Washington, D.C.
A capital built on purpose, and a city that grew up around it
Washington was drawn on paper before anyone lived in it, and the plan still shows. But the District is also a real city of 700,000 with its own neighbourhoods, music and food — and the best free museums in the world.
Congress chose the site on the Potomac in 1790 as a compromise between North and South, and Pierre L'Enfant laid out a plan of grand diagonal avenues over a grid, with the Capitol on the hill and the President's house a mile west along what became Pennsylvania Avenue. The Mall between them was meant as a grand avenue and became instead the greatest public lawn in the country, lined with the Smithsonian's museums and anchored by the monuments. Every one of those museums is free, and the Mall alone would justify a week.
The federal city is the part everyone knows: the Capitol, the White House, the Supreme Court, the memorials, the agencies that fill the office blocks downtown. But the District has always been more than its government. It has been a majority-Black city for most of the last century — the birthplace of go-go music, of Duke Ellington, of a deep civil-rights and church tradition centred on U Street and Shaw — and its neighbourhoods have their own life: Georgetown's Federal townhouses, Capitol Hill's rowhouses, Adams Morgan's bars, the fast-changing corridors of H Street and 14th.
The peculiarity of the place is its politics. Residents pay federal taxes and have no voting representation in Congress — 'taxation without representation' is on the licence plates — and the city's budget and laws can be overridden by a Congress its people did not elect. Statehood is a live and unresolved question. It gives the District a self-consciousness other cities lack, and a resentment of being mistaken for the institutions it hosts.
Living here is comfortable and expensive. The Metro is clean and reaches the suburbs in Maryland and Virginia where much of the region's five million people live; the city itself is green, low-rise by law (nothing may overtop the Capitol), and walkable. Summers are hot and humid, springs are the cherry blossoms, and the population turns over with every administration. It is a company town, and the company is the government — but the city underneath it has never been more interesting to live in.
Where People Live
The National Mall & Federal Triangle
The Smithsonian museums, the monuments from the Capitol to Lincoln, the White House. All free, all walkable, and best attacked one museum per morning.
Capitol Hill & Eastern Market
Rowhouses behind the Capitol, the Library of Congress, and Eastern Market's weekend food and craft stalls. Where staffers and families live.
Georgetown
The oldest neighbourhood — Federal brick, cobbled streets, the C&O canal, the university, and M Street's shops. No Metro stop, which keeps it exclusive.
U Street & Shaw
The historic 'Black Broadway' — Ben's Chili Bowl, the Howard Theatre, Howard University — and now the city's densest run of bars and restaurants. Where DC goes out.
Dupont Circle & Adams Morgan
Embassies, the Phillips Collection, bookshops and the gay village around Dupont; Adams Morgan's 18th Street bars and international restaurants up the hill.
H Street NE & the Wharf
The two new districts — H Street's corridor of bars and music halls to the east, and the rebuilt Southwest Wharf's restaurants and concert venues on the water.
Anacostia
East of the river: the Frederick Douglass house, the Anacostia Community Museum, and the neighbourhoods that are DC's oldest Black community and its most overlooked.
Must-see attractions
Museum of the Bible
400 4th St SW, Washington, DC 20024
The Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum
6th St. & Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC
The Washington Monument (D.C.)
