Washington DC itinerary: 1 to 7 days
Plans for one to seven days in Washington DC, day by day: the Capitol, the Washington Monument and the White House first, then the memorials along the Mall, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian museums, Ford's Theatre and Georgetown as you add days. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 3 days
Washington DC in 1 day
Day 1
United States Capitol
The domed seat of Congress; free guided tours start from the underground Capitol Visitor Center.
Washington Monument
The 555-foot marble obelisk at the centre of the National Mall, with an elevator to an observation level near the top.
White House
The home and office of the US president; public tours must be requested in advance.
Washington DC in 2 days
Day 1
United States Capitol
The domed seat of Congress; free guided tours start from the underground Capitol Visitor Center.
White House
The home and office of the US president; public tours must be requested in advance.
Washington Monument
The 555-foot marble obelisk at the centre of the National Mall, with an elevator to an observation level near the top.
National World War II Memorial
A plaza of granite pillars and arches around a fountain, between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
The long pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the World War II Memorial, mirroring the Washington Monument.
Day 2
National Air and Space Museum
The Smithsonian's museum of flight and space, with the Wright Flyer and the Apollo 11 command module.
National Mall
The two-mile park from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, lined with Smithsonian museums and national memorials.
National Museum of Natural History
A Smithsonian museum on the National Mall with the Hope Diamond, a huge African elephant, dinosaur skeletons and an ocean hall.
Washington DC in 3 days
Day 1
United States Capitol
The domed seat of Congress; free guided tours start from the underground Capitol Visitor Center.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The Smithsonian's museum of African American history and culture, in a bronze-latticed building on the Mall.
Washington Monument
The 555-foot marble obelisk at the centre of the National Mall, with an elevator to an observation level near the top.
White House
The home and office of the US president; public tours must be requested in advance.
Day 2
Arlington National Cemetery
The national military cemetery of rows of white headstones on a Virginia hillside, home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and its Changing of the Guard.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
A domed, columned memorial on the Tidal Basin with a bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson.
National World War II Memorial
A plaza of granite pillars and arches around a fountain, between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
The long pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the World War II Memorial, mirroring the Washington Monument.
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Nineteen stainless-steel soldiers on patrol and a granite mural wall, near the Lincoln Memorial.
Lincoln Memorial
The Greek-temple memorial with the seated statue of Abraham Lincoln, at the west end of the National Mall.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Maya Lin's black granite wall engraved with the names of more than 58,000 Americans who died in the Vietnam War.
Day 3
National Air and Space Museum
The Smithsonian's museum of flight and space, with the Wright Flyer and the Apollo 11 command module.
National Mall
The two-mile park from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, lined with Smithsonian museums and national memorials.
National Museum of Natural History
A Smithsonian museum on the National Mall with the Hope Diamond, a huge African elephant, dinosaur skeletons and an ocean hall.
Washington DC in 4 days
Day 1
United States Capitol
The domed seat of Congress; free guided tours start from the underground Capitol Visitor Center.
Old Post Office Pavilion
An 1899 Romanesque Revival former post office on Pennsylvania Avenue with a tall clock tower, now a hotel.
Washington Monument
The 555-foot marble obelisk at the centre of the National Mall, with an elevator to an observation level near the top.
White House
The home and office of the US president; public tours must be requested in advance.
Day 2
Arlington National Cemetery
The national military cemetery of rows of white headstones on a Virginia hillside, home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and its Changing of the Guard.
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
A domed, columned memorial on the Tidal Basin with a bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson.
National World War II Memorial
A plaza of granite pillars and arches around a fountain, between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
The long pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the World War II Memorial, mirroring the Washington Monument.
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Nineteen stainless-steel soldiers on patrol and a granite mural wall, near the Lincoln Memorial.
Lincoln Memorial
The Greek-temple memorial with the seated statue of Abraham Lincoln, at the west end of the National Mall.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Maya Lin's black granite wall engraved with the names of more than 58,000 Americans who died in the Vietnam War.
Old Stone House
Built in 1765 on M Street in Georgetown, the oldest unchanged building in Washington, run by the National Park Service.
Georgetown Waterfront Park
A riverside promenade and lawn on the Potomac, reached down from M Street, with fountains, boats and good views at sunset.
Day 3
National Air and Space Museum
The Smithsonian's museum of flight and space, with the Wright Flyer and the Apollo 11 command module.
National Mall
The two-mile park from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, lined with Smithsonian museums and national memorials.
