Planning to spend a weekend in Washington DC? From Union Market and the National Mall to the city’s top galleries and free museums, this Washington DC travel blog will help you plan.
From the amazing food scene at Union Market to wandering along the National Mall, and checking out some of the top galleries and museums on the planet, Washington DC is a city with something for everyone!
It’s one of those iconic cities that I’ve grown up feeling like I knew. I’d seen it in movies and TV shows, and whilst I’d never been, it felt strangely familiar.
I was excited to spend a weekend in Washington DC and see iconic landmarks including The White House and The US Capitol. I was also really looking forward to seeing what else the city had to offer. Beyond the façades made famous through politics and TV, what else is going on?
I wasn’t disappointed – there were a lot of places to visit in Washington DC! From the magic of the Renwick Gallery’s exhibition dedicated to Burning Man Festival, to the many top restaurants serving exceptional cuisine, we found a lot to fill our weekend with.
It was also great to see how budget-friendly a lot of places were. This is a city filled with free museums and galleries, and it’s surprisingly walkable too.
So if you’re planning to spend a weekend in Washington DC, check out the video for a flavour of what’s on offer, then scroll down to read about what we got up to in the city. Don’t worry – I’ve packed this Washington DC travel blog FULL of amazing places to visit, restaurant suggestions and a heap of spots you might not know about if it’s your first time in the city.
Check Out Washington DC’s Food Scene
Washington is one of the only places in the USA with the Michelin guide, which foodies will know is a good indication of the level of cuisine in the city! It’s a cosmopolitan city, so you’ll find anything you fancy, from Chinese to Mexican, Lebanese to German.
It’s also worth noting the city has the biggest Ethiopian population outside of the country itself, so if you’ve never had the chance to try that cuisine, I’d urge you do to it here.
If you’re spending the weekend in Washington DC, here are a few food spots to try out.
China Chilcano
My favourite restaurant in the city, it’s one of a collection by superstar chef Jose Andres. It serves a fusion of Japanese, Chinese and Peruvian. Ceviche and dim sum on the same menu? YES I was in heaven!
Mi Vida
This trendy Mexican restaurant is down on District wharf. While you’ll find classics like tacos, nachos and margaritas, there are also some great twists, like this delicious main course of prawn and scallops with a tangy avocado salsa.
Union Market
I love food markets, and this is one of the best and most varied I’ve visited in a long time. There are around 20 stalls all under one roof, some of which started out as popular DC food trucks before laying down roots in the market hall. Takorean (a Korean taco fusion) is my top pick. The arepas were fab too.
Coolest Bars In Washington DC
From rooftop bars and secret speakeasies, to al fresco spots and breweries, there are plenty of places to enjoy a cocktail or a beer on your weekend in Washington DC.
Calico
This bar feels like a gorgeous secret summer spot, with its outdoor terrace and quirky décor. It’s kitsch and fun, serving up tasty cocktails, including alcoholic juice boxes and great snacks and sharers.
POV Bar at the W Hotel
If you’re looking for a bar with a spectacular DC view, this is it! POV Bar overlooks several important buildings and landmarks in the centre of the city, including The White House.
I loved how you could see along the National Mall too. It was the perfect spot to raise a final toast to our time in the city.
Blue Jacket Brewery
The craft beer scene is booming, so if you love beer, definitely stop by Blue Jacket.
Located near Yards Park, once inside you can watch all the processes going on.
As you may know, I’m not much of a beer lover, but I was surprised by the flavours here. There were some fruity beers using passion fruit and strawberries which almost converted me!
Explore The Amazing Free Galleries And Museums In Washington DC
One of my favourite things about Washington DC is how many great museums and galleries there are… and even better, pretty much all of them are free!
In just a couple of days we visited several of the top galleries in the city, so here are the ones I’d recommend.
National Portrait Gallery
There are some incredible portraits on display at the moment including a whole exhibition of presidential portraits.
This includes Kehinde Wiley’s vibrant painting of Barack Obama which has been extremely popular (there was a queue to get near it!) I also love the beautiful courtyard in this building – it’s light, airy and a very calming space.
