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Washington, DC in One Day
Home » Washington, D.C. » Washington, DC Vacations: One to Three Days » Washington, DC in One DayIf you only have one day, you can afford a busy day. We’re going to have you spend the entire day downtown, focusing on the quintessential Washington sights.
First thing in the morning, head to either the White House or the U.S. Capitol. At the White House, you will have a guided group tour around the building (sorry; no face to face with the president in the Oval Office). At the U.S. Capitol, you can walk through the rotunda and see the chambers of the Senate and the House (and maybe even see Congress in session). Simply decide whether the White House or the Capitol is your priority and contact your Congressmen for reservations. You will probably have to wait in line at either building, but you should still be finished by lunchtime.
For the true Washington experience, grab a hot dog from a street vendor or go in one of the holes-in-the-wall along Constitution Avenue. Whatever you choose, take your lunch to go and eat on the National Mall as you watch the joggers, readers, and Congressmen on the Mall.
After lunch, you have another choice to make: the Washington Monument or the Smithsonian Museums. The Washington Monument is at the end of the National Mall, opposite the Capitol Building, while some of the Smithsonian museums line the National Mall. The Washington Monument entails waiting in line and then climbing stairs, followed by the best view of the city while the Smithsonian Museum has no lines and halls full of exhibits and artifacts. A word of advice: if you choose the Washington Monument, go there before lunch and get your assigned time ticket so that you can plan accordingly.
Get some dinner near the Washington Monument, either at a nice restaurant, if you want to linger, or at a quicker and more economical spot. Then, around twilight, head out to explore the other memorials. The Vietnam War, World War Two, Korean War, and Lincoln memorials are all close to each other, and the Jefferson and FDR memorials are within walking distance as well. Each of these memorials are open-air and thus open at night when the views and crowd sizes are more attractive. You won’t get to all of these, but visit as many as you can before calling it a day.
As an alternative to some (or all) of the above, you could consider taking a tour bus ride, which will drive you all around town. It’s more expensive and less detailed, but you will see more of DC.
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