National Museum of Natural History
A Smithsonian museum on the National Mall with the Hope Diamond, a huge African elephant, dinosaur skeletons and an ocean hall.
Day 4
Smithsonian American Art Museum
American art from colonial times to today, in the Old Patent Office Building shared with the National Portrait Gallery.
Ford's Theatre
The theatre where Abraham Lincoln was shot in 1865, now a working theatre and museum, opposite the house where he died.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The Smithsonian's museum of African American history and culture, in a bronze-latticed building on the Mall.
Dupont Circle
A traffic circle and park with a marble fountain, at the heart of a lively neighbourhood of embassies, cafés and bookshops.
Washington DC in 5 days
Day 1
National Mall
The two-mile park from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, lined with Smithsonian museums and national memorials.
National Museum of Natural History
A Smithsonian museum on the National Mall with the Hope Diamond, a huge African elephant, dinosaur skeletons and an ocean hall.
Folger Shakespeare Library
Home of the world's largest Shakespeare collection, on Capitol Hill, with exhibitions and an Elizabethan-style theatre.
Old Stone House
Built in 1765 on M Street in Georgetown, the oldest unchanged building in Washington, run by the National Park Service.
Georgetown Waterfront Park
A riverside promenade and lawn on the Potomac, reached down from M Street, with fountains, boats and good views at sunset.
Day 2
White House
The home and office of the US president; public tours must be requested in advance.
Washington Monument
The 555-foot marble obelisk at the centre of the National Mall, with an elevator to an observation level near the top.
United States Capitol
The domed seat of Congress; free guided tours start from the underground Capitol Visitor Center.
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
A memorial at Judiciary Square bearing the names of US law enforcement officers who died on duty.
Day 3
Arlington National Cemetery
The national military cemetery of rows of white headstones on a Virginia hillside, home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and its Changing of the Guard.
Lincoln Memorial
The Greek-temple memorial with the seated statue of Abraham Lincoln, at the west end of the National Mall.
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
The long pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the World War II Memorial, mirroring the Washington Monument.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Maya Lin's black granite wall engraved with the names of more than 58,000 Americans who died in the Vietnam War.
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Nineteen stainless-steel soldiers on patrol and a granite mural wall, near the Lincoln Memorial.
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
A granite statue of Dr. King emerging from the 'Stone of Hope', beside the Tidal Basin.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
An open-air memorial on the Tidal Basin with four outdoor rooms, waterfalls and bronze sculptures marking each of Roosevelt's terms.
National World War II Memorial
A plaza of granite pillars and arches around a fountain, between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
Day 4
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
A domed, columned memorial on the Tidal Basin with a bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson.
Library of Congress
The national library of the United States and one of the largest libraries in the world, across from the Capitol.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The Smithsonian's museum of African American history and culture, in a bronze-latticed building on the Mall.
Renwick Gallery
The Smithsonian's gallery of American craft and decorative arts, in an 1859 building beside the White House.
Day 5
Dupont Circle
A traffic circle and park with a marble fountain, at the heart of a lively neighbourhood of embassies, cafés and bookshops.
Dumbarton Oaks
A historic Georgetown estate with terraced formal gardens and a museum of Byzantine and pre-Columbian art.
Washington National Cathedral
A huge Neo-Gothic cathedral in north-west Washington, built over most of the 20th century, with fine stained glass.
Washington DC in 6 days
Day 1
National Mall
The two-mile park from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, lined with Smithsonian museums and national memorials.
National Museum of Natural History
A Smithsonian museum on the National Mall with the Hope Diamond, a huge African elephant, dinosaur skeletons and an ocean hall.
White House
The home and office of the US president; public tours must be requested in advance.
Old Stone House
Built in 1765 on M Street in Georgetown, the oldest unchanged building in Washington, run by the National Park Service.
Georgetown Waterfront Park
A riverside promenade and lawn on the Potomac, reached down from M Street, with fountains, boats and good views at sunset.
Day 2
Smithsonian American Art Museum
American art from colonial times to today, in the Old Patent Office Building shared with the National Portrait Gallery.
International Spy Museum
A museum of espionage with real spy gadgets, case histories and interactive missions, at L'Enfant Plaza.
United States Capitol
The domed seat of Congress; free guided tours start from the underground Capitol Visitor Center.
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
A memorial at Judiciary Square bearing the names of US law enforcement officers who died on duty.
Day 3
Arlington National Cemetery
The national military cemetery of rows of white headstones on a Virginia hillside, home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and its Changing of the Guard.
