About this ebook
Our updated guide brings Washington, DC to life, transporting you there like no other travel guide does with expert-led insights, trusted travel advice, detailed breakdowns of all the must-see sights, photographs on practically every page, and our hand-drawn illustrations which place you inside the city's iconic buildings and neighborhoods.
Whether you want to stroll beneath the cherry blossoms, visit the iconic domed Capitol, or tour the magnificent White House, DK Eyewitness Washington DC is your ticket to the trip of a lifetime.
Inside DK Eyewitness Washington, you will find:
- A fully-illustrated top experiences guide: our expert pick of Washington DC's must-sees and hidden gems
- Accessible itineraries to make the most out of each and every day
- Expert advice: honest recommendations for getting around safely, when to visit each sight, what to do before you visit, and how to save time and money
- Color-coded chapters to every part of Washington DC, from Capitol Hill to Penn Quarter, The Mall to Georgetown
- Practical tips: the best places to eat, drink, shop and stay in Washington DC
- Detailed maps to help you navigate the region easily and confidently
- Explore the culture of Washington DC: delve into Washington DC's iconic history, art, and architecture
- Covers: Capitol Hill, The Mall, Penn Quarter, White House and Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, South of the Mall, Northwest, Beyond the Center, and Days Out From Washington DC
Planning on touring the USA? Don't forget to check out DK Eyewitness USA for a complete comprehensive guide to the States, making the most of your trip and achieving the adventure of a lifetime.
About DK Eyewitness:
At DK Eyewitness, we believe in the power of discovery. We make it easy for you to explore your dream destinations. Filled with expert advice, striking photography and detailed illustrations, our highly visual DK Eyewitness guides will get you closer to your next adventure. We publish guides to more than 200 destinations, from pocket-sized city guides to comprehensive country guides. Named Top Guidebook Series at the 2020 Wanderlust Reader Travel Awards, we know that wherever you go next, your DK Eyewitness travel guides are the perfect companion.
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Book preview
DK Washington DC - DK Travel
Washington, DC
Inspire / Plan / Discover / Experience
contents
g Contents
key to maps
g Contents
price guide
Throughout the guide the following price categories have been applied:
\\\ On a budget
\\\ Mid-range
\\\ Splurge
g Contents
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g Contents
DISCOVER WASHINGTON
alt imaget Bird’s-eye view of the Lincoln Memorial
g Discover Washington g Contents
Welcome to
Washington, DC
alt imaget The Jefferson Memorial at the Tidal Basin.
Museums filled with wonders. Galleries bursting with masterworks. Lush, verdant parks and gardens. And everywhere famous views that every visitor knows by heart. This is a city in renaissance, a grand dream of marble and art, of substance and spectacle. Wherever you turn, there are iconic sights – the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the US Capitol, and much more. Whatever your dream trip to Washington, DC entails, this DK Eyewitness travel guide is the perfect companion.
alt imagealt imagealt imageWashington, DC is bursting with exciting neighborhoods that have been rebuilt and reborn. Over the past decade, the city has revitalized its waterfront, building gardens and bike paths along the Potomac River, and creating fabulous waterfront developments like District Wharf, the second largest one in the US.
The heart of the city is the National Mall, ringed with grand museums and monuments. Science comes to life among the dinosaurs of the National Museum of Natural History, while space travel inspires the future at the National Air and Space Museum. The Northwest district is home to the magnificent Phillips Collection and the historic Howard University. Georgetown offers chic shopping and elegant rowhouses that were once inhabited by famous personalities such as the Kennedys. Capitol Hill and Penn Quarter offer fine dining and unique attractions such as the National Archives and the US Botanic Garden. U Street, an epicenter of African American culture, has an unparalleled music and nightlife scene, while vibrant Adams Morgan has a thriving international and LGBTQ+ community.
Washington, DC is a small gem, so packed with attractions that it can be hard to know where to start. We’ve broken the city down into easily navigable chapters, with detailed itineraries, expert local knowledge, and colorful, comprehensive maps to help you plan the perfect visit. Whether you’re staying for a weekend or longer, this DK Eyewitness guide will ensure that you see the very best America’s capital has to offer. Enjoy the book, and enjoy Washington, DC.
