Why go
- Federal capital district of the United States.
- 9 curated must-see attractions on record, including Lincoln Memorial.
- 2 hand-picked places to stay.
- Served by Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).
History
Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington, is the federal capital city of the United States, and its only federal district.
Must-see attractions
Outdoor
400 4th St SW, Washington, DC 20024
Outdoor
6th St. & Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC
2 15th St NW, Washington DC 20007
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500
Outdoor
Outdoor
Where to stay
1100 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004
1401 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004
Airports
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) 3.3 mi to the centre
Washington, DC, US — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 16 airlines (American Airlines, US Airways, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines…) · direct flights to 91 destinations incl. Atlanta, Fort Myers, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Boston… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 16 airlines, 91 direct destinations
- American Airlines AA (CRJ, Embraer 170, Embraer 175, A319, Dash 8-300, 737-800…) · 75 routes: Akron*, Albany*, Bangor*, Birmingham*, Boston, Buffalo*, Burlington, Bush Field*, Charleston*, Charleston*, Charlotte, Chattanooga*, Chicago, Cincinnati*, Columbia*, Columbus*, Dallas-Fort Worth, Dayton, Des Moines*, Detroit*, Fayetteville, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers*, Greensboro*, Greenville*, Halifax*, Hilton Head Island, Huntsville*, Indianapolis*, Islip*, Jackson*, Jacksonville*, Jacksonville NC*, Kansas City*, Knoxville*, Las Vegas, Little Rock*, Los Angeles, Louisville*, Manchester NH* … +35 more
- US Airways US (CRJ, Embraer 170, Embraer 175, A319, 737-800, A320…) · 74 routes: Akron, Albany, Bangor*, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo*, Burlington, Bush Field*, Charleston*, Charleston*, Charlotte, Chattanooga*, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbia*, Columbus*, Dallas-Fort Worth, Dayton, Des Moines*, Detroit*, Fayetteville*, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers*, Greensboro*, Greenville, Halifax*, Hilton Head Island*, Huntsville*, Indianapolis, Islip*, Jackson, Jacksonville*, Jacksonville NC, Kansas City*, Knoxville, Las Vegas, Little Rock*, Los Angeles, Louisville, Manchester NH* … +34 more
- Delta Air Lines DL (Embraer 170, 737-800, MD-88, A319, M90, 737-800…) · 12 routes: Atlanta, Cincinnati*, Detroit, Lexington KY*, Los Angeles*, Madison*, Memphis*, Minneapolis, New York*, New York*, Omaha*, Salt Lake City
- Southwest Airlines WN (737-700, 717) · 7 routes: Atlanta, Austin, Fort Myers*, Houston, Kansas City, Milwaukee*, St. Louis
- United Airlines UA (737-800, A320, 737-700, A319, 757-200, ERJ…) · 6 routes: Chicago, Cleveland*, Denver, Houston, Newark*, San Francisco
- JetBlue Airways B6 (A320, Embraer 190) · 5 routes: Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, San Juan, Tampa
- Air Canada AC (CRJ, Embraer 175) · 3 routes: Montreal*, Ottawa*, Toronto
- AirTran Airways FL (717) · 3 routes: Atlanta, Fort Myers, Milwaukee
- Alaska Airlines AS (737-800) · 3 routes: Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle
- Sun Country Airlines SY (737-700) · 2 routes: Lansing, Minneapolis
- AeroMéxico AM (737-800, M90, MD-88, 737-800) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Air France AF (737-800, M90, MD-88) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Alitalia AZ (MD-88, M90) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Frontier Airlines F9 (A319, A320) · 1 route: Denver
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (M90, MD-88) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Virgin America VX (A320) · 1 route: San Francisco
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) 23 mi to the centre
