The 7 Best Passport DC Events: Experience the World Without Leaving DC

A trip around the world requires time, money and planning -- but this month, you can take a staycation that feels like travelling across the globe during Passport DC.

Passport DC fills the entire month of May with embassy tours, festivals, special exhibits with an international theme.

Find a full list on the Cultural Tourism DC website, and read on for our guide to the best events:

She Who Tells A Story: Women Photographers From Iran and the Arab World

  • Through July 31
  • Admission: $10 for adults; discounts for youth, students and seniors

The National Museum of Women in the Arts (1250 New York Ave. NW) features this collection of photographs and videos through July. The artists are Arab and Iranian women who captured images of life in different Middle Eastern countries.

Flower Mart at the Washington National Cathedral

  • May 6-7
  • Free admission

For the past 76 years, the flower market has welcomed spring at the Washington National Cathedral (3101 Wisconsin Ave. NW). You can pick up Mother's Day flowers from dozens of vendors, shop artists' markets, or for a fee, take special tours of the cathedral.

Around the World Embassy Tour 

  • May 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Free admission

More than 30 embassies will open their doors to the public on Saturday so everyone can experience food, art and culture from countries from Afghanistan to Venezuela. The organizers recommend bringing a photo ID. A map of all the participating embassies is online here. Pro tip: The N2, N3, N4 and N6 bus lines go right past most of the embassy tour stops! 

Shortcut to Europe: European Union Embassies' Open House

  • May 14, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Free admission

Euro-philes get their own embassy tour day on Saturday, May 14. Celebrate European culture with food, dancing and films from Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Slovakia, the United Kingdom and more than a dozen other embassies. The event website has a map online here.

Eurovision Screening Party Event With Live Broadcast From Stockholm

  • May 14, 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
  • Admission: $15

Eurovision is a massive competition, when European countries duke it out over which country submitted the most popular song of the year. Sweden is hosting this year, and people in the State can catch Eurovision during the House of Sweden (2900 K St. NW) watch party May 14 beginning at 1:30 p.m.

National Asian Heritage Festival: Fiesta Asia Street Fair

  • May 21, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Free admission

You should expect Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 3rd and 6th streets to be filled with dancing, martial arts demonstrations, flash mobs and the smell of cooking on Saturday, May 21 when this festival takes over.

The Washington, D.C. Dragon Boat Festival

  • May 21-22, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Free admission

The D.C. Dragon Boat festival promotes Chinese culture and the sport of dragon boat racing -- when teams in ornate water crafts will speed down the Potomac River near Thompson's Boat Center (2900 Virginia Ave. NW). A traditional lion dance and eye-dotting ceremony will kick things off 8:30 a.m. ob Saturday, May 21. You can watch races during the day, and also visit the nearby arts and crafts area. Find the full schedule online here.

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