The two-mile National Mall in Washington, D.C., is lined with 11 of the Smithsonian Institution’s 21 free museums.
Photo by Jacob Creswick/Unsplash
This article was originally published in 2024 and most recently updated on September 9, 2026, with current information.
You could spend a lifetime in Washington, D.C., and still not experience everything it has to offer. I’ve lived here for 17 years and am still endlessly discovering new gems. The city is well known for its renowned museums—most of which are free—wonderfully diverse neighborhoods, and food from every corner of the world. D.C. is a great walking city, and you won’t need a car for your trip. This long-weekend guide to Washington, D.C., covers four days of my favorite things to do, see, and eat in D.C. with visitors.
Day 1: Free museums and Obama-approved Indian food
- Bento boxes and noodle soups at Teaism
- Contemporary Vietnamese at Moon Rabbit
- Modern Indian at Obama-favorite Rasika
- Library of Congress (world’s largest library)
- Smithsonian Museums, all of which are free
- National Museum of Women in the Arts
Morning: The world’s largest library
My top site in D.C., and what I consider a must for visitors, is the Library of Congress (open Tuesday–Saturday; reserve free timed-entry tickets in advance). Inspired by the design of the Paris Opera House, the building’s Great Hall is gorgeously adorned with marble pillars and mosaics. View the hallowed Main Reading Room, the largest library in the world, where scholars study materials from among 176 million items and exhibits include Thomas Jefferson’s books; his collection of 6,487 volumes formed the basis of the library.
Directly in front of the Library of Congress is the U.S. Capitol, from which the two-mile-long National Mall unfolds. Eleven of the Smithsonian Institution’s 21 museums line the mall, each spectacular, open daily, and completely free. Kids especially love the plane- and spaceship-filled National Air and Space Museum and the animal-packed National Museum of Natural History. The Hirshhorn’s thought-provoking interactive art installations are a feast for the eyes of art connoisseurs. The museum’s sculpture garden reopens on October 31, 2026, after a four-year renovation, with sculptures from heavy-hitters such as Barbara Hepworth and Henri Matisse.
Go by the National Archives, where history buffs can see original copies of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S Constitution. Then, break for lunch at Teaism, my go-to spot for an easy meal near the mall. The Asian-inspired local chain has three teahouses in D.C. that serve delicious bento boxes and noodle soups.
The National Archives (L) has the largest sliding bronze doors in the world. The National Air and Space Museum (R) is a family favorite—and it’s free.
Photos courtesy of washington.org
Afternoon: An art museum that centers women
Continue a few blocks northward through Penn Quarter to the National Museum of Women in the Arts, or NMWA (open Tuesday–Sunday, entry $13–$16). It’s a favorite of artist Deb Almond, who creates striking feminist and protest art from her home studio in the city’s Trinidad neighborhood. Unlike the heavy focus on male artists at many other museums, she says, NMWA displays often-overlooked aspects of women’s lives and spotlights female Indigenous and minority voices. “The whole energy in the place is different,” Almond says.
Afterward, pop into the National Portrait Gallery, a 10-minute walk away. My favorite of the Smithsonians, it’s open later than the other museums (till 7 p.m.). On until mid-January 2027 is a photo exhibition of 1930s and ’40s Hollywood stars.
Evening: Dinner in Penn Quarter
You’re now in Penn Quarter, which has a high concentration of top D.C. restaurants. Order the miso-tamarind-glazed charred eggplant at contemporary Vietnamese eatery Moon Rabbit, or go for modern Indian cuisine at the Obama family’s favorite, Rasika, helmed by James Beard Award–winning chef Vikram Sunderam. Several restaurants by D.C.-based superstar chef-humanitarian José Andrés can also be found in Penn Quarter, including Jaleo and Oyamel.
Day 2: Garden-hopping and hummus
- Jewish deli fare at Call Your Mother
- Hummus and pita at Yellow
- Waterfront seafood towers at Fiola Mare
Sights + Activities
- Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial
- The museum and garden at Hillwood Estate
- Stained-glass windows at the Washington National Cathedral
Morning: Abraham Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This morning, begin at the west end of the National Mall—the earlier the better. “[It’s] really magical sitting on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and watching the sun rise over the National Mall,” says photographer Kelly Paras, who captures scenes of the city for her shop Flip Flop Caravan. She sells her photography and vintage home goods at pop-up artisan markets and at Femme Fatale in the Cleveland Park neighborhood, which hosts products from more than 60 women-owned local businesses.
