One of the most interesting museums on the Washington National Alley. Real aircraft are displayed here, or full-size copies of them. The museum also stores spacecraft, rockets, engines, command modules of space stations, spacesuits of astronauts. The exhibition opened in the middle of the 20th century. The museum is constantly conducting research and development activities.
Despite only half the museum being open, the amount of information on display will keep you occupied for a few hours.
The cafe is rather expensive but.. Read more » tasty.
The staff were friendly and helpful.
I thoroughly enjoyed the speed, first flight and Wright Brothers exhibitions.
The X-Wing from Star Wars was a bit random but welcome nonetheless.
Definitely worth going to but book your tickets in advance.
23.12.22
A lovely gift to the city of Washington.
Its a 2 floor museum with a cafe on the ground floor. The tickets are free but need to be taken. I want to sa.. Read more »y Huge section of the museum is closed for renovation and I took around 4 hours to visit the museum. Its very informative , presentable and interactive place even the kids can enjoy it. You can see the first as well as the lasts of things used in space. The Planetarium section have two movies which are paid but it is worth an experience I would say. The movies are short around 25 minutes.
The gift store is pretty huge and have different merch available in variety of products. Highly recommended museum for all age groups.
28.11.22
They just opened about a month and a half ago and it can be crowded there. To skip the crowd, I suggest getting free timed entry tickets. The museum i.. Read more »s cool, you can learn about aviation and space history on your visit here. I love the new exhibits and the remodeled museum. Some parts are yet to open but you should still go. An amazing museum and a must go-to in DC!
13.11.22
We reserved timed entry tickets online when the museum was still partially in renovation. There was still a 10-15 minute to get into the museum but no.. Read more »t too bad. The museum has many interesting exhibitions from the invention of airplanes to the space technologies. Highly recommend!
07.11.22
What an awesome incredible museum. So interactive and just tons to do! We spent 2 hours just walking around and seeing all the planes. Some of the coo.. Read more »lest things are the two planes that you can walk inside and also the whole exhibit showcasing the Apollo missions.
Seriously can’t wait for the whole museum to open. It’s an absolute must do even with half open. 10 out of 10 Ill be back.
04.11.22
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is absolutely fantastic! There is so much to see there. We spent over 5 hours and I think we only saw half o.. Read more »f what is available even though it looks like a good part of the museum was under renovation.
Bring a camera or phone, water and a snack.
Tickets are free, but you must reserve them on the website. They let groups in by the time slot they booked. We booked a Monday a few days ahead of time and already the morning entry times were not available.
This is my number one must-see in DC!
Parking is a challenge. We used a parking garage two blocks away. Cost was $24.
Metro stop L'Enfant Plaza is the closest to the museum. Look for the North exit if you can find it! We took the Metro Silver line there another day from Reston, VA.
19.10.22
We got in on Oct 15th, 2022, which was the second day after reopening. A lot of people but not too bad.
- no mandatory mask.
- you need timed ticket .. Read more »reserved in advance. If you arrive after the reserved time, don’t worry you could go in immediately. If you are early, you need to wait outside.
- right now, weekend tickets are booked out for 2+ weeks, but weekdays have plenty of tickets.
- We arrived around 11AM, there were still plenty of parking spaces across the street, surprisingly! When we left around 3PM, no space at all. Plan accordingly if you drive.
- The museum is brand new! Stunning designs and exhibitions. Obviously we didn’t finish most of them within 4 hours, but we love everything we observed, read, touched and experienced. I HIGHLY recommend study their website, there’s tons of information, and I particularly love the “stories” under “Explore”, very educational while interesting. I keep reading the articles for 3 hours the day after!
- also don’t forget check their events / activities/festivals, like monthly Family day. It seems very entertaining for the whole family (we haven’t attend any of them but plan to).
- the Mars cafe is good, not crowded at all, easy to order and find a table. and has some nutritious & delicious choices as well as some kids favorites. Restroom is super clean!
Overall, we absolutely love our experience and will come back as soon as we can!
Thank you so much NASM for your great efforts!
31.07.22
I'm sorry that this amazing museum is temporarily closed because it is a must see in your itinerary of places to visit. I saw aircraft that I have nev.. Read more »er seen and the way they are displayed assures you that you won't miss anything. The Wright Brothers plane, the Space Shuttle, every form of our aviation history is available for your viewing. Hopefully it will reopen soon so you can add this to your must see list.
