Washington DC in 5 Days: everything you need to know

Washington DC is not only the command centre of the United States, but is also home to several parks, museums, monuments and picturesque neighbourhoods that offer a wealth of things to see and do in the capital of the United States for anyone who visits.

In the itinerary I recommend here you will learn about the "must-sees" of this great little city and its history.

On your first day it's normal that you're looking to recover after a long trip, so my recommendation is to schedule a quiet day.

How about starting with a patriotic tour? You are in the capital of one of the most powerful countries in the world and this theme is present everywhere you look. If it's not a monument, it's a museum, or a flag flying over any building, and what better place to start than the National Mall.

In this huge complex, your starting point will be the White House, then you'll head to the Washington Monument and, passing through the country's most important memorials, you'll arrive at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial.

In the afternoon, you'll tour the Dupont Circle area, a historic neighbourhood that is one of the most recommended for leisurely strolls. Let's get started!

The White House

The White House is one of the most iconic and representative buildings of the power of this American nation.

All the presidents of the United States have occupied it as their official residence since the early 1800s, with the exception of George Washington, who despite being the main figure behind the project, was unable to live in it due to his sudden death, months before the inauguration.

If you come from abroad and wish to see the inside of the White House, tours are available free of charge. And, of course, you can add a guided tour of Washington DC But you'd better be prepared, because it can take up to three months to get clearance.

Check with your country's embassy in Washington DC for guidance on this process.

Washington Monument

After a 15-18 minute walk along 15th St. NW, you will arrive at the Washington Monument. Standing nearly 170 metres tall, the "world's largest obelisk" is a familiar sight in action or thriller films.

However, the most memorable (and non-fictional!) appearance ever recorded on this stage occurred in 1963, when Martin Luther King Jr.* during a famous civil march was inspired to make his "I have a dream" speech in front of more than 200,000 people.

World War II Memorial & Korean War Veterans Memorial

If you're in the mood for a bite to eat, I recommend a stop at the Sweet Home Cafe, located just steps from the Washington Monument inside the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

After this break, follow the route in the direction of the Lincoln Memorial. It will be easy to find... a huge reflecting pool over 600 m long will accompany you all the way.

On your first steps, you will come across several monuments called "Lincoln Memorial", including the Lincoln Memorial. War Memorials and Arlington National Cemetery in WashingtonAmong them is the World War II Memorial, which honours the 16 million soldiers who served in the US armed forces during the conflict. Since its opening in 2004, it has been a popular spot for visitors.

If you walk along the left edge of this large pool, in just 10 minutes you will find access to the Korean War Veterans Memorial. This space with 19 steel sculptures commemorates the sacrifice of the 5.8 million American soldiers in this war, considered one of the toughest in history.

Lincoln Memorial

And you may have noticed by now, but all along this part of the loop since you left the Washington Monument, you've had the Lincoln Memorial in front of you. Now you've arrived. Only now it's up a few steps.

This monument, like Abraham Lincoln, is considered to be one of the most loved and remembered...

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

Now, head in the direction of the Potomac River and, a few meters (10 minutes) walk along the riverbank, you will find the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, the 32nd President of the United States. 32nd President of the United States.

The design includes different open rooms with bronze sculptures recounting different historical episodes during his tenure, such as the Great Depression and World War II, but also honours those who always accompanied him, such as Fala, his loyal and charming canine companion. You can explore which visit to the Arlington War Memorials and Arlington Cemetery in Washington DC interests you most.

At this point, the first part of the tour will be over. To get out of this area, I recommend taking one of the DCBUS Circulator buses, or take the Metro Red Line. Take it towards Shady Grove to your next destination: Dupont Circle.

Dupont Circle: a quick getaway to an inner-city neighbourhood

This nineteenth-century neighbourhood with its bohemian atmosphere has a little bit of everything for everyone. Just under 200m from the Metro station is The Phillips Collection, considered to be the first modern art museum in North America. From Renoir to Rothko, there are many works hidden in this unconventional museum.

Walk towards Connecticut Avenue NW and you will find the restaurants and bars that fill the soul of this neighbourhood. Here you'll have plenty of options in international cuisine for a tasty dinner... all in one neighbourhood! The live music in bars and nightclubs is incredible.

