A museum where the works of masters of various art schools and time periods are collected. Here are exhibited sculptures, paintings, photographs, graphic drawings of both American and European artists. In total, the National Gallery of Art has about 1,200 paintings. This is mainly the work of French, Italian and American masters.
Address:
Constitution Avenue Northwest, Washington
Phone:
+1 202-737-4215
Comment
09.09.23
Megan
I don't think it is possible to convey how much incredible art exists in this museum through a simple review.
My best advice when attending: listen to the museum staff who give you a map and make suggestions on what to see. Explore your way to .. Read more »those suggestions and you'll find so many amazing pieces. Give yourself lots of time.
05.09.23
Anastasiia
The National Gallery of Art in D.C. is a fantastic spot for art lovers. They've got a diverse collection from different times and cool architecture. The best part? It's free to get in! Great place to explore and learn about art.
23.08.23
MJG
This art gallery is fantastic. The sculptures are top notch and the variety is huge. The architecture here is very nice. We witnessed a lady painting while we were there.
There are interactive screens for kids too. A beautiful tunnel with neat light.. Read more »s on a flat conveyor belt. The food court features a unique water feature which you can see outside and inside.
This gallery is highly recommended, especially if you are any sort of history lover.
5/5.
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13.08.23
Aggie
National Gallery of Art is absolutely a world class art museum. It is huge with west building exhibiting European and American masterpieces and East building exhibiting modern and contemporary artworks. In my recent visit I only visited the west buil.. Read more »ding. I was mesmerized by the massive collections of the masterpieces. There are paintings and sculptures by all the famous artists. The building itself is beautiful neoclassical style with a large rotunda. You can easily spend a full day there. And the most importantly, it’s free! It’s no doubt a treasure to Washington DC and a must visit place when visiting DC.
19.07.23
H.
We've wanted to go to this museum for a long time, but we've only just been able to go. We will go again, especially since we couldn't catch the butterfly section. other chapters human history, diversity of animals, visual effects were.. Read more » very good. skeletons of dinosaurs and models of animals were superb. It is necessary to come early in the morning.
13.06.23
Maja
Wonderful and magical place where you can enjoy some of the world’s most beautiful paintings and pieces of art, by the biggest artists throughout the history. So worth visiting. They also have nice museum shop and restaurant. Free admission, wh.. Read more »ich is really nice. You don’t have an excuse not to visit! Enjoy :-)
11.02.23
Deborah
This is an extremely expansive art gallery, with multiple levels and two different buildings. You could easily spend hours here and not see it all. There is really something for everyone who likes art or history. There are amazing paintings and sculp.. Read more »tures from every time period. I appreciate that there are benches to sit many different places. There are fountains with plants, a water fountain that goes behind a glass wall downstairs in the Cafe, and twinkle lights over a moving sidewalk. Restrooms are available on each floor. Food and drink is limited to the cafes. You can bring your own food and drink if it's closed in your bag. You do go through a metal detector upon entry and are subject to a bag search, but that was a speedy process for us. I especially enjoyed the impressionists art- Degas and Monet in particular. There is currently a photography and a furniture exhibit as well. The sculpture garden is worth walking through outside, and it is fun to go to the top tower level and see the Big blue rooster and city view. It was not crowded, even though we were there on a holiday.
11.02.23
Roderick
Was great to get to DC today. The weather was overcast but not too cool. Also it was very busy downtown with the Presidents Day holiday but the Museums did a great job handling the crowds.
I dont get to the Museums often so it was a treat to get dow.. Read more »n to the National Gallery. I think I always see different pictures than the last time I visited or at least see some in a different way. There were a number which I posted already and are now some of my favorites. Particularly the few that I have of various nature scenes including forests and oceans.
I was no so keen to note who painted them, just tried to enjoy them for what they were.
Oh, and there is a blue rooster...so, enjoy that too. I would have taken a shot of the front of it but that is too close to the edge of the roof where the rooster is perched and heights and I are not friends. So enjoy the back of the Blue Rooster. :)
If it's been a while, you should get down and check it out!
Also, we tried to go to the Air and Space Museum but they require timed entry tickets which you would need to get online. So, FYI, if you want to go there, plan ahead!
13.01.23
Kierlyn
My favorite place on museum row. Plenty of gorgeous art and it takes a solid three hours to even glimpse it all. The cafe is lovely for a sit and think, but I prefer finding a secluded gallery and bringing a book. All free and great views. Always use.. Read more » this as an escape from the city. Plenty of Monet, Van Gogh, and Degas.
