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Beautifully decorated and situated Basilica, attended for Sunday Solemn Mass with choir. Lovely. Be aware copious amounts of incense used at this Mass and that may be a concern for some. Front pews reserved for large groups, but once arrived they opened left over space for anyone. Close by is the St. John Paull II shrine.

We decided to take the trolley car out to this attraction, so we came off the big red bus and waited like forever until the trolley bus arrived at our stop. It was worth the extra trip out to see, so if you got a hop on hop off tour ticket, take the time out to go and see this cathedral.

A wonderful place to come if you love architecture and art, particularly mosaics and architecture; want an oasis in the city; love Jesus and Mary or are seeking a prayerful space. I love coming to the Basilica and gazing at the art, praying in the various chapels, checking out the books and prayer and worship items available, attending mass and soaking in the atmosphere.

I didn't have a tour. So I recommend getting a guidebook to go off on your own. There is so much to see and understand. Each chapel and the impressive room dedicated to the Irish. I want to go again to see Mary's garden, as I was travelling with snow on the ground. I waited along time to see this sight and I am so glad I did. So impressive. What a beautiful tribute to Mary and the Catholic faith.

Huge and Gorgeous after attending mass went down below to Gift Shop and Catacombs many hours of viewing

As you approach the part of town where the Basilica is located you will see its dome and spire before you ever get there. Rising up over the trees, it is gorgeous whether the skies are clear and blue or gray and overcast.The main church is large and is surrounded by grottos of the Virgin Mary representing many countries' vision of the Blessed Mother - from China, to Mexico, to Europe the statutes and artwork depicting each shrine is beautiful and unique. It would take well in excess of an hour to see them all. If you go for mass, or other times, you can go downstairs to the cafeteria for breakfast. The bookstore has a large collection of prayer books and books on theology, religion and philosophy - a great spot to browse for some unique books that can give meaning to this crazy life we live. The gift store has religious depictions on everything you can imagine - how about a Virgin Mary golf ball or coffee mug? Mass is beautiful and it is worth a trip when the basilica is having a concert.Below the main church is the "crypt" church smaller and more intimate it is also worth a visit. Plus it is inspiring to see additional Mary statues and all the bricks of Catholics who have given to memorialize a loved one.

So much to see! Take the time to visit the different shrines within the shrine like Our Mother of Africa. The virtual tour is good but next time, I would get a guided tour. Walking around on your own is very meditative and confessions were available!

I first visited here with my son's safety payroll group. What brought me back years later? The mosaics are stunning. The stained glass windows are gorgeous. This is well worth your time!

Liked all the art work, feeling of being in one with the Lord. Staff very helpful and informative. Visited for a special event and church service. Take your time and look around , all around ceilings walls and floors. Lots of interesting facts and people who are and were parishioners. Enjoy and just sit in the church pew and relax.

Doesn't take a whole lot of time to visit this site. Beautiful and moving to some may be boring and bland to others. Use your judgement about how you feel about these sort of sites as to whether or not you go. I found it interesting and appreciated visiting.

We opted to take a cab to visit the Basilica instead of going to mass near our hotel. The Basilica took our breath away. The chapels and mosaic work are stunning. Wish we could have spent more time reflecting and praying before our flight.

Must visit at least once in DC. This Basilica is amazingly beautiful. You will leave in awe from visiting this church. Mass service feels like being part of a smaller church.

A huge, beautiful and so complex building! It's really worth the trip. I mostly reserved half a day and I didn't regret. There are many thing to see, from the crypt, to the different niches. You'll definitely feel like an explorer. We also had lunch there, which is very good.

There's much more to this attraction than meets the eye. Plan on spending at least an hour here, although I would recommend two. There are a number of different sanctuaries throughout the basilica on multiple levels, and the crypt church, carved into the rock in the lower level, is especially interesting. Take time to look around the entire facility appreciating the incredible paintings, remarkable statues and icons, breathtaking sanctuaries, and interesting and often unexpected history behind it all (including Babe Ruth's name on the wall downstairs). It's a great side trip if you're in DC, especially if you are looking for a place to go to church over the weekend. You get a beautiful church and an unexpected tourist destination in one!

Definitely plan a stop at the Basilica during your trip to Washington, DC. This massive Catholic Shrine - the largest in North America - will be sure to impress you. Unlike many of the other great churches of the world, this shrine is a bit younger than the rest, but the artwork and the architecture rival its older peers. It's a bit out of the way if you spend most of your time on the National Mall, but it is easily accessible by Metro's Red Line (Brookland-CUA stop). It is open every day and should be one of the highlights of any trip to DC.