7 days in Washington, D.C.

Day by day

1. Day 1: National Mall and Lincoln Memorial

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

   1. Morning

      National Mall

      National Mall · Half a day · free.

   2. Late morning

      Lincoln Memorial

      National Mall · 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. 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: Washington Monument and National Air and Space Museum

   Washington Monument and National Air and Space Museum, then 14th Street and Logan Circle in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Washington Monument

      National Mall · 1 hour · free. Entry to the top is by timed ticket booked online, with a small service fee; tickets for spring and summer go quickly.

   2. Late morning

      National Air and Space Museum

      National Mall · 2–3 hours · free. Free timed-entry passes have been required since the museum's phased reopening; check the Smithsonian site before you go.

   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. Evening

      14th Street and Logan Circle

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

3. Day 3: National Museum of Natural History and National Museum of African American History and Culture

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

   1. Morning

      National Museum of Natural History

      National Mall · 2–3 hours · free.

   2. Late morning

      National Museum of African American History and Culture

      National Mall · 4–5 hours · free. Free timed-entry passes are often needed, especially at weekends and in spring; book online in advance.

   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. 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

      Cyclists can ride the Mount Vernon Trail along the river from Arlington.

   3. Evening

      Back in Washington, D.C.

      Dinner: try Steamed blue crabs.

5. Day 5: National Gallery of Art and National Museum of American History

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

   1. Morning

      National Gallery of Art

      National Mall · 2–3 hours · free.

   2. Late morning

      National Museum of American History

      National Mall · 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. Evening

      H Street NE

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

6. Day 6: Day trip to Old Town Alexandria

   About 20 minutes by Metro each way. Getting there: Metro Blue or Yellow line to King St–Old Town, or water taxi from the Wharf.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Old Town Alexandria

      About 20 minutes by Metro (Metro Blue or Yellow line to King St–Old Town, or water taxi from the Wharf); about 12 km.

   2. Day

      Old Town Alexandria

      An 18th-century port town on the Potomac with cobbled lanes, Federal townhouses, King Street's shops and restaurants and the Torpedo Factory Art Center, where artists work in open studios by the river.

   3. Evening

      Back in Washington, D.C.

      Dinner: try Crab cake.

7. Day 7: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and United States Capitol

   United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and United States Capitol, then The Wharf and Navy Yard in the evening.

   1. Morning

      United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

      National Mall · 2–3 hours · free. Free timed passes are needed for the permanent exhibition in the busier spring and summer months; reserve online.

   2. Late morning

      United States Capitol

      Capitol Hill · 1.5–2 hours · free. Reserve a free tour slot online in advance; same-day availability is limited in spring and summer.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Crab cake

      Seafood restaurants at the Wharf and around Penn Quarter, and classic bars such as Old Ebbitt Grill near the White House.

   4. Evening

      The Wharf and Navy Yard

      Waterfront bars, the Anthem concert hall and breweries near Nationals Park.

Before you go

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

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 7 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 20–28 hours of visiting over 7 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.
• 5 days in Washington, D.C.

Questions travellers ask