2 15th St NW, Washington DC 20007
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500
Where to stay
Waldorf Astoria Washington DC
1100 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004
Willard InterContinental Washington D.C., the Willard Hotel
1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004
Restaurants & places to go
Stadium Club DC
Washington DC stripclubs, strip clubs, strip joints, gentlemens clubs · . Washington DC's Premiere Gentleman's Club! · stadiumclubdc.com
Columbia Room
cocktail lounges, restaurants · . Classic and original cocktails + virtual classes. Summer pop-up by @youronlyfrienddc. Open Wednesday to Saturday on the… · columbiaroomdc.com
Comet Ping Pong
pizza restaurants, ping pong tables · <p class="ProfileHeaderCard-bio u-dir" dir="ltr">Pizza. Beer. Ping Pong. Live Music.</p>. · cometpingpong.com
Bitty & Beau's Coffee - Washington, DC
coffee shops · bittyandbeauscoffee.com
DC Improv Comedy Club
comedy clubs, DC Improv Comedy Club · dcimprov.com
The Royal DC
. Latin-inspired, family-owned coffee shop/cocktail bar/all-day eatery in DC’s Ledroit Park. Michelin Bib Gourmand 2017-2020. ðŸ…
Wonder Rosslyn
Special offers available
Airports
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) 3.3 mi to the centre
Washington, DC, US — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 16 airlines (American Airlines, US Airways, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines…) · direct flights to 91 destinations incl. Atlanta, Fort Myers, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Boston… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 16 airlines, 91 direct destinations
- American Airlines AA (CRJ, Embraer 170, Embraer 175, A319, Dash 8-300, 737-800…) · 75 routes: Akron*, Albany*, Bangor*, Birmingham*, Boston, Buffalo*, Burlington, Bush Field*, Charleston*, Charleston*, Charlotte, Chattanooga*, Chicago, Cincinnati*, Columbia*, Columbus*, Dallas-Fort Worth, Dayton, Des Moines*, Detroit*, Fayetteville, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers*, Greensboro*, Greenville*, Halifax*, Hilton Head Island, Huntsville*, Indianapolis*, Islip*, Jackson*, Jacksonville*, Jacksonville NC*, Kansas City*, Knoxville*, Las Vegas, Little Rock*, Los Angeles, Louisville*, Manchester NH* … +35 more
- US Airways US (CRJ, Embraer 170, Embraer 175, A319, 737-800, A320…) · 74 routes: Akron, Albany, Bangor*, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo*, Burlington, Bush Field*, Charleston*, Charleston*, Charlotte, Chattanooga*, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbia*, Columbus*, Dallas-Fort Worth, Dayton, Des Moines*, Detroit*, Fayetteville*, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers*, Greensboro*, Greenville, Halifax*, Hilton Head Island*, Huntsville*, Indianapolis, Islip*, Jackson, Jacksonville*, Jacksonville NC, Kansas City*, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Little Rock*, Los Angeles, Louisville, Manchester NH* … +34 more
- Delta Air Lines DL (Embraer 170, 737-800, MD-88, A319, M90, 737-800…) · 12 routes: Atlanta, Cincinnati*, Detroit, Lexington KY*, Los Angeles*, Madison*, Memphis*, Minneapolis, New York*, New York*, Omaha*, Salt Lake City
- Southwest Airlines WN (737-700, 717) · 7 routes: Atlanta, Austin, Fort Myers*, Houston, Kansas City, Milwaukee*, St. Louis
- United Airlines UA (737-800, A320, 737-700, A319, 757-200, ERJ…) · 6 routes: Chicago, Cleveland*, Denver, Houston, Newark*, San Francisco
- JetBlue Airways B6 (A320, Embraer 190) · 5 routes: Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, San Juan, Tampa
- Air Canada AC (CRJ, Embraer 175) · 3 routes: Montreal*, Ottawa*, Toronto
- AirTran Airways FL (717) · 3 routes: Atlanta, Fort Myers, Milwaukee
- Alaska Airlines AS (737-800) · 3 routes: Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle
- Sun Country Airlines SY (737-700) · 2 routes: Lansing, Minneapolis
- AeroMéxico AM (737-800, M90, MD-88, 737-800) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Air France AF (737-800, M90, MD-88) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Alitalia AZ (MD-88, M90) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Frontier Airlines F9 (A319, A320) · 1 route: Denver
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (M90, MD-88) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Virgin America VX (A320) · 1 route: San Francisco
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) 23 mi to the centre
