Would you believe me if I told you there are a lot more places visit in Washington DC than monuments and museums? Although I will definitely be mentioning a few of both, this city is not solely history and heritage, it’s a fun, hip, and delicious place to spend a long weekend! Based on the engagement my Instagram posts received for this trip, it doesn’t seem like it’s a popular destination for a weekend getaway. However, I think the opposite, as we had so much fun there!
Getting Around
DC has a decent transit system. From the airport you can easily take the train into the city, get to sites like Arlington Cemetery, or move from one side of town to the other. I don’t find the stops to be quite as convenient as say, London or NYC, but this is likely because there are fewer lines. If you don’t mind a 10-15 minute walk, the train will be your best bet. It’s only $2 a trip on weekends too.
There is also a bus system, which I only took once, and Uber was fairly reliable the few times we used that. There are also a ton of electric scooters and bikes available for rent that can be very convenient. They are easy to use, and with the nice wide bike lanes on most streets, pretty low risk as far as safety too. We used them a few times when we started getting tired of walking but public transportation wasn’t really a good option to our next destination. The District does have a fairly “dead” feel to it later at night in some areas, and I wouldn’t walk alone after dark.
Where to Stay
We stayed at St. Gregory Dupont Circle. The hotel was really nice, with large rooms, friendly and accommodating staff, and lots of free water. The restaurant costs a fortune though, so skip that. I would gladly stay here again, but here are some other options as well.
Hostel
I usually like to give two options for accommodations, both bougie and budget. However, DC does not have a lot of hostels. They also aren’t really super budget friendly, so I would be more likely to stay in a budget hotel. BUT, I understand that the draw of hostels isn’t always price, especially if you are traveling solo. So I will make two recommendations, that are more or less in the same price range. I will receive a small commission if you book using these links:
HighRoad Hostel – this one is located in the area called Adams Morgan, which is North East of the popular area of Georgetown. It’s a little outside of many attractions, and transit is about a 1km walk away. For about $70 CAD a night, you will get a bed in a 6-bed dorm. Private rooms are also available.
Duo Housing – a little further south than the previous option, this hostel has the added benefit of being Adults Only (unless of course you’re not traveling with only adults!) Also, closer to transit this hostel is in the Mt Vernon Square/Downtown area. If you don’t mind a bigger dorm room, you can book this one for just under $50 CAD per night for a 12 bed dorm.
Hotel
it’s been awhile since I traveled alone, so I am more of a hotel girlie. Here are some recommendations if you are too! If you use booking.com (where my links will take you) you will see there isn’t a major swing in prices for good hotels. So, instead of bougie and budget here, I’ll give you two areas I would have preferred to have stayed in:
Downtown: The Westin Washington, D.C. City Center is going to come in about $300 per night, which is pretty average for the area. This hotel will have you about 10-20 minutes walking distance from theatres, restaurants, and other attractions, and is close to a transit station. Westin is a great hotel chain, and if you stay with Marriott often, look into their rewards. Travel hacking is something I am only starting to get into, but being loyal to a hotel chain can have its perks for sure. The same goes for the next option.
River: Hyatt House Washington DC The Wharf is similarly priced to the previous option. But you will find yourself a lot closer to things like the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, and several museums. It’s a little further from a transit stop. Both are great options, depending on where you want to be!
With some housekeeping out of the way, let’s jump into my list…
Top 24 Places to visit in Washington DC
- Georgetown – Georgetown is a charming area with Federal-style architecture and narrow cobblestone streets remnant of early American settlement. It’s easy to imagine you are in Boston here, as the vibe is pretty similar. There are a lot of big, stately homes, cute parks, and it’s right next to the Potomac River. If you want to do some shopping, eat at some trendy restaurants, or go to some cool bars, this is one of the places to visit in Washington DC. This is the first retail Reformation store I have been in, and all the ‘it’ fashion shops have locations such as Alice + Olivia, Free People, Everlane, etc. It doesn’t feel like the rest of DC with its massive office buildings and political monuments. Georgetown University is located here, and it’s more of a young and hip area. We did an audio tour here, but honestly it was a bit boring. There are some famous people who have lived in the area that the tour points out such as Julia Childs, John F. Kennedy, and Olivia Wilde but it was mostly obscure politicians or early developments of the area. If you’re a history buff you may enjoy it more than I did. The area is worth a few hours of exploring. I recommend making a stop at the next place on the list…
- Georgetown Bakery – this place will probably have a line out the door. Prepare to wait, but I thought it was worth it. The line was also in the shade, which in the MID MAY HEATWAVE we appreciated! This place sells just cupcakes, and they have done a great job with them. We tried a raspberry swirl cheesecake and a key lime one and they were sooo good. It was worth the wait.
