1.) Smartrip card!! This card is well worth it for traveling on the metro. Trust me, you are going to want to take the metro to experience all that DC has to offer. The restaurants are not close to the monuments or museums. So, you will be glad to take the metro. It’s $38, but worth mentioning that trips typically range from $1-$5 without a pass–if you’re in town for a week, you’ll get your money’s worth. The amount of times you can use it per day is unlimited. Therefore, it really gives you the chance to explore every aspect of the city.
2.) Use google maps for the metro: google maps has a feature for trains and buses. Utilize it! It tells you exactly what stop to get on at and which stop to get off at. This is essential because the metro can oftentimes be overwhelming.
3.) Must see: African American museum. I strongly reccomend viewing their slavery to freedom exhibit, it is a beautiful exhibit showing the pains, growth, and life of black culture. It is free to experience this amazing museum, but they do require that you go online and retrieve a free pass first. If you do not get the free pass online, they will not let you in. I recommend waking up at 6:30am (this is the time the registration opens to receive Same-Day tickets) on the day you want to visit this museum and going directly onto their website to pick a time you wish to visit the museum. It’s super easy. I did it for
my brother and I! However, if you are traveling with a big group, you might not get as lucky and may have to schedule far in advance for that.
Me at the Museum of African American History and Culture! (By the looks of it, you wouldn’t even know it’s a museum from the
outside)!
4.) Hop on hop off bus tour: you have the ability to hop on and off the bus all day long as you please. It stops at different monuments, museums, and buildings throughout D.C. I strongly recommend doing this. I did not and my feet regretted it. Monuments are much further away than you think!
5.) Museums: plan ahead knowing that all 19 of the Smithsonian museums are free!! (National Archives, Holocaust museum, American Art Museum). With this knowledge, it’s important to know that museums like the International Spy Museum are a little pricey ($28).
6.) In fact many attractions are free in DC! The zoo is free, a tour of the Smithsonian institution is free, a tour of Ford’s theatre (where Lincoln was assassinated) is free… you get my point!
7.) Eat a jumbo slice pizza!! This is a must. It’s a cheap meal ($6.50) and it’s good too. Did I mention the slice of pizza is longer than your forearm?? There are tons of these throughout DC, but I specifically recommend Pizza Mart.
8.) Do not eat at the cafes inside of the museums: yes, this is tempting because you have spent a long time in the museum and just want to eat. However, all of the cafe foods are overpriced and insignificant. Unless you are extremely hungry, I recommend Googling the best restaurants to eat at in the city!
9.) Stay in an Airbnb a little bit outside of the city! Every suburb surrounding the city has a metro nearby (this is where the Smartrip card comes in handy), so access to the city is easy. Plus, what a better way to experience the life of someone in Washington DC?
10.) Wear walking shoes: Let me tell you, you are on your feet all day… don’t choose cute over comfort. You will regret it.
11.) Go for a run: my biggest regret while being in D.C. was not going on a run on the Potomac or next to the Lincoln Memorial. There are tons of runners jogging around D.C. I suggest you join in. It is an easy way to get a self guided tour in, too!
12.) Spend 3 days or more in D.C. Three days is the extremely short end. I recommend at least 5. There is so much to see in DC. You need an ample amount of time when visiting in order to see all you’d wish to see. Just one museum takes 2-3 hours to get through. Then, you’ll need lunch and dinner. BOOM before you know it, your day is almost over.