Renwick Gallery
When we visited Washington DC there was a Burning Man exhibition on at the Renwick Gallery.
Wacky and colourful creations, intriguing costumes and soundscapes make this a totally unique experience.
National Gallery of Art
You could spend all day here – it’s massive! We started in the sculpture garden, which I’d definitely recommend. Then we ventured into the West Building to check out the historical artworks before visiting my favourite part – the East Building where the modern works are displayed.
From paintings by Pollock to Rothko, to the colourful hanging mobiles by Calder, there’s plenty to look at. Don’t forget to visit Leo Villareal’s Multiverse – a moving walkway with a magical lightshow which connects the buildings via the basement.
Explore The City On A Carpe DC Food Tour
I always love getting to know a city through its food, and this U Street Tour was a great introduction to the area famed for ‘Black Broadway’, the city’s jazz heritage and its Ethiopian community.
From chilli at Ben’s Chilli Bowl, to my first taste of Ethiopian food (yum!) and checking out the colourful murals, I finished the tour with a greater understanding of the city’s history. A food tour is also one of the best things to do in Georgetown, if you’re looking to explore that part of the city.
Venture To District Wharf
To be honest I’d never considered Washington DC to be a ‘waterfront’ destination, but it is! I heard from locals this part of the city has totally transformed in recent years into the buzzy area it is today.
There are live music venues like Pearl Street Warehouse, great restaurants including chic Mexican Mi Vida (see above) and pontoons and docks to enjoy views, boat trips and more.
Channel Your Inner James Bond At The International Spy Museum
Awaken your inner secret agent with a trip to Washington’s Spy Museum. This was a truly unique experience, charting the history of the world’s most famous spies, secret agents and criminals.
I loved how interactive it was (definitely one of the most fun things to do in Washington DC!) with chances to crack codes, test your strength and more. This is a museum that’s great for big-ish kids and grown-ups alike.
Tour The US Capitol
Another truly unique DC experience – touring the building I’ve grown up seeing on news bulletins and in movies. Tickets are free and include a film about the building’s construction and usage, followed by a tour of a few of key areas.
You can also visit The Senate and House galleries by enquiring in advance. Find out more about that here.
Wander The National Mall And See The White House
For me, one of the most exciting things to do on my first trip to DC was to see the city’s most famous landmarks! I loved walking from The White House, down the National Mall to see the Capitol Building, Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
So many iconic views, and amazing to take in the details up close!
Where To Stay In Washington DC
We stayed at The Embassy Row Hotel, located close to Dupont Circle. The decor was chic and stylish, and there were plenty of food and drink options nearby, plus it was easy to hop on the Metro or a taxi to get around the city.
There’s also a great café area on the ground floor, but the real hidden gem is up high! Yep there’s a rooftop pool. What better way to cool off after a day of sightseeing.
How To Get Around Washington DC
If you’ve got limited time in the city, I’d recommend downloading the Lyft or Uber apps and taking taxis. A 20-minute journey will cost you approximately $10 – $12. There’s quite a lot of traffic in the city, so while some distances look short, allow plenty of time!
If you are on a budget or aren’t in a rush, the Metro is really easy to use and costs just $2.20 per ride. You can also look at travel cards that last for the duration of your trip.
If you’re travelling from abroad, don’t forget to get your ESTA application sorted out well in advance of your trip to Washington DC. While an ESTA can be applied for online and does not require a visit to the embassy, delays can happen due to random extended background checks. It’s definitely something to think about while you’re planning your itinerary.
I hope you’ve enjoyed hearing about my first trip to Washington DC. I was only there a few days but packed absolutely loads in! If I return, I’d probably focus on a few smaller neighbourhoods and explore on foot. I felt like there was SO much to see and do, I barely scratched the surface.
Thanks to Washington DC and Travel Planners for inviting me to explore Washington DC. As always all opinions are my own.
Enjoyed this travel blog about spending the weekend in Washington Dc? Pin it for later…