- Potomac River – Georgetown is next to the river, but the river is long and pretty much extends through much of the District. At the Georgetown end you can rent a kayak or paddleboard, grab food/drinks at one of the restaurants, or put out a blanket and relax in one of the many grassy areas. There are bike/running paths, booze cruises, and everything in between! If you keep following the river, you will eventually pass some famous monuments like the few mentioned next…
- Jefferson Memorial – this one is the big round columned one that looks similar to Rome’s Pantheon on the man-made reservoir known as the Tidal Basin. We opted to not go right over to the monument, instead viewing it from the cherry trees across from it. There is a 19 foot statue inside though, which may interest some
- Washington Memorial – this one is the tall skinny obelisk one that looks beautiful reflecting in the large pool placed in front of it. If you walk up to it, you will find out it is atop of a slight hill. You can go inside and to the top, but you will want to book this in advance. They were sold out of tickets when we went.
- Lincoln Memorial – this probably ties with the Washington Monument for one of the most famous places to visit in Washington DC. I remember seeing it in a Simpsons episode and wanting to visit. It stands opposite of the Washington Monument and also has a bit of Roman flair. It has a huge, seated statue of Abraham Lincoln inside. I think this one is really neat at night. There is a lot of lighting around and there is a cool vibe. This is probably why monument night tours are so popular.
- Martin Luther King Memorial – I think this one is pretty cool, I actually didn’t know about it before our tour took us there, but it ended up being one of my favorites. I like how chill he looks, and the size and placement of it is very cool.
- White House – although it is possible to reach out and arrange a tour of the White House, it is a lot of work. It’s definitely worth a look at from the outside though. You are able to get pretty good views of both the North and the South. As a Canadian, the White House for me is less about patriotism and more about it being so recognizable from lots of great movies and TV shows! With such close proximity to such a famous building, you might as well go check it out. It’s very centrally located and easy to get to.
- Arlington Cemetery – although not technically in DC, you will find this in Virginia. Arlington Cemetery felt like a must do activity to me when visiting Washington DC. The train from the city will take you right there. The Cemetery houses all US military members that wish to be laid to rest here, as well as some politicians, Supreme Court justices, and a couple other exceptions made for certain people as well. It has the icon rows of white tombstones in the ‘newer’ areas, and some more traditional style headstones as well. I really enjoyed the Kennedy area, seeing RBG’s grave, and the Women’s special area. Robert Lee’s former home also offers really amazing views, so be sure to check that out. We did an audio guided tour which I thought was a great way to explore at our own ace but also learn the important facts.
- Iwo Jima Memorial – also known as the Marine Corps War Memorial, this one is famous due to it being inspired by a real photograph taken. During WWII of some Marines raised a US flag during the battle of Iwo Jima in 1945.
- Old Ebbitt Grill – this is the oldest salon in the city, dating back to 1856. It has moved locations a few times, but is now located at 675 15th Street NW. Originally a boarding house, it was frequented by several presidents such as Grant, and Roosevelt. It’s very well located if you are planning an evening at the National Theatre, taking a night monument tour, or want to continue on with more night caps! The food is good, but it is a busy restaurant in a busy area. The murals on the wall, the green velvet booths, and the several antique memorabilia decorating the place make it worth the visit. I recommend a reservation.
- The National Theatre – I always recommend doing a quick events search for the dates you are going to be traveling. I have managed to catch a few great things this way that were very unintentional when I booked my trip. When we were planning our trip to the District, I googled events and found out Beetlejuice on Broadway was going to be at the National Theatre while we were in town and grabbed tickets. It was really fun. I recommend seeing what may be offered for the dates of your trip, not only at this theatre but also for sports, the Capital One Arena, and other theatres.
- Smithsonian(s) – Fun fact: the Smithsonian is not one massive building, like the Louvre. It is actually several more niche museums scattered all over the city! Do some research at www.si.edu and figure out which one(s) may interest you. With 21 separate locations, you probably won’t want to go to them all. Some of the more popular ones are National History, National Air and Space, and the one I visited; American Art. I found the hours weird, it didn’t open until 10:30 am so I recommend checking that as well. Apparently I didn’t take any pictures while we were there though…
- Friendship Archway – this is a beautifully tiled archway that was put up in 1986 in honor of DC being a sister city of Beijing. Found at H Street and 7th it’s worth taking a walk to look at.
