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International Spy Museum
(Now Closed)Museum and Science Museum
Penn Quarter, Washington
The folks at Michelin Travel & Lifestyle and Wired like this place. Would you agree?
201 Tips and reviews
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Bradley CookAugust 1, 2016Tons of information and exhibits! They get bigger all the time! Plus you can crawl through the air vents, who wouldn't love that? Tons of fun for everyone.
Lily JungJuly 7, 2016Very interesting. You see gadgets, cars, etc that you might hear about in the movies, but they exist in reality. There is a large James Bond display. There are sections about the history of spying.
Lillian LinAugust 25, 2013Definitely do operation spy! It's not just some game for kids, but a well designed and thought out interactive game, even for adults. It puts you in a spy mindset. Requires actual thinking. Worth it.
Kevin Soltero-SilvaFebruary 19, 2017Great place to learn about spies in history, as well as technological inventions created for espionage. Down side is that it gets real crowded real fast...
WiredJuly 18, 2012Every summer The Spy Museum hosts an Espionage Camp for kids ages 10-13. Kids get to build 'intelligence files', meet real spies and forensic scientists, head out on a surveillance missions & more.
CherylSeptember 7, 2014I'm not much of a museum person but this was the most entertained I've EVER been. Wish I set aside more time to explore more in depth. Def interesting. Would return & recommend! The James Bond floor!
DailyCandyFebruary 26, 2014Learn the story behind Argo, separate James Bond fact from fiction, and practice your decoding skills. The gift shop is stocked with invisible ink, bionic ears, thrillers and peel-and-stick mustaches.
Matthew WeymarApril 11, 2013Fun, but not cheap. When we visited, a loooong line. Becoming members allowed us to skip the line & made the difference between visiting and not - and wasn't /that/ much more $. #ConsiderMembership
Alexandra SchmidtDecember 14, 2014I recommend doing one of the spy simulations instead of just general admission, it makes it more interesting and interactive but overall we had a blast with our group!
Deniz AydemirAugust 16, 2012Take a 10 minute museum survey on the computer in the cafe for a free fountain drink. Pull up a chair and it's a nice rest with a free drink.
International Spy MuseumJanuary 6, 2019The International Spy Museum has moved! January 1, 2019 was the last chance to visit our F street location. Explore the new SPY MUSEUM at Washington DC’s L’Enfant Plaza, opening spring 2019.
- Jenna Rose RobbinsNovember 15, 2013Operation Spy, an interactive role play that lets you pretend to be an undercover agent, is one of the best museum experiences I've ever had. Well worth the extra money. I'd definitely do it again.
Ана ЛековићFebruary 17, 2017Thought it will be interesting to adults, too - but except some new facts I've learned about world most famous spies it was clear it's made for kids (from 2 to 18).
Danielle DaSilvaJuly 12, 2018Really one of a kind experience. There's something for everyone, and an absolute must for all fans of espionage.
Betsy BaxterOctober 21, 2014This museum is AWESOME. It does cost money to get in but it is so beyond worth it. My family and I had a blast.
Serhii LutskoAugust 17, 2017This place is not free but you can learn a lot from it so worth to visit
Insider PerksFebruary 24, 2012This is one of our favorite museums because it's so much more. Test your memory by adopting a cover identity and see some of the gadgets you thought were made up just for James Bond movies. Read more
James CAugust 29, 2015Absolutely amazing museum. Worth every penny and the interactive parts make it so much more interesting.
Allen VoglianoSeptember 23, 2018Lots of memorabilia and interactive features. A bit on the expensive side, but students get a discount so that’s nice.
Storm C.November 8, 2017The interactive displays are really fun and the entire section devoted to the bond movies is awesome!
InternsROCK!June 3, 2013Interning in D.C.? Grab a key tag from The Washington Center and get $3 off general admission and 15% off in-store purchases during InternsROCK! June 7 - 16th 2013. internsrockdc.com #InternsROCK
Michelin Travel & LifestyleAugust 13, 2012Washington’s countless museums equals countless museum shops. The International Spy Museum boastes spy gadget, disguises and espionage-related reading for kids, young and old. -- Green Guide Editor
NorahSeptember 5, 2016Very interesting information & more interesting presentation! I the most unique museume I ever visited
The Transit NavigatorSeptember 25, 2011A must-see with tons to explore. Remember your cover when entering, and see the history of spies. What else can you do? Well, that's confidential. And an inside spy tip, mention AAA for a discount.
