Washington, D.C. travel guide
Washington, D.C. Tourism | Washington, D.C. Guide
You're Going to Love Washington, D.C.
With a population of 552,433, Washington, D.C. is the largest city in District of Columbia, United States by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Washington, D.C. has to offer.
Where to Eat in Washington, D.C.
is the neighbourhood with the most restaurants in Washington, D.C.. These include popular favourites such as Tosca (1112 F Street), The Capital Grille - Washington DC (601 Pennsylvania Ave NW) and Elizabeth's (1341 L Street NW). If you’re looking for affordable options, Rasika (633 D Street, NW) and Blue Duck Tavern (1201 24th Street, NW) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Centrolina (974 Palmer Alley NW) and Tico DC & Nama 14 Sushi (1926 14th St. NW) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Washington, D.C..
When to visit Washington, D.C.
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Washington, D.C. in July, when the average temperature is 27 °C, and the highest can go up to 31 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as -2 °C, with an average temperature of 2 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in May, when precipitation is around 102 mm. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Washington, D.C., with an average rainfall of 66 mm.
How to Get to Washington, D.C.
Plane
Washington, D.C. is served by 2 airports: Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Washington Dulles Airport (IAD). The closest to the city centre of Washington, D.C. is Reagan Washington National Airport, which is located 4 miles from the city centre. Further away is Washington Dulles Airport, 22 miles from the centre of Washington, D.C.. The shortest flight to Washington, D.C. from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 40h 13m.
Train
Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Washington, D.C., followed by Acela. The train journey from Washington, D.C. to Baltimore takes 0h 29m and costs around $8 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Richmond, expect to pay about $27 for a 1h 53m trip. The train station in Washington, D.C. is called Washington, D.C. Union, and is located 1.7 miles from the city centre.
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Washington, D.C., including Megabus, Bus and CoachRun. From Philadelphia, the bus ride to Washington, D.C. takes 175 miles and will cost you around $20. From New York, the ticket costs about $32 for a journey of 260 miles. The most popular bus station is Washington, D.C. Armory Metro, located 3 miles from the city centre of Washington, D.C.. Washington, D.C. Wilson Blvd at N Kent St is also a commonly used station, and is 2 miles from the city centre.
Airports near Washington, D.C.
Airlines serving Washington, D.C.
Where to stay in Washington, D.C.
From 5-star hotels such as the Waldorf Astoria Washington DC to great affordable options like the Marriott Vacation Club at The Mayflower, Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C. offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $350 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $693 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include U Street Hostel and Hampton Inn Washington, D.C./White House. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Washington, D.C., with prices from $73 to $806 per night. Capitol Hill is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Washington, D.C. are about 9% cheaper than a hotel room in the city.
Dupont Circle - Here you’ll find travellers’ favourites such as Swann House, The Jefferson, Washington, DC and Tabard Inn. The average nightly price for a double room in Dupont Circle is $189.
Shaw - Cambria Hotel Washington, DC Convention Center, DC International Hostel 2 and DC International Hostel 1 have some of the best reviews among hotels in this area. A 3-star room in Shaw will cost you about $232 per night.
Where to stay in popular areas of Washington, D.C.
Most booked hotels in Washington, D.C.
Hiring a car in Washington, D.C.
Hiring a car in Washington, D.C. costs $91 per day, on average, or $273 if you want to hire it for 3 days. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Alamo and Thrifty are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Washington, D.C. is the Hertz branch at 99 H Street Ne, which is 2 miles from the city centre.
Expect to pay $1.74 per litre in Washington, D.C. (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $20.83 and $27.77. The most frequently booked car type in Washington, D.C. is Mini (Chrysler Pacifica or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Compact car hire (Polestar 2 or similar) is, on average, 51% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.