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North America · Single base · 6 NIGHTS

Washington, DC slow stay · Memorials and a history museum

Spend time on a secondary interest and protect a low-pressure day

Submitted by Quiet Corner Trips
Use this itinerary

Route and nights

  1. Washington, DC6 nights

Trip format: Single base · One apartment or hotel with space for a longer stay

Tradeoff: An extra night adds flexibility and time in the city. It also adds a full night of lodging.

Compare: Walking and local transit to compare

Trip stats

Trip days
7
Nights
6
Home Bases
1
Scheduled entries
42

Days by place

Washington, DC
7

Hotels and other stays

citizenM Washington DC Capitol · Washington, DC
6 nights

Schedule by type

Activity
18
Meal
17
Ground transport
4
Lodging
3

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 the hotel L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC
  2. to · Ground transport Get to the west end of the National Mall Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC
  3. to · Activity Visit the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC

    Check National Park Service access notices for construction and use the marked paths.

  4. to · Activity Stop at the World War II Memorial World War II Memorial, Washington, DC
  5. to · Meal Lunch near the Mall National Mall, Washington, DC
  6. to · Activity 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.

  7. to · Activity 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.

  8. to · Meal Dinner around The Wharf The Wharf, Washington, DC
citizenM Washington DC CapitolWashington, DC
Day 4 Washington, DC
  1. to · Meal Coffee and breakfast near Union Market Union Market District, Washington, DC
  2. to · Activity 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.

  3. to · Meal Lunch at Union Market Union Market, Washington, DC
  4. to · Ground transport Travel to Eastern Market Eastern Market, Washington, DC
  5. to · Activity 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.

  6. to · Meal Dinner on Barracks Row Barracks Row, Washington, DC
citizenM Washington DC CapitolWashington, DC
Day 5 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 6 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 7 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 the hotel L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC
    2. to · Ground transport Get to the west end of the National Mall Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC
    3. to · Activity Visit the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC

      Check National Park Service access notices for construction and use the marked paths.

    4. to · Activity Stop at the World War II Memorial World War II Memorial, Washington, DC
    5. to · Meal Lunch near the Mall National Mall, Washington, DC
    6. to · Activity 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.

    7. to · Activity 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.

    8. to · Meal Dinner around The Wharf The Wharf, Washington, DC
    citizenM Washington DC CapitolWashington, DC
  4. Day 4

    Washington, DC

    America/New_York Open map for Washington, DC
    1. to · Meal Coffee and breakfast near Union Market Union Market District, Washington, DC
    2. to · Activity 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.

    3. to · Meal Lunch at Union Market Union Market, Washington, DC
    4. to · Ground transport Travel to Eastern Market Eastern Market, Washington, DC
    5. to · Activity 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.

    6. to · Meal Dinner on Barracks Row Barracks Row, 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 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
  6. Day 6

    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
  7. Day 7

    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