Washington, D.C.: The Capital of the United States - You've seen it on the news, in action movies and dramas... but it's actually a city of green spaces and beautiful marble memorials and monuments. With free museums, world cuisine and history, this is a great get-away if you're looking for an active (but not strenuous) long weekend. So come find out why D.C. is a place worth visiting more than once.
Once you've arrived, say hello to the White House and have a historic meal, grab a night cap with a view. Depending on your arrival and departure times, you can plan your itinerary however you like. If you have plenty of time on the first day, add something from the last, or vice versa. It’s entirely up to you which attractions you visit.
Take a taxi and go straight to the city center, or check into your accommodation, depending on the time.
More information:
- Tickets to purchase in advance: Capitol Tour, Library of Congress, People's House. Other possible museums or attractions (see bottom for possibilities that I'd recommend)
- Reservations: Old Ebbitt Grill, Le Diplomat, Unconventional Diner
- Tours: Capitol Hill Tour, Memorials by Moonlight
- If you plan to use the metro: download the smarttrip card to your phone or buy a physical card or use your credit card to tap in and out of the turnstyles
- There are a lot of bikes and scooters to rent (I generally don't recommend scooters, I think they're super dangerous but along the National Mall greenspace can be really lovely. I still recommend bikes over scooters)
- I recommend using rideshare car options, make sure you have the apps downloaded
Welcome to D.C.!
Pro Tip! Download the CityMapper App to help get you around town. It'll breakdown the metro (the subway) step by step or tell you how to walk, bike or scooter from place to place.
After you settle into your very centrally located hotel take a walk to see the White House. Walk up to H Street and 16th St to Lafayette Square.
- The 4 statues on the park are 4 European Revolutionaries who helped fight with Amercia for independence in 1776: Kościuszko, Lafayette, Rochambeau and von Steuben. In the center of the square is 7th president, Andrew Jackson.
- If you walk down Pennsylvania Avenue toward 17th St, you'll pass by the Blair House: where our foreign visitors are invited to stay.
- Across the street is The Eisehower Executive Office: one of the many buildings the executive office, the office of the President.
If you have time, visit The People's House: an interactive exhibit and a look at the White House. You can sit in The Oval Office and listen to interviews from White House staff. Open 9am-5pm.
Enjoy a meal packed with history!
The Old Ebbitt Grill touts they're the oldest bar and restaurant in D.C. Teddy Roosevelt's taxidermy is on display as well as Alexander Hamilton's stein collection. Ulysses S. Grant, Andrew Johnson, Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, and Warren Harding all frequented the restaurant and McKinley lived in the building during his congressional stint.
- Enjoy their oyster happy hour
Head next door for a nightcap with a view. The Hotel Washington has a pop culture reputation: the hotel can be seen in movies like The Godfather II, Wonder Woman 1984, Contact and The Firm.
You'll eat well and see what makes D.C. beautiful. Starting on Capitol Hill, you'll see two branches of the government: Legislative Branch (The Capitol) and The Judicial Branch (The Supreme Court) and my favorite building in D.C., The Library of Congress. Next, you'll sample D.C. Cuisine, explore the historic and beauitful neighborhood: Georgetown, have dinner at the iconic Le Diplomate and end the day by exploring the Memorials at Night.
Brunch all day, delicious cocktails and amazing food.
Enjoy a morning seeing the gorgeous Capitol Building, Supreme Court and Library of Congress. You could book a tour and have someone walk you through all these steps! They'll provide tickets and information.
- Start at the Supreme Court: it opens first and is the shortest stop. It's free to enter. If it's an argument day, you won't be able to enter but can still admire the exterior. Note: no beverages/water or food, lighters or aerosol is allowed in the building. There are bathrooms straight away. Walk into the building and you'll find yourself in the museum section with the history of the court. There is a gift shop and a cafeteria. Head upstairs to see the actual courtroom. It's the highest court in the land but there's a basketball court on top of the Supreme Court.
- Head outside, across the street to the Library of Congress: my favorite building in all of D.C. You need tickets, they're free. Check out the 2nd largest library in the world and all of the beautiful 1800s architechture. Ask a docent for information or find your way to aquire your Library of Congress library card. A very cool souvenir.
- PRO TIP! Walk downstairs back toward the entrance and ask the visitor desk how to find the tunnel to the Capitol building. Bags go through security. No water, no food inside the Capitol.
- After walking through the tunnel, you'll find yourself in the Visitor's Center. There are gift shops, bathrooms, a cafe, a museum and the start of the Capitol Tours. You can book a tour in advance or you can walk up in the "Visitor's Without Reservations" line and get a walk up tour. In the spring and summer tours run every 10 minutes and in the winter, it's slightly less frequent. The last tour of the day is at 3:20pm. If you don't choose to have lunch at Ben's, the cafe at the Capitol is convenient with lots of options.
