There are so many beautiful places to visit in Washington, DC. To where to stay, where to eat, and what to do, you won’t regret a visit to this beautiful city. Some of my favourites include walking down the streets of Georgetown, a neighbourhood in Washington DC, and enjoying the green spaces at the National Mall. You certainly won’t be disappointed if you’re lucky enough to visit these 5 beautiful places to visit in Washington DC.
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5 Beautiful Places To Visit In Washington DC
I was fortunate enough to visit Washington for work on three separate occasions. Whenever I could, I would tag on extra days and would go out and visit as much of the city as I could when I had spare time. I also had the unique advantage of having local colleagues offer their local take on the best places to eat and where to stay. Washington, D.C., is one of my favourite cities in the world. It’s beautiful, clean, has lots of green spaces, and holds so much history.
There’s a hustle and bustle vibe to this city that is contagious. When you visit this city for the first time, you’ll quickly feel the enormous political power this city holds given it is home to the White House (and the U.S. Capitol).
Washington is home to some of the most historical and recognizable monuments, memorials, galleries and museums. Some of them include the Martin Luther King Jr, Thomas Jefferson and the Vietnam Veterans Memorials. The National Air and Space and The National Gallery of Art Museums, and The Library of Congress, are also popular sites to visit.
You will have seen many of Washington’s monuments and landscapes countless times on TV or in movies. I found that everything about the city was better and even more grandiose than I could’ve ever imagined after seeing them countless times on the big screen.
If you’ve watched the TV series The West Wing (I’ve watched the series four times!) and notably the TV series Scandal – the way they portray the city landscape and its many monuments will be precisely how you would’ve imagined, actually better.
The White House
I’m a political nerd, so I was personally star struck to be so close to The White House and actually to get to visit the East Wing. Tour requests must be submitted through one’s Member of Congress and no less than 21 days in advance.
The White House, at least the East Wing, felt smaller than I had imagined. There are so many rooms, but they are all relatively small. It was neat to visit many of the rooms that you might’ve heard of or seen on TV such as the Blue room, the Red Room, the Green Room, and the Vermeil room.
The U.S. Capitol
The United States Capitol also referred to as the Capitol Building, is home to the U.S. Congress and the U.S. federal government’s legislative branch.
It’s a pretty neat building, and if you’re a fan of politics and like visiting these places when visiting a new city, this is for you. It’s much easier to get passes for guided tours to visit the Capitol Building than visit the White House. Advance reservations are recommended, but not required.
The US Capitol is located at the eastern end of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
The National Mall
The National Mall is my favourite location in Washington, D.C. It’s a pretty special moment the first time you get to see it. It’s a park that stretches 2 miles from the U.S Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial. Also, it’s home to my favourite, The Washington Monument.
You’ll also find at the National Mall the World War II Memorial. A beautiful and powerful park.
The Washington Monument
There’s just something about this monument. I must’ve taken pictures of this monument from every possible angle. It’s so majestic and can be seen from every corner of the city. The Washington Monument was built to commemorate George Washington, the first President of the United States.
The Washington Monument Address.
Where to Stay
The first time I visited Washington, D.C., I stayed at the Fairmont Washington D.C. Georgetown. I also stayed at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, which was great and the perfect location for sightseeing and being close to the world-famous monuments.
Located in the West End of Washington, closer to Georgetown, The Fairmont Washington is on the pricier side, but such a treat to stay at and my favourite.
Where to Eat
The Hamilton was by far my favourite place to eat in Washington DC. I’ve returned many times. The restaurant offers an eclectic vibe and an extensive menu.
If you want to treat yourself to fine dining, The Capital Grille is a popular spot for great steak and wine.
Georgetown, D.C.
Just steps away from Washington, D.C. is my kind of town: quaint and charming Georgetown.
On my first visit to Washington, D.C. and my first time exploring Georgetown, I stumbled upon ENO Wine Bar, a cute little wine bar. Every time I’ve returned to Washington, D.C., I’ve made a point to go back to this wine bar. They have a fantastic wine list, and they’ll help you pair it with cheeses, charcuterie boards and even chocolate! If you’re into charcuterie boards and good wine, this is the place to go. I like sitting at the bar where you can interact with staff who often have great stories and backgrounds.
If you’ve ever watched and enjoyed the TLC show DC Cupcakes, you’ll want to visit Georgetown Cupcake. It’s just down the street from ENO Bar and makes a perfect dessert! It’s worth the visit!
M Street NW offers lots of great little boutiques and shops. On one side, if you take one of the side roads, it’ll take you to the waterfront, and there you can find great dining spots with a view. On the other side, if you take any side streets, you’ll end up walking by some of the most picturesque brick houses. The bricks century style homes are so beautiful, just walking in the little streets will make your heart happy.
The Climate
The city lies on Potomac River, which flows through many cities, including Washington. It’s the fourth largest river close to the Atlantic Ocean. Washington has a similar climate to some Canadian regions with winter months that can be quite cold and summers that can be hot and humid.
If you’re lucky enough to visit in the spring, you’ll enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms. Although I always visited the city in the spring, I unfortunately still just missed the cherry blossoms. I’d like to come back to witness the beautiful cherry blossoms.
I would recommend visiting the city in the warmer months, especially if it’s your first time visiting to make it easier to walk around and do some sightseeing.
I love this city and I cannot recommend it enough, I cannot wait until I get the chance to visit again. If you’re looking for some ideas for a three-day itinerary, you can check out this article.
Have you ever been to Washington or Georgetown, any recommendations or favourites? Please share in the comment section below!
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Each time I go to DC, I discover something new. I am long overdue for a visit as this post reminded me!
I loved reading this post! My mother in law was just telling me last week how much she absolutely loves Washington, DC. I’m going to have to put this on my travel list – I’m especially interested in National Mall and ENO wine bar! 🙂
I absolutely love DC! I have visited 3 times when a family friend was living in Alexandria and just loved it there. I can’t wait to go back one day and revisit all of these spots 🙂
Love your blog so much! It’s so beautiful 💛 As a political nerd myself, I also feel like I’d been in such awe at the white house! Washington looks so amazing, I really need to visit! Georgetown looks adorable, too! Definitely on my bucket list 🤩
The cherry blossoms are great. I lived in the Maryland suburbs as a little kid and we saw them most years. If you go in the springtime, the National Arboretum is worth a visit. And if you have kids the National Zoo is always a good bet, plus they’ve got pandas.
It looks like such a gorgeous city! I have always wanted to visit to see the cherry blossoms, but it looks like it would be pretty at any time of year.
Can foreigners also visit the white house? We wouldn’t have a member of congress to write to!
This is a fantastic post for Washington DC! I have not been to Washington DC, yet, but would love to visit. My husband visited a few years ago and loved the National Mall. Your photos make it look beautiful! I cannot wait to visit one day and use this helpful guide when planning my trip!
I need to visit DC and spend more time there.. I have only visited on a day trip.. Will definitely check some of these places out..
So many great picks! I was in DC for a short weekend last year and managed to make it to 3/5 of these! There’s so much to do though that I’m gonna have to go back again someday to explore more!
I love that there is so much history but also quaint spots in DC. Definitely on my bucket list!
What a fun post! I went to college there so don’t think about it from a tourist point of view and loved reading this. It was like a trip down memory lane through someone else’s eyes. Ah the cherry blossoms are the best!
What an amazing place to visit! My family has always wanted to go! We will absolutely keep your recommendations in mind when we do visit! Thanks for sharing!
Great post! I was supposed to visit DC this summer and see all of these amazing places. I hope it will happen soon. Thank you for sharing!