The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest educational, research and museum complex, and from this day, you can see for yourself.

National Museum of American History

This free, three-story museum houses collections related to American culture. From George Washington's favourite armchair to the Batmobile, Muhammad Ali's gloves to a Swedish chef from the Muppet Show, it doesn't matter! If you enter this museum, you'll find something interesting, fun and unique in American history and pop culture.

To make the most of your time here, I recommend you check out the available exhibits and choose ahead of time which one you don't want to miss. In case you want to grab a snack before continuing, you can go to the LeRoy Neiman Jazz Café, conveniently located on the first floor of the building.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

The galleries of the National Museum of African American History and Culture show the raw journey of rejection and mistreatment that more than 3 million West Africans have experienced. The lift that takes you from one gallery to the next simulates time travel with key episodes from their history. Thus, on the deepest and darkest floor, the "less luminous" chapters occurred and, as you go up and the picture becomes clearer, the freedoms and rights of the black community also become more visible. A space for education and reflection on an issue that is still current today.

The museum opened in 2016 and is very busy, so much so that you are advised to book online up to 30 days before your visit.

An ideal night tour to review and look under a different sky

I'm sure you've already done a lot of walking during the day, and maybe you'd like to do the next activity in a comfy seat. How about booking a night tour in a minivan?

The three-hour tour takes you to sites you've already seen on the first day, such as the White House, the World War II Memorial and the Washington Monument, so it wouldn't hurt to review with a guide.

Other stops include the Capitol, FBI Headquarters, the Jefferson Memorial and some museums that, at night, turn into glowing giants that are a must-see.

Mount Vernon is the home of George Washington. Here, he lived with his wife and 20 other family members for decades. This property, originally over 3,000 hectares, was also the source of the wealth and status of the man who would become the first president of the United States.

The estate is located in Mount Vernon, Virginia, about 12 km south of Alexandria. It's easily accessible from Washington DC by public transport, boat or tour bus along the Potomac River, although it may be more convenient to book a bus tour from Washington.

What you'll see on this tour

In addition to the massive estate where you'll see the residence's museum, gardens and farms, this tour takes you through old Alexandria.

Here, the home of an American Civil War figure, General Edward Lee, old town churches and other colonial-era Virginia buildings surrounded by a timeless Potomac are just some of the attractions waiting for you. Definitely an interesting tour not to be missed.

Returning from Mount Vernon? A stroll through the Adams Morgan neighbourhood

Adams Morgan is a neighbourhood that's a real eye-catcher for its nightlife and beautiful 19th- and 20th-century architecture.

On the main thoroughfare, 18th Street, bars and live music venues share the street with quirky boutiques. Among the most famous bars you'll find here are the Amsterdam Falafel and the Jumbo Slice where, as the name suggests, you can eat the biggest slices of pizza of your life!

If the night has fallen and you're in the mood for more, how about karaoke? Don't worry, if you like to sing, but don't dare to do it in front of a bunch of strangers, here you'll find a private version of karaoke called muzette, where only you and your friends will have ears for your performance. It's a city with an excellent public transport system, but you can also take the DCBUS Circulator or even get there by bike.

On this fourth day it's time to head to the other end of the National Mall, near the Capitol. This tour will take you to spend a day enjoying works of art on walls and walls, but also in hedges and flower pots.

However, to make the most of the tour and avoid the midday sun, I suggest you arrive early (between 8 and 9 am) to your first destination: the Botanical Garden.

U.S. Botanical Garden

Established in 1820, this is one of the oldest botanical gardens in North America. A conservatory, an outdoor garden and Bartholdi Park are part of this attraction that, in addition to creating an aesthetically pleasing environment, seeks to promote the economic, cultural and ecological importance of plants.

It is also a space for education and training where demonstrations on sustainable practices are given .

Start your tour in the outdoor gardens and the Bartholdi fountain, so that once the conservatory opens (10 am) you will be on time for the tour inside, where you can spend about two hours getting to know it.

