Washington, D.C., United States of America

Washington, D.C.

United States of America · District of Columbia · 8 m

Description

Washington, D.C. is the monumental capital of the United States and the political heart of the nation. The city is known for its iconic landmarks around the National Mall, including the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial, as well as the nearby White House and its many renowned museums, including the largely free-to-visit institutions of the Smithsonian. Washington combines American history and politics with vibrant neighborhoods, international cuisine, art, culture, and cosmopolitan flair. Every spring, the famous cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin add a special charm to the capital’s grand setting.

Length of stay

Recommended length of stay: 3 to 6 days (optimal 4 days)

Travel season

Best time to visit: April – May or September – October

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec

Highlights

  1. National Mall
  2. Lincoln Memorial
  3. United States Capitol
  4. The White House
  5. Washington Monument
  6. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
  7. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
  8. National Museum of African American History and Culture
  9. National Gallery of Art
  10. Library of Congress
  11. Tidal Basin & Cherry Blossoms
  12. Udvar-Hazy Center(Day trip)
  13. Thomas Jefferson Memorial
  14. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
  15. World War II Memorial
  16. Vietnam Veterans Memorial
  17. Arlington National Cemetery
  18. Mount Vernon(Day trip)
  19. Georgetown
  20. Old Town Alexandria(Day trip)
  21. Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
  22. Smithsonian National Museum of American History
  23. United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
  24. Korean War Veterans Memorial
  25. United States Botanic Garden
  26. Smithsonian's National Zoo
  27. National Archives Museum
  28. Smithsonian American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery
  29. National Museum of the American Indian
  30. United States Supreme Court
  31. Capitol Hill
  32. Great Falls Park(Day trip)
  33. Georgetown Waterfront & C&O Canal
  34. Union Station
  35. International Spy Museum
  36. Ford's Theatre
  37. Annapolis(Day trip)
  38. National Cathedral
  39. National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden
  40. Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
  41. Renwick Gallery
  42. National Museum of Asian Art
  43. National Museum of African Art
  44. Smithsonian Institution Building (The Castle)
  45. Albert Einstein Memorial
  46. Constitution Gardens
  47. District Wharf
  48. Old Post Office Tower
  49. Dupont Circle
  50. Embassy Row
  51. Adams Morgan
  52. U Street
  53. Ben's Chili Bowl
  54. Eastern Market
  55. Rock Creek Park
  56. Manassas National Battlefield Park(Day trip)
  57. Meridian Hill Park
  58. Theodore Roosevelt Island
  59. United States National Arboretum
  60. National Capitol Columns
  61. Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
  62. Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
  63. President Lincoln's Cottage
  64. Dumbarton Oaks
  65. Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
  66. National Building Museum
  67. National Museum of Women in the Arts
  68. Planet Word
  69. The Phillips Collection
  70. National Geographic Museum of Exploration
  71. Air Force Memorial
  72. Pentagon Memorial

Getting there

Airports:
DCA, IAD, BWI
Train stations:
Washington Union Station, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Farragut North
Seaport:
Reachable by ship or ferry

Map view

More travel destinations in the United States of America

United States of America country pageUnited States of America in the Explorer