24.12.22
Gary
Both Galleries were delightful.
They offered insights into the artwork and some fantastic works of art.
Neither gallery was busy and there was plenty to see, despite the renovations to both inside and outside of the gallery.
This is Definitely one of.. Read more » the better galleries to visit.
17.11.22
Ilya
An endless maze of masterpieces. For the duration of three hours I was strolling around with a gaping open mouth. This is easily the best museum I've ever been to in America. Each floor and gallery had at least one spectacular piece, and the Ame.. Read more »rican section was good for once. If you had to choose just one museum to visit in DC, go here.
20.09.22
Sean
Want to give 5 stars but after walking the entire West building, looking for an open entrance, I ended up going to the East building. A great range of art for many tastes. I loved seeing not one but two pieces from Magritte. Many pieces from Picasso .. Read more »(not my personal favorite). A room of Modigliani. I didn’t get to finish but I would recommend it as a place to visit.
29.08.22
Ola
I had a great experience in this museum while i was visiting. I think a person will need 3-4 hours to go around every section and both building. The employees there where great and very helpful guiding me through the museum. There is a coffee shop or.. Read more » two there for people to rest and talk. The location of the museum is great as it’s surrounded by other museums as well. It’s a must for visitors!
19.03.22
Connor
Worth the visit for the Sargent paintings alone. No other painter does more with less; every stroke and mark contributes abundantly to an image that uses impression and simplicity to evoke a very complex response. His portraits come alive, and there .. Read more »is no bias in his likenesses. You gaze into the faces of his subjects and feel you know them like you would a parent or sibling. His understanding and mastery of face and figure are unmatched. And his are just a few of the impressive works in this massive, completely free museum.
13.02.22
Terry
AWESOME art. Absolutely unbelievable to witness these masterpieces in real life. I was astonished by the gift shop as well. Most people that know me know that I LOVE gift shops, and this one was definitely one of my new favorites. It had all the diff.. Read more »erent art related things a person could think of. Absolutely would recommend this gallery to any art lover.
24.01.22
Kathryn
The National Gallery of Art is a great stop for any history or art lover. Boasting many different paintings from the biggest artists, the gallery is expansive and well-curated. I spent a couple of hours here and could easily have spent more time here.. Read more ». I would recommend planning ahead to locate the galleries that are a must-see for you, as after a couple of hours, it's easy to get fatigued by how many pieces there are.
For history lovers, check out the presidential portraits by Gilbert Stuart and the famous painting of Marie Antoinette. I also recommend touring the galleries on the lower floor, where there are beautiful Degas and Rodin sculptures and early Colonial furniture.
20.01.22
Nay
Absolutely must visit if you love art and it's FREE! I saw a Davinci painting for the first time here with nobody around. It's very peaceful. There's also a FREE baggage deposit area so don't worry about your coats and bags.
You .. Read more »can get a free map that will allow you to go through each section based on the era of the paintings. You can easily spend a whole day here. So many things to see. Additionally there's also an amazing free audio guide under some paintings that you can listen to which is fantastic.
There's also another floor under dedicated to sculptures which is also very interesting.
There's free WiFi in the premises. Also souvenir shops and food place. Plus, it's also next to the Smithsonian museum so you can see both in one day.
20.10.21
Jay
Of course can’t go wrong. Very historic and great place. Should visit at least once and it’s an iconic place to see also. Everyone seems nice and the place is clean. For sure can go and spend a few hours depending on if art is your thing .. Read more »or not. I don’t appreciate art as much as I should but this is iconic so it was well worth it!
18.10.21
Flying
WOW! Just wow! This museum is so wonderful! Everything is accessible and easy to view. The staff was exceptional! So friendly and helpful! And able to answer all our questions. We only had time for one wing, but can't wait to come back and finis.. Read more »h!
17.10.21
Andrew
So much to see. Take your time but don't dawdle or you will tire before you see it all! I posted my favorites and lesser known pieces I liked; and ones I want to know more about. Be sure to look at the frames and the floors. Some of the frames a.. Read more »re amazing and the floors are beautiful wood. Decent place for kids under 12 but the might need help understanding why these are great works. Good Cafe with a nice Kale and chicken salad.