Hirshhorn Museum

Around noon, you'll be entering your second museum... another Smithsonian! With this, you should already know that it will be worth it and besides, it's free. To get there, take Independence Avenue SW in the direction of the Washington Monument. It will take you about 12 minutes of leisurely stroll.

This museum opened its doors in 1974. It exhibits some of the most extraordinary works in painting, sculpture and photography related to modern and contemporary art.

• It has a collection of over 12,000 pieces and growing! For this museum, I also recommend that you check the available exhibits in advance to get the most out of your tour.
• An average length of stay for this museum is 2-3 hours, including the Sculpture Garden (in the outdoor area in front of the museum).
• If you're already hungry for lunch, I suggest you visit Pavilion Cafe, a restaurant with a panoramic view of the Sculpture Garden across the street from Madison Dr and a varied menu of salads, soups and sandwiches. Note that it closes at 4:00 pm.

National Gallery of Art

Although not part of the Smithsonian, this art gallery is also free. Its many rooms house art gems from periods ranging from Byzantine and Medieval to Pop and Conceptual art in America and Europe - a treasure trove for art lovers!

• This museum, where you will have the opportunity to admire the only da Vinci in the United States, opened its doors in 1941, and since then it is one of the major attractions in Washington DC and one of the most visited museums in the USA.
• The gallery closes at 5:00 pm. If you arrive 1.5 or 2 hours earlier, you will have enough time to walk around and see the most renowned works exhibited here.
• When you're done, you can take advantage of the evening light to take some pictures and get up close to the Smithsonian Pollinator Garden. Just take Madison Dr again and cross 7th NW and 9th Street. It's lovely.

If you feel like more, you can walk or take the Metro to Chinatown to the north.

In the same sector as the previous itinerary, there are two other museums you'll spend the last day at: the National Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space Museum.

Although at this point you may already be feeling a little tired, come on, there will be time to rest and reminisce about this extraordinary trip!

National Museum of Natural History

This museum is dedicated to understanding the natural world and our role in it. As you walk through its exhibits, you will learn about the theories on the origin of life, climate change, the evolution of species and more events that have been present in this "experimental field" for millions of years.

If you want to know more about what this museum has to offer, you can take a look at their website here.

This museum, with over 145 million artefacts and specimens recorded, is recognised as the largest natural history collection in the world. It will be impossible to see it in one day, but as a recommendation, set aside at least two and a half hours for your visit, for which you can book a tour

The next visit is to the National Air and Space Museum. To get there, just walk down Madison Dr NW towards the National Gallery of Art and, at 7th St, turn right and walk a few more minutes to Jefferson Dr SW, where the museum is located.

National Air and Space Museum

With over 60,000 objects, this museum is recognised as the largest collection of aviation and space-related objects in the world. With engines, aircraft, space modules and artifacts to flight simulators and a planetarium, this place seems "from another planet."

A tour of the major exhibits can be done with a minimum of 3 hours. If you think you're going to be on a tight schedule, or you'd prefer to just walk around with a guide, you can join a 2-hour private tour, where an expert guide will take you through the must-see images in an orderly fashion.

Towards the Potomac

During the previous days, you've seen the Potomac in the landscape time and time again, but on this last day... Why not cruise the Potomac?

Say goodbye to this extraordinary trip by booking a cruise on the Potomac, taking in the banks of this massive body of water and seeing the illuminated monuments of the National Mall as night falls.

On this 3-hour tour, you'll enjoy a delicious three-course dinner, with live music on board and a great atmosphere.

• Don't rely on distances on the National Mall If you look at a map, you'll notice that the various attractions are all within a very small space, but don't be fooled! If you're looking for shortcuts or changing destinations, study your route in advance and take advantage of some mobile phone apps designed for this purpose.
• Take advantage of public transport This city is very interconnected and has excellent transport (buses, Metro, bicycles, electric vehicles...). The service is affordable and there are even ways to save even more with passes, pre-paid cards, etc.
• Eat at least something before you leave and don't forget the water. Although the National Mall receives thousands of people every hour, it's not exactly a place to find a lot of food options. For that, eat a full breakfast if possible, and take advantage of the outings to the different neighbourhoods to the north, which, as I said, are small but you'll be able to try everything.