Looking to visit capitol city but only have a day to explore? From all of the great museums and monuments to see in Washington, D.C., we’ve narrowed down the list to this one-day itinerary designed to ensure you get the most out of your visit.
Tip: Utilize public transportation to reduce the hassle of finding places to park. We recommend investing in a metro pass!
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Breakfast: Fuel up for a day of exploration at A Baked Joint located near Capitol Hill. Here you can enjoy a casual breakfast in a laid back atmosphere before a day full of museums and tours.
9:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.| Capitol Hill Tour: Take a tour of the U.S. Capitol Building where you can see the Hall of Columns, the rotunda, and the old Supreme Court chambers. You’ll even be able to watch bills being debated, votes being counted and speeches being given from the visitors’ gallery! Tours of the Capitol are free, however tour passes are required.
Noon – 1:00 p.m. | Lunch: Stop into Washington’s oldest saloon and have lunch at the Old Ebbitt Grill! This popular spot for the locals was originally founded in 1856 and then moved to its current resting spot in 1983.
1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Smithsonian: The Smithsonian has 19 museums in total but we recommend visiting the Museum of Natural History or the National Museum of American History. The Museum of Natural History houses the Hope Diamond, a massive fossil collection and a 1,800-gallon-tank display of coral reef. National Museum of American History is home to artifacts from Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln and a fragment of Plymouth Rock.
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | Dinner: Venture into Georgetown and enjoy dinner with a view on one of the oldest neighborhoods in Washington, DC. Fiola Mare is a seafood restaurant located right on the Potomac and has served Barack Obama, Joe Biden and the former James Bond, Pierce Brosnan. If you have time, stop into Baked and Wired for one of their delicious sweet treats to end the day!
