The Perfect 7 Day Washington DC Itinerary

Welcome to the heart of American history and culture! Washington DC, the vibrant capital of the United States, is a city steeped in political significance, rich heritage, and endless exploration opportunities. Whether you’re a history buff, an art enthusiast, a foodie, or simply a traveler seeking unique experiences, this meticulously planned 5-day itinerary will cover the best of our Nation’s Capital. From iconic monuments and world-class museums to eclectic neighborhoods and culinary delights, this 5 day Washington DC itinerary has it all!

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How to Get to Washington DC

There are 3 airports that service the Washington DC area.

Reagan National Airport (DCA)

The closest airport is Reagan National Airport (DCA), which is located only 5 miles from downtown Washington DC. Besides the convenience of being so close to the city, flying in and out of Reagan National Airport gives you spectacular views of the monuments in DC, like the Washington Monument and the Capitol. Reagan National Airport has a Metro Station located inside the airport. The airport Metro Station has access to both the Blue Lines and Yellow Lines. Click here for more information about Reagan National Aiport’s metro station.

Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD) is another good option for flying in and out of Washington DC. Dulles Airport is located about 25 miles west of Washington DC, and by car it takes about 30-45 minutes to get into the city. Rush hour traffic is tough in the DC area. Driving from Dulles airport to Washington DC the traffic is worse on weekdays during the morning commute. Driving from DC to Dulles the traffic will be worse in the afternoon/evening during the weekdays. To avoid sitting in traffic, you can utilize the Metro station located inside Washington Dulles International Airport. The Metro’s Silver Line will take you directly from Washington Dulles airport to Washington DC. Click here for more information about Washington Dulles’ Metro Station.

Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)

Baltimore-Washington International Airport is located just outside of Baltimore, 32 miles outside of Washington DC. It will take between 45 minutes to 1 hour to drive from BWI to Washington DC, depending on traffic. There is no Metro from BWI to DC, so you will have to take an Uber/Lyft, taxi or rent a car.

Getting Around Washington DC

Washington DC is a very walkable city. If you are staying in the city (or even right outside of the city), you do not need to rent a car. You should be able to walk or take the Metro wherever you need to go. If there is somewhere that you want to go that does not have convenient Metro access, you can always use a ride share like Uber or Lyft. If you haven’t seen all of the viral videos of these Dr. Scholl’s Time Off Sneakers, check them out! They are absolutely worth the hype and the perfect sneakers for doing a lot of walking around a city! The best part is they look cute with any outfit–even dresses!

Utilizing the Metro

The easiest and quickest way to get around Washington DC is by using the Metro. The Metro is a series of trains that run either above or below ground throughout the greater Washington DC area. The Metro is comprised of 6 different lines: Red Line, Orange Line, Blue Line, Green Line, Yellow Line & Silver Line.

As you can see on the map below, the lines that run parallel to each other share the same track. Each of the smaller circles indicates a Metro Station. The bigger circles are stations that you can access different colored lines. For example, if I was on the orange line, but wanted to take the Metro to Dupont Circle, I would get off the orange line at Metro Center and change trains to get on the Red Line towards Shady Grove to access Dupont Circle. Cell service is spotty underground, so save this PDF map of the Metro to your phone for easy access.

You can purchase Metro cards at any of the stations, but the most convenient way to purchase tickets is through your phone. This will add your Metro Card to your wallet, so you don’t have to worry about losing your card. If you have an iPhone:

Open your Wallet on your phone
Click the + button
Select Transit Card
Under United States, select SmarTrip
Here you can either transfer money from an existing card or purchase a new card.

You can add fare to your Metro Card on your phone at any time.

Parking in Washington DC

None of the hotels in Washington DC offer free parking and finding a parking spot around the city can be challenging. If you are driving to Washington DC or renting a car, I recommend reserving your parking ahead of time using the Spot Hero app. This will save you a lot of time by not driving around looking for parking spots. If you do rent a car, check out rentalcars.com or discovercars.com. Both of these sights compare prices for all available rental companies in Washington DC.

Where to Stay in Washington DC

These neighborhoods are both the most convenient and safest places to stay in Washington DC. They all have sights within walking distance, and also have convenient Metro Stations.

