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Foggy Bottom and the West End, Washington, D.C.
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Washington, D.C.Travel Guide

United States4 stories

The American capital of marble monuments, free Smithsonian museums, and cherry blossoms — plus a roster of grand historic hotels where much of that history was actually made.

Is Washington, D.C. right for you?

When to come

Spring and fall

Around 32°C by day in July, 7°C in January — recorded at the local weather station.

What it costs

It depends where you stand. There is a cheap version and an expensive one — the guides below say which is which.

What we've planned, and who for

We have a full day here planned hour by hour. Longer stays are covered by subject rather than by route.

When to go
January: around 7 degrees by day, -1 at night, 73 millimetres of rain, some rain.
February: around 9 degrees by day, 0 at night, 67 millimetres of rain, some rain.
March: around 14 degrees by day, 4 at night, 89 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
April: around 20 degrees by day, 9 at night, 82 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
May: around 25 degrees by day, 14 at night, 100 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
June: around 30 degrees by day, 20 at night, 107 millimetres of rain, wet.
July: around 32 degrees by day, 22 at night, 110 millimetres of rain, wet.
August: around 31 degrees by day, 22 at night, 83 millimetres of rain, wet.
September: around 27 degrees by day, 18 at night, 100 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
October: around 21 degrees by day, 11 at night, 93 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
November: around 15 degrees by day, 5 at night, 74 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
December: around 9 degrees by day, 1 at night, 87 millimetres of rain, wet.
Cold to hot, by dayDry to wetWhen we would go

Spring and fall

Average daily highs, recorded at Reagan National Airport (DCA), 1991-2020 normals.

Where this comes from

NOAA (en.wikipedia Template:Washington, D.C. weatherbox) — Box is in Fahrenheit and inches; converted to °C and mm here (F-32)*5/9 and inch*25.4, rounded to 1 dp. Article transcludes Template:Washington, D.C. weatherbox.

Budget level

Mixed

Typical cost profile for visitors

Combine it with
Plan itWhere to stay in Washington, D.C.ad · Booking.comTours and tickets
On the map

Finding Washington, D.C.

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The stories

Reading Washington, D.C.

The Washington Monument rising above pink cherry blossoms in full bloom along the Tidal Basin in spring
01
The List

The best day trips from Washington, D.C.

Presidential estates, Chesapeake sailing towns, Blue Ridge overlooks and a river gorge minutes from the Beltway — seven escapes that repay a day away from the Mall.

United States · 2 min
The Lincoln Memorial glowing at the far end of the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall, its colonnade mirrored in still water beneath an orange and blue sunset sky.
02
Itineraries

24 hours in Washington, D.C. for the time-poor

Washington punishes the over-ambitious: the one-day answer is to walk the monumental core before the buses arrive, commit to a single museum instead of five, and let the evening soften into Georgetown.

United States · 14 min
The United States Capitol dome seen down a broad Washington avenue with bike lanes, trees, and passing cars under a blue sky
03
Stays

Where to Stay in Washington, D.C.: The Classic Hotels

In Washington, the grand hotels are historic sites in their own right. A neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to the capital's famous classics — and who each one suits.

United States · 2 min
The carved marble fountain at the centre of Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., water sheeting from its wide basin past the allegorical figures on its shaft, with the leafy circle and its shopfronts behind.
04
Stays

Sleeping well in Washington, D.C., whatever your budget

Washington is a weekday city that empties out every Friday afternoon, and learning that rhythm is worth more to your budget than any loyalty program.

United States · 10 min
In pictures

Washington, D.C., framed

A brick sidewalk in Georgetown, Washington, D.C., running past rowhouses in red brick and painted stucco, an American flag hanging over a white porticoed doorway beneath a maple turning orange.
Photo: Sydnie Sellers / Unsplash
The Lincoln Memorial lit at dusk in Washington DC
Photo: Elijah Mears / Unsplash
Dupont Circle and the Golden Triangle, Washington, D.C.
Photo: Ian Hutchinson / Unsplash
Downtown and the White House orbit, Washington, D.C.
Photo: Tabrez Syed / Unsplash
Our picks

What we'd do in Washington, D.C.

See and do

Where to stay

Before you go

Practical essentials for United States

Money

United States dollar (USD)

Language

English, designated the official federal language by executive order in 2025; Spanish is widely spoken in Miami, Los Angeles and the Southwest.

Power

Type A/B, 120V 60Hz

Getting around

New York runs entirely on OMNY, which takes a tapped contactless bank card or phone now that the MetroCard was withdrawn at the end of 2025; other cities have their own cards (Chicago's Ventra, Boston's CharlieCard, Washington's SmarTrip, San Francisco's Clipper), while Los Angeles and Las Vegas effectively require a car or ride-hailing.

Tipping

Tipping is expected rather than optional: 18-20% in restaurants, and bartenders, taxi drivers and hotel staff are tipped too.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink.

Driving

Right-hand side; there is no federal International Driving Permit requirement and many visitors drive on their home licence, but rules vary by state and rental firms may ask for an IDP, which must be obtained before you travel.

Emergency

911

Country-level guidance, checked against official sources. Currency, fares and entry rules change — confirm anything time-critical before you travel.

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