1 The Potomac in Mather Gorge, Great Falls.
2 Statue of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s terrier at his memorial
3 Aircraft at the National Air and Space Museum.
g Discover Washington g Contents
Reasons to Love
Washington, DC
It may be a compact city but Washington, DC delights at every turn. Any list of its treasures must include its famed museums, magnificent memorials, green spaces, and secret sanctuaries. Here are a few of our favorites.
1The National Mall
006_reasons_to_love_Eifel_Towert Often called America’s front yard,
the National Mall is an amazing collection of museums, gardens, and beautiful memorials that are the centerpiece of America’s capital.
Discover Reasons to Love Washington, DC
2Amazing Architecture
alt imaget The city’s architects want you to know that this is an important city, and they do it with architectural eye candy, from the Neo-Classical Supreme Court to the Beaux Arts Union Station.
Discover Reasons to Love Washington, DC
3Tidal Basin
alt imaget An unexpected treat on the west end of the National Mall is this scenic pool, edged by a walking path that offers postcard views and shaded places to sit beneath the cherry trees.
Discover Reasons to Love Washington, DC
4National Gallery of Art
006_reasons_to_love_Eifel_Towert One of the world’s greatest collections, the gallery has works ranging from antiquities to pop art, including Multiverse, this striking light sculpture by Leo Villareal.
Discover Reasons to Love Washington, DC
5 United States Capitol
alt imaget This iconic building, which has been featured in many movies such as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) and Independence Day (1996), is a symbol of the nation’s strength.
Discover Reasons to Love Washington, DC
6 Lincoln Memorial
alt imaget As well as a memorial to the sixteenth US president, this statue is a touchstone for the Civil Rights movement and a symbol of social justice. The upper steps offer the best view of the National Mall anywhere.
Discover Reasons to Love Washington, DC
7Cherry Blossoms
alt imaget Few things can compare to walking beneath cherry trees with clouds of delicate blossoms. Originally a gift from Japan, thousands of cherry trees now stand in the National Mall area. They bloom from late March to early April.
Discover Reasons to Love Washington, DC
8 The Riverfront
alt imaget The Potomac has become a symbol of the city’s renaissance. Cycling and walking paths and lush parks line the river’s edge, and its waters teem with boaters.
Discover Reasons to Love Washington, DC
9 District Wharf
alt imaget This multibillion-dollar development offers riverfront dining, marinas, and shopping and concerts by the water. The Wharf jitney is the cheapest cruise in DC (it’s free!).
Discover Reasons to Love Washington, DC
10 Georgetown
alt imaget Cobblestoned Georgetown is DC’s most historic district. Relax on a sunny afternoon at the waterfront park, or people-watch along busy M Street.
Discover Reasons to Love Washington, DC
11 Visit the halls of power
alt imaget One of the great things about Washington, DC is that you can tour the very spaces where national legislation is made and policies are decided in the Capitol.
Discover Reasons to Love Washington, DC
12 Marvelous Museums
alt imaget Washington’s many museums are packed with spectacular exhibits, such as Musical Crossroads at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
g Discover Washington g Contents
Explore
Washington, DC
This guide divides Washington, DC into seven color-coded sightseeing areas, as shown on the map above. Find out more about each area on the following pages. For sights beyond the city center, and for day trips out of Washington, DC.
n Double-tap image to read the labels
Discover Getting to Know Washington, DC
Capitol Hill
The Capitol may be the most iconic image of American democracy in the world. A tour of the building, with its ornate architecture, remarkable artworks, and world-shaping history, is a great place to start. An easy walk away lie the exquisite Union Station, the historic shops of Eastern Market, and block after block of elegant row houses.
Best for Watching the governing of the United States
Home to United States Capitol
Experience A tour of the grand Capitol building and lunch at Eastern Market
Go To: Capitol Hill i
Discover Getting to Know Washington, DC
alt imaget The grand Neo-Classical Capitol seen from the Supreme Court
Discover Getting to Know Washington, DC
The national Mall
The place everyone wants to see, but no one can see it all – there are 11 museums alone here. The National Mall is a glorious 2-mile- (3.5-km-) long swath of emerald lawn, dotted by park-like spaces and gardens. It is bordered on the eastern half by some of the world’s most famous museums and on the western half by grand memorials to the nation’s leaders and history.
