Never met a museum we didn't like and the Spy Museum delivers. We had a private tour and the docent(s) were 5*. Be prepared to spend many hours here, it's that big and detailed. read more

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Thebuber driver who dropped us off the Wharf told us about this interesting museum, and we found it a special add on to pur weekend visit to DC for the cherry blossom this year. The museum is a huge collection on various spy and related topics throughout the humankind history. Things are not what they appear to.look. read more

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Wow! What an impressive collection of artifacts and wonderful, interactive experiences. Loved the ability to be a spy and work through the mission. Everything was well maintained and easy to follow. read more

ENTRANCE: They stagger the time ticket entries every 15 minutes to control the crowd. Approximate time to spend: 2.5-3 hours This is a well designed space that combines state of the art technology, and some interactive displays . The sections depict a chronological history of spying with quick films tucked in between. This is a physical space that wheelchairs can maneuver in and the individual can read displays at their eye level. Unless your child is into this subject matter, both the hubster and I felt that middle school and up can appreciate the space and information better. There were many young children that wanted to bypass many of the displays. Artifacts and gadgets were fascinating. The history was amazing. But what really makes it interesting to me is the human element. When you actually get to see these people and hear their stories...wow. Just wow. read more

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Each visit I came to DC someone would urge me to go to the Spy Museum. Each and every time. Now I know why as this is an immersive experience that pulls you in and you can get caught up with it all. Especially if you are trying to complete your own spy story as you make your way through the museum. Admittingly, this place has raised their prices. I see a lot of reviews from over ten years ago stating the price of admission. It is higher than that, do your research first, and possibly buy your tickets ahead of time so that you know what the price will be and time to be there. Believe me, it's better to do it that way, unless you like standing around and figuring out something to do to fill your downtime. When I showed up at my scheduled time I came in and made my way to the elevators. I had minimal wait and I was on my way up. We were ushered into an area to wait and set up our own spy adventure. Once enough people were there, and the group before us finished up their turn at the video presentation we were let in. After the short video you are let free to explore the museum. You can take as much or as little time at every exhibit. Each area is filled with a ton of material that can overwhelm you. I solved this by taking a camera and taking pictures so I could go back to them and look it over again. You start in a historic section focusing on notable spies throughout history and conflicts. Then you just make your way through the rest. Each part interconnecting to the other. What really kind of connects them all is the fact that you get to play spy as well. Using your card they gave you to stop at the kiosks to get your next mission and be on your way. Kind of a puzzle or maybe an escape room on a grander level. I especially enjoyed the area of the museum that felt like you were in Berlin and the general streetscape feel of that area. This area interested me most as there is a ton of interactive things to do here. I also enjoyed the propaganda wall. Take your time here, the tiles swivel and there is information on the backs of each with details of the type of propaganda you are seeing. They do usually have another exhibit going on in here. I did not pay for that as it did not interest me. Once I was done with the basic portion of the museum I called it a day. I stopped by the museum gift shop on my way out and grabbed a memento of my visit. For the price, I don't think I would do this museum again. Unless they have something big that is worth the draw. read more

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Looking back at my Yelp review from 2014 I realized I was long overdue for a visit. They moved to the current location in 2019. I admit that I would make a terrible spy because I had trouble finding it when I got off the Metro at L'Enfant Plaza. I went through the giant food court and did not spy the little spy museum logo up high. Once I entered the fun began. I received my badge and checked in at the first of several kiosks. I got my spy name, my country of origin, my destination, and my code word which I'll keep secret like a good spy. There is so much to see and read, I barely skimmed the surface. I enjoyed checking in at all the kiosks and I did pretty well except for one category which was solving a word puzzle since I didn't really pay attention how to do it at the start. While this museum is not part of the free Smithsonian collection, it is worth a visit. Some of the stuff is too mature for really young children. I'm not sure what the reduced price is. (6 and under are free.) They do heavily promote field trips, which would be nice if my district got free buses to bring students here. (We have to hire charter buses due to the large population and bus schedules.) Overall, a fun way to spend a few hours. read more

