We only offer accessible parking and do not have a public parking facility. We have limited parking set aside for vehicles bearing appropriate tags or placards for visitors with disabilities on the 4th Street Plaza outside of the East Building. 

All visitors must pass through security before entering our West or East Buildings.

Bags and other containers may be inspected after you pass through our security gates. 

Find a list of prohibited items under other visitor policies.

Free checkrooms are located at each entrance.

Visitors must check luggage, oversized bags, and items larger than 17 × 26 inches (43 × 66 centimeters), and any other items that cannot be carried reasonably and safely in the galleries.

Visitors must either keep umbrellas in their purses or backpacks or check them.

You cannot check laptops, cameras, fur coats, and other items of value. You may carry these items into the galleries. The National Gallery is not responsible for loss of or damage to items of any value.

The National Gallery reserves the right to refuse items and is not responsible for items held in the checkrooms.

Service animals are permitted in the East and West Buildings as well as in the Sculpture Garden.

All galleries and facilities are wheelchair accessible. The West Building’s 6th Street entrance and the East Building's 4th Street entrance have ramps to accommodate wheelchairs and strollers.

Courtesy wheelchairs are available at all entrances on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you are bringing your own stroller, ramps are available at the West Building’s 6th Street entrance and the East Building's 4th Street entrance.

Courtesy strollers are available at all of our entrances on a first-come, first-served basis. 

Cafés and restaurants are available in each building. Browse their offerings and hours.

You are welcome to bring a water bottle, but it must be kept concealed at all times. Otherwise, you may check it in a checkroom. Glass containers are not permitted.

Food and drink is only permitted in the National Gallery cafés and may not be carried into the galleries or auditoriums.

We offer free, daily guided tours. These one-hour tours meet in the Rotunda of the National Gallery’s West Building. For groups of 15 or more people, please schedule a group tour.

Public restrooms are available throughout our campus. Use a map to find the closest one. Baby changing stations are available in all our restrooms. Family restrooms are located on the East Building Mezzanine level, by the Cascade Café, and on the West Building's Main Floor.

A lactation room is available on the East Building's Concourse level by the Auditorium.

Backpacks must be worn on one shoulder. You are also welcome to check them in a checkroom.

Our dedicated staff are here to make your visit safe and enjoyable. Please treat them with respect. Abusive, harassing, discriminatory, or threatening language or behavior toward staff or other visitors will not be tolerated. Thank you for helping us create a positive and welcoming environment for all.

We offer free public Wi-Fi for your convenience across our campus. Accessible by selecting the “NGA_Public_WiFi” network.

Talking on mobile phones is not permitted in the galleries or auditoriums.

Photography for personal use (including use flash) is permitted except where noted. 

Monopods, tripods, and selfie sticks are not permitted inside the National Gallery buildings. Small tripods may be used by visitors on the National Gallery's outdoor grounds, including in the Sculpture Garden, except during heavily attended events.

The use of drones and other unmanned aerial devices or systems is prohibited on the property and grounds of the National Gallery.

Unless otherwise indicated, please do not touch the art.

Dirt, moisture, and other contaminants present on hands can stain or corrode the surfaces of artworks. Some works are more fragile than they appear, and even simple touching can cause permanent damage. Please keep a distance of about two feet from the art at all times.

Children may not be carried on the shoulders of another person or in a backpack child carrier. Unattended children under 12 years of age are not permitted in the galleries. Please keep your children with you at all times. 

Explore our tips for visiting with kids.

You are welcome to sketch in the galleries with pencils and dry media—please leave your ink and paints at home.

Groups of less than 15 people can join our free daily guided tours. For groups of 15 or more people, please schedule a free group tour.

We offer a range of free tours for school groups. Requests must be submitted at least four weeks in advance.

Browse our offerings and request a tour.

Independently led groups are always welcome. We ask that they yield to our guided tour groups in the galleries and follow all visitor policies.

Only service animals are allowed.

You may bring picnics and outside food into the outdoor Sculpture Garden. Outside food is not permitted in the Pavilion Café, which is an independently operated restaurant.

Alcoholic beverages brought from outside the Sculpture Garden are prohibited and subject to confiscation.
 

Unless otherwise indicated, please do not touch the art.

Dirt, moisture, and other contaminants present on hands can stain or corrode the surfaces of artworks. Some works are more fragile than they appear, and even simple touching can cause permanent damage. Please keep a distance of about two feet from the art at all times.

Do not use skates and skateboards or ride bicycles in the Sculpture Garden. (Walk beside your bicycle or secure it at one of the racks located near the Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive entrances.) 

Skates, skateboards, bicycles, and scooters are not permitted inside the Sculpture Garden during special events.

Our ice rink is open from late November to early March.

Please do not skate fast during busy sessions. 

Please skate in a counterclockwise direction and do not skate against the flow of traffic. 

Wristbands must be shown to a Rink Guard each time you enter. 

All instructions from Rink Guards must be adhered to at all times. Skaters must leave the ice promptly when requested. 

Skates are allowed only on the ice and black matting. No skates permitted outside of the holding area. 

Please do not carry food or drink onto the ice.  

Smoking and vaping are prohibited in the Sculpture Garden. 

No cameras, cell phones, handbags, backpacks, skating assisting devices may be taken onto the ice.  

Please do not hang clothing on the railings. 

Please do not crowd the railings or entrances to the ice. 

No more than two skaters may join hands. 

Jumps and spins are allowed only at center ice and during non-peak hours. 

An adult must accompany children under 12 years of age on the ice. 

Skaters must proceed promptly to the skaters' assembly area for removal of skates at the end of each session. 

Rental skates must be returned immediately after the session. 

Failure to follow any of the above rules will result in the immediate termination of your admission.
 

While on our campus, you may not:
•    Destroy, damage, or remove property

•    Climb on any part of the building or exhibits

•    Use loud or abusive language, or perform obscene or indecent acts

•    Loiter, sleep, or participate in unauthorized assemblies

•    Engage in disorderly conduct

•   Smoke or vape; use, possess, or sell illegal drugs

 While on our campus except sidewalks and designated grassy areas, you may not:
•    Protest or conduct a demonstration. The term “demonstration” includes demonstrations, picketing, speechmaking, marching, holding vigils or religious services and all other like forms of conduct that involve the communication or expression of views or grievances, engaged in by one or more persons, the conduct of which is reasonably likely to draw a crowd or onlookers.

•    Display or carry placards, signs, or banners

•    Solicit or advertise for commercial or charitable purposes or distribute advertisements, pamphlets, handbills, and flyers

•    Do not project images of any kind on National Gallery buildings or works of art.

While on our campus, you may not carry any of the following with you:
•   Aerosol containers or nonaerosol sprays (except prescriptions for medical needs)

•   Firearms, other dangerous or deadly weapons, or explosives, either openly or concealed. The prohibition on firearms applies to all visitors, including those with firearm permits; only active law enforcement personnel authorized to carry firearms while here on official duty are excepted.

•   Coolers of any size

•   Flags on poles or sticks that do not fit into a backpack

•   Cut or live flowers, plants, or produce

•   Dogs or other animals (except service animals). However, they are permitted on sidewalks.

We are open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. 

We are closed on December 25 and January 1.

Admission is free for all visitors. No tickets needed.