United States
District of Columbia (DC)
Washington DC
Things to Do in Washington DC
Old Post Office Pavilion
See all things to do

Old Post Office Pavilion

See all things to do
See all things to do
Old Post Office Pavilion
4
#62 of 676 things to do in Washington DC
Historic SitesArchitectural BuildingsObservation Decks & Towers
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Write a review
About
Historic 1899 building where visitors can go up to the clock tower for dramatic views of D.C.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
Top ways to experience Old Post Office Pavilion
See all
The area
Address
Neighborhood: Cleveland Park
How to get there
  • Federal Triangle • 1 min walk
  • Archives • 6 min walk
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
2,674 within 5 kms
Barmini
284
0.4 km₱₱₱₱ • American • Bar
Central Michel Richard
955
0.1 km₱₱ - ₱₱₱ • French • Contemporary • Vegetarian friendly
Ristorante TOSCA
671
0.3 km₱₱₱₱ • Italian • Vegetarian friendly • Vegan options
Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse
1,672
0.1 km₱₱₱₱ • Steakhouse • Brazilian • Latin
The Oceanaire Seafood Room
845
0.4 km₱₱₱₱ • Steakhouse • Seafood • Vegetarian friendly
Jaleo by José Andrés
2,637
0.5 km₱₱ - ₱₱₱ • Latin • Mediterranean • Spanish
District Taco
498
0.5 km₱ • Quick Bites • Mexican • Fast Food
Nando's PERi-PERi
586
0.5 km₱ • Quick Bites • International • Portuguese
Rasika
2,926
0.6 km₱₱₱₱ • Indian • Contemporary • Vegetarian friendly
matchbox
1,501
0.5 km₱₱ - ₱₱₱ • American • Bar • Pizza
See all
Attractions
865 within 10 kms
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
12,572
0.3 kmNatural History Museums
National Children's Museum
42
0.2 kmScience Museums • Children's Museums
National Capital Barbecue Battle
6
0.2 kmFood & Drink Festivals
Ford's Theatre
4,427
0.3 kmHistoric Sites • Theaters
FBI Headquarters
183
0.3 kmGovernment Buildings
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Memorial Exhibit and Learning Center
9
0.2 kmHistory Museums
National Museum of American History
5,121
0.4 kmHistory Museums
Petersen Boarding House
199
0.3 kmSpeciality Museums
Stephenson Grand Army of The Republic Memorial
9
0.2 kmMonuments & Statues
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
253
0.3 kmArchitectural Buildings • Convention Centers
See all
See what travelers are saying
  • cvmillers
    25 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful views. Worth a half hour.
    A local recommended doing this. Opens at 9AM so we went there before the Smithsonian museums opened. Beautiful views (with maps to identify buildings!) to get the lay of the land on our first day. As always, the park rangers knew all the answers to our questions! Plus it is free!
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written January 9, 2024
  • Car7177
    58 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Quick way to see an a great view of DC
    Free, No wait, & Great views. This was a really fun way to view DC without waiting in any lines. Fun to see the Ben Franklin statue outside. Follow signs to the tower (entrance in back of hotel).
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written March 1, 2024
  • Tia K
    Mundelein, Illinois30 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful view
    This the tower at the Waldorf Astoria with a kind of hidden entrance off to the side street and down some steps. They lead u to an elevator ( no waiting) and it goes to a bell tower with awesome views. Take your time and get as many pics as you want! Much better than the hurried rush at Washington Monument
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written April 1, 2024
  • Jay
    Phoenix, Arizona155 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Neat Stop
    The views from the top of the Old Post Office Pavilion were fantastic! It was easy to get to and easy to get up. It's a great way to see the DC Metro Area in all its glory. If you happen to be in the area, it is a quick visit and I'd recommend it doing if you have a free 30 minutes to spare.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written May 7, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions
4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles621 reviews
Excellent
276
Very good
205
Average
79
Poor
34
Terrible
27
Sherri M
Plainville, MA177 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Makeshift sign on door saying closed 11:30-1:30
Aug 2024 • Solo
I'm sure the views would have been great, but I was part of a steady stream of people walking up to the door and finding a sign saying it was closed for two hours. There was nothing on the website about a closure (and no, it was not the day of the month that it closes for maintenance). I'm glad I hadn't gone out of my way to get there. On the upside, the entrance is MUCH more obvious than it was six years ago (although you still have to go down an alley to actually see the signage).
Written August 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jay
Phoenix, AZ155 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Neat Stop
Sep 2023 • Friends
The views from the top of the Old Post Office Pavilion were fantastic! It was easy to get to and easy to get up. It's a great way to see the DC Metro Area in all its glory. If you happen to be in the area, it is a quick visit and I'd recommend it doing if you have a free 30 minutes to spare.
Written May 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gill O
Ascot, UK684 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Worth doing
Oct 2024 • Couples
We did this instead of the Monument on advice. Check first that it’s open (although I think it’s open pretty much every day). It’s a two lift journey to the top for spectacular views over DC with very knowledgeable guides. And you find out about the old Post Office too!
Doesn’t take too long. On the way up you also see the amazing inside of the Waldorf Astoria which is a sight in itself!
Written October 5, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RandS_TX
Houston, TX476 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Amazing Views
May 2023 • Solo
I had a couple of hours to kill before heading to the airport so I wanted to see some of the DC sights not at the top of everyone's list. I have been to most of the main attractions over the years. This building is actually a Waldorf Astoria hotel. Around the back is the entrance to the museum and tower elevator. It was very quiet, no crowds, and friendly National Park Service employees. It is free of charge. The views are outstanding and give you a unique perspective of the National Mall and the Smithsonian museums.
Written May 22, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jamie D
Huntsville, AL87 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Great Views on a Spring Day
Mar 2023
Went to the top of the tower as part of touring DC with my teenage son during Spring Break. Great views from the top. The day we were there had few crowds. It didn't seem that too many people knew about this place. We had a little difficulty navigating to the tower as we didn't realize that it was now part of the Waldorf Astoria hotel. There is another entrance maintained by the National Park Services rather than the hotel. Would definitely recommend going to the top, especially if you didn't get a ticket to the top of the Washington Monument.
Written March 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Josh
London, UK24 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Stunning views of DC
Apr 2023 • Friends
We had intended to go to The View observation deck in Washington DC but it was closed so we came here instead and were delighted. It’s free, it was very quiet and easy to access. The staff were friendly and chatty. The views of DC were beautiful, you can see all of the main monuments too. The only downside was that the plastic screens (used instead of glass) had smears on them in some parts which meant you couldn’t get a great view.
Written April 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Car7177
Milwaukee58 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Quick way to see an a great view of DC
Mar 2024 • Family
Free, No wait, & Great views. This was a really fun way to view DC without waiting in any lines. Fun to see the Ben Franklin statue outside. Follow signs to the tower (entrance in back of hotel).
Written March 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cory
Illinois96 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
not rating it as a hotel
May 2020 • Friends
It’s probably being put to better use as a hotel now, compared to my visit in 2013. Granted, we did not go up in the tower(I believe it was closed then) but it was , like Union Station in DC, another glorified mall with junky stores and unimpressive restaurants. Had a gyro. Mall food. A typical example , up till then, of Washington squandering tax dollars on something rather pointless. Yes, it’s nice to look at on the outside, but so are a lot of things....
Written May 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tia K
Mundelein, IL30 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Beautiful view
Mar 2024 • Family
This the tower at the Waldorf Astoria with a kind of hidden entrance off to the side street and down some steps. They lead u to an elevator ( no waiting) and it goes to a bell tower with awesome views. Take your time and get as many pics as you want! Much better than the hurried rush at Washington Monument
Written April 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
miznina
San Simeon, CA303 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Better than the Washington Monument view?
We just visited Washington DC at Spring Break, and were petrified by the long, snaking lines surrounding the Washington Monument. We had heard from several places that the views from the Old Post Office Tower were just as good/better.