Lincoln Memorial
The Greek-temple memorial with the seated statue of Abraham Lincoln, at the west end of the National Mall.
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
The long pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the World War II Memorial, mirroring the Washington Monument.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Maya Lin's black granite wall engraved with the names of more than 58,000 Americans who died in the Vietnam War.
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Nineteen stainless-steel soldiers on patrol and a granite mural wall, near the Lincoln Memorial.
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
A granite statue of Dr. King emerging from the 'Stone of Hope', beside the Tidal Basin.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
An open-air memorial on the Tidal Basin with four outdoor rooms, waterfalls and bronze sculptures marking each of Roosevelt's terms.
National World War II Memorial
A plaza of granite pillars and arches around a fountain, between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
Day 4
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
A domed, columned memorial on the Tidal Basin with a bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson.
Washington Monument
The 555-foot marble obelisk at the centre of the National Mall, with an elevator to an observation level near the top.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The Smithsonian's museum of African American history and culture, in a bronze-latticed building on the Mall.
National Museum of American History
The Smithsonian museum of US social and cultural history, with the Star-Spangled Banner, First Ladies' gowns and Dorothy's ruby slippers.
Renwick Gallery
The Smithsonian's gallery of American craft and decorative arts, in an 1859 building beside the White House.
Day 5
Dupont Circle
A traffic circle and park with a marble fountain, at the heart of a lively neighbourhood of embassies, cafés and bookshops.
Dumbarton Oaks
A historic Georgetown estate with terraced formal gardens and a museum of Byzantine and pre-Columbian art.
Washington National Cathedral
A huge Neo-Gothic cathedral in north-west Washington, built over most of the 20th century, with fine stained glass.
Day 6
Ford's Theatre
The theatre where Abraham Lincoln was shot in 1865, now a working theatre and museum, opposite the house where he died.
Library of Congress
The national library of the United States and one of the largest libraries in the world, across from the Capitol.
Folger Shakespeare Library
Home of the world's largest Shakespeare collection, on Capitol Hill, with exhibitions and an Elizabethan-style theatre.
National Portrait Gallery
The Smithsonian's gallery of portraits of notable Americans, including every president, in the Old Patent Office Building.
Washington DC in 7 days
Day 1
National Mall
The two-mile park from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial, lined with Smithsonian museums and national memorials.
National Museum of Natural History
A Smithsonian museum on the National Mall with the Hope Diamond, a huge African elephant, dinosaur skeletons and an ocean hall.
White House
The home and office of the US president; public tours must be requested in advance.
Old Stone House
Built in 1765 on M Street in Georgetown, the oldest unchanged building in Washington, run by the National Park Service.
Georgetown Waterfront Park
A riverside promenade and lawn on the Potomac, reached down from M Street, with fountains, boats and good views at sunset.
Day 2
Smithsonian American Art Museum
American art from colonial times to today, in the Old Patent Office Building shared with the National Portrait Gallery.
United States Capitol
The domed seat of Congress; free guided tours start from the underground Capitol Visitor Center.
National Air and Space Museum
The Smithsonian's museum of flight and space, with the Wright Flyer and the Apollo 11 command module.
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
A memorial at Judiciary Square bearing the names of US law enforcement officers who died on duty.
Day 3
Arlington National Cemetery
The national military cemetery of rows of white headstones on a Virginia hillside, home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and its Changing of the Guard.
Lincoln Memorial
The Greek-temple memorial with the seated statue of Abraham Lincoln, at the west end of the National Mall.
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
The long pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the World War II Memorial, mirroring the Washington Monument.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Maya Lin's black granite wall engraved with the names of more than 58,000 Americans who died in the Vietnam War.
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Nineteen stainless-steel soldiers on patrol and a granite mural wall, near the Lincoln Memorial.
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
A granite statue of Dr. King emerging from the 'Stone of Hope', beside the Tidal Basin.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
An open-air memorial on the Tidal Basin with four outdoor rooms, waterfalls and bronze sculptures marking each of Roosevelt's terms.
National World War II Memorial
A plaza of granite pillars and arches around a fountain, between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
Day 4
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
A domed, columned memorial on the Tidal Basin with a bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson.
Washington Monument
The 555-foot marble obelisk at the centre of the National Mall, with an elevator to an observation level near the top.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The Smithsonian's museum of African American history and culture, in a bronze-latticed building on the Mall.
National Museum of American History
The Smithsonian museum of US social and cultural history, with the Star-Spangled Banner, First Ladies' gowns and Dorothy's ruby slippers.
