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North America · Single base + day trip · 5 NIGHTS

Washington, DC with a day in Alexandria

Add a nearby city or landscape while keeping one overnight base

Submitted by Between the Bays
Use this itinerary

Route and nights

  1. Washington, DC5 nights

Trip format: Single base + day trip · One city hotel for every night

Tradeoff: A day trip avoids repacking. Check the last return option and whether the travel time is worth the outing.

Compare: Local transit, rail, ferry or road for the outing as applicable

Trip stats

Trip days
6
Nights
5
Home Bases
1
Scheduled entries
36

Days by place

Washington, DC
5
Alexandria
1

Hotels and other stays

citizenM Washington DC Capitol · Washington, DC
5 nights

Schedule by type

Activity
15
Meal
14
Lodging
3
Ground transport
2
Rail
2

Day-by-day agenda

Jump to Calendar View
Day 1 Washington, DC
  1. to · Lodging Check in or drop your bags citizenM Washington DC Capitol

    If your arrival is late, keep just the hotel and dinner.

  2. to · Activity Walk the southwest edge of the National Mall National Mall, Washington, DC

    Use the walk to find the Mall entrances you will use the next day.

  3. to · Activity Walk along the Washington Channel The Wharf, Washington, DC

    Pick a short stretch between the piers.

  4. to · Meal Dinner at The Wharf The Wharf, Washington, DC
citizenM Washington DC CapitolWashington, DC
Day 2 Washington, DC
  1. to · Meal Breakfast near L'Enfant Plaza L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC
  2. to · Ground transport Get to the Capitol Visitor Center and clear security U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, Washington, DC

    Bring only what the Capitol allows and leave time for screening before the tour.

  3. to · Activity Take a Capitol Visitor Center tour U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, Washington, DC

    Reserve the Capitol tour ahead. This schedule is arranged for Saturday. Tour time may vary with the available reservation. For a guided alternative, compare the Viator tour. Check its start time, included interiors, and duration before replacing the morning plan.

    Optional Viator tour
  4. to · Activity Explore the Library of Congress Jefferson Building Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington, DC

    Check timed-entry requirements separately from the Capitol tour. Leave time to see the Great Hall.

  5. to · Meal Lunch along Pennsylvania Avenue SE Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
  6. to · Activity See the Supreme Court exterior and Capitol grounds Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, DC

    The exterior stop works on the weekend. Save any interior visit for a date with public access.

  7. to · Activity Visit the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory United States Botanic Garden Conservatory, Washington, DC

    Keep this unticketed stop flexible if the Capitol or Library reservation shifts.

  8. to · Meal Dinner on Barracks Row Barracks Row, Washington, DC

    Choose a spot near Eastern Market and use Metro if you want to avoid walking back.

citizenM Washington DC CapitolWashington, DC
Day 3 Washington, DC
  1. to · Meal Breakfast near L'Enfant Plaza L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC
  2. to · Ground transport Reach the Air and Space Museum entrance Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC

    Reserve for the National Mall building in Washington, DC.

  3. to · Activity Visit the National Air and Space Museum Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC

    Check the current timed-entry policy and use your reserved slot. Pick a short list of open galleries.

  4. to · Meal Lunch around the National Mall National Mall, Washington, DC
  5. to · Activity Visit the National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC

    Choose a priority such as the fossil hall or the ocean galleries. Allow for a security line and skip a second hall if the first takes longer.

  6. to · Meal Dinner near Penn Quarter Penn Quarter, Washington, DC
citizenM Washington DC CapitolWashington, DC
Day 4 Alexandria
  1. to · Meal Breakfast near L'Enfant Plaza L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC
  2. to · Rail Take Metro to King St-Old Town and continue toward the waterfront King St-Old Town Metro Station, Alexandria, Virginia

    Check WMATA's route and service on your date. Walk down King Street or take the local trolley if operating.

  3. to · Activity Walk the lower blocks of King Street King Street, Alexandria, Virginia

    Keep time for the side streets around Market Square before heading to the river.

  4. to · Activity Explore the Torpedo Factory Art Center Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, Virginia

    Check opening hours and individual artist studio availability.

  5. to · Meal Lunch in Old Town Old Town Alexandria, Virginia
  6. to · Activity Walk the Potomac waterfront Waterfront Park, Alexandria, Virginia

    Start around Waterfront Park and use a short out-and-back route.

  7. to · Rail Return to Washington by Metro L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC

    Allow extra time for the walk or trolley back to the Metro station.

  8. to · Meal Dinner near the hotel The Wharf, Washington, DC
citizenM Washington DC CapitolWashington, DC
Day 5 Washington, DC
  1. to · Meal Breakfast near the Archives Penn Quarter, Washington, DC
  2. to · Activity See the National Gallery's West Building National Gallery of Art West Building, Washington, DC

    Choose one painting collection and leave time to get between floors.

  3. to · Meal Lunch near Pennsylvania Avenue NW Penn Quarter, Washington, DC
  4. to · Activity Visit the National Gallery Sculpture Garden National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, Washington, DC

    Check any weather or event changes. Use the indoor East Building as a backup.

  5. to · Activity See modern and contemporary art in the East Building National Gallery of Art East Building, Washington, DC
  6. to · Meal Dinner in Penn Quarter Penn Quarter, Washington, DC
citizenM Washington DC CapitolWashington, DC
Day 6 Washington, DC
  1. to · Meal Breakfast near L'Enfant Plaza L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC
  2. to · Lodging Check out and leave bags if needed citizenM Washington DC Capitol

    Confirm checkout and luggage storage with the hotel.