1 Saarinen Cir, Dulles, VA 20166 — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 39 airlines (United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Lufthansa Cargo, American Airlines…) · direct flights to 126 destinations incl. Atlanta, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Los Angeles… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 39 airlines, 126 direct destinations
- United Airlines UA (ERJ, CRJ-700, CRJ, 737-800, A320, 737-900…) · 110 routes: Albany*, Altoona*, Amsterdam, Atlanta*, Austin, Beckley*, Beijing, Binghamton*, Bogota*, Boston, Brussels, Buffalo*, Burlington*, Cancun, Charleston*, Charleston*, Charlotte*, Charlottesville VA*, Chicago, Cincinnati*, Cleveland, Colorado Springs*, Columbia*, Columbus*, Dakar*, Dallas-Fort Worth, Dayton*, Denver, Detroit*, Dubai, Dublin, Fayetteville*, Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Geneva, Georgetown, Grand Rapids*, Greensboro*, Greenville*, Guatemala City … +70 more
- Delta Air Lines DL (CRJ-700, A330-300, ERJ, 777-300ER, A319, A320…) · 10 routes: Amsterdam*, Atlanta, Detroit, London*, Mexico City, Minneapolis*, Moscow, New York*, Paris, Seoul*
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A330-300, 767-300, 777, A330-200, 737-800, 737-900…) · 8 routes: Amsterdam*, Atlanta*, Brussels*, Frankfurt, London*, Munich, New Orleans*, Paris*
- American Airlines AA (737-800, 777, 340, 747-400, CRJ-700, CRJ-900…) · 7 routes: Abu Dhabi*, Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth, Doha, London*, Los Angeles, Miami
- US Airways US (737-800, A319, A320, A321, 330, A340-300…) · 7 routes: Charlotte, Dakar, Dallas-Fort Worth, Istanbul*, Los Angeles, Miami, San Salvador
- Air Canada AC (ERJ, CRJ, CRJ-700, 737-800, 737-900, Embraer 170) · 4 routes: Montreal*, New Orleans*, Ottawa*, Toronto*
- JetBlue Airways B6 (Embraer 190, A320, 777-300ER) · 4 routes: Boston, Dubai, Long Beach, New York
- AirTran Airways FL (737-700) · 3 routes: Chicago*, Denver*, Tampa*
- AeroMéxico AM (737, MD-88) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, Mexico City
- Air France AF (A319, A320, A380, MD-88, 777-300ER) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, Paris
- Alitalia AZ (A320, A380, MD-88, 777-300ER) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, Paris*
- All Nippon Airways NH (777, CRJ, 777-300ER) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, Tokyo
- Avianca - Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia AV (A319, A320, A321) · 2 routes: Bogota, San Salvador
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (A320, 330, MD-88) · 2 routes: Amsterdam, Atlanta*
- Pacific Wings LW (PA2) · 2 routes: Hagerstown*, Lancaster*
- Saudi Arabian Airlines SV (777) · 2 routes: Jeddah, Riyadh
- Southwest Airlines WN (737-700, 737-800) · 2 routes: Chicago, Denver
- Swiss International Air Lines LX (767-300, 767-400) · 2 routes: Geneva*, Zurich*
- Virgin America VX (A319, A320) · 2 routes: Los Angeles, San Francisco
- Virgin Atlantic Airways VS (A319, A320, A330-300, MD-88, CRJ-700) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, London
- Aer Lingus EI (757-200) · 1 route: Dublin*
- Aeroflot Russian Airlines SU (767-300) · 1 route: Moscow
- Air China CA (777) · 1 route: Beijing*
- Austrian Airlines OS (767-300) · 1 route: Vienna*
- British Airways BA (747-400, 777) · 1 route: London
- Brussels Airlines SN (A330-200) · 1 route: Brussels
- Copa Airlines CM (737-700) · 1 route: Panama City
- Emirates EK (777-300ER) · 1 route: Dubai
- Ethiopian Airlines ET (787-8, 777-200LR) · 1 route: Addis Ababa
- Etihad Airways EY (A340-600) · 1 route: Abu Dhabi
- Finnair AY (747-400, 777) · 1 route: London
- Iberia Airlines IB (747-400, 777) · 1 route: London*
- Icelandair FI (75W) · 1 route: Keflavik
- Korean Air KE (777-200, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Seoul
- Porter Airlines PD (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Toronto
- Qatar Airways QR (777-300ER) · 1 route: Doha
- Scandinavian Airlines System SK (A340-300) · 1 route: Copenhagen
- South African Airways SA (A340-300) · 1 route: Dakar
- Turkish Airlines TK (330) · 1 route: Istanbul
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Fort Meade Executive Airport (FME) 19 mi to the centre
Fort Meade(Odenton), MD, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
College Park Airport (CGS) 8 mi to the centre
College Park, MD, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Montgomery County Airpark (GAI) 20 mi to the centre
Gaithersburg, MD, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Lee Airport (ANP) 25 mi to the centre
Annapolis, MD, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Regional airports
Further out, but often the cheapest way in — the airports the low-cost carriers use. Each links to its own town's guide for getting from there into the city.
