Let me start by explaining why I took one star off. The tickets are timed, and the museum suggests 2 hours as a sufficient amount of time to spend there. The day we went, we bought tickets for 2.5 hours before closing, thinking that should be enough time. In reality, though, with it being as crowded as it was, we would have needed at least 4 hours to do every activity. The museum is great, and there are a ton of interactive scenarios and activities that you are supposed to complete, if you really want to do the museum the way it's designed. However, you have to wait for other people to do the same activities, and that will add a significant amount of time to the visit. If you were in there completely by yourself, I could see maybe finishing in 2 hours. But obviously, that's not the reality. So we had to rush through without getting to do a significant portion of the interactive activities, and the kids were pretty disappointed. TLDR: The museum is worth the money, if you allot WAY more than 2 hours for it.

This review is based on way too short of a visit. We went there before a White House tour, not knowing what to expect. As soon as we got our tickets I knew we had a problem. Got upstairs and got our agent credentials. Our friends had arrived before us and were finishing up the orientation film. We didn't have time for that. Despite our complete lack of research (this new museum is very different from the previous), we found tons of interesting artifacts, multimedia displays, and an interactive "role-playing" theme. Plan on 2 hours minimum, with 3 probably a better plan.

Man alive. This place was awesome. It is chock-full of information, interesting installations and interactive activities. We spent five hours there and could have easily stayed a few more. We had to hurry the little ones there because the adults were hungry and had other places to visit that day. So, if you have inquisitive kids in your party, make sure to plan to be here for a while. Definitely a place to visit! Be sure to get tickets online in advance as entrance is done by specific time.

It's a 4 only because it was very unclear how much time it takes to really experience. Had I known it was a 3 hour thing, probably would have saved the money and checked out another space That being said. What a cool experience. The interaction is really special. The exhibits are extremely well put together and informative. There is a great blend of real items, replicas and sort of digital type things. Really is a great treat.

I was surprised at how nicely done and interactive the museum ihas been put together. The price might scare some people away, however in my opinion, it is worth it. We owe a lot to the brave individuals who risk their lives to keep us safe. Fascinating tools, people, and networks that make it all happen. It's definitely worth visiting. I recommend you pre purchase tickets.

It's a great place to spend at least 4-5 hours, especially if you love exploring musuems. There are lots of interactive things to do, no chance to get bored. The ticket price might discourage many people but for me, every penny was worth it. This is a must visit place if you like spy stories, espionage stuffs. And the undercover agent thing - just awesome!

For museum enthusiasts willing to invest in a unique experience, this destination is a must-visit. Prepare to immerse yourself in an incredible journey that may extend beyond four hours, making it a worthy addition to your bucket list. Arriving in the first half of the day enhances the enjoyment of the spy-themed experience offered here. The museum boasts an impressive array of gadgets, props, and tools utilized by spies throughout history. Engaging narratives unfold, shedding light on espionage's profound impact on lives and history. The staff's helpful demeanor adds an extra layer of enjoyment, making the exploration both educational and fun. As a bonus, visitors can assume the role of a spy on a captivating mission, creating a truly memorable experience. The museum provides a well-stocked gift shop, ensuring you can take a piece of the adventure home. Clean restroom facilities and nearby paid parking lots contribute to the overall convenience. Conveniently located within walking distance from the L'Enfant Plaza metro station, accessibility is not an issue. This museum promises an immersive and enjoyable journey into the intriguing world of spying and espionage.

Visited here for a quick day trip. The check in process was very easy and swift. The museum was affordably priced. The exhibits were interesting and interactive. The museum was clean and well lit. Easily accessible for everyone and kid friendly. I would have liked for an easier access to go back up if you took a break from the exhibit. But overall this was a good museum. I would visit again.

Really fun time learning and playing. More than I expected from a spy museum with interactive content and unique missions for each player to reinforce content. The facility is top notch. Plenty of restrooms and seats throughout if you need a break. They have a coat closet area for storing coats and free lockers first-come first-serve for bags and purses. The gift shop at the end is big with lots of interesting items from trinkets and keychains to books and games. It's clear they wanted to make this an amazing experience. Mission Accomplished!

