Washington, DC is the perfect travel destination for any occasion (i.e. solo trip, birthday, girls trip, etc.) I recently celebrated my 29th birthday in DC to visit the museums, relish in the history and to see what its like to live there. DC is full of culture, history, and food, so everyone will find something they enjoy.
This travel guide provides a comprehensive guide on how to make the most of your trip, including everything from the best way to get to DC to activities and restaurants to try.
How to get to DC?
Airport
If you are flying to DC, you have 3 airport options:
- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (this airport is the closest to DC)
- Washington Dulles International Airport
- Baltimore/Washington International Airport (this is the furthest airport, but they occasionally offer cheaper flights)
If you are looking for convenience, I recommend flying to Ronald Regan Washington National Airport (DCA) because it is closest to DC. It’s also connected to the DC metro system, so you can pay $2.50 to ride the train to your hotel versus an Uber.
If you’re nervous about using the metro, don’t be. This was my first time riding the metro by myself and Google Maps guided me to which train to board and which stop to get off. You can use Google Pay or Apple Pay to tap and purchase your ticket. If you are looking to take the bus, you will need to download the DC metro app because they don’t accept tap.
Amtrak
If you live within 2-3 hours of the DMV, Amtrak is a great, affordable option. I used Amtrak to travel from DC to VA to visit a friend and only cost about $60 one way. This option could save you money to spend on other areas of your trip.
Where to Stay?
DC offers a plethora of hotel options, but if you are a solo traveler like me, you are probably looking for cost-effective hotel options. I have listed a few options based on my research that won’t break the bank and provide a great experience.
AC Hotel Downtown DC
I stayed at the AC Hotel, and it was one of the most affordable options. I chose this hotel because of its proximity to Georgetown and the National Mall. It was within a 20-30 minute walk of both areas and a 5 min walk to the metro.
The hotel was stunning. The lobby includes their bar and a lounge offering plenty of seating to lounge, eat, or work. The staff is accommodating. During my trip, they provided me with complimentary early check-in and late checkout. The room was spacious and modern, with a well-lit and perfectly sized bathroom.
Tip: If you are looking for a view, I recommend asking the front desk for a room facing the street. If not, you may get a room facing the courtyard which is empty.
2. CitizenM hotel
Citizen M hotel is another hotel recommended for solo travelers. They offer cute, quaint, and affordable hotel rooms so it would be best for one person or a couple. A unique feature about this hotel is the mood lighting in each room. After a busy day exploring, you can select a color that matches your mood and wind down for the day.
3. Eaton
If you are looking for a hotel that offers experiences and can splurge a little bit, then Eaton is for you. This hotel stands above the rest because they host events for their guests and the public, including yoga/pilates classes, poetry jams, dance lessons, and more. This is a great option if going out at night is a concern. Eaton will bring the party to you.
What to Do?
To make planning your trip to DC easier, I grouped the activities and restaurants by neighborhood. This will help you stay organized and prevent you from overlooking a place.
Georgetown
- Das Ethiopian Food
Das serves delicious Ethiopian food and if you’ve never tried Ethiopian this is a sign too. They have a delicious beef and chicken plate that gives you a little bit of everything. I tried this and I so wanted to go back and try more food. They have a cute patio where you can people watch or indoor dining option.
- Georgetown Cupcake
TikTok has a debate if Georgetown Cupcake is better than Baked & Wired. In my humble opinion, I say Georgetown Cupcake. I tried their Cookies & Cream Cheesecake Cupcake and it was to live for lol. The cupcake was moist and fluffy. They offer about 15-20 different flavors daily, so if you have the stomach for it, try some for me.
- Baked and Wired
You need to try Baked and Wired and let me know if you prefer them or Georgetown Cupcakes. I ordered the Raspberry cupcake because I enjoy raspberries and thought it tasty in a cupcake. Wrong! It wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t my fave.
Based on TikTok, they offer delicious cupcakes, just try a different flavor.
- Old Stone House (Museum)
The Old Stone House is the oldest standing house in DC. You can visit it on your stroll of Georgetown to learn about the history of the house. It was accidently preserved because they thought it was a previous residence for George Washington. Turns out, it wasn’t. However, they have repurposed the house to give us a glimpse of what houses looked liked back then and provide insights into the colonial period.
Outside of history, they offer excursions on the weekend at Rock Creek Park including guided history walks and kayaking. You can find the listed events on the side door of the house to sign up.
- Georgetown Waterfront Park
To relax you can walk alongside the waterfront. There are some nice spots to watch the sunset. Plus, they occasionally host events. The night I visited they had a free movie night. To see what programming they have, check out the Georgetown website.
Places I Didn’t Visit, but Will Next Time:
- Yellow Cafe (Coffee shop)
- Boulangerie Christophe (Bakery)
- Blue Alley’s (Jazz Night)
Dupont Circle and Downtown D.C.
- Well-Dressed Burrito
If you are looking for a quick bite to eat then Well-Dressed Burrito has good Mexican food. This isn’t a place I would go out of my way to try, but if it’s on your way check it out.
- Petit Maman
If you like a good chai latte, Petit Maman has you covered. They also have grab and go pastries to eat while you stroll the streets of DC.
- Pisco Y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar
This Peruvian restaurant was recommended by the hotel staff and it did not disappoint. It has 4.9 stars for a reason. If you would like to dine-in, book a reservation because they get packed. I ordered the Furai Roll and the Arroz Con Pollo. Everything was delicious but I would for sure order the Furai Roll again.
- Dupont Circle Farmer’s Market
The Dupont Farmer’s Market is a great way to immerse yourself in the locals’ experience and explore mom-and-pop food places. They feature everything, including fresh produce, food, body care essentials, and trinkets.
Reminder: They are only open on Sunday from 8:30am -1:30pm.
- Toolbox Pilates
If you are looking to keep up with your fitness routine, then try Toolbox Pilates. This Pilates studio serves as an art studio with mat and reformer Pilates classes. If you have Classpass, it allows the unique opportunity to try different studios while traveling. If you have not checked it out yet, here is a link to try a free month of Classpass.
National Mall and Museums
You can spend all day at the National Mall exploring the Smithsonian museums. There are 21 Smithsonian museum options you can explore. However, I wouldn’t recommend trying to get through all of them or even half of them to avoid burn out.
What helped me during my trip was identifying my top Smithsonian museum to visit, which was the African American museum, and starting there. This allowed me to structure my other museum trips around it and ensured I wasn’t rushing and could soak in all the exhibits.
To avoid getting bored, diversify the types of museums you visit. I visited a history museum (National Museum of African American History), an art museum (Hirshhorn Museum), the Library of Congress, and an interactive museum (Planet Word).
Tip: Certain Smithsonian museums require a ticket such as The National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Library of Congress, so book these in advance.
The Wharf
The wharf is a neighborhood located near the Potomac River. It has an amazing view and you can take a Water Taxi to Historic Alexandria. In addition to this, there are a ton of restaurants to choose from and activities. Nara Ya is a brunch spot that is highly recommended.
Other Activities to Do:
Brunch at Busboys & Poets which is a dine in restaurant and bookstore. The food is so good and you can also grab a good book at the same time.
Attend a Washington Nationals Baseball game. If you want to try a local experience of DC visit a baseball game. Even if you are not a big sports fan, the vibe of baseball is unmatched. They offer inexpensive tickets starting at $30 and its a great way to do something different outside of eating and museums.
To stay up to date on the local events I have included links to make it easy to find activities during your trip.
Event Pages:
Visit the Washington DC Official Page
I hope that you have an amazing trip.