1 Saarinen Cir, Dulles, VA 20166 — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 39 airlines (United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Lufthansa Cargo, American Airlines…) · direct flights to 126 destinations incl. Atlanta, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Los Angeles… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 39 airlines, 126 direct destinations
- United Airlines UA (ERJ, CRJ-700, CRJ, 737-800, A320, 737-900…) · 110 routes: Albany*, Altoona*, Amsterdam, Atlanta*, Austin, Beckley*, Beijing, Binghamton*, Bogota*, Boston, Brussels, Buffalo*, Burlington*, Cancun, Charleston*, Charleston*, Charlotte*, Charlottesville VA*, Chicago, Cincinnati*, Cleveland, Colorado Springs*, Columbia*, Columbus*, Dakar*, Dallas-Fort Worth, Dayton*, Denver, Detroit*, Dubai, Dublin, Fayetteville*, Fort Lauderdale, Frankfurt, Geneva, Georgetown, Grand Rapids*, Greensboro*, Greenville*, Guatemala City … +70 more
- Delta Air Lines DL (CRJ-700, A330-300, ERJ, 777-300ER, A319, A320…) · 10 routes: Amsterdam*, Atlanta, Detroit, London*, Mexico City, Minneapolis*, Moscow, New York*, Paris, Seoul*
- Lufthansa Cargo LH (A330-300, 767-300, 777, A330-200, 737-800, 737-900…) · 8 routes: Amsterdam*, Atlanta*, Brussels*, Frankfurt, London*, Munich, New Orleans*, Paris*
- American Airlines AA (737-800, 777, 340, 747-400, CRJ-700, CRJ-900…) · 7 routes: Abu Dhabi*, Charlotte, Dallas-Fort Worth, Doha, London*, Los Angeles, Miami
- US Airways US (737-800, A319, A320, A321, 330, A340-300…) · 7 routes: Charlotte, Dakar, Dallas-Fort Worth, Istanbul*, Los Angeles, Miami, San Salvador
- Air Canada AC (ERJ, CRJ, CRJ-700, 737-800, 737-900, Embraer 170) · 4 routes: Montreal*, New Orleans*, Ottawa*, Toronto*
- JetBlue Airways B6 (Embraer 190, A320, 777-300ER) · 4 routes: Boston, Dubai, Long Beach, New York
- AirTran Airways FL (737-700) · 3 routes: Chicago*, Denver*, Tampa*
- AeroMéxico AM (737, MD-88) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, Mexico City
- Air France AF (A319, A320, A380, MD-88, 777-300ER) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, Paris
- Alitalia AZ (A320, A380, MD-88, 777-300ER) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, Paris*
- All Nippon Airways NH (777, CRJ, 777-300ER) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, Tokyo
- Avianca - Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia AV (A319, A320, A321) · 2 routes: Bogota, San Salvador
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (A320, 330, MD-88) · 2 routes: Amsterdam, Atlanta*
- Pacific Wings LW (PA2) · 2 routes: Hagerstown*, Lancaster*
- Saudi Arabian Airlines SV (777) · 2 routes: Jeddah, Riyadh
- Southwest Airlines WN (737-700, 737-800) · 2 routes: Chicago, Denver
- Swiss International Air Lines LX (767-300, 767-400) · 2 routes: Geneva*, Zurich*
- Virgin America VX (A319, A320) · 2 routes: Los Angeles, San Francisco
- Virgin Atlantic Airways VS (A319, A320, A330-300, MD-88, CRJ-700) · 2 routes: Atlanta*, London
- Aer Lingus EI (757-200) · 1 route: Dublin*
- Aeroflot Russian Airlines SU (767-300) · 1 route: Moscow
- Air China CA (777) · 1 route: Beijing*
- Austrian Airlines OS (767-300) · 1 route: Vienna*
- British Airways BA (747-400, 777) · 1 route: London
- Brussels Airlines SN (A330-200) · 1 route: Brussels
- Copa Airlines CM (737-700) · 1 route: Panama City
- Emirates EK (777-300ER) · 1 route: Dubai
- Ethiopian Airlines ET (787-8, 777-200LR) · 1 route: Addis Ababa
- Etihad Airways EY (A340-600) · 1 route: Abu Dhabi
- Finnair AY (747-400, 777) · 1 route: London
- Iberia Airlines IB (747-400, 777) · 1 route: London*
- Icelandair FI (75W) · 1 route: Keflavik
- Korean Air KE (777-200, 777-300ER) · 1 route: Seoul
- Porter Airlines PD (Dash 8-400) · 1 route: Toronto
- Qatar Airways QR (777-300ER) · 1 route: Doha
- Scandinavian Airlines System SK (A340-300) · 1 route: Copenhagen
- South African Airways SA (A340-300) · 1 route: Dakar
- Turkish Airlines TK (330) · 1 route: Istanbul