  3. to · Activity Take an optional final waterfront walk The Wharf, Washington, DC

    Skip this if you need an earlier departure.

  4. to · Lodging Collect your bags citizenM Washington DC Capitol

Trip calendar

Itinerary map Print itinerary

Suggested schedule · All times are local. Check hours and availability for your dates.

  1. Day 1

    Washington, DC

    America/New_York Open map for Washington, DC
    1. to · Lodging Check in or drop your bags citizenM Washington DC Capitol

      If your arrival is late, keep just the hotel and dinner.

    2. to · Activity Walk the southwest edge of the National Mall National Mall, Washington, DC

      Use the walk to find the Mall entrances you will use the next day.

    3. to · Activity Walk along the Washington Channel The Wharf, Washington, DC

      Pick a short stretch between the piers.

    4. to · Meal Dinner at The Wharf The Wharf, Washington, DC
    citizenM Washington DC CapitolWashington, DC
  2. Day 2

    Washington, DC

    America/New_York Open map for Washington, DC
    1. to · Meal Breakfast near L'Enfant Plaza L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC
    2. to · Ground transport Get to the Capitol Visitor Center and clear security U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, Washington, DC

      Bring only what the Capitol allows and leave time for screening before the tour.

    3. to · Activity Take a Capitol Visitor Center tour U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, Washington, DC

      Reserve the Capitol tour ahead. This schedule is arranged for Saturday. Tour time may vary with the available reservation. For a guided alternative, compare the Viator tour. Check its start time, included interiors, and duration before replacing the morning plan.

      Optional Viator tour
    4. to · Activity Explore the Library of Congress Jefferson Building Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington, DC

      Check timed-entry requirements separately from the Capitol tour. Leave time to see the Great Hall.

    5. to · Meal Lunch along Pennsylvania Avenue SE Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
    6. to · Activity See the Supreme Court exterior and Capitol grounds Supreme Court of the United States, Washington, DC

      The exterior stop works on the weekend. Save any interior visit for a date with public access.

    7. to · Activity Visit the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory United States Botanic Garden Conservatory, Washington, DC

      Keep this unticketed stop flexible if the Capitol or Library reservation shifts.

    8. to · Meal Dinner on Barracks Row Barracks Row, Washington, DC

      Choose a spot near Eastern Market and use Metro if you want to avoid walking back.

    citizenM Washington DC CapitolWashington, DC
  3. Day 3

    Washington, DC

    America/New_York Open map for Washington, DC
    1. to · Meal Breakfast near L'Enfant Plaza L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC
    2. to · Ground transport Reach the Air and Space Museum entrance Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC

      Reserve for the National Mall building in Washington, DC.

    3. to · Activity Visit the National Air and Space Museum Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC

      Check the current timed-entry policy and use your reserved slot. Pick a short list of open galleries.

    4. to · Meal Lunch around the National Mall National Mall, Washington, DC
    5. to · Activity Visit the National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC

      Choose a priority such as the fossil hall or the ocean galleries. Allow for a security line and skip a second hall if the first takes longer.

    6. to · Meal Dinner near Penn Quarter Penn Quarter, Washington, DC
    citizenM Washington DC CapitolWashington, DC
  4. Day 4

    Alexandria

    America/New_York Open map for Alexandria
    1. to · Meal Breakfast near L'Enfant Plaza L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC
    2. to · Rail Take Metro to King St-Old Town and continue toward the waterfront King St-Old Town Metro Station, Alexandria, Virginia

      Check WMATA's route and service on your date. Walk down King Street or take the local trolley if operating.

    3. to · Activity Walk the lower blocks of King Street King Street, Alexandria, Virginia

      Keep time for the side streets around Market Square before heading to the river.

    4. to · Activity Explore the Torpedo Factory Art Center Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria, Virginia

      Check opening hours and individual artist studio availability.

    5. to · Meal Lunch in Old Town Old Town Alexandria, Virginia
    6. to · Activity Walk the Potomac waterfront Waterfront Park, Alexandria, Virginia

      Start around Waterfront Park and use a short out-and-back route.

    7. to · Rail Return to Washington by Metro L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC

      Allow extra time for the walk or trolley back to the Metro station.

    8. to · Meal Dinner near the hotel The Wharf, Washington, DC
    citizenM Washington DC CapitolWashington, DC
  5. Day 5

    Washington, DC

    America/New_York Open map for Washington, DC
    1. to · Meal Breakfast near the Archives Penn Quarter, Washington, DC
    2. to · Activity See the National Gallery's West Building National Gallery of Art West Building, Washington, DC

      Choose one painting collection and leave time to get between floors.

    3. to · Meal Lunch near Pennsylvania Avenue NW Penn Quarter, Washington, DC
    4. to · Activity Visit the National Gallery Sculpture Garden National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, Washington, DC

      Check any weather or event changes. Use the indoor East Building as a backup.

    5. to · Activity See modern and contemporary art in the East Building National Gallery of Art East Building, Washington, DC
    6. to · Meal Dinner in Penn Quarter Penn Quarter, Washington, DC
    citizenM Washington DC CapitolWashington, DC
  6. Day 6

    Washington, DC

    America/New_York Open map for Washington, DC
    1. to · Meal Breakfast near L'Enfant Plaza L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC
    2. to · Lodging Check out and leave bags if needed citizenM Washington DC Capitol

      Confirm checkout and luggage storage with the hotel.

    3. to · Activity Take an optional final waterfront walk The Wharf, Washington, DC

      Skip this if you need an earlier departure.

    4. to · Lodging Collect your bags citizenM Washington DC Capitol