Washington DC - A Capital Place to Visit

The White House, Washington DC

From the perception of most outsiders, Washington DC is very much in the shadow of its more illustrious city destinations. However, we think it deserves a place among the very best.

Laid back, liberal, with leafy, long, wide boulevard style streets and low-rise architecture that reminds you of great European capitals, this is an American city that seems not very stereotypically American. Yes, all the trappings of government are very much here, and the National Mall simply has to be seen. The museums in this city could easily take weeks to explore, and most, including its massive zoo, are free. Areas like Georgetown with its stunning town houses, the Tidal Basin with beautiful, relaxing nature and the eclectic university area of Foggy Bottom are all absolutely must-sees. Its comprehensive and budget-friendly transport system make exploring this very safe city a breeze.

It's easy to find food here that you'll like as the international nature of the city means that you can find pretty much every cuisine here. We ate Ethiopian, Guatemalan and Mexican! Of course, some of the restaurants can be pricey, but if you're careful where you eat, you can find some real gems.

If you're headed down the East Coast of the USA, this is a city you should not miss.

How to get there

Capitol Building, Washington DC

Washington DC is very well connected to the US and Canada through National Airport, and to all other countries through Dulles. The metro railway has reliable, frequent and very well priced trains downtown. 

There is also a 3-4 hour train from New York to Washington Union station - book this well in advance to get more reasonable fares.

National Gallery of Art, Washington DC

How we did it

We flew into Dulles airport from the UK with British Airways to avoid the narrower bodied planes used by most North American airlines to cross the Atlantic. We took the metro downtown and stayed with relatives. Hotels in Washington DC can be very expensive.

Our Top Tips

National Mall. Washington DC

• Get a metro card to tour the city. Many of its attractions are well spaced apart. The National Mall for one thing is enormous. Public transport in Washington DC is one thing that's very affordable.

• Check to see if the attractions you are to visit require pre-booking as some are very popular.

• Don't expect to visit the White House or even get close to it. The current occupant has moved the security barriers further and further back.

Click here to see the places we visited in our all too short stay.