Washington DC Tourism

TEN TIPS FOR TOURING THE NATION’S CAPITAL

1. Pace yourself. If you just have two or three days on your visit, don’t try to see everything at once. Instead, make out your “must-see” list and plan your route around town using Metro or the DC Circulator. You can also discover the nation’s capital on foot by planning visits to the neighborhoods.

2. Plan ahead. Some of the city’s most famous attractions require some advance planning. If you’re interested in touring the White House, contact your Congressional representative. Tours of the White House are available to groups of ten or more but must be arranged in advance through a member of Congress. You can book online in advance to tour the Capitol Visitor Center. And you can beat the lines at the Washington Monument, Holocaust Museum and Spy Museum by reserving your tickets in advance.

3. Log on. Want to know what’s going on in the city during your visit? Head straight to www.washington.org for a complete and searchable calendar of events.

4. Score a deal. Travelers generally find the best hotel rates on weekends and in late summer and winter. Visit www.washington.org for special promotions and to create your own custom vacation package on by pre-purchasing tour and attraction tickets. You can even make dinner reservations.

5. Use public transportation. On-street parking is very limited, so leave your car at the hotel. Take advantage of Metro, one of the world’s most convenient, safe and clean subway systems. Refer to the station map or the city map for station locations. The DC Circulator bus connects Georgetown, Capitol Hill, Union Station, the Capitol Riverfront, Adams Morgan, U Street and more. It also operates a seasonal loop around the National Mall.

6. Washington, DC is all about “FREE”dom. Many of the city’s attractions and experiences are free, including monuments, memorials and entrance to many museums. Museums and galleries frequently offer free tours and curators’ talks. There are also many free music and street festivals that take place throughout the year.

7. There’s more than one Smithsonian museum. The Smithsonian institution is the world’s largest museum and research complex with 16 museums and galleries, plus the National Zoo. Make your first stop the Visitor Information Center at the Smithsonian Castle to map your course. Pick one or two museums per visit and save the others for future visits to the city.

8. The National Mall isn’t for shopping! The National Mall serves as “America’s Common” spanning 2.25 miles from the U.S. Capitol building to the Lincoln Memorial. Home to many monuments, memorials and museums, the National Mall is where people exercise their democratic rights and reflect on American history.

9. Tour at “off-peak” hours. Be sure to check for special early hours or late hours at select museums (often seasonal). Washington, DC’s beautiful memorials and monuments are open 24 hours – visit them at dawn or at night when they are lighted for a truly inspiring experience.

10. Got a question? How do I tour the White House? When is the National Cherry Blossom Festival? Answers to common visitor inquiries can be found at www.washington.org