USA · 3 days · 16 stops
3 days in Washington, D.C. – a ready-made itinerary
Washington is smaller than you might expect, and the area around the National Mall is easy to explore on foot. Three days are enough for the great memorials, the Capitol with the Smithsonian museums and a day in Arlington and Georgetown. Each day covers one part of the city, and the stops are in walking order.
In short
- Length
- 3 days, 16 stops
- Highlights
- Lincoln Memorial, The Capitol, Arlington National Cemetery, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington Monument
- Where to stay
- Downtown and Penn Quarter, Dupont Circle, Capitol Hill
- Getting around
- The memorials and museums on the National Mall are close together, so you can cover a lot on foot.
- Best time to go
- April to June and September to October are the most pleasant.
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Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. YesTrip editorial team · Updated: .
Top things to do in Washington, D.C.
13 places you should not miss in Washington, D.C. – each one is in the plan below with a time and the way there.
Lincoln MemorialThe temple with the seated statue of Lincoln. Martin Luther King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech on these steps in 1963.Day 1
Vietnam Veterans MemorialA black granite wall with the names of the fallen, a few minutes from the Lincoln Memorial. A quiet place.Day 1
Washington MonumentAbout 20 minutes along the Reflecting Pool to the obelisk. Reserve a time slot ahead if you want to go up.Day 1
The White HouseBest seen from outside, from Lafayette Square to the north or the Ellipse to the south.Day 1- National Portrait GalleryPortraits of every president in the old Patent Office building. The covered courtyard is a good place to sit afterwards.Day 1
The CapitolThe seat of Congress under the great dome. Tours start at the visitor center – book ahead.Day 2
Library of CongressThe Great Hall of the Jefferson Building is all marble and murals. A tunnel leads over from the Capitol.Day 2
National Air and Space MuseumHome of the Wright brothers' plane and the Apollo 11 capsule. Free entry, like all Smithsonian museums.Day 2
National Museum of Natural HistoryThe elephant in the rotunda, dinosaurs and the Hope Diamond. Pick two halls – you won't see it all.Day 2- Jefferson MemorialThe round temple on the Tidal Basin. In the evening the Washington Monument is reflected in the water.Day 2
- Arlington National CemeteryThe national cemetery on the Virginia side, reached by Metro. John F. Kennedy's grave and the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.Day 3
- Georgetown Waterfront ParkA riverside park on the Potomac facing Virginia. On the way you cross the old C&O Canal.Day 3
- Kennedy CenterAbout 20 minutes along the river. From the roof terrace you look out over the Potomac; inside is a large bust of Kennedy.Day 3
Day 1
Memorials and the White House
Lincoln Memorial
The temple with the seated statue of Lincoln. Martin Luther King gave his “I Have a Dream” speech on these steps in 1963.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Lincoln Memorialabout 5 min on foot
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
A black granite wall with the names of the fallen, a few minutes from the Lincoln Memorial. A quiet place.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Vietnam Veterans Memorialabout 15 min on foot
Washington Monument
About 20 minutes along the Reflecting Pool to the obelisk. Reserve a time slot ahead if you want to go up.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Washington Monumentabout 15 min on foot
The White House
Best seen from outside, from Lafayette Square to the north or the Ellipse to the south.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): The White Houseabout 20 min on foot
Chinatown and Penn Quarter
Plenty of restaurants around the Friendship Archway, from Chinese to American. Good for lunch.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Chinatown and Penn Quarterabout 5 min on foot
National Portrait Gallery
Portraits of every president in the old Patent Office building. The covered courtyard is a good place to sit afterwards.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): National Portrait Gallery
Day 2
The Capitol and the Smithsonian museums
The Capitol
The seat of Congress under the great dome. Tours start at the visitor center – book ahead.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): The Capitolabout 5 min on foot
Library of Congress
The Great Hall of the Jefferson Building is all marble and murals. A tunnel leads over from the Capitol.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Library of Congressabout 10 min on foot
Eastern Market
An old market hall on Capitol Hill with food stalls, and a flea market outside at weekends.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Eastern Marketabout 2.0 km as the crow flies – by bus, train or taxi
National Air and Space Museum
Home of the Wright brothers' plane and the Apollo 11 capsule. Free entry, like all Smithsonian museums.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): National Air and Space Museumabout 10 min on foot
National Museum of Natural History
The elephant in the rotunda, dinosaurs and the Hope Diamond. Pick two halls – you won't see it all.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): National Museum of Natural Historyabout 20 min on foot
Jefferson Memorial
The round temple on the Tidal Basin. In the evening the Washington Monument is reflected in the water.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Jefferson Memorial
Day 3
Arlington, Georgetown and the Potomac
Arlington National Cemetery
The national cemetery on the Virginia side, reached by Metro. John F. Kennedy's grave and the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Arlington National Cemeteryabout 3.4 km as the crow flies – by bus, train or taxi
Georgetown and M Street
The old neighbourhood of brick houses. M Street and Wisconsin Avenue have plenty of places for lunch.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Georgetown and M Streetabout 15 min on foot
Georgetown Waterfront Park
A riverside park on the Potomac facing Virginia. On the way you cross the old C&O Canal.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Georgetown Waterfront Parkabout 15 min on foot
Kennedy Center
About 20 minutes along the river. From the roof terrace you look out over the Potomac; inside is a large bust of Kennedy.
On the map (OpenStreetMap): Kennedy Center
Good to know
Best time to go
April to June and September to October are the most pleasant. In late March and early April the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin are in bloom, and it gets very crowded. July and August are often hot and humid, and winter can be cold.
Getting around
The memorials and museums on the National Mall are close together, so you can cover a lot on foot. For longer trips, such as to Arlington, take the Metro. From Reagan National Airport the Metro runs straight into the city; from Dulles take the Silver Line.
Where to stay
Downtown and Penn Quarter
Central, between the White House and the Capitol, with lots of hotels and Metro stations. Walking distance to the National Mall.
Dupont Circle
A residential area of older buildings with cafés and restaurants, lively in the evening. Quick to the centre by Metro.
Capitol Hill
Quiet streets of row houses around the Capitol and Eastern Market. Good if you prefer a neighbourhood feel in the evening.
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More on Washington, D.C. in our blog: How many days in Washington, D.C.? 1–4 days
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Washington, D.C.: frequently asked questions
What are the must-see sights in Washington, D.C.?
The must-see sights in Washington, D.C. are Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington Monument, The White House, National Portrait Gallery and The Capitol. This plan links 13 of them into short walks over 3 days – with times, a map and tips.
Are 3 days enough for Washington?
For the best-known memorials, the Capitol and two or three museums, yes. A fourth day leaves room for more Smithsonian museums or a trip to Mount Vernon.
Can you visit the White House?
Tours are by request only and need to be arranged well in advance – visitors from abroad go through their own embassy. From outside you see it from Lafayette Square and the Ellipse.
What should I sort out before the trip?
Check entry requirements with your government's travel advice before you go – many visitors need an authorisation before flying to the US. Reserve Capitol tours and the Washington Monument ahead.
Plan created with AI support – please check opening hours, prices and routes before you go. Coordinates checked with Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap (Photon). Photo: Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. More in Sources & licences. YesTrip is a trip planner, not a travel agency – nothing is booked.
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