The Ultimate Travel Guide Washington DC For Your First Visit

This is what I would have liked to know before my first trip to Washington DC. I would have liked to know when to travel to DC, what to expect security wise from a government city, and how to avoid so much walking!

So this is your ultimate travel guide Washington DC edition, so you can plan an even better trip than I did! This is what I learned after visiting Washington twice over the years. I made these mistakes so you don’t have to!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

10 Tips To Plan A Trip To Washington DC

These are the best tips and travel advice to plan a trip to Washington DC.

1. Book Your Stay on the Weekend To Save Money

Booking your stay on the weekend can save you a lot of money on your trip to Washington DC. This is not typical for most destinations around the world, in fact, it’s actually the opposite of the norm.

If you don’t believe me, play around with your dates when booking a hotel and see for yourself. You can easily save hundreds of dollars just by visiting Washington DC during the week! The most expensive dates to stay in DC are Monday to Thursday.

It’s more expensive to stay during the week because DC is a place of business. Businessmen (and women) are staying here for work, skyrocketing prices. So if you’re able to, book your stay over the weekend instead.

Read more: 10 Hotel Essentials To Guarantee Better Stays!

2. Where To Stay: Book A Hotel Near A Metro

Where you book your hotel in Washington DC is also important. As it turns out, I booked in the wrong location… but I prioritized amenities as I was traveling with my 5 month old. So I booked the Homewood Suites on Massachusetts Avenue with laundry services and a kitchen in the room. Although it was a great hotel (and I’d recommend it for families), the location could have been better.

Instead, I recommend staying near a metro, within a two to five minute walk. I thought the Homewood Suites was close enough, but it was still a 15 minute walk. I never used the metro, because it was never faster than just walking. But there’s already so much walking on a trip to DC that you want to minimize as much as you can.

Another option is to book your hotel near where you think you’ll spend the most of your time. For example, booking a hotel near the Smithsonian Museums can also make sense. Of course, they’re still far a part from each other but there’s a group of them within a few (long) blocks from each other. Next time, I would book the citizenM Washington Capitol , which is a 12 minute walk to the Air and Space Museum, and only 4 minutes to the closest metro.

Or see more hotel options on Booking . com.

Accessible (& family) travel tip: Most Washington metro stations have an elevator. The elevator can be hard to find at street level though, and expect to have to take at least two elevators down (one from the street to the ticket booth, and then to the trains), and they won’t be next to each other.

3. What’s The Best Way To Get Around DC (Expect Sore Feet)

Nothing is close in Washington, and unfortunately, the best way to get around is to walk. Everything is at least 20 minute walk away, museums and city blocks are huge. Even memorials and monuments in the National Mall all are 20 minutes away from each other.

And it seemed like it was almost never worth taking the metro either, because, of course, you still had to walk 20 minutes on either end. They do have a lot of city buses, but I’ve never been a fan of city buses, especially when traveling.

An alternative to walking, is to book booking a hop on / hop off bus tour. This will take you to all the main spots around the National Mall without having to walk it yourself!

Or if you’re up for some exercise, but want to give your feet a break, sign up for the city’s bike sharing app, Capital Bikeshare. I was traveling with my baby, so this wasn’t an option for me but I think it can completely change visiting Washington DC. The unaccessible National Mall, somehow becomes doable in one day. I would love to come back and bike the whole thing! If you don’t want to bike, they also have Lime Scooters (and bikes) throughout DC.

Even with all these alternative modes of transportation, you should still expect a lot of walking because you can’t bike your way through the museums. You will almost certainly have sore feet by the end of your trip!

Pro tip: If you’re traveling internationally and won’t have access to cell service, download and set up these apps before your trip. They usually send a confirmation code to your number.

Why I Don’t Recommend Driving in DC

Driving (and more importantly parking) is not an easy feat in the National Mall. Seriously, I ended up in Arlington (Virginia) a few times when trying to find parking at the Lincoln Memorial.

Lanes become turning or straight only without notice and you don’t have time to change. And even worse, one wrong turn and you find yourself stuck in traffic – it’s just not worth the risk. There also isn’t enough parking in the National Mall (or at least signs for where to park).

I did eventually end up finding street parking in the National Mall but then ran into another issue. Parking is pay by the meter, and capped at 2 hours, which would mean to add more, you’d have to walk all the way back to your car.

P.S. Book a bike tour to take you around to the best spots in the National Mall and learn about the history of each monument.

4. Pack A Lunch When Visiting Washington DC

When you’re in the National Mall, or even throughout DC, you’re not only far from the next attraction, but also from food, water, and bathrooms. At any point, you can be an hour walk from civilization (okay maybe that’s an exaggeration but you get my point)!