A Historic lunch spot. Entrenched in history during the Civil Rights protests and the creator of the half smoke: if D.C. has an original food, this is it. When Obama was elected, the mayor brought him here. Check out the walls for who has dined here. The original location is on U Street, there's a closer newer location on H St. Here's the menu. They have vegetarian and vegan options Pro Tip: get the half smoke with everything on it and fries. Then walk around the corner for Jeni's ice cream or stay for Virginia's banana pudding. Across the street is an African-American Civil War Memorial.
Spend the afternoon shopping along M Street and Wisconsin Ave. The old French Quarter has pastry shops like Patisserie Poupon or Baked and Wired (a delicious coffee and one of the best cupcakes I've ever had). It's along the water so grab a beverage at Sequoia and their outdoor patio or sit along the water and enjoy the views of the Potomac River and The Kennedy Center. You can find the bachelor pad of JFK and the house that John and Jackie moved from into the White House or the Exorcist Steps next to Georgetown University (I think it looks like Hogwarts). If you'd like another historic moment, find Martin's Tavern. It's been in the same family for generations and notables like JFK and other presidents, Madeline Albright and Supreme Court Justices come to eat here!
Head back to the hotel to freshen up for an evening meal and a night tour!
A must-eat at restaurant in D.C. not uncommon to see a Senator or sometimes even a president dining here.
Memorials by Moonlight
Lincoln, Korea, Vietnam and WWII Memorials are all right next to each other. They're my favorite at dusk and into the evening. It's cooler (if you're here when it's hot...and it gets very hot), less crowded and really beautiful. You could take a tour or do a self guided walk (I recommend a tour, whole heartedly. There are so many little details and narrative and a live guide is such an amazing asset.
If you can add at least Dr. King along the tidal basin, it's worth the extra jaunt. If you can add FDR, it's my favorite memorial.
You could add these two in the morning as well before the museums open.
Pro Tip: If you're not taking a tour, I would start at the Einstein Memorial on Constitution Ave, then head to Vietnam, Lincoln, Korea, MLK, WWII. Should take an hour or two!
If you're up for a memorial continuation before the museums, the Tidal Basin in the morning is a beauitful start to the day: Jefferson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Dr. King. Head to the museums: Natural HIstory, American History and the Archives before having lunch and heading home! Adjust the plan to fit your departure time.
FREE The Museums open at 10am and close at 5:30pm. Natural History Highlights: The Hope Diamond (it's cursed!), Dinosaurs, Mummies, Mammals, A Megalodon, Ocean Animals, the Bug Zoo and Henry the Elephant!
I would try to spend 1-1.5 hours here
FREE The Star Spangled Banner from the War of 1812, The Greensboro Lunch Counter (sit-in protest from 1960), the desk that Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Indepence upon, an AMAZING pop culture exhibit with Dorothy's ruby slippers, Captain America's shield, Elmo etc, First Ladie's dresses, the hat that Lincoln was wearing to the theatre when he was assassinated, war exhibit, trains and cars, Julia Child's kitchen...and so much more!
I would try to spend 1-1.5 hours here
FREE Come see the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights and the Magna Carta from 1225.
I would try to spend 45 minutes here.
Grab a last beverage and snack before you leave! The southern food and happy hour (the wings and deviled eggs!) menu starting at 11:30am is worth the stop.
If you have time in the afternoon or are looking for alternatives there's so much more to do!
- African-American Museum (free tickets required)
- Air and Space Museum (free tickets required)
- Ford's Theatre ($ tickets required)
- Washington Monument (tickets required)
- Holocaust Memorial Museum (tickets required)
- National Cathedral ($, a great cafe up there too)
- Arlington National Cemetery (well worth the visit, allow at the least 2 hours, hills)
- George Washington's Mount Vernon (a drive and $, worth the trip, half day excursion)
- Old Town Alexandria (similar to Georgetown, shopping, history and food)
- National Gallery of Art (free)
- Portrait Gallery (free)
- Museum of the Bible ($)
- Baseball, Hockey, Soccer, Football, Basebetball...catch a game
- Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Ford's Theater, Shakespeare Theatre...catch a show
- Spy Museum ($)
- 9/11 Pentagon Memorial
- Take a water taxi to Georgetown, Alexandria, the Wharf, Mount Vernon or just for a ride downriver!
Be sure to arrive with 2-3 hours before your flight, check out the views on your departure.
Pro Tip there is a Ben's inside of DCA, termincal 2
Come back and see us again, there's so much to see and do!
