Washington, DC

Washington, DC is a favourite of visitors sightseeing in the Capital Region. It’s known for being the capital of the USA, but that’s only the beginning: Attractions in DC include famous monuments, captivating museums (many of them free!) and the National Mall, a two-mile-long national park flanked by the U.S. Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial.

The nation’s capital has a booming restaurant scene, diverse neighbourhoods home to people and cultures from around the world, festive annual events and vibrant nightlife. Oh, and a little presidential residence called the White House.

Getting Around

Get a feel for Washington, DC by viewing the map below, and visit this map for a deeper dive into its neighbourhoods.

The best bet for getting around is aboard one of the six Metro lines; you can even reach Virginia and Maryland cities like Alexandria and Silver Spring using the subway system. And after a 50-year hiatus, streetcar service has returned to DC. The route starts behind Union Station and runs along the H Street NE corridor, a newly revitalised area.

Annual Events

Each spring, the National Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates the 1912 gift of Japanese cherry trees from Tokyo’s mayor with a parade and other festivities. In June, the DC Jazz Festival features more than 100 performances at venues across the city.

What’s New in DC

Set to debut in 2017, mixed-use development The Wharf will breathe new life into the Southwest Waterfront beside the Washington Channel, with a whopping 20-plus restaurants, numerous retail shops, a concert hall and hotels by InterContinental, Hyatt and Hilton.

Small plates are popping up on menus throughout the city. Try the trend at Rose’s Luxury in Capitol Hill, H Street’s Maketto or hip newcomer Kinship in the Mount Vernon Square neighbourhood.

To explore the rest of the Capital Region, visit our Maryland and Virginia pages, or view our Holiday Guide online.