You have to visit DC prepared with water (I love my GIANT 1.2 L (40 oz) Thermoflask for days like this!). You’ll also want to bring snacks, like Simply Protein granola bars, for a low sugar, but filling snack.

For meals, if you care about cost, value, and taste, you might consider packing your own lunch. In the National Mall, there aren’t too many options, especially if you don’t want to waste steps. The National Mall is also the perfect setting for a picnic lunch!

If you’re having a museum day, most museums have their own cafe. The catch is that they won’t be cheap, or have too many options, and generally, they have really bad reviews. Of course, this depends on which museum you go…

The National History Museum had two cafes, but one of them you were able to bring your own food (recommended). I paid for a very expensive salad (although it was at least very good!).

The National Air and Space Museum had the SMALLEST cafe, so go early if you want a seat (around 11:00 A.M.). They also didn’t have a lot of options – I ended up with an overpriced peanut butter sandwich and a salad (which made my salad from the previous day much better looking!).

The National Gallery has one of the best cafes – I would come here to get off your feet and relax (it’s across from the National Air and Space Museum, so try to plan to be here for lunch instead!).

Hirshhorn Museum: Only had a small coffee shop, no real food.

5. Washington DC Is HOT Without A Lot of Shade (Choose Your Season Wisely)

You might not want to choose Washington DC for your summer vacation. Washington in the summer is HOT and extremely humid, and it’s not exactly a beach destination either.

Instead of a beach, there’s a lot of walking and unfortunately, it wasn’t designed with a lot of shade. The National Mall is very wide without a lot of trees for shade. City blocks are also very wide, without very tall buildings…

The only reprieve from the blistering sun is to hide inside one of the many museums. My first time visiting Washington, I made this mistake of visiting in the summer. My family was miserable, we couldn’t do or see anything because it was so hot we couldn’t move.

So, either be aware of this – and pack your own sun umbrella so you can walk with your own portable shade. Or, if you can, plan a tip to Washington DC for another time of year.

A very popular time is late March / early April because it’s Cherry Blossom season. This of course would be an ideal time in terms of weather. But during this time prices skyrocket and it’s going to be a lot busier.

The second time I was visiting Washington DC I planned it for right after the festival at the end of April, and it was perfect. Prices were reasonable, the weather was perfect (not too hot), and the crowds were more normal. I was also able to book last minute tickets to the museums that required a timed entry ticket (more on that in a bit!). I did miss the trees in bloom though, but at least they had lush green leaves on the trees!

6. Political Events Can Disrupt Your Plans

Some unforeseen political events can quickly disrupt your plans. This can be anything from Prime Ministers, to Kings and Queens visiting the President. These types of events wouldn’t be on your radar until you’re in the city and wondering why there is so much security.

This is a Government city after all, so political figures from around the world visit often. If anyone of importance is coming to town, there will not only be added security, but also unforeseen closures. For example, King Charles was giving a speech at the Capitol when I was visiting, so it was closed for a few hours. I only found out once I arrived at the Capitol and had to divert my plans for a few hours until it was open again.

Read more: How To Plan Your Vacation In 9 Simple Steps

7. Expect Security Everywhere

Whether there is a political figure visiting or not, there will be more security than you’re used to. The President of the United States lives here after all. So it’s not uncommon to walk by the National Guard, and especially the Secret Service. This can be around the White House, but also in front of (what you think is) a random building. I was also sniffed by trained guard dogs while I was walking in the National Mall.

There is also added security checks going in to certain attractions. The obvious ones are at Government buildings, like the Capitol, but you also have security in to every museum. This is something to keep in mind, so you don’t bring any prohibited items, and keep your bag easy access.

See a list of all prohibited items for each state buildings. I actually had my aerosol sunscreen with me when visiting, so watch out for that!

8. Almost All Museums Are Free

It might come as a shock to you, but not every museum in Washington DC is free. If it’s your first time in the city though, there’s really no point in paying for a museum. There are 17 Smithsonian Museums alone in Washington DC, that are all HUGE and free to visit. You should only start paying for museums in DC once you’ve exhausted all your free options.

It’s also not just the Smithsonian museums that are free. Other free attractions include the National Gallery, the Museum at Dumbarton Oaks, Planet Word, the Library of Congress, and the National Archives (and the list goes on!).

And sometimes you have to watch out, there can be two very similar museums, but one is paid and one is free. For example, the Gardens at Dumbarton Oaks are paid, but the U.S. Botanical Gardens in the city centre are completely free to visit.

You shouldn’t spend more money than you need to in this already expensive city.

