Being America’s first planned city, with its grid layout and purposeful abundance of green parks and town squares, Washington, DC, is surprisingly easy to navigate. However, a little forward planning goes a long way here, particularly if you want to visit its government buildings and museums, many of which have rigorous regulations.
Don’t get us wrong, though; this location is a dream to explore, and you’ll fall in love with it if you follow our advice.
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1. Keep your composure by taking the season into account.
There are a number of reasons why the time of your visit matters. First of all, the later summer months in DC are quite hot and muggy. The hottest months are August and September, while early spring and fall offer milder temperatures (and cheaper costs). An additional justification for a spring visit? Since Japan gave the American people Sakura trees as a token of friendship in 1912, the city has been awash in color because to its renowned cherry blossoms. These trees, many of which are on the National Mall, typically bloom from the middle of March until the beginning of April.
2. Take a bus trip to learn more.
Once you have your bearings, Washington, DC, is a very walkable city, but it’s also easy to forget how humid and muggy the summer months can be. Additionally, at first, the sheer volume of monuments, galleries, and museums in Washington, DC, may be a bit daunting. In addition to getting a great overview of the city, a bus trip will transport you in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle between its major attractions. There are five routes for the hop-on, hop-off Big Bus excursions, including ones that highlight the National Mall. Tickets for a single day start at $54 for adults and $45 for kids ages three to twelve (children under three ride free).
3. Continue pounding the pavements while wearing appropriate walking shoes.
A good pair of shoes is necessary because of the capital’s orderly, pedestrian-friendly structure. Consider the National Mall, a park with several monuments that is actually two miles long, despite its seeming little size. Similar to this, some of the city’s museums are incredibly huge. For example, the National Air and Space Museum has a structure that is three city blocks long and is filled with displays, including the greatest collection of vintage aircraft in the world.
4. Remain outside of the downtown area to save money.
Although DC is one of the most costly cities in the US, you’ll save a lot of money if you reserve lodging outside of the downtown area. Think about areas like the waterfront Navy Yard district or historic Georgetown. An alternative is to establish your headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, a metropolitan county located directly over the Potomac River. The cost of hotel rooms is far lower here, and the city’s yellow and blue metro lines make it simple to go to downtown Washington, DC.
5. Adopt public transportation
The US capital boasts an excellent public transportation system in addition to being primarily flat, which is wonderful for those who enjoy walking. The city’s DC Circulator buses are ubiquitous, with routes that connect downtown DC with communities like Dupont Circle and a designated National Mall circuit. Children under five travel for free, while standard rates start at just $1, or 50¢ for those 65 and over. It has also never been simpler to go from Dulles International Airport to downtown Washington, DC. Simply use the newly extended Silver Line to reach the city center from the airport, which now has its own metro station as of 2022.
6. Use caution when packing to prevent violating security regulations.
Keep in mind that the majority of DC’s most popular attractions have metal detectors and stringent policies on what you can and cannot carry in. For instance, the list of prohibited goods for a tour of the White House includes strollers, tablets, e-cigarettes, cameras with removable lenses, liquid of any kind, including water bottles, and all kinds of bags (with no storage facilities).
While tripods, e-cigarettes, and selfie sticks are nearly always prohibited, regulations are often less stringent at museums and famous sites like the US Capitol Visitor Center. Since most backpacks must be kept in lockers, it’s a good idea to have some spare coins on hand. Depending on its size and the length of time you want to use it, expect to pay anywhere from $1 to $5 per locker.
7. Plan beforehand to guarantee access to your preferred sights.
It’s good to pause and consider what you want to visit and when if museums and galleries are on your schedule. While all Smithsonian institutions are free to enter, other galleries and museums are not, so you may save money by doing this. Adult entrance at the National Museum of Women in the Arts is $16; however, children under the age of 21 enter free of charge. However, everyone can enter for free on the first Sunday and second Wednesday of each month.
Furthermore, a lot of museums remain open late and will be less crowded at this time. For example, the famed Nighttime Adventures nights at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History end at 11 p.m. Lastly, keep in mind that nearly all of the monuments in Washington, DC, are open for viewing at any time of day, which makes it simpler to avoid the crowds and the warmest hours of the day. A stroll across the National Mall, lined by monuments, without any crowds at midnight? Join us!
8. Be mindful of your surroundings to stay safe.
Take the usual safety precautions, such as keeping wallets, cameras, and iPhones out of sight. Because they are more likely to be carrying valuables like passport wallets, purses filled with cash, and cameras, tourists are particularly susceptible to street theft. Therefore, in addition to keeping valuables hidden, use the same strategy for telltale items like maps, particularly in crowded areas like Union Station in Washington, DC.