7/10/2025

Advice for People Visiting Washington DC for the First Time

I participate in an online group that provides advice for first-time DC visitors. Not unexpectedly, we tend to get asked the same questions over and over again. 

The following list of the most common Q&As is by no means comprehensive, but it *is* a great deal more succinct than reading a 200pg guide book, so there's that! 

If you're reading this, you may also be interested in my blog entry titled 'Must See' DC Destinations

10+ TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME VISITORS - PLANNING

1.        Many destinations are free, but require visitors to acquire timed tickets in advance: see “Sites & Ticketing info” in FILES archive of this Facebook site.

2.         Competition for timed tickets can be fierce; plan to request them online as soon as they become available

3.         White House tours can be arranged by contacting your Congressperson

4.         Once you have acquired your tours & timed tickets, plan the rest of your trip around these commitments

5.         Smithsonian museums: they’re much bigger than you expect (allow 2hrs minimum) & close earlier than you may expect (~5:30pm)

6.         Best time to avoid crowds: Oct-Mar. (However, most attractions are designed to accommodate large crowds.)

7.         Consult a map & group your destinations by geography to minimize travel time

8.         Confirm distances. Some attractions associated with DC (ex: Mount Vernon, Alexandria, zoo) are located beyond (sometimes well beyond) the downtown area, requiring additional travel time

9.         Hotels will usually be willing to store your luggage if you arrive early or need to check out before an evening flight

10.      Tourist areas of DC are safe, even at night, as long as you exercise the usual precautions. (Good idea not to leave valuables in car.)

11.      DC protests are usually small and non-disruptive, but check in advance for large events/rallies that might impact roads

12.      Food is likely to be (a lot) more expensive than you’re expecting

13.      Popular restaurants are busy every day of the week; reservations are recommended

14.      Resist the urge to overschedule; assume that everything will take more time than you’re expecting (because it will)

15.      If you have limited time, focus on unique DC experiences – don’t waste time on things you can do elsewhere (ex: zoo)

16.      Consider booking a night-time monument tour to maximize your time. (Also, monuments are lovely at night!)

10+ TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME VISITORS - TRAVEL & HOTELS

1.        Most attractions are located on National Mall, a walkable 2.5ml park anchored by Lincoln Memorial at one end, Capital Building at the other.

2.        Traffic is standard for a busy city, but diagonal roads can create confusing intersections

3.        Street parking is hard to find and often strictly time-limited

4.        There are traffic cameras EVERYWHERE

5.        DC & DC suburbs are serviced by Metro subway system (see 10+ TIPS FOR FIRST TIME VISITORS – USING DC METRO)

6.        Both airports (DCA, IAD) have on-site metro stations

7.        Hop-On/Hop-Off buses are great for orientation & history but often not the best way to get around; buses can be crowded, inconvenient & unreliable

8.        DC Circulator bus service has been discontinued

9.        Most DC attractions don’t offer dedicated parking; commercial parking garages are available but will cost $$ and are not necessarily convenient

10.      Best ways to get around DC: metro, Uber/Lyft, bike/scooter-shares

11.      When pricing DC hotels, remember to factor in overnight parking ($30-$60/night)

12.      Less expensive hotels are available in DC suburbs & connected to DC by metro. (Some hotels even offer metro shuttles)

10+ TIPS FOR FIRST TIME VISITORS - USING DC METRO

1.        Metro stations & trains are clean and safe, even at night

2.        Prices vary by distance but average ~$5/trip during rush hour, ~$2/trip on weekends

3.        Some stations offer parking, some (especially city stations) don’t. Parking at metro-owned lots is $5/day

4.        Official app for trip planning (NOT payment) = MetroPulse.

5.        For tourists, easiest option is usually to buy a physical fare card (vs. using apps).

6.        There is no advantage to buying farecards in advance; every station has multiple machines that can be used to buy new farecards or add fare to existing cards

7.        Every member of your party MUST HAVE THEIR OWN SEPARATE CARD OR FARE ACCOUNT

8.         TIP: Buy only as much fare you’re sure you’ll use. Unused fare can be refunded, but process is laborious

9.         Multi-day passes may not save $$ because people tend to use metro less often than they think they will

10.      Trains are named by color + the last station in the direction they are headed (ex “This is a Green Line train to Branch Ave”)

