Washington DC

[Sunbeam18]

Going for couple of days later this month, staying Dupont Circle area and looking for top tips. Thanks!

As a middle aged woman I would say public toilets are at a premium, make sure you go whenever you have the opportunity 😁

If you want to go to the Smithsonian Air and Space museum, or the African-American History museum, you should definitely book timed passes in advance. Although we managed to go at peak Spring Break so it shouldn't have been a surprise that they were completely booked out.

Silver lining was going to the American History museum instead which was an absolute hoot. I never expected to see the original Star Spangled Banner - blew my mind. Plus the gallery of First Ladies' ballgowns is completely fab. It all has a certain view of US history and that's fine.

We're old and tired so no nightlife recommendations from us. My favourite moment was probably going to the Lincoln Memorial. Loved it myself and also very moved by being surrounded by Americans loving it too.

It was VERY HOT.

Can you still go for a tour of the pentagon? We did that when we went about 10 years ago and it was great.

Ooh yes you can! Not if you haven't booked though, I think it's 2 weeks in advance. I thought the Pentagon 9/11 memorial was very simple, beautiful and moving, perhaps especially in the slightly threatening context of the Pentagon itself.

Air and Space museum is amazing.
The national cemetery at Arlington was v moving, as was the Holocaust museum.
A mooch up the mall from Capitol past the Washington Monument to the Lincoln memorial was quite pleasant (but v cold, we went in February and there was a lot of snow!).
Vaguely remember visiting the US mint as well but that was a different trip (and probably 30 years ago!).

It will probably be in the 80s temp wise

Take shoes you can walk miles in comfortably

Buy water at every opportunity

You can probably get away with not getting US dollars as pretty much everywhere rakes credit cards (so make sure you credit cards work in the US and call them with a travel advisory before you fly out)

I think you still have to have had covid vaccinations, but double check

Public transport is practically non existent, plan on using Uber if you need to go a distance

If you are trying to be polite to someone, call them Maam or Sir

You will have a great time, its a fantastic city

If you want to go to the National Museum of African American History and Culture or the US Holocaust Museum, book online now. Both are very impressive.

Other than that, the Lincoln Memorial is lovely, the Vietnam War Memorial is very moving, and the WW2 Memorial too. Getting to the Jefferson Memorial is a stretch of the legs but worth it. Iirc the FDR memorial is along the way there, or maybe that was just the route I took. Or I could just be confused.

Lafayette Square is right by the White House, a nice place to rest your feet.

www.nga.gov/
The National Gallery of Art is well worth a visit. It's air conditioned and free.

George Town for evenings out

Thanks so much! I managed to book a slot for the African American museum!

That’s false that public transport is practically nonexistent, you can visit many parts of DC with the metro easily. Yes you may have to use Uber sometimes but you can easily navigate DC with public transport.

I live in the DC area! Good suggestions above for museums. Food has improved a lot and there are many good eateries on 14th St NW- le diplomate a favorite place but you have to book. Eastern Market on Capitol Hill is another nice area to browse. If you like biking, rent a bike because the distances between museums etc can be a bit far on foot but perfect on 2 wheels. You can also go up and down the path by the river. We live in Alexandria which is another historic town just outside Dc down the river- fun to visit by boat. Hope you enjoy it here!

Yes to all the previous suggestions.

We loved the Newseum - admittedly the only museum you pay entry for but it was brilliant, everything from papyrus notes to the Berlin Wall and all the Pulitzer prize photographs.

Loved wandering around Lafayette Sq and looking at the secret police guards with 'secret security' written on their stab vests!

Great! It's one of the most, if not the most impressive museum I have been too. It is so incredibly well thought-out. Do take your time though, it's not one to quickly pop into for 30 minutes before moving to the next attraction.

I don't know if it's still possible, but a few years ago I did a guided tour of the Capitol - I really enjoyed that (but I'm a politics nerd).

The zoo is nice if the weather is good. If memory serves me right, it's free, so you can just wander around for an hour or so without feeling like you need to get your money's worth.

Adams Morgan and Georgetown are nice to wander around, lots of cafes, bars, restaurants.

There's a Monuments by Moonlight tour that is extraordinarily wonderful.

Last went in 2012, so admittedly things will have changed a bit, but we found it was great value to get a pass for the tourist bus. We had a lovely open top trip around the city on afternoon, and the next day visited the zoo (I wanted to see the pandas!). The natural history museum was great too.
And we saw Obama being driven past, and Bo the dog being taken for a walk by security!

Go to leopold's on M Street for breakfast or coffee and cake!

Another vote for the zoo if you do get a cool day! But it gets so humid, you'll probably want to duck from one museum to another. Agree with PP that you'll do a lot of walking, but the Metro is great. Or there are hop-on-hop-off tourist buses that circulate around the Mall (and out to Arlington). The Memorials are impressive and moving.

The only thing I can think of to add to the list is the Spy Museum, but if you're only there for a couple of days you have more than enough suggestions.

Thanks so much, fantastic ideas here. Much appreciated

I know someone already mentioned the Lincoln Memorial but it’s also quite beautiful at night and I went back when it was dark to take some pretty pics with the lights beaming up at Lincoln.

Also as already mentioned get some good walking shoes. Some of those attractions are further than the look. I remember walking from the Washington Memorial past the reflecting pool to get to the Lincoln Memeorial and it looks like a quick walk but then I walked and walked and walked lol.

We loved the air and space museum, the zoo (particularly the O line), the spy museum and the mall/Lincoln memorial.

There is also a place called astro donuts which has a special place in my heart as a donut lover 😃

We much preferred it to new york and I'd go back in a heartbeat

The Newseum in DC that DPotter mentioned has sadly closed down (due to debt).

DC Metro service is excellent and easy to use.

NASM is well worth a visit even though its undergoing redevelopment which finishes in 2026. You need a timed pass to enter though

Visit the Museum in DC, Free Timed-Entry Passes Required | National Air and Space Museum

"Public transport is practically non existent"

Have they got rid of the free buses to everywhere and the Metro then? 🤔

I am here in DC now after a four days in New York. It is super hot - 33 degrees today, yesterday it was 30. Yesterday we went to the National Gallery and Air and Space Museum and last night we went on a 3 hour small group tour that took in all the sights - the York theatre where Lincoln was shot, the Capitol, Jefferson memorial, Vietnam and Korea memorials, the Lincoln memorial, Martin Luther King memorial and White House. Starting in daylight and then capturing the rest all lit up. It was great. And helpful as the distance from the Capitol to the Lincoln memorial is much longer than you imagine. Today we are having a relaxing day going to hang out in Georgetown as we fly home tomorrow. The main sights are full of hordes of school trips.

In the past I've been the to Black American museum and Arlington before. The former meant more to me.

Do you have a link to the small
group tour? That sounds pretty cool

We found the Ford's theatre really fascinating - you see where Lincoln was shot. Museum in there too.

The memorials are amazing - we did a lot of walking but took in each and everyone.

Arlington is really worth visiting too.

We went about 8 years ago and my two now in their early twenties, would love to go back.

Small group tour details here. The driver gives a very full history of the key places. And dropped us back at our hotel (though that wasn't included in the deal).

www.viator.com/tours/Washington-DC/Washington-DC-Guided-Night-Tour/d657-6349NIGHT

There is public transport - buses and metro but I must admit we have walked and taxi/ubered.