Baltimore–Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) 27 mi to the centre
Baltimore, MD, US — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 17 airlines (Southwest Airlines, AirTran Airways, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines…) · direct flights to 72 destinations incl. Atlanta, Charlotte, London, Phoenix, Boston… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 27 mi from Washington · Southwest Airlines, AirTran Airways, American Airlines · Getting around Baltimore, Maryland →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 17 airlines, 72 direct destinations
- Southwest Airlines WN (737-700, 73C, 737-300, 737-800, 737-800) · 53 routes: Albany, Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charleston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Denver, Detroit, Flint, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Grand Rapids, Greenville, Houston, Indianapolis, Islip, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Louisville, Manchester NH, Memphis, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Panama City, Phoenix, Pittsburgh … +13 more
- AirTran Airways FL (737-700, 73C, 737-700, 717, 737-300, 737-800…) · 45 routes: Albany*, Albuquerque*, Atlanta, Austin*, Boston*, Buffalo*, Cancun, Charlotte*, Chicago*, Cleveland*, Columbus*, Dayton*, Denver*, Detroit*, Flint*, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Indianapolis*, Islip*, Las Vegas, Los Angeles*, Louisville*, Manchester NH*, Memphis*, Montego Bay, Nashville*, Nassau, New Orleans*, Norfolk*, Oranjestad, Orlando, Phoenix*, Pittsburgh*, Portland*, Providence*, Punta Cana, Raleigh-durham*, Rochester*, Salt Lake City*, San Antonio* … +5 more
- American Airlines AA (A319, A320, Embraer 190, ERJ-145, A321, 737…) · 8 routes: Charlotte, Chicago*, Dallas-Fort Worth, London*, Miami, New York*, Philadelphia, Phoenix
- Delta Air Lines DL (A320, ERJ, MD-88, M90, A319, 717…) · 7 routes: Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York*, Raleigh-durham, Salt Lake City
- United Airlines UA (737-800, A319, 737-900, A320, 737-700, ERJ…) · 7 routes: Chicago, Cleveland*, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark*, San Francisco
- US Airways US (A319, A320, Embraer 190, ERJ-145, A321, 734…) · 7 routes: Charlotte, Chicago*, Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami, New York*, Philadelphia, Phoenix
- Spirit Airlines NK (A320, A319) · 5 routes: Dallas-Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Myrtle Beach
- AeroMéxico AM (A320, 757, MD-88, 737-700) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Air Canada AC (Dash 8-100) · 1 route: Toronto*
- Air France AF (717, MD-88, M90, 737-700) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Alitalia AZ (717, 757, MD-88, M90) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Bahamasair UP (734) · 1 route: Freeport
- British Airways BA (767) · 1 route: London
- Finnair AY (767) · 1 route: London
- Iberia Airlines IB (767) · 1 route: London*
- JetBlue Airways B6 (Embraer 190) · 1 route: Boston
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (757, MD-88, M90, 737-700) · 1 route: Atlanta*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
The Wharf Ferry Landing
Ferry terminal · 1.3 mi from the centre · City Cruises by Hornblower
City Cruises Washington DC
Ferry terminal · 1.7 mi from the centre · CityCruises by Hornblower
Georgetown Ferry Landing
Ferry terminal · 1.8 mi from the centre
Diamond Teague Ferry Landing
Ferry terminal · 2.3 mi from the centre
Alexandria City Marina (Old Town) Ferry Landing
Ferry terminal · 6.5 mi from the centre
National Harbor Ferry Landing
Ferry terminal · 7.8 mi from the centre
Wharf Jitney
Ferry route · District Wharf
Georgetown, DC - The Wharf, DC
Ferry route · Potomac Riverboat Company
Alexandria, VA - Georgetown, DC
Ferry route · Potomac Riverboat Company
Alexandria, VA - The Wharf, DC
Ferry route · Potomac Riverboat Company
Diamond Teague, DC - Alexandria, VA (Seasonal)
Ferry route · Potomac Riverboat Company
Alexandria, VA - National Harbor, MD
Ferry route · Potomac Riverboat Company
