So you have a week to spend in our nation’s capitol and aren’t sure what all to do? Read on for our suggested 5-day itinerary for Washington, DC.
One of the main activities to partake in while in DC is visiting the many museums. And the good thing about the Smithsonian museums is they are free to visit. Do keep in mind that they can be quite crowded during the summer months and even during the school year as many schools from all around the country tend to take field trips here. Despite this, we didn’t have problems with any museums we visited, though we didn’t visit what is possibly the most popular Smithsonian, the Air and Space Museum.
The below itinerary worked well for us as we like to have plenty of time exploring museums. (We also included museums we didn’t have a chance to visit just to give you more options. You will find an asterisk next to the places we visited.)
***Note that we visited in 2019, pre-COVID, so hours of operation may be different and some attractions may not be available in 2020.***
Day 1
Hit up 2-3 museums.
American History Museum*
Hours of Operation: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
What to See and Do: See Dorothy’s red slippers from the Wizard of Oz, Abraham Lincoln’s hat, and Julia Child’s kitchen. Learn the history of the Star Spangled Banner and see an evolution of toasters.
Notes: We recommend taking a guided tour. They are free and we really enjoyed ours. (Thanks Jack!)
African American History Museum
Hours of Operation: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
What to See and Do: Get more insight into African American culture and view the history of hardships they have faced through stories, photographs and more. See exhibits such as A Changing America, Cultural Expressions, Musical Crossroads and Slavery and Freedom.
National Museum of African Art
Hours of Operation: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
What to See and Do: For art fans out there, be prepared to view authentic African works from paintings to mosaics to sculptures. View Exhibits such as the Walt Disney- Tishman African Art Collection and Currents: Water in African Art.
National Museum of the American Indian
Hours of Operation: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
What to See and Do: Learn about the history of the American Indians and their lives before and after settlers came to America. View exhibits such as The Great Inka Road: Engineering an Empire, Return to a Native Place: Algonquian Peoples of the Chesapeake and Our Universes: Traditional Knowledge Shapes Our World.
Day 2
See the Holocaust Museum, Declaration of Independence and, if you have time, stop into another Smithsonian.
Holocaust Memorial Museum*
Cost: Free at the museum, $1 to reserve online
Hours of Operation: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
What to See and Do: Here you will see a moving timeline of the events of the Holocaust. Notes: Just a warning, some photos and displays are graphic and disturbing. We would definitely recommend a visit here, if you only visit one museum in DC. You’ll walk out a different person than you walked in.
National Archives*
Hours of Operation: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
What to See and Do: See the original Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Articles of Confederation and Bill of Rights.
Notes: There is no line system in the room where the documents are. Though people do try to form them, they are not enforced (much to our dismay) and the guards will constantly tell people there is no line. Consequently, it can take a while to see everything.
National Air and Space Museum
Hours of Operation: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
What to See and Do: Learn about everything from the invention of the aircraft to space travel. You can also see Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 Spacesuit. View exhibits such as Explore the Universe, The Wright Brothers and The Invention of the Aerial Age and Time and Navigation.
Notes: This museum, as far as we could tell by the lines (we didn’t actually visit) is one of, if not the, most popular. Though it may seem like a good idea to get here when they open, this is usually when most school groups arrive. You may be better off hitting it up after lunch. Although, honestly, it will probably be crowded all day.
Day 3
Break up the museum hopping by visiting Ford’s Theater, taking a walk (or Uber/Lyft) to the White House and U.S. Capitol Building and stopping off at Union Station.
White House *
What to See and Do: The outside of the country’s most famous residence.
Notes: You’ll only be allowed so close to the White House and cannot go inside the fence (unless you’re willing to risk arrest by the Secret Service). They do offer tours of the inside, but you have to get approval at least 21 days ahead of time.
Ford’s Theater and Museum *
Cost: $3
Hours of Operation: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Entry is every half hour and the tour is approximately two hours. What to See and Do: The inside of the theater, including the balcony where Lincoln was sitting the night he was shot, and the museum detailing Lincoln’s life and the aftermath of his death. You’ll also visit the home in which Lincoln passed away. Notes: It may be a bit morbid, but this is a very popular attraction. We recommend getting your tickets online in advance.
