Metro D.C. Trip Planner

From American history and politics to renowned museums and innovative (yet affordable!) dining experiences, the nation's capital offers something for everyone. While the best seasons to visit are arguably spring and fall—when temperatures tend to be moderate—you can enjoy D.C. at any time of year.

Getting Around D.C.

Leave your car at your Washington, D.C. hotel and hop on public transportation. Almost all of D.C.’s attractions are a short walk from a bus stop or Metro subway station. Buy a rechargeable SmarTrip card online or at a Metro station for each member of your family—you’ll get a discount on each trip you take, versus the standard one-trip fare. If you plan to visit multiple attractions, consider one of the hop-on, hop-off tour operators like Old Town Trolley. Or, get your workout in by renting a bicycle from one of the numerous Capital Bikeshare stands. Check out the economical circulator buses that operate between Union Station and Georgetown, and between Woodley Park and downtown.

Don't Break the Bank

Since so many of the museums, memorials and other attractions in the nation’s capital are free, you don’t have to fuss over a budget for entrance fees. But if you don’t want to take your chances with popular attractions such as the Washington Monument or the U.S. Capitol Building, you can get advance tickets online for a small service charge, or for free by asking your member of Congress.

Things to Do in D.C.

Take a walk through Washington, D.C.'s Capitol Hill neighborhood to admire historic homes and stop at unique shops and restaurants.

Your Washington, D.C., bucket list probably contains the famous memorials and museums on the National Mall, as it should. But once you’ve snapped family photos at the White House, the Capitol and the Washington Monument, take a break from the crowds to explore the city’s bustling neighborhoods and verdant parks. See what life’s like for the locals as you peruse shops, restaurants and the Federal-style homes that line the tree-lined shady streets of Capitol Hill, the neighborhood east of the Capitol. Rock Creek Park has miles of hiking and biking trails, and is home to the National Zoo and Peirce Mill, a working grist mill. Stroll the U Street Corridor, a trendy northwest neighborhood, or download walking tour maps of Georgetown, a historic district where the movie The Exorcist was filmed.

Nearby Must-Sees

Bask in the eternal flame at President John F. Kennedy’s gravesite and tour the home of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at Arlington National Cemetery, just across the Potomac River from the Lincoln Memorial. Hop in the car and drive just an hour to U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis or explore the nautical workings of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Take off with the National Air and Space Museum’s larger exhibits at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport. It houses a space shuttle and an authentic and now out-of-commission Concorde airplane.

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