A three-day Washington DC itinerary will guarantee you hit the city’s highlights.
That may not be enough to enjoy everything this city has to offer, but if you schedule your time and plan well ahead of time you can definitely enjoy most of the attractions important to you.
Washington, DC, the capital of the United States, was founded after the American Revolution so that the federal government of the newly independent nation would not have to rely on any state for the country’s governance.
Built on the banks of the Potomac River on land donated by adjacent states, Washington incorporated the already existing towns of Georgetown and Alexandria.
The city grew quickly over the decades along with the expansion of the federal government. A “City Beautiful” movement in the 1900s transformed the city with an urban renewal project.
The 1930s saw the construction of the many neoclassical buildings, memorials and museums we see today.
Today Washington DC is one of the most visited cities in the world with over 20 million visitors a year.
As a national capital and home to the world’s embassies, it is also one of the most international and diverse cities anywhere.
Similar to New York City, you can hear dozens of languages spoken on the streets of Washington and see people in their national apparel strolling the neighborhood streets.
How to get around Washington DC
There are a few things to consider when visiting Washington DC. If you happen to arrive in Washington by train, take a moment to check out the architecture in Union Station.
Completed in 1907, the building is considered to be one of the finest examples of Beaux-Arts architecture in the United States.
Washington DC has an excellent, color-coded, user-friendly metro system, the WMATA, that will take you pretty much anywhere you want to go.
The best way to get around the city is with a multiday metro/subway pass.
These are available for purchase at ticket vending machines in train stations and are valid for trains as well as buses.
Buying an unlimited 3-day pass will save you money and time. Just tap your multiday pass on the turnstile and off you go.
Museums on the National Mall
The best place to start your 3-day Washington DC itinerary is at the National Mall. The Mall is a beautiful, landscaped area where most of the city’s spectacular museums are.
Although Washington DC has many world-class museums throughout the city, the National Mall is where the big boys are.
Pick one, two, or three museums for your first 3-day itinerary in Washington DC, and take it from there. Don’t imagine you have to see the entire museum.
Just research the topics that interest you in a museum and see those. You could see two or three exhibits per museum and still have time to explore the city.
National Gallery of Art. Established in 1937 by Congress for the people of the United States, the collection includes, among other works, the only Leonardo da Vinci painting in the Americas.
The architecture of the building is almost as impressive as the exhibits themselves.
National Air and Space Museum. This is a must-see for all aviation and space aficionados.
National Museum of Natural History. Opened in 1910, this 325k square feet exhibition features over 500 million species of plants, fossils, animals, meteorites and other artifacts.
National Museum of American History. This fun museum is an eclectic collection of all things American. It houses classic collections of Americana as well as temporary exhibits.
National Museum of African American History and Culture. This museum is one of the most recent additions to the Mall.
Established in 2003, the museum houses more than 40,000 objects documenting the history of African-American culture in the United States. It is an emotional journey that will leave you shaken.
Among the artifacts are:
- A stone platform where enslaved people stood to be displayed before being sold.
- A handmade purse an enslaved woman made to give to her 9-year-old daughter as she was being sold.
- An original stool from the 1960 sit-in at a Woolworth lunch counter that helped ignite the Civil Rights movement.
The museum also celebrates African American culture and the contributions made to the nation’s development.
Due to the museum’s popularity, it is difficult to get in to visit so plan way ahead of time. Check the website first to reserve your timed tickets.
Holocaust Memorial Museum. Similar to the African American History Museum, you will find this exhibit very hard to take.
This museum contains millions of pages of photographs and archival documents of the Holocaust.
A testament to man’s inhumanity to man and a warning against this ever happening again.
Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery. These wonderful museums form the Smithsonian’s collection of Mediterranean and Asian Art.
National Museum of African Art. The museum began as a private collection and then became part of the Smithsonian Institution in 1979.
Much of the artwork comes from Sub-Saharan Africa and includes over 9,000 pieces of sculptures, paintings, photographs, and jewelry.
The museum is subterranean – yes, you read that right – and is connected to the Freer Gallery and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery.
So, it makes sense to see all three of these little gems in one fell swoop if you are interested in international art.
International Spy Museum. The only museum of its kind in the United States, it may also be one of the most fun museums in Washington.
When you enter you are assigned an undercover identity and…well, you’ll have to visit to see what happens next.
Museum of the American Indian. The collection spans over 12,000 years of American Indian history.