Foggy Bottom
Dupont Circle

Downtown/National Mall
Logan Circle

Top-Rated Hotels in Washington DC

All of these hotels are within walking distance to monuments and/or Metro stations:

Hotel Hive (Check out my post on the Hotel Hive)

State Plaza Hotel

Ritz Carlton Washington DC

Fairmont Washington DC

The Hay-Adams Hotel
Riggs Washington DC
Hotel Madera

Courtyard by Marriott Washington DC

Monuments By Moonlight

Before we get into the 7 day itinerary, I wanted to stress the importance of touring Washington DC at night. The monuments and memorials are absolutely stunning when they are illuminated. A trip to DC without seeing the monuments by moonlight would be incomplete. There are several different types of monuments by moonlight tours, but I highly recommend doing at least one during your stay. Click here to view the different options for monuments by moonlight.

Day 1: National Mall

Your first full day in Washington DC will be spent visiting the iconic monuments and memorials on the National Mall. This can be done independently by walking from monument to monument. If you are short on time, don’t want to do a lot of walking or just want to level up your Washington DC trip with an incredible experience, check out these highly popular tours:

Monument & Memorial Tours

Washington DC in One Day: Guided Sightseeing Tour

Washington DC in One Day is a 6 hour guided group bus tour to all of the must-see memorials and monuments, with excellent reviews. The maximum tour capacity is 30 people. This tour ends with a scenic boat ride past the monuments on the Potomac River (April 1-October 15)

Washington DC Electric Cart Guided Tour

The 2 hour Washington DC Electric Cart Guided Tour is a great option for those who don’t want an all day tour. This open aired driving tour can accommodate up to 7 people. The Electric Cart Guided Tour guides are knowledgable and you will have more photo opportunities than with a large group. This tour has almost 2,000 five star reviews!

DC Monuments E-Bike Tour

Ride on hybrid electric bikes throughout the city to visit the top monuments and memorials on this 3 hour guided bike tour. Helmets and bike rentals included.

Small Group Half Day DC Tour

This 4 hour guided tour includes all of the monuments along the National Mall as well as the U.S. Capitol. The tour vehicle is a sprinter van, allowing for a more intimate experience with the guide more accessible for questions and conversation along the way.

Private Half Day Tour of Washington, DC

For those wanting the ultimate private tour of DC, this is the tour for you! Your private guide will pick you up in a luxury SUV and take you on a guided 4 hour tour of the best sights in the city. Since you are the only ones on the tour, you can pick your own departure time, and customize your itinerary to fit your interests. This is the ultimate way to tour Washington, DC. Price is per group, not per person–maximum group size is 5 people.

Day 1 Must-See Monuments & Memorials

These are the must-see monuments and memorials for Day 1. Whether you visit them independently or on a tour, be sure to check all of these off of your list.

The Washington Monument

Start your independent monument tour at the Washington Monument, which is located in the center of the National Mall. The Washington Monument (sometimes referred to as the Pencil) is a 555 foot tall tribute to George Washington. It can be viewed from the outside as well as the inside. Visitors can get an admission ticket to go all the way up inside the Washington Monument. The views from the top are pretty incredible.

Washington Monument Tickets

Tickets to go inside the Washington Monument can be reserved online 30 days in advance at 10:00am EST at recreation.gov. They go quickly so be sure to log on a few minutes before 10:00 am and start refreshing your screen until they appear. There is a $1 non-refundable service fee for online tickets, and you can reserve up to 6 tickets.

If you didn’t get tickets 30 days advance, a limited number of tickets will be released online 24 hours in advance at 10:00 am EST on recreation.gov.

In the event you were not able to secure online tickets, you can get same day tickets in person at the Washington Monument Lodge starting at 8:45 am. The Lodge is located along 15th Street between Madison and Jefferson Drives. A long line forms early before 8:45 for tickets so get there early. The tickets are first come first serve until they run out, and they will run out quickly in peak season.

This National Mall tour includes tickets to enter the Washington Monument.

