One day in Washington – travel guide and recommendations

Estimated reading time: 19 minutes

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from Washington, D.C., but it certainly wasn’t what I found: a calm, elegant city draped in history, dotted with grand monuments, leafy parks, and more playful squirrels than I’ve ever seen in one place! All very friendly too!😋

We had just 36 hours in the capital and that immediately made me think that I am living one of Anthony Bourdain’s The Layover. episodes. And while we do love food as much as Bourdain did, eating wasn’t the only thing on our agenda (though I promise I still have a few great recommendations so stay tuned).

The whole purpose of the trip was originally to see Taylor Tomlinson’s show, a stand-up comedian I like very much and although it ended up getting canceled, we decided to go anyway. And thank goodness we did! This whirlwind getaway turned out to be one of my favorite trips ever and left me craving more little escapes like it.

The Lincoln Memorial

Our first stop, naturally, was the Lincoln Memorial. This monumental tribute to the 16th U.S. president is 19 feet tall and weighs about 175 tons.

The inscription carved above him, is one of the most photographed in the country.

“IN THIS TEMPLE
AS IN THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE
FOR WHOM HE SAVED THE UNION
THE MEMORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
IS ENSHRINED FOREVER.”

I think it is also important to mention that right here is where Martin Luther King Jr. had his very famous I have a dream speech.

After a moment in silence here, we made our way to the next main attraction, The Washington Monument, but before that, we need to talk about another interesting place found right here.

The Reflecting Pool

Sitting gracefully between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, the Reflecting Pool is one of the most photogenic spots in Washington, D.C. And I could immediately understand why as its long, still surface perfectly mirrors the monuments, creating dreamy but powerful visuals of the two.

It truly is a sight to see and strolling by it, watching the ducks paddling care-free all around and admiring the Lincoln Memorial and The Needle dancing on its surface make for an unforgettable moment.

Aaaand, Fun Fact:
If it looks familiar, it’s because the Reflecting Pool appears in one of the most iconic scenes from Forrest Gump. It’s where Forrest and Jenny spot each other during a massive anti-war rally—Jenny runs through the crowd and into the water, and Forrest splashes in after her. Learning this made me love this spot even more because Forrest Gump is actually one of my favorite movies.

The Washington Monument aka “The Needle”

Now, I must confess from the start that I didn’t go all the way to the top, so I won’t pretend to advise you to do it, but I’m sure the view is worth every minute, and I absolutely would have gone if we’d had more time.

This iconic 555-foot marble obelisk pierces the skyline and serves as a striking centerpiece of the National Mall, being the world’s tallest stone structure.

If you look carefully, the color of the stone changes halfway up the monument and that is because the construction was interrupted for 25 years due to the Civil War and funding issues.

But once it was finished in 1884, it became the tallest man-made structure. That until a few years later when The Eiffel Tower claimed that title.

After refueling with coffee and a quick snack at a random café, we decided to explore a couple of museums.

National Museum of Natural History

We decided to start with this one because, as with all Smithsonian museums, the admission is free!

That’s right, so I don’t see any reason why you would not want to visit this museum especially cause here you will find the famous Hope Diamond, the biggest diamond in the world, valued at around $250 millions!

But besides their precious gems, The National Museum of Natural History also houses over 146 million specimens, making it one of the largest natural history collections you will ever see.

I must admit, I usually get a bit bored and restless if I spend more than an hour in a museum, but time flew by so fast here! My only regret is that I did not get the chance to experience the interactive “face-morphing” station that lets visitors see what they would have looked like as an early human. That would’ve been fun!

National Air and Space Museum

I forgot all about my disappointment when we arrived here.

Being one of the most visited museums in the world, this place is a must-see for aviation enthusiasts.

The National Air and Space Museum showcases the history of human flight from the Wright brothers’ wooden aircraft to space capsules that orbited Earth.

Here you will find:

• the 1903 Wright Flyer, the plane that made the first controlled, powered flight in history
• Apollo 11 Command Module Columbia, the very capsule that carried astronauts to the Moon and back.
• Phoebe Waterman Haas Public Observatory, where you can look at the Sun or stars through telescopes.