Washington, D.C.: The Capital of the United States - You've seen it on the news, in action movies and dramas... but it's actually a city of green spaces and beautiful marble memorials and monuments. With free museums, world cuisine and history, this is a great get-away if you're looking for an active (but not strenuous) long weekend. So come find out why D.C. is a place worth visiting more than once.
Once you've arrived, say hello to the White House and have a historic meal, grab a night cap with a view. Depending on your arrival and departure times, you can plan your itinerary however you like. If you have plenty of time on the first day, add something from the last, or vice versa. It’s entirely up to you which attractions you visit.
Take a taxi and go straight to the city center, or check into your accommodation, depending on the time.
More information:
- Tickets to purchase in advance: Capitol Tour, Library of Congress, People's House. Other possible museums or attractions (see bottom for possibilities that I'd recommend)
- Reservations: Old Ebbitt Grill, Le Diplomat, Unconventional Diner
- Tours: Capitol Hill Tour, Memorials by Moonlight
- If you plan to use the metro: download the smarttrip card to your phone or buy a physical card or use your credit card to tap in and out of the turnstyles
- There are a lot of bikes and scooters to rent (I generally don't recommend scooters, I think they're super dangerous but along the National Mall greenspace can be really lovely. I still recommend bikes over scooters)
- I recommend using rideshare car options, make sure you have the apps downloaded
Welcome to D.C.!
Pro Tip! Download the CityMapper App to help get you around town. It'll breakdown the metro (the subway) step by step or tell you how to walk, bike or scooter from place to place.
After you settle into your very centrally located hotel take a walk to see the White House. Walk up to H Street and 16th St to Lafayette Square.
- The 4 statues on the park are 4 European Revolutionaries who helped fight with Amercia for independence in 1776: Kościuszko, Lafayette, Rochambeau and von Steuben. In the center of the square is 7th president, Andrew Jackson.
- If you walk down Pennsylvania Avenue toward 17th St, you'll pass by the Blair House: where our foreign visitors are invited to stay.
- Across the street is The Eisehower Executive Office: one of the many buildings the executive office, the office of the President.
If you have time, visit The People's House: an interactive exhibit and a look at the White House. You can sit in The Oval Office and listen to interviews from White House staff. Open 9am-5pm.
Enjoy a meal packed with history!
The Old Ebbitt Grill touts they're the oldest bar and restaurant in D.C. Teddy Roosevelt's taxidermy is on display as well as Alexander Hamilton's stein collection. Ulysses S. Grant, Andrew Johnson, Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, and Warren Harding all frequented the restaurant and McKinley lived in the building during his congressional stint.
- Enjoy their oyster happy hour
Head next door for a nightcap with a view. The Hotel Washington has a pop culture reputation: the hotel can be seen in movies like The Godfather II, Wonder Woman 1984, Contact and The Firm.
You'll eat well and see what makes D.C. beautiful. Starting on Capitol Hill, you'll see two branches of the government: Legislative Branch (The Capitol) and The Judicial Branch (The Supreme Court) and my favorite building in D.C., The Library of Congress. Next, you'll sample D.C. Cuisine, explore the historic and beauitful neighborhood: Georgetown, have dinner at the iconic Le Diplomate and end the day by exploring the Memorials at Night.
Brunch all day, delicious cocktails and amazing food.
Enjoy a morning seeing the gorgeous Capitol Building, Supreme Court and Library of Congress. You could book a tour and have someone walk you through all these steps! They'll provide tickets and information.
- Start at the Supreme Court: it opens first and is the shortest stop. It's free to enter. If it's an argument day, you won't be able to enter but can still admire the exterior. Note: no beverages/water or food, lighters or aerosol is allowed in the building. There are bathrooms straight away. Walk into the building and you'll find yourself in the museum section with the history of the court. There is a gift shop and a cafeteria. Head upstairs to see the actual courtroom. It's the highest court in the land but there's a basketball court on top of the Supreme Court.
- Head outside, across the street to the Library of Congress: my favorite building in all of D.C. You need tickets, they're free. Check out the 2nd largest library in the world and all of the beautiful 1800s architechture. Ask a docent for information or find your way to aquire your Library of Congress library card. A very cool souvenir.
- PRO TIP! Walk downstairs back toward the entrance and ask the visitor desk how to find the tunnel to the Capitol building. Bags go through security. No water, no food inside the Capitol.
- After walking through the tunnel, you'll find yourself in the Visitor's Center. There are gift shops, bathrooms, a cafe, a museum and the start of the Capitol Tours. You can book a tour in advance or you can walk up in the "Visitor's Without Reservations" line and get a walk up tour. In the spring and summer tours run every 10 minutes and in the winter, it's slightly less frequent. The last tour of the day is at 3:20pm. If you don't choose to have lunch at Ben's, the cafe at the Capitol is convenient with lots of options.