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Fort Meade Executive Airport (FME) 19 mi to the centre
Fort Meade(Odenton), MD, US — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
College Park Airport (CGS) 8 mi to the centre
College Park, MD, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Montgomery County Airpark (GAI) 20 mi to the centre
Gaithersburg, MD, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Lee Airport (ANP) 25 mi to the centre
Annapolis, MD, US — Indoor waiting area, but you walk out to the aircraft to board — bring an umbrella or a coat if the forecast is poor.
Regional airports
Further out, but often the cheapest way in — the airports the low-cost carriers use. Each links to its own town's guide for getting from there into the city.
Baltimore–Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) 27 mi to the centre
Baltimore, MD, US — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 17 airlines (Southwest Airlines, AirTran Airways, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines…) · direct flights to 72 destinations incl. Atlanta, Charlotte, London, Phoenix, Boston… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Feeder airport · 27 mi from Washington · Southwest Airlines, AirTran Airways, American Airlines · Getting around Baltimore, Maryland →
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 17 airlines, 72 direct destinations
- Southwest Airlines WN (737-700, 73C, 737-300, 737-800, 737-800) · 53 routes: Albany, Albuquerque, Atlanta, Austin, Birmingham, Boston, Buffalo, Charleston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Denver, Detroit, Flint, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Grand Rapids, Greenville, Houston, Indianapolis, Islip, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Louisville, Manchester NH, Memphis, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Orlando, Panama City, Phoenix, Pittsburgh … +13 more
- AirTran Airways FL (737-700, 73C, 737-700, 717, 737-300, 737-800…) · 45 routes: Albany*, Albuquerque*, Atlanta, Austin*, Boston*, Buffalo*, Cancun, Charlotte*, Chicago*, Cleveland*, Columbus*, Dayton*, Denver*, Detroit*, Flint*, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Indianapolis*, Islip*, Las Vegas, Los Angeles*, Louisville*, Manchester NH*, Memphis*, Montego Bay, Nashville*, Nassau, New Orleans*, Norfolk*, Oranjestad, Orlando, Phoenix*, Pittsburgh*, Portland*, Providence*, Punta Cana, Raleigh-durham*, Rochester*, Salt Lake City*, San Antonio* … +5 more
- American Airlines AA (A319, A320, Embraer 190, ERJ-145, A321, 737…) · 8 routes: Charlotte, Chicago*, Dallas-Fort Worth, London*, Miami, New York*, Philadelphia, Phoenix
- Delta Air Lines DL (A320, ERJ, MD-88, M90, A319, 717…) · 7 routes: Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York*, Raleigh-durham, Salt Lake City
- United Airlines UA (737-800, A319, 737-900, A320, 737-700, ERJ…) · 7 routes: Chicago, Cleveland*, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark*, San Francisco
- US Airways US (A319, A320, Embraer 190, ERJ-145, A321, 734…) · 7 routes: Charlotte, Chicago*, Dallas-Fort Worth, Miami, New York*, Philadelphia, Phoenix
- Spirit Airlines NK (A320, A319) · 5 routes: Dallas-Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Myrtle Beach
- AeroMéxico AM (A320, 757, MD-88, 737-700) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Air Canada AC (Dash 8-100) · 1 route: Toronto*
- Air France AF (717, MD-88, M90, 737-700) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Alitalia AZ (717, 757, MD-88, M90) · 1 route: Atlanta*
- Bahamasair UP (734) · 1 route: Freeport
- British Airways BA (767) · 1 route: London
- Finnair AY (767) · 1 route: London
- Iberia Airlines IB (767) · 1 route: London*
- JetBlue Airways B6 (Embraer 190) · 1 route: Boston
- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines KL (757, MD-88, M90, 737-700) · 1 route: Atlanta*
Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.
