Washington DC is the capital of the United States and, if you hurry us a little, we could say that it has an influence on the planet too much: it is where the issues that concern us all are discussed and in which the most important decisions for the future are made of our future (or should be taken, go). There is a theory out there that defends that we should all vote in the presidential elections of the United States XD. But we are not here to talk about this, but about the best things what to see and do in Washington DC in two days 🙂
Washington DC is a huge, dynamic city, in a hurry and somewhat unfriendly or even irritating, but nothing is further from reality, it was presented as an affable place, where you can walk calmly and enjoy coffee on a terrace or A sunset lying in a park. We do not understand why every time the aliens arrive on earth, the first thing they do is destroy the dome of the Capitol and the city of Washington DC!
Here we spent two days visiting his esplanade, his free museums, his Capitol, walking his clean streets and hoping to see Trump walking through the garden of the White House, we didn't see him, but we saw squirrels with better hair and more pestles than he . Without other gossip, we will tell you things what to see and do in Washington DC in two days:
The National Mall is an esplanade of gardens and pedestrian streets about 3 km long where most of the city's attractions are concentrated. But it symbolizes much more than that: the memorials to great American characters are the sign of the road taken to achieve social freedoms and equal opportunities (something like a tribute to the American dream), it is the place where Martin Luther King pronounced his most celebrated words "I have a dream", or where the population concentrated against the Vietnam War (surely the Forrest Gump scene in front of the Reflecting Pool comes to mind). An icon of freedom and equality.
One day seems more than enough time to go around this place, and it really is, but don't trust you too much and get up early so that the day covers you. What you can not miss the Mall is:
The capitol
You can only visit with a guided reservation, to get a place enter their official website www.visitthecapitol.gov. We recommend you do it in advance so as not to miss the opportunity to know the most emblematic monument of the city ... inside! And good news: it's completely free 🙂 Bieeeeen!
During the visit, which will last one hour, the guide will take you to visit some of the most important rooms of the building. Of course, before they will make you watch a somewhat patriotic video but hey, you are in the United States, get used to it! The next step is perhaps the best: they take you to meet the Rotunda, the room where the immense and beautiful dome of the building is located. Impress quite a lot. In the room there are a few statues of the first presidents and paintings with key scenes of US history,
Do not be surprised to see men dressed in the hordes of Chinese tourists: the Capitol is the seat of the Senate and Congress!
The next room, the Statues room is that ... a room with statues 🙂 Our favorite is that of Rosa Park, the black woman who, during the time of racial segregation, refused to move to the back of the bus and leave her seat For a white to sit. A whole myth 🙂
The Washington DC Capitol from inside
The Washington DC Capitol
United States Library of Congress
If we are honest we didn't even know there was a Library of Congress! They told us during the visit to the Capitol and since there was a tunnel that linked the two buildings, we decided to take a look. Well, it was what we liked and surprised most about Washington DC!
We don't want to do too many spoilers, so we just show you a photo and say: Go! Foolish!
The Washington DC Library of Congress
National Museum of the American Indians
If you are interested in learning something more about the history (sad, why deny it) of the original inhabitants of the United States, do not forget to stop by this museum. We, for a while, did not go ... but we wanted to do it! We will have to go back 🙂
National Air and Space Museum
It is the museum with the largest collection of aviation artifacts and spacecraft in the world and the most visited in the United States (with more than 8 million visitors a year). It is divided into two sections: the history of aviation, with, among others, the Wright Brothers plane, the first to make a controlled and propelled flight in 1903, the Spirit of Saint Louis that crossed the Atlantic in 1927, or the Bell X-1 in which the first supersonic flight was made; and the history of space travel, with the module of Apollo 11, the first manned mission to reach the Moon, several rockets and even a sample of moon rock! Super recommended and it's free!
Washington DC National Air and Space Museum
National Gallery of Art
With paintings by European and American authors separated into two buildings: the west with works from the Medieval Age to the 19th century. Some of them are Jan van Eyck, Andrea Mantegna, Raffael, Titian, El Bosco, El Greco and the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the United States "Portrait of Geneva by Benci". And the east, with modern art, with representation of Picasso, Miró, Pollock, Warholl. It also has the National Sculpture Garden with sculptures by various artists such as Miró or Lichtenstein. The gallery is free.
National Museum of Natural History
Although it is not the most visited (it is behind the Museum of Air and Space), it is the most important museum of the Smithsonian Institution. We, having visited the one in New York, just a few days before, decided to pass ... but the reviews are VERY good. Give him an oportunity.
