CityBuddy
Library of Congress
Bästa tid att besöka
Weekday mornings right when doors open at 8:30 AM are the quietest, letting you enjoy the Great Hall nearly to yourself. Spring and fall offer the most pleasant weather for walking over from the Capitol or Supreme Court.
Budgettips
Entry is free, no ticket required, but you need a timed-entry pass during peak seasons (bookable online at no cost). Skip the paid guided tours and use the free audio guide available on your smartphone.
Rekommenderas för
Book lovers and literature fans, History buffs, Architecture enthusiasts, Photography enthusiasts
Planera ditt besök
2-3 hours
Om
Snabba fakta: The main reading room features a 160-foot domed ceiling, and the library holds over 175 million items across 470 languages. Thomas Jefferson sold his personal library of 6,487 books to Congress in 1815 after the original collection was burned by British troops during the War of 1812.
Höjdpunkter: Walk into the Great Hall and look up: a 75-foot stained glass skylight glows above you, surrounded by marble columns and gold-leafed arches. The Gutenberg Bible, one of only three perfect vellum copies in the world, sits in a climate-controlled case, its 15th-century ink still crisp and readable.
Insidertips
- Enter through the Jefferson Building's ground-floor door on First Street SE, not the main steps, to skip the security queue on busy days.
- Stand at the exact center of the Main Reading Room's floor and whisper: the 160-foot dome creates a perfect acoustical focal point.
- Visit the second-floor mezzanine for the best photo angle looking down into the Main Reading Room without the crowds.
- The cafeteria in the Madison Building is reasonably priced and has outdoor seating, far better than the overpriced carts on the National Mall.
Where to Stay in Washington
Selected by City Buddy based on guest reviews and proximity to top attractions
Search all hotels in WashingtonPowered by agoda
Har du hört talas om gratis guidade vandringar?
Efter att ha rest till över 30 länder finns det en sak jag önskar att någon hade berättat för mig från början, och det förändrade helt hur jag upplever nya städer.
Gratis guidade vandringar. Ja, faktiskt gratis. Ingen kreditkort krävs. Inga fångster.
Lokal guide, 2-3 timmar
Stora sevärdheter, dolda pärlor, lokala historier
100% dricksbaserat
Guider tjänar endast dricks, så de ger sitt absolut bästa
Du ger dricks efter eget tycke
I slutet ger du bara dricks efter eget tycke
Jag har gjort dessa i dussintals städer och de har varit höjdpunkten på nästan varje resa. Om du besöker Washington, United States, gör detta din första dag. Du kommer att tacka mig senare.
Fler attraktioner i Washington
Alla attraktioner i Washington →
Most popular itineraries!
Browse trip plans created by other travelers