Top things to do in Washington, D.C.
Attractions, tours, and activities in Washington, D.C.
Recommended museums in Washington, D.C.
Where to find art and culture in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.: the city's best neighborhoods
Find a great area to stay in Washington, D.C.
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Georgetown
1.4 miles from downtown
By George! The sweet smell of privilege wafts through this affluent district. Cutesy cupcake boutiques and high-end fashion stores line M Street, and pristine townhouses sit on sleepy streets. Shopaholics carry designer bags and rowers zip along the Potomac. For posh nosh, head to 1789 restaurant (don’t miss the foie gras with peach-thyme jam).
Places to stay from $90 a night
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Capitol Hill
2.3 miles from downtown
Landmarks and markets. Capitol Hill dazzles with monumental grandeur – the Supreme Court’s classical portico and the Capitol Building’s colossal cupola are icons of the area. At ground-level, Eastern Market offers a local taste of the earth’s bounty. If you’re an oyster buff, indulge your shellfish passion at Johnny’s Half Shell restaurant.
Places to stay from $110 a night
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Downtown D.C.
In downtown
Head honchos and big cheeses. Downtown is where DC’s movers and shakers do their thing. Alongside power suits and briefcases, you’ll see bum-bags and city maps galore, as tourists traipse between the White House and the Washington Monument. Dine like a power player at Old Ebbitt Grill, a favourite of former top dogs Roosevelt, Grant and Harding.
Places to stay from $22 a night
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Dupont Circle
0.7 miles from downtown
A perfect circle. This well-to-do district is a haven of tree-lined streets, elegant embassies and swanky bistros. At the weekend, it comes alive as the city comes out to play. Join the carefree diners on Lauriol Plaza’s terrace, go organic at Restaurant Nora or hang out with the yoga bunnies and dreadlocked jugglers on Dupont Circle Park’s lawns.
Places to stay from $95 a night
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Foggy Bottom
0.8 miles from downtown
Won’t you take me down to Funkytown? Foggy Bottom started life in 1763 as Funkstown, named after the German settler Jacob Funk. Since then, this formerly funked-out area’s gone straight-edge. Fresh-faced students walk around, and government officials zoom in and out of offices. Get into the groove at POV, a bar with views to turn legs to jelly!
Places to stay from $89 a night
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Adams Morgan
1.4 miles from downtown
The name may sound like an estate agent, but Adams Morgan is actually the hottest ticket in D.C. It’s a diverse neighbourhood with a Latin twist, a hipster edge and a lust for life. Everywhere you go, music wafts along the street, from wistful blues to saccharine salsa. Go cuckoo for Cuba at Habana Village, or tuck into Asian fusion at Perry’s.
Places to stay from $26 a night
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Logan Circle
0.6 miles from downtown
Eccentric, funky, whimsical… just some of the words used to describe Logan Circle. This quirky district abounds with curious boutiques and niche bars, which draw a flamboyant and alternative crowd. Jazz up your wardrobe with a vintage piece from Buffalo Exchange. And for a fabulous, rainbow-flag night out, sashay down to Number Nine.
Places to stay from $26 a night
About Washington, D.C.
Including tips for the best time to visit Washington, D.C.
Home to the emblematic White House, the capital city of the United States owes its name to the country’s first president, George Washington. Beyond being a political powerhouse, Washington also has swathes of lush parks and is situated near the Potomac River.
Monuments, museums and memorials dominate the cityscape with their historical architecture. On your visit to Washington, you can stroll through ‘America’s front yard’ – the National Mall, a sprawling park that houses landmarks, such as the Capitol Building, Supreme Court Building and Washington Monument. The storied setting of the Mall pays its respect to noteworthy figures and events. You’ll pass by iconic statues, structures and engravings like the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.
You can delve deeper into the city’s history on your Washington trip with visits to an array of museums. Some of the significant museums are the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of American History, National Portrait Gallery and National Museum of the American Indian.
Take a hike through the woodlands of Theodore Roosevelt Island to switch up your view of Washington DC. You can also spend some time admiring the colourful foliage of the National Arboretum or at the Rock Creek Pa, an oasis within the city.
Tonight
From $144 per night
This weekend
From $368 per night
Next weekend
From $337 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October-December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January-March |
| Local currency | USD |
| Language | |
| Average weekend price | $206 per night |
| Average weekday price | $200 per night |
| Average stay | 2 nights |
Points of interest in Washington, D.C.
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Washington, D.C.