Best for Monuments and museums
Home to National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of African American History and Culture
Experience The view across the National Mall from the Lincoln Memorial
Go To: The national Mall i
Discover Getting to Know Washington, DC
alt imaget The Washington Monument viewed from the Lincoln Memorial
Discover Getting to Know Washington, DC
Penn Quarter
Penn Quarter combines the corporate with the casual. Home to famous nonprofits, lobbyist groups, and think tanks, this neighborhood, in the heart of the city, also offers fine restaurants, lesser-known memorials, and a handful of truly wonderful, if quirky, museums. The area is home to several food and wine festivals and a popular weekly farmers market outside the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM).
Best for Fascinating, lesser-known museums
Home to SAAM and National Portrait Gallery
Experience The vast collection of American art at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM)
Go To: Penn Quarter i
Discover Getting to Know Washington, DC
alt imaget The 34-ft (10-m) Lincoln Book Tower at Ford’s Theatre
Discover Getting to Know Washington, DC
White House and Foggy Bottom
The grand centerpiece of this area is the Executive Mansion, also known as the White House. If you do not manage to get tickets for a tour, you can still enjoy the iconic views of the mansion from the north and south sides. Lafayette Square offers great people-watching and is surrounded by historic homes and buildings. Also in this area are the renowned Renwick Gallery, the Kennedy Center, and Black Lives Matter Plaza.
Best for Strolling through Lafayette Park, enjoying the famous views of the White House and watching the ever-present protesters, bustling news crews, and throngs of tourists from around the world
Home to The White House
Experience Perusing the artifacts and multimedia displays in the White House Visitor Center
Go To: White House and Foggy Bottom i
Discover Getting to Know Washington, DC
portrait_imaget The iconic south facade of the White House
Discover Getting to Know Washington, DC
Georgetown
Elegant and old-school, Georgetown is a hub of education, history, culture, and outdoor activities all rolled into one. Its historic row houses have seen a who’s who of residents, from Thomas Jefferson to the Kennedys. Nature beckons in the stunning gardens of Dumbarton Oaks and along the lovely Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. This is also DC’s most established shopping and dining area.
Best for Shopping, dining, enjoying the outdoors
Home to Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, Dumbarton Oaks
Experience A paddle on the Potomac (rent a kayak at Thompson Boat Center), and shopping at the one-of-a-kind Sunday Georgetown Flea Market
Go To: Georgetown i
Discover Getting to Know Washington, DC
portrait_image-narrowt Vine-covered walls of the Orangery at Dumbarton Oaks
Discover Getting to Know Washington, DC
South of the National Mall
District Wharf (or locally just the Wharf
) is a glittering mini-city. This is where the river lives. Four piers, two marinas, and two parks offer boat tours, live riverfront music, a thriving seafood market, water taxis, and lots of places to watch the river roll by.
Best for Waterfront dining and strolling
Home to United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Experience Fresh steamed seafood at Captain White’s, and a water taxi ride – a fun, cheap cruise
Go To: South of the National Mall i
Discover Getting to Know Washington, DC
portrait_imaget The Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater
Discover Getting to Know Washington, DC
Northwest
The western part of Northwest is full of 100-year-old mansions built by the wealthy; to the east, the culturally influential African American neighborhoods of U Street and Shaw were once known as the Black Broadway.
Today, this is one of the city’s most vibrant areas.
Best for Great architecture, lively music and entertainment
Home to Embassy Row
Experience Renoir’s Afternoon of the Boating Party at the Phillips Collection, followed by dinner and a show at the Howard Theater
Go To: Northwest i
Discover Getting to Know Washington, DC
portrait_imaget Art at the intimate Phillips Collection
Discover Getting to Know Washington, DC
Beyond the Center
Just outside the popular tourist areas are a number of remarkable attractions waiting to be explored. There is George Washington’s beloved home, Mount Vernon; the National Arlington Cemetery, the resting place of American soldiers; and a Gothic cathedral whose grotesques include Darth Vader. There are some wonderful parks and gardens