Discover the PERFECT 3 day Washington DC itinerary. I'll take you through the MUST-SEE sights, best places to eat, and show you what order to do everything in!
Washington, DC offers enough museums, sights, and neighborhoods that it deserves more than just one visit. If it's your first time visiting Washington DC you should focus on seeing the Memorials, White House, and Capital, along with a few museums and a neighborhood or two.
This 3 day Washington DC itinerary will give you a taste of the city while hitting all the must-see sights. Like I've mentioned in previous posts, always assume you will be back. Otherwise, you'll find yourself in a constant rush by squeezing too much into your 3 days in Washington DC.
DC is extremely easy to get around. It's a breeze jetting from sight to sight between the metro, bus system, bike share program, Uber, and your own two feet. Try to pick a centrally located hotel to maximize your sightseeing time during your 3 days in Washington DC.
Downtown hotels have the perk of being walking distance of the White House, Memorials, and the Capitol, but will cost a pretty penny. To keep hotel costs down, I recommend staying around Dupont Circle or Logan Square. Both areas have a charming neighborhood feel and are extremely convenient for sightseeing being a quick metro ride (or longer walk/bike ride) away.
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This map shows all the places listed in this 3 day Washington DC itinerary. Click the top left button (in the blue bar) to see a list view of each pinned location or the top right button to enlarge the map.
- Blue: Day 1
- Red: Day 2
- Purple: Day 3
Washington DC Itinerary Day 1
MEMORIALS, WHITE HOUSE, CAPITOL
The start of your 3 day Washington DC itinerary involves a lot of walking, so grab your most comfortable shoes and get an early start to the day!
Memorials
What better way to start your 3 days in Washington DC than view some of the most iconic US monuments? We'll start at the Lincoln Memorial. Aim to be there before 8:30 am to avoid the busloads of tourists that start arriving between 8:30 am and 9:30 am.
My favorite way to see the memorials is to make it a morning jog. Some of the monuments are spaced out quite a bit. Making this a morning jog or walk is a great way to get between the sights quickly and get your workout in.
If you aren't a morning person, flip today's itinerary and do the memorials last, during the evening when they're all lit up! I recommend seeing the memorials in this order: Vietnam Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, MLK Jr. Memorial, WWII Memorial, and Washington Monument.
*You can find all these monuments in Google maps and get walking directions to each place. It's what I rely on most to get from place to place.
**The Jefferson Memorial will add about 30-40 minutes of walking around the Tidal Basin to see. If you have the time and energy, it's a pretty walk around the water and offers beautiful views. Add this after the MLK Jr. Memorial and go to the Washington Monument after.
The White House
The White House is a quick walk down 15th or 17th street. View the exterior at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. The only way to visit the interior is by making a reservation through the office of your congressional representative or senator 21 days to 3 months in advance.
Lunch Break
Give your feet a rest and have lunch at the iconic Old Ebbit Grill.
The U.S. Capitol
Any Washington DC itinerary must include a visit to the U.S. Capitol. You can either take a 40-minute walk down the National Mall to the Capitol or metro/Uber if time is limited.
The Capitol Visitor Center is open Monday through Saturday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm and offers free 45 minute tours. Advance reservations are highly recommended and can be made online. Same day tour passes are available on a limited basis at the Visitor Center if you did not make prior reservations.
Smithsonian Museum Visit
Visit a nearby Smithsonian Museum to end the first day of your 3 days in Washington DC.
Some of the most popular (and free) options are the National Air and Space Museum, National Gallery of Art, National Museum of African American History and Culture (advanced tickets are a must unless you want to try to get same-day tickets at 6:30 am), and National Museum of American History.
Read TimeOut's post on DC museums if you want to research your options beforehand.
Dinner
Head over to Logan Circle and take your pick from an endless supply of top restaurants on 14th street. Le Diplomat offers traditional French fare and is extremely popular (advanced reservations are a must). Tico has a solid menu inspired by Spain, Mexico, and South America, Lupo Verde is a must for Southern Italian and specialty cocktails, and Estadio is a winner for authentic Spanish tapas.
If you're like me and have a hard time choosing, do a tapas crawl and visit several restaurants along 14th street! Have room left for dessert? Stop by Jeni's Ice Cream where the line is always out the door.