Lincoln Memorial

A trip to DC wouldn’t be complete without visiting the iconic Lincoln Memorial. From the Washington Monument, walk west along the reflecting pool to the Lincoln Memorial. See the statue of Abraham Lincoln in the middle of the Memorial. Don’t leave without taking a picture on the famous steps of the Lincoln Memorial where Martin Luther King Jr gave his I Have A Dream speech. There is a marker on the exact step he gave the speech from. The steps overlook the Reflecting Pool, which allows for some pretty fabulous photo ops!

Vietnam Memorial and Korean War Memorial

After the Vietnam Memorial, continue walking west to the Vietnam Memorial and Korean War Memorial.

World War II Memorial

From the Vietnam Memorial, head east to the World War II Memorial.

Jefferson Memorial & Tidal Basin

Continue to head east along the Tidal Basin to the Jefferson Memorial. The tidal basin is beautiful any time of year, but spring and fall are definitely the prettiest. The Tidal Basin is home to the famous Cherry Blossom Festival. Each year, in early spring, the Tidal Basin is framed in the backdrop of hundreds of beautiful pink cherry blossom trees! Click here to see when peak bloom is predicted.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

After the Jefferson Memorial, continue walking along the Tidal Basin until you reach the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.

Martin Luther King Jr Memorial

Head back to the National Mall to the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial.

SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL AIR & SPACE MUSEUM

The Smithsonian Air & Space Museum is all about aviation and space exploration. It has been split up into 2 separate Smithsonian museums. The primary Smithsonian Air & Space Museum is located on the National Mall. The Smithsonian Udvar-Hazy Center is located near Dulles Airport, about 30 minutes from Washington DC with no traffic. The Udvar-Hazy Center is much larger, housing many large aircraft exhibits like the Space Shuttle Discovery and the Enola Gay. It is definitely worth visiting if you have time, but not part of this itinerary. Note that although the Udvar-Hazy Center has free admission, there is a $15 charge for parking.

National Air & Space Museum Tickets

Free timed-entry tickets are required for the National Air & Space Museum on the National Mall. They are not required for the Hazy-Udvar Center. Tickets can be reserved up to two months in advance. Click here to see the timed entry release schedule for the Air & Space Museum. In 2024, the National Air & Space Museum is undergoing construction and is not full open. Click here for details on the status of the Air & Space Museum.

DAY 2: SMITHSONIAN MUSEUMS

Day 2 will have you heading back to the National Mall to explore the Smithsonian museums. All Smithsonian museums are free of charge. Two Smithsonian museums is the ideal amount for one day, so choose 2 from this list to visit on Day 2.

Smithsonian’s American History Museum

The Smithsonian’s American History Museum is located on the National Mall and is home to iconic artifacts of our country’s history, like the original Star Spangled Banner flag, the First Ladies inauguration dresses, and pop-culture artifacts like Dorothy’s ruby slippers. Admission is free and no ticket reservations are required.

Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum

The Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum is located on the National Mall, right next door to the American History Museum and is home to animal exhibits, including the popular dinosaur exhibit. It is also home to the largest collection of jewels, including the Hope Diamond. There is also a mummy exhibit!

Check out this private behind the scenes guided tour of the Natural History Museum.

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History

Take this popular African American History Tour which includes admission to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History.

Ford’s Theater

Next up is Ford’s Theater, where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. This is still a working theater, but tours are offered during certain times on half hour timed entries. Timed entry tickets are required and should be purchased in advance here.

This tour includes both Ford’s Theater and the Peterson House where President Lincoln was taken after he was shot.

Day 3: White House, National Archives & Holocaust Museum

White House Tour

If you plan far enough in advance, you a secure a tour of the White House. White House tour tickets have to be requested through your state Senator or House of Representative delegate at least 21 days in advance. When you fill out the tour application, you have to select the dates you are available and if there are any openings during your stay, you will be assigned a tour date and time. This will require some flexibility as you don’t get to choose your date and time. You may have to switch around your itinerary and plan around the White House tour. It is important to not that no purses or bags are allowed in the White House. Click here to request White House tour tickets.

National Archives

Next up, visit the National Archives, the agency in charge of preserving our nation’s historical documents, including the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and more. Admission is free and there are no entry tickets required.

Consider doing this guided tour of the National Archives, which gives you skip-the-line access to the museum.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

The most profound and somber of the memorials is the United States Holocaust Museum. Keep in mind that a lot of the images and artifacts in this museum may not be suitable for young kids. Admission is free, but timed entry tickets are required. You can reserve your free timed entry tickets 2 months in advance online. Click here for the ticket release schedule.