A Historic lunch spot. Entrenched in history during the Civil Rights protests and the creator of the half smoke: if D.C. has an original food, this is it. When Obama was elected, the mayor brought him here. Check out the walls for who has dined here. The original location is on U Street, there's a closer newer location on H St. Here's the menu. They have vegetarian and vegan options Pro Tip: get the half smoke with everything on it and fries. Then walk around the corner for Jeni's ice cream or stay for Virginia's banana pudding. Across the street is an African-American Civil War Memorial.
Spend the afternoon shopping along M Street and Wisconsin Ave. The old French Quarter has pastry shops like Patisserie Poupon or Baked and Wired (a delicious coffee and one of the best cupcakes I've ever had). It's along the water so grab a beverage at Sequoia and their outdoor patio or sit along the water and enjoy the views of the Potomac River and The Kennedy Center. You can find the bachelor pad of JFK and the house that John and Jackie moved from into the White House or the Exorcist Steps next to Georgetown University (I think it looks like Hogwarts). If you'd like another historic moment, find Martin's Tavern. It's been in the same family for generations and notables like JFK and other presidents, Madeline Albright and Supreme Court Justices come to eat here!
Head back to the hotel to freshen up for an evening meal and a night tour!
A must-eat at restaurant in D.C. not uncommon to see a Senator or sometimes even a president dining here.
Memorials by Moonlight
Lincoln, Korea, Vietnam and WWII Memorials are all right next to each other. They're my favorite at dusk and into the evening. It's cooler (if you're here when it's hot...and it gets very hot), less crowded and really beautiful. You could take a tour or do a self guided walk (I recommend a tour, whole heartedly. There are so many little details and narrative and a live guide is such an amazing asset.
If you can add at least Dr. King along the tidal basin, it's worth the extra jaunt. If you can add FDR, it's my favorite memorial.
You could add these two in the morning as well before the museums open.
Pro Tip: If you're not taking a tour, I would start at the Einstein Memorial on Constitution Ave, then head to Vietnam, Lincoln, Korea, MLK, WWII. Should take an hour or two!
If you're up for a memorial continuation before the museums, the Tidal Basin in the morning is a beauitful start to the day: Jefferson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Dr. King. Head to the museums: Natural HIstory, American History and the Archives before having lunch and heading home! Adjust the plan to fit your departure time.
FREE The Museums open at 10am and close at 5:30pm. Natural History Highlights: The Hope Diamond (it's cursed!), Dinosaurs, Mummies, Mammals, A Megalodon, Ocean Animals, the Bug Zoo and Henry the Elephant!
I would try to spend 1-1.5 hours here
FREE The Star Spangled Banner from the War of 1812, The Greensboro Lunch Counter (sit-in protest from 1960), the desk that Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Indepence upon, an AMAZING pop culture exhibit with Dorothy's ruby slippers, Captain America's shield, Elmo etc, First Ladie's dresses, the hat that Lincoln was wearing to the theatre when he was assassinated, war exhibit, trains and cars, Julia Child's kitchen...and so much more!
I would try to spend 1-1.5 hours here
FREE Come see the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights and the Magna Carta from 1225.
I would try to spend 45 minutes here.
Grab a last beverage and snack before you leave! The southern food and happy hour (the wings and deviled eggs!) menu starting at 11:30am is worth the stop.
If you have time in the afternoon or are looking for alternatives there's so much more to do!
- African-American Museum (free tickets required)
- Air and Space Museum (free tickets required)
- Ford's Theatre ($ tickets required)
- Washington Monument (tickets required)
- Holocaust Memorial Museum (tickets required)
- National Cathedral ($, a great cafe up there too)
- Arlington National Cemetery (well worth the visit, allow at the least 2 hours, hills)
- George Washington's Mount Vernon (a drive and $, worth the trip, half day excursion)
- Old Town Alexandria (similar to Georgetown, shopping, history and food)
- National Gallery of Art (free)
- Portrait Gallery (free)
- Museum of the Bible ($)
- Baseball, Hockey, Soccer, Football, Basebetball...catch a game
- Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Ford's Theater, Shakespeare Theatre...catch a show
- Spy Museum ($)
- 9/11 Pentagon Memorial
- Take a water taxi to Georgetown, Alexandria, the Wharf, Mount Vernon or just for a ride downriver!
Be sure to arrive with 2-3 hours before your flight, check out the views on your departure.
Pro Tip there is a Ben's inside of DCA, termincal 2
Come back and see us again, there's so much to see and do!
