# Washington, DC neighborhood break · Smithsonian science galleries

[Canonical itinerary](<https://zukio.com/trips/north-america/single-base/washington-dc-neighborhood-break-z0350/>)

Compare several neighborhoods from one hotel

- Region: North America
- Trip format: Single base
- Nights: 5
- Interests: Science, Arts & Theatre, Food & Drink, History

## Route and nights

- Washington, DC · 5 night(s)

Tradeoff: Pick a base that makes the evening return easy, even if a different neighborhood has a lower room rate.

Compare: Walking and local transit to compare

## Day-by-day agenda

Suggested schedule. Times are local. Check hours and availability for your dates.

### Day 1 · Washington, DC

- 15:00 to 15:45 · Check in or drop your bags · citizenM Washington DC Capitol. If your arrival is late, keep just the hotel and dinner.
- 16:10 to 17:00 · 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.
- 17:20 to 18:10 · Walk along the Washington Channel · The Wharf, Washington, DC. Pick a short stretch between the piers.
- 18:15 to 19:30 · Dinner at The Wharf · The Wharf, Washington, DC
Overnight: [citizenM Washington DC Capitol](<https://www.hotels.com/ho1464385760/citizenm-washington-dc-capitol-washington-united-states-of-america/>) · Washington, DC

### Day 2 · Washington, DC

- 08:45 to 09:30 · Breakfast near L'Enfant Plaza · L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC
- 09:40 to 10:00 · Reach the Air and Space Museum entrance · Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC. Reserve for the National Mall building in Washington, DC.
- 10:00 to 12:20 · 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.
- 12:35 to 13:35 · Lunch around the National Mall · National Mall, Washington, DC
- 13:50 to 16:15 · 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.
- 17:45 to 19:15 · Dinner near Penn Quarter · Penn Quarter, Washington, DC
Overnight: [citizenM Washington DC Capitol](<https://www.hotels.com/ho1464385760/citizenm-washington-dc-capitol-washington-united-states-of-america/>) · Washington, DC

### Day 3 · Washington, DC

- 08:45 to 09:30 · Breakfast near the Archives · Penn Quarter, Washington, DC
- 10:00 to 11:55 · 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.
- 12:00 to 13:00 · Lunch near Pennsylvania Avenue NW · Penn Quarter, Washington, DC
- 13:15 to 14:15 · 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.
- 14:35 to 16:30 · See modern and contemporary art in the East Building · National Gallery of Art East Building, Washington, DC
- 17:45 to 19:15 · Dinner in Penn Quarter · Penn Quarter, Washington, DC
Overnight: [citizenM Washington DC Capitol](<https://www.hotels.com/ho1464385760/citizenm-washington-dc-capitol-washington-united-states-of-america/>) · Washington, DC

### Day 4 · Washington, DC

- 09:30 to 10:20 · Coffee and breakfast near Union Market · Union Market District, Washington, DC
- 10:30 to 12:00 · Explore Union Market and its surrounding blocks · Union Market, Washington, DC. Verify vendor opening times individually. Allow more time here if you prefer one market visit.
- 12:00 to 13:00 · Lunch at Union Market · Union Market, Washington, DC
- 13:15 to 14:00 · Travel to Eastern Market · Eastern Market, Washington, DC
- 14:00 to 15:30 · Visit Eastern Market and walk the nearby residential blocks · Eastern Market, Washington, DC. Check the indoor market's days and outdoor vendor schedule. Choose a weekend if outdoor stalls are a priority.
- 17:30 to 19:00 · Dinner on Barracks Row · Barracks Row, Washington, DC
Overnight: [citizenM Washington DC Capitol](<https://www.hotels.com/ho1464385760/citizenm-washington-dc-capitol-washington-united-states-of-america/>) · Washington, DC

### Day 5 · Washington, DC

- 08:00 to 08:45 · Breakfast near the hotel · L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC
- 09:00 to 09:35 · Get to the west end of the National Mall · Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC
- 09:35 to 10:20 · Visit the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool · Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC. Check National Park Service access notices for construction and use the marked paths.
- 10:35 to 11:05 · Stop at the World War II Memorial · World War II Memorial, Washington, DC
- 11:30 to 12:25 · Lunch near the Mall · National Mall, Washington, DC
- 12:45 to 15:15 · See two sections of the National Museum of American History · Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Washington, DC. Choose two priorities from open exhibits. The Star-Spangled Banner and transportation collections offer different angles.
- 15:30 to 16:30 · Walk the Mall toward the Smithsonian Castle exterior · Smithsonian Castle, Washington, DC. Treat this as a grounds and exterior stop, or cut it if the museum takes longer.
- 18:00 to 19:30 · Dinner around The Wharf · The Wharf, Washington, DC
Overnight: [citizenM Washington DC Capitol](<https://www.hotels.com/ho1464385760/citizenm-washington-dc-capitol-washington-united-states-of-america/>) · Washington, DC

### Day 6 · Washington, DC

- 08:15 to 09:00 · Breakfast near L'Enfant Plaza · L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC
- 09:00 to 09:30 · Check out and leave bags if needed · citizenM Washington DC Capitol. Confirm checkout and luggage storage with the hotel.
- 09:45 to 10:50 · Take an optional final waterfront walk · The Wharf, Washington, DC. Skip this if you need an earlier departure.
- 11:05 to 11:25 · Collect your bags · citizenM Washington DC Capitol