No. 01 · Landmark
The National Mall
Two miles of monuments from the Capitol to Lincoln
America's front lawn — a 1.9-mile lawn flanked by Smithsonian museums, ending at the Lincoln Memorial with the Washington Monument at the center.
Read more →United States
Washington, D.C.
Monuments, free museums, and cherry blossoms
The capital is one of the world's most generous tourist cities — nearly every museum is free, and the monuments are open 24 hours.
When to go
Late March–April for cherry blossoms; September–October for clear, cool days.
Getting around
The Metro is clean, fast, and reaches every major sight. Walk the National Mall.
Washington, D.C. highlights
Don't miss
The top places to start with if you only have a day or two — the essentials before you go deeper.
No. 02 · Museum
National Air and Space Museum
The Wright Flyer, Apollo 11, and SpaceShipOne under one roof
The Smithsonian's flagship aviation museum on the National Mall, with the original 1903 Wright Flyer, Apollo 11 command module, and Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis.
Read more →No. 03 · Landmark
U.S. Capitol
Free tours through the Rotunda and Statuary Hall
Congress's home since 1800, with a free guided tour through the Crypt, Rotunda, and National Statuary Hall under the cast-iron dome.
Read more →Things to do in Washington, D.C.
4 hand-picked
A curated mix of landmarks, neighborhoods, and museums worth your time in Washington, D.C., United States — grouped by type below.
Landmarks
2 places
Museum
1 place
Where to stay
1 place
Where to stay in Washington, D.C.
4 neighborhoods
DC is laid out like a textbook and runs on Metro — anywhere along the Red, Blue, or Orange lines puts the Mall ten minutes away.
Penn Quarter
Museums, theatres, walkable to the Mall
Best for: Walking distance to the Smithsonian and the Mall
Dupont Circle
Bookstores, embassies, brunch spots
Best for: Walkers who want neighborhood feel
Capitol Hill
Row houses, Eastern Market, the Capitol
Best for: History buffs and quieter stays
Georgetown
Cobblestones, canal, riverside shopping
Best for: Romantic stays after the museums
A 3-day itinerary, your way
If you only have a long weekend in Washington, D.C..
Day 1
The Mall
Lincoln Memorial at sunrise, walk the reflecting pool to the Washington Monument, Smithsonian afternoon, dinner in Penn Quarter.
Day 2
Capitol & Hill
Capitol tour (book ahead), Library of Congress, lunch at Eastern Market, Supreme Court, drinks on Barracks Row.
Day 3
Georgetown & Memorials
Brunch in Georgetown, canal walk, afternoon at the Kennedy Center, Jefferson and MLK Memorials at sunset.