We are a Czech companyWe are a Czech company
itinerary by amanda hache
Washington, D.C.: The Capital of the United States - You've seen it on the news, in action movies and dramas... but it's actually a city of green spaces and beautiful marble memorials and monuments. With free museums, world cuisine and history, this is a great get-away if you're looking for an active (but not strenuous) long weekend. So come find out why D.C. is a place worth visiting more than once.
Once you've arrived, say hello to the White House and have a historic meal, grab a night cap with a view. Depending on your arrival and departure times, you can plan your itinerary however you like. If you have plenty of time on the first day, add something from the last, or vice versa. It’s entirely up to you which attractions you visit.
Take a taxi and go straight to the city center, or check into your accommodation, depending on the time.
More information:
- Tickets to purchase in advance: Capitol Tour, Library of Congress, People's House. Other possible museums or attractions (see bottom for possibilities that I'd recommend)
- Reservations: Old Ebbitt Grill, Le Diplomat, Unconventional Diner
- Tours: Capitol Hill Tour, Memorials by Moonlight
- If you plan to use the metro: download the smarttrip card to your phone or buy a physical card or use your credit card to tap in and out of the turnstyles
- There are a lot of bikes and scooters to rent (I generally don't recommend scooters, I think they're super dangerous but along the National Mall greenspace can be really lovely. I still recommend bikes over scooters)
- I recommend using rideshare car options, make sure you have the apps downloaded
Welcome to D.C.!
Pro Tip! Download the CityMapper App to help get you around town. It'll breakdown the metro (the subway) step by step or tell you how to walk, bike or scooter from place to place.
After you settle into your very centrally located hotel take a walk to see the White House. Walk up to H Street and 16th St to Lafayette Square.
- The 4 statues on the park are 4 European Revolutionaries who helped fight with Amercia for independence in 1776: Kościuszko, Lafayette, Rochambeau and von Steuben. In the center of the square is 7th president, Andrew Jackson.
- If you walk down Pennsylvania Avenue toward 17th St, you'll pass by the Blair House: where our foreign visitors are invited to stay.
- Across the street is The Eisehower Executive Office: one of the many buildings the executive office, the office of the President.
If you have time, visit The People's House: an interactive exhibit and a look at the White House. You can sit in The Oval Office and listen to interviews from White House staff. Open 9am-5pm.
Enjoy a meal packed with history!
The Old Ebbitt Grill touts they're the oldest bar and restaurant in D.C. Teddy Roosevelt's taxidermy is on display as well as Alexander Hamilton's stein collection. Ulysses S. Grant, Andrew Johnson, Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, and Warren Harding all frequented the restaurant and McKinley lived in the building during his congressional stint.
- Enjoy their oyster happy hour
Head next door for a nightcap with a view. The Hotel Washington has a pop culture reputation: the hotel can be seen in movies like The Godfather II, Wonder Woman 1984, Contact and The Firm.
You'll eat well and see what makes D.C. beautiful. Starting on Capitol Hill, you'll see two branches of the government: Legislative Branch (The Capitol) and The Judicial Branch (The Supreme Court) and my favorite building in D.C., The Library of Congress. Next, you'll sample D.C. Cuisine, explore the historic and beauitful neighborhood: Georgetown, have dinner at the iconic Le Diplomate and end the day by exploring the Memorials at Night.
Brunch all day, delicious cocktails and amazing food.
Enjoy a morning seeing the gorgeous Capitol Building, Supreme Court and Library of Congress. You could book a tour and have someone walk you through all these steps! They'll provide tickets and information.
- Start at the Supreme Court: it opens first and is the shortest stop. It's free to enter. If it's an argument day, you won't be able to enter but can still admire the exterior. Note: no beverages/water or food, lighters or aerosol is allowed in the building. There are bathrooms straight away. Walk into the building and you'll find yourself in the museum section with the history of the court. There is a gift shop and a cafeteria. Head upstairs to see the actual courtroom. It's the highest court in the land but there's a basketball court on top of the Supreme Court.
- Head outside, across the street to the Library of Congress: my favorite building in all of D.C. You need tickets, they're free. Check out the 2nd largest library in the world and all of the beautiful 1800s architechture. Ask a docent for information or find your way to aquire your Library of Congress library card. A very cool souvenir.
- PRO TIP! Walk downstairs back toward the entrance and ask the visitor desk how to find the tunnel to the Capitol building. Bags go through security. No water, no food inside the Capitol.
- After walking through the tunnel, you'll find yourself in the Visitor's Center. There are gift shops, bathrooms, a cafe, a museum and the start of the Capitol Tours. You can book a tour in advance or you can walk up in the "Visitor's Without Reservations" line and get a walk up tour. In the spring and summer tours run every 10 minutes and in the winter, it's slightly less frequent. The last tour of the day is at 3:20pm. If you don't choose to have lunch at Ben's, the cafe at the Capitol is convenient with lots of options.