30.07.22
All of this incredible aeronautical history for free! The Smithsonian museums are such a gift. We went with our 4 kids aged 6 to 12 and they all had a.. Read more » great time. There’s something for everyone whether you’re a total science enthusiast or someone who doesn’t normally have much interest in this kind of thing. This is just a great family friendly activity. And did I mention that like all the Smithsonian museums at the National Mall, the museum is free?!
23.06.22
This is a must see for everyone! This museum is huge! It encompasses this history of aviation in America and around the world. That particular day the.. Read more » museum was super crowded yet we were able to navigate it due to its size and organization of the exhibits.
In regards to being accessible it was well laid out and accessible for my scooter. The bathrooms were also easy to navigate. My one complaint is that they have a scattered array of benches. In some areas there are more than enough and in others there are no where near enough for those that may need to take a break and sit down.
My favorite exhibit was the one on the space ship. I also like how they have ramps all throughout the building to be able to see the air craft from all levels.
Two other areas that could improve are the fact that they do not have any cafe or place to have lunch. You can get popcorn and soda if you are seeing one of the IMAX movies. You could literally spend all day here and it would be nice if there is a place where you could get a small lunch.
Also, they had a private event going on and had an area blocked off where visitors should be able to see. We literally had to go around the entire building to get to the other side. They could’ve made a path for visitors to get through without having to run a marathon to see everything.
This really is a great place to visit and it’s pretty amazing that these exhibits are over flow from the other museum.
28.03.22
I'm very grateful that I had a chance to visit this amazing Museum. Being able to see the remaining from the Apollo 11 mission and the landing on the .. Read more »moon, makes me very happy. This museum has very much to offer, plenty of airplanes and rockets, lot of history from the development of aircrafts. You can definitely learn a lot and be entertained. I highly recommend you to put this on your list while you are in Washington DC
24.03.22
I waited in line longer than I walked through the museum. I was not impressed as most exhibits are closed or not yet opened and under construction. It.. Read more »’s mostly reading about flight & space history. I’m sure after they remodel it’ll be much better. If you’re ever in Florida I highly recommend visiting the Kennedy Space Center. It’s fantastic!
02.01.22
What a great museum in the city to enjoy. If you love history and space, you should definitely check out the museum. A lot of exhibits were closed, ho.. Read more »wever there was still plenty to do including watching the Discovery launch, touching a piece of the moon, reading about what happens to your body when you go to space, seeing space toilets, and different countries astronaut gear. There is an interactive exhibit where you can choose to ride in a space ship and complete a VR( virtual reality) experience, fly your own craft or ride a roller coaster… the prices for this ranged from $8.00 to $12.00 per person. Don’t forget to stop by the gift shop and get your very own space suit, hat or mission patches for your backpack!! No tickets are required, however we waited an hour and a half in line to get into the museum.
21.12.21
It's under construction until 2025 which is why it seems small right now. If you have come before hand which my family has for a good twenties years n.. Read more »ow you would know that. So that being half the building is shut down for infrastructure maintenance and doing a switch over between the sides of the building until then. A middle aged security guard was disrespectful at our last visit on some sort of power trip during Thanksgiving week. Other than that it was fine. It'll be much better when it gets back to normal and renovations are finished. Also, thanks to the nice older gentleman who helped explain the exhibit to us directly behind security when you enter the buildings main entrance. He definitely helped to change the tone after our experience with the security guard. Make sure you know your federal laws if working in a government building the security is not up to date on those laws.
17.12.21
This is easily one of the best museums in the city, if not the country. The second you walk in you can see numerous hanging displays showing countles.. Read more »s planes, spaceships, and other pieces of aviation and aerospace history. The size of the museums is compensated by the amount of exhibits and displays. It covers everything from the first man on the moon to hypersonic flight to the solar system. In their flight section they have an educational area where a staff member will host a classroom-style lecture where they explain some interesting aspect of the physics of flight. There is also a food court at the eastern end of the museum near the Lunar Excursion Module. Whether you're an avid aviation enthusiast (like myself) or just looking to stop by a cool museum for an hour I'd highly suggest visiting this one.
05.12.21
We had to wait about an hour to get through security only to find half of the museum was closed (and it will be for years).
The staff is very nice an.. Read more »d helpful, it's packed to the brim with people waiting in line to use the same interactive exhibits. If the other half was open you could easily spend the whole day here.
People always go to this one since it's the most popular, but I would skip it if you're not into space or airplanes. Also pay attention to which half will be open, the space half or the airplane half.
30.11.21
Great museum to stroll around for a few hours. As others mentioned, there are some exhibits that are closed so I wouldn't treat this place as a main a.. Read more »ttraction to visit, museum wise.