AFAR MediaAugust 4, 2014Here, you can learn all about the gadgets and techniques real spies used, from cameras embedded in everyday objects, to my favorite, the lipstick pistol. Read more
ConnorMarch 14, 2016So freaking cool. Lots of spy gear used from way back. 007 Villain exhibit was excellent. Gift Shop is legit.
DHR.comSeptember 9, 2011This is home to one of the world's largest collection of spy artifacts. Highlights: Operation Spy exhibit and Spy in the City, an interactive mission. This is espionage education at its finest!- Nela LichtscheidlNovember 18, 2013Very pricey, but definitely worth it! Take a couple of hours to get through it. There's a ton to see!
Tany MonteiroMarch 22, 2011It's bigger than you can imagine but if you visit Washington you MUST go there. It's so interesting. Also, the gif shop has a lot of interesting things! :)
Bruna GabriellaAugust 17, 2011This place is huge and very interesting, totally worth the money. Reserve at least 3.5 hours to explore it - there's a lot to read and learn. Photos are not allowed.
Lucie MelahnNovember 7, 2011Loads of fun, especially the section on spy gadgets. Little kids may be bored but older kids will love it. Don't linger too long in early sections because whole thing is very long.
Maggie MacGDecember 29, 2015This place can get so crowded but fun museum with lots of information on Soviet-era KGB spy history.
Jackie GutierrezJune 21, 2011Memorizing your identity is a waste of time in the beginning, but some really cool gadgets and knowledge to be picked up here. Celebrity spies, cloak and dagger, ninjas...yup, all here. Read more
Gemma YoungermanAugust 20, 2010the mission is a lot of fun and def try to remember all your spy information...there is a kiosk at the end where you get to see what happens to your spy...and crawl thru the ventilation ducts!
Josh E.October 3, 2014Double check groupon the day before you plan to go. They have deals for groups of 1, 2, or 4.
Nicole StahleckerMay 2, 2018Such a fun and educational museum! They are building a new one so I recommend going to this one while you still cal
Bill 🇺🇸October 2, 2012Cool joint, lots of interactive thing, reasonably priced, only thing is ya cant take pictures. But mos def check it out
HISTORYApril 1, 2010The museum opened on July 19, 2002 and is the only public museum in the United States solely dedicated to espionage that has shaped history and continues to have a significant impact on world events.
Ben MalbonApril 7, 2012Spectacularly dumb ticket system in which you line up for tickets in one line and then line up all over again for entry. If you come with friends join both lines at once.
ToryBurchJune 26, 2013Visit this museum to pretend you’re James Bond or to learn how the world’s best detectives handled their toughest jobs.- Lucie MelahnNovember 7, 2011Spy shop is super fun and you don't have to pay admission to shop there. During holiday season they offer photos with Spy Santa.
Rob CavenaghMarch 30, 2013Order tix online (not on mobile) and choose 10 am on day you want to visit. Get there at least 30-45 minutes before your time.
Sean FurtadoOctober 7, 2013If you want to get through the whole museum, allow yourself at least 4 hours. Everything is awesome in it.
Isa GFebruary 15, 2014Drink lots of coffee before coming here. Museum is very interesting but the amount of detail and information can be overwhelming/tiring.
Jennifer FApril 11, 2013Check out the library on the third floor. If you're lucky you'll see the letter written by Washington that is only on display two months of the year.
What's Good HereAugust 12, 2014Sister museum to the newer (and better) Mob Museum in Las Vegas, but showing its age.
Jenny KMarch 26, 2016If your hotel concierge sells tix, get them! You can skip the line and get right to the museum that way.
Ian Bryant-SmithMarch 15, 2015Way more expensive than any of the other museums in town, but definitely worth going to once.
Charles MullighanJuly 22, 2018An absolute ripoff. Minimally informative. The one hour “operation spy” was rubbing salt into the wound. Capped off with a James Bond exhibit that shows the lack of interest in spy craft.
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The International Spy Museum has moved to a new location. Explore the Spy Museum - coming soon spring 2019!
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"I love this museum but it was a 45 min wait every time we went by on 4th of July weekend."
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