Back to museums

National Air and Space Museum

HistoryScienceClosed · Opens 10amFreeL'Enfant Plaza Metro (Blue/Orange/Silver/Green/Yellow, Exit A — about 10 minutes' walk)

Il National Air and Space Museum dello Smithsonian custodisce la più vasta collezione al mondo di reperti dedicati all'aviazione e all'esplorazione spaziale: dal Wright Flyer del 1903 e lo Spirit of St. Louis fino al Bell X-1, alla capsula Friendship 7 di John Glenn e al modulo di comando Columbia dell'Apollo 11. L'edificio progettato nel 1976 da Gyo Obata — quattro blocchi rivestiti in marmo uniti da atri in vetro — ha appena completato un imponente restauro durato otto anni e costato 360 milioni di dollari, che ha rinnovato le facciate esterne, riprogettato tutte le 20 gallerie e inaugurato un nuovo portico d'ingresso su Jefferson Drive. Il 1° luglio 2026, in occasione del cinquantesimo anniversario della struttura, hanno riaperto cinque gallerie completamente ripensate, tra cui TEXTRON How Things Fly e il nuovo Flight and the Arts Center. L'apertura delle ultime due sezioni, At Home in Space e Modern Military Aviation, prevista per l'autunno 2026, segnerà il completamento definitivo del progetto.

What's On

Now
Jul
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar

Permanent Collections

Plan Your Visit

Getting there

650 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC 20560, United States

Nearest station: L'Enfant Plaza Metro (Blue/Orange/Silver/Green/Yellow, Exit A — about 10 minutes' walk), Federal Center SW Metro (Blue/Orange/Silver), Smithsonian Metro (Blue/Orange/Silver)

Show on map

Hours

Mon10:00–17:30
Tue10:00–17:30
Wed10:00–17:30
Thu10:00–17:30
Fri10:00–17:30
SatToday10:00–17:30
Sun10:00–17:30

Admission

Free

Admission is always free, but free timed-entry passes are required for every visitor regardless of age. Reserve up to nine passes at a time; members get access to a members-only pass pool. Passes do not limit how long you can stay.

Nearby

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

DesignFree3 min walk

National Museum of the American Indian

ArtFree3 min walk

National Gallery of Art

ArtFree4 min walk

National Archives Museum

ArchitectureFree7 min walk

Visitor Information

Is National Air and Space Museum free to visit?
Yes, general admission to National Air and Space Museum is free. Admission is always free, but free timed-entry passes are required for every visitor regardless of age. Reserve up to nine passes at a time; members get access to a members-only pass pool. Passes do not limit how long you can stay.. Some special exhibitions may charge a separate ticket, so check the museum's website before visiting.
What are the opening hours of National Air and Space Museum?
National Air and Space Museum is open Open daily 10:00–17:30. Closed 25 December. Free timed-entry passes are required for all visitors. All visitors enter through the Jefferson Drive doors on the National Mall. The At Home in Space gallery is closed until 30 October 2026 and Modern Military Aviation until 11 November 2026 while they are installed.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is National Air and Space Museum?
National Air and Space Museum is located at 650 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington, DC 20560, United States, in the National Mall area of Washington, DC. The nearest stations are L'Enfant Plaza Metro (Blue/Orange/Silver/Green/Yellow, Exit A — about 10 minutes' walk), Federal Center SW Metro (Blue/Orange/Silver), Smithsonian Metro (Blue/Orange/Silver).
What can I see at National Air and Space Museum?
Il Wright Flyer, il modulo Columbia dell'Apollo 11 e un frammento di roccia lunare da toccare con mano: sul National Mall, uno spazio leggendario rinasce dopo otto anni di lavori. Current highlights include L'ascesa di Rauschenberg: reinventare l'arte del volo (The Ascent of Rauschenberg: Reinventing the Art of Flight), L'arte dell'aria e dello spazio: interpretazioni del volo (The Art of Air and Space: Interpretations of Flight), Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall.
Do I need to book National Air and Space Museum in advance?
National Air and Space Museum is free to enter and most days you can walk in. Admission is always free, but free timed-entry passes are required for every visitor regardless of age. Reserve up to nine passes at a time; members get access to a members-only pass pool. Passes do not limit how long you can stay.. For special exhibitions, weekends, and school holidays, booking a timed slot can help you skip queues. Check the museum's website for current requirements.
When is the best time to visit National Air and Space 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.

ajay_suresh via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

DirectionsVisit Website