One of the steps of the Lincoln Memorial has an inscription marking the spot where Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963. The Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial, next to the Tidal Basin, is my favorite place to visit during cherry blossom season in late March. The walkways around the memorial are lined with the trees, which create a canopy of blossoms overhead.
This national memorial to civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is part of the African American Civil Rights Network.
Photo courtesy of Washington.org
From here, walk 35 minutes for a hearty breakfast at the West End location of Call Your Mother, a popular local chain, where bagels include a classic everything bagel with plain cream cheese, smoked salmon, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, and capers. Next, hop in a cab for the 15-minute drive to Hillwood Estate, Museum and Gardens (open Tuesday–Sunday, entry $17–$20). One of the grandest estates in the city, it’s been called “D.C.’s Downton Abbey.”
The museum is inside the former residence of philanthropist Marjorie Merriweather Post, a 1920s Georgian Revival mansion whose interiors are dripping in 18th- and 19th-century French furniture and decorative arts. In the gardens, you’ll find an orchid-filled greenhouse, a Japanese-style garden, and a small dog cemetery.
Afternoon: An awe-inspiring cathedral and D.C.'s oldest neighborhood
The Washington National Cathedral, a handsome neo-Gothic 1907 house of worship, is the second largest in the country. Tour the interior, where light comes through 231 gorgeous stained-glass windows, and take time to sit peacefully in the 59-acre garden.
Then, take the D80 bus 15 minutes down Wisconsin Avenue to Georgetown, D.C.’s oldest neighborhood. Founded in 1751, it was already a bustling port town on the Potomac River by the time the District of Columbia was established 40 years later. Go straight to Yellow and order the most pillowy pita with harissa barbecue cauliflower; ultra-creamy hummus; and a spread of mouneh (pickled bits like carrots with apricot honey Aleppo pepper).
If you aren’t gardened-out by now, consider walking to Dumbarton Oaks, both a museum specializing in Byzantine and pre-Columbian art and a peaceful green space with more than 1,000 trees, some 900 roses, and contemporary art installations. Otherwise, wander Georgetown’s leafy, residential side streets, where handsome 18th- and 19th-century town houses have been home to Julia Child (2706 Olive St.), the Kennedy family (3307 N St.), and Madeleine Albright (1318 34th St.).
D.C.'s Georgetown neighborhood has the feel of a college town thanks to its eponymous university.
Photo courtesy of washington.org
Evening: Waterfront wandering
Take a stroll along the waterfront to dinner at Fiola Mare (reservations recommended), acclaimed for its seafood and views of the Potomac. Consistently rated one of the best restaurants in D.C., this is where world leaders and A-listers come to eat bluefin tuna and lobster ravioli (Aretha Franklin, Emmanuel Macron, and Meryl Streep have all dined here).
If you’re visiting in warm weather, take an after-dinner walk along Rock Creek Trail as it traces the Potomac. A pedestrian bridge connects to the Reach, the innovative expansion of the Kennedy Center that contains intimate performance spaces and hosts an array of cultural programming. “The Reach is so accessible,” says Graciano Petersen, who’s performed there with the D.C.-based Caribbean dance troupe Soka Tribe. “It often has free dance lessons, free art exhibitions, and free yoga, and you can even watch performances in rehearsal. It brings you in close contact with people who are deeply committed to the arts scene.”
Day 3: A green escape, a bike ride, and barbecue
- Brisket at DCity Smokehouse
- A wine tasting and bar bites at District Winery
- 7,000 plants at the National Arboretum
- A pedal down the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail
- Visit the former home of abolitionist Frederick Douglass
Morning: Commune with nature
Take a cab (about 20 minutes from Penn Quarter) to another quadrant of the city—Northeast—to reach the National Arboretum, a 451-acre oasis. More than 7,000 kinds of plants grow here, including apple trees, bonsai, azaleas, camellias, and of course, cherry blossom trees. No restaurants are nearby, but the arboretum has a nice picnic area, so plan accordingly.
“The arboretum always amazes me, especially in the springtime,” says Franziska Boelke, the head concierge at the Hay-Adams hotel. “The flora is out of this world, and it’s about so much more than our famous cherry blossom trees. It also houses a bonsai museum, and on a hilltop you can find the National Capitol Columns—Corinthian structures made of sandstone—that originally supported the Capitol Building when it was built in 1828.”
The 22 Corinthian columns at the National Arboretum were part of in Capitol Building’s East Portico in 1828.
Photo courtesy of washington.org
Afternoon: Cycling and barbecue
Next, snag a bike from D.C.’s bike rental program, Capital Bikeshare (racks are stationed throughout the city), to take a spin down the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail. It meanders alongside the river and passes sites such as the Anacostia Park Roller Skating Pavilion, operated by the National Park Service. Wildly popular with locals, the rink offers free skate rentals in summer, and DJs play on weekends.