We finally experienced the Spy Museum, and it was everything we thought it would be. It was a very smooth layout and well put together as we transitioned to each area. You get an opportunity to get a special mission that you can try and work through during your tour. There were a lot of artifacts and stories to assist with the explanation of what each device was used for and during what time. I really enjoyed hearing and learning about women involvement and their lead roles within the agency. The museum was very high-tech as you would imagine. It was a fun and interesting experience and I would return again. It's worth a visit for people of all ages.

The International Spy Museum is one of the best museums in Washington, DC as a native to the DC region. I was blown away when I had to change the date due to someone being sick and the friendly staff made the accommodation even though it was at the last minute. Once at the museum, we were greeted by friendly staff who even volunteered to take pictures of us. The museum starts off with a nice challenge that you can do as you go thru the museum. The items that they had on display were really cool. It would take about two to three hours to see everything. We took our toddler and this really isnt for the little ones. My 8 year old, however, absolutely enjoyed it. This place was clean and the gift shop actually have stuff worth buying. I highly recommend this museum.

Very fun experience. I’ve done this one and the one in Berlin. Both super awesome. Very interesting and interactive. A little bit spendy but the museum is quite large so don’t few as bad spending more for the experience. Little ones are free which was a plus too. Many games embedded into the exhibits. Very informative. Definitely recommend this. We didn’t do the monuments today due to bad weather and this was our alternate event.

I never got to go to the original Spy museum installation in its smaller location. This new building is beautifully laid out, taking up two very large floors on top of the building. The exhibits are interactive and interesting for both kids and adults. And the exhibits are set up in such a way that you can walk around most of them, discovering more information and allowing more people to take in more of each exhibit up close! Fairly innovative for museum displays. Highly recommended for kids, museum lovers, and adults that love spy movies/books.

they said the recommended time to spend here is 2 hours when we entered, but we ended up staying for 7.5 hours because I read every single piece of text in the building. definitely recommend getting early tickets if you want to devour the entire museum’s content. a really fun and interesting time delving into the history of espionage and related topics!

Really interesting and fun. I could have easily spent 4-5h here because there is so much to see/read and also lots of interactive displays/tasks to do. Unfortunately there were tons of people there when I visited so the interactive stiff especially was kind of hard to access but overall I still really enjoyed coming here. There is a large amount of super interesting spy stories with corresponding exhibits and they also explain/show the different methods and elements that go into espionage. Definitely worth the somewhat pricey tickets.

We booked our tickets a month in advanced, they were $26 per person and there is a minor wait time when you arrive. You go up in an elevator and they give you a fun and cool welcome, then a code that you have to decipher throughout the museum. The museum is not too big but you still need plenty of time, there is so much to read and see, it is so cool and educational. I highly recommend it!!!

Very cool museum for anyone who enjoys James Bond movies or spy thrillers. The museum offers a great blend of interactive activities with educational components. It's very entertaining for experts spy nerds and people who know nothing about spying. You will see ingenious devices that were used for spying and learn about how spies use technology. You will learn about great female spies. At the end of your visit pick up a small gift at the cool museum shop; I chose wooden and metal puzzles that play with perception and my family members loved their little gifts.

Excellently curated, super fun place! We all loved the interactive spaces, and there was so much to learn. We left with amazement at all the ways spies have perfected their craft. The gift shop was filled with so many interesting items, we could’ve stayed there longer as well.

This place was amazing! We had 2 adults & 2 teenagers. By taking the time to read most things and watch all of the various videos we spent around six hours here this past Friday. Almost an hour of that was looking at all of the neat things in the gift shop. I can't stress enough how cool these real-life spy gadgets are! These aren't the things you see in movies (although there is a section near the end about movie spy stuffs and how real it is or isn't). This is real world stuff that was really used. So intriguing! I'm in my early 40's, but felt like a little kid with how cool this stuff was! If you park at the L'Enfant parking garage, make sure to get your (NOT PREPAID ONLINE) parking ticket validated in the gift shop to save 20% on your parking.

