The Perfect 3-Day Itinerary for Washington, D.C.

Washington D.C. has something for everyone, from history buffs to foodies and everyone in between. It is a great place for a couples trip, a girls trip, or a family vacation. Although there is so much to do and see, many of the most popular attractions and restaurants are fortunately within walking distance of each other. This itinerary is designed to help you make the most of a long weekend or three days in D.C.

A few things to keep in mind for planning purposes:

• The itinerary is packed with activities. If you’re looking for a slower paced trip, just pick your favorites! 
• The itinerary involves lots of walking, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended. You can also opt for renting motor scooters or bikes to lighten the load on your feet. 
• Suggested times are loose estimates. They will depend on how much time you want to spend in each place. 
• Pay attention to when the indoor destinations open. For example, some places may be closed on Mondays, and some museums may not open until 11:30 am. 
• Make the itinerary yours. You can mix and match mornings and afternoon suggestions, or flip morning and afternoon suggestions. For example, save the indoor museums for the worst weather during your trip.
• I’ve limited my food and drink recommendations to only happy hour and dinner for places I truly love. For breakfast and lunch, I have typically just gone with something quick (e.g., food truck or museum cafe), ate at the hotel, or at a friend’s place. 
• I have admittedly never done a tour of the White House, so I haven’t included that here. If you are interested in adding that, find out more information here. It will take advance planning, i.e., as of writing this, tour requests must be submitted between 21 and 90 days prior to the requested tour date, requests are first-come, first-serve. 
• Tip: Try to book your trip when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, which is typically, late March-early April. But just know that many people are trying to do this, so the lines may be longer.

DAY 1

Morning: Check out the National Mall, Memorials, and Monuments. Many of the monuments are within walking distance of each other. To minimize the need for any backtracking or walking too far out of the way, here’s a suggested order: 

1. Washington Monument
2. WWII Memorial
3. Reflecting Pool
4. Vietnam Veterans Memorial
5. Lincoln Memorial (also, the perfect spot for a photo of the Reflecting Pool with the WWII Memorial and Washington Monument in the background)
6. Korean War Veterans Memorial
7. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
8. Jefferson Memorial 

Some of these are more popular than the others, but because they are so close to one another, it won’t add much more time to tack them on. You can also sign up for a walking tour, which would be more informative than my “walk up and see them” personal experiences. Alternatively, if you are a runner, the National Mall and monuments makes for a fantastic, scenic run, especially if you go on the earlier side of the morning before it gets packed with tourists. 

Afternoon: Check Out Capitol Hill Area. Here’s a suggested order:  

1. Capitol Building 
2. U.S. Botanical Gardens (I know this may not be the first thing you think of when you think of D.C., but it was one of my favorite places.)
3. Supreme Court
4. Library of Congress

Happy Hour with Views of the White House and the Monuments at The Vue Rooftop. After all this walking, it’s time for refreshments. Walk by the White House, then head to The Vue Rooftop, a fully enclosed restaurant and bar on the 11th floor of the Washington Hotel. As a heads up, the drinks here are pricy(!), but in my opinion, it’s worth having at least one for the view. From this rooftop, you can see the White House and the monuments you just checked out. 

Dinner at L’Ardente (Italian). Depending on where you are staying, this may require a short uber/cab ride, but it is one of the best Italian restaurants, with a clean, modern, and stylish decor. My favorites are the 40 layer lasagna with truffle (it is not your average lasagna) and the carbonara, but I don’t think you can go wrong here. Tip: Make a reservation early. It fills up.

DAY 2

Morning: Check out a Museum. There are so many museums to choose from in D.C., and you could probably spend weeks, if not more, just trying to see them all. Most of the museums in D.C. are also free, so you can wander in and out of them as you please (though that may not be the best decision if lines are long). To make the most of your trip, recommend trying to pick one(s) you are most interested in so you can take it all in at a leisurely pace. Among the many options, here is some information about popular ones:

• Smithsonian Museums: These are likely the most famous museums in D.C. My favorites are the American Art Museum, Museum of Natural History, and the National Portrait Gallery. Admittedly, I only recently learned the National Portrait Gallery has more than just portraits. If you visit that one, make sure to check out the Presidents’ Gallery, where you can see portraits of all previous U.S. presidents in chronological order. You can find more information (including hours) here.
• National Archives Museum: This was one of my favorites. Here, you can see the real Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. Check out more information and hours here.
• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: This was by far the most impactful museum I have ever been to. Upon entry, you receive an ID card containing information about a Holocaust victim. You then enter the exhibits by taking a large, not-so-typical elevator, while being informed about gas chambers, meaning it is heavy and anxiety-inducing from the start. (It may not be a great place for young kids.) This museum requires timed entry tickets, and booking online in advance is advisable. Check out more information and book your tickets here.
• International Spy Museum: I haven’t been to this one yet, but it’s on the agenda for my next trip. It just sounds cool. Per the website, buying tickets in advance is recommended.

Afternoon: 

• Option 1: Check Out Another Museum. See descriptions above.
• Option 2: Visit Old Town in Alexandria, VA. If you can only do so much museum-ing in a day, visit nearby Old Town in Alexandria, VA, which is a short, easy drive from D.C. It is a nationally designated historic district right on the Potomac River. King Street in the downtown area is filled with shops and restaurants, but my favorite part was just strolling the most charming residential streets, including in particular, South Lee St.

Happy Hour:

• Option 1 (if you stayed in D.C) – Waldorf Astoria: The Waldorf Astoria is vast and stunning. You can have a drink in its new restaurant The Bazaar by José Andrés or just at the bar in its lobby. Just a caution that these drinks are also on the pricier side.  
• Option 2 (if you visited Old Town, Alexandria) – BARCA Pier & Wine Bar: Before heading back to D.C., if the weather is nice, grab a drink on the water at BARCA Pier & Wine Bar. Sadly, we planned to visit here on my last trip, but we skipped only because the weather was bad (though it does have an indoor option). It’s on my list for my next trip!

Dinner at Le Diplomate: Le Diplomate is a chic upscale French restaurant that does not disappoint.

DAY 3

Tip: If you leave this day and only have the first part of the day, recommend checking out Georgetown in the morning and going to Brasserié Liberte for brunch.

Morning: Check Out Another Museum. See the description in the day 2 morning above.

Afternoon: Visit the Charming Georgetown. Georgetown is a must-see when visiting D.C. It has the same type of charm as Old Town, Alexandria, with cobblestone streets and tons of shops and restaurants. You can spend hours strolling around. Make sure to stop by the famous Georgetown Cupcakes for a treat. 

Happy Hour and Dinner at Brasserie Liberté in Georgetown. With delicious Fresh-inspired cuisine and an outdoor patio, this restaurant is très chic, but also cozy and casual.

Dinner at Oyamel Cocina Mexicana: Back in the downtown area, Oyamel has fun decor and serves small plate Mexican food and amazing margaritas, including one that comes with a sea salt foam on top.

Hotel Options

Here are some hotel options for your stay:

• Renaissance Hotel: Walking distance to museums, monuments, and L’Ardente.
• Hotels on my own bucket list:
  • Hotel Washington: Located right by the White House and many of the popular monuments and museums.
  • Watergate Hotel: A 5-star hotel on the waterfront, which also appears in many history books.
  • Waldorf Astoria Washington D.C.: A luxury hotel close to many of the popular monuments and museums. 

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– Kasey