Things to Do in Capitol Hill
The Capitol, the Library of Congress and a neighborhood of row houses and markets.
See top-rated activities »About Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill is two places at once. The western edge is the seat of the federal government: the Capitol, the House and Senate office buildings, the Supreme Court and the three buildings of the Library of Congress. A few blocks east, the federal buildings give way to one of the city's largest historic districts, with tree-lined streets of brick and painted row houses, corner bars and small parks.
Start at the Capitol Visitor Center, the underground entrance on the east side of the building. Tours of the Capitol are free and include the Rotunda and the old Supreme Court and Senate chambers; book them on the visitor center's official site or through your member of Congress, who can also arrange gallery passes to watch the House or Senate in session. A tunnel connects the visitor center to the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress, whose Great Hall of marble, mosaics and painted ceilings is one of the most impressive rooms in the city. Across the street, the Supreme Court is open to visitors on weekdays and hosts courtroom lectures when the justices are not sitting.
At the foot of the Hill, the United States Botanic Garden has a glass conservatory filled with orchids, desert plants and a tropical jungle room, and it is free. The Folger Shakespeare Library, reopened after a major renovation, holds the world's largest Shakespeare collection and stages plays in its Elizabethan-style theater.
For the neighborhood side, head to Eastern Market, a brick market hall that has sold food since 1873 and fills its outdoor arcades with craft and flea market stalls on weekends. Barracks Row, the stretch of 8th Street SE near the Marine Barracks, is lined with restaurants. Union Station, at the north end of the Hill, is worth a look for its vaulted main hall even if you are not catching a train.
Don’t Miss
Free guided tours of the Rotunda and historic chambers. Reserve through the official Capitol Visitor Center site or your senator or representative.
The ornate Great Hall, the domed Main Reading Room seen from an overlook, and rotating exhibitions. Free; timed entry passes are available online.
Visitors can see exhibits on the ground floor and attend courtroom lectures on days the Court is not in session.
A free conservatory and outdoor gardens at the foot of the Capitol, with a jungle room, orchids and medicinal plants.
Exhibitions drawn from the largest Shakespeare collection anywhere, plus plays and concerts in an intimate theater.
A historic public market with butchers, bakers and produce inside, and an arts, crafts and flea market outside on weekends.
A 1907 Beaux-Arts rail terminal with a grand barrel-vaulted hall, a short walk from the Capitol.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Capitol Hill
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Get free trip quotes »Capitol Hill — FAQ
Can I watch Congress in session?
Yes. Gallery passes for the House and Senate are free and are available from the offices of your representative or senators; international visitors can ask at the House and Senate appointment desks in the Capitol Visitor Center. Check whether the chamber is in session before you go.
Is the Library of Congress open to the public?
Yes. The Thomas Jefferson Building, with its Great Hall and exhibitions, is open to visitors and free. Reserving a timed entry pass online is recommended, and you can also reach it through the tunnel from the Capitol Visitor Center.
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