Are backpacks allowed in the International Spy Museum?
Spies under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. To succeed on your mission, we encourage the use of baby slings or backpacks as an alternative to strollers. Please note large strollers are not permitted in the exhibit. Strollers are stored in the Lobby Cloak Room before entering the permanent exhibition.
Unlike the Smithsonian Museums, the International Spy Museum is not free. That being said, there are several ways to save money on tickets! Admission is offered via timed entry tickets, which means you are free to enter the museum after the time printed on your ticket.
The top floor of the museum features exhibits about the history of spying, interactive computer displays, and many cool spy gadgets such as a lipstick pistol and the Aston Martin DB5 from Goldfinger. The lower level is an entire exhibit dedicated to James Bond.
Adult (13-64) 11:30 AM | $29.95 | 0 1 2 |
---|---|---|
Youth (7-12) 11:30 AM | $18.95 | 0 1 2 |
Child (6 and Under) 11:30 AM | $0.00 | 0 1 2 |
Senior (65+) 11:30 AM | $26.95 | 0 1 2 |
Military 11:30 AM | $26.95 | 0 1 2 |
No food, drinks, or chewing gum in the permanent exhibition. To stay hydrated on your mission, bottled water is welcome. Chilled drinks and snacks are available in the Spy Museum Store.
You'll need to present your bag for inspection at almost all museums and art galleries. You can bring in most items (except weapons!) but food and drink must remain in your bag. You will walk through a metal detector at: Air and Space Museum and its Udvar-Hazy Center (DC & VA)
Although the Museum's primary audience is ages 9 and older, we know that younger children can have a really fun and fulfilling experience at the Museum with a bit of support.
PARKING. Garage Parking is available at the L'Enfant Plaza Garage*. You can reserve a parking spot with Ace Parking Online Reservations or pay upon arrival. You may validate your parking ticket at SPY for a 20% weekday discount and 50% parking discount on weekends.
The Spy Museum is the perfect place for adults to dive into the shadowy world of espionage. Learn more about the important role intelligence has played in history and continues to play today. Join us for public programs in person and online.
As an interactive theatre experience, Operation Spy is a great addition to a visit to the International Spy Museum. There's no real need to visit if you're only interested in an escape room, but as a live, interactive show, it's great fun!
What do you do at the Spy Museum in DC?
Go Undercover!
Test your spy skills at seventeen different digital and physical interactives spread throughout the Museum. You'll be challenged to remember your cover identity, crack codes, and uncover hidden dead drop sites.
The Museum's collection chronicles the history of espionage, from its inception, to the modern-day challenges facing intelligence professionals worldwide in the 21st Century. The original Spy Museum opened in 2002. Its new, expanded building and all-new exhibitions opened in May 2019 to much acclaim.

Milton Maltz is the founder of the International Spy Museum. He founded Malrite Communications Group, Inc.
Washington, DC is filled with free museums, from Smithsonians including the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space Museum, to art-filled museums like the National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery of Art.
Food and Drink
Our Spy Museum Store has chilled drinks and sweet treats for sale. L'Enfant Plaza Food Court is a two-minute walk from SPY (entrance is directly behind the Museum) and is a perfect place for grabbing coffee or a quick bite.
We generally recommend about 2 hours to visit the museum. Operation Spy and Spy in the City take about 1 hour each. Tickets are good for the entire day once purchased, so guests can enter and exit as much as they like until closing. We hope you'll spy on us soon!
Service Dogs
Visitors are not permitted to bring emotional support animals into the Spy Museum.
Large bags and backpacks (no larger than 17 X 26 inches) are allowed in the National Gallery of Art after going through a security check, but they may not be worn on your back--they have to be carried. FOOD/DRINK: No food or drink is allowed on White House tours or inside the U.S. Capitol.
Suitcases, large umbrellas, and backpacks are not allowed in the galleries. Security officers may ask you to hand-carry smaller backpacks, or wear them on your front, to protect the artworks. Please note that we do not offer coat check or bag storage at this time. Strollers are permitted in the galleries.
Are water bottles allowed in museums?
Water bottles are not permitted inside any of the Smithsonian Institution's museums. However, visitors are welcome to bring water bottles and other beverages in sealed containers into the museums.
