The Best 48-Hours in Washington D.C.

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The Capital city of the USA is a busy city with so much to do and see. Washington, D.C., is a perfect place for a 48-hour weekend! Not only are there plenty of museums and monuments, but there are also plenty of amazing restaurants. There is plenty of stuff to do for everyone. While 48 hours may feel like a whirlwind, but it is a great way to get a sense of this fun city.

Throughout Washington, D.C., you’ll find plenty of hidden gems, unique activities, and cool, historically significant monuments. It is the perfect place to dive deeper into US History and learn how we got here as a country. It is also the crossroads of all US States. You’ll find statues of important people from each state, flowers and trees from each state, art & culture represented from each state, and for an added bonus 50 streets are named after each of the 50 states.

48 Hours in Washington D.C.: Itinerary

We assume you landed the day before and will, therefore, spend a full 48 hours in Washington, D.C., USA.

Day 1: Exploring the Important Historic Sites and Monuments

Breakfast before heading to the National Mall

There are so many wonderful cafes and breakfast spots in Washington, D.C.. If your hotel has breakfast, feel free to eat there to save some money. Otherwise, we can stop at a cafe near the U.S. Capitol (which will be our first stop of the day for our 48 hours in Washington, D.C.. We recommend Sweet Lemon Cafe or Jacob’s Coffee Shop for breakfast. Both are great options for breakfast and are walkable to the National Mall.

The White House

U.S. Capitol

Starting at the far side of the National Mall at the U.S. Capitol, we will walk through the National Mall all the way to the Lincoln Memorial. Along the way, you’ll see the White House, the botanical garden, museums, and many important Memorials. If you pre-plan, you can tour the U.S. Capitol. There are even tickets (like these!) that offer a tour of the Library of Congress AND the US Capitol in one.

Visit 1-2 Smithsonian Museums

There are many different museums at the National Mall. Each Smithsonian Museum is free to visit. They are very popular, so you’ll want to narrow down to 1-2 museums in order to get the most out of your visit. Our favorite museums are the National Air & Space Museum as well as the National Museum of Natural History.

Picnic Lunch

As you walk your way toward the White House, you’ll likely want to stop for lunch. The National Mall is a great place to stop for a picnic lunch. There are some wonderful little cafes and sandwich shops that give you options for picnics. Rice Bar and 2 Sisters Deli are great options for picnics. Take stuff to go and then find a shady stop at the National Mall.

Continue Walking Down the National Mall

From here, you can walk down to Tidal Basin and see some of the other monuments. You can look at the names at the Vietnam Memorial and see all the people memorialized at the Korean Memorial. There is also a Holocaust memorial as well as a memorial with all states and a WWII memorial. There is also a Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial to visit.

Our dog in front of the Washington Monument

As you get past the middle, you’ll see theย Washington Memorial,ย then the reflecting pool, getting to the Lincoln Memorial. You can even go to the top of the Washington Monument. Closer to the water, there is also a John F. Kennedy memorial and a Thomas Jefferson memorial.

A super cool way to see all the monuments in Washington, D.C. is to take this night tour after dinner!

Dinner time

Our favorite place to eat in Washington, D.C., is the Founding Father’s restaurant. It is a seasonal and fresh restaurant with delicious meals and options. We always stop here to try to get something new and fresh. It is a great twist on American food. Make sure to keep space for your desserts!

Day 2: Embassy Row and Georgetown

Breakfast in Georgetown

This morning, we will head to Georgetown. Georgetown is a great little neighborhood that features Georgetown University. Due to this, there are so many wonderful cafes and breakfast spots. Some of our favorites are Maman (from NYC) and Cafe Georgetown. They both have great coffee and breakfast options. Be sure to stock up on great food for your day of walking.

Explore Georgetown

Georgetown is a very cute little neighborhood. You can check out Georgetown University, which looks like a castle atop a hill. Throughout the downtown area of Georgetown, you’ll find many local shops and restaurants. Pop into Baked & Wired for some good cupcakes during your 48 hours in Washington, D.C. There is also a beautiful waterfront at Georgetown that is nice for a stroll.

Cupcakes from Baked & wired in Georgetown, a great place to visit during 48 hours in Washington DC.

Stop for Lunch

For lunch, you can stop at a place in Georgetown, or you can head to the beginning of Embassy Row at Dupont Circle. In Georgetown, you can stop at Thunder Burger & Bar or at Martin’s Tavern. In Dupont Circle, you can even find a Hawaiian restaurant. You could also check out a Thai Street food place that is definitely worthwhile.

