Washington DC travel will always hold a special place for me. Having lived there for four years, it’s a city that I recommend to any traveler that I meet. Yes, the city has iconic sites like The White House, United States Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and Washington Monument. However, what you may not know is just how incredible the DC food scene is. With so many ethnicities represented, you can find nearly any cuisine on your Washington DC trip.
In addition to food, Washington DC travel can also include places just outside the downtown area like Arlington National Cemetery, Rock Creek Park, and Eastern Market. If that all sounds like something that’s in your wheelhouse, let’s dive into places to visit in Washington DC.
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Best Credit Cards to Use in Washington DC
One of the great things about travel is that you can always earn points, even while you’re traveling. American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou are programs that are at the top of my list to earn points in. Cards like the Amex Gold Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Citi Premier Card are the ones I recommend to any traveler.
You earn 4x points on restaurants and US grocery stores with the Amex Gold Card. The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3x points on dining and travel. With the Citi Premier Card, you earn 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel, and hotels.
When is the best time to visit Washington DC?
Late May through mid-July and September through October are the best times for Washington DC travel. The highs average 69-85 degrees while the lows average 46-63 degrees. Personally, October is the month I recommend for a Washington DC vacation. The leaves are changing colors, the weather hasn’t turned cold, the air is crisp, and football is in full swing.
If these months do not work for you, April for the Cherry Blossoms and August to see the sites will work. April isn’t typically warm but the Cherry Blossoms, if you time it right, are beautiful. August is hot, however, you can see Washington DC tourist attractions without having to worry about cold weather interfering with walking around.
How to Fly to Washington DC
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is the most convenient airport for your Washington DC vacation. Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) are two other airport options. nearby. You can take Uber/Lyft or Amtrak from BWI, and you can take Uber/Lyft from IAD.
Concerning DCA, here are examples of nonstop flights that you can book:
- Alaska Airlines <> Los Angeles, Portland (OR), San Francisco, Seattle/Tacoma
- American Airlines <> Atlanta, Boston, Chicago–O’Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York–JFK
- Delta Air Lines <> Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York–JFK, Salt Lake City
- Frontier <> Denver
- JetBlue <> Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Nassau, Orlando, San Juan, West Palm Beach
- Southwest Airlines <> Atlanta, Austin, Chicago–Midway, Dallas–Love, Houston–Hobby, Nashville, New Orleans
Where to Stay in Washington DC
Points hotels are well-represented on your visit to Washington DC. The four major points hotel brands in IHG, Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott have hotels across all brands that you can book. Generally speaking, the southwest corner of DC is the best area for places to visit in Washington DC.
Marriott has The Ven at Embassy Row and The Mayflower Hotel. Park Hyatt Washington D.C. and Hyatt Place Washington DC/ Georgetown/ West End are Hyatt properties to check out. IHG has the Kimpton Banneker Hotel and Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington DC. Hilton has The Madison Washington DC and Canopy Washington DC Embassy Row are Hiltons to pay attention to.
Best Places to Visit in Washington DC
Day 1 of Washington DC Travel
With coffee in hand, start your 2 days in Washington DC by grabbing advanced tickets to tour the US Capitol. After the 2-3 hour tour, walk across the street to see both the Supreme Court and Library of Congress. Both of these buildings are impressive on the outside and there’s actually no need to go inside.
After grabbing lunch at Union Station, walk down the National Mall to the National Air and Space Museum. Follow that up with the National Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of American History. Grab a drink at Jazz in the Garden (May-August) before closing out the day with dinner.
Day 2 of Washington DC Travel
Grab a coffee before heading to the Lafayette Square side of The White House. Snap some pics both there and on the side of the South Lawn. Make the walk over to the Washington Monument and then find your home state plaque at the World War II Memorial and take a pic. You’ll then walk down the side of the reflecting pool to the Lincoln Memorial. Head to the top steps of the Lincoln for one of the best views of the city. The Korean War Memorial is next followed by the Jefferson Memorial and lunch.
Closeout the second day of your Washington DC vacation in Georgetown. Walk down M Street to see all of the shops. When you’ve had your fix, head to the Georgetown waterfront to grab a drink overlooking the Potomac River. You’ll then take the water taxi to The Wharf to snag dinner at any number of restaurants in that area.
Day 3 of Washington DC Travel (Bonus)
If you have an extra day, check out Arlington. Lyft/Uber or take the Metro to Arlington National Cemetery with coffee in hand. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the changing of the guard are can’t miss things to do in the cemetery. Catch another Lyft/Uber or the Metro to King Street in Old Town Alexandria. King Street is filled with bars, restaurants, and shops. It also has a beautiful view of the Potomac River from the Ferry Terminal. End the day with dinner in Alexandria or head back to Washington DC for dinner.
Where to Eat & Drink in Washington DC
Coffee & Breakfast
Blue Bottle Coffee, Bluestone Lane, Colada Shop, Compass Coffee, Emissary, Grace Street, La Colombe, Ted’s Bulletin, The Coffee Bar, Tryst, and Philz are can’t miss coffee/breakfast spots. Pro tip: Blue Bottle, Compass, La Colombe, Ted’s, and Philz have multiple locations scattered through the city.
Lunch
SUNdeVICH, Dawson’s Garden Market, Sweetgreen, CAVA, and Roti Modern Mediterranean are ideal spots for lunch. Sweetgreen, CAVA, and Roti have multiple locations in the city. All of these places are fast-casual with quality food.
Dinner
There’s a near limitless list of dinner restaurants to try. You can’t go wrong with All-Purpose, Chaplin’s, Compass Rose, Doi Moi, Le Diplomate, Little Serow, Red Hen, Rose’s Luxury, Sushi Taro, Tail Up Goat, The Dabney, and Timber Pizza.
Drinks
ChurchKey, Morris American Bar, and Jack Rose are three cocktails bars to check out. Morris American Bar has the best cocktails of the three. The unique factor goes to Jack Rose and the speakeasy underneath the main bar. The liquor selection at Jack Rose will blow you away.
Washington DC Travel FAQs
Is it safe to travel to Washington DC right now?
Northwest and Southeast DC are generally considered areas to avoid for a Washington DC vacation. Most of the sites are not in these areas so it’s best to avoid these areas. All in all, the city is safe to travel to.
Is DC open for tourists?
This page is a resource to reference for a Washington DC trip. At the time of this writing, DC is open for tourists.
What tourist sites are open in DC?
You can see which tourists sites are open by referencing this page.
Is DC worth visiting?
No question! It’s one of the best cities in the US to visit.
Conclusion on 2 Days in Washington DC
Earning credit card points when checking out these places to visit in Washington DC is the name of the game. When you’ve committed to making a Washington DC trip, late spring and early fall are the best times to visit. All of the major US airlines fly into one of three area airports making it relatively easy to visit Washington DC. The same goes with hotels in that all major points hotels have properties in the city, so it’s no problem finding a place to stay. All in all, Washington DC travel is an experience that won’t disappoint.
What would you see and do during your Washington DC travel? Please let me know in the comments or by sending me an email on my contact page.
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