How to make the most of 1 day in Washington, DC

Washington, DC offers visitors iconic landmarks such as the world-renowned museums and monuments along the White House, Capitol and National Mall. But cities aren’t just history. There are also lively food and entertainment scenes.

Many Americans first come to the country’s capital on school trips. But if you’ve never been Washingtonit can be difficult to enjoy the sights and experiences of prioritizing highlights or moving away from a better, slower itinerary.

For those who may not be familiar with the city, my colleague Emily Thompson and I traveled together to make the perfect day of field trip to Washington. Of course, your perfect day may be different from ours, but here are our must-see destinations for those looking to explore the city, as well as some ways to maximize points and miles along the way.

Related: Dates of Peak Bloom announced: Best time to see DC cherry blossoms in 2025

National Zoo

• time: 8am to 6pm
• Fee: It’s free Entry path Necessary for all guests.
• I’ll get there: Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan Metro Station 3 blocks or 15 minutes from downtown Uber or Lyft Ride. If you drive yourself, National Zoo charges $30 for parking, so we recommend taking advantage of the abundant street parking nearby.
• Time required: 1 hour (8am to 9am).

Start your day brightly and early, and arrive at 8am and open Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. You will see over 2,200 animals becoming more active than in the afternoon or morning.

Emily and I arrived via the entrance to Connecticut Avenue and walked the Asia Trail. There, we passed an exhibit of cloudy leopards, sloths and red pandas.

But the real highlight of the zoo was seeing Xiao Ziji, a giant panda born to a 22-year-old mother in 2020. M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat.

After an hour or so at the zoo, you hope to stoke your appetite in anticipation.

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Founding Farmers Fishers & Baker’s weekend brunch in Georgetown

• Brunch buffet time on weekends and holidays: 9am to 2pm
• Fee: $35.50 per person. Children under 3 are free, while children ages 4-12 are $15.50.
• I’ll get there: 15 minutes of Uber or Lyft Ride, or 45 minutes of downhill walk from the zoo.
• I’ll pay with: Part 1 The perfect card for mealsLike, American Express® Gold Card.
• Time required: 1 hour and 15 minutes for brunch, walk along the Georgetown waterfront (9:30am to 10:45am).

Brunch on the weekend is a big deal in DC and Washingtonians are fiercely debating the best brunch spots, but I’m a big fan of Establishment of Farmers Fishers & Baker.

Offering what is called the “Festival of Food,” Founding Farmers Fishers & Bakers offers elaborate brunches with fresh, sustainable ingredients from local farms and producers.

The buffet includes options such as the famous banana foster French toast, live omelette station, molasses glaze ham, cut fresh roast beef, spicy fried chicken, seafood jambalaya, apricot glass salmon, chips and guacamole.

There are also cold options such as Bruleed Grapefruit, homemade granola and coconut cheer bowls.

The dining room is lively and noisy. The restaurant estimates it serves around 500 hungry brunches during peak weekends. As a result, the buffet line could be a little longer. Ask your server for baker pizza, farmer sushi and cinnamon rolls. These dishes are brought to the table upon request.

Our Tip: Get Instagram-worthy photos on the Georgetown waterfront before you leave.

Related: Off the beaten paths of DC: From historic gardens to travel-inspired restaurants

National Mall (Smithsonian Museum)

The National Mall, which stretches from the Lincoln Memorial to the US Capitol, was designed in the 18th century by French American city planner Pierre Renphant. He imagined a dramatic grand promenade similar to the Tuiley Leeds Garden in Paris.

In addition to the stunning views of the Capitol and the Washington monument, the National Mall offers ample gardens and is framed by several Smithsonian museums. This is an overview of the museum, which is accessible from the National Mall.

• National Museum of African American History and Culture
• American History Museum
• National Museum of Natural History
• National Gallery of Art
• American Indian National Museum
• National Air and Space Museum (open, but is currently undergoing major renovations)
• Hirshhorn Museum (Hirshhorn’s) Sculpture garden It will be closed until 2026 to receive $68 million invigoration).
• More Free Gallery of Art
• Arthur M. Sackler Gallery
• National Museum of Africa

The Holocaust Memorial Museum and the International Spy Museum are blocks south of the National Mall. Spy Museum offers admission fees ranging from $31.75 to $37.05 per person, depending on how you purchase tickets.

