Why Washington?

Washington, DC, has lots of monuments and museums within walking distance, with neighborhoods spreading from there. The Mall has the big ones—the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and WWII Memorial, all free and open 24/7. The Smithsonian museums line both sides of the Mall and feature their own exhibits: Air and Space (planes suspended from the ceiling, a moon rock that you can touch), Natural History (the Hope Diamond, dinosaurs), American History (an actual flag from Fort McHenry), and African American History. Georgetown has cobblestone streets, a canal towpath, a university campus, shops, and restaurants with prices that reflect the zip code. Adams Morgan offers a diverse range of food—Ethiopian, Salvadoran, and Mexican—plus bars that are packed on Thursday through Saturday. Eastern Market on weekends has food stalls, crafts, and locals actually shopping.

Why Washington, D.C.?

Stop scrolling through monument photos—book your flight to D.C. and get to where American history happened and continues to unfold. Museums are free, and power is visible on every corner.

When to Go

March to May works best—cherry blossoms bloom late March (dates vary, check forecasts), temps 10°C–22°C (50°F–72°F), everything's open. September to November brings fall colors, comfortable temps, and fewer school groups mobbing museums. Summer (June-August) hits 25°C–35°C (77°F–95°F) with swamp humidity—free outdoor concerts and festivals, but you'll sweat through everything. Winter (December-February) stays mild, with temperatures ranging from 0°C to 10°C (30°F to 50°F). Occasional snow shuts the city down, and hotel rates drop by 40%.

Visa Info

US citizens don't need anything. Visa Waiver Program countries get 90 days with ESTA. Others need standard US tourist visas based on their passports.

Getting There

Reagan National (DCA) is located closest to downtown, and the Metro provides direct connections. Dulles (IAD) handles most international flights. BWI in Baltimore sometimes has cheaper fares, an hour away. Direct flights from across the US, international routes from Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. Book domestic flights six to eight weeks ahead. Flying Tuesday or Wednesday beats weekend rates.