovery and an SR-71. <https://airandspace.si.edu/udvar-hazy-center>
13. **National Postal Museum** (6 · ▲24 ▼18) — Smithsonian museum next to Union Station with the world's largest stamp collection.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.