When most people visit the Nation’s Capital, they spend the majority of their time in the National Mall. While this is a great spot to explore, there is so much more to DC than just the White House and the Lincoln Memorial. This is my complete guide to Washington DC – some of the best things to do, places to see, where to eat, and an itinerary!
Guide to Washington DC: Things to Do
Washington Monument
When we were in town the Washington Monument was still closed due to construction and repairs. Though we weren’t able to actually enter the Monument, we were content with admiring from afar. From what I’ve heard, it should be opening back up to visitors in October 2019. For more up to date information on that, you can click here.
Lincoln Memorial
I had been to the Lincoln Memorial before when I was 9 years old, but I had totally forgotten how huge it is! Until you see it in person you don’t realize how absolutely massive this statue is. Lincoln himself is 19 feet tall.. and that’s while sitting!
Reflecting Pool
The Reflecting Pool is right in front of the Lincoln Memorial and offers the perfect view of the Washington Monument in the distance. The last time I was in DC the pool was drained so I was glad to see it full this time!
National Arboretum
The National Arboretum kind of made me feel like I was back in Greece with the huge pillars, but this is just the ‘National Capitol Columns’, a small part of the Arboretum. The Arboretum covers a span of 446 acres and is full of gardens and exhibits, as well as the ‘National Bonsai & Penjing Museum’. It was established in 1927 as a way to increase the importance of landscaping and ornamental plants.
The White House
Obviously, a must-see when visiting DC. I’d suggest doing this on your first day as the roads around the White House often get closed off without warning. If you wait until your last day, you might not get to see it at all!
Keep in mind that if you want to take an actual tour of the White House there’s a bit of a process that you’ll have to go through first. You actually have to request a tour and it must be submitted through your local Congressman. I would suggest submitting your request at least a month before your trip as tours are available on limited days and hours, and are scheduled on a first come, first serve basis. All tours are, however, free.
You can click here for more info on what is required for a visit to the White House.
Arlington National Cemetery
Visiting the Arlington National Cemetery was a very humbling experience. Some of the most famous historical figures are buried here. The grave of Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier in history, is here. John F. Kennedy and Jackie Kennedy are also buried here, with an eternal flame burning at their grave. For a list of all notable graves, you can click here. You can also download the Arlington National Cemetery app which has not only a list of the graves but a map as well (which I promise you will need)!
The Arlington National Cemetery has a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with a ‘changing of the guards’ ceremony, much like many other countries do. The ceremony takes place every hour during the winter months and every half hour during the summer months. For more information on the ceremony and times, you can click here.
When visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, please, please do not talk. Don’t be on your phone, and don’t let your kids run around or play. It is not only very disrespectful, but the guards will yell at you and demand silence and respect.
Iwo Jima Memorial
Most people will probably recognize this statue. It was inspired by the iconic photo taken by Joe Rosenthal during World War II. It shows five marines and one navy corpsman raising the flag signaling that they had successfully taken over the island. The takeover of Iwo Jima eventually led to the end of the war.
This statue is a memorial set in place to honor all Marines who have died defending the United States since 1775. It’s located right near the Arlington National Cemetery and Netherlands Carillon, and right down the road from the Air Force Memorial.
Smithsonian Museums
Museum of Natural History 
Air & Space Museum
The Smithsonian Institution has a total of 17 museums and galleries in Washington DC alone. Most are located on the National Mall and easy to access via public transportation. The two that we were most excited to see were the Museum of Natural History (um, ‘Night at the Museum’, duh) and the Air and Space Museum. The best part: admission is free!
Washington Nationals Game
It’s on my bucket list to attend a baseball game at every MLB Stadium, so of course this is on the list. Parking was stupid expensive, even 6 blocks away! I would highly suggest taking an Uber or using public transportation. Other than that, it was a great experience (as baseball games always are). And it was the perfect way to just hang out and relax after exploring all day.
Library of Congress
This was easily one of the coolest buildings we saw on our visit. Everything was so intricate and detailed. The ceiling, the staircase, the windows. It was all amazing. The reading room was so incredible to see and I wish we would’ve been able to go inside. I could have spent all day here just staring at the details on the walls, haha!
Guide to Washington DC: Where to Eat
We, the Pizza
I mean, you can’t really go wrong with pizza, right? I love all things clever and punny, so as soon as I saw the name, ‘We, the Pizza’, I was already sold.
They have an excellent variety here and so much more than just your basic cheese pizza. And, one slice was bigger than my whole face! I recommend the buffalo mozzarella with roasted tomatoes. Yum!
Food Truck Row
When you’re visiting all of the monuments and museums you will see tons of food trucks lined up out on the sidewalks, especially near the National Mall. This is your best option for a quick and easy lunch. There’s such a large variety of options so there will be a food truck for everyone in your group!
For more suggestions, check out my post ‘Where to Eat in Washington DC’.
Ted’s Bulletin
This was our favorite restaurant in all of DC. Hands down the best breakfast we had. It’s located right down the street from the Eastern Market so it’s the perfect place to stop for breakfast after shopping! They’re pretty popular for their ‘Ted’s Tarts’ which is basically a homemade pop-tart, but I can honestly say every item on the menu sounded absolutely delicious!
I ordered the ‘Big Mark Breakfast’ which came with everything you see in the photo. It also comes with your flavor choice of Ted’s Tart. I went with blueberry cheesecake! Bonus: this place has all-day breakfast, cocktails (even mimosas and bloody Mary’s to go with your breakfast!) and boozy milkshakes!
3-Day Washington DC Itinerary
Day 1:
- National Arboretum
- The White House
- Washington Nationals Baseball Game
- Dinner
Day 2:
- Early Breakfast
- Lincoln Memorial / Reflecting Pool
- Constitution Gardens
- World War II Memorial
- Washington Monument
- Smithsonian Museum of Natural History
- Lunch at We, the Pizza
- Library of Congress, Jefferson Building
- Supreme Court
- US Capitol
- James Madison Memorial Building
- Dinner
Day 3:
- Eastern Market Flea Market
- Capitol Hill Books
- Breakfast at Ted’s Bulletin
- Smithsonian Air & Space Museum
- Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Arlington National Cemetery
- Iwo Jima Memorial
- Air Force Memorial
- Netherlands Carillon for Sunset
This is almost the exact itinerary that we followed for our visit. It may seem like a lot is packed into each day but keep in mind that many places are right next to each other. DC is a very small place!
What are some of your favorite things to do in Washington DC? Share in a comment below!
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Don’t forget to check out these other posts:
- Where to Eat in Washington DC
- 11 Things You May Not Know About Washington DC
- Road Trip Essentials and Tips