Getting there by ferry
The Wharf Ferry Landing
Ferry terminal · 1.3 mi from the centre · City Cruises by Hornblower
City Cruises Washington DC
Ferry terminal · 1.7 mi from the centre · CityCruises by Hornblower
Georgetown Ferry Landing
Ferry terminal · 1.8 mi from the centre
Diamond Teague Ferry Landing
Ferry terminal · 2.3 mi from the centre
Alexandria City Marina (Old Town) Ferry Landing
Ferry terminal · 6.5 mi from the centre
National Harbor Ferry Landing
Ferry terminal · 7.8 mi from the centre
Wharf Jitney
Ferry route · District Wharf
Georgetown, DC - The Wharf, DC
Ferry route · Potomac Riverboat Company
Alexandria, VA - Georgetown, DC
Ferry route · Potomac Riverboat Company
Alexandria, VA - The Wharf, DC
Ferry route · Potomac Riverboat Company
Diamond Teague, DC - Alexandria, VA (Seasonal)
Ferry route · Potomac Riverboat Company
Alexandria, VA - National Harbor, MD
Ferry route · Potomac Riverboat Company
Alexandria, VA - Gaylord National, MD
Ferry route · Potomac Riverboat Company
Where things are
Local search powered by Geoverts and geo-intelligence by Better Mapping
base map © OSM
Photographs
credit: Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons · See source page
When to go
Tourist season
May – September
The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.
Shoulder season
April, October
Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.
Worth avoiding
Deep winter
Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.
Getting there & around
Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA); 1 other airport serves the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: DCA has direct flights to 91 destinations on 16 airlines (incl. Atlanta, Fort Myers, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Boston…). By water: 6 ferry terminals within 12 mi (nearest: The Wharf Ferry Landing, 1.3 mi); routes include Wharf Jitney, Georgetown, DC - The Wharf, DC, Alexandria, VA - Georgetown, DC.
Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Washington, D.C.. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.
Local transit
Metrorail, bus · The Washington Metro and Metrobus. · Fares: SmarTrip card or contactless · Airport: Silver Line to Dulles; Blue/Yellow lines to Reagan National
Bus, Rail · Maryland · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Public transit · Schedules & GTFS data
Bus · Fairfax, Virginia · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Bus · Virginia · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Bus · Virginia · Schedules & GTFS data (official feed)
Trains & rail
National rail
Coaches & shuttles
About four and a half hours to Union Station. · New York (Manhattan), NY guide →
Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Intercity coach
Private aviation
On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.
Jet card, management · Managed fleet across US bases · Locally based jet card and aircraft management with private terminals in ~20 US cities.
Helicopter, by-the-seat · Helicopters, seaplanes, jets via partners · By-the-seat helicopters Manhattan–JFK/Newark and the Hamptons; jet charter through partners.
Membership charter · King Air 350i, Citation, Hawker, Global · US membership and on-demand charter; Delta Air Lines is a major shareholder.
Semi-private scheduled · Embraer 135 (16 seats) · First-class-only scheduled flights from Van Nuys to Aspen, Sun Valley, Cabo and Europe in summer.
Charter, management, FBO · Managed fleet, light to ultra-long-range · Charter, management and FBOs at Van Nuys and Orange County; the original Hollywood jet operator.