Exploring the best classic activities that Washington DC has to offer
When you think of Washington DC, you think of America, of politics, and important events. To stroll through Federal Washington, home of the White House, the Capitol, of monuments and memorials, is to feel the United States’ beating heart. For a first time visitor to Washington DC, or just someone who wants to be reminded of the ways America views itself, a day along the National Mall, the monuments, the Capitol is the best way to understand Washington DC as the capital of the United States.
This itinerary is anchored around three activities, while giving you alternatives for exploring during your day. The three main activities are:
In case you have extra time, or a need to explore, for each of these time blocks, we have included some alternatives for each time block, as well as options for lunch and after dinner.
Morning
Walk tour of the monuments
Washington DC is a city of unparalleled (and affordable museums), it’s home to an exploding scene of restaurants, it’s home to clubs playing it’s own native music, Go-go; however, the most striking and unforgettable site in Washington DC is the monuments that make the National Mall an incomparable landmark. On the top of any first timer’s list should be a visit to the monuments; in fact, locals should probably take more advantage of their proximity to such unique and distinctive landmarks on America’s front lawn. For those prioritizing unique experiences, a visit to the National Mall and the monuments should be priority number one.
Fortunately, the most important monuments and memorials are close together and organized in a way to make it relatively easy to see a large number of them on a single visit. This self-lead monuments tour takes you by foot on a 3.7 mile walk to see the 8 most famous and iconic American monuments and memorials. The ones you will see on this tour are:
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) Memorial
Martin Luther King (MLK) Memorial
Korean War Veterans Memorial
Lincoln Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
World War 2 Memorial
Washington Monument.
Be aware that this route, and the National Mall in general, is often out in the open, and during hot Washington DC summers can get warm quickly. During the summer, we suggest you start early and get done before the major heat of the day kicks in by the afternoon.
Walking tour route and other transportation alternatives
For those arriving by metro, the Smithsonian station is the metro station that is generally closest to the monuments, and is definitely an easy starting and ending point to your tour. It likely makes the most sense to start on the mall walking toward the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, and finishing at the Jefferson Memorial.
Two alternatives if you want to walk less or travel faster:
Capitol Bikeshare unlimited 30 minute rides with stations near all the big sites along the mall (and throughout the city.) Capital Bikeshare can be acquired for 24 hours for $8 and 3 days for $17. Please note, for each ride to be free, it needs to be under 30 minutes - however you get unlimited rides. The Spotcycle App (IOS or Android) will keep you informed on where stations are and if they have bikes or bike docks available.
DC Circulator offers is a free bus provided by the DC government. It runs a route along the National Mall which is particularly convenient for this tour. For this route, it makes the most sense to reverse the order. You can either catch the DC circulator at Union Station, or along 15th Street and the National Mall.
If you have extra time
In case you finish early or want a change of scenery, a couple of convenient options for you:
Lunch
Convenient Recommendations
As you make your way down the National Mall from the monuments on the western side towards the Capitol Building on the eastern side, it’s time for lunch. Unfortunately, the National Mall is one of the tougher places to grab lunch - being mostly museums and grass, there’s not a lot of obvious options. However, if you are willing to wander a couple blocks off the mall towards either the north or south, there are some good options available. These suggestions both work if you strolling down the mall on foot, or if you have decided to take Metro.
Afternoon
2 PM: Capitol Views - U.S. Capitol Building Tour
One of the most notable landmarks in the country, the U.S. Capitol remains high on the many people’s visit list for good reasons - its combination of history, grand spaces and architecture, along with its current day importance, is tough to match. The only real way to see the building is by tour, which takes you through an impressive array of rooms and spaces, from the Capitol rotunda itself to the crypt where George Washington was supposed to be buried, to the whisper hall in the old House of Representatives chamber where former President John Quincy Adams was rumored to spy on his political opponents (now the hall of statues). To access the Capitol, enter through the Capitol Visitor’s Center, located on the east side of the building. The center is an impressive and expensive ($621 million) underground entryway to the Capitol that was completed in 2008.
Capitol Visitor Center: First St and E Capitol St NE. Tour reservations strongly recommended and best made online.
Supplement your afternoon
Evening
6 PM: Dinner at Rasika
Palak Chaat at Rasika: cc - David Liu
If you are only going to have one dinner in Washington DC, you should take advantage of one of Washington best restaurants options. Washington's food renaissance over the past 15-20 years has had a lot of different faces and flavors, but one of most notable ones has been Vikram Sunderam, who opened Rasika in 2005 and it's sister restaurant Rasika West End in 2012. Sunderam, who won the James Beard Foundation award for Best Chef - Mid Atlantic in 2014. Both restaurants are lauded and continually one of the harder restaurants to get in to, so be sure to make a reservation early (or be willing to eat early or late). Standouts include the Gobhi Mattar (cauliflower with green peas, cumin, and ginger, amazing Vegetable Biryani, and (some meat).
Rasika: 633 D St NW; Reservations strongly recommended.
Rasika West End: 1190 New Hampshire Ave NW; Reservations strongly recommended.
Recent reviews:
Rasika Front Entrance: CC - MrTinDC
In October 2018, Tom Sietsema of the Washington Post gave it a “Superlative” (4 stars out of 4) and inducted it into his first annual Washington DC restaurant hall of fame: “Rasika sets the standard”
In February 2019, the Washingtonian included Rasika and Rasika West end at #27 of their top 100 Washington DC area best restaurants list: “100 Very Best Restaurants: #27 – Rasika/Rasika West End.”
Post-Dinner Activities
Once you are done with dinner, if you are still feeling up to continue exploring Washington DC, a couple of convenient and excellent options below:
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Header: Washington Monument with the U.S. Capitol behind it - CC: Sebastian Bassi