We really enjoyed our visit to the International Spy Museum! Our favorite part was the secret mission aspect of the museum. From getting your secret identity, to solving puzzles, and trying to complete your mission. It really brought the interactiveness of the museum to a whole different level. Our group ranged in age from 18-37 and we all enjoyed our visit! Definitely make sure you buy your tickets in advance they sell out!

Super intriguing and fun place for the whole family. Kiddos 6+ probably will enjoy it most and even more so if they are great readers. Lots of interactive displays and challenges. You are issued a secret identity and tasked along the way. We took several kiddos to celebrate my spy-loving 9yo. Kids and adults alike enjoyed the museum. You need to block out 3 plus hours on the busy days to feel like you got to see it all.

It’s a very interesting place! Lots of stories about spies around the world! Real people, real life… During your trip you are involved to be a part of spy mission! We like it! Don’t forget there are two floors and takes around 3-4 hours to explore it!

The International Spy Museum is awesome! We were so happy that we got tickets and scheduled it as part of our trip. It was so much fun, even for just us adults! There was so much information and things to see. It is a great way to spend a couple of hours if not more. There is a wait for some of the interactive stations; however, it wasn't too bad. The gift shop had so much of everything. I would definitely go again if we are in the area.

What a fun museum! Super interactive and informative, with the opportunity to be a "spy" as you work your way through the museum. Great for both kids and adults too. One of my favorite facts learned there today is that playing the Barney theme song over and over has been used as a form of torture to get people to talk - that would certainly work on me! Fun gift shop too, also great for both kids and adults. Definitely recommend checking out the Spy Museum!

I came here while on vacation and was astounded by all the exhibits!! I love spy stuff and knew I had to come visit. The International Spy Museum is a must! I recommend booking your tickets online early and allow about 2.5 hours to go through the whole museum. Also the gift shop is pretty awesome.

What a great place to visit, especially with the kids. Lots of exciting and cool information along with tons of interactive exhibits. There's even an overarching "quest" to accomplish as you go through the various parts of the museum. Museum store has lots of interesting books, fun shirts, and toys and things for the kids. Overall a fun way to spend the afternoon. Takes 2-4 hours to go through and experience everything.

This place is amazing, full of eye opening information, and more. We watch the movie first, and then we were given a game mission. Kids, and kids like (me) love it. You’ll start from the top level and work yourself down to the shop. The shop is book heavy for the readers like me, but it has other stuff like shirts , mugs, and more. Modern and clean bathrooms on the back of the display rooms at all levels. Come with time, it is busy and there is a lot to look at. Drop a comment if I missed something.

Great museum. Was not horribly busy at 10 AM on a Sunday. There were some crowds but nothing too horrible. The museum is slick and well put together. It’s interactive as well with the guest getting to complete a spy museum as they progress Through the museum. Best exhibit here is the assassination exhibit. It’s contents should be self evident. 5/5.

A very interesting and informative museum. Although there are only two floors of exhibitions, there are so much to see. The visit starts at 5th floor where you are given a badge and assigned a covered identity to state an interactive spy mission. While strolling through the exhibition, each of the collections is a story teller. On Friday through Sunday, the museum opens till 8pm. I booked a 4pm entry. But when I had to leave at 8pm when it was closed, I felt I still had not viewed everything. It’s absolutely a must visit museum in DC. It’s suitable for all ages. And make sure to book the ticket in advance to get a desired time slot.

Tons of cool information, great interactive elements. The mission was great for all ages (10-38 here). My 10 year old was a bit scared by some of the terrorist info videos, but my 13 year old loved it. I recommend buying tickets far in advance, because the price is cheaper the further ahead you book...but only if your plans are set in stone, because there are no refunds. It's pretty dark inside, and there are some flashing light effects, so it might be a bit scary for some young kids.

