How to make the most of 1 day in Washington, DC

Washington, D.C., provides guests world-renowned museums and iconic landmarks just like the White Home, the Capitol and the monuments alongside the Nationwide Mall. Nonetheless, town is not solely about historical past. There are additionally booming meals and leisure scenes.

Many Individuals first come to the nation’s capital on a faculty journey. However in the event you’ve by no means been to Washington, it may be arduous to prioritize the highlights or take pleasure in some sights and experiences that veer off from extra well-trod itineraries.

For individuals who won’t be accustomed to town, my colleague, Emily Thompson, and I traveled there collectively in an try and craft the proper one-day discipline journey to Washington. In fact, your excellent day might differ from ours, however listed here are our must-visit locations for anybody seeking to discover town, together with some methods to maximise factors and miles alongside the way in which.

Associated: Peak bloom date announced: Best time to see DC’s cherry blossoms in 2025

• Hours: 8 a.m. to six p.m.
• Value: Free, however entry passes are required for all visitors.
• Getting there: Three blocks from the Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan Metro station or a 15-minute Uber or Lyft trip from downtown. In case you drive your self, the Nationwide Zoo prices $30 for parking, so we advocate making the most of the plentiful avenue parking close by.
• Time required: One hour (8 a.m. to 9 a.m.).

Begin your day brilliant and early so you possibly can arrive at 8 a.m. for the opening of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. You will possible see the two,200-plus animals being extra energetic within the morning than within the afternoon.

Emily and I arrived by way of the Connecticut Avenue entrance and walked down the Asia Path, the place we handed by the clouded leopard, sloth bear and crimson panda reveals.

However the actual spotlight of the zoo was seeing Xiao Qi Ji, the large panda who was born to a 22-year-old mother in 2020, making her the oldest big panda to provide beginning within the U.S. Whereas Xiao Qi Ji and his dad and mom returned to a panda reserve in China in late 2023, a brand new pair named Bao Li and Qing Bao made their public debut on the Nationwide Zoo in January 2025 on the newly refurbished David M. Rubenstein Household Large Panda Habitat.

After an hour or so on the zoo, you will have hopefully labored up an urge for food.

Each day Publication

Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day e-newsletter

Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists

Weekend brunch in Georgetown at Founding Farmers Fishers & Bakers

• Weekend and holiday-weekday brunch buffet hours: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Value: $35.50 per particular person. Youngsters 3 and underneath are free, and youngsters ages 4 to 12 are $15.50.
• Getting there: A 15-minute Uber or Lyft trip, or a 45-minute downhill stroll from the zoo.
• Pay with: Certainly one of the best cards for dining, just like the American Express® Gold Card.
• Time required: 1 hour and quarter-hour for brunch and a stroll alongside the Georgetown Waterfront (9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.).

Weekend brunch is an enormous deal in D.C., and Washingtonians fiercely debate about the perfect brunch spot, however I am an enormous fan of Founding Farmers Fishers & Bakers.

Serving what it calls “a competition of meals,” Founding Farmers Fishers & Bakers provides an elaborate brunch unfold with contemporary, sustainable substances from native farms and producers.

The buffet contains choices just like the well-known bananas Foster French toast, a stay omelet station, molasses-glazed ham, freshly lower roast beef, spicy fried rooster, seafood jambalaya, apricot-glazed salmon, chips and guacamole, and far, rather more.

There are additionally chilly choices like bruleed grapefruit, housemade granola and coconut chia bowls.

The eating room is vigorous and boisterous, and we estimate the restaurant serves round 500 hungry brunchers on peak weekends. Consequently, the buffet line can get a bit lengthy. Ask your server for the Bakers Pizza, Farmhouse Sushi and cinnamon rolls — these dishes are delivered to your desk upon request.

Our tip: Earlier than you permit, seize some Instagram-worthy pics on the Georgetown Waterfront.

Associated: Off the beaten path in DC: From a historic garden to a travel-inspired restaurant

Nationwide Mall (Smithsonian museums)

Stretching from the Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol, the Nationwide Mall was designed within the 18th century by French American city planner Pierre L’Enfant. He envisioned a dramatic grand promenade much like the Tuileries Backyard in Paris.

Along with the beautiful views of the Capitol and Washington Monument, the Nationwide Mall provides ample gardens and is fringed by a number of Smithsonian museums. This is an summary of the museums you possibly can entry from the Nationwide Mall:

• Nationwide Museum of African American Historical past and Tradition
• Nationwide Museum of American Historical past
• Nationwide Museum of Pure Historical past
• Nationwide Gallery of Artwork
• Nationwide Museum of the American Indian
• Nationwide Air and Area Museum (open however presently present process important renovations)
• Hirshhorn Museum (the Hirshhorn’s sculpture garden is closed till 2026 because it undergoes a $68 million revitalization)
• Freer Gallery of Artwork
• Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
• Nationwide Museum of African Artwork

The Holocaust Memorial Museum and Worldwide Spy Museum are a block south of the Nationwide Mall. The Spy Museum has an entry charge of $31.75 to $37.05 per particular person relying on how early you buy tickets.

