Capitol Hill is a historic neighborhood that blends senate business with entertainment. It’s where street fairs and nightlife districts sit in the shadow of architectural masterpieces. Spend your time visiting some of the USA’s most-significant government buildings, watch performances of Shakespearean plays and browse the stalls of a centuries-old market.
The neighborhood takes its name from the hill on which sits the symbolic U.S. Capitol Building, the seat of the national congress. Take a moment to admire the building’s neoclassical façade and magnificent dome. Learn about what goes on inside the building at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. Then, look inside the senate rooms on a free guided tour.
Stroll around leafy Capitol Grounds, relax at the Summerhouse and see displays of regional plants at the U.S. Botanic Garden. Sit on a bench and gaze down the National Mall. Visit the Library of Congress and U.S. Supreme Court.
Go to the Folger Shakespeare Library to browse exhibitions on the life of William Shakespeare and watch interpretations of the acclaimed playwright’s work. Discover the evolution of women’s suffrage and equality at the Sewall Belmont House and Museum. Retrace the history of the U.S. Postal Service at the National Postal Museum.
Experience a feast for the senses at the Eastern Market, where vendors offer everything from flowers to dairy items and freshly baked products. Arrive on a weekend when artisans offer arts and crafts while farmers sell newly harvested goods.
Don’t miss a night out at the bars and restaurants of Barracks Row. Enjoy free concerts and artistic events at street fairs such as September’s Barracks Row Fall Festival. Mingle with senate workers and interns at bars along Pennsylvania Avenue.
Getting to Capitol Hill is easy via public buses and the metro. Capital South Metro Station and Eastern Market Metro provide quick access to Downtown Washington. The U.S. Capitol Building is just a 15-minute walk from the lavishly decorated Union Station.
Guided tours of the U.S. Capitol Building take place from Monday to Saturday and should be booked in advance. More information is available on the building’s official website. Eastern Market is open from Tuesday to Sunday.