United States Capitol Building
Hours of Operation: Monday – Saturday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
What to See and Do: Take a tour to see the Crypt, Rotunda and National Statuary Hall. You can also see the Senate and House Galleries, but you will need a separate pass for those.
Notes: If you want to view the inside of the Capitol, make sure to get there as early as you can. We didn’t have a chance to tour the inside because we didn’t make it in time. It is recommended you make reservations in advance.
Union Station*
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sat 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM, Sun 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM for shopping and dining What to See and Do: Union Station has various shops and restaurants (it’s like a mini mall) that you can enjoy. Also, it’s just fun to see the architecture and design on the inside.
Notes: We actually road the train into Union Station on our first day, but if you’re not taking the train in or out, this is probably the best day to stop in. It is semi close to the Capitol (only about 1 mile away).
Day 4
Visit 2 museums and take a nighttime monument tour.
Natural History Museum *
Hours of Operation: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
What to See and Do: See the Hope Diamond, and exhibits such as Eternal Life in Ancient Egypt, Hall of Mammals, Bone Hall, Butterfly Pavilion and (now more relevant than ever) Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World. Also make sure to grab some banana caramel gelato in the Ocean Hall cafe. It is delicious.
Notes: This is one of the largest museums so we’d suggest starting your day here as there is a lot to see. It is also one of the more popular museums for school groups.
American Art Museum & Portrait Gallery*
Hours of Operation: 11:30 AM – 7:00 PM
What to See and Do: This museum (and gallery) is definitely for those who enjoy various types of art. They had everything from Barbie doll portraits to sculptures made from tinfoil. In the Portrait Gallery, you’ll find portraits (no way!) of many famous figures including every US president.
Notes: We would recommend visiting this museum last as it is open later than all of the other Smithsonians.
Monument Tour*
We took the Washington DC Monuments by Moonlight Tour.
Cost: $45 per person
Hours of Operation: Most tours begin around 7:30 PM during summer months and last approximately 2 hours. What to See and Do: The Washington Monument and Lincoln, FDR, MLK, Vietnam, Korean, and Marines Memorials. Notes: One note about this tour is that it does feel a bit rushed at certain locations (FDR especially as it is so large). But overall it is a very fun tour and the monuments/memorials are much less crowded than they are during the day.
Day 5
Visit Arlington and take a food tour in Georgetown.
Arlington National Cemetery Tour*
Cost: $15 (for adults)
Hours of Operation: 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM (Apr-Sept), 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM (Oct-Mar)
What to See and Do: Tours take you to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where you will see the changing of the guard every hour, and JFK’s grave among other sites.
You will truly gain more of an appreciation for just how many people have paid the ultimate price for our freedoms. Notes: We took a Lyft from our hotel in the Navy Yard to Arlington. It cost us around $11.
DC Metro Food Tour (Gastronomic Georgetown)*
Cost: $70 per person
What to See and Do: You’ll walk around Georgetown, learning about the history of the town along with seeing a few places JFK lived and where they filmed part of the Exorcist. Along the way, you stop off at 4 restaurants where you’ll have various types of delicious food including (ours did) Italian, Korean, and French.
Notes: We also visited Georgetown Cupcakes (from TLC) and Sprinkles Cupcakes (the first Cupcakery opened by Candice from Cupcake Wars) while in Georgetown, though they were not part of the food tour. We took a Lyft to Georgetown and it worked out well. The Lyft cost us around $11 from Arlington and about the same back to Navy Yard.
Any Day
Go see a Nationals Game.
National’s Park*
Cost: $18 – $390 per person
Hours of Operation: The day of the week you go will determine game time. Most weekday games are in the evenings around 7:00 PM, while weekend games can be as early as 1:00 PM.
What to See and Do: Watch some baseball! You can also take a walk around the stadium where you’ll find food, merchandise and a few fun activities (though most are for kids).
Hopefully, our itinerary was helpful for you when planning your trip to Washington, DC.
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