Washington DC Itinerary Day 2
SUPREME COURT, MUSEUMS, DISTRICT WHARF, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Union Market
Take a break from downtown DC and visit Union Market. This warehouse-like food market will be filled with tourists and locals alike and is perfect for your morning coffee and snack. Peregrine Espresso is one of my favorite DC coffee shops.
SUPREME COURT
Metro or Uber to the Supreme Court where you can either do a quick walk around the interior (open Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 4:30 pm with free entrance), or visit their calendar to see your options for attending a court session or courtroom lecture, visiting a current exhibition, and more. The significance of this building makes it a must for any Washington DC itinerary.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Visit the largest library in the world with a collection of more than 164 million items. The Great Hall of the Thomas Jefferson Building is a visual highlight and looks more like a palace than a library with its stained-glass skylights, Italian marble floors, murals, paintings, and sculptures. Open Monday through Saturday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm with free 1 hour tours. Check the calendar for exhibitions, lectures, etc.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES MUSEUM
Is seeing the country’s most important original documents high on your priority list? Then a stop at the National Archives Museum is a must on your 3 day Washington DC itinerary. Otherwise, skip this and head to the next destination.
The National Archives Museum is where you can view the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights. Entrance is free and the museum is open daily 10:00 am to 5:30 pm.
SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM
If you aren't museumed out by now, visit one of the Smithsonian Museums listed on day 1 of your 3 day Washington DC itinerary that you didn't get to. Another option would be the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Tickets are free and the museum is open daily 10:00 am to 5:20 pm.
District Wharf
Enjoy the waterside at DC's newest area, District Wharf. Stroll the pier, enjoy the views, and check out the restaurant, shopping, and entertainment options. This is the perfect spot for dinner and drinks. Take your pick from the 20+ dining options including Shake Shack, upscale Spanish seafood at Del Mar, Southeast Asian at Kaliwa, and oysters at Hank's Oyster Bar. This is the perfect place to chill and unwind from day 2 on your 3 day Washington DC itinerary.
Washington DC Itinerary Day 3
DUPONT, ARLINGTON CEMETERY, GEORGETOWN
Dupont Circle Market
If you're a fan of farmers markets, stop by the Dupont Circle Market on Sunday (8:30 am to 1:30 pm). Named one of the top farmers markets in the country, this makes for a great excuse to explore the Dupont area and grab some fresh bites while you're roaming the stalls and people watching.
Arlington Cemetery
Pay your respects to those that have served this country at Arlington Cemetery. The cemetery is 639 acres of rolling hills, ancient trees, and the final resting place for over 14,000 veterans. This will be one of the most sobering experiences you have during your 3 days in Washington DC and a place every American should visit at some point in their life.
Arlington Cemetery is open daily 8:00 am to 7:00 pm April through September and 8:00 am to 5:00 pm October through March. Uber is the fastest way to get there as the metro will take at least 30 to 45 minutes.
The grounds are expansive and could fill several hours just walking around. I suggest going through the welcome center and visiting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for a quick visit. Changing of the guard happens at the Tomb every hour, but in all honesty, if you've seen any other changing of the guard (like Buckingham Palace), it isn't worth working your schedule around just to witness.
Georgetown
Head back over the river (a quick 9-minute drive) to Georgetown, my favorite area to wander in DC. Take time to slow down and explore this historic district. Stroll by the shops along bustling M street, stop by the waterfront, walk down the quiet and quaint Wisconsin Ave, and take your pick of spots for coffee, bites, and treats.
A few of my favorites include Laduree for macaroons, Pizza Paradisco, Blue Bottle Coffee or Grace Street Coffee Roasters for a quick caffeine fix, Baked and Wired for cupcakes (read about here), Boulangerie Christophe for quick French fare like sandwiches, quiche, croissants, and pastries. Stay here for dinner or head back over to 14th street by Logan Circle to hit any spots you missed on day 1 of your 3 days in Washington DC.
IN SUMMARY
I hope this 3 day Washington DC itinerary helps map out your time and decide what sights to see. Between the national monuments, museums, and charming Georgetown, you'll quickly discover this is a place that warrants more than one visit.
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3 Day Washington DC Itinerary
You are my hero! Thank you for all this time, effort, energy. This is exactly the type of information I’ve needed to start organizing our first home school field-trip.
I am so glad this helped and I hope you enjoy your time in DC! It really is a great city 🙂