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Washington D.C.
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5 Days · in Washington D.C.

Five Days in Washington D.C.: Monuments, Museums & Neighborhoods

Five days is enough to see Washington's icons and still explore the neighborhoods locals love. The first three days cover the essentials: the National Mall, the Smithsonian museums, and historic Georgetown. Days four and five then push east to Capitol Hill and Frederick Douglass's Anacostia home, and across the river to Arlington, with time for U Street's music and food. Along the way you'll sample the half-smoke, Ethiopian injera, mumbo sauce, and celebrated neighborhood restaurants. Each day stays geographically focused to limit transit time, and the variety, museums, memorials, architecture, history, and food, captures the full breadth of the city.

5 days
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Day 01

The National Mall & Monuments

Iconic memorials, the Tidal Basin, and the view from the Washington Monument.

  1. Morning

    Washington Monument

    Start at the Washington Monument for the day's clearest views, riding to the observation level while the Mall is quiet. Reserve the free timed tickets in advance, as same-day passes go fast.

  2. Late Morning

    Lincoln Memorial

    Walk west along the Reflecting Pool to the Lincoln Memorial, pausing at the World War II Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall on the way.

  3. Lunch

    Constitution Gardens

    Grab a casual lunch from the food trucks lining the Mall and eat beside Constitution Gardens pond, a shaded pause before circling the Tidal Basin.

  4. Afternoon

    Tidal Basin Memorials

    Follow the Tidal Basin path to the Martin Luther King Jr. and Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorials, especially striking under the cherry trees in spring.

  5. Late Afternoon

    Jefferson Memorial

    Continue to the Jefferson Memorial across the water, whose domed rotunda catches late-day light and frames the finest Tidal Basin view in the city.

  6. Evening

    Half-smoke dinner

    Close the day with a half-smoke at Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street, the District's most famous institution, then linger over the neighborhood's live music.

Day 02

Smithsonian Museums & the Capitol

Air and Space, Natural History, and the National Gallery along the Mall.

  1. Morning

    National Air and Space Museum

    Begin at the recently renovated Air and Space Museum for the Wright Flyer and the Apollo galleries. Arriving at opening helps you beat the school groups.

  2. Late Morning

    National Museum of Natural History

    Cross the Mall to Natural History for the Hope Diamond, the fossil hall, and the Ocean Hall. Free timed passes keep the entry line short on busy days.

  3. Lunch

    National Mall lawns

    Enjoy a casual or picnic lunch on the Mall's greens, framed by the Capitol dome on one end and the Washington Monument on the other.

  4. Afternoon

    National Gallery of Art

    Spend the afternoon among the National Gallery's masters, from Vermeer to the only Leonardo in the Americas, then the sculpture-filled East Building.

  5. Late Afternoon

    National Museum of American History

    Finish with American History's Star-Spangled Banner and First Ladies galleries, a fitting cap to a Smithsonian-packed day, all of it free to enter.

  6. Evening

    Penn Quarter dinner

    Dine in Penn Quarter, whose restaurants around 7th and F cover everything from dim sum in Chinatown to modern American tasting menus.

Day 03

Georgetown & the Potomac Waterfront

The C&O Canal, boutiques, historic gardens, and dining above the river.

  1. Morning

    C&O Canal Towpath

    Walk the leafy C&O Canal towpath through Georgetown, a quiet green corridor of locks and old warehouses just above the Potomac shoreline.

  2. Late Morning

    M Street boutiques

    Explore the independent shops, galleries, and bookstores along M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, plus the cobbled side streets of Federal-era rowhouses.

  3. Lunch

    Georgetown Waterfront

    Settle in for lunch at Georgetown Waterfront Park, watching the crew shells and river traffic from one of the terraces above the Potomac.

  4. Afternoon

    Dumbarton Oaks

    Head uphill to Dumbarton Oaks for its formal gardens and Byzantine collection, a serene, unhurried afternoon away from the crowds.

  5. Evening

    Wisconsin Avenue dinner

    Return to the heart of Georgetown for dinner, choosing from long-standing bistros and buzzy newcomers along Wisconsin and Prospect.

  6. Evening

    Cocktail bar nightcap

    Finish with a drink at one of Georgetown's tucked-away cocktail bars, soaking up the neighborhood's easygoing, collegiate evening buzz.

Day 04

Capitol Hill & Anacostia

The Capitol, the Library of Congress, and Frederick Douglass's hilltop home.

  1. Morning

    United States Capitol

    Spend the morning on a guided Capitol tour through the Rotunda and Statuary Hall. Book the free timed pass ahead, entering through the Visitor Center.

  2. Lunch

    Eastern Market

    Grab lunch at Eastern Market and along Barracks Row on 8th Street, where a historic public market and neighborhood cafés line the blocks.

  3. Afternoon

    Library of Congress

    Tour the Thomas Jefferson Building, the most ornate interior in the city, then step across to the Supreme Court plaza next door.

  4. Late Afternoon

    Frederick Douglass National Historic Site

    Cross the river to Cedar Hill, Frederick Douglass's hilltop home in Anacostia, to see his study and library preserved, a moving stop worth booking ahead.

  5. Evening

    The Wharf

    Head to The Wharf on the Southwest waterfront for a stroll past the marinas and the historic Municipal Fish Market before dinner.

  6. Evening

    Waterfront dinner

    Have dinner along The Wharf or in Navy Yard, from oyster bars to modern seafood, before heading back for the evening.

Day 05

Arlington, Dupont & U Street

Arlington's memorials, Dupont galleries, and U Street's music and food.

  1. Morning

    Arlington National Cemetery

    Visit Arlington National Cemetery to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Changing of the Guard, then the Kennedy gravesites on the slope above.

  2. Lunch

    Dupont Circle cafes

    Cross back for lunch around Dupont Circle, where sidewalk cafes and international spots cluster along Connecticut Avenue and P Street.

  3. Afternoon

    The Phillips Collection

    Tour the Phillips Collection, America's first museum of modern art, home to Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party in an intimate mansion setting.

  4. Late Afternoon

    Sunday morning after S Street

    Wander the Embassy Row blocks and Kalorama's leafy streets, an easy, budget-friendly stroll past grand consulates and quiet gardens.

  5. Evening

    U Street dinner

    Head to U Street for dinner along its historic corridor, home to some of the city's best Ethiopian kitchens and celebrated independent restaurants.

  6. Evening

    Live music farewell

    End your trip with live jazz or go-go near the Howard Theatre and 9:30 Club, a fitting nod to the neighborhood once called Black Broadway.