Make sure to start on the top floor and work your way down. The exhibits start with the history of the native Americans before the Europeans.
It proceeds to give an unvarnished account of the Europeans’ and later Americans’ cruel and unfair treatment of Native Americans.
The exhibit also documents their many achievements and contributions to the country.
There are so many other fascinating museums beyond those on the Mall. Honorable mention goes to Planet Word, one of the newest museums in the city.
This lovely museum in a historic building bills itself as “the place where language comes to life.”
Some of the cool activities you can engage in include: recording yourself giving a famous speech, karaoke your heart away, making a statement in your own language and hearing it back in languages from common Spanish to obscure Bambara spoken in Mali, and much more.
This place loves words and languages and conveys this passion to visitors beautifully.
The interactive exhibits for children (and big kids) are amazing. If you’ve got a kid, bring her. If not, go get one, but definitely share the experiences at Planet Word.
Staying in a hotel in the National Mall area will give you a good base from which to explore.
Day One – National Mall, museums, Logan Circle and The Wharf
For the first day of our Washington DC adventure, I thought it important to create an eclectic mix of Washington DC activities and combine visits to museums with explorations of interesting neighborhoods and fun places to eat.
This led us to Federal Circle, Logan Circle – there are lots of “circles” or roundabouts in DC – and The Wharf. These three Washington DC areas are as different from each other as they are unique.
One of the city’s charms is its neighborhoods. If you want to spend 3 perfect days in Washington DC, delving into its many interesting neighborhoods is a must-do activity.
Start day one of your three-day Washington DC itinerary with visits to one or more of the incomparable museums in the Mall then move on to Federal Circle.
Federal Circle is the area north of the National Mall packed with enormous government buildings in the Neoclassical architecture style.
It’s fun to walk around the area and get lost in the broad avenues, massive buildings, and soaring arches. Architecturally it is a very impressive area.
Continuing north you’ll reach Logan Circle. This area is rumored to be one of the most posh and sought-after neighborhoods in DC.
It is a great place to stroll among the Victorian houses and tree-lined streets.
Fourteenth Street is the place to be where you find restaurants in all price ranges, art galleries, all kinds of stores and outside cafés where you can people-watch with a beverage.
Many of the properties in Logan Circle are on the National Registry of Historic Places.
Although famous for history and architecture, Logan Circle has another side.
The area’s U Street is a hub of live music venues, bars, and boutiques all contributing to make for a cool and energetic nightlife.
Either stay in the Logan Circle neighborhood for the rest of day one of your three-day itinerary in Washington DC or head over to The Wharf.
The Wharf, on the water of the Washington Channel, is the city’s newest dining and entertainment venue and the city’s wildly successful attempt at revitalizing the Southwest and Wharf neighborhoods.
With over 20 restaurants, and 4 piers – each with its own entertainment – hotels, performance venues and more, The Wharf is a fun place to explore.
The Wharf is also home to the Main Street Fish Market which has been at the same location since 1805! Buy your seafood or fish at the market and have it cooked and served right there.
Or eat at one of the many interesting and ethnic restaurants nearby.
Day Two – More museums, historic neighborhoods, and Chinatown
On day 2 of your 3-day Washington DC adventure, finish seeing the museums you missed on the first day. Remember, don’t feel overwhelmed by the size and scope of the museums.
You don’t HAVE to see it all. Google the museum’s permanent and temporary exhibits that you find interesting and just see those.
Using this strategy we were able to visit The National Gallery of Art, Museum of the American Indian, National Museum of American History, National Museum of African American Culture and Planet Word in the first two days.
Some of the other museums we had already seen and others will go on the “must-visit” for the future list.
For another cool neighborhood exploration, head over to Dupont Circle.
Like many urban centers in the northeast, Dupont Circle has undergone many ups and downs. The area has been home to everything from a slaughterhouse to an embassy enclave.
One of the country’s important centers of the gay movement, Dupont Circle has been at the forefront of social movements since its inception.
Today the neighborhood is trendy and more mainstream with all the accruements of a cool neighborhood; restaurants, chic shops and bars overflowing with local crowds.
Many of Dupont Circle’s homes are on the National Register of Historic Places. You will find many of the embassies on Embassy Row are housed in historic residences.
Embassy Row runs from 18th Street to 35th Street where you’ll see up to 150 embassies in magnificent mansions.
Many of these structures once belonged to wealthy investors and business magnates who were forced to sell during the Depression.
