The International Spy Museum is a privately owned and operated museum completely independent of tax money or government funding. Your admission fee, together with retail and membership revenue, supports the Museum's research, exhibitions, and educational programming.
While most guests enjoy the general exhibition SPY offers two other experiences, Operation Spy and Spy in the City. Operation Spy is an interactive mission that lasts one hour and guests must be 12 or older. Spy in the City is a GPS-based interactive device that leads guests on an outdoor mission.
The Museum is open from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, but many times of the year we open early and stay open late. Visit our Hours page or check our homepage for specific hours.
Most visitors spend 1½-2 hours touring the general exhibition. If you choose to add an experience (such as Operation Spy or Spy in the City) to the general exhibition, plan on another 1 to 1½ hours.
The Museum tends to be busier on weekends. If you can only visit on a weekend, plan to arrive early or later in the afternoon to avoid crowds and lines.
During peak season, advance ticket purchase is recommended. There may be a ticket purchase line along with a ticket holder line. Visitors who purchased tickets ahead of time will still need to wait in the ticket holder line.
The Spy Museum’s photography/video policy protects the copyright of artifacts and historical images on loan. These images cannot be reproduced without consent from the owner. Two photo stations are provided in the museum for guests to capture complimentary images sent electronically to their email address.
To ensure the safety of guests and the collection, the Museum does not allow for strollers in the exhibition galleries. Strollers may be left in the Cloak Room and complimentary baby carriers are available.
Members receive unlimited access to the general exhibition, express entry (no waiting in lines), discounts on guest tickets and in the Museum Store, and invites to top-secret events. To become a member of the inner circle, please visit our membership web page.
A bicycle rack is located across from the Museum in front of the National Portrait Gallery.
The Museum offers complimentary wheelchairs, captioning, and other services. Click here for additional information.
Holiday weekends are popular at the Spy Museum. Guests may expect outside lines and a wait of up to an hour to enter the exhibit space with timed tickets. We recommend visitors take advantage of the Museum’s extended hours and visit early/late.