The National Gallery of Art as a title can be misleading. There are two large buildings across Fourth Street NW from each other, connected underground by a moving walkway. One can also walk on a regular floor to access them as well, and you can cross Fourth St. NW at ground level too between the two buildings, but underground is the easiest way to see them both. The East Building is dedicated to "modern art." The West Building is dedicated to all the other types of art. But...in Washington D.C. itself, there are many other art galleries. There are many within walking distance from these two, and further away is a portrait gallery. One within walking distance is dedicated to Asian art, another holds a lot of Whistler artwork, and there are more, so if art museums are your thing, go to Google Maps and type in "Washington D.C. art museums" to see them all at once. Details for them can be found there, as well as here at Trip Advisor. As far as the East & West buildings go, plan on taking your time. They have massive collections, on multiple floors for each separate building. Downstairs in the West building is an excellent cafeteria style location with ample seating. The food is exceptional, especially for what it is. Prices are reasonable too. Selection is quite varied. If you are hungry and are here, don't pass it up! There is also a limited cafe on the third floor of the East building, near the restrooms. Next to the cafeteria in the West building, is a gift shop, also with a good selection. As for the two museums themselves, be prepared to see things you've only seen in books before. The only two museums I've seen in the U.S. that can rival them are the Art Institute of Chicago and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Oh, and parking sucks in D.C. But you probably already know that. There is no convenient parking anywhere near anything of note in Washington D.C. I wish they would take a clue from the Canadian capital. You park under their art museum, which is also impressive in its own right. Parking garages are located around D.C., blocks from the Mall, and parking along the streets there is limited to three hours at a stretch, assuming you can find a spot. I parked nearby off Second Street NW. Expensive ($26) but worth it since it was for all day.

As sculpture gardens go, it's satisfactory. Frankly, I've seen better sculpture in small towns across the U.S. and Canada. There is a tree made of metal that stands out. But the best feature of this garden, in my opinion, is the huge fountain with seating all around it, a lot of it shaded. After walking for blocks seeing things in D.C., this place is a nice serene place to relax.

I'll never forget my first visit here at age 19. First, I was astonished by how many great works from European masters were in permanent collection here. Second, the volume of the place was mind blowing. Even though I knew little of art at the time and previously had little interest, I was gobsmacked and spent a great deal more time there than planned. In the 40 years since then, I've been back a half dozen times and I always find something else amazes me, even within the permanent collection which I've seen before. I will never grow tired of going here, although now, I try to pace myself and focus on just one or two areas rather than try to absorb it all. It's especially nice that it's free so I never feel the need to "get my money's worth."

There is no need to pre-book, just turn up. Compared to the National Gallery in London, this is a much more relaxing gallery with plenty of space. You’re not overwhelmed with other people, so you can relax and concentrate on the paintings so much more. I went on a one hour long free tour with Barbara around the gallery. I’d highly recommend it - she is engaging, humorous and insightful and will draw your attention to pictures you might have overlooked. My particular favourites were the colourful French impressionists. Generally the gallery has a great collection of Pisarro, Renoir, Degas, Monet, Manet and Seurat. It must be one of the best collections of French paintings outside of France. Plenty else too! It’s also a calm and cool interior with plenty of comfortable seating. What better way to rest your weary feet after a hard day’s walking up and down the National Mall! I found this place an oasis of calm and elegance. I loved it so much I came again the next day. Please do give it a chance. It’s free!

The National Gallery has a superb collection, but a big section is now closed. Where the excellent Italian Renaissance collection is usually housed, there are huge blocked off doors. Some of those paintings, notably the daVinci, the Raphael madonna, and a few others, are scattered around in other spaces (including downstairs) but the context of the really good collection is lost. The Dutch paintings are great, and most seem to be on view, including three of the Vermeers. Pay special attention to the "School of Rembrandt" painting of the small boy with the broom. It is one of those canvasses that got downgraded in the great Rembrandt Re-shuffle, but for my money, it's as good as anything Rembrandt painted. The possible attribution to Fabritius has merit, in the sense that it has the same level of charm as The Goldfinch in The Hague. Also try to find the gem of a portrait by Michael Sittow of Diego de Guevara. He's somewhat obscure, but finding really good paintings by relatively obscure artists is what makes museums fun. The East Building does not appear to have a separate spot on TA so I'll mention it here. It's the Modern Art collection, so don't be surprised by the very modern architecture and atrium space, which is overseen by a gloriously powerful Motherwell elegy. There is room for major sculpture, including the Andy Goldsworthy stonework that occupies space both within and outside of the building. However, the openness of the atrium space means there is limited wall space for pictures. The collection on view in December 2023 is fine, with some excellent early Picassos and a fine fauve collection, but it's only a few rooms. The highlight for now is a startling show of Mark Rothko's Works on Paper. There are a number of sets of works, some from before he developed his signature style, and many from the later years of his life when a Rothko was a Rothko. Fascinating detail on technique to go with scores of smaller, but very fine "stacked squares." Be prepared to walk up a lot of steps and across inside breezeways as you negotiate the grand space in this striking museum. Given how terrible the Hirschorn is, it's nice that they seem to be getting this one right. The focus on politically correct artists is not overwhelming, so most of the art is good to look at.

It’s beautifully decorated for Christmas. The place is huge so plan your visit or you will be wandering around lost! Don’t miss the exhibit at the Botanic garden and the Capitol Christmas tree! Both are a short walk from the Gallery

The National Gallery of Art in D.C. is like a treasure trove of awesome art. It's not all fancy and serious – just a cool mix of different vibes. And the best part? It's free. Whether you're an art buff or just looking for a laid-back afternoon, it's definitely worth a visit.

My significant other and I went here on New Years Eve. We most enjoyed the impressionist paintings and the ambiance of the entire museum. There was a funny group of busts depicting the French parliament. Also a nice Cafe. Wonderful time.

The National Gallery of Art offers a comprehensive collection of art in many diverse styles and genres. One of the exhibits I saw was "Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper". Although some may look simple, they are actually quite complex. In addition to many painting by Rothko, the actual easel from Rothko's studio, ca, 1964, is on display. You can see where he hung his paintings while working on them. I also enjoyed a temporary exhibit of Contemporary Art by Native Americans. John Hitchcock grew up on Comanche tribal lands next to a military base. His artwork "Impact vs. Influence" explores the relationship between the two. I loved the intricate beadwork on the boots by Jamie Okuma. "Peep" honors the abandoned California scrub jay called "Peep" that was found when the artist was 7 and stayed part of the family for 26 years. Another exhibit featured the photographs of Dorothea Lange. One of her most iconic photographs was "Human Erosion in California", better known as "Migrant Mother" . This 1936 photo depicts a mother and her three children at a migrant labor camp and captures the despair of many during the Great Depression. There is much to enjoy at this museum, including an outdoor sculpture garden.

The National Gallery of Art is like stepping into a wonderland for art lovers! From classic masterpieces to funky modern pieces, they've got it all. The place is basically a time-traveling, culture-hopping adventure. The vibe is chill, and you can totally pretend you're in your own art heist movie. Whether you're an artsy soul or just looking for a cool day out, this gallery is a blast