If you’re visiting the nation’s capital, there is so much to do and see, and prioritizing it all can be really confusing. We just spent a weekend in D.C. and came up with the ultimate Washington D.C. Travel Guide perfect for three days of sight seeing, activities and great food. Read on for our list of must-visits. (Oh, and check out our other travel guide dedicated to D.C.’s best restaurants)
Day 1:
Settle into your hotel. We suggest Kimpton’s Mason & Rook in the Logan Circle part of town. This hip boutique hotel has great design elements and really spacious rooms and amenities. Its bar was always packed and it is in a great part of town for exploring the city.
Head to dinner nearby on the U Street Corridor. We love both Kapnos (Greek) and Bresca (Italian). Stay tuned because we will be writing a separate blog post on the best restaurants in DC!
Drinks: Have a few drinks in the popular U Street area before heading to the Adams Morgan area for cocktails and dancing. Madam’s Organ, a multi-level bar I used to frequent back in college, is a mainstay in the area. We went during our trip for some live music on the first floor and other varieties as you get higher up in the bar. It’s a no frills, fun type of bar.
Day 2:
Navy Yard: Book an early brunch at ANA at District Winery (Full write up of it in our foodie post) which is in a newer part of town on the water. This winery and restaurant has great al fresco dining and views and is the perfect way to start the day.
After brunch, walk down the promenade along the water and take in the scene of people playing pickup games, parents ambling with their strollers and others taking in the scenery. There are a ton of bars along the water worth visiting. We had drinks at The Salt Line in the sun and it was perfect.
The National Mall: From the Navy Yard, rent a bike from one of D.C.’s many bike sharing companies. You can find one on virtually every corner. The one we used all weekend was Capital Bikeshare, but there is also Limebike, OFO, Bird and several others that are reasonably priced and a great way to see the city. Our bike passes cost $8 each for a full 24 hours.
After an approximately 20-minute bike ride, we arrived at the National Mall, which is home to all of DC’s iconic monuments. We rode to the Jefferson Memorial, Capital Building, White House and Washington Monument. Most of the museums on the mall are free, so it’s worth popping into a few to see some of the marquee exhibits. The free museums include: The National Gallery of Art, U.S. Botanic Gardens, National Space & Air Museum, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of American History, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, National Museum of the American Indian, National Museum of African American History and Culture and National Museum of American Art.
Dinner & Drinks: Make a dinner reservation at Succotash for some elevated Southern food. After, head to drinks in Georgetown at the famous Martin’s Tavern. This bar is one of the oldest in D.C. and has been frequents by so many U.S. presidents and other celebrities. Sit in the booth where JFK proposed to Jacquie Kennedy Onassis and order a dirty martini. The bar is super charming and classic.
Day 3:
Bike & Brunch: Using the rest of your 24-hour bike rental, grab a bike and ride back through the capital and winding cobblestone streets to brunch. We suggest Sally’s Middle Name on H Street. The ride is hilly and as an added bonus, will count as a workout!
Georgetown: After brunch hear to the Georgetown neighborhood for some shopping, wandering and scenic drinks. Georgetown is the most charming part of DC from my experience and I just love the cobblestone streets and pastel-colored row houses dating back to the 1800s. If you’re a history or architecture buff, you will fall in love with the area. In addition to the many boutiques on M Street, you can walk around Georgetown University’s campus and have a drink at the legendary Tombs bar, frequented by lots of undergrads. We sat at the bar for two hours sipping Gruner and Aperol Spritzs.
Georgetown Waterfront: After the Tombs, walk to the Georgetown Waterfront, which has a great selection of al fresco bars and restaurants. Grab a drink in the sun at Tony & Joe’s or Nick’s Riverside Grill.
Read More of Our Travel Guides:
Travel Guide: Washington, D.C.’s Best Restaurants
The Definitive Travel Guide to New York City
Travel Guide:The Best Brunches in New York City
Travel Guide: New York City’s Best Boutique Fitness Classes
Travel Guide: San Francisco
Travel Guide: SF Boutique Fitness Classes
Travel Guide: San Francisco’s Onsen
Travel Guide: Napa Valley Vineyards
Travel Guide:Napa Valley Restaurants