The International Spy Museum is a great place to take the family. While all children are welcome, the Museum's content is best suited for ages 7 and up.
There's so much for families to see at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History! Flanked by the National Mall, this popular DC museum attracts visitors of all ages, but it's fantastic for toddlers too.
The distance between International Spy Museum and National Mall is 2576 feet.
The International Spy Museum is accessible by Washington, DC's Metrorail system. The closest Metro station is the L'Enfant Plaza stop, served by the BLUE, ORANGE, SILVER, YELLOW, and GREEN lines.
- 105 12th St SW. 45 spots. 8 min.
- 300 12th St SW. 130 spots. 8 min.
- 370 L'Enfant Promenade (Colonial Parking Station 355) 421 spots. 10 min. ...
- 1331 Maryland Avenue Garage. Visitors only. 17 min. ...
- 1001 Pennsylvania Ave NW. 544 spots. 20 min. ...
- 601 Penn Garage. 210 spots. 20 min. ...
- 501 School St SW. 48 spots. ...
- 625 Indiana Avenue Garage. 124 spots.
Many of Washington, DC's major attractions are open to the public and do not require tickets, including the Smithsonian museums, the National Gallery of Art, and the monuments and memorials on the National Mall. Entry to the Smithsonian Zoo is free but requires an entry pass.
Things to Know Before You Go
The Spy Museum is great for families and for those interested in espionage. Tickets are valid for 15 minute windows; if you do not arrive on time, you may have to wait for another open slot. You'll need two to three hours to explore this sizable museum.
Although the Museum's primary audience is ages 9 and older, we know that younger children can have a really fun and fulfilling experience at the Museum with a bit of support.
Go Undercover!
Test your spy skills at seventeen different digital and physical interactives spread throughout the Museum. You'll be challenged to remember your cover identity, crack codes, and uncover hidden dead drop sites.
Is there parking at the International Spy Museum?
PARKING. Garage Parking is available at the L'Enfant Plaza Garage*. You can reserve a parking spot with Ace Parking Online Reservations or pay upon arrival. You may validate your parking ticket at SPY for a 20% weekday discount and 50% parking discount on weekends.
The International Spy Museum is fun for the whole family! The International Spy Museum is a great place to take the family. While all children are welcome, the Museum's content is best suited for ages 7 and up.
The Spy Museum is the perfect place for adults to dive into the shadowy world of espionage. Learn more about the important role intelligence has played in history and continues to play today. Join us for public programs in person and online.
Milton Maltz is the founder of the International Spy Museum. He founded Malrite Communications Group, Inc.
There's so much for families to see at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History! Flanked by the National Mall, this popular DC museum attracts visitors of all ages, but it's fantastic for toddlers too.
Food and Drink
Our Spy Museum Store has chilled drinks and sweet treats for sale. L'Enfant Plaza Food Court is a two-minute walk from SPY (entrance is directly behind the Museum) and is a perfect place for grabbing coffee or a quick bite.
As an interactive theatre experience, Operation Spy is a great addition to a visit to the International Spy Museum. There's no real need to visit if you're only interested in an escape room, but as a live, interactive show, it's great fun!
To go "undercover" (that is, to go on an undercover operation) is to avoid detection by the object of one's observation, and especially to disguise one's own identity (or use an assumed identity) for the purposes of gaining the trust of an individual or organization in order to learn or confirm confidential information ...
The distance between International Spy Museum and National Mall is 2576 feet.
The International Spy Museum is accessible by Washington, DC's Metrorail system. The closest Metro station is the L'Enfant Plaza stop, served by the BLUE, ORANGE, SILVER, YELLOW, and GREEN lines.
Where can I park at DC museums?
- 105 12th St SW. 45 spots. 8 min.
- 300 12th St SW. 130 spots. 8 min.
- 370 L'Enfant Promenade (Colonial Parking Station 355) 421 spots. 10 min. ...
- 1331 Maryland Avenue Garage. Visitors only. 17 min. ...
- 1001 Pennsylvania Ave NW. 544 spots. 20 min. ...
- 601 Penn Garage. 210 spots. 20 min. ...
- 501 School St SW. 48 spots. ...
- 625 Indiana Avenue Garage. 124 spots.