The SPY Museum was amazing! Not only does it contain countless artifacts and history, it is highly INTERACTIVE! When you arrive you get a tag, and go to a kiosk where you are given an identity based on a few questions. As you go through the museum, at the end of each section you complete a checkpoint based on what that section was about. For example one checkpoint you have to code break. They also have lots of hands on displays, a duct crawl, a how long can you hang challenge. At the end you see if you completed your mission and it tells you your strengths. Highly recommend if you are in DC! Great for kids. Book earlier than later!

What an amazing experience. I was at the old building but this one is so much more extensive and interactive. Take your time walking through and reading and playing with the exhibits. Money well spent for both adults and kids.

Excellent experience. Amazing exhibits of spy technology, history, decoders, famous spies, cover plans, assinations, and much more. It's an eye opener. Kids will love it and adults will be amazed. It huge so plan early arrival and get ready to walk. Every floor is filled with all you would want to know about international espionage.

Definitely a smaller museum, some of it was gimmicky and made for kids, but it also included information about many historical spies. My only complaint is just that I wish there was more to get my full money's worth from the ticket. I still had an enjoyable time, and the interactable activities are pretty fun and sometimes challenging even for adults.

Great experience, great information, good spy missions if you choose to accept it. Cool gadget from the past. I was hoping to see some new spy equipment. But overall, it was a nice time. There are missions to do and lots to see.

Super cool place to see and learn about all spy related theories, weapons, and some of the most notorious spies of our times. The International Spy Museum in Washington, DC is a must-see destination for fans of espionage and history. The museum offers a unique and in-depth look at the world of espionage, from ancient civilizations to modern times. The exhibits are well-curated and offer a great deal of information, including interactive displays and real-life artifacts from famous spies and spy agencies. The museum is also conveniently located in the heart of the city, making it easy to visit. Overall, the Spy Museum is an excellent and educational experience for visitors of all ages. Highly recommend to visit if you are interested in history of espionage, and you are in Washington DC.

Book tickets in advance. A bit on the busy side for our looking but with patience were able to see and do a lot. Website says 2-3 hours but if you're a thorough museum goer and read as much of the exhibits as you can, expect to stay longer. Our kids loved it! There are a few exhibits that were not appropriate for our younger kids but they were easy enough to skip.

Awesome experience. Great for kids of all ages, lots of interactive games and experiences throughout the entire museum. It will take several hours to make your way through, so little kids might not make it.

Wow!!! So much fun. Interactive screens to "test" your skills. So cool. Definitely wish the no stroller rule would have been followed. We spent about 4 hours!!! Awesome for older kids!

This was a lot of fun! I don’t believe I’ve ever wanted to go but since someone I know wanted to check it out, I went. Pleasantly surprise! I thought it would be more catered to children, but happily proven wrong!

This place was so fun! Word to the wise though, I thought this was a free Smithsonian Museum; it is not. That’s no dig on them though, it was worth every dollar I spent! There is so much cool stuff jam packed in this place, and yet somehow they had exhibits they hadn’t even completed yet! I could go back several more times and still not have seen everything. Make sure to play the spy mini game they have throughout the exhibit, it’s a lot of fun!

A stop at this museum was requested by our children. I reserved tickets in advance for a morning arrival during Christmas break. There was no wait to enter. We spent four hours exploring and there was so much to do and see. The adults enjoyed it as much as the kids. The interactive mission was cool - you’re given a code name and password to be used at different stations throughout the museum. This museum is a fun way to learn about spying and history. We would come back and recommend a visit to anyone interested.

Very interactive museum, with many exhibits to learn from. You can choose to do your own personal undercover mission with a badge they give you in the beginning or not, either way, you’ll be learning a lot. I’d give this museum a couple of hours as there’s just so much to engage with. Staff stays in character and is very helpful.

