If you count the most important capital cities of the world, Washington D.C could not be counted off the list. It is not as large as some other capital cities, however it is the main city of one of the most powerful countries in the world. DC itself is an attraction for tourists due to its extended and versatile go-to places.
The capital of the United States, Washington D.C is a beautiful and interesting city, full of memorials and monuments; it houses some of the best museums in the country.
If you make a Washington Tour from New York by bus, or if you travel on your own, take a subway and head to visit this list with the best attractions in Washington and make your stay in DC worthwhile. Let’s start this journey!
1. Washington National Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, also known as the Washington National Cathedral, is the sixth-largest cathedral of the world and is based on Neo-Gothic architecture. Since it is one of the main religious places in DC, the Funerals of Presidents Reagan, Eisenhower and Ford, were held there.
This cathedral is unique thanks to its architecture, its neo-gothic style and its beautiful stained glass windows that contrast with most cathedrals in the country.
The cathedral’s worship services are free; however, there is an admission charge to visit other areas of the church.
2. The Library of Congress
If you love going to libraries then this is one of the best attractions in Washington DC. The Library of Congress is the biggest library in the contemporary world and the one that keeps more information about the nation.
It was founded in 1800 and had some humble beginnings. In its starting year, it had the early documents for the United States and for nearly 100 years it was used as a reference library for Congress.
Nowadays it has around 158 million items, including 36 million books, written in 460 different languages; it also has 69 million manuscripts. It is open for the public and is considered to be a paradise for the book lovers and history lovers, besides the books that are rare in the history of North America can be found there.
The Washington DC’s Library of Congress is a mandatory stop on your next Day Trip to Washington DC from New York.
The Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution, its architecture makes its interior a dazzling masterpiece.
This 3-building complex boasts enormous spaces that house some of the largest and most interesting collections in the world. Among its highlights you will find the “Old King Cole”, a book so small that you need a needle to turn its pages, as well as the oldest document in this library, a stone tablet dating from 2024 BC.
This library also functions as a museum and events center. If you want to know more about the exhibitions and activities in order to better plan your visit, we recommend that you visit their website.
3. Georgetown
This town is historical and was established even before the U.S government established Washington, D.C. as the capital city of the Nation. It is one of the trendiest places to live in the United States of America since it is full of old stone houses and is close to the top university.
Some historical characters, such as Thomas Jefferson, John F. Kennedy and the famous writer Francis Scott Key, used to live there and made the place a must-go.
A historic neighborhood in Washington, located north of the Lincoln Memorial; here the past and the present mix, giving life to one of the most unique and oldest neighborhoods in the city, where you can find mansions and houses from different periods.
Georgetown is full of life, you will find musicians and street performances, as well as various options to shop, taste a good meal and even take a walk along the banks of the Potomac River.
Here you will also find the prestigious Georgetown University, one of the most important in the country, where the Healy Hall is located, an emblematic building that is part of the main campus of this university.
This neighborhood is one of the most picturesque in the city, it is always full of life, a friendly and beautiful environment ideal for any type of plan.
4. National Air and Space Museum
You don’t have to be a kid to be amazed at the National Air and Space Museum since it exhibits pieces such as the 1903 Wright Flyer to Apollo 11 moon landing, which will also excite adults and entire families.
The museum has too much to offer and, amazingly, the basic museum entrance is free, you only may pay for specific activities or to visit some areas of the place.
5. Jefferson Memorial
Thomas Jefferson, who was the third US President, has got a lot of history in Washington, D.C making the Jefferson Memorial another important go-to place in the city.
In fact, this memorial could be one of the places that you can visit on your Washington DC One Day Tour, to get a bit of flavour of politics and American history.
Also, if you visit at the right time, you can participate in Washington’s annual cherry blossom festival which is hosted by this memorial.
6. Lincoln Memorial
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States of America who deserved great respect for all of his work and achievements, thus his memorial is another great place to visit in Washington D.C. Besides, it holds another important element which is that it is the same place where Martin Luther King Jr. had his famous speech.
The memorial is open 24 hours a day, with National Park rangers on hand from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
7. Washington Monument
If I can name the best-known obelisks here on earth, the list couldn’t be completed without the Washington Monument being listed in it.
This is a monument to the military achievement of George Washington during the Revolutionary War.
It can get you the stunning top view of the entire city, but that part of the monument is not accessible for 24 hours, in fact it is open only in the daytime.
8. The Capitol – An emblematic building
El Capitolio de los Estados Unidos es el lugar donde el Congreso se reúne y celebra las sesiones tanto de la Cámara de Representantes como del Senado.
Fue uno de los primeros edificios construidos por el incipiente gobierno estadounidense tras la Guerra de Independencia, lo que lo convierte en uno de los edificios más importantes de los Estados Unidos.
Los visitantes necesitan pases para ingresar al Capitolio; aunque son gratuitos, deben recogerse en la oficina de los congresistas.
Al mismo tiempo, puedes obtener entradas para hacer un recorrido por el edificio del Capitolio o para realizar visitas guiadas y ver a los legisladores en acción.
9. White House
Who in the world would be unaware of the White House? The home of the President of the US is considered to be the symbol of the United States of America to the entire world. Good enough reason to visit it during a day trip to Washington from NYC.
This place holds a number of formal meetings of foreign leaders and other such important personalities of the world. However, the registration to visit this place should be done 6 months prior to your visit through the Congressman’s Office.
10. The National Mall – One of the most visited places
Visitors to Washington, D.C., won’t want to miss a stroll on the National Mall, a greenway that will take them past many of the capital’s important sites.
Located downtown, the National Mall stretches on the west from the US Capitol building to the Potomac River and on the east from the Jefferson Memorial to Constitution Avenue.
Across the streets from the mall, but still considered part of it, are a variety of Smithsonian museums and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
To the east, nearby attractions are memorials to Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and James Garfield, but also the Reflecting Pool.
With about 24 million visitors a year, it is the top tourist attraction in Washington that you may not miss.
This outdoor national park could be considered the heart of Washington D.C., it is full of gardens and is home to some of the most important monuments and museums in the country.
Some of the most outstanding places to visit in and around the National Mall are:
- The White House
- The Capitol
- The Washington Monument
- Some of the museums of the Smithsonian Institution.
If you want to get to know this place thoroughly, the best way to do it is by taking a guided tour; Get to know the most important places in Washington DC and discover all the history they have to tell you.
11. Arlington National Cemetery – The Graveyard of Heroes
The Arlington Cemetery is one of the most visited places in Washington by tourists, here are the graves where American heroes from different wars rest.
This cemetery is also a resting place for important figures in the history of the United States such as President John F. Kennedy, who lies next to the memorial “The Eternal Flame”.
Undoubtedly the capital of the United States is one of the best places to visit; If you want to make the most of your experience, we recommend hiring a Washington DC one day tour, where you will learn everything about the most important places that this city has to offer.
12. Smithsonian Institution Building – The Castle and its museums
The Smithsonian Institution Building, constructed in 1855, is commonly known as The Castle; made of red sandstone this beautiful building has a very striking architecture
This building is used as the headquarters for the Smithsonian Institution’s museums and research centers. Some of the Smithsonian museums in Washington to visit are:
- National Museum of African Art
- National Air and Space Museum
- National Museum of American History
- National Museum of Natural History
- National Gallery of Art
- National Museum of the American Indian
