National Gallery of Art

"An abundance of complimentary attractions and sites, including the National Gallery of Art." - Travel + Leisure Editors

"With two buildings and a sculpture garden, the National Gallery of Art is a treasure-filled trifecta where each person’s gems will only be uncovered through an immersive day (or more) of cultural exploration. The West Building is a chronological history lesson of Western art that showcases masters including Leonardo da Vinci, Monet, and van Gogh. Continue through time by taking the moving walkway under the 41,000-LED Multiverse light installation to the contemporary East Building. Here, Alexander Calder’s largest mobile hangs from the atrium roof, works from Warhol and Pollack are featured, and Katharina Fritsch’s 15-foot blue rooster sculpture stands proud on the rooftop terrace. Back on the ground, the Sculpture Garden is the perfect place to reflect on the day."

"Perched near the U.S. Capitol Building, the National Gallery of Art is one of the most impressive museums in the city. Founded by Andrew W. Mellon, the museum comprises two buildings: the West Building, modeled after the Roman Pantheon, and the East Building, designed by modernist architect I.M. Pei. On a nice day, you could hardly do better than a stroll through the museum’s Sculpture Garden, which hosts jazz concerts in summer and an ice rink in winter. It also has the most classic collection in the city, with a focus mainly on European and American paintings, sculpture, prints, photographs, and other media. You’ll find a number of works from famed artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Johannes Vermeer, and Rembrandt, as well as later pieces from the likes of Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock, and Roy Lichtenstein. The Sculpture Garden contains works by Marc Chagall and Joan Miró, as well as Robert Indiana's famous "AMOR." - Amy McKeever, Adele Chapin

"Zoom out. What’s this place all about? Perched near the U.S. Capitol Building, the National Gallery of Art is one of the most impressive museums in the city. Founded by Andrew W. Mellon, the museum comprises two buildings: the West Building, modeled after the Roman Pantheon, and the East Building, designed by modernist architect I.M. Pei. On a nice day, you could hardly do better than a stroll through the museum’s Sculpture Garden, which hosts jazz concerts in summer and an ice rink in winter. What will we find in the permanent collection? The National Gallery of Art has the most classic collection in D.C., with a focus mainly on European and American paintings, sculpture, prints, photographs, and more. You’ll find a number of works from famed artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Johannes Vermeer, and Rembrandt, as well as later works from the likes of Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock, and Roy Lichtenstein. The Sculpture Garden contains works by Marc Chagall and Joan Miró, as well as Robert Indiana's famous "AMOR." And what about the temporary exhibits? The National Gallery is a quintessential art museum—nothing here is going to throw you for a loop and everything is well paced. Special exhibitions highlighting works of artists like Jackson Pollock or Paul Cezanne complement the permanent collection. What did you make of the crowd? This museum is a favorite among lovers of traditional art. You'll also see a number of school groups, so plan to navigate around them. Any guided tours worth trying? Free daily tours, designed to enhance visitors' understanding of the permanent collection, might focus on the Italian Renaissance, life in the 17th century, modern art, or American stories. What do they have in the gift shop? This gift shop sells prints and gifts, including jewelry, ties, or reproductions of sculptures and busts. Is the café worth a stop, or should we just plan on going elsewhere? There are three cafes spread across the main two buildings, as well as an espresso and gelato bar in the East Building and another cafe in the Sculpture Garden. It’s nothing too exciting, but it will hit the spot. Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged? Despite its impressively sizable collection, the National Gallery is digestible in small bites. If Italian Renaissance art is your jam, head to the West Building. For modern art, go East. You can move through these collections at your own pace, making them friendly for those with short attention spans." - Amy McKeever

"The Washington, D.C. museum, which welcomed more than 4 million visitors last year, has rushed to adapt to the new normal of social distancing and lockdowns along with its contemporaries around the world. The museum has launched a weekly newsletter that pushes out new virtual content, including digital education resources. It’s also making use of the hashtag #MuseumFromHome, and providing viewers with virtual museum tours of the East and West Buildings, complete with commentary from curators, as well as tours of the Sculpture Garden. Traffic to the museum’s website shot up 400 percent in the first week of closure, says Guthrie."