What an experience, you feel like if you were a real spy! It’s really worth the money. It is a mix of history and virtual. You learn and interact at the same time. Everything is so cool, they really did a great job in this museum, very unique. When over, you leave there with a better understanding of what it’s like to be a spy! Awesome and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

A great museum that mixes exhibits and technology to make an overall fun experience. A lot of history about spies and you're given an undercover mission to complete activities throughout the museum. You also can leave the museum and come back to resume your mission, if it's the same day. Use the metro station L'Enfant Plaza to get here.

The museum and history part was fantastic. We gave up on the interactive spy mission pretty early, as the lines for the computers for each part were pretty long. If you have kids that are into mysteries like that, it would be worth it, but plan for plenty of time (3+ hours). Otherwise the exhibits were great and you could easily visit this museum without completing the interactive part.

Highly recommend! Was a phenomenal and educational experience while visiting DC. Also is on the pathway stop to the Big Bus tours so it made navigating to the museum, so much more convenient. Great for families. Would recommend dedicating at least half a day here as theres so many amazing things to explore, read, and learn about here!

Very interactive and a ton of exhibits to see and read. The mission was fun as we went as a family so could compare notes afterward. Might not be great for younger kids. Adults and curious teens will find it much more interesting. Really good gift shop

I just loved it, it provides comprehensive overview of the history of espionage along with all the pop culture around it. Very interactive (you also become a spy and are on a mission!) and educational. Lots of fun! Last but not least - the spy shop offers a wide rangę od spy gadgets - so funny, you will not fine anyting like that anywhere else!

Amazing museum! Plenty of enjoyable exhibits for any age, child-senior. Almost too many things to say and read for a single visit. The undercover spy card you get upon entry is really fun, but if you want to be able to do all the activities try and aim for a less busy time of day.

So much to see! The estimated time for most visitors is 2 1/2 to three hours. We were there almost six! Every exhibit was wonderfully presented with easy to read information. Many had video and/or audio information as well. The interactive exhibits were informative and thought-provoking. We did not get to experience all of the interactive kiosks; there were many people, and some kiosks were not functioning properly, but the "mission" was informative, enjoyable, and added a bit of fun to the experience. The best thing about the museum, in my opinion, is that no one was portrayed as "the bad guy". History and biography of every agent and handler - no matter the country - presented all the information in an all-inclusive, non-judgemental manner. It truly drives home the idea that one country's hero is another country's enemy.

10/10! Last time I went to the spy museum was over 10 years ago when it was at its previous location. The upgrades done have been great! I loved the interactive missions especially that we got to keep our spy identities and the little card. So much great information to look at and read. Lots of great interactive videos and such for kids and adults. Definitely a great family fun activity if you’re in the DC area!

My family and I visited the place with our children and they thoroughly enjoyed it. However, I would not recommend it for young kids, as it is more suitable for ages ten and above. The place combines education and fun activities. Although I appreciated the overall concept, I was disappointed by the glorification of apartheid states like Israel. It was in poor taste, but since the exhibit focuses on spies in general, it wasn't entirely unexpected. One exciting aspect of the tour is the interactive spy game, where visitors can become spies and complete tasks throughout the exhibit. Overall, it is an interesting and enjoyable experience.

A fun time for anyone in Washington, DC who wants to learn more about espionage while also making it fun. You your at your own pace but can easily take 2-4 hours depending on whether you look at every single display or not. The ongoing “mission” is each visitor gets to do in computers throughout the museum is fun and interactive.

This is really a cool look into the spy world I would say it’s age appropriate for 4 years old and up. Guns and weapons are on display but not in a way that would be glorifying weapons. Overall very cool experience I would give your group 2 hours approximately to have enough time to view most of the areas thoroughly.

Really well done and a fun experience. Tremendous interactive technology and so many different opportunities to learn about ‘spies,’ and historical accounts. They also have an amazing section of books in the gift shop. Family friendly and I would go there on my own as an adult too.

This was a very interesting museum. Definitely a lot of information to take in. It is geared to be interactive along the way. Participation is not necessary, but it is a little fun. However, some of the kids running around between the exhibits trying to solve the puzzles was just something you had to put up with. Definitely worth your time and money.