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Are you heading to Washington D.C. soon? Here is a 7 day itinerary of things to do and see in Washington D.C.
Day 1:
Spend the morning getting settled into your Airbnb/hotel. Go grocery shopping if needed (there are Trader Joes and CVS/Walgreens on just about any corner). Use some time getting familiar with the area you are staying in. Head over to Georgetown and explore the town and grab some dinner.
Day 2:
Start your morning at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. This museum is free and you can expect to spend 2-3 hours there. After the museum, head over to 2 Sisters Deli and grab a sandwich for lunch. After lunch, explore the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum and sculpture garden. In the evening, head over to Chinatown and walk the streets. Make sure to take a picture at Friendship Arch. When you’re ready for dinner, try out Nando’s. They have the best chicken and sides.
Day 3:
Take a tour of the Capitol Building. You will need to schedule this before your trip. Find information on that here. After your tour, visit the National Botanic Garden. When you’re ready for lunch, walk towards the Washington Monument in the National Mall. About halfway there, you’ll see a street lined with food trucks. Find one that looks yummy and grab a bite to eat. Spend the rest of the afternoon visiting the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.
Day 4:
Start your morning by going shopping at the mall (Gallery Place, CityCenterDC, or others). When you are done shopping, stop by Union Station and take an iconic picture inside the main entrance. In the evening head over to U street and grab dinner at Ben’s Chili Bowl. Afterwards take a walk along U street and see all that it has to offer.
Day 5:
Begin your day by visiting the Holocaust Museum. You’ll need to get advanced tickets for the permanent exhibition. Afterwards, head over to the Washington Monument. If you want to go inside the monument you will need to get advanced tickets. For lunch head over to GCDC, a grilled cheese bar. After lunch, go see some history at the National Archives Museum. Advance tickets are not required, but it is recommended, especially during the busy season (March through Labor Day). For dinner, head back to Chinatown and eat at Taco Bamba. This restaurant has a fun atmosphere and delicious, fresh, street tacos.
Day 6:
Start your morning by becoming a spy at the International Spy Museum. The entry fee for this museum is $25 for adults ($20 for students with a valid ID) and $15 for children. You can expect to spend between 2-3 hours here. After the museum, grab brunch at Ted’s Bulletin and don’t forget to try one of their homemade pop-tarts. When you’re ready, head over to the National Arboretum and walk the beautiful trails in this park, and don’t forget to take a picture with the original columns from the Capitol Building. For dinner, splurge and go somewhere nice. Trattoria Alberto is a great hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant that has outstanding service and delicious food.
Day 7:
On your last day, take a tour of the White House. You will need to get tickets well in advance for this. After your tour, consider renting from Capital Bikeshare and bike to all of the national monuments and memorials (Washington Monument, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial). Be sure to bike around the tidal basin and see the monuments from across the lake. If you want to go when it’s less busy, try going at night. The monuments are all well lit up. If you are not from the East Coast, have dinner at one of the many &Pizza locations.
In the end, you are going to have fun no matter what you end up doing in Washington D.C. My advice is to start your day early to fit in the most activities, and make sure you get advanced tickets for the attractions that offer them.
I hope this post was informational and helpful to you as you plan your trip to Washington D.C. Comment below if you ended up using this itinerary or any tips!
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