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Top things to do in Washington, D.C.

Attractions, tours, and activities in Washington, D.C.

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About Washington, D.C.

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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.

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Washington, D.C. reviews

What other travelers say about Washington, D.C.

8.0

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.

Katie
Katie United States of America
10

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!

Lynette
Lynette United States of America
10

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!

Ashley
Ashley United States of America
10

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!

MGill46
MGill46 United States of America
10

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.

Gaddy
Gaddy
10

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.

Anonymous United States of America

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