Whether you’re a first time visitor, or can’t wait to revisit the iconic DC landmarks again, there are strategic ways to get the most out of your trip to the Nation’s Capital. Save your legs from walking the expansive National Mall with the open-air Old Town Trolley Tour or free DC Circulator Bus. Both allow you to hop on and off at landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial and Smithsonian museums.

Depending on your interests, there’s a museum in Washington just for you. From seeing the James Bond car at the International Spy Museum; a magnificent DaVinci at the National Gallery of Art; Harriet Tubman’s shawl at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, or fossils from a Tyrannosaurus rex at the National Museum of Natural History, Washington’s museums are world-class, and most of them are free.

While you can’t tour inside the U.S. Capitol or the White House at the moment, these beautiful buildings are a must-see. Stroll through President’s Park outside the White House or around the Capitol, then slip into the conservatory at US Botanic Garden.

History buffs should explore the Federal-style homes in Georgetown and then take the Potomac Riverboat Company Taxi to peruse the modern restaurants and shops at the DC Wharf. Across the Potomac River is Arlington National Cemetery, where can pay your respects to America’s fallen service members and see President John F. Kennedy’s Eternal Flame.

How to see the best views of the Nation’s Capital? Book a ticket to ride the ear-popping elevator at the Washington Monument for 360-degree views from the city’s tallest building. Or for entertainment with your views, visit the Kennedy Center’s REACH, a modern performing arts building and garden where you can listen to music outdoors and hang out in the wine and beer garden.

Depending on the season, catch a DC sports team in action – Washington is home of NHL’s Washington Capitals, NBA’s Wizards, WNBA’s Mystics, Washington Nationals Baseball, NFL Commanders, and soccer’s DC United.

Come hungry! Washington’s restaurants serve cuisine from every corner of the globe, so try something new, but don’t miss the seafood tower at Old Ebbitt Grill, where presidents and celebrities have dined since 1856. 

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