30.09.21
Jason
What an amazing privilege to be able to just walk up for FREE and wander among such beautiful surroundings and see so many incredible world-famous pieces of artwork!! My only two suggestions are (1) wish they were open past 5PM but appreciate they .. Read more »let you enter almost right up until the deadline and (2) frankly, a little surprised the security screening is so light and casual (almost none of the artwork is behind glass or barriers) as we had a backpack and poster tube and just walked right through the metal detector and kept going (love it is so easy and hope/pray our community proves worthy of this trust).
07.09.21
R
I’ve been to the Gallery of Art a few times now, and it really just never gets old. It would also take at least one entire day to truly get through everything that’s there (the museum is HUGE, and has more than one building), so when I sa.. Read more »y it never gets old it’s the honest truth. There’s something new pretty much every time because there’s a back corner or section you accidentally missed the previous time. This place is beyond easy to get lost in.
It’s definitely an iconic Smithsonian, and worth seeing. But again- this place is massive! Schedule a big chunk of your day if you want to see a lot of it, or else prioritize the works you want to see and grab a building map to help you stay on track (there’s a good chance you’ll still get a little lost).
You get to see some true, original and iconic pieces here. I think it’s also fun seeing where the Gallery got the pieces from. If you’re at all a souvenir person you’d better also visit the gift shop (again, view the building map and follow signs because it can be tough to find). Love this maze of a museum!
29.07.21
Jamie
Being immersed within such fine, original pieces of art was awe inspiring. It reminded me how essential for the human soul that art is in our world. Breathing in this history and beauty was priceless. The layout of this museum allowed for space to ta.. Read more »ke in each piece and time period. The staff was helpful, quiet, and kind. This place was one of my favorite places on the National Mall for sure and I want to go back!
21.07.21
Maria
This was the highlight of my visit. I could've easily spent days here without getting bored. This place is absolutely stunning. You can go right in, the entrance is always free and you can head right into the art rooms. There is wide collection .. Read more »of pantings, sculptures, prints. There are two buildings, the west building showcases European and American pieces from the as late as the middle ages. The east building hosts modern art.
13.07.21
M
Can't say enough about the incredible collection here. It's a very sizable gallery, so be prepared to spend a whole day on each building. The exhibits really flow if you follow the order of the rooms. Definitely a good summer activity for D.. Read more »C due to the heat outside, but the modern wing had one small section on the upper level that is outside. Don't skip over the sculptural and furniture gallery, its just as interesting as the paintings!
07.07.21
Daniel
I like that they have expo on the roof of east building which is more of modern art. West is more traditional, going back to ancient. Plus, the sculpture garden. It's pretty much three starkly different parts.
However, it has not seemed like the.. Read more »y changed much the exhibition since we have been there last time some 3 years ago.
31.05.21
Alejandra
Beautiful museum! I entered 15 minutes after my timed entry ticket and had no problem getting in (so if you’re running reasonably late, I think it’s fine). It was a bit crowded at times, but everyone had masks on and the staff was very he.. Read more »lpful. I even found some quiet corners to sit and look at the artwork in peaceful silence. The cafe and souvenir shop downstairs are both open.
26.05.21
Paul
Amazing collection of art. Iconic pieces and lesser known works - the scope is huge. Pieces from almost every major artist are on display.
20.05.21
Taylan
Amazing place. National Gallery of Art is a "must visit" place once you visit DC. So plan accordingly. Also I recommend a long visit since there are quite a lot galleries inside.
09.05.21
Rikk
free admission is always a bonus going to museums and reserving tickets online was super easy! getting through the main entrance was also super easy and the staff were so kind and helpful!!
so many great works to see and there’s so much you ca.. Read more »n view!!
i would love to come back soon!
make sure to not wear any backpack bags if you show up unless you don’t mind holding them in your arms in front of you!!
10.12.20
Jeremiah
DC can be a busy place, especially on vacation weeks. As an educator it is one of my favorite locations to go for a long weekend or short visit. While the Smithsonian is great it can get really busy. The National Art Gallery, while on the mall is not.. Read more » part of the Smithsonian. So it is never overwhelmingly packed, quiet, and enjoyable. They have hundreds of rooms that you can get lost in with some of the great masterpieces and little known ones that might end up being your favorite. They have a beautiful indoor courtyard garden which is a refreshing environment in a busy city and an amazing Cafe. You must make your way from the main building to the modern art building by way of through the museum shop and the cafeteria. Stop for some delicious Gelato before you continue through the light tunnel to the modern building.
03.12.20
pcdubya
What a great experience. To be able to view all of this in one area is amazing, the art and the building itself. As frustrated as I get with "Washington" as an entity, touring Washington DC and all of these sights, re instills your faith.. Read more » somewhat, of what can be done.