• Neil Armstrong’s actual spacesuit from the Apollo 11 mission!

After so much wandering, we were pretty tired, so we returned to the hotel for a quick shower and a breather before dinner. That night we had reservations at the oldest pub in Washington, Old Ebbitt Grill, that I will tell you all about shortly, but on our walk over we got a peek at the White House glowing in the dark, so I need to talk about that for a bit.

The White House

The iconic residence and workplace of U.S. presidents that I am sure everyone has heard of.

Its construction began in 1792, shortly after the U.S became a country, but it was not finished until 1800, so the first president that got to move in it was John Adams.

Many of you probably know this, but The White House got its current name one hundred years later thanks to Theodor Roosevelt who made it official. Until then, it was called The President’s House or The Executive Mansion.

It’s worth noting that the nickname “White House” actually came about after the building was set on fire in 1814. Following the blaze, the presidential residence was rebuilt, and over time, the East Wing, West Wing, and the iconic Oval Office were added. To protect the stone walls from fire damage, they were frequently coated with white lime-based paint—which eventually inspired the enduring nickname we use today.

Today, the White House is both a historical landmark and a fully functioning home and workplace. It has: 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, and 28 fireplaces, along with 8 staircases and 3 elevators. Beyond the grandeur, it has some surprising features: a bowling alley, a movie theater, a chocolate shop, a florist, and even a tennis court.

After dinner, we capped off the night with A Christmas Carol—performed at Ford’s Theatre, the very place where Lincoln was shot. Eerie, fascinating, and unforgettable.

The Ford Theater

In my previous post, I was talking about how travelling is a great form of education that allows you to learn history by walking through it. That is how I felt when I stepped into the Ford Theater.

Our seats were right across from the Presidential Box, preserved exactly as it was on the night of April 14, 1865, when Abraham Lincoln was tragically assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Trust me, it feels like stepping back in time as the theater seems frozen in that fateful moment. There’s a slightly eerie, yet solemn atmosphere that lingers, impossible to ignore. At the same time, it’s incredibly captivating to witness history up close, seeing tangible pieces of the past rather than just reading about them in books.

And right accross the street you will find The Peterson House, where Lincoln was carried after being shot and where sadly he lost his life.

We saved the last two objectives we had on our list for the following morning, after we checked out from the hotel and left our luggage in their storage room.

Library of Congress

We started with this marble-and-mosaic masterpiece which also happens to be the largest library in the world. Honestly, even if you’re not a book lover, the architecture alone is worth the visit.

Founded in 1800, it serves as the research library for the U.S. Congress, but it’s also open to the public for tours.

Today, the library holds more than 170 million items, from ancient manuscripts to maps and films and precious treasures like Thomas Jefferson’s personal library, drafts of the Declaration of Independence, and original music manuscripts by Mozart and Beethoven.

The U.S. Capitol

The United States Capitol is more than just a building, it’s a symbol of American democracy and the seat of the nation’s legislative branch. Located at the eastern end of the National Mall, the Capitol has been the home of the U.S. Congress since the early 1800s, where both the Senate and the House of Representatives convene to debate and pass laws.

Two interesting facts about this building:

• The dome is made of cast iron but painted to look like stone.
• The Statue of Freedom at the top weighs nearly 20,000 pounds.

We did not have the chance to visit the interior, but we had a lovely walk around its grounds.

Our Washington adventure ended with an absolutely delicious lunch at a Mediterranean restaurant one shortstop at the nearby Christmas market, before we headed to the airport.

Short trip, but big unforgettable memories in a city that now has a special little place in my heart.

Final notes

Accomodation

We decided to stay at the Marriot Hotel because my partner had a gift card for it and it was centrally located, close to everything we wanted to visit.

For a comfortable mid-range stay, expect to spend around US $170–$220/night for hotels, or US $120–$170/night for a more private Airbnb.

Transportation

The public transportation in Washington makes it really easy to go around the city. We used the bus and the subway train and we