Embassy Row

Embassy Row is a truly unique part of Washington, D.C. You can walk around and see every single Embassy. They are all designed differently, and depending on the day, you might be able to go inside. In the spring, there is always an embassy row party. Where the embassies are open for an open house and party. Definitely worth the visit. If embassy row is not your speed, I’d suggest checking out our list of other things to do here.

The Argentine Embassy on Embassy Row in Washington DC.

Dinner Time

One of my favorite things about Washington, D.C., is that they have so many different cuisine options. Since it is the capital of the USA, all the embassies encourage local cuisines. So we always try to get a new or different cuisine. One of our favorites is Pappe for Indian food. Le Diplomate is a great option for French food.

Georgetown Ghost Tour

Learn all about the ghosts and hidden secrets in one of the nicest neighborhoods of Washington, D.C.. This Ghost Tour takes you through the hidden alleys of the oldest parts of the country’s capital to talk about ghosts and true crime. It was truly the perfect tour to end the 48-hour adventure in Washington, D.C.

Extra Time? Check Out These Fun Activities

Visit Northern Virginia

Just a train ride south and you make it into Northern Virginia. Here, you’ll find many more things to explore. If you enjoy the outdoors and nature, head to Rock Creek Park or Mount Vernon. There is a great mix of history and nature in Northern Virginia. Below is a list of the most popular places to visit.

Tour The White House

While you cannot enter the White House grounds or even inside the White House without a tour, it is definitely worth a tour. You do need to request a tour several months in advance. The tour takes time, but it is very cool to have a behind the scenes look at the most famous house and government building in the world.

Larry standing at a WWII memorial.

Any National Smithsonian Museums

While in Day 1 of the 48 hours in Washington D.C. we have visiting 1-2 museums, its important to know that there are many more Smithsonian Museums in Washington D.C.. It is not possible to visit all of them in 48 hours, but you may want to add some more to your list. There is the National Art Gallery where you can find portraits of all the Presidents. Included in the Smithsonian Museum list is the National Zoo.

Library Of Congress

If you are a book lover like myself, there is truly nothing like the Library of Congress. This incredible library houses thousands of books and important US documents. It is the oldest and largest library in the world, making it truly awe-inspiring. You can tour the Library of Congress. With your tickets here, you can tour the Library and get a sneak peek into the US Capitol.

Consider many other non-touristy activities in Washington D.C. Here!

Things to Know About Spending 48 Hours in Washington D.C.

How To Get To Washington D.C.?

If you are coming from far, you can fly into one of the two international airports in the Washington D.C. area. Ronald Regan International Airport (DCA) has a direct subway line that takes you into the city. Whereas Dulles International Airport (IAD) requires an Uber or cab ride.

If you live nearby, you may consider driving to Washington, D.C.; this is a good option if you enjoy having your car handy while in Washington, D.C. We don’t recommend having a car within the city because parking is challenging and expensive. It can be useful if you’re staying in Virginia or Maryland in order to get around easier or get to a train station before getting into the city.

How To Get Around Washington D.C.?

  • Washington, D.C., is laid out as a grid with streets labeled with letters, crossing streets labeled with state names. This grid system makes it very easy to walk without getting lost. It is a large city, so I don’t recommend walking everywhere, but you can make good use of the public transportation while getting all your steps in.
  • D.C. Metro area is well covered by trains. They go into Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland. It is a quick way to travel. One thing to keep in mind is that the fares for the D.C. metro are based on distance, so you must tap in and out at each location. You can find the fare rate for each distance near the metro card payment stations.
  • This city is very walkable with a good public transportation system. Of course, you can take the bus to many places that the train may not reach. The buses are very easy to understand and take the same metro card as the train system.
  • Bus Tours are a very popular way to get around the city while also seeing the most important highlights. This tour here will show you nearly all the monuments from Day 1 of 48 hours in Washington, D.C.

Where To Stay In Washington D.C.?

  • JW Marriott in Washington, DC– This is a great option because of how centrally located it is. Not only is it located steps from the National Mall, but it is close to public transportation too! Plus, breakfast is included.
  • The Mansion on O Street– A truly unique stay in Washington, DC. This place is particularly fun for families with children. The rooms are cool, each uniquely designed, and you can even find secret doors and hidden clues throughout.
  • The Ven at Embassy Row– Stay at this hotel for the nice views of the city, breakfast, and even a swimming pool. It puts you close to Embassy Row and lots of great restaurants.

Wrap-Up: 48 Hours In Washington D.C.

The capital of the United States of America offers a lot for its many, many visitors. You can spend 48 hours in Washington D.C. or even a week and still find new things (like a spy museum or a journalism museum)! It can be hard to cram everything into a weekend, given the rich history of the US and each of its states. Hopefully this weekend taste leaves you wanting to come back to see what else this city has to offer. Or maybe just watch the Japanese Cherry Trees in full bloom!