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International Spy Museum

HistoryMilitaryScienceClosed todayFrom $34.95L'Enfant Plaza (Green, Yellow, Orange, Blue, Silver lines) — Exit C at 9th St & L'Enfant Plaza

An independent nonprofit museum devoted to the tradecraft, history and contemporary role of intelligence and espionage. Its Guinness-recognised collection of more than 7,000 artefacts — around 1,000 on display — includes a four-rotor Japanese Enigma machine, wreckage from Francis Gary Powers' U-2, a KGB buttonhole camera and the Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger. Opened in Penn Quarter in 2002, the museum moved in 2019 into a purpose-built Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners building at L'Enfant Plaza, where visitors take on a cover identity and test their spy skills through the galleries. Alongside the artefacts it runs an avowedly nonpartisan programme on secrecy, civil liberties, cyber operations and disinformation.

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Getting there

700 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024, United States

Nearest station: L'Enfant Plaza (Green, Yellow, Orange, Blue, Silver lines) — Exit C at 9th St & L'Enfant Plaza, Federal Center SW (Orange, Blue, Silver lines), Smithsonian (Orange, Blue, Silver lines)

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Hours

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Admission

From $34.95

Dynamic date-based pricing: adult (13-64) approx. $34.95-$36.95; senior 65+, military/law enforcement and college approx. $31.95-$33.95; youth 7-12 approx. $23.95-$25.95; children 6 and under free. Save up to 30% by booking in advance. Members free. Special exhibition Camouflage: Designed to Deceive is included with general admission through the end of 2026, or $15 exhibit-only.

Nearby

National Museum of Asian Art

DesignFree5 min walk

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

DesignFree6 min walk

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

ArchitectureFree8 min walk

National Air and Space Museum

HistoryFree8 min walk

Visitor Information

How much does International Spy Museum cost?
Standard adult admission to International Spy Museum is $34.95. Dynamic date-based pricing: adult (13-64) approx. $34.95-$36.95; senior 65+, military/law enforcement and college approx. $31.95-$33.95; youth 7-12 approx. $23.95-$25.95; children 6 and under free. Save up to 30% by booking in advance. Members free. Special exhibition Camouflage: Designed to Deceive is included with general admission through the end of 2026, or $15 exhibit-only.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of International Spy Museum?
International Spy Museum is open Open daily. Autumn/winter (September-February): Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00, Sat 09:00-19:00, Sun 09:00-18:00. Spring (March-June): Sun-Fri 09:00-19:00, Sat 09:00-20:00. Summer (July-August): Mon-Thu 09:00-19:00, Fri-Sun 09:00-20:00. No regular closing day is announced; the last ticket is sold one hour before closing and hours are often extended on holiday weekends.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is International Spy Museum?
International Spy Museum is located at 700 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024, United States, in the L'Enfant Plaza, Southwest Waterfront area of Washington, DC. The nearest stations are L'Enfant Plaza (Green, Yellow, Orange, Blue, Silver lines) — Exit C at 9th St & L'Enfant Plaza, Federal Center SW (Orange, Blue, Silver lines), Smithsonian (Orange, Blue, Silver lines).
What can I see at International Spy Museum?
Real tradecraft, real spies: the world's largest public espionage collection, from a lipstick pistol to Bond's Aston Martin. Current highlights include Camouflage: Designed to Deceive, Gallery: Stealing Secrets, Gallery: Covert Action.
Do I need to book International Spy Museum in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
When is the best time to visit International Spy Museum?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

Farragutful, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

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