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Washington, DC in 3 days with friends

Itineraries · Washington, DC · 3 days

A 3-day Washington, DC plan for a group: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial, the Smithsonian's Natural History and Air and Space museums, a Capitol tour, lunch at Eastern Market, dinner at The Wharf, and a slow day in Georgetown.

This plan is for friends seeing DC together, with the free timed tickets booked before you go. Day 1 covers the National Mall, Day 2 runs from Capitol Hill to The Wharf, and Day 3 slows down in Georgetown before an evening flight out of Reagan National.

Day 1

The National Mall

7 stops
  1. StayHyatt House Washington DC/The Wharf725 Wharf St SW, Washington, DC · Map of Hyatt House Washington DC/The WharfOr wherever the group is staying
  2. 9:00 AM9:00 AMDoWashington Monument2 15th St NW, Washington, DC · Map of Washington MonumentTimed tickets required; closed one day a month for maintenance, so check the date
  3. 10:30 AM10:30 AMDoWorld War II Memorial1750 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC · Map of World War II MemorialOn the walk west along the Reflecting Pool
  4. 11:00 AM11:00 AMDoLincoln Memorial2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NW, Washington, DC · Map of Lincoln MemorialOpen 24 hours; take the group photo on the steps
  5. 12:45 PM12:45 PMEatOld Ebbitt Grill675 15th St NW, Washington, DC · Map of Old Ebbitt GrillNear the White House; book ahead
  6. 2:30 PM2:30 PMDoSmithsonian National Museum of Natural History10th St NW and Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC · Map of Smithsonian National Museum of Natural HistoryFree; give it two to three hours
  7. 7:00 PM7:00 PMEatJaleo480 7th St NW, Washington, DC · Map of JaleoJosé Andrés's tapas bar; call ahead for groups larger than eight

If we have time

Day 2

Capitol Hill to The Wharf

6 stops
  1. 9:00 AM9:00 AMDoU.S. Capitol Visitor CenterFirst St and East Capitol St, Washington, DC · Map of U.S. Capitol Visitor CenterFree guided tour; book ahead and allow time for security
  2. 10:45 AM10:45 AMDoLibrary of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building10 First St SE, Washington, DC · Map of Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson BuildingFree timed-entry tickets required; closed Sundays and Mondays
  3. 12:15 PM12:15 PMEatEastern Market225 7th St SE, Washington, DC · Map of Eastern MarketCrab cakes or blueberry-buckwheat pancakes at Market Lunch, inside; it closes by 2:30 PM
  4. 2:00 PM2:00 PMDoSmithsonian National Air and Space Museum650 Jefferson Dr SW, Washington, DC · Map of Smithsonian National Air and Space MuseumFree timed-entry passes required; enter on Jefferson Drive
  5. 5:30 PM5:30 PMDoMunicipal Fish Market1100 Maine Ave SW, Washington, DC · Map of Municipal Fish MarketOne of the country's oldest fish markets; then walk the piers
  6. 7:00 PM7:00 PMEatilili100 District Square SW, Washington, DC · Map of ililiLebanese mezze for the table; book ahead
Day 3

Georgetown

6 stops
  1. 9:00 AM9:00 AMEatBaked & Wired1052 Thomas Jefferson St NW, Washington, DC · Map of Baked & WiredCoffee and cupcakes to start
  2. 10:00 AM10:00 AMDoGeorgetown Waterfront ParkWisconsin Ave NW and K St NW, Washington, DC · Map of Georgetown Waterfront ParkWalk the river toward Key Bridge, then head up to M Street
  3. 12:00 PM12:00 PMEatClyde's of Georgetown3236 M St NW, Washington, DC · Map of Clyde's of GeorgetownA Georgetown saloon that seats groups easily
  4. 1:30 PM1:30 PMDoDumbarton Oaks Museum1703 32nd St NW, Washington, DC · Map of Dumbarton Oaks MuseumFree, no ticket needed; closed Mondays
  5. 2:15 PM2:15 PMDoDumbarton Oaks Garden31st St NW and R St NW, Washington, DC · Map of Dumbarton Oaks GardenOpens at 2 PM, Tuesday to Sunday; buy tickets online ahead
  6. 4:00 PM4:00 PMTravelGeorgetown to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport1 Aviation Cir, Washington, DC · Map of Ronald Reagan Washington National AirportThere's no Metro in Georgetown. Walk or ride to Foggy Bottom-GWU for the Blue Line to the airport, or take a rideshare

Tips

  1. Washington Monument tickets are free and timed. Advance tickets go on sale online at 10 AM, 30 days ahead, and a few same-day tickets are handed out at the Monument Lodge on 15th Street from 8:45 AM.
  2. Reserve free timed-entry passes for the National Air and Space Museum and the Library of Congress, and book the Capitol tour ahead. Capitol walk-ins should arrive by 2:30 PM.
  3. Tap a contactless card or phone at Metro faregates for single rides. The airport station is on the Blue and Yellow lines and connects to Terminal 2 by enclosed walkways.
  4. Plan Day 2 for Tuesday to Saturday. The Capitol Visitor Center is closed Sundays, and the Library of Congress and Eastern Market's indoor hall are closed Mondays.

Plan it together in Freya

Every stop goes on your trip with its place from Apple Maps, so the group gets directions, drive times and the weather. Then swap things out, vote and split the costs.

Add to FreyaCustomize in the builder

Change any stop, move things between days or add your own, then add your version to Freya. Not on an iPhone? Copy the plan for the group chat.

Questions

Is 3 days enough for Washington?

For a first visit, yes. This plan fits 19 stops into 3 days (Day 1: The National Mall; Day 2: Capitol Hill to The Wharf; Day 3: Georgetown). Add a day if your group likes a slower pace.

When is the best time to go to Washington?

March to June and September to November; summers are hot and humid.

Where should a group eat in Washington?

This plan stops at Old Ebbitt Grill, Jaleo, Eastern Market, ilili, Baked & Wired and Clyde's of Georgetown. Vote on dinner in Freya if the group can't agree.

What if the group wants to split up?

The ideas under “If we have time” (Thomas Jefferson Memorial) are optional. In Freya, set who's going on a stop so everyone knows where to meet back up.

How do we use this plan as a group?

Tap Add to Freya on an iPhone. Every stop goes on a shared trip with its place from Apple Maps, so the group gets directions, drive times and the weather. Friends join from a link with just their first name, then swap stops, vote on plans and split the costs.

More itineraries

Have your own plan in a Google Doc, a Google Sheet or an AI chat? Paste it into Freya, or import it in the builder. Here’s how, or plan together with our Google Sheets and Docs templates. Or make your own version of this plan in the builder.