U.S. News Insider Tip: Even if you don’t have time to catch a performance, head to the rooftop of the Kennedy Center to grab a drink and see an incredible sunset from the terrace. The on-site REACH art gallery and sculpture garden (free) are also fun to wander around. – Erin Evans
Many travelers highly recommend a visit to The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, built and named for America’s beloved Camelot president. The Kennedy Center houses the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera and hosts numerous other dance, theater and musical performances throughout the year. Although ticket prices can run a bit high, you can take in a performance for free on the Millennium Stage. The Kennedy Center debuted a new permanent exhibit in 2022: Visitors can explore the free “Art and Ideals: President John F. Kennedy” immersive exhibit to learn about the relationship between Kennedy’s presidency and the arts. The facility also includes the REACH, an indoor/outdoor complex comprising an art gallery, sculpture garden, classrooms and studios, lecture halls, a video wall and more interactive spaces.
Past visitors loved taking in a show at The Kennedy Center, adding that the venue’s rooftop terrace offers breathtaking views of the Potomac River and the surrounding area. To learn about the theater’s history and architecture, recent travelers recommend joining one of the building’s free guided tours.
Hours vary, see website for details
You can get to The Kennedy Center via a free shuttle bus that runs from the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines. Fee-based parking is also available in the property’s garage between 5 or 7 a.m. and midnight, depending on the day. There are multiple bike racks as well as a Capital Bikeshare station nearby. Restrooms, gift shops and eateries are available on-site.
Hours
Tours are offered by theater volunteers on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Performance times vary; the box office is open daily from 10 a.m. or noon to 9 p.m. For more information about upcoming show times and ticket prices, check out The Kennedy Center website.