Plan to make use of the restrooms contained in the museums, and skip the meals vans and underwhelming museum cafeterias since there are many nice eating places to take pleasure in in Washington.

Since time is proscribed (and also you want a few days to see all these museums), we advocate deciding on one or two museums that curiosity you probably the most. As an aviation fanatic, I wanted to maintain my eyes on the time on the Air and Area Museum so I did not miss out on our different stops.

Associated: If you’ve seen the Smithsonian museums, visit these 6 lesser-known DC landmarks next

The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City provides one of the vital decadent afternoon teas within the space. Although costly, it is a surprisingly good worth because it’s troublesome to seek out related experiences for underneath $90 in Washington.

Between March 14 and April 13, a barely enhanced Cherry Blossom Tea can be served Friday via Sunday for $88, together with a glass of glowing wine. When Emily and I went, the tea sandwiches and pastries have been delicious, and the home made scones served with clotted cream and native jam paired excellently with the sakura cherry rose white tea.

Arlington Nationwide Cemetery

• Hours: 8 a.m. to five p.m.
• Value: Free for all, however you need to current an ID.
• Getting there: 10-minute Uber or Lyft trip from Pentagon Metropolis.
• Time required: 1 hour and quarter-hour (3:45 p.m. to five p.m.).

The ultimate resting place of some 400,000 veterans and their dependents, Arlington National Cemetery is a spot to acknowledge the sacrifices made by those that have served our nation.

Cease by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, devoted to unidentified troopers who misplaced their lives in service to the nation. The Altering of the Guard ceremony, which takes place on the tomb, is a solemn and shifting occasion each half-hour from April 1 via Sept. 30 and on the hour from Oct. 1 via March 31.

One other must-see web site at Arlington Nationwide Cemetery is the John F. Kennedy Gravesite. An everlasting flame marks the gravesite of President Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. The flame symbolizes the president’s enduring legacy and is a poignant reminder of his service to the nation.

Guests preferring a narrated hop-on, hop-off bus tour can reserve a ticket, although a ticket is not required to enter the cemetery.

After, take slightly break to clean up at your lodge earlier than the night actions.

Associated: The best hotels in Washington, DC

Evening monument tour

• Touring hours: 7:30 or 8 p.m. till 10-10:30 p.m.
• Value: From $53 per particular person.
• Getting there: Excursions depart from varied landmarks so finances 15-20 minutes to take an Uber or Lyft trip or public transit to the place to begin.
• Time required: Two to a few hours within the night.
• Pay with: E-book utilizing Viator. Provoke your buy utilizing your favourite shopping portal to earn additional factors. Then, pay with a credit card that earns well on general travel purchases.

You probably have slightly time earlier than the tour (as we did), cease by the foyer atrium of the Waldorf Astoria for drinks and tapas at The Bazaar by José Andrés.

Then, it’s going to be time in your monument tour. Each night time, Washington’s monuments come to life with dramatic lighting shows.

Once I had household and buddies go to me once I was a pupil at American College, this was my favourite go-to night tour. You’ll be able to go for an open-air trolly, electric cart or bus, which all supply comparable experiences. The electrical cart is a extra intimate expertise with fewer individuals, however it’s kind of shorter than the others.

Whichever tour you choose, it’s going to hit the highlights, just like the Capitol, White Home, World Conflict II Memorial, Korean Conflict Veterans Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. Ensure to guide a tour that allows you to get out and take photographs as an alternative of 1 that simply shortly drives by.

Since our go to fell throughout peak cherry blossom season, petals rained down on us as we handed by MLK’s quotes — really a unprecedented reminiscence of our epic day.

Few issues are extra D.C. than Ben’s Chili Bowl.

Based in 1958 by Ben Ali and his spouse Virginia, Ben’s Chili Bowl grew to become a well-liked gathering place for civil rights activists in the course of the Nineteen Sixties. The U Road Hall, often called Black Broadway, is rooted within the thriving African American arts and leisure scene exterior Ben’s doorways.

Ben’s has gone hand-in-hand with civil rights in D.C. by donating meals and offering shelter to these in want in the course of the 1963 March on Washington and 1968 riots.

The restaurant remains to be well-known for its Half Smoke chili canines, fries and milkshakes. However greater than the meals, it is concerning the institution’s legacy as a gathering place for civil rights activists in the course of the Nineteen Sixties.

Associated: Racing to the capital: What’s the fastest way to get from New York to Washington, DC?

Associated: 8 best things to do in DC for families with kids of different ages