The National Gallery of Art in 2 hours: the essential route
Quick answer
In 2 hours at the National Gallery of Art: start at the West Building Rotunda, see Leonardo's Ginevra de' Benci, move on to Raphael and Titian, Vermeer and Rembrandt, spend 30 minutes with the Impressionists, then take the underground concourse to the East Building for Matisse, Rothko and modern art.
Hours and prices checked on · Official website
Point your camera at any artwork
Try it free at National Gallery of Art
AnyArt recognizes paintings, sculptures and monuments and tells you their story in seconds, like a personal audio guide. Free for iPhone, iPad and Android.
The route: 8 stops in 2 hours
Works can move for loans; the free map shows the day's locations.
- 1
0:00 · Rotunda · West Building
The Rotunda and the Mercury fountain
The neoclassical heart of the museum, with marble columns and a dome inspired by Rome's Pantheon.
- 2
0:05 · Main Floor · West Building
Ginevra de' Benci (Leonardo da Vinci)
The only Leonardo in the Americas: a youthful portrait with a distant gaze and a juniper bush punning on the sitter's name. The reverse is on view too.
- 3
0:20 · Italian painting
Raphael, Titian and the Renaissance
Raphael's Alba Madonna and the Venetian Titians trace the shift from Florentine design to Venetian colour.
- 4
0:40 · Dutch painting
Vermeer and Rembrandt
Vermeer's Woman Holding a Balance and Rembrandt's portraits and self-portraits: restrained light and silence.
- 5
1:00 · 19th-century French painting
The Impressionists
Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cézanne and Van Gogh, including a self-portrait. It's the busiest area: head straight to your favourites.
- 6
1:30 · Concourse
Leo Villareal's Multiverse
Thousands of moving LED lights in the tunnel linking the two buildings.
- 7
1:35 · East Building
Modern art
Matisse, Picasso, Pollock and the Rothko room in I. M. Pei's triangular building.
- 8
1:55 · East Building roof
Roof terrace with Capitol views
If it's open, the terrace has one of the best views of Pennsylvania Avenue and the Capitol.
Tips to make the most of it
- Pair it with the free Sculpture Garden across 7th Street.
- With only 1 hour, stay on the West Building Main Floor.
- Scan any painting on the route with AnyArt to hear its story.
Frequently asked questions
Can you see the National Gallery of Art in 2 hours?
Yes, by focusing on the West Building Main Floor with a quick pass through the East.
What if I only have 1 hour?
Leonardo, Vermeer, Rembrandt and the Impressionists, all on the West Building Main Floor.
How do you get between the buildings?
Through the underground Concourse or across 4th Street at street level.
Do I need to book?
Not for the permanent collection; some special exhibitions may need a free timed pass.