The Best Hotels to Book Near the Smithsonian Museums

The Smithsonian American Art Museum is a next-door neighbor to the Riggs Washington DC, a hotel with a storied history. It was built as the once-presidential Riggs Bank, but after that fell from grace, the premises found fresh purpose. The vault is now a bar, the offices are upscale rooms, and the elegant lobby forms a unique reception area. The rooms all have designs which evoke their banking past, and incorporate whimsical flourishes of contemporary creativity.

On a corner overlooking both the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Capital One Arena, the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington DC, with its neoclassical colonnaded exterior, cuts a chic figure. Within, there’s a distinct flavor of Ancient Greek creative sensibilities – witness the meander patterns on pillows and headboards and, in some rooms, the bust of a lion overhanging the bed. Amenities go above and beyond expectations, with yoga mats, an electric car charging station and free bike hire.

Stepping foot in the Henley Park Hotel is a little like stepping back in time, which makes it the ideal stay for history buffs visiting the Smithsonian museums. The aim of the hotel’s proprietors is to replicate the resplendence of a Tudor mansion, and the exterior of the building, which dates to 1918, is thus covered with creative flourishes, including stone gargoyles and stained glass. The rooms offer plenty of space while taking a more contemporary approach when it comes to standards of comfort.

If you’d prefer to stay in a self-contained apartment, rather than a hotel, the National at Penn Quarter has one- and two-bedroom options. It’s just two blocks from the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, so you can return to your accommodation after a long day of exploration, cook a meal in the kitchen and eat at the dining table – or opt for a TV dinner in the sitting room.

For a more autonomous Washington DC vacation, camp down at the Residence Inn, where suites are available for stays both long and short. Tall refrigerators in the kitchens are perfect for storing food bought at the on-site grocery store, while the kitchen is fully equipped for cooking your favorite meals. If you’d prefer to let someone else handle the prep, a free breakfast is included in the room price each day, and there are plenty of restaurants nearby.

The Smithsonian museums of Air and Space, and of African Art, are just a few blocks from the Hyatt Place hotel. And while a visit to either will entail plenty of walking, you’ll be able to return to an excellent on-site fitness center, for that little more exercise. In fact, the team at the Hyatt have anticipated plenty of their guests’ needs – enjoy its rooftop bar with cityscape views, and bedrooms that contain a separate living room and work space.

The Country Inn & Suites is a great option for visitors to the US capital who are arriving by car. The hotel lies just off the Capital Beltway and is moments from Branch Avenue metro station, making it easy to leave the car behind and escape the gridlock of the inner city when visiting the Smithsonian museums. Rooms are simple and modern, and pose better value for money than their more central counterparts.

Westin Crystal City is a good outlier hotel, located right next to a metro station for visiting the Smithsonian museums and just one mile (1.6km) from Reagan National Airport. Nature-themed art decorates the spacious, earth-toned rooms, while modern lighting creates a warm ambience. Unusually, the wifi is not free at this hotel, but the network is fast and reliable.