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Great interactive museum! There is lots to see and plenty of interactive areas. Each person is given a badge and is a spy with a secret identify. This is used throughout the museum at various interactive stations. Very interesting artifacts from spies around the world and plenty to learn. read more

Located at the L'Enfant Plaza, the International Spy Museum is well curated. A lot of interactive features keep one immersed in the experience. When you check in, you'll be given a card (as a spy!) that you will use throughout the museum to recover your data for the interactive, multimedia, hands-on features. Before you go to the exhibits, a short video narrated by Morgan Freeman will be shown at the mini theater. The exhibit of different spies, gadgets, etc comes after this. There are videos for some spies and they were well made. One will definitely learn a lot about history and espionage, and have a great time here. The gift shop at the end has a lot of cute, interesting merchandise like spy gear and gadgets, and of course, shirts, magnets, books, toys, etc. Really worth the $30+. Be prepared to spend at least 3 hours to enjoy the entire experience. Would recommend. read more

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Such a fun time for a date night. It was crowded yesterday so kind of hard to really appreciate everything, but still enjoyed checking everything out and we did get the extra ticket to Bond in Motion. Go get your pictures taken in the booth!! read more

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As a person who literally watched almost every spy movie and show, I really wanted to give this museum 5 stars. It is certainly one of a kind, and if you're into history of espionage, you'll appreciate it. It took me about 6 hours to get through it all, and I learned a lot. Here's what I really liked: - Really nice new building / beautiful design - It's quite large - 2 stories of artifacts and 1 story for a temporary exhibit (007 cars) - A good mix of real spy stories, memorabilia, as well as exhibits on espionage in pop culture - Interactive "escape room" aspect where you assume a new identity as you walk into the museum and try to complete missions throughout the museum Things that would have made the visit better: 1. It was VERY crowded. If you read past reviews, it's been an ongoing issue - too many people, you have to wait to read about items and to use the screens for your assignments. It feels like people are on top of each other. 2. Some sections of the museum feel like a printout from Wikipedia - not a lot of artifacts, but lots of reading (I'm fine with it, but I know for parents with kids they won't have that attention span). An audio guide would be perfect as well. 3. Navigation markers - you'd occasionally see arrows with % complete on the floor, but when you enter each new room, it doesn't show if you should start on the left or on the right, or some other way. Would have been great to add some more signs onto go through the exhibit in a chronological order that makes sense. All in all, I enjoyed my time here, and it's definitely worth visiting once if you're in D.C. read more

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Had such a fun time! I love how they have an optional group activity as well. The exhibits are entertaining and informative. It's great to see how far along this museum has come over the years. read more

Such a fun experience! They really keep you interested and interactive. For people of all ages 100%. Lots of exhibits and lots to see and read about in each room. I loved it! We spent about 3 hours in there reading everything and doing all the fun activities. Not very expensive either. Maybe 25$ a person. Worth doing again! read more

International Spy Museum - Spy key card - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great place to take the family to explore all the exhibits in the Washington DC area. They had many interactive games and stations to enhance your experience. I felt rush going through the whole museum because we had only 2 hour parking. The museum's site said to expect to explore the whole place between 90mins-2 hours. Honesty, I would say you need 3-4 hours to completely enjoy the experience. There is also a James Bond experience that we didn't even go in for. Some tips before going here is that you should find a garage to park longer because although there is street parking around the museum its only 2 hour limit. I don't know if you can extend it more but that's a chance you might have to take. I don't know if the parking authority mark cars and give tickets, but I didn't take a chance. If you want to get your money's worth then 3-4 hours is ideal time to take your time and explore all the exhibits. There is also a ice cream/drink truck parked outside while we were there to enjoy some refreshments. We went spring of 2025 in March. Overall, excellent attraction place to take the family just wish we spent more time there. read more