Well, I have nothing to compare it to, but we thought the views were great. Beware though, that it is open air.....this doesn't mean you can jump off (or have your little one fall off!) but it does mean that there is a quite a breeze. It would be great in the sweltering summer...but it was a mite chilly during the coldest Easter on record. So bring your coats up with you if you are there in the winter.

My guidebooks had competely inaccurate hours for the Tower. There is a website for the Tower (since it's run by the National Park Service) that gives you hours, but I wouldn't consider those 100% reliable either. Your best bet, if you want to go at an odd hour, is to call the number given on the website. A very friendly person will answer and give you the current scoop,

Once you get to the top of the Tower, you will notice that there are bells, and there is an exhibit on bell ringing. Our NPS guide told us that they do bell-ringing practice every Thursday at 630 pm. You may want to call to see if that info is still accurate when you go.

And as for the Food Court below the Tower, my 2 cents on this is: no matter how bad it is, it sure as heck beats the crowds at the Smithsonian Museums, particularly the Natural History Museum which is only a few blocks away.

And if you REALLY don't like the crowds at the Tower, go right next door to the Ronald Reagan Building...they have a large food court there as well, and it's practically deserted (the tour buses seem to have not discovered it yet). That's also where the DC tourist board is, and they have very helpful info people manning the desk.
Written April 19, 2007
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2
…
Showing results 1-10 of 532
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

OLD POST OFFICE PAVILION (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

All Washington DC HotelsWashington DC Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Washington DC
All things to do in Washington DC
RestaurantsFlightsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars