Trip highlights
- 1National Mall museums
- 2Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials
- 3Capitol Hill
- 4Georgetown
- 5Smithsonian Institution (free entry)
Daily spend
Where you're going
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In pictures
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Day-by-day plan
Arrival & National Mall Monuments
Monday, April 12
Est. spend
$145
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
The closest airport to downtown, connected directly to the Metro system just minutes from the National Mall.
DCA's Metro station is directly connected to the terminal — by far the easiest airport-to-downtown commute of DC's three airports.
☀️ Afternoon
Lincoln Memorial & Vietnam Veterans Memorial
National Mall, Washington DC
Walk from the Lincoln Memorial's iconic seated statue and reflecting pool to the sobering black granite wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Visit the Lincoln Memorial near sunset for the best light on the marble and a quieter crowd.
🌙 Evening
Dinner near Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill, Washington DC
A relaxed dinner in the Capitol Hill neighborhood's Eastern Market area, known for its mix of casual and upscale restaurants.
🍽️ Meals
Airport or hotel breakfast
American · $12
National Mall food truck lunch
American · $14
Capitol Hill dinner
American · $40
Smithsonian Museums
Tuesday, April 13
Est. spend
$150
per person
🌅 Morning
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
National Air and Space Museum, National Mall
One of the world's great aviation and space museums, free to enter, with the Wright Flyer and Apollo lunar module on display.
All Smithsonian museums are completely free — no tickets needed, just walk in.
☀️ Afternoon
National Museum of American History or Natural History
National Mall, Washington DC
Choose between the Star-Spangled Banner and pop culture artifacts at American History, or the Hope Diamond and dinosaur fossils at Natural History — both free Smithsonian institutions.
Pace yourself — each Smithsonian museum easily fills half a day; don't try to do more than two in one visit.
🌙 Evening
Dinner in Penn Quarter
Penn Quarter, Washington DC
A lively dining and entertainment district near the museums with a wide range of restaurant options.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
American · $12
Museum café lunch
American · $16
Penn Quarter dinner
American · $42
Capitol Hill & Monuments
Wednesday, April 14
Est. spend
$165
per person
🌅 Morning
US Capitol Building tour
US Capitol, Washington DC
A free guided tour through the seat of Congress, including the rotunda and Statuary Hall, requiring advance reservation.
Book the free Capitol tour several weeks ahead through your representative's office or the Capitol Visitor Center website.
☀️ Afternoon
Library of Congress & Jefferson Memorial
Capitol Hill to Tidal Basin, Washington DC
Visit the breathtaking Library of Congress reading room, then walk to the Jefferson Memorial overlooking the Tidal Basin.
Cherry blossom season (late March-early April) draws huge crowds to the Tidal Basin — visit early morning if your dates overlap.
🌙 Evening
Dinner in Georgetown
Georgetown, Washington DC
A scenic evening in DC's oldest neighborhood, with cobblestone streets, the C&O Canal, and a strong restaurant scene.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
American · $12
Capitol Hill café lunch
American · $16
Georgetown dinner
American · $45
Georgetown & Departure
Thursday, April 15
Est. spend
$130
per person
🌅 Morning
Georgetown waterfront and C&O Canal walk
Georgetown Waterfront Park
A relaxed morning stroll along the Potomac waterfront and historic canal towpath in daylight.
☀️ Afternoon
M Street shopping and final souvenirs
M Street, Georgetown
Georgetown's main shopping strip, with boutiques and the historic Georgetown University campus nearby.
🌙 Evening
Transfer to Reagan National Airport
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
Allow at least 2.5 hours before an international flight given TSA wait times.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
American · $12
Georgetown lunch
American · $18
Airport food
American · $16
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
March-May (cherry blossoms in late March/early April) and September-October offer mild, comfortable temperatures for walking the Mall.
🛂 Visas
International visitors from visa-waiver countries (most of Europe, UK, Australia, and others) need ESTA pre-authorization before flying to the US; other nationalities require a B1/B2 tourist visa arranged in advance.
💱 Currency
US Dollar (USD). Cards are accepted almost everywhere; tipping 18-20% at restaurants is standard and expected.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 911
ambulance: 911
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- All Smithsonian museums are completely free — no tickets or reservations needed for most, though a few special exhibits require timed entry.
- Book the US Capitol tour several weeks in advance — it fills up quickly, especially in spring and summer.
- The National Mall is much larger than it looks on a map — wear comfortable shoes and plan for significant walking between sites.
- Cherry blossom season is beautiful but extremely crowded — visit the Tidal Basin at sunrise to beat the crowds.
- DCA airport's direct Metro connection makes it far more convenient than Dulles (IAD) for domestic and many international routes.
One thing worth not skipping
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