International Spy Museum - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I kept hearing friends who visited DC recommending the Spy Museums. I finally got to experience it for myself! I loved it. Tickets were just over $30 for an adult and timed entry. The museums had 5 floors, but the exhibits are only on floors 5 and 4. Floor 3 is a separate add-on that costs extra (I believe it's a documentary). Floor 2 seemed to be non-existent and floor 1 is where the gift shop and lobby are. Despite just 2 main floors, I spent nearly 4 hours here. They had all kinds of cool spy gear on display. The museum is a perfect balance between informative and interactive. I learned a lot and loved the various films, interactive elements, the mission you are assigned, and more. read more

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This is a very well curated museum with an interactive component. Really enjoyed being a part of my own spy mission. If youre a history buff youd really enjoy this place. At some point it was information overload for me but im not knocking them for it. I just started skimming stuff and walking to things that caught my eye. It IS almost $40 which is steep. If I had a family I would rate it 4/5 for the price since that adds up fast. But I went solo and had no issues. Protip, if you go in person to buy tickets & the sign says the next available time slot isn't for an 1hour+ try to buy tix on the website as it may show availability for the a sooner time slot. read more

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My two daughters and I were able to cut a few other museum visits short so we could attend this one. We are so glad we did! A great experience! We have been to spy scape in New York City and this one well outshines! Both were great experiences, but this one has so much more history and genuine artifacts. read more

International Spy Museum - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

‍ Took a trip to the International Spy Museum to see the "Bond in Motion" exhibit. Got up close with some of the vehicles from the movies. Whether you prefer Barry, David, George, Timothy, Roger, Sean, Pierce or Daniel - this was a cool exhibit The rest of the museum is filled with great info, artifacts and interactive displays too - crazy stuff out there in the world of espionage! read more

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We enjoyed our visit to the International Spy Museum, in fact we have been several times over the years. It's always fun to go through pretending as another identity. The museum keeps updating their exhibits and always has some cool interactive exhibits in most of the sections to entertain the kids. The wait times are usually short and staff is always friendly. However, it can be pricey especially the gift shop. This is definitely a unique experience. read more

2 floors of a well curated collection of spy history, exhibits, and interactive components that makes your experience here quite enjoyable. Although, the experience was enjoyable, I personally believe the ticket are overly priced. The interactive components truly saves this museum experience. There are some simulation games you can play with others that presents some interesting knowledge about tactics use within government intelligence collecting. Also there are some fun games you can play with others that involves reading behaviors to spot a liar and trust excercises where I have learned "dont trust a stranger" ‍. Especially white old ladies, they are not nice they will shock you. I hope you dont find out what I'm talking about it lol The gift shop is packed with subpar spy gadgets and toys that are pretty pricey as well. Which was a little disappointing. I would have love to see some replica items from the museum. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Instead, I walked out of the spy museum gift shop with ranch pretzels lol ‍ Would I recommend going to this museum, sure. Its still a nice experience and better than sitting in your house binge watching Netflix. You'll definitely get your steps in walking around this museum. read more

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Went to the Spy Museum but didn't know we had to purchase tickets in advance glad we were able to at least see the Bond In Motion 007 the official collection of original James Bond vehicles. It was nice being able to see the original vehicles used in many of the James Bond movies. Check it out! Happy Yelping :) read more

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Honestly, kind of disappointing considering ticket prices. Was still cool. Worth a trip. Really enjoyed the interactive puzzles.

DC - It's a cool museum as you get to know a lot more about spy, treason, the CIA, and a lot of history in general. Plenty of cool gadgets to check out and also for purchase at the gift shop, like a pen in the disguise of a lipstick. Then there were some hands on stuff too like the bar under the bridge and see how long you can hang on to till your rescue comes which is pretty fun and funny but the participants have to be of certain height if you're bringing kids along. I would say the best age for this museum is at least 7 years old. It's not suitable for kids until they're old enough to read and have a basic understanding of how the world works in general I'd say. It's a mistake to take my 4 year old here coz it's hard to read everything and explore the museum fully (as the admission is not cheap). Also kids under 5 should go in for free. They can't do much anyway. I knock one star off because how they charge little kids and because of the price for what they offer. I think I would have a much better time here if my kid was older or if I just came by myself lol. Maybe one day I'll return. Don't forget to reserve your tickets online and do so 2-3 weeks out for a discounted price. We were late for our time slot but luckily it wasn't super busy we could still get in for the next time slot with only a 10 minute wait. read more