Day 4: Capitol Hill & Library of Congress

United States Capitol

Day 4 will start with a tour of the United States Capitol. Tours of the U.S. Capitol Building are free, but tickets are required. You can reserve your tickets online here or contact your U.S. Senator or House Representative for Capitol Building tours. U.S. Capitol tours take around 1 hour. If you were not able to reserve tickets online, there is limited availability for same-day tickets that can be picked up at the Capitol Visitor Center. Visitors are recommended to arrive as early as possible for same-day tickets. Another option for a U.S. Capitol tour is this 5 star rated Viator small group private tour of the Capitol, with over 700 five star reviews!

Library of Congress

Located near the U.S. Capitol is the Library of Congress, which is the National Library of the United States. It is also the world’s largest library. The facade of the building was the inspiration for the Italian Renaissance and is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Washington DC. It is even prettier on the inside! Admission to the Library of Congress is free, but timed entry tickets are required. You can reserve your free timed entry tickets online 30 days in advance here. If you are not able to secure the free tickets in advance, this five-star rated tour of the Library of Congress also includes the Capitol Building.

U.S. Supreme Court

The United States Supreme Court is located on Capitol Hill. Admission is free and no entry tickets are required. There are no tours of the Court, all exhibits are self-guided. Admission is first come, first serve, you may have to wait in line to get in. Visitors are welcome between 9am-3pm on weekdays only. Click here for more information about visiting the U.S. Supreme Court.

Day 5: Arlington & Alexandria

Arlington National Cemetery

Day 5 will begin by taking the Metro Blue Line to Arlington National Cemetery where you will watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The changing of the guard takes place every hour on the hour from October 1st to March 31st and every half hour from April 1st to September 30th. Out of respect for the fallen soldiers, visitors should be silent during the changing of the guard ceremony. This guided tour of Arlington National Cemetery includes preferred viewing spot for the changing of the guard.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate

After Arlington National Cemetery, head to Alexandria to visit George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate. Take the Metro’s Yellow Line to Huntington Station, exit at the lower level of the station to take the Fairfax Connector Bus #101, the Fort Hunt Line, to Mount Vernon. This 20 minute bus ride will drop you off at the entrance door to Mount Vernon. Parking is available at Mount Vernon if you want to drive. You can also take an Uber or Lyft.

Tickets are required to enter Mt. Vernon and can be purchased in advance online here. Tickets are $28 per adult, $15 per child. Children ages 5 and under are free.

This guided tour of Mt. Vernon includes transportation from DC and admission to the Estate.

Old Town Alexandria

After Mt. Vernon, head to Old Town Alexandria for some shopping and eat at one of the fabulous restaurants in Old Town. If you have time, consider taking a water taxi from Old Town Alexandria directly across the Potomac River to Washington’s National Harbor. National Harbor is home to the 180 foot tall Capital Wheel– a ferris wheel over the Potomac River with breathtaking views of the city. National Harbor also has many fabulous restaurants and shops, as well as the MGM Casino & Bar.

Day 6: Georgetown & DC Waterfront

Georgetown

Begin day 6 exploring historic Georgetown neighborhood of Washington DC, including Georgetown University. Foodies will delight in all of the fabulous restaurants in Georgetown, as well as the local shops. Consider doing a food tour like this one through Georgetown. Walk along the Georgetown Waterfront Park and enjoy the views of the Potomac River.

DC Waterfront

Next head to Washington Harbour to have lunch at one of the many restaurants in the harbor. Take a water taxi from Washington Harbour to the Wharf for some shopping and more amazing restaurants.

Alternatively, book one of these sailing cruises:

Georgetown Guided Walking Tour & River Cruise

Private Guided Yacht Tour of Washington DC

Washington DC Signature Lunch Cruise

Washington DC Sunset Cruise

Day 7: Embassy Row, Dupont Circle & National Zoo

Start the last day by walking around Dupont Circle & Embassy Row, then take the Metro to spend the afternoon at the National Zoo. The National Zoo is part of the Smithsonian, so it is free to get in.

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