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Dupont Circle, Washington, DC

Photo: AgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingLocal GemFree

Dupont Circle

Intersection of Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire Aves NW · Washington, DC

Why you should go…

Dupont Circle is a park at the meeting point of Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire Avenues with P and 19th Streets NW. At its center is a white marble memorial fountain to Rear Admiral Samuel F. Dupont, designed by Henry Bacon and sculpted by Daniel Chester French, with a bowl held up by figures of The Sea, The Wind and The Stars. You will find permanent stone chessboards for public play, and a weekly farmers market sets up on nearby 20th Street NW.

  • #city park
  • #fountain
  • #neighborhood
  • #farmers market
  • #chess

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Dupont Circle, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    Date Night

    The Phillips Collection

    Under $25

    See Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party and the Rothko Room in a Dupont Circle house museum.

    0.2 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
    Rainy-Day Pick

    Renwick Gallery

    Free

    See American craft and decorative art in a National Historic Landmark building steps from the White House.

    0.7 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    The White House

    Free

    Tour the State Floor rooms of the president's home, including the Blue, Red and Green Rooms, on a free tour requested ahead of time.

    0.9 mi awayMore like this

  • Nightlife
    Free

    Adams Morgan

    Free

    Bar-hop, eat and browse vintage and record shops along 18th Street and Columbia Road, lined with rowhouses and murals.

    0.9 mi awaySwitch it up: Nightlife

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    National Cherry Blossom Festival

    Free

    Annual spring celebration around DC's Tidal Basin with cherry blossoms, a parade and cultural events.

    1.1 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Free

    Georgetown

    Free

    Stroll cobblestone side streets, shop and eat along M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, and follow the C&O Canal down to the Potomac waterfront.

    1.2 mi awayMore like this