A Historic lunch spot. Entrenched in history during the Civil Rights protests and the creator of the half smoke: if D.C. has an original food, this is it. When Obama was elected, the mayor brought him here. Check out the walls for who has dined here. The original location is on U Street, there's a closer newer location on H St. Here's the menu. They have vegetarian and vegan options Pro Tip: get the half smoke with everything on it and fries. Then walk around the corner for Jeni's ice cream or stay for Virginia's banana pudding. Across the street is an African-American Civil War Memorial.
Spend the afternoon shopping along M Street and Wisconsin Ave. The old French Quarter has pastry shops like Patisserie Poupon or Baked and Wired (a delicious coffee and one of the best cupcakes I've ever had). It's along the water so grab a beverage at Sequoia and their outdoor patio or sit along the water and enjoy the views of the Potomac River and The Kennedy Center. You can find the bachelor pad of JFK and the house that John and Jackie moved from into the White House or the Exorcist Steps next to Georgetown University (I think it looks like Hogwarts). If you'd like another historic moment, find Martin's Tavern. It's been in the same family for generations and notables like JFK and other presidents, Madeline Albright and Supreme Court Justices come to eat here!
Head back to the hotel to freshen up for an evening meal and a night tour!
A must-eat at restaurant in D.C. not uncommon to see a Senator or sometimes even a president dining here.
Memorials by Moonlight
Lincoln, Korea, Vietnam and WWII Memorials are all right next to each other. They're my favorite at dusk and into the evening. It's cooler (if you're here when it's hot...and it gets very hot), less crowded and really beautiful. You could take a tour or do a self guided walk (I recommend a tour, whole heartedly. There are so many little details and narrative and a live guide is such an amazing asset.
If you can add at least Dr. King along the tidal basin, it's worth the extra jaunt. If you can add FDR, it's my favorite memorial.
You could add these two in the morning as well before the museums open.
Pro Tip: If you're not taking a tour, I would start at the Einstein Memorial on Constitution Ave, then head to Vietnam, Lincoln, Korea, MLK, WWII. Should take an hour or two!
If you're up for a memorial continuation before the museums, the Tidal Basin in the morning is a beauitful start to the day: Jefferson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Dr. King. Head to the museums: Natural HIstory, American History and the Archives before having lunch and heading home! Adjust the plan to fit your departure time.
FREE The Museums open at 10am and close at 5:30pm. Natural History Highlights: The Hope Diamond (it's cursed!), Dinosaurs, Mummies, Mammals, A Megalodon, Ocean Animals, the Bug Zoo and Henry the Elephant!
I would try to spend 1-1.5 hours here
FREE The Star Spangled Banner from the War of 1812, The Greensboro Lunch Counter (sit-in protest from 1960), the desk that Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Indepence upon, an AMAZING pop culture exhibit with Dorothy's ruby slippers, Captain America's shield, Elmo etc, First Ladie's dresses, the hat that Lincoln was wearing to the theatre when he was assassinated, war exhibit, trains and cars, Julia Child's kitchen...and so much more!
I would try to spend 1-1.5 hours here
FREE Come see the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights and the Magna Carta from 1225.
I would try to spend 45 minutes here.
Grab a last beverage and snack before you leave! The southern food and happy hour (the wings and deviled eggs!) menu starting at 11:30am is worth the stop.
If you have time in the afternoon or are looking for alternatives there's so much more to do!
- African-American Museum (free tickets required)
- Air and Space Museum (free tickets required)
- Ford's Theatre ($ tickets required)
- Washington Monument (tickets required)
- Holocaust Memorial Museum (tickets required)
- National Cathedral ($, a great cafe up there too)
- Arlington National Cemetery (well worth the visit, allow at the least 2 hours, hills)
- George Washington's Mount Vernon (a drive and $, worth the trip, half day excursion)
- Old Town Alexandria (similar to Georgetown, shopping, history and food)
- National Gallery of Art (free)
- Portrait Gallery (free)
- Museum of the Bible ($)
- Baseball, Hockey, Soccer, Football, Basebetball...catch a game
- Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Ford's Theater, Shakespeare Theatre...catch a show
- Spy Museum ($)
- 9/11 Pentagon Memorial
- Take a water taxi to Georgetown, Alexandria, the Wharf, Mount Vernon or just for a ride downriver!
Be sure to arrive with 2-3 hours before your flight, check out the views on your departure.
Pro Tip there is a Ben's inside of DCA, termincal 2
Come back and see us again, there's so much to see and do!
