white concrete building under cloudy sky during daytime

Washington, DC

Monuments, federal buildings and free Smithsonian museums on the National Mall, with Georgetown and the Potomac waterfront beyond.

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Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States and its only federal district, on the northeast bank of the Potomac River across from Virginia. Maryland surrounds it to the north, east and south. Most of the big sights sit on the National Mall, a stretch of nearly two miles from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol. The Washington Monument stands along it, and the Jefferson Memorial sits on the Tidal Basin just south. The White House and Supreme Court are nearby. Most Smithsonian museums are on or near the Mall, and their collections are free to enter.

Georgetown on the Potomac and the Wharf on the Southwest waterfront offer a change of pace. Late March to mid-May is the most pleasant season, with mild temperatures and low humidity, and the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin draw huge crowds to the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Summers are hot and humid, with a July daily average near 79.8°F and heat indices often near 100°F. Plan at least three days to cover the Mall, a museum or two and one neighborhood outside the core.

Washington, DC in five

Book the Washington Monument slot earlyEntry needs a timed ticket. The park service says advance tickets are typically released 30 days ahead on Recreation.gov, with some same-day tickets handed out on site from 8:45 am.Tickets and tours in DC
Line up the White House and Capitol toursThe White House site says tour requests go through a Member of Congress, 7 to 90 days ahead. Capitol tours are free, guided only and reservations are recommended; check each official page for how visitors from abroad apply.
Reserve passes for Air and Space and the Holocaust MuseumBoth free museums use timed entry: the Air and Space Museum requires a free pass, and the Holocaust Museum requires a free ticket for its permanent exhibition only. Pick those dates before the rest of the days.Washington, DC in 3 days
Tap a contactless card on MetroMetro says you tap a SmarTrip card or a contactless card or phone at the faregate at both ends of a rail trip, so a visitor needs no paper ticket. Reagan National and Dulles both list Metrorail.
Treat cherry blossom week as a bonus, not a planPark Service records put peak bloom between March 17 and March 28 in each year from 2020 to 2026, but frost can move it. Book a refundable room and keep a museum day free for the wrong weather.Where to stay in Washington, DC

Things to do in Washington, DC

See all attractions in Washington, DC

Park · Washington, DCSmithsonian National CarouselCheck ahead for maintenance closures before planning a ride.

Garden · Washington, DCKenilworth Park & Aquatic GardensVisit early in the morning from late June into July, when lotus flowers open before the midday heat.

Monument · Washington, DCUlysses S. Grant MemorialGo early in the morning for a quieter visit.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to Washington, DCPut the places you like in Washington, DC on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Reagan National (DCA) and Dulles (IAD), both with Metrorail; BWI is a third option
Getting there: Train to Union Station from the Northeast Corridor, or fly in
Getting around: Walking on the Mall; Metrorail and buses, paid by SmarTrip or contactless card
Best base: Penn Quarter, Capitol Hill or Dupont Circle, near a Metro station
Time needed: 3 days; add one for Arlington, Alexandria or a day trip

Weather by month

Rainy days
Snowy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryPartly cloudy9 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh6°Low-1°Cold, quiet
FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh10°Low1°Cold, museums
MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh14°Low4°Cherry blossom
AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh19°Low9°Blossom, mild
MayRain14 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Warm, busy
JuneRain12 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh29°Low19°Hot, humid
JulyRain15 rainy daysHigh32°Low22°Hot, storms
AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh30°Low21°Hot, humid
SeptemberRain11 rainy daysHigh27°Low18°Warm, easy
OctoberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Mild, clear
NovemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh14°Low5°Cool, quiet
DecemberPartly cloudy9 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low1°Cold, lights

Average daily high and low in Washington, DC, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Washington, DC

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 17°
Humidity: 54%
Wind: 7 km/h
Chance of rain: 3%

Washington, DC

03:06 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT-5

Today20°7°3%Monday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 3%.
Tue22°8°2%Tuesday: Fog. High 22°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 2%.
Wed24°14°1%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 24°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 1%.
Thu22°16°45%Thursday: Rain. High 22°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 45%.
Fri20°13°47%Friday: Drizzle. High 20°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 47%.
Sat14°9°21%Saturday: Drizzle. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 21%.
Sun17°7°12%Sunday: Drizzle. High 17°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 12%.

Updated 01:21 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 EUR = 1.116 USD

Amount

Converted to

USD · US Dollar

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

Day trips by train

Before you go to Washington, DC

Hotels near a Metro stationPenn Quarter, Capitol Hill, DupontCheck availability

Guided Mall and memorial toursEvening walks and skip-the-queue slotsCompare tours

eSIM for Washington, DCMaps and Metro apps from the airportRead the guide

Insurance for a DC tripMedical cover and flight delaysRead the guide

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Rules for Washington, DC, checked

Washington Monument: timed-entry ticket required; advance tickets via Recreation.gov, typically released 30 days ahead.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
National Air and Space Museum: admission free, free timed-entry passes required, open daily 10 am to 5:30 pm.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source
Smithsonian: free admission at all locations except Cooper Hewitt in New York.Checked Oct 2, 2026 · Source

All Washington, DC guides

ItineraryWashington, DC in 3 days: Capitol, Mall, museums and a rain planChecked Oct 2, 2026

Where to stayWhere to stay in Washington, DC: Penn Quarter, Capitol Hill or DupontChecked Oct 2, 2026

How toWhite House, Capitol and Washington Monument tickets: what to bookChecked Oct 2, 2026

Plan around Washington, DC

All of the USA

Entry rules, parks and city trips for visitors

Read the guide Alexandria

Old Town waterfront, a short ride south

Read the guide Baltimore

Harbor and museums by train

Read the guide Virginia

Shenandoah and Skyline Drive, west of the capital

Read the guide

Washington, DC FAQ

How many days do you need in Washington, DC?

Three days cover the Capitol, the Mall's memorials and two or three museums. Two works if you pick only the tickets you reserved. Add a fourth for Arlington, Alexandria or a day trip.

Are the Smithsonian museums free?

Yes. The Smithsonian lists free admission at all its locations except Cooper Hewitt in New York. Some, such as Air and Space, still need a free timed-entry pass.

Do you need tickets for the Washington Monument?

Yes. The park service asks for a timed ticket, released online about 30 days ahead, with some same-day tickets on site from 8:45 am. The Lincoln Memorial itself needs no ticket.

When is cherry blossom season in Washington, DC?

Peak bloom landed between March 17 and March 28 from 2020 to 2026, per Park Service records. The date shifts with the weather, so keep your booking flexible.

Do you need a car in Washington, DC?

No. The Mall is walkable, Metrorail and buses cover the rest, and parking is limited near the Mall. Rent a car only for Shenandoah or a countryside day.