Once you reach the historic Anacostia neighborhood—which takes its name from the Indigenous people of the area, the Nacotchtank—break for lunch at DCity Smokehouse. The beloved barbecue joint serves award-winning brisket and ribs as well as spicy smoked sausages called half-smokes, D.C.’s signature dish.
Afterward, visit Cedar Hill, a national historic site that was the home of 19th-century orator and abolitionist Frederick Douglass (open Tuesday–Saturday). Rangers give guided tours of the stately main house, and you can peek inside the tiny cabin Douglass used as a writing studio. “The house itself is set on top of a hill that overlooks not only the Anacostia River but also D.C.,” says photographer Paras. “You get some of the best views of the D.C. skyline.”
Evening: Wine tasting and cheese and charcuterie boards
Cross the river on the 11th Street Bridge and put up your wheels at The Yards, a beautifully redeveloped waterfront area near the Nationals Park baseball stadium that’s filled with green spaces, boardwalks, and water features kids can splash in. Dining options abound, among them Michael Rafidi’s Levantine-inspired restaurant Albi (“my heart” in Arabic), which earned him a James Beard Outstanding Chef award in 2024. I love the crisp rosés and small plates (try the fried rice arancini with hoisin sauce) at District Winery.
For a taste of the city’s nightlife and its wide variety of live music venues, take a cab up to the H Street corridor, or venture back into the Northwest quadrant to U Street (famed for its jazz history) or Adams Morgan.
Day 4: A dose of culture and actually good souvenirs
The Rothko Room at the Phillips Collection has four paintings by 20th-century abstract expressionist Mark Rothko.
Photo courtesy of washington.org
Where to Shop
Sights + Activities
- Dupont Circle Farmers Market
- Modern art at Phillips Collection
- Performances and exhibitions at Dupont Underground
Morning: A beloved farmers’ market and a modern art collection
If your fourth day in Washington, D.C., is a Sunday, start off at the Dupont Circle farmers’ market, a very popular (packed) affair held weekly from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. In peak season, more than 80 farmers and producers sell everything from radish kimchi to chorizo-bacon empanadas.
After noshing a bit, go to the Phillips Collection, which bills itself as the country’s first modern art museum. Housed in founder Duncan Phillips’ 1897 Georgian Revival home, the museum includes works by Milton Avery, Grandma Moses, and Georgia O’Keeffe.
Now that you’re hungry again, it’s time for the brunch buffet at Ala, where you can assemble a plate of whatever your heart desires: cold mezzes, say, with shakshouka and some focaccia to sop up the sauce, or a toothsome jumble of pulled short ribs, cheese borek, challah knots, and a fruit tart. There are no rules here.
Afternoon: Bookstore-browsing and souvenir-shopping
More than sated, wander over to Second Story Books to walk the shelves of rare and out-of-print reads, plus signed editions of contemporary books such as Chang-Rae Lee’s My Year Abroad. Pop into arts organization Dupont Underground, where multiple events are housed—think plays, exhibitions, concerts, author talks and roundtables, and even walking tours of neighborhood galleries.
From here, take the metro up to the Union Market District, an old warehouse area with 40-plus restaurants, boutiques, and bars. Don’t miss Shop Made in D.C., which exclusively sells small-batch products by local makers, ranging from jewelry to art to accessories and more. Leave time to peruse the racks at Vintage Vintage Vintage, with clothing, accessories, and home decor from the 1930s onward chosen by 18 vintage curators.
Evening: Injera and a nightcap
The largest Ethiopian community outside of Africa lives in the D.C. area, and you’d be remiss not to try one of the city’s excellent restaurants; I recently had dinner with friends at the fantastic Chercher on Ninth Street in Shaw.
Close out the night at nearby Blagden Alley, a brick-lined hideaway filled with intriguing establishments such as Michelin-starred the Dabney. Order the Inner Loop cocktail, with gin, watermelon, chamomile, and lime, and raise a toast to the city.
Where to stay: Washington, D.C. hotels
There’s no shortage of great hotels in Washington, D.C. Our top two picks for this itinerary would be:
Need more inspiration for your trip? Check out all of Afar’s Washington, D.C., articles and listen to D.C. locals such as Sunny Sumter, president and CEO of the DC Jazz Festival, and Kevin Tien, chef-owner of acclaimed restaurant Moon Rabbit, on why they love their city.
Sophie Friedman contributed to the reporting of this story.
