Travel guide · United States
Washington, D.C. travel guide
Free Smithsonian museums, monuments on the Mall and historic rowhouse neighbourhoods
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ralf Roletschek ( talk ) - Infos über Fahrräder auf fahrradmonteur.de Wikis in der Ausbild, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Washington, D.C. lines up its monuments and the Smithsonian museums along the National Mall, a grassy axis of about 3 km between the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. Almost all of the big museums are free, which makes the capital unusually good value for a US city once you have paid for a hotel. Most visitors stay around Penn Quarter, Dupont Circle or Capitol Hill and get around on foot and by Metro. Beyond the Mall, the city rewards evenings in its neighbourhoods: Georgetown's Federal-era streets, U Street's music history, and the restaurants of 14th Street and the Wharf. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are April–May and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- United States
- Best time to visit
- April–May and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- DCA, IAD, BWI
- Mid-range daily budget
- $250–$400 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- National Mall, Smithsonian museums, Lincoln Memorial and US Capitol
Why visit Washington, D.C.
- Most of the Smithsonian's museums on and near the Mall are free, from the Hope Diamond at Natural History to the Apollo 11 command module at Air and Space.
- The Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and the Tidal Basin memorials are open around the clock and especially striking after dark.
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture is one of the most powerful museums in the country, and entry is free.
- Every spring the Tidal Basin's Japanese cherry trees bloom, usually in late March or early April, during the National Cherry Blossom Festival.
- Mount Vernon, Old Town Alexandria, Baltimore and Shenandoah National Park are all within easy reach for day trips.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 20 things to do.
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Park · National Mall
National Mall
The Mall runs about 3 km from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, lined by the Smithsonian museums and the National Gallery, with the Washington Monument at its centre.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Outdoors
- History
- Kids
Landmark · National Mall
Lincoln Memorial
Daniel Chester French's 5.8-metre seated Lincoln looks out from a Greek Doric temple completed in 1922, with the Gettysburg Address and second inaugural address carved on the walls.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- After dark
- Views
Landmark · National Mall
Washington Monument
The 169-metre marble obelisk, finished in 1884, was built in two phases, and a change in the stone's shade about a quarter of the way up shows where work stopped for more than 20 years.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- History
- Kids
Architecture · Capitol Hill
United States Capitol
The domed seat of Congress can be toured from the underground Capitol Visitor Center.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
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Museum · National Mall
National Air and Space Museum
The Smithsonian's flagship aviation museum on the Mall holds the Apollo 11 command module Columbia, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Rainy day
- Iconic
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Museum · National Mall
National Museum of Natural History
Under the rotunda's African bush elephant, the Smithsonian's natural-history museum holds the 45-carat Hope Diamond, the David H.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Kids
- Free
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Where to stay
National Mall and Penn Quarter is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and culture
National Mall and Penn Quarter
Museums, theatres and the Capital One Arena between the Mall and Chinatown
$$$$ · Best for couples, shopping and luxury
Georgetown
Federal-era rowhouses, M Street shopping and the C&O Canal
$$$ · Best for couples, solo travellers, culture and nightlife
Dupont Circle
Embassy Row mansions, bookshops and a Sunday farmers' market
$$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and culture
Capitol Hill
Painted rowhouses, Eastern Market and the Library of Congress
What to eat
Full Washington, D.C. food guide.
- Half-smoke — Washington's signature sausage: a coarse, spicy, smoked link that is often half pork and half beef, served in a bun with chili, mustard and onions.
- Mumbo sauce — A sweet, tangy, bright red sauce that is a hometown staple at DC carry-outs, poured over fried chicken wings and fries.
- Ethiopian injera and wot — The Washington area has one of the largest Ethiopian communities outside Africa.
- Steamed blue crabs — Chesapeake Bay blue crabs steamed in Old Bay seasoning and cracked open with mallets at paper-covered tables; a messy, sociable summer ritual.
