Plan Your Visit
Located in the historic Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC, Dumbarton Oaks is the legacy of Robert and Mildred Bliss, philanthropists and collectors of art. The Gardens, designed by renowned landscape gardener Beatrix Farrand, is an oasis within the city. Explore sixteen acres of terraced gardens and vistas, orchards and kitchen gardens, and a vast wilderness of meadows and wooded pathways. The Museum is home to a world-class collection of Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art, housed in magnificent galleries. From the tapestries and paintings in the Renaissance inspired Music Room to the graceful lines and natural sunlight of the Pre-Columbian Gallery, visitors can admire art dating back to antiquity, as well as innovative special exhibitions.
Dumbarton Oaks welcomes individuals with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you would like to request accommodations or have questions about the physical access provided, please see our Accessibility page.
Dumbarton Oaks strives to provide an excellent experience for visitors of all ages. To ensure a safe and comfortable experience for all visitors, we do not allow nudity or clothing with profanity or images/text that promote violence. All visitors must wear appropriate footwear while in the museum.
Guided Tours
Museum Shop
Frequently Asked Questions
Accessibility
Hours and Tickets
Museum
Open 11:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Tuesday–Sunday, except for federal holidays.
Admission to the Museum is free.
Museum Shop
Open 2:00–5:00 p.m., Wednesday–Friday; 12:00–5:00 p.m., Saturday, except for federal holidays.
Gardens
Winter Season (November 1–March 14)
Open 2:00–5:00 p.m., Tuesday–Sunday, except for federal holidays. The Gardens may close in hazardous conditions.
Admission to the gardens in the Winter Season is free and no tickets are required.
Regular Season (March 15–October 31)
Open 2:00–6:00 p.m., Tuesday–Sunday, except for federal holidays. The Gardens may close in hazardous conditions.
Daily tickets are $7 and required for visitors to the Gardens March 15 through October 31. Admission is free for children 2 years and under.
Planning to visit frequently? Save on admission by purchasing a season pass. Rates are:
- $7 Individual Daily Ticket
- $75 Individual Season Pass
- $95 Double Season Pass
- $110 Family Season Pass
The Gardens are closed to the public for Dumbarton Oaks internal events on:
- Thursday, September 21
- Friday, September 22
- Saturday, September 23
- Tuesday, September 26
- Wednesday, September 27
- Thursday, September 28
- Thursday, October 5
- Friday, October 6
- Saturday, October 7
Holiday Closures
In 2023–2024, the Museum and Gardens are closed on the following days:
- Tuesday, July 4, 2023 (US Independence Day)
- Friday, November 10 (Veterans Day)
- Thursday, November 23 (Thanksgiving Day)
- Wednesday, June 19, 2024 (Juneteenth)
Getting Here
Parking
Dumbarton Oaks does not have parking facilities for visitors. Two-hour street parking is available. There is no time limit on Sunday, but the District of Columbia is efficient about ticketing over the two-hour limit in this zone on weekdays and Saturdays. Additional parking information can be found on the Georgetown tourism website.
Bus
D.C. Metrobus routes 31, 33, 30N, and 30S, and the Georgetown Circulator, have a stop at Wisconsin Avenue and R Street. Metrobus routes D1, D2, and D3 stop at Q and 31st Streets, and the G2 route stops at P and 31st Streets.
Metro
The Dupont Circle metro station (red line) and the Foggy Bottom-GWU metro station (blue/orange/silver lines) are closest to Dumbarton Oaks. Visitors may either walk from the stations, or transfer to a Metrobus: D1, D2, D3, D6, and G2 (Dupont Circle), and 31, 33, 30N, 30S, and Georgetown Circulator (Foggy Bottom-GWU).
Bicycle
Dumbarton Oaks offers secure bicycle racks at the entrances to both the museum and gardens. The nearest Capital Bikeshare station is located two blocks from the museum entrance, at Wisconsin Avenue and 34th Street.
Airports
Three airports serve the DC metropolitan area. In order of distance from Dumbarton Oaks, these are: Reagan National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Baltimore–Washington International Airport (BWI). To arrive at Dumbarton Oaks, you can take a taxi, Super Shuttle (from Dulles and BWI), or public transportation.
- From Reagan National, take the blue line to the Foggy Bottom-GWU metro station.
- From Dulles, take the Dulles International Silver Line Express bus to the Wiehle-Reston East metro station (silver line); take the silver line to the Foggy Bottom-GWU metro station.
- From Baltimore–Washington, there are two options: (1) Take the B30 bus to the Greenbelt metro station (green line), and then change to the orange/blue/silver lines at the Archives/Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter metro station in order to arrive at Foggy Bottom-GWU. (2) Alternatively, take a Marc or Amtrak train from BWI to Union Station, and take the red line to the Dupont Circle metro station.
Photography Policy
Commercial, promotional, and professional photography (including for engagements, weddings, and other special events) are not permitted, but photography for personal use (such as photography of the landscape or objects) is welcome. Flash photography and video cameras are not allowed in the museum but may be used in the garden. Photographs may be posted to personal websites and blogs, and to social media.
Tripods, lights, reflectors, and other bulky photography equipment are not permitted on the property.
For digital or print publication, including scholarly and educational use, please refer to Rights and Reproductions.