There are plenty of great restaurants in Washington, so use the in-house toilets, skip the food truck and the overwhelming museum cafeteria.

Due to limited time (and it takes a few days to see all these museums), we recommend choosing one or two museums that interest you the most. As an aviation enthusiast, I kept an eye on my time at the Air and Space Museum so I didn’t miss the other stops.

Related: If you’ve seen the Smithsonian Museum, take a look at these 6 lesser known DC landmarks

Ritz-Carlton in Pentagon City It serves one of the region’s most decadent afternoon teas. It’s expensive, but it’s hard to find a similar experience in Washington for under $90, so it’s surprisingly good value.

Between March 14th and April 13th, slightly fortified cherry blossom tea will also be served for $88, including sparkling wines from Friday to Sunday. When Emily and I went, the tea sandwiches and pastries were amazing, and the scones, with homemade scones served with clot cream and local jam, went for an excellent pairing with Sakura Cherry Rose White Tea.

Arlington National Cemetery

• time: 8am to 5pm
• Fee: Free to everyone, but you must present your ID.
• I’ll get there: 10 minutes from Pentagon City Uber or Lyft Ride.
• Time required: 1 hour and 15 minutes (3:45pm to 5pm).

The final resting place for approximately 400,000 veterans and their dependents; Arlington National Cemetery It is a place where we recognize the sacrifices made by those who served our country.

Stop by the graves of unknown soldiers dedicated to unidentified soldiers who lost their lives in service to the nation. Changes to the guard ceremony at the grave are strict events every 30 minutes from April 1st to September 30th, and every 30 minutes from October 1st to March 31st.

Another must-see site for Arlington National Cemetery is the John F. Kennedy Grab Site. Eternal Flame marks the cemetery of President Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. This flame represents the president’s lasting legacy and reminds me of his service to the nation.

Visitors who prefer narrated hop-on, hop-off bus tours Book a ticketYou don’t need a ticket to enter the cemetery.

Afterwards, we take a short break at the hotel before an evening activity.

Related: Best Hotels in Washington DC

Night Monument Tour

• Touring time: 7:30pm or 10-10:30pm
• Fee: Starting from $53 per person.
• I’ll get there: The tour starts from a variety of landmarks, so take Uber or Lyft Ride or public transport to your starting point on a budget of 15-20 minutes.
• Time required: 2-3 hours in the evening.
• I’ll pay with: Reservations using Viator. Start buying using your favorites Shopping Portal To earn extra points. Next, pay with Credit cards that make a lot of money from regular travel purchases.

If you have time (as we did) shortly before the tour, stop by the lobby atrium Waldorf Astoria For drinks and tapas Jose Andres’ Bazaar.

After that, it’s time for a monument tour. Every night, the Washington memorial comes to life with dramatic lighting displays.

When my family and friends visited me when I was a student at an American university, this was my favorite evening excursion. You can choose AN Outdoor trolley, Electric Cart or busit all offers comparable experiences. Electric carts are a more intimate experience of fewer people, but a little shorter than others.

Whichever tour you choose, you’ll hit highlights like Capitol, the White House, World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Book a tour where you go outside and take photos rather than drive immediately.

Since the visit fell during peak cherry blossom season, petals have been raining as they walked past the MLK quote.

There are fewer than DC Ben’s Chili Bowl.

Founded in 1958 by Ben Ali and his wife Virginia, Ben’s Chili Bowl became a popular gathering place for civil rights activists in the 1960s. The U Street Corridor, known as Black Broadway, is rooted in the African American art and entertainment scene thriving outside Ben’s doors.

Benz has worked with DC civil rights by donating food in March 1963 in Washington and the 1968 riots and providing shelter to those in need.

The restaurant is still famous for its half-smoked chili dogs, fries and milkshakes. But rather than food, it’s about the heritage of the facility as a gathering for civil rights activists in the 1960s.

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