International Spy Museum - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Super awesome museum. It's not free but definitely the best museum in DC! You get an identity and get tested throughout. Great for kids and adults! read more

International Spy Museum - First submarine - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I love to play and let me inner child out, so when I learned there was a spy museum in DC, I really wanted to check it out. As many have said, there is a fee to enter this museum unlike most in the area that are free. The visit starts with receiving a card that you can use throughout your visit to act as a spy in a game. You receive your code word, spy name, mission, etc. Then you go into a movie theater where you are welcomed and shown the first room. I really enjoyed learning about the female spies in history and spies from the Revolution, especially the double agents. The game was fun to do throughout the museum, but it was easy to miss some because when I got to the end it looked like I missed some stations. This museum is informative and has TONS of info! It is also very interactive with lots of activities for kids. I would personally recommend this museum to families and anyone that is seriously interested in spies or the CIA. For me, it was too much information to digest and too much interaction. I also had trouble keeping track of where to go; the arrows on the floor were confusing when there are several different routes you can take. Overall, worth a stop if this is a hobby, but not if you are somewhat interested. read more

International Spy Museum - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Had a fantastic day checking out the International Spy Museum. The hands on exhibits and the pure history in the museum is fantastic. Love the personalized spy assignments along with activities to do throughout the museum. Would definitely advise anyone to stop by for a few hours to get your own spy assignment. read more

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There is a ton to see here! Lots of interactive stuff too, especially things kids will like. It takes 2-3 hours for sure. Really interesting info. It's a little expensive, but you get what you pay for. The additional $10 per person for James Bond exhibit is probably not worth it; unless you are a big James Bond fan. read more

International Spy Museum - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I must say I definitely underestimated this museum. I went into it thinking it would be meh but it was in my opinion worth the money and worth the time. Be prepared to walk a lot though. Huge museum and lots to see/learn. It got a little overwhelming at times but in a good way, if that's possible. I did both the general admission and the 007 James Bond combo and it was neat to see. I'd recommend this museum :) read more

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While it's one of the few pay-to-enter museums in the area, the Spy Museum offers a unique and engaging experience. If you're fascinated by spy tools and historical espionage, this is a must-visit. The interactive spy game adds an extra layer of fun, and the displays are informative and well-curated. read more

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Try to see if it's possible to go during a time when there are not many school trips? I went during government shutdown and it was extremely packed with kids and teens everywhere. It was difficult to enjoy the museum experience when it was pure chaos. Otherwise, the museum is very well put together. read more

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This was such a cool place and experience. I wasn't really sure what to expect but the amount of stuff they have in their collection is pretty impressive. I learned so much about espionage during my time. I loved the interactive part of being able to be sort of a challenge and going through the different stations. Th James Bond collection is also a really cool Touch. read more

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We had a blast going through this museum!! So many cool spy moments and you realize how much work goes into being a spy, trying to figure out who is a spy, and also protecting the country. Very interesting history and lots of fun moments. We got to see the James Bond exhibit and it was really good! read more

Amazing and fun museum. Very kid friendly and interactive! Gift shop is so cool and so many fun things to do and see in the museum. read more

International Spy Museum - An exhibit with a speaking part with a real actor being projected - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Took 60 of our middle school kiddos here and what an experience! There is tons to do and a full day still won't cut it. The staff were very helpful and attentive, especially to our students who needed extra support or had burning questions. read more

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Very fun museum: both the interactive spy challenge and the traditional exhibits are good for both kids and adults. I enjoyed reading about all the spy stories throughout the museum. Overall with the exhibits, shows, and interactions, it's probably a 3 hour experience or so. read more

International Spy Museum - Interactive exhibit - Museums Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