- City Centre DC – this is a mixed use area, spanning a few blocks. Mostly it is shops and residential housing, but there are often events going on here, or elaborate themed art installations. This summer they had the Palmer Alley part covered in a canopy of colourful umbrellas! Check out citycenterdc.com to see if there is anything worth checking out for the dates you are traveling.
- Blagdon Alley – this is a really cool historical area that has been mostly gentrified to house lots of cool art murals such as the widely known ‘LOVE’ murals, some hips cafes like La Colombe, and even a Michelin Star restaurant The Dabney. Much of the art attempts to pay homage to the area’s gritty past through historic preservation. It’s a very cool vibes area, extremely instagrammable, and definitely one of the places to visit in Washington DC. But give it a quick google and you will know it was not always that way!
- Watermelon House – a fairly short walk from Blagdon Alley will bring you do another very instagrammable and bright site, and that is the Watermelon House. This is an end unit in a row house, painted to look like a – you guessed it – watermelon!
- Ben’s Chili Bowl – This is a must-visit DC staple. A whole slew of celebrities have eaten here, like Chance the Rapper, Kevin Hart, Jimmy Fallon, Larry King, Serena Williams, Barack Obama, and more! This place has been unchanged for the past 65 years. The counter, booths and stools are all original from when they opened. Make sure you visit the U street location, as that is the original. Prices are very fair, portion size is decent, and there is a vegetarian option. They serve all types here, so the people watching is top-notch! Try and not go during peak meal hours as it gets really busy.
- L’Ardente – we were in DC very close to our 1st wedding anniversary, so we decided to make a splash and have dinner at this upscale Italian restaurant. They have a signature dish, so I obviously tried it – and that is a 40 layer lasagna! Tender short rib, truffled mornay and razor-thin sheets of pasta make it not as massive as what you may be thinking, but it was still large and mouth wateringly delicious! Located in a newer development area, Capitol Crossing, it is a place that has been visited by Barack and Michelle Obama. Since they are ‘couple goals’, I thought this would be a great anniversary celebration place. The price was definitely special occasion spending. We spent about $300 CAD and had 1 appetizer, 2 entrees, 1 dessert, and 4 alcoholic drinks. It’s comparable to most nicer restaurants we have eaten at without being expensive for the sake of being expensive.
- Founding Farmers – it has become a chain now, but the flagship location is the one on Pennsylvania Ave in DC. I’m adding this to the list because not only was the food fantastic, the price point was really reasonable too. We had breakfast here and it was huge portions. It was one of the least expensive meals we consumed on the whole trip! With a huge focus on everything being made from scratch, you know it’s going to be good. No reservation needed if you show up early like we did, but I can’t speak to the rest of the time. It’s always a good idea to have one!
- Dacha Beer Garden – Here is the first thing on this list that I didn’t actually go to. It was on the to do list, but as the week went on and I got too tired to keep walking, some places to visit in Washington DC got cut. I did want to go though, so I’m telling you about it. There are actually 2 locations in the District, but the one I wanted to go to was in Navy Yard. This is a large German style beer garden located near Nationals park where the Washington National MLB team plays. This place looks like a fun time, and there’s lots of cool murals around too.
- Yards Park – fountains, a waterfall, and riverfront boardwalk make this a nice area for a stroll. Another thing I haven’t done myself, but coupled with the Beer Garden above, this makes for a lovely afternoon or evening!
- Library of Congress – this is one of the nicest looking buildings in the city. It sits across from the Capitol building and is considered the national library of the United States. This is where you can find a rough draft of the Declaration of Independence and a Gutenburg Bible. We didn’t go inside, but the exterior is very beautiful. It is 3 full separate buildings, one of the largest libraries in the world.
- The Capitol – the Capitol building is definitely one of the most important places to visit in Washington DC. This is where a load of politicians work, and honestly they made it pretty nice looking! The layout of DC was very well thought out, with the Capitol being on just enough of a hill to be seen from many other monuments, and some of the important ones all lining up in a row. It makes for really nice photos! I definitely recommend checking it out, and if you are a real Poli-Sci aficionado you can even take a tour, and this one would be my recommendation.
If you are planning a trip, I hope you found this list of the top 24 places to visit in Washington DC helpful! If you have been and would like to let me know if you enjoyed these places, or I missed any of your favs, let me know in the comments 🙂
Jess xx