Renwick Gallery
The Smithsonian's gallery of American craft and decorative arts, in an 1859 building beside the White House.
Day 5
Dupont Circle
A traffic circle and park with a marble fountain, at the heart of a lively neighbourhood of embassies, cafés and bookshops.
Dumbarton Oaks
A historic Georgetown estate with terraced formal gardens and a museum of Byzantine and pre-Columbian art.
Washington National Cathedral
A huge Neo-Gothic cathedral in north-west Washington, built over most of the 20th century, with fine stained glass.
Day 6
Ford's Theatre
The theatre where Abraham Lincoln was shot in 1865, now a working theatre and museum, opposite the house where he died.
International Spy Museum
A museum of espionage with real spy gadgets, case histories and interactive missions, at L'Enfant Plaza.
Folger Shakespeare Library
Home of the world's largest Shakespeare collection, on Capitol Hill, with exhibitions and an Elizabethan-style theatre.
National Portrait Gallery
The Smithsonian's gallery of portraits of notable Americans, including every president, in the Old Patent Office Building.
Day 7
Eastern Market
A Capitol Hill food hall open all week; at weekends a flea and craft market fills the surrounding streets.
Library of Congress
The national library of the United States and one of the largest libraries in the world, across from the Capitol.
National Gallery of Art
A major art museum on the National Mall with Leonardo's Ginevra de' Benci, French Impressionists and an outdoor sculpture garden; admission is free.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
The Smithsonian's museum of modern and contemporary art, a round concrete building on the Mall with a sunken sculpture garden.
Watch: Washington DC in 3 days
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Washington DC
March to May and September to October are the best months in Washington DC, with mild weather; the cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin usually peak in late March or early April. June to August is hot and humid, and the Fourth of July brings big crowds to the National Mall. Winter is cold with occasional snow but quieter.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Washington DC on Booking.com or Agoda
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Washington DC on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Washington DC on GetYourGuide or on Viator
- From the airport: a private transfer in Washington DC with Kiwitaxi
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for United States from Airalo
- Last day: leave your bags in Washington DC with Radical Storage and keep sightseeing
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Washington DC
- White House tours must be requested weeks ahead through a member of Congress, or through your embassy if you are not a US citizen.
- The Smithsonian museums are free; some, like the African American history museum, use free timed-entry passes at busy times.
- Washington Monument tickets are timed; reserve online or arrive early for same-day tickets.
- Use a SmarTrip card or a phone on Metrorail and Metrobus; the Mall is walkable but longer than it looks.
- Visit the memorials in the evening, when they are lit up and cooler in summer.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Arlington National Cemetery: The Institute of Heraldry, Public domain
- Dumbarton Oaks: Boucher, Jack E. (as "creator" of the work), National Park Service, US Department of the Interior., Public domain
- Dupont Circle: AgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Eastern Market: AgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Folger Shakespeare Library: Julie Ainsworth, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Ford's Theatre: Difference engine, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain
- Georgetown Waterfront Park: AgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden: Gryffindor, Public domain
- International Spy Museum: Itrytohelp32, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Korean War Veterans Memorial: MusikAnimal, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Library of Congress: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain
- Lincoln Memorial: The Lincoln Memorial Commission (Photograph); Centpacrr (Digital image), Public domain
- Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain
- Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial: Rachel Hendrix, Public domain
- National Air and Space Museum: David Bjorgen, CC BY-SA 3.0
- National Gallery of Art: ajay_suresh, CC BY 4.0
- National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial: AgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0
- National Mall: Javier Losa, CC BY 2.0
- National Museum of African American History and Culture: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0
- National Museum of American History: Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain
- National Museum of Natural History: ajay_suresh, CC BY 4.0
- National Portrait Gallery: Difference engine, CC BY-SA 4.0
- National World War II Memorial: MusikAnimal, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Old Post Office Pavilion: Harris & Ewing, Public domain
- Old Stone House: E.B. Thompson, Public domain
- Renwick Gallery: AgnosticPreachersKid, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Smithsonian American Art Museum: Smithsonian American Art Museum, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Thomas Jefferson Memorial: Michael Kranewitter, Public domain
- United States Capitol: Martin Falbisoner, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial: National Park Service, CC BY 2.0
- Washington Monument: Iswzo, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Washington National Cathedral: Siubo11A, CC BY-SA 3.0
- White House: (top) Cezary p (bottom) MattWade, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