Pro Tip: Some museums are worth seeing for the architecture just as much as the museum itself! Even if you aren’t interested in a specific subject matter of the museum, it might still be worth going. Like the Natural History Museum and the National Gallery! The immense architecture and intricate details are very impressive!

9. Plan To Spend Longer Than You Expect in Each Museum

When you plan a trip to Washington DC, allocate more time than you think for museum visits. Be prepared to spend an entire day in one museum, especially if you’re really interested in the subject matter.

In fact, some of the museums recommend taking two days to visit (like the National Museum of African American History and Culture). The Smithsonians are BIG museums, seriously, they take up entire city blocks for one museum.

10. Travel Planner DC: Some Attractions Need Advanced Reservations

The three most popular Smithsonian Museums need a timed entry ticket. They’re still free, but because they’re so busy, you have to book a timed entry ticket online in advance. You’ll need a ticket for the Air and Space Museum, Museum of African American History and Culture, and the Zoo.

You also need a timed ticket for the Library of Congress, the National Monument, the U.S. Capitol & Capitol Visitor Center, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

P.S. If you’re traveling in low season, you’ll still need to book a ticket, but it doesn’t have to be in advance. I travelled to Washington in April and I booked the Air and Space Museum an hour before. I even booked the African American Museum when I arrived for opening. And I booked my ticket for the Library of Congress while waiting in the security line. That’s just one benefit of low season travel!

Take Advanced Reservation One Step Further: Get A Library Card

You might want to plan some attractions in Washington DC a bit more in advance though (more than just a timed entry ticket). If you’re interested, you can actually get a library card for the Library of Congress. This lets you to go inside the library section, instead of just seeing it from the observation deck.

Admire the beauty up close, spend some looking at the collection, reading, getting off your feet, and staying out of the sun for a bit.

U.S. Capitol & White House Tours

You can also book a tour of the State Capitol if you plan in advance. Or if you’re really invested, you can actually get a free tour of the White House. All you have to do is contact your Member of Congress (for international visitors, contact your embassy). This has to be done anywhere from 7-90 days in advance.

FBI Headquarters Access Tour

You can also request access to the FBI Headquarters for a self-guided tour. Similar to the White House, you have to submit a request through your Member of Congress. This has to be done between 5 months and 4 weeks of your trip.

Bonus Travel Guide Washington DC: Explore Outside DC

Take some time out of your trip to leave the capitol neighrbouhood and visit a more local side of Washington: Georgetown. It’s gorgeous to walk around, has the best shopping, food (cupcakes!), and even some history. It’s also a university town, making it always lively and bustling with people.

If you have even more time, you can explore the neighbouring cities in Virginia, like Alexandria and Arlington, just across the Potomac River.

Washington DC Travel Guide: Hotel Recommendations

When booking a hotel in Washington, you have to decide what you want to do because nothing is closed to each other. The most convenient hotel is to book near a metro station, or if you’re interested in Smithsonians, then book near the National Mall.

I stayed at the Homewood Suites on Massachusetts Avenue. It was halfway between the White House and Dupont Circle (a 15 minute walk to each). The closest metro is also about a 10 minute walk. I chose it because it gave me a two bedroom suite with a kitchen, breakfast, and the option for laundry (perfect for traveling with your family!). See rates and availability on Booking.

I originally booked The Hamilton Hotel as it’s slightly closer to a metro and the White House. I also booked Hotel Madera for it’s proximity to Dupont Circle, and being the closest to a metro station (a 6 minute walk). I also liked Hotel Madera because some rooms had a balcony.

But if I were to visit Washington again, I would try to stay closer to the Smithsonian Museums. The downside is that there aren’t a lot of options here, one of the top rated hotels is citizenM Washington Capitol, just a 12 minute walk from the Air and Space Museum, and 4 minutes to the closest metro.

Or see more hotel options on Booking . com.

My Washington DC Travel Essentials

You walk A LOT in Washington so it’s pivotal that you have a good pair of walking shoes. I always really like my On Women’s Cloud 5 Waterproof Sneakers – just in case it’s raining! I can wear these day after day with happy feet.

You’ll also want to bring a refillable water bottle, my go-to is an Owala. Every museum has a fountain and, remember, you’re doing a lot of walking outside without a lot of infrastructure – staying hydrated is key. I also recommend packing some protein bars, I really like Simply Protein because they aren’y high in sugar.

And finally, because you’re most likely going to be out for the entire day, bring an external battery so your phone doesn’t die on you.

Read More Related Posts

• Top Georgetown DC Things to Do (& Popular Attractions to Skip!)
• The Best Washington DC Souvenirs to Bring Home
• How To Plan Your Vacation In 9 Simple Steps

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