If you've ever knew about Universal Exports, enjoyed the scene in Crimson Tide when they were deciphering the EAM, watched "Incident in map grid 36-80" or are just good at a detailed lie, you'll have fun at the spy museum. I had driven past it my last DC work trip, and made it a point to check it this time around. It's located right close to the L'Enfant Plaza Metrorail station. For one, on their pull-up exhibit, I learned why in your late 40/s you usually ride a desk. However I was able to successfully complete the crawling through an AC duct station. Their exhibits run the gamut from static to interactive and a comprehensive history of espionage, from when the first cave dwellers climbed a tree to see what the opposing group was up to through the current three letter agencies of today's agencies. I would say to definitely play along on the exhibits, it will make a fun two hour operation. The exhibits have pretty fair coverage to the different agencies, whether the FBI or the Federal'naya sluzhba bezopasnosti Rossiyskoy Federatsii. And though not for sale, they have an Anna Chapman action figure on exhibit (krasiva Russkaya Debochka). Of course, the exit is through the gift shop! read more

This is a really neat museum, blending interaction with history and artifacts really really well. When you can bring your attendees in, taking them on a journey, I'm pretty impressed and there's only been a few museums that I've been to that can successfully truly do that well, this is one of them. We had our 5 year old with us and I'll be honest, I would have loved to have left her at home not because it wasn't for her but because there was so much content that I wanted to read and learn but couldn't because o was keeping up with her pace! Speaking of, I thought they were joking that folks can spend 2-3 hrs there; nope, def enough for that and maybe then some. Though the price put me off at first, in fact we'd bypassed this spot last visit because of that, I will say it was well worth it. Very cool museum, good for all ages, be ready to learn, engage, be astounded, and have a good time! read more

20 years ago I lived in Washington DC and I visited every museum in the city except this one because it was the most expensive one at the time. 20 years later it's still the most expensive museum around, but I finally got around to visiting it because we were with my child and I thought he would really like it. They have dynamic pricing here and the closer you get to the date the more expensive the ticket becomes. Unfortunately I did not plan that far ahead and we ended up buying our tickets only a day or so out and so with online fees, it was about $76 for two adult tickets. It seems very high, but I could've been worse when we arrived that day they were selling tickets for $45 per person. Thankfully, the six-year-old was free. I was really hoping my son would enjoy this museum because it seems so hands-on and interactive. It really was quite hands-on and interactive, but it was so crowded that you had to wait in lines to do a lot of the interactive stuff which made him very frustrated. Therefore, he did not like it nearly as much as I thought he would, and my husband and I felt quite rushed through it. I love the idea of being a spy and following a path through the museum. I thought it was really clever and I had a good time with that. Again, my son got so frustrated. He never actually finished his mission, but I got to finish mine at least. I would come back, but I would try to plan for an early morning or late start to try to avoid some of the crowds. I would also plan in advance so that I could get a more reasonably priced ticket. It was definitely fun, but probably not worth the cost that we paid. read more

4/11/24 Bought tickets online about a week in advance. There is a discount for purchasing online and in advance, so take advantage of it. The museum is interactive, so it keeps you engaged. The Bond in Motion exhibit was very interesting. As the most recognizable spy in the world, even though it's fiction, it is based on real spy craft. read more

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First, I must say, DMV area has the BEST museums hands down. I thought the Crime museum was awesome but this International Spy Museum is just as awesome. Bonus part, is they have the BEST gift shop so far. Our visit was "planned" but we just decided to purchase our tickets upon arrival. No regrets in waiting, there was no line when arriving. I also chose not to take too many pictures because I did not want to spoil your visit ;) read more

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Very neat museum! The museum appeared to have been a little too kid friendly in my opinion, which is great for families and children. I would have rather it been more artifacts and less trivia and games. The walking tour gets really crowded especially at certain artifacts and exhibits which makes it difficult to enjoy and see everything. Restrooms are easily accessible to step away and come right back to where you left off. There is elevators for those in need. The gift shop was pretty cool. We went a few months ago, just now writing a review but adding their pics of spy books to my photos for any spy enthusiast looking for a good read. We love books so I wanted to make sure I took photos of their choices of what to read. read more

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