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24 Hours In Washington DC - Top Attractions In The US Capital
09/08/2023
The biggest trip of my life (18 days in America) began in Washington DC. It was my first visit to America, and the first day of a visit that couldn't have started in a better place than the capital of the United States, Washington D.C. Thanks to Hollywood, you can arrive in the city as if you knew it well, but its size and atmosphere can only be truly experienced in reality.
The main attractions are relatively close together, so you can get around in a day if you really want to. But if you can, take at least 2 days to see Washington as it's a beautiful city with lots to see and most activities are free. We only spent one day here at first, but loved it so much that we ended up spending the last day of our trip here as well. Also, if you can, don't visit on Sundays or Mondays as the Capitol and the Library of Congress are closed on those days and it's definitely worth checking out the inside of these places.
Interesting facts about Washington
When the United States of America was founded, it was decided that the nation's capital should be neutral and not favour any existing state. This is why the District of Columbia, the seat of the legislature, was created in 1800. As it is not a state, the capital has no representatives in the Senate and only one non-voting delegate in the House of Representatives. Prior to the adoption of the 23rd Amendment in 1961, citizens of the capital did not have the right to vote in presidential elections.
A large majority of the capital's residents support statehood, with 86% of the population voting in favour of union membership in a referendum held in November 2016. However, this has not yet happened.
Banknotes on the trail - With the exception of the $100, the designs on the back of paper banknotes are all in Washington.
Snaps from Washington
Things to do and see in Washington
US Capitol
The Capitol is a symbol of American democracy. It is the centre of the US legislative body, the Congress, which consists of two houses, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Construction of the Capitol began in 1793. Congress, along with the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court, moved into the wing in November 1800. The South Wing was completed by 1807, while the present central part of the Capitol was completed in 1826.
Beginning in the 1850s, the first major building project expanded both wings and the dome to accommodate the representatives of the new states that were joining the Union. Later, the west and east fronts of the Capitol were enlarged, and in 2008 the United States Capitol Visitors' Center was completed.
The Capitol is open to the public on free guided tours. Advance online reservations are recommended, but not required. Tours run every 10 minutes from 8:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. Monday through Saturday. See this page for more information.
Free Museums
Several museums have been replaced along Madison and Jefferson Drive, connecting the Washington Monument and the Capitol. Like the Capitol, they are all free to visit, open seven days a week and even on holidays from 10 am to 5:30 pm.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of museums to choose from:
- Smithsonian National Museum of American History
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
- National Museum of Asian Art
- Smithsonian National Museum of African Art
- National Gallery of Art
- Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
- National Museum of the American Indian
- United States Botanic Garden
A week would not be enough to visit so many museums. We visited the Museum of Natural History, with its huge stuffed animals, dinosaur skeletons and imposing building. And I would definitely recommend a visit to the Air and Space Museum, as you won't find anything like it here in Europe.
The White House
The White House is the home of the President of the United States and their family. It was commissioned by America's first president, George Washington, in 1791. The cornerstone was laid a year later. The building was designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban and was inspired by Leinster House in Dublin. After eight years of construction, John Adams was the first president to move into the building. Since 1800, the building has undergone several changes. In 1902, under President Theodore Roosevelt, it was expanded to include the current west wing. The current Oval Office was added by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1933, and the East Wing was added in 1942.
The building has been known by various names over the years, including 'Presidential Palace', 'President's House' and 'Executive Mansion'. However, the White House was officially named by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1901.
Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial commemorates Abraham Lincoln, the 16th and perhaps most famous President of the United States. Located at the west end of Washington's National Mall, it resembles an ancient Greek temple and was designed by Henry Bacon. The marble building is 30 metres high and 64 metres wide, while the statue inside is nearly 6 metres high and weighs 120 tonnes.
Lincoln played an important role in the emancipation of the slaves and in creating opportunities for civil and social freedom for African Americans. The secession of the southern states from the Union, which opposed his election and views, led to the Civil War. However, his military successes helped to preserve the unity of the Union, which made the US one of the world's leading economies in the 20th century.
A number of important speeches have been made outside the building, including Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech in 1963.
Washington Monument
The 169-metre-high obelisk commemorates George Washington, the founding father of the United States. The observation deck at the top offers a beautiful view of Washington. Admission is free but registration is required. It is not easy to get a ticket, so the best way is to register online in advance. Tickets can be purchased 30 days before the scheduled visit date for a nominal $1. They open at 10am local time (which is 4pm for us) and usually sell out in a few minutes.
So if you want to go up there, get in front of your computer 30 days before 4pm and frantically refresh the site. In case you miss it, they even open a few spots the day before your scheduled visit, also at 10am. Or, if you missed that too, as a last resort, you can try to get a ticket at the Washington Monument Lodge on 15th Street in the morning of that day.
View from the top of the Washington Monument
Udvar-Hazy Center
The Udvar-Hazy Center is located next to Washington Dulles Airport and is part of the National Air and Space Museum. If you only have one day in Washington, you won't be able to fit this into your itinerary, as the museum is further away from downtown and is literally huge. The museum also has a Hungarian connection. The complex is named after Steven F. Udvar-Hazy, a Hungarian-born man who donated $65 million to its creation.
The tens of thousands of square metres of the centre is made up of two hangars. In the ten-storey Boeing Aviation Hangar, the aircraft on display hang from the air on several levels, just as if they were flying. And the heavier planes are located on the ground. The hangar has a multi-level walkway, so you can see the aircraft and spacecraft on display from different perspectives. The smaller James S. McDonnell Space Hangar is dominated by the space shuttle Discocery, surrounded by rockets and satellites.
The museum has 170 aircraft and thousands of smaller objects on display. So I'm not exaggerating when I say that a day is enough for this program. But it's also worth a couple of hours, because it's not every day you see a space shuttle. And it's free, you only have to pay $15 for parking if you drive.
The most unusual of the exhibits are:
- Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, the second fastest aircraft ever flown;
- Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay, which dropped the first atomic bomb during World War II;
- the first supersonic commercial aircraft, Concorde;
- the first pressurised cabin passenger aircraft, the Boeing 307 Stratoliner "Clipper Flying Cloud";
- and the Space Shuttle Discovery.
Accommodation
We chose this city as the beginning and end of our tour of America. We spent two nights in Washington, the first and last night of our trip.
Both times we booked accommodation close to the airport for practical reasons. One was the Courtyard by Marriott Dulles Airport Herndon, and the other was the Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Herndon Reston, both of which I highly recommend. We arrived very late on the first night so we didn't have to travel far to get to our accommodation. And on the last day, there was a free shuttle from the hotel to the airport, so we didn't have to bother with our bags.
The metro network in Washington is extensive. The airport and downtown are connected by the 'Silver Line', so it's not a problem if you don't rent a car.
I always use booking.com when booking. See the link below for more accommodation.
More programmes
Washington's attractions are located in a triangular area. However, you sometimes have to walk long distances.
The museums are free to visit in Washington, but if you are interested in a museum in more depth, it's worth paying for a guided tour, where you can learn more about the exhibits.