21.11.20
As
This museum is huge! It was a lot of walking but so many beautiful paintings from different eras. Going here was such a wonderful birthday present. I would love to go back since certain exhibits were closed off. So I hope once things get better I can.. Read more » return and see everything. The gift shop was very nice also. All of the workers seem so helpful.
07.11.20
c
This place is amazing!!! I really enjoyed the portraits and information of the Presidents and First Ladies. Michelle Obama’s portrait really stands out!! It does take a good while to go through the museum, so it’s probably best to take a .. Read more »couple of trips to truly take in everything.
20.10.20
Ava
This is my favorite Smithsonian museum.
The National Gallery of Art is one of the largest art museums in the world. Best thing about it is that it's free. You can come as much as you want and not have to pay up each time.
In addition to the outs.. Read more »tanding permanent exhibitions, there are wonderful rotating exhibits. What a wonderful, wonderful place to spend a few hours. Especially if the outside world is hectic. All the more reason to come in here.
18.10.20
Joshua
So happy to be able to view art in a museum. The kind gentleman at the front directed me to the website to reserve a time of entrance. All the security guards inside were nice and cheerful. It was all really quite pleasant.
10.10.20
Marjorie
I have had an awesome opportunity to watch this tremendous exposition, they have beautiful arts of numerous recognize artist as El Greco, Da Vinci among others.
FREE ADMISION
03.10.20
Halsey
The delicately displayed work of the Impressionists is certainly moving. Particularly, Monet's Woman with a Parasol evokes faded memories of lost childhood which may be hard to access without such a medium. That said, the best work of art in Ame.. Read more »rica is Brady's spiral, brother. Go Pats.
29.09.20
Christopher
This and the National Portrait Gallery are among my favorite art museums worldwide. Carefully laid out and deliciously intimate. Worth many visits to both the East and West wings.
17.09.20
Maria
I am so happy the NGA is open again. My husband and I decided to spend our Saturday date walking over to the museum and taking in an exhibit or two. We reserved tickets online a couple of weeks in advance (they get released at 10 am on Mondays for th.. Read more »e /following/ week). We arrived at 11:30 and decided to have lunch first (it took us 1.5 hours to walk there so we needed rest and fuel) and browse the museum store which has a lot of cute knick knacks and interesting books. We then walked through the furniture exhibit (it’s okay, not really for us), took a quick look at the impressionist still lifes (cute puppies, fruit and oysters), and spent the rest of the time (about an hour) in the True to Nature exhibit. This is a very nice collection of ‘amateur’ paintings of a variety of natural features in the Italian and French countryside. We would have liked to see the Degas exhibit but decided to save it for next time as our legs were quite tired. All of the staff were super friendly and I personally LOVED how few people were there. To be honest, I hope they stick with ticketed/limited entry into the future because it greatly increases the quality of the experience. Highly recommended way to get out of the house! I feel like I just spent an hour in the Mediterranean ?
14.09.20
Divyanshu
It has so many great exhibits and is presented in such a great manner. Despite the numbering and guiding maps as well the helpful employees , it is very east to get lost in the plethora of paintings. You can also frame the art as I found great angles.. Read more » to photograph the presentation itself.
It’s good to have a plan if you want to cover a certain range of exhibits as the museum is quite large. The guides are very insightful and knowledgeable and were able to guide me to exhibits based on my likes and intrigues. They do have a good collection of Van Gogh as well as a piece from Leonardo Da Vinci.
There is an extension of this museum, which is a definite yes yes as it holds all the portraits of US presidents as well another set of impressive art and sculptures. There are a number of cafes within the establishment for a welcome break.
11.09.20
Marie
This is my favorite Smithsonian museum.
The National Gallery of Art is one of the largest art museums in the world. Best thing about it is that it's free. You can come as much as you want and not have to pay up each time.
In addition to the outs.. Read more »tanding permanent exhibitions, there are wonderful rotating exhibits. What a wonderful, wonderful place to spend a few hours. Especially if the outside world is hectic. All the more reason to come in here.
09.09.20
Jean
COVID protections felt adequate, I really appreciate the effort in order to open. Right now, it is just one floor and the Degas at the Opera. So glad I was able to be return to this wonderful institution.
28.08.20
Gary
Limited exhibits on display at this time due to virus although there is currently a really good exhibit for those Degas fans....
4.9 / 74