- Crab cake — Lump blue-crab meat bound with as little filler as possible and broiled or fried; the Maryland-style crab cake is a year-round fixture on Washington menus.
- Chesapeake oysters — Oysters from the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia's coast, briny or mild depending on where they are grown, served raw on ice or fried.
When to go
The best times to visit Washington are April–May and September–October, when the weather is mild for long days on the Mall. Late March to mid-April brings the cherry blossoms along with the year's biggest crowds and highest hotel rates. Summer is hot and humid but packed with free events, and August is often good value. Winter is cold and quiet, with low prices and empty museums.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin, mild weather and the busiest crowds of the year, including school groups; book hotels and timed passes early. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms, but full of free events such as the Folklife Festival and Fourth of July fireworks; August hotel rates are often lower. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm September days and crisp, colourful October weather make this the most comfortable season for walking the Mall and Georgetown. |
| Winter | December–February | Cold with occasional snow, festive lights in December and the quietest museums and lowest hotel rates of the year. |
- Washington, D.C. in January
- Washington, D.C. in February
- Washington, D.C. in March
- Washington, D.C. in April
- Washington, D.C. in May
- Washington, D.C. in June
- Washington, D.C. in July
- Washington, D.C. in August
- Washington, D.C. in September
- Washington, D.C. in October
- Washington, D.C. in November
- Washington, D.C. in December
Getting there and around
Reagan National (DCA) is on the Metro's Blue and Yellow lines, about 15–20 minutes from downtown. From Dulles (IAD), the Silver Line runs directly into the city in about 50–60 minutes. From BWI, MARC or Amtrak trains from the airport rail station reach Union Station in about 30–45 minutes.
Central Washington is laid out on a grid crossed by diagonal avenues, and the Mall area is walkable, though distances are longer than they look. The Metrorail network's six colour-coded lines connect the Mall, most neighbourhoods, Arlington, Alexandria and two of the three airports; buses and bikes fill the gaps, such as Georgetown.
Plan your days
Three days covers the monuments, two or three Smithsonian museums, the Capitol and an evening in Georgetown or on U Street. A fourth day adds Arlington National Cemetery and a quieter museum; with a week you can visit Mount Vernon, Annapolis or Baltimore too.
Practical information
- Currency
- USD
- Language
- English
- Plugs
- Type A and B sockets, 120 V, 60 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink, and there are drinking fountains on the Mall and in the museums.
- Emergency number
- 911 (police, fire, ambulance)
- Tipping
- Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–$2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing, and a few dollars per bag for hotel porters and per night for housekeeping.
The Mall and main visitor neighbourhoods are well policed and generally comfortable, but phone snatching and pickpocketing occur on busy Metro platforms and at large events. In summer the bigger risk is heat and humidity on the shadeless Mall: carry water and take breaks inside museums.
Flights to Washington, D.C.
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Washington, D.C.?
Three days covers the monuments, two or three Smithsonian museums, the Capitol and an evening in Georgetown or on U Street. A fourth day adds Arlington National Cemetery and a quieter museum; with a week you can visit Mount Vernon, Annapolis or Baltimore too. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Washington, D.C.?
The best times to visit Washington are April–May and September–October, when the weather is mild for long days on the Mall. Late March to mid-April brings the cherry blossoms along with the year's biggest crowds and highest hotel rates. Summer is hot and humid but packed with free events, and August is often good value. Winter is cold and quiet, with low prices and empty museums.
+What is Washington, D.C. known for?
National Mall, Smithsonian museums, Lincoln Memorial, US Capitol, Cherry blossoms, Georgetown and Presidential history. Most of the Smithsonian's museums on and near the Mall are free, from the Hope Diamond at Natural History to the Apollo 11 command module at Air and Space.
+Is Washington, D.C. expensive?
Washington, D.C. is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $250–$400 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Washington, D.C.?
No. Metro, buses and walking cover the city, and parking is expensive and scarce. A car is useful only for Shenandoah National Park, Harpers Ferry or Great Falls.