This trip was serendipitous. I had won a hotel stay with an expiration date and had plenty of airline miles. I guess we’re going to Washington, DC! This post is a travel guide to help you plan your trip.
Why Visit Washington, DC
If you love history, tourist destinations, and good food, Washington, DC is a great place to visit. We really enjoyed visiting museums and eating delicious food.
Best Time to Visit DC
Ideally, visit in spring (March to May) or fall (September to November). I can confirm summer is not the ideal time. We went July 4th weekend and the high temperatures were in the high 80s/low 90s. But it is a busy time because families are traveling for summer vacation.
How to Get to DC
You’ll fly into Ronald Regan Washington National Airport (DCA) or Dulles International Airport (IAD). DCA is closer to Washington, DC. – about a 10-15 minute drive to downtown – while IAD is about a 40-minute drive. There are metro stops at both airports.
How to Get Around DC
There are multiple ways to get around DC.
If you’re not in a hurry, the Metro is extensive and affordable. It’s about $2 one way, depending on where you’re going.
If you want to explore by bike, Capital Bikeshare offers 24-hr bike rental for $8. You can also rent by ride, which is $1 per unlock and $0.05 a minute for a regular bike or $0.15 for an electric bike.
Rideshare is also available, which we took in the evenings to get to dinner. It’s more costly, about $1 a minute without surge pricing.
Bus tours are an easier option. Big Bus Tours and Old Town Trolley Tours are hop-on, hop-off buses with 15 stops around the National Mall. You can get tickets for 1-3 days.
You could also rent a car. It’s personally my last choice since downtown parking in any city is a big hassle, especially in a tourist-heavy area. It will also be the most expensive.
We spent about $170 on transportation, the majority of that being rideshare for about eight rides. I think if we hadn’t gone in the summer, we would have been more inclined to other transportation!
Where to Stay in DC
We stayed in Dupont Circle on Embassy Row and thought it was a good location. The airport was about 15-20 minutes away and we biked to most sights in 15-20 minutes. Our hotel was The Ven at Embassy Row and it was renovated in 2021. The Metro station is steps away and you’ll be a short walk from the Dupont Farmers Market on Sundays. It’s a little far to walk to the National Mall – about 30 minutes.
Staying Downtown (Logan Circle and Penn Quarter are nearby) is pricier but you’ll be in closer walking distance to the National Mall.
Low-season hotel rates are an average of $150 per night and high-season is about $270 per night.
Best Things to Do
History buffs, museum enthusiasts, tourist friendlies – this city is for you. You could easily fill a week of visiting monuments and museums. At a fast pace, you could walk through the National Mall in about two to four hours. I recommend researching the museums you want to visit and seeing if they require any advance reservations. But also aim to make fewer reservations and allow yourself time to wander and linger. There’s a lot to take in and discover.
See this post for info on what we saw and what else I recommend.
Best Things to Eat in DC
There’s no lack of good food in DC! The city is culturally diverse, so you’ll find a wide variety of options and some of the best. DC is also a city with Michelin designations if you like finer dining.
See this post for where we ate and more recommendations.
I hope you have a great time visiting DC!
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