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The White House
0.2 miles from downtown
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Smithsonian Institution
1 miles from downtown
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Lincoln Memorial
1.1 miles from downtown
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Nationals Park
2.5 miles from downtown
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National Air & Space Museum
1.2 miles from downtown
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National Gallery of Art
1.2 miles from downtown
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US Holocaust Memorial Museum
0.9 miles from downtown
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RFK Stadium
3.5 miles from downtown
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Washington National Cathedral
2.8 miles from downtown
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Phillips Collection
0.9 miles from downtown
Washington, D.C. reviews
What other travelers say about Washington, D.C.
Loved visiting our capital.
September 29, 2023
Loved visiting our capital. Visited the 4th of July week so some streets were closed for the holiday celebration. Best mode of transportation for that situation was ebikes and scooters for rent. Some brand bikes worked on only certain areas of town amd would just stop at the invisible borders with no warning but still charge till you dragged the vehicle back into their zone. Very pricey, but better than finding parking and paying those fees. Lots to do in the city and great eateries.
Washington DC was amazing.
September 27, 2023
Washington DC was amazing. Spent parts of 2 days there and that wasnt enough. However I went to China town for the best eggroll ever! then took the 3 hr night bus tour that leaves from the Navy Museum and saw and toured so many monuments in all their glorious night lights. Hit a pizzeria at 11pm on the walk back to hotel. Next day off to the National Mall for any of the the Smithsonian Museum and National Archives and 1 of 20 food trucks for lunch. JUST FANTASTIC!
DC was an unexpected treasure.
September 23, 2023
DC was an unexpected treasure. I went for Visa purposes but had I known how beautiful and lively the area was I would have definitely prolonged my stay. Its incredibly clean, easy transport, and sooooo many sites to see. The food was also surprisingly good! It is a little pricey though, but If you have the opportunity to visit I highly recommend it!
D.C. is famous for its national museums and rightly so.
September 23, 2023
D.C. is famous for its national museums and rightly so. The new African American History Museum is awesome, fascinating and so rich in historical facts. We also recommend the Holocaust Museum and the National Gallery of Art. The Museum of American History was a big disappointment, lacking any organized sense of America through the centuries. It seemed like a collection of commercial exhibits at a state fair. At a time that history is so critical it was a waste of space. There was a precious small garden well worth a visit next door to the Hirschhorn modern art museum. Finally, get a Metro card and ride the subway!
This was our first trip to DC.
September 20, 2023
This was our first trip to DC. We went to take our 3 young kids on a tour of the White house. It was everything and more. My family had a blast. Everyone in the city was really nice, even the Secret service agents at the white house. My kids had tons of questions and they answered them with no issues. I was not expecting to have to pay for parking as much as you do which is why we walked mostly everywhere so be prepared if you plan a trip get a hotel in the center around everything so you can walk vs paying 20-45 every time you need to park. WE stayed at the Cambria Convention center, and it was reasonably priced and about 2 miles from the white house. We visited the Washington monument, the Lincoln memorial, the Korean war memorial, the Archives, and all others in that area along with the Smithsonian. All of the monuments, memorial and most museums were free but the souvenirs, the food and taxes throughout the state were much higher due to everything being free which was understandable. We ate at our hotel for breakfast which had to be refunded because it was burnt, I was disappointed in that, but for dinner we ate at Ben's Chili bowl. It was decent a little overpriced for hotdogs and fries but a great place for kids that love chili and hotdogs/brats. We also ate at the cheesecake factory for my son's 14th birthday, and it was the best! pricey but well worth the money. For a lower income family of 5 this was a reasonable two-day trip for my family.
Felt very safe walking to all of the museums and memorials.
September 19, 2023
Felt very safe walking to all of the museums and memorials. Everything was clean and organized. Restaurants and shops were excellent. Loved Ole Ebbitt’s Grill and Founding Farmers…a must for dinner! We had reservations for dinner each night. Using the metro was very easy as well. Loved DC so much to see and do.
Popular places to stay in Washington, D.C.
Stay in some of the best accommodations Washington, D.C. has to offer
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Luxurious Apartment Suite In The Heart of The City Northeast, Washington, D.C.
From $207 per night
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Bougainvillea DC 2 bedrooms 2 bathrooms plus den with twin sofa bed and queen sofa bed in living room Northeast, Washington, D.C.
From $251.10 per night
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Capitol Hill Adjacent Home Steps to Park and River Northeast, Washington, D.C.
From $142.49 per night
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Convention Center/Logan Circle Large Cozy House. Logan Circle, Washington, D.C.
From $439 per night
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Other accommodations in Washington, D.C.
Pick from a wide variety of places to stay in Washington, D.C.
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Apartments
From $69 per night
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Villas
From per night
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Cottages
From $96 per night
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Serviced Apartments
From $77 per night
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Vacation Homes
From $96 per night
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Guest houses
From $60 per night
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Hostels
From $22 per night
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B&Bs
From $90 per night
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Homestays
From $79 per night
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Self-catering Accommodations
From $28 per night
