After arriving in Washington, you’ll check in to your hotel and, depending on your arrival time and energy level, begin exploring the city. The first day can include a visit to the National Air and Space Museum, the modern Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and an evening walk along the National Mall. If you arrive earlier in the day, you’ll have time to enjoy more of the program. In case of a late arrival or fatigue after the flight, feel free to visit just one stop or skip the program entirely and start exploring Washington the following day.

Begin your morning with a guided walking tour through the National Mall memorials, starting near the World War II Memorial and continuing past some of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Along the way, you’ll visit the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the Reflecting Pool, each offering a different perspective on sacrifice, leadership, and American history. In the afternoon, continue toward Capitol Hill to explore the institutions at the center of American democracy. Admire the iconic dome of the United States Capitol, then step inside the breathtaking Library of Congress, whose marble staircases, mosaics, and historic reading rooms make it one of the most beautiful buildings in the city. Just across the street, the Supreme Court of the United States stands as a symbol of the country’s judicial system, framed by towering columns and grand marble architecture. After a full day of sightseeing, spend the evening exploring Penn Quarter, enjoying rooftop views, or returning to the monuments after dark when the crowds thin and the city feels at its most atmospheric.

Today brings together four of Washington’s most memorable museums, each offering a different lens into American history, science, and culture. Begin at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, where immersive exhibits trace centuries of history through art, music, politics, sports, and personal stories. Its striking architecture and emotional galleries make it one of the city’s most powerful experiences. Continue to the National Museum of American History, home to iconic artifacts including the Star-Spangled Banner and presidential memorabilia that help tell the story of the nation. Then head to the National Museum of Natural History, where towering dinosaur fossils, rare gemstones, and the legendary Hope Diamond create a sense of wonder throughout the museum’s vast halls. End the day at the National Archives Building, where the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights are preserved beneath softly lit rotundas. Standing before these founding documents offers a fitting conclusion to a day centered on the American story.

On your final day in Washington, you can spend the morning exploring the National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden before returning to the hotel and heading to the airport. We recommend adjusting the day’s program based on your departure time, so you can enjoy the city without rushing before your flight. If you have extra time before leaving, you could also visit the National Museum of the American Indian, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, National Portrait Gallery, National Museum of African Art, National Postal Museum, Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, or the International Spy Museum ($).