Alexandria, VA - Gaylord National, MD
Ferry route · Potomac Riverboat Company
Local transit
Metro
Metrorail, bus · The Washington Metro and Metrobus. · Fares: SmarTrip card or contactless · Airport: Silver Line to Dulles; Blue/Yellow lines to Reagan National
Maryland Transit Administration
Bus, Rail · Maryland · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
DC Streetcar
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Fairfax Connector
Bus · Fairfax, Virginia · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Loudoun County Transit
Bus · Virginia · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission
Bus · Virginia · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Trains & rail
Amtrak
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
Megabus ← New York (Manhattan), NY
About four and a half hours to Union Station. · New York (Manhattan), NY guide →
Greyhound
Intercity coach
Jefferson Lines
Intercity coach
Trailways
Intercity coach
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Jet Linx
Jet card, management · Managed fleet across US bases · Locally based jet card and aircraft management with private terminals in ~20 US cities.
Blade
Helicopter, by-the-seat · Helicopters, seaplanes, jets via partners · By-the-seat helicopters Manhattan–JFK/Newark and the Hamptons; jet charter through partners.
Wheels Up
Membership charter · King Air 350i, Citation, Hawker, Global · US membership and on-demand charter; Delta Air Lines is a major shareholder.
Aero
Semi-private scheduled · Embraer 135 (16 seats) · First-class-only scheduled flights from Van Nuys to Aspen, Sun Valley, Cabo and Europe in summer.
Clay Lacy Aviation
Charter, management, FBO · Managed fleet, light to ultra-long-range · Charter, management and FBOs at Van Nuys and Orange County; the original Hollywood jet operator.
Living Here
Getting about
- Metrorail's six lines are clean, fast and reach into Maryland and Virginia; a SmarTrip card or contactless tap works on trains and the Metrobus network. The DC Circulator serves the Mall and the main corridors cheaply.
- The core is flat and walkable — the Mall itself is two miles end to end — and Capital Bikeshare is dense. Rideshare fills the gaps late at night.
- Reagan National (DCA) is on the Metro, minutes from downtown; Dulles is 45 minutes west on the Silver Line; Baltimore's BWI is a train ride north. Union Station has Amtrak to New York in under three hours and the whole East Coast.
- A car is unnecessary in the city and parking is enforced ferociously; the surrounding Beltway traffic is among the worst in the country.
Health
- MedStar Georgetown, George Washington University Hospital, Howard University Hospital and Children's National are the major centres; the National Institutes of Health is just over the line in Bethesda.
- Dial 911. Pharmacies and urgent care are plentiful. Summer heat and humidity are the seasonal hazard; the cherry-blossom pollen the spring one.
- Insurance is essential, as everywhere in the US.
Work & study
- Georgetown, George Washington, American, Howard and Catholic universities, plus Gallaudet — the world's university for the deaf — make it a major academic city with a large student population.
- The federal government and everything that orbits it: agencies, Congress, the lobbying and law firms of K Street, the think tanks, the contractors in Virginia, the embassies and the international institutions (the World Bank and IMF are both here).
- Media, tourism, hospitality and a growing tech sector (Amazon's second headquarters is across the river in Arlington) round out an economy that barely notices recessions.
Money & manners
- US dollars; cards everywhere. Tip 20%. The museums are free; the memorials are free and open 24 hours, and are most moving at night.
- Stand on the right on Metro escalators — Washingtonians will tell you, forcefully. Dress is more formal than most American cities; this is a town of suits and badges.
- The city empties in August and on federal holidays; the spring blossom (late March–early April) and the Fourth of July are the crowds to plan around.