However, it is a great learning experience if your unfamiliar with USA space history and the early history of flight. Great crash course here. Definitely recommend if your in the Greater DC area.
This museum is free admission as it's your federal tax dollars hard at work. They do have donation bins throughout the museum as well if you feel inclined to contribute.
25.11.21
This is a place I used to love to visit as a kid and enjoy bringing my own children here now. There's a good number of aircraft and space craft on dis.. Read more »play, and lots of hands on learning materials. There's also a section dedicated to VR flight, but not for little kids under 48 inches. They're working on a couple of exhibits that aren't open right now. I'm currently giving them 4 stars because a large number of the hands on exhibits aren't working, and those that are working don't have good instructions on how to beat learn something from them
15.11.21
Really nice museum dedicated to space and air travel. They have some rockets and space suits along with some cool Wright brothers items. They are curr.. Read more »ently doing renovations, so many exhibits aren't available now, so it felt a bit light on exhibits. If you are looking for the best museums dedicated to space, I would definitely recommend Kennedy Space Center over this museum, but the fact that it's free makes it a great deal. I think once the renovations and new exhibits are added, it will be a five star place for sure.
11.10.21
We have been here several times and there's always something interesting to learn about.
Some of the stations at the children area does not work prope.. Read more »rly but I imagine is traffic of people everyday.
I found funny that some of the pictures are photoshopped but it does their porpoise. ?
01.10.21
Wow!
Amazing place for me.
I was shocked that which one I should read first ?
The history of GPS, the history flights.
Kepler law, Ishaq Newton law, t.. Read more »heory and practical work for students, very helpful, very important, I was impressed how I was seeing something unexpected first time in my lifetime.
I would love to go again.
I would recommend for everyone at least visit one time this place, you won’t believe what you will see.
Kids, adults… anyone is welcome here.
The good thing is that, in you right is the museum, left is National gallery, in front of you is Capitol and behind you is Monument.
25.09.21
This was a nice place to visit but IMO it's a little lackluster. I think it may have been because they have things under construction. It was cool see.. Read more »ing the lunar lander, Neil Armstrong space suit and the Wright flyer but other than that there wasn't too much to see right now. I mean, there's a bunch of old equipment and if you want I see a box that was the first sonar equipment in a submarine or something then you will like it.
Don't get me wrong. It was cool and we're glad we came but we saw everything in under an hour and then went on to the next museum.
14.09.21
A nice place to checkout. Preferably go in non crowded hours so you can experience the whole thing without interruptions. I liked the gaming experienc.. Read more »e they had but it was too short. Overall, good!
24.08.21
I didn't bother checking the website, so was surprised and disappointed that the second floor was closed to visitors because of unforseen elevator mai.. Read more »ntenance. Ensuring equal access by also shutting down the escalators actually ensures equal inaccessibility. Not a problem for me, but sad for those from other parts of the country or world who may not still be here when the elevators are functioning again. It's worth going to see the exhibits that are open on the first floor. Even with a major portion of the museum closed, there's still so much to see, do, and learn.
24.08.21
It had very good descriptions of spacecraft and the models were amazing to see in person. It was a pity that some parts were closed, so this review is.. Read more » not 5 stars. There were a great variety of instruments donated from space institutions and it made a thorough learning experience! I recommend going early for short lines at the flight simulator.
14.08.21
The Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum is such a cool place to visit. There's a ton of information available to read and listen to and countless .. Read more »planes and displays to look at. Some of the planes are really, really, amazing to see.
The museum has everything from older planes showing where we came from to space equipment and shuttles and everything in between. You could walk around here for hours and still not see everything.
11.08.21
The collection is just worth it. A wide range of airplanes and helicopters from military to commercial. Unfortunately display is mixed with no theme,.. Read more » brand or timeline to make it better. It could be improved but entrance is free...loved the interactive display where we could speak to volunteers and ask questions by video. The museum is free, only parking fee to be payed, that makes it à very affordable place for à family. Work ongoing when we visited, some area not accessible.
09.08.21
The place is nice and quite small. There are some closed areas and attractions. They should include the latest technological advances including commer.. Read more »cial space services
08.08.21
Great museum. They just opened July 30th 2021.
Unfortunately the second floor was closed. Hopefully they open it up soon.
Great place for kids.
06.08.21
If you have small children just wait until they reopen the 2nd floor. It’s crowded and barely anything to see that’s of big interest to smaller kids. .. Read more »If something is fun and exciting there is a long line. There’s a long line to get in. The front entrance is closed and you have to walk wry far around the building. It just takes a long time to even get in. People are as usual, not following safety guidelines and keeping a good distance. Honestly, is barely manageable with how crowded it is and all of the construction. Another museum may be more manageable, this one is just not for people with small kids right now. Any other time it’s really great.
