How to Spend a Weekend Museum-Hopping in DC

Home to one of the world's largest museum complexes, the Smithsonian, our nation's capital is undoubtedly one of the world's best cities for art lovers. Washington, DC, is also home to a host of lesser-known gems, showcasing everything from classical art to edgy modern creations, housed in architecturally noteworthy buildings.

Staying at the Motto by Hilton Washington DC City Center, conveniently located in the central Penn Quarter neighborhood, puts visitors within a short walk or Metro ride from many of these attractions — and more. Penn Quarter's name comes from its southern boundary of Pennsylvania Avenue, meaning the hotel is only a few blocks away from the White House. (It's also located next to Chinatown and across from the Capital One Arena.) The cozy and comfortable compact rooms in the Motto by Hilton come with smart TVs, while the hotel's Crimson Coffee Bar offers a place to fuel up before a day of museum hopping. After you've completed a successful day of admiring paintings and sculpture gardens, unwind with a cocktail and view of the Washington Monument at the hotel's rooftop bar, Crimson View, or in the underground Crimson Whiskey Bar.

But first, the museums: Here are 10 must-visits to guarantee you leave DC more cultured than when you arrived.

Miami art collectors Don and Mera Rubell expanded their reach to DC last year when opening this museum in a former high school. Inside, you'll find works from some well-known contemporary artists as well as two new thought-provoking exhibits. 

This Georgetown museum and garden specializes in Byzantine and pre-Columbian art, whose treasures include gold and silver communion vessels, stone sculptures, and architectural panels. Check the museum schedule to attend one of its scholarly lectures to learn more about collections at the museum (which is also a Harvard research institute).

This immersive art space near the Wharf puts visitors in the middle of its exhibits, the latest of which is inspired by images from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope and accompanied by a galactic musical score. Download the Artechouse XR app on your smartphone ahead of time to make the art — and cocktails — in the XR Bar come to life.

With interactive exhibits that take visitors on undercover missions, the International Spy Museum lets guests carry out their childhood dreams of becoming secret agents. Concealed cameras, a lipstick case that doubles as a pistol, and a coin with a hidden blade are some of the spy tools on display at the Southwest Waterfront museum, located about a mile from the Motto by Hilton.

The former mansion of heiress and philanthropist Marjorie Merriweather Post overlooking Rock Creek Park has been turned into a sumptuous museum filled with Russian Imperial art, 18th-century French porcelain, and English furniture. Save time to explore the 25 acres of seasonal blooms, shrubs, and trees, followed by a meditative walk among the sculptures and pagodas in the Japanese-style garden.

It should come as no surprise that a museum dedicated to architecture, engineering, and design would make a stunning impression. Located just a block from the Motto by Hilton, the National Building Museum's Great Hall features eight 75-foot tall Corinthian columns surrounded by a two-story arcade modeled after a 16th-century Italian palazzo. Visitors of all ages will enjoy exhibits on the connection between play and design, houses and domestic life in America, and another that recreates cities around the world using Lego bricks.

This intimate Dupont Circle museum houses a large collection of Impressionist and modern art, with nearly 6,000 works by the likes of Georgia O'Keeffe, Edgar Degas, Vincent Van Gogh, and Pablo Picasso. This fall, the museum will revamp its Rothko Room, designed in collaboration with the artist himself, with three new paintings from his children's collection. Another exhibit, "African Modernism in America, 1947-67" examines the artistic exchanges and shared experiences of modern African artists and American patrons, featuring more than 70 artworks. It runs through January 7, 2024.

It's worth making the 40-minute drive (or 1.5 hours by public transportation) to this suburban Maryland museum, whose minimalist design lets it blend in with the surrounding 300 acres of forests and trails. Follow the outdoor paths to view the towering and awe-inspiring sculptures, such as "Split-Rocker," a 37-foot tall Jeff Koons masterpiece that fuses the heads of two different toy rockers — a pony and a dinosaur — that are encased with flowers. Inside lies a collection of thought-provoking modern and contemporary art.

This seven-year-old Smithsonian museum makes a striking impression with a shape inspired by the crown of the Yoruba tribe of West Africa and collections that examine how the African American experience shaped US history. Current exhibit "Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures" examines the influence of more than 100 works of music, theater, television, literature, and fashion on American culture. Stop off at the adjacent Washington Monument on the 30-minute walk to the museum from the hotel.

Located just steps from the White House and a mile from the Motto by Hilton, the Renwick's historic 19th-century building contains contemporary American craft and decorative art. Inside is also one of the Smithsonian museum's current exhibits, "Sharing Honors and Burdens," which features six Native American artists as part of the annual Renwick Invitational series that showcases new and mid-career artists.