United States

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Washington, D.C.

Monuments, free museums and the nation's capital

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Best time to visit: Apr, May, Sep, Oct
Currency: USD
Time zone: UTC-4
Country: United States

Photo: Martin Falbisoner, CC BY-SA 3.0

The US capital, with the White House, the Capitol and the Smithsonian's free museums along the National Mall.

Largest cities

New York
Los Angeles
Chicago
Houston
San Francisco
Miami

Quick facts

Figures are rounded recent official estimates.

Country: United States
Capital: Washington, D.C.
City population: 700,000
Population of United States: 340M
Country area: 9,833,520 km²
Official language: English
Currency: US Dollar (USD) · 1 USD ≈ 1 USD
Time zone: UTC-4
Calling code: +1
Drives on the: Right
Elevation: 7 m
Plugs: A / B · 120V
Emergency numbers: 911
Best time to visit: Apr, May, Sep, Oct

Temperatures through the year

Average daily high and low for each month in °C. Months marked with a drop are often rainy.

Temperatures through the year

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
High	7°	9°	14°	20°	25°	30°	32°	31°	27°	21°	15°	9°
Low	-2°	-1°	3°	8°	14°	19°	22°	21°	17°	10°	5°	0°

Best time to visitOther months

Approximate daily cost

Per adult per day: food, local transport and half a double room, without activities or flights.

ConservativeSimple stays, free and low-cost sights first.$132
HighComfortable hotels, a balanced mix of sights and trips.$250
LuxuryLuxury hotels, more paid experiences and day trips.$585

Plan a trip to Washington, D.C.

Top things to do

Free
National Mall monuments
The Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument and war memorials, beautifully lit at night.
- Half day
- National Mall
- Good for kids
- Good in the evening
Free
National Air and Space Museum
Free, like all the Smithsonian museums; the Wright Flyer and Apollo 11 capsule. Free timed passes may be needed.
- Half day
- National Mall
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
Natural History and American History museums
Dinosaurs, the Hope Diamond and the Star-Spangled Banner, side by side on the Mall.
- Half day
- National Mall
- Good for kids
- Indoors
Free
US Capitol and Library of Congress
Free tours of the Capitol (book ahead) and the ornate reading room of the Library of Congress next door.
- Half day
- Capitol Hill
Free
Georgetown
Brick townhouses, the C&O Canal towpath and the riverfront restaurants.
- Half day
- Georgetown
- Good in the evening
≈ $35
Day trip: Arlington and Mount Vernon
Arlington National Cemetery, then George Washington's estate on the Potomac, about 30 minutes south.
- Full day
- Arlington and Virginia

Before you go

Entry and visas

Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries, including the UK, most of the EU and Qatar, need an approved ESTA, which costs $40 since 30 September 2025; apply at least 72 hours before travel on the official CBP site. Others, including Indian, Saudi and Emirati citizens, need a visitor visa, and appointment waits can be long.

Official website