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location.beaches.districts
location.beaches.districts_subtitle
National Mall
sightseeingMonuments corridor from Capitol to Lincoln Memorial.
Georgetown
localHistoric neighborhood with university, canal, and boutiques.
Dupont Circle
localCosmopolitan area with embassies, cafes, and bookstores.
Capitol Hill
sightseeingPolitical heart with U.S. Capitol, Library of Congress, and row houses.
faq.title
faq.subtitle Washington, D.C.
Yes! All 17 Smithsonian museums FREE including Air & Space, Natural History, American History, African American museum. National Zoo also free. Some need timed entry passes (reserve online). Best free museums in the world. Life-changing value.
Capitol: Free tours, book online weeks ahead. White House: Very difficult - request through your country's embassy months ahead. Both exteriors always viewable. Capitol easier to enter. Security screening at both. Visitor centers helpful.
Late March to early April - peak bloom varies yearly. Tidal Basin with Jefferson Memorial iconic. VERY crowded during bloom! Check NPS prediction. 2 weeks window. Book hotels early. Worth seeing but plan for crowds. Cherry Blossom Festival events.
Reagan DCA: Closest, metro connected, domestic flights. Dulles IAD: International hub, farther but metro now connected. BWI: Baltimore, some budget airlines, train to DC. DCA most convenient. IAD for international. Check prices all three.
Travel Tips
Useful tips for visiting Washington, D.C.
Start at National Mall early morning - see Lincoln Memorial at sunrise (magical!), then walk east to Capitol. 2+ miles but flat. Smithsonians open 10am. Monuments beautiful at night too - return for evening photos.
Book timed entry passes for popular museums - Air & Space, African American History need advance reservations. Free but limited capacity. Check si.edu for current requirements. Some don't need passes - check each.
Get SmarTrip card for metro - reloadable, saves money vs paper tickets. Buy at any station. Works on buses too. Peak hours (7-9am, 4-7pm) more expensive - plan accordingly. Metro closes ~11:30pm weeknights.
Georgetown is worth the trip - no metro but walk from Foggy Bottom or take Circulator bus. Waterfront dining at Washington Harbour. Cupcakes at Georgetown Cupcake. M Street for shopping. Evening atmosphere best.
Weather
Average temperature by month
Now
4°
4°43%7 м/с
Today
9°0°
9°0°Tomorrow12°-1°
12°-1°Wed
11°6°
11°6°Thu3°-4°
3°-4°Fri2°-5°
2°-5°Sat6°0°
6°0°Sun3°-4°
3°-4°7°
-2°Jan
9°
-1°Feb
14°
3°Mar
19°
8°Apr
25°
13°May
29°
18°Jun
32°
21°Jul
31°
21°Aug
27°
16°Sep
21°
10°Oct
14°
4°Nov
9°
0°Dec
location.transport.title
location.transport.subtitle
location.transport.metro
—location.transport.bus
—location.transport.taxi
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Prices
Cost of food, accommodation and services
Cafes & Restaurants
Budget meal
12 - 20 $
Mid-range
30 - 60 $
Fine dining
100 - 300 $
Street Food
Local dish
8 - 15 $
Drinks
Coffee
4 - 7 $
Local beer
7 - 12 $
Groceries
Water 1.5L
2 - 4 $
Prices are approximate and may vary by season and area.
Accommodation
Hotels and rental prices
Hostel dorm
40 - 70 $ / night
Guesthouse
100 - 180 $ / night
Hotel 3★
200 - 350 $ / night
Hotel 5★
400 - 800 $ / night
Prices are approximate. Book in advance during high season.
location.payment.title
location.payment.subtitle
location.payment.accepted_cards
VisaMastercardAmerican ExpressDiscover
location.payment.contactless_available
location.payment.atms
widespread
location.payment.mobile_payments
Apple PayGoogle PaySamsung Pay
location.payment.cash
Cards everywhere. Some food trucks near Smithsonian museums cash-only. Contactless very common. Metro accepts SmarTrip card or contactless payment.
location.payment.currency_exchange
Bank of America or Capital One ATMs best. Avoid National Mall and Capitol Hill tourist exchange kiosks - 12-15% worse. Dulles Airport IAD and Reagan National DCA Travelex terrible - 10% markup. Georgetown and Dupont Circle areas have no physical exchanges - use ATMs only. Embassy Row area limited options. For international currencies, use banks not kiosks - this is capital city, they handle diplomats.
location.payment.tipping
20%
Tipping mandatory. 18-20% in restaurants, $2-5 for rideshare, $1-2 per drink. Capital city expects high tips.
Safety
Medium safety level
Follow standard precautions
Tourist areas (National Mall, Georgetown) very safe. Some neighborhoods have crime - avoid SE DC except Navy Yard. Metro safe but watch belongings. Normal US city precautions. Heavy security at government buildings. Homeless visible in some areas. Generally safe for tourists.