Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms

Washington DC, DC

The most celebrated spring spectacle in the mid-Atlantic - over 3,700 Japanese cherry trees ring the Tidal Basin in pale pink each late March through April.

Photography Guide

Best Time: golden hour
Crowds: Busy
Shot Types: wideportraitdetail
Best Seasons: spring

Practical Tips

Peak bloom lasts only 4–7 days. Weekday early mornings (6–7 AM) are your only hope for sparse crowds. Walk east from the MLK Memorial for the best angles.

Gallery

Nearby Places

Waterfronts

Washington DC, DC

FDR Memorial

Seven and a half acres of waterfalls, sculpture, and quiet garden rooms trace the years of FDR's presidency. The cascading water walls are among DC's most photogenic features.

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Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

The 30-foot Stone of Hope emerges from the Mountain of Despair in a striking sculptural composition on the Tidal Basin. Powerful at any hour.

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Jefferson Memorial

A neoclassical masterpiece on the Tidal Basin shore, the Jefferson Memorial is framed by cherry blossoms each spring and reflects beautifully in the water at blue hour.

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