Things to do in Washington DC

Itineraries for Your Trip to Washington DC

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1 Day in Washington DC for First Timers

Curated by Claire BullenClaire Bullen is an award-winning food, drinks, and travel writer and editor who has lived and worked in Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Paris, and London. She is the author of The Beer Lover's Table: Seasonal Recipes and Modern Beer Pairings, and the editor at GoodBeerHunting.com. Her writing has also appeared in Time Out New York, The Daily Meal, Pellicle Magazine, and beyond.

Home to iconic monuments, famous government buildings, and the world’s largest museum complex, Washington DC offers a surfeit of must-see attractions. Even if you’re only visiting the nation’s capital for one day, introductory tours provide an efficient way to see the sights. Here’s how to plan your 1-day adventure.


Morning

From the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, the White House to the US Capitol, DC is home to dozens of world-famous landmarks and monuments. Enjoy a speedy and stress-free way of sightseeing with a hop-on hop-off bus tour. Over the course of several hours, cruise past the city’s top attractions, and learn more about the District’s history from the audio narration. Multiple tour itineraries are available, depending on your interests, and some even include a stop at the Arlington National Cemetery, located across the border in Virginia.

Afternoon

If Washington DC offers an abundance of open-air highlights, then its many museums are also essential sightseeing stops. After all, the city is host to the Smithsonian: The world’s largest museum complex, it comprises more than a dozen institutions across the city. Book guided tours of the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, and more. Beyond the Smithsonian, you can also drop by other banner institutions, from the Newseum to the International Spy Museum.

Night

Make the most of your limited amount of time in DC—and enjoy a relaxed dinner simultaneously—by booking tickets for a nighttime sightseeing cruise. Float along the Potomac River, see DC’s skyline and sights lit up at night, and dine as you go. Alternatively, evening Segway tours, bike tours, and photography tours all provide additional ways to get acquainted with the city’s after-dark charms.

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