11.      There are no fixed train schedules; trains arrive every ~10-20mins depending on time of day

12.      Basic rules: No food or drink, no pets, stand to the right when using escalators so folks can pass on the left

13.      Stations do have public bathrooms for emergencies, but you’ll need to ask a stationmaster for the key

14.      Tutorials are available on Youtube

15.      Stationmasters are friendly and happy to help tourists navigate every step of the process

10+ TIPS FOR FIRST TIME VISITORS – ONCE HERE

1.         Forget fashion! Wear your most comfortable shoes; you will walk miles every day

2.         Take a water bottle & use refill stations

3.         Museums don’t have lockers, so plan to carry whatever you bring

4.         Check attractions in advance for special guidance re. security. (Some disallow certain items.)

5.         Pack backpacks/bags with multiple security checkpoints in mind. (See-through bags can save time/trouble.)

6.         Many food trucks engage in exploitative pricing: avoid trucks that don’t post prices & confirm prices BEFORE ordering

7.         Public bathrooms are scarce; use bathrooms at attractions you are visiting

8.         Roads have no shoulders – you will not be able to “pull over” to take photos

9.         For attractions located on/near National Mall, often faster to walk than use transportation

10.      Street vendors often offer the widest & most affordable variety of DC souvenirs

11.      Take frequent breaks – DC is big and exhausting

12.      Hotel concierges can be great resources for info about food, tickets, & transportation; use them!

10+ TIPS FOR FIRST TIME VISITORS WITH DISABILITIES

1.         Most DC attractions have made significant efforts to accommodate visitors with disabilities

2.         Metro is wheelchair friendly/accessible

3.         Not all attractions offer parking & handicapped spaces can fill up quickly.

4.         Many attractions loan/rent mobility devices. Alternatively, mobility devices can be rented from local vendors who will deliver to your hotel

5.         Some attractions offer special hours and/or programs for neurodivergent visitors

6.         Many attractions offer audio tours (headphones or streaming)

7.         Noise-cancelling headphones can help prevent sensory overload, especially in large, echo-y buildings

8.         Some attractions offer “preview videos” that can help reduce anxiety

9.         Most restaurants are able to accommodate “common” food preferences & sensitivities (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free)

10.      Limited food options may make it difficult to accommodate unusual food sensitivities; packing your own food may be advisable (TIP: Services like Uber will deliver groceries to your hotel)

10+ “INSIDER TIPS”

1.         DC is not known for “hidden gems” – most things worth seeing are easy to find

2.         City is known for its plethora of international dining options, especially Ethiopian.

3.         “Hip” restaurants are ephemeral; if you’re a foodie, be sure you’re accessing up-to-date info

4.         DC’s native music is go-go, a form of free-flowing funk

5.         The city teams with free concerts, lectures, and movies, especially during summer

6.         Consult resources like CityCast DC, Washingtonian (calendar), and EventBrite for info about special activities, pop-ups, and events

7.         Professional sporting events offer a range of pre- and post-game activities

8.         Services like TodayTix and Goldstar offer reduced-price tickets to shows

9.         Your hotel concierge may be able to hook you up with unique opportunities

WEATHER TIPS FOR DC VISITORS

WINTER

·          Metro will run in all but the most extreme snow/ice storms

·          Theaters typically do not cancel shows or issue refunds for weather events

·          Museums do not offer lockers, so prepare to carry coats

·          Be aware of much higher pricing for Uber/Lyft during extreme weather events

SUMMER

·          High humidity can add 5-15o to expected temperatures

·          Make a plan for staying safe in summer heat: limit outdoor time, use umbrellas & cooling devices, drink water, take frequent breaks

·          Pop-up thunderstorms are common in summer: potentially violent but highly localized and usually quite short

THINGS THAT CAN BE CHALLENGING TO FIND IN DOWNTOWN DC

·          Regional cuisine (DC doesn’t have one)

·          Natural attractions/farms (DC is a densely developed urban region)

·          Playgrounds/swimming pools (facilities tend to be located in neighborhoods rather than tourist areas)

·          Discount shopping/outlets (real estate is too expensive)

·          Diners & dives (real estate is too expensive)

·          Affordable hotels & food (high demand, limited supply)

·          Hotels that don’t charge for parking