National Gallery Sculpture Garden is a real time commitment — fit it in only if it's a priority.
Allow 30–60 min.
One of the most pleasant free spots on the Mall — shady benches among playful big-name sculptures, a central fountain for summer lounging that turns into a winter ice rink, plus jazz on summer Fridays. The catch: it's small and purely a pause-and-relax stop, not a destination on its own.