05.08.21
Great museum for kids and adults both, but especially kids. Makes learning about flight and space fun. Since Covid a lot of the museum is closed for r.. Read more »enovations, but even the part that's open is amazing. Personally I like seeing real space/flight craft more than VR experiences, but they have both. Highly recommend!
03.08.21
It's always cool to see spaceships and such. But it's just not ready for a lot of viewing. Renovations are going on and I think it will be better than.. Read more ». Wright Brother's area is very small and incredibly crowded. Too small for a museum. So I recommend trying to go before or after the busy hours.
19.05.21
Great aviation museum but lots of exhibits were closed for renovations! It is a very popular tourist attraction with long lines to the entrance. Lucki.. Read more »ly, the lines move fairly quickly.
02.01.21
A Smithsonian Institution museum, the National Air and Space Museum opened in 1976 and is dedicated to the history of aeronautics, aviation, and space.. Read more » technology and innovation. It’s also a center for research into planetary science and terrestrial geology. Among the nerd-out items on display are the Apollo 11 command module, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis and the Wright brothers' plane.
Air & Space Museum Tip:
To avoid the bulk of the aviation-loving crowd, visit in the afternoon, as the museum is at its busiest in the mornings. Like much of DC, it’s also more crowded during the summer, so a winter visit all but guarantees you’ll enjoy a bit more breathing room among the historic planes and aviation artifacts. (while simultaneously beating DC’s oppressive summer heat.)
02.01.21
The best Smithsonian for kids and adults. It is the only place where you can touch a moon rock. It also has the original Wright brothers plane and you.. Read more » can walk around a small replica space station.
15.12.20
I love this museum! It is very child friendly. I just wish it wasn't closing when we got there.
26.11.20
It takes you into an interesting world when visiting the Air and Space Museum; it has a beauty and fascination of its own. I would love to visit it ag.. Read more »ain.
01.10.20
I want to thank our tour guide so much! His name is William Causey. He was a brilliant story-teller. The museum itself is just fabulous and beyond of .. Read more »any praise. You can easily spend here a day with your family. This is the place where you want to come back over and over.
30.09.20
If you are visiting Washington, DC and looking to visit some of their museums, then you have to add the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum to y.. Read more »our list of tourist destinations.
When visiting Washington, DC we decided to visit this museum. Firstly the entrance is free, but the amount of aircrafts and space crafts on display was mind blowing.
I have never experienced a museum that has got so much to see and experience. This was definitely one of my highlights when touring Washington, DC - so add this to your list when visiting - you won’t regret it.
24.09.20
There are a few museums that intrigue the mind and this one definitely does a great job of keeping one hooked with its exhibits and presentation. Bein.. Read more »g in science, it was tough to not be able to get some basic answers but overall it was a great learning experience. Probably one of my most favourite museums of the national mall and definitely worth a visit no age limit whatsoever.
22.09.20
Wow! That's a common statement from visitors when they enter the National Air and Space Museum.
It is a must-see destination in the region.
The Boeing.. Read more » Aviation Hangar has nearly 200 aircraft on display.
The Museum also has a restoration hangar with an overlook for watching the conservation work underway on a number of artifacts, which flew more missions than any other American plane during World War II.
The museum also displays a complete history of aircraft invention by Wright Brothers. Can see some tools and items used by them in the course of their invention.
11.09.20
Very great place, saw many things.
08.09.20
First of all anyone who remotely works at the Aerospace Industry must visit here! This place holds the origins of field of aerospace! The first plane .. Read more »in the world, the fastest plane in the world, the most expensive plane in the world and the most important planes of the world. This is an unbelievable museum that showcase so much history and I believe this Museum is indeed one of the greatest places on earth to study and get close to airplanes!
05.09.20
One of the best museums in DC. It's absolutely free.
05.09.20
You can learn a lot about space in a funny way!
02.09.20
Coolest museum ever!!
This is a great place for the kids you can spend hours here.
We were trapped in the museum because of a storm and we didn't even.. Read more » noticed.
26.08.20
One of the best museums to visit which showcases the history of aviation & space exploration, with displays of vehicles!!!
20.07.20
A great museum.. i had so much fun here seeing the wright brothers plane, a piece of moon space suits.. so many things. I really enjoyed myself here... Read more » An amazing place with amazing collection of things. Its so good for kids. Although its quite big and we need to walk to cover the whole place but its definitely worth it..
4.4 / 44
