Things To Know Before You Visit Washington DC

A visit to Washington DC is nothing short of fascinating. Visitors traveling there for the first time are probably looking forward to all the history and remarkable sights and attractions. However, planning the perfect Washington DC vacation can be a little bit daunting. Read on our list of things to know before you go.

‘Tis The Season

Washington DC is always a delightful, educational and entertaining destination but there are good times and better times to make the journey to America’s capital. It is best to go in spring or fall, when the weather is mild and the flowers are in bloom. Visitors planning to visit in spring will have an abundance of festivals and events to look forward to, the world famous Cherry Blossom Festival and the opening of the paddle boats in the Tidal Basin, just to name a few.

See The Sights On Land & Water

All The Smithsonian Museums Are Free

It’s hard to believe, but all 19 of the museums within the Smithsonian Institution offer free admission. So visitors can see any or all of these impressive venues without worries of budget restrictions. So be sure to take advantage of that and check out the American History Museum, the Air and Space Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Smithsonian Castle.

Take A Tour

There are dozens of different tours offered in Washington DC. To see the best of DC you may want to consider the Old Town Trolley Tour. This is the most comprehensive sightseeing tour in Washington DC, stopping at more than 100 points of interest. In 90 minutes, visitors can see all the sights with live narration, or the tour can be spread out even over a few days. The tour is flexible in that there are hop on hop off privileges due to the trolley’s schedule, making rounds every 15 minutes at each stop. The tour guide is a knowledgeable local who will share interesting facts and stories about the city’s history and the people and places you’re visiting.

The Monuments Are Open 24 Hours A Day

The monuments and memorials in Washington DC are probably the most popular sights that people come to see. All of them are most crowded in the afternoon. To avoid the crowds, feel free to visit them after dark. It’s not just cooler (especially in the summer), they’re also open all night long. The Monuments by Moonlight Night Tour is a great option, which takes guests to many of the most popular monuments including the Lincoln Memorial, the FDR Memorial, the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, and more.

Don’t Drive

Washington DC ranks in the top 10 of the most walkable cities in the USA. Traffic in the district is not only heavy, it can also be confusing for those who’ve never been to DC before. That being said, the best times to walk are when seeing the sights within a certain quadrant. If you are traveling from one area of the city to another, the best options are public transit or the Trolley Tour.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.