5 days in Washington, D.C.

Day by day

1. Day 1: National Mall and Lincoln Memorial

   National Mall, Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, then U Street and Shaw in the evening.

   1. Morning

      National Mall

      Walking the full length takes longer than it looks; plan one half per day and use the free museums as breaks from the summer heat. (Half a day, free).

   2. Late morning

      Lincoln Memorial

      Come back after dark, when the memorial is floodlit, crowds are thin and the view down the Reflecting Pool to the Washington Monument is at its best. (45 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Half-smoke

      Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street, open since 1958, plus carts and diners around the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Washington Monument

      Late-afternoon slots give the best light over the Lincoln Memorial and the river. (1 hour, free).

   5. Evening

      U Street and Shaw

      The 9:30 Club, the Lincoln Theatre and the Howard Theatre host touring bands, and the bars around U Street stay busy late.

2. Day 2: United States Capitol and Library of Congress (Jefferson Building)

   United States Capitol, Library of Congress (Jefferson Building) and Eastern Market, then 14th Street and Logan Circle in the evening.

   1. Morning

      United States Capitol

      After the tour, use the tunnel from the Visitor Center to the Library of Congress's Jefferson Building instead of going back through security outside. (1.5–2 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Library of Congress (Jefferson Building)

      Head up to the Main Reading Room overlook first, then come back down to the Great Hall for photographs. (1–1.5 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Mumbo sauce

      Neighbourhood carry-outs and wing shops, especially in Northeast and Southeast DC; bottles are sold in some local shops.

   4. Afternoon

      Eastern Market

      Come on a Saturday or Sunday morning for the full outdoor market, then walk ten minutes to the Library of Congress. (1–2 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      14th Street and Logan Circle

      Cocktail bars, wine bars and restaurants with late kitchens along 14th Street NW.

3. Day 3: National Air and Space Museum and National Museum of Natural History

   National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of Natural History and National Museum of African American History and Culture, then Adams Morgan in the evening.

   1. Morning

      National Air and Space Museum

      Pair it with the Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport if you want to see the very large aircraft, including Space Shuttle Discovery. (2–3 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      National Museum of Natural History

      Go to the Hope Diamond on the second floor first thing; the gem hall gets very crowded by midday. (2–3 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Ethiopian injera and wot

      Restaurants around 9th and U streets in Shaw, and many more in nearby Silver Spring in Maryland; vegetarian combination platters are standard.

   4. Afternoon

      National Museum of African American History and Culture

      Allow at least four hours and do the underground history galleries first while you are fresh; the Sweet Home Café upstairs serves regional African American dishes. (4–5 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Adams Morgan

      The bars and clubs of 18th Street NW draw a young crowd, especially at weekends.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Mount Vernon

   About 30–40 minutes by car each way. Getting there: Car, or Metro to Huntington then a local bus; seasonal boats.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Mount Vernon

      About 30–40 minutes by car (Car, or Metro to Huntington then a local bus; seasonal boats); about 25 km.

   2. Day

      Mount Vernon

      George Washington's riverside estate includes the mansion, his tomb, working outbuildings, a reconstructed distillery and gristmill nearby and gardens overlooking the Potomac. Best for first-timers, families and culture.

   3. Evening

      Back in Washington, D.C.

      Dinner: try Steamed blue crabs.

5. Day 5: Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial and National Gallery of Art

   Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial, National Gallery of Art and National Museum of American History, then H Street NE in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial

      During blossom season, arrive at sunrise; by mid-morning the path around the basin is shoulder to shoulder. (1.5–2 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      National Gallery of Art

      Use the underground concourse with its light-filled cascade wall to move between the two buildings. (2–3 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Steamed blue crabs

      The Maine Avenue Fish Market at the Wharf and crab houses around the region, mainly from late spring to early autumn.

   4. Afternoon

      National Museum of American History

      The Star-Spangled Banner is in a dimly lit chamber at the centre of the second floor; start there, then pick one wing. (2–3 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      H Street NE

      A strip of dive bars, live-music venues and late-night restaurants east of Union Station.

Before you go

Reserve timed tickets for Washington Monument, United States Capitol, National Air and Space Museum and National Museum of African American History and Culture before you travel; the rest of this plan needs no advance booking.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, National Mall and Penn Quarter keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Georgetown ($$$$) suits couples, shopping and luxury. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 22–30 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.4 hours in December to 14.9 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Washington, D.C.
• 2 days in Washington, D.C.
• 3 days in Washington, D.C.
• 4 days in Washington, D.C.
• 7 days in Washington, D.C.

Questions travellers ask