Self-organised trips
Washington DC is the capital of the United States and thus is home to many important and iconic landmarks and buildings such as the Washington Memorial and reflecting pool; The White House, which is the official home of the President; The Pentagon; and the Lincoln Memorial.
THINGS TO DO AND SEE IN WASHINGTON DC
- The Washington Monument is an obelisk to commemorate the first U.S. president, General George Washington. Made of marble, granite, and sandstone it took 40 years to complete is both the world's tallest stone structure and the world's tallest obelisk. The monument stands due east of the Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memorial.
- The Lincoln Memorial was built in 1922 to honor the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. The building is in the form of a Greek temple and contains a large seated sculpture of the President. There are two inscriptions of well-known speeches by the man himself and the site of many other famous speeches and occasions, including Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech and President Nixon’s impromptu meeting with protesters preparing to march against the Vietnam War. The memorial is open to the public 24 hours a day and is free to visit.
- The White House has been the official residence of every President of the United States since 1801. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was built between 1792 and 1800 and modelled on grand English and Irish mansions of the time. Due to heightened security, access is limited to groups making prior arrangements through their Congressional representatives and submitting to background checks; the White House remains closed to the public.
For more travel information on what to do in see in Washington, we invite you to visit our partner GetYourGuide.
EATING OUT & NIGHTLIFE IN WASHINGTON DC
Chinese and Thai is popular cuisine in this city, but being home to many foreign embassies this city is influenced by the whole world. As for nightlife, make the most of D.Cs jazz, blues and indie music scene. There are many live music clubs and lounges to kick back and relax in. These venues can be quite eclectic in that they will serve food and drinks, play music, host open mic nights and poetry readings.
GETTING AROUND IN WASHINGTON DC
Metrorail, Metrobus and all local public bus systems in Washington’s metropolitan area accept SmarTrip, a reloadable transit pass. Major international flights arrive and depart from Washington Dulles International Airport.
