Washington Day Trips from New York

The illustrious city of Washington embodies the spirit of the United States with its streets and museums dominated by the Capitol. On a trip to Washington you can see, among other things, the White House and the Pentagon.

A trip to Washington from New York is one of the best trips you can take from the Big Apple, and in fact, there are several types of tours to suit all budgets and trip lengths. Here are the ones that I think are the best:

Seeing Washington's major monuments is easy, as most of them are located within the National Mall. As you might imagine, the main interest of these monuments is related to the political history of the United States and its presidents. Most day trips to Washington and two-day tours follow a similar itinerary:

National Mall

The National Mall (also known as the National Mall) is the expanse that contains the Capitol, the famous Obelisk, the Lincoln Memorial, the Smithsonian Institution building, and other points of interest.

Capitol Hill and the Library of Congress

Start the day with a visit to the iconic Capitol, home of the United States Congress, and the Library of Congress, which is free to enter at your leisure and marvel at its spectacular interior.

U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial

You'll know this memorial statue when you see it. It depicts American soldiers raising the flag on Iwo Jima, and if you're lucky you'll see a military parade passing in front of it.

Lincoln Memorial

Located at the west end of the National Mall, the memorial dedicated to President Abraham Lincoln has been the site of numerous historically significant speeches, including Martin Luther King's famous speech in 1963.

Korean War Veterans Memorial

To the southeast of the Lincoln Memorial you'll find a series of steel statues depicting a group of soldiers, arranged in the shape of a triangle in front of a wall of Korean War imagery.

The White House

A must-see if you take a trip to Washington. Even if you don't take a tour of the interior, you can still see the distinctive building from the outside fence (except on some occasions, such as official events).

Martin Luther King Jr

Unveiled in 2011, the monument consists of a granite statue of the leader of the Civil Rights Movement carved out of a boulder on its back, which bears a series of inscriptions relating to Martin Luther King Jr.

Arlington National Cemetery

This military cemetery is home to the remains of more than 14,000 veterans of wars as old as the American Civil War. Arlington National Cemetery is quite unique, with headstones rising out of the ground along a grove of trees.

First of all, it's worth bearing in mind that the round trip will take you about seven hours. If you're reading this, you know that discovering new places is always worthwhile, and Washington is an interesting enough city in general to justify the long trip from New York. Plus, with an organised tour you won't have to worry about how to get to Washington from New York.

That said, one day is enough to see the sights and buildings of interest in Washington, so some tours combine a visit to Washington with a tour of Philadelphia.

As you might imagine, it's best to visit Washington during the week and avoid Saturdays and Sundays. In particular, the best days to do this tour are Mondays and Wednesdays, and the sights tend to be less crowded after 2pm. Many of the museums and monuments are closed on holidays, so try to avoid public holidays to see as much as possible.

If you happen to be visiting New York in spring or autumn, you'll be lucky to be able to take a trip to Washington at the best time of year. Winter in Washington is quite cold, and the problem with summer is that it usually rains at least once a week and is quite hot. The best time to visit Washington is in spring, when you'll have the chance to enjoy the city's almond blossoms.

Beware of restaurants in the more touristy areas! A meal for two can easily run up to US$50. If you're on a tight budget, it's best to pack food in your backpack or look for cheaper dining options, as most tours to Washington from New York don't include food.

Here are some of my recommendations:

As a general rule of thumb, I recommend that you wear comfortable clothes and footwear suitable for a full day's walking, as even if you take public transport you'll still have to walk a little to visit each monument. Washington DC is an elegant city and the locals reflect this: the style of dress tends to be smart rather than casual. You won't find too many people wearing flip-flops, shorts or T-shirts, so if you don't want to look like a tourist it's best to avoid this type of attire.

Check the weather before you travel

With this in mind, it makes sense if you're visiting the city in summer to dress as cool as possible as temperatures are quite high. As you know, it tends to rain, so it's a good idea to pack a mackintosh or umbrella just in case. Winters are cold and temperatures rarely go above freezing, so be prepared for some pretty extreme temperatures.

Alex's Traveler Tip

If you're visiting Washington during the warmer months, Arlington Cemetery will be full of mosquitoes - take repellent with you if you don't want to be massacred!

You'll love Washington if you're interested in American politics and history, if you enjoy strolling through cities full of monuments, parks and imposing squares, and if you're interested in architecture and urban planning as Washington has a somewhat unique floor plan. If this isn't your style, since you're in New York, try some of the hundreds of tours of New York City that exist.

Washington with kids

And if you're visiting with kids, don't worry: it's easy to get around the city using public transport, which is also safe and good quality. You won't have to walk too far and thanks to the abundance of parks and esplanades you'll be able to take a break from sightseeing when you need to.

Don't forget

A few tips we can give you before your trip is not to carry too much cash to avoid having it stolen or lost, but be aware that some restaurants and local shops do not accept credit cards (for example, at Pho 75, you can only pay in cash). For the same reason, avoid carrying valuables and leave what you don't need at your hotel or flat.

Remember to carry your passport and be prepared to go through the occasional security check, especially at monuments and landmarks such as Arlington Cemetery. Washington DC takes security quite seriously, not least because of the city's political importance.

Get travelling!