It is a peek into the luxurious lives of some of the wealthiest people of the Gilded Age that you usually see in places like Newport, Rhone Island, New York City, or the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, so seeing it in Washington DC provides a different perspective.
If you like architecture and history, you’re in for a treat. Bring a reference book with you or take a walking tour to enjoy all the backstories and historical details of this very interesting neighborhood.
Chinatown and Penn Quarter. Chinatown in Washington DC is small but fun and, like most international cities, it has several good authentic Chinese restaurants.
The Friendship Arch announcing the beginning of Chinatown is the largest freestanding arch in the United States and merits a look-see.
Nearby is Penn Quarter which some refer to as old downtown. This previously rundown neighborhood is now re-energized with art galleries, performance venues, nightclubs, trendy eateries, and shops.
Within the neighborhood’s limits are culturally significant institutions like the National Portrait Gallery (definitely see this if you have the time) and the Verizon Center sports arena.
Day Three – Markets, a ferry ride on the Potomac and historic Georgetown
Wake up on day three of your 3 day Washington DC itinerary and make your way to Eastern Market.
This self-described “community hub for the Capital Hill neighborhood and cultural destination for visitors from around the world” does not disappoint.
The market is a combination indoor and outdoor farmers market, an artist community selling crafts, art and antiques, and restaurants ranging from high-end/high prices to a table on the sidewalk.
Start your day with a hearty and healthy breakfast at any one of the market’s cute coffee shops.
Built in 1873 on space originally designated for local markets by Pierre L’Enfant, Washington’s city planner, it is the only local market in the city that has operated continuously since its inception.
Eastern Market is designated as a national historic landmark and looks much as it did almost 150 years ago.
Let’s face it, no three-day Washington DC itinerary is complete without a visit to Georgetown and the best way to get there is with the ferry.
After breakfast at Eastern Market, head to The Wharf and catch a ferry to Georgetown for a 45-minute ride where you can see the monuments from a different perspective.
Make sure you get on the right ferry because they also go to other destinations like Alexandria and National Harbor.
The ferry drops you off at Georgetown’s Waterfront, a lovely restaurant and entertainment venue similar to the Wharf.
Here is a tidbit of information you may need should you ever get on the Jeopardy gameshow and are asked the question, “Who was Georgetown named after?”
The answer is NOT George Washington (that was my guess). Instead, it was named after England’s King George II the grandfather of George III whom the American colonies would rebel against seeking- and winning- independence.
Georgetown was founded on the Potomac River in 1751, way before the United States was even in glimmer in anyone’s eye.
The entire district of Georgetown is a National Historic Landmark District. Many of the buildings are from the colonial and Federal periods which is reflected in the architecture.
Georgetown is famous for being the home of Georgetown University. Other claims to fame include the Old Stone House.
Built in 1756, it is the oldest unchanged building in Washington and the city’s last pre-revolutionary structure on its original foundation.
You can visit the house and see exactly how people lived in the mid-1700s.
The city is frequently used as a backdrop for movies. Perhaps the most famous one is The Exorcist. You can find the 97 step stairs between M Street NW and Prospect Street.
The steps have been declared a National Historic Landmark not because of The Exorcist but because of their historical significance.
Despite the city’s historic pedigree, most people go to Georgetown for shopping and entertainment.
The neighborhood boasts an amazing variety of shopping opportunities from brand stores to independent boutiques.
There are also many art galleries and antique stores. The biggest concentration of shops is on Wisconsin Avenue and M Street NW, the two most prominent intersecting streets.
Along with the shopping comes restaurants of all types and ethnicities.
Most are on street level but don’t miss out on the array of fine restaurants in the inner malls and on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal which runs behind Georgetown.
The canal area also makes for a lovely walk.
Another Georgetown star attraction is Blues Alley on Wisconsin Street. Founded in 1965, this cozy legendary jazz club is the oldest continuously operating jazz club in the nation.
The club has hosted many jazz greats through the years including Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis, and Arturo Sandoval. If you are a seasoned jazz aficionado or a wannabe, spend an evening here.
A visit to Georgetown is the perfect way to end your 3-day itinerary in Washington DC.
If you want to stay in the Georgetown area, accommodations in Georgetown, especially around the waterfront, are plentiful and in all price ranges.
Learn more about Washington DC before you visit so you can maximize your time. Use these handy guides to help plan your visit.
What are your thoughts on this 3 day Washington DC itinerary. What attractions would you add or delete?
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