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Embassy Row, Washington, DC

Photo: APK thinks he's ready for his closeup.', CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffFree

Embassy Row

Massachusetts Ave NW between Dupont Circle and Observatory Circle · Washington, DC

Why you should go…

Embassy Row is the stretch of Massachusetts Avenue NW between Dupont Circle and Observatory Circle where many of the city's diplomatic missions sit. The street was once called Millionaires' Row, and many of its mansions became embassies after the Great Depression. As you walk you pass statues of Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi outside their countries' embassies. Each May, Passport DC opens many embassy doors to the public.

  • #embassies
  • #walking tour
  • #historic district
  • #architecture

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 Embassy Row, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Dumbarton Oaks

    Free

    See Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art in a Georgetown mansion, then wander terraced gardens designed by Beatrix Farrand.

    0.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • 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.

    0.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Key Bridge Boathouse

    Under $25

    A Georgetown boathouse on the Potomac renting kayaks, canoes and paddleboards with guided tours available.

    0.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • 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.

    1.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Dupont Circle

    Free

    Sit by the marble fountain, watch a chess game and explore the galleries and embassies around this traffic circle park.

    1.5 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Marine Corps War Memorial

    Free

    See the 32-foot bronze figures raising the flag on Iwo Jima, a memorial to all Marines who have died since 1775.

    1.7 mi awayMore like this