24 Hours in Washington DC: Easy Guide to DC in One Day
Washington DC is a fantastic destination in the United States. It is great for history, museums, and a melting pot of cultures. While 24 hours in Washington DC is not enough time to see everything, this guide will explain what to do and see in DC in one day.
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What to Do in Washington DC in One Day
As mentioned above, 24 hours in Washington DC is not enough time to see everything. However, it is enough time to see the highlights and give you a reason to visit again someday.
This one day itinerary focuses on seeing historic sites and a bit of the cities culture. Add or subtract activities based on your personal interests or preferences.
Visit the National Mall
The National Mall is the area of DC with most of the government buildings and monuments. The mall can be walked in a half day with plenty of stops.
Some of the highlights to see in the National Mall are the US Capitol building, Washington Monument, reflecting pool, World War II Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King memorial and Jefferson Memorial.
To see all these building efficiently, start at the Capitol building then visit the other sites in order. Wear comfortable shoes because you will hit around 5 miles from follow that route.
Tour the White House
The first afternoon activity in this guide to DC in one day is touring the White House. Take the short walk from the National Mall to the White house, stopping for lunch along the way.
GCDC, detailed below, is a great lunch spot between these activities.
Either view the White House from the outside or tour the inside. To take a tour of the inside, purchase tickets ahead of time to save time in lines.
Explore Georgetown Neighborhood
The final activity of the day is a bit slower after walking many miles throughout the day. Catch a rideshare to the Georgetown neighborhood and peruse the neighborhood.
Some great activities in Georgetown are people watching at the waterfront park, shopping, or grabbing a drink at one of the bars.
Plan to grab dinner in Georgetown to wrap up your day. There are many great restaurants in Georgetown, but I recommend Il Canale.
Where to Stay in Washington DC
Washington is a large, but walkable city. Since this itinerary is only for 24 hours in Washington DC, it is important to stay in a central location.
Staying far away will waste time on transportation and you will miss out on the vibrance of the city.
The best neighborhoods to stay in DC are Georgetown and the Dupont circle. Georgetown is the neighborhood around the university of the same name.
It has great parks, shopping, and restaurants. The Dupont circle is near many of the activities listed below and showcases amazing restaurants.
Best Luxury Hotels in Washington DC
St Regis Washington DC
As a Marriott Bonvoy member, I love finding great hotels within the hotel family. The St Regis Washington DC is the best hotel for luxury travelers with a short amount of time in the city.
Located next to the White House, the St Regis is walkable to all the historic sites you will visit in DC in one day.
This beautiful hotel features elegant rooms, a restaurant, a bar and a state-of-the-art fitness center. Additionally, you can count on the unmatched level of service that St Regis offers at all their properties.
Park Hyatt Washington
The Park Hyatt is a great option in the Dupont circle neighborhood mentioned above. It is walking distance to the national mall, Georgetown, and the White House.
This hotel offers mid-century modern rooms and upscale amenities. The Park Hyatt Washington has a spa, restaurant, bar, indoor pool, and fitness center.
They have been ranked highly for eco-sustainability and LGBTQ travel.
JW Marriott Washington DC
The JW Marriott Washington DC is a great option for mid-tier budgets. It is conveniently located in downtown DC near many tourist attractions.
The rooms are modern and functional. The hotels offers a restaurant, two bars and a fitness center.
Best Restaurants in DC
Washington DC is a great food city due to the melting pot of cultures and cuisines from all over the world. Since you will see all of DC in one day, it is important to choose restaurants intentionally.
Focus on restaurants that are nearby the other activities for the day to save time. I enjoyed the below restaurants on my trip. Leave comments if you have other favorites!
Lincoln
Lincoln was near our hotel and turned out to be a great spot. Designed after the president, Lincoln offers modern Southern food in a unique atmosphere.
The dining tables and chairs are a mis-matched collection of antique furniture. The menu features fantastic southern food. I recommend the Brussel sprouts, mac and cheese and pot pie.
Il Canale
Il Canale is a fantastic Italian restaurant in the Georgetown neighborhood. It is tucked in a side street off the main shopping area.
The restaurant serves classic Italian dishes including pasta, pizza, and meat dishes. I enjoyed the Aperol spritz, quattro Formaggi pizza and spaghetti Bolognese.
GCDC
For a quick and tasty lunch near the National Mall, visit GCDC. The acronym stands for grilled cheese DC and they deliver delicious gourmet sandwiches.
I enjoyed the BBQ and pizza grilled cheese. They also offer burgers and loaded mac and cheese.
Levain
For dessert, you must go to Levain bakery. The line will be long, but it moves quickly and is worth it. Their signature cookie is the chocolate chip walnut.
Since I do not like nuts in my baked goods, I chose the classic chocolate chip. It is gooey, chewy and a bit crisp all at once.
Getting Around Washington DC
Although Washington DC is a large city, it is very walkable. Plan to wear comfortable shoes and clock in many steps each day.
For further destinations, use their comprehensive scooter rental system. On most street corners, you will find Lime or Byrd scooters that can be rented through their respective apps.
Scooters are the best way to get to destinations 1-2 miles away. Be sure to be cautious of pedestrians and scooter safely.
To get to further locations, utilize the cities metro system or hire a rideshare. As mentioned above, the city is walkable so this option will not be necessary most of the time.
Other Activities in Washington DC
If you have more than 24 hours in Washington DC, the below activities are a great way to extend your trip.
- Pentagon: Outside of DC, the pentagon offers great tours to see the facilities and learn more about defense.
- Smithsonian museums: There are many Smithsonian museums in DC and they are all free. Choose 1-2 museums that interest you and spend time slowly viewing the exhibits.
- Day Trip to Williamsburg: Colonial Williamsburg is an hour from DC and offers tours, activities and sightseeing for people of all ages.
- Reserve a Tour of the City: A great way to see any city is by booking an organized tour. This is the best way to get local perspective and inside tips.
Summary of 24 Hours in Washington DC
Overall, Washington DC is a great place to learn American history, see famous monuments and experience a variety of cultures.
While 24 hours in Washington DC is not enough time to see it all, this itinerary will allow you to see all the highlights.
After your 24 Hours in Washington DC, follow this East Coast road trip guide to decide where to go next on your United States vacation.
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