Washington, D.C.: The Capital of the United States - You've seen it on the news, in action movies and dramas... but it's actually a city of green spaces and beautiful marble memorials and monuments. With free museums, world cuisine and history, this is a great get-away if you're looking for an active (but not strenuous) long weekend. So come find out why D.C. is a place worth visiting more than once.
Once you've arrived, say hello to the White House and have a historic meal, grab a night cap with a view. Depending on your arrival and departure times, you can plan your itinerary however you like. If you have plenty of time on the first day, add something from the last, or vice versa. It’s entirely up to you which attractions you visit.
Take a taxi and go straight to the city center, or check into your accommodation, depending on the time.
More information:
- Tickets to purchase in advance: Capitol Tour, Library of Congress, People's House. Other possible museums or attractions (see bottom for possibilities that I'd recommend)
- Reservations: Old Ebbitt Grill, Le Diplomat, Unconventional Diner
- Tours: Capitol Hill Tour, Memorials by Moonlight
- If you plan to use the metro: download the smarttrip card to your phone or buy a physical card or use your credit card to tap in and out of the turnstyles
- There are a lot of bikes and scooters to rent (I generally don't recommend scooters, I think they're super dangerous but along the National Mall greenspace can be really lovely. I still recommend bikes over scooters)
- I recommend using rideshare car options, make sure you have the apps downloaded
Welcome to D.C.!
Pro Tip! Download the CityMapper App to help get you around town. It'll breakdown the metro (the subway) step by step or tell you how to walk, bike or scooter from place to place.
After you settle into your very centrally located hotel take a walk to see the White House. Walk up to H Street and 16th St to Lafayette Square.
- The 4 statues on the park are 4 European Revolutionaries who helped fight with Amercia for independence in 1776: Kościuszko, Lafayette, Rochambeau and von Steuben. In the center of the square is 7th president, Andrew Jackson.
- If you walk down Pennsylvania Avenue toward 17th St, you'll pass by the Blair House: where our foreign visitors are invited to stay.
- Across the street is The Eisehower Executive Office: one of the many buildings the executive office, the office of the President.
If you have time, visit The People's House: an interactive exhibit and a look at the White House. You can sit in The Oval Office and listen to interviews from White House staff. Open 9am-5pm.
Enjoy a meal packed with history!
The Old Ebbitt Grill touts they're the oldest bar and restaurant in D.C. Teddy Roosevelt's taxidermy is on display as well as Alexander Hamilton's stein collection. Ulysses S. Grant, Andrew Johnson, Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, and Warren Harding all frequented the restaurant and McKinley lived in the building during his congressional stint.
- Enjoy their oyster happy hour
Head next door for a nightcap with a view. The Hotel Washington has a pop culture reputation: the hotel can be seen in movies like The Godfather II, Wonder Woman 1984, Contact and The Firm.
You'll eat well and see what makes D.C. beautiful. Starting on Capitol Hill, you'll see two branches of the government: Legislative Branch (The Capitol) and The Judicial Branch (The Supreme Court) and my favorite building in D.C., The Library of Congress. Next, you'll sample D.C. Cuisine, explore the historic and beauitful neighborhood: Georgetown, have dinner at the iconic Le Diplomate and end the day by exploring the Memorials at Night.
Brunch all day, delicious cocktails and amazing food.
Enjoy a morning seeing the gorgeous Capitol Building, Supreme Court and Library of Congress. You could book a tour and have someone walk you through all these steps! They'll provide tickets and information.
- Start at the Supreme Court: it opens first and is the shortest stop. It's free to enter. If it's an argument day, you won't be able to enter but can still admire the exterior. Note: no beverages/water or food, lighters or aerosol is allowed in the building. There are bathrooms straight away. Walk into the building and you'll find yourself in the museum section with the history of the court. There is a gift shop and a cafeteria. Head upstairs to see the actual courtroom. It's the highest court in the land but there's a basketball court on top of the Supreme Court.
- Head outside, across the street to the Library of Congress: my favorite building in all of D.C. You need tickets, they're free. Check out the 2nd largest library in the world and all of the beautiful 1800s architechture. Ask a docent for information or find your way to aquire your Library of Congress library card. A very cool souvenir.
- PRO TIP! Walk downstairs back toward the entrance and ask the visitor desk how to find the tunnel to the Capitol building. Bags go through security. No water, no food inside the Capitol.
- After walking through the tunnel, you'll find yourself in the Visitor's Center. There are gift shops, bathrooms, a cafe, a museum and the start of the Capitol Tours. You can book a tour in advance or you can walk up in the "Visitor's Without Reservations" line and get a walk up tour. In the spring and summer tours run every 10 minutes and in the winter, it's slightly less frequent. The last tour of the day is at 3:20pm. If you don't choose to have lunch at Ben's, the cafe at the Capitol is convenient with lots of options.
