Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington National Cemetery is free to visit, and travelers should start at the Welcome Center, where maps, exhibits, and information services can be found. Notable sites within the cemetery include the President John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame; the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; Arlington House; and the Memorial Amphitheater.

Choose a hop-on, hop-off tour that stops at the cemetery, a walking tour of the grounds, or a tour that combines a visit to the cemetery with stops at National Mall monuments, war memorials, Mount Vernon, or other DC landmarks.

• Keep in mind that the cemetery honors fallen members of the US Armed Forces and that a visit is a solemn affair. Exercise an appropriate level of respect.

• Be prepared to go through a security screening before entering the cemetery.

• No food or drink other than bottled water is allowed in the Welcome Center or on the cemetery grounds.

• The cemetery is wheelchair and stroller accessible, but you must bring your own.

• Download the ANC Explorer mobile phone app or use it at the kiosks on-site to locate gravesites and monuments around the cemetery.

To reach Arlington National Cemetery by metro from Washington DC, get off at the Arlington National Cemetery Station on the Blue Line. By car, it's off of Memorial Avenue, across the Potomac from downtown DC.

Arlington National Cemetery can be visited 365 days a year. The site is open from morning to the beginning of the evening and keeps later hours from April through September. It’s less crowded in winter, but be prepared for cold temperatures.

The Changing of the Guard ceremony outside the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a must-see when visiting Arlington National Cemetery. From October through March, it takes place every hour on the hour, and from April through September, it occurs every half hour. The start of the ceremony is announced by a relief commander, and visitors are expected to stand and stay silent throughout the ceremony.

Yes, you can visit without booking a specific Arlington National Cemetery tour. The cemetery is free to visit throughout the year, and visitors do not need to book Arlington National Cemetery tickets in advance. Once inside, you can explore and pay tribute to the fallen at your own pace.

That depends on which tour you book and on your own exploring interests. Arlington National Cemetery offers tram tours. They depart every half hour from morning to afternoon and run on a 45-minute loop. Other independent walking tours and monument tours can last for several hours.

Yes, Arlington National Cemetery is absolutely worth visiting. The largest military cemetery in the country, it is the final resting place of some 400,000 veterans, as well as luminaries like President John F. Kennedy and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. It is a place of contemplation and tribute.

Arlington National Cemetery is open daily, and there's never a bad time to explore. The landmark is outdoors, so visit on a good-weather day for optimal comfort. The remembrance services held on Memorial Day and Veterans Day draw large crowds, and access may be limited.

No, there is no set dress code for casual visitors to Arlington National Cemetery, although it's advised to dress for the season, wear shoes appropriate for the uneven terrain, and dress respectfully. For wreath-laying ceremonies and funerals, a more formal dress code (button-up shirts, knee-length dresses) is requested.

No, it is not disrespectful to take photos within Arlington National Cemetery. Photography is permitted, and photos can be a way for visitors to capture gravesites and other important places of remembrance. However, taking photos of funerals in progress or of other mourners is strongly frowned upon.