There’s something absolutely magical about stepping back into a beloved museum after it’s been closed for a while. We were thrilled to finally return to the National Gallery of Art in DC, and let me tell you, it felt like reconnecting with an old friend. Even better? The journey there was ridiculously easy—we just hopped on the bus from our Airbnb in Columbia Heights and boom, we were downtown surrounded by some of the world’s most incredible masterpieces.
Getting There Was Half the Fun
Okay, maybe not half the fun (the art definitely wins), but seriously, snagging the bus from Columbia Heights? Chef’s kiss. It’s one of those perfect DC moves where you’re living the local life without the hassle of parking. We rolled up to the museum relaxed and ready to dive into the galleries.
The Highlights Tour: A Masterclass in Art History
We decided to start with a guided tour of the highlights, which was exactly what we needed to ease back into museum life. Our guide was fantastic—knowledgeable without being stuffy—and we got to see some genuinely iconic pieces. The National Gallery’s collection is honestly encyclopedic, with over 140,000 works of art spanning from medieval times all the way to contemporary pieces.
We wandered through the West Wing and took in everything from Renaissance masterpieces to European classics. There were works by Leonardo da Vinci, Vermeer, Rembrandt, and so many more. The sheer scale of it all is mind-blowing—the main floor alone has 90 galleries! We definitely didn’t see everything (you’d need weeks for that), but hitting the highlights gave us that perfect overview to remind us why we fell in love with this place in the first place.
The French Impressionism Tour: A Walk Through Beauty
Then came the real treat—our French Impressionism tour. Walking into those galleries filled with Monets, Renoirs, and Degas paintings is like stepping into a dream. The National Gallery currently features these incredible Impressionist works in their permanent galleries, and there’s also a special exhibition that’s been drawing crowds.
Our guide talked us through how these revolutionary artists completely broke from tradition and challenged the art establishment. We’re talking about artists who were basically the rebels of their time, rejecting the formal constraints of the Paris Salon and doing their own thing. When you see a Monet water lily painting in person, or a Renoir capturing a fleeting moment in soft brushstrokes, you totally get why these artists changed everything. The light, the color, the movement—it’s all right there on the canvas.
Grace’s American Art Discovery
While I was taking a quick trip home to check on the dog, Grace split off to take a separate guided tour of American Art, and she came back absolutely buzzing with excitement. The National Gallery has an amazing collection of American works spanning from the 18th and 19th centuries onward, featuring everything from landscapes to portraits. She was particularly taken with some of the works and couldn’t stop talking about the uniqueness of American artistic perspectives. It’s one of the cool things about the museum—there’s truly something for everyone, and you can customize your experience based on what speaks to you.
Free, Fabulous, and Always Worth the Visit
Here’s something we always love reminding people: admission to the National Gallery of Art is completely free. Yep, you can wander through world-class galleries without spending a dime. That alone makes it a no-brainer DC destination, but the actual collection? That’s just the cherry on top.
The guided tours really enhanced our experience too. They take what might otherwise be an overwhelming sea of art and turn it into a coherent, engaging story. Plus, our guide’s enthusiasm was contagious—by the time we were done, we were already planning our next visit.
The Verdict
After time away, returning to the National Gallery felt like coming home. There’s something humbling about being surrounded by so much beauty and history—pieces created centuries ago that somehow still speak to us today. Between the easy bus ride from Columbia Heights, the stellar guided tours, and the pure joy of being back in those magnificent galleries, this visit checked every single box on our DC travel bucket list.
If you’re in Washington and you haven’t checked out the National Gallery, do yourself a favor and go. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or just someone who appreciates beautiful things, it’s absolutely worth your time. And if you do go, maybe catch one of their guided tours—it genuinely makes all the difference.