A Historic lunch spot. Entrenched in history during the Civil Rights protests and the creator of the half smoke: if D.C. has an original food, this is it. When Obama was elected, the mayor brought him here. Check out the walls for who has dined here. The original location is on U Street, there's a closer newer location on H St. Here's the menu. They have vegetarian and vegan options Pro Tip: get the half smoke with everything on it and fries. Then walk around the corner for Jeni's ice cream or stay for Virginia's banana pudding. Across the street is an African-American Civil War Memorial.
Spend the afternoon shopping along M Street and Wisconsin Ave. The old French Quarter has pastry shops like Patisserie Poupon or Baked and Wired (a delicious coffee and one of the best cupcakes I've ever had). It's along the water so grab a beverage at Sequoia and their outdoor patio or sit along the water and enjoy the views of the Potomac River and The Kennedy Center. You can find the bachelor pad of JFK and the house that John and Jackie moved from into the White House or the Exorcist Steps next to Georgetown University (I think it looks like Hogwarts). If you'd like another historic moment, find Martin's Tavern. It's been in the same family for generations and notables like JFK and other presidents, Madeline Albright and Supreme Court Justices come to eat here!
Head back to the hotel to freshen up for an evening meal and a night tour!
A must-eat at restaurant in D.C. not uncommon to see a Senator or sometimes even a president dining here.
Memorials by Moonlight
Lincoln, Korea, Vietnam and WWII Memorials are all right next to each other. They're my favorite at dusk and into the evening. It's cooler (if you're here when it's hot...and it gets very hot), less crowded and really beautiful. You could take a tour or do a self guided walk (I recommend a tour, whole heartedly. There are so many little details and narrative and a live guide is such an amazing asset.
If you can add at least Dr. King along the tidal basin, it's worth the extra jaunt. If you can add FDR, it's my favorite memorial.
You could add these two in the morning as well before the museums open.
Pro Tip: If you're not taking a tour, I would start at the Einstein Memorial on Constitution Ave, then head to Vietnam, Lincoln, Korea, MLK, WWII. Should take an hour or two!
If you're up for a memorial continuation before the museums, the Tidal Basin in the morning is a beauitful start to the day: Jefferson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Dr. King. Head to the museums: Natural HIstory, American History and the Archives before having lunch and heading home! Adjust the plan to fit your departure time.
FREE The Museums open at 10am and close at 5:30pm. Natural History Highlights: The Hope Diamond (it's cursed!), Dinosaurs, Mummies, Mammals, A Megalodon, Ocean Animals, the Bug Zoo and Henry the Elephant!
I would try to spend 1-1.5 hours here
FREE The Star Spangled Banner from the War of 1812, The Greensboro Lunch Counter (sit-in protest from 1960), the desk that Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Indepence upon, an AMAZING pop culture exhibit with Dorothy's ruby slippers, Captain America's shield, Elmo etc, First Ladie's dresses, the hat that Lincoln was wearing to the theatre when he was assassinated, war exhibit, trains and cars, Julia Child's kitchen...and so much more!
I would try to spend 1-1.5 hours here
FREE Come see the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights and the Magna Carta from 1225.
I would try to spend 45 minutes here.
Grab a last beverage and snack before you leave! The southern food and happy hour (the wings and deviled eggs!) menu starting at 11:30am is worth the stop.
If you have time in the afternoon or are looking for alternatives there's so much more to do!
- African-American Museum (free tickets required)
- Air and Space Museum (free tickets required)
- Ford's Theatre ($ tickets required)
- Washington Monument (tickets required)
- Holocaust Memorial Museum (tickets required)
- National Cathedral ($, a great cafe up there too)
- Arlington National Cemetery (well worth the visit, allow at the least 2 hours, hills)
- George Washington's Mount Vernon (a drive and $, worth the trip, half day excursion)
- Old Town Alexandria (similar to Georgetown, shopping, history and food)
- National Gallery of Art (free)
- Portrait Gallery (free)
- Museum of the Bible ($)
- Baseball, Hockey, Soccer, Football, Basebetball...catch a game
- Kennedy Center, Arena Stage, Ford's Theater, Shakespeare Theatre...catch a show
- Spy Museum ($)
- 9/11 Pentagon Memorial
- Take a water taxi to Georgetown, Alexandria, the Wharf, Mount Vernon or just for a ride downriver!
Be sure to arrive with 2-3 hours before your flight, check out the views on your departure.
Pro Tip there is a Ben's inside of DCA, termincal 2
Come back and see us again, there's so much to see and do!