National Museum of American History
If you want to learn more about the "short" but certainly interesting history of this country you can spend a few hours here. Or read our super summary of United States History 🙂
The White House
The first thing you'll think about seeing her will be: "Oh, how tiny" so imagine the grace she will have done to Melania when Donald told her they were going to live there! But hey, it's flirty eh (the house, not Melania, that too). Nor is it very small: the property has more than 5,000 m2, 132 bedrooms, enough bathrooms to avoid queuing, swimming pool, bowling and even a cinema! Come on, Melania doesn't have to complain too much either!
The most famous room is the Oval Office, the office of the President, from where he decides what new deal to do or the occasional covfefe.
The White House in Washington DC
Holocaust Museum
To deepen and learn more about this nightmare in the history of mankind. Before entering they give you an identification card with the story of one of the millions of victims of this atrocious event. The exposure is quite hard, however if you travel with children that you know there is a part intended to explain the Holocaust to the little ones. Although it is free, you will need to get an online ticket to visit during the summer season ($ 1 fee).
Thomas Jefferson Memorial
This neoclassical monument, dedicated to the third president of the United States, is one of the most beautiful in the city (thanks, probably to its dome!). The best views are those obtained from the other side of the Tidal Basin and if you travel in spring you have succeeded: the trees are filled with flowers, a unique spectacle!
Washington Monument
It is a 170 meter high obelisk that is located in the center of the Mall. In 1884, when it was built, it was the tallest structure in the world (until the Eiffel Tower was completed 5 years later). To give you an idea of its size, today there is no higher construction in the entire city. Inside there is a staircase that allows you to climb to the top to have luxury views of the Mall, although unfortunately until spring 2019 it cannot be used.
Washington Monument in Washington DC
Abraham Lincoln Monument + Reflecting Pool
It is located at the western end of the Mall and is possibly the place with the most emotional load than we visited in Washington DC. The huge figure of Lincoln sitting, resting his arms with one hand open and the other closed, on the steps of a Greek-style temple, impacts as one approaches. On the back and on its side there are engravings with parts of several speeches that Lincoln delivered, including the Gettysburg Address considered one of the most powerful of all time.
Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC
Reflecting Pool
From this staircase, in front of the Reflecting Pool and hundreds of thousands of people, in August 1963 Martin Luther King concluded The March with his famous words "I have a dream".
The Reflecting Pool of Washington DC
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Although with a sober design, this monument dedicated to fighters fallen in the Vietnam War touches the hearts of Americans. It is a ramp in the form of a grapevine with black marble walls where the names of the nearly 60,000 dead in this war have been engraved. It left us a little cold.
Within walking distance there is another Memorial: at Korean veterans. We did not visit it but we have been told that it is quite impressive.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC
→ Download the map of the National Mall
Surely you have left something without doing the previous day ... visiting a Museum, for example, is a good idea to start the second day and in the afternoon we have a plan:
Georgetown
It is the trendy neighborhood of the capital, where you will find cool (and somewhat posh) places, beautiful residential houses, one of the most beautiful (and expensive!) Private universities in the US and the odd curiosity ... the rarest? The exorcist stairs!
This area goes a long way, so soon we will write a full article! Stay tuned 🙂
Georgetown University, Washington DC
The slaves of The Exorcist, in Georgetown (Washington DC)
TIP: If you only have one day of time and want to make the most of your visit to Washington, a good idea is to take a tour of the best of the city.
| Map of Washington DC
Useful information
:: Where to sleep in Washington DC?
We stayed at HI Washington, which is part of the Hostelling International USA network. We are very comfortable, we stayed in a double room (with shared bathroom), all beautiful and clean! One of the nights we sign up for the community dinner they organize every week, there we coincide with a very nice Russian-Texan, a Chinese and a very nice Colombian. We ate tacos and brownies, yes a rare but very delicious combination! To see all the events that are organized check out the calendar 🙂
We leave you some pictures so you can see how handsome he is:
- Where is? 1009 11th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
:: How to get to Washington from Philadelphia?
We did it by bus with the company Megabus for $ 5 per person. The rates are not fixed, so the more in advance when booking the ticket, the cheaper you will get! It leaves from 30th St Station in Philadelphia (ours at 10:30 AM) and arrives at the Union Station in Washington DC (ours at 1:30 PM). Therefore the journey is 3 hours.
:: How to get around Washington DC?
If you stay in the center, you will not need to take public transport practically at any time and your little feet will suffice. But if you want to save yourself a good walk or get to Georgetown, for example, we recommend busesCirculator They cost $ 1. You can see the lines and routes here. There are also more expensive urban buses and a subway system (from $ 1.85).
And of course, there is always the wild card of Uber, super common in the United States. You can make an account with this invitation and get a discount of up to € 20 on your first race.
:: Restaurants where to eat in Washington DC?
Here are recommendations for 8 restaurants where to eat in Washington DC
:: Do you have little time but want to see as much as possible?
If you only have one day of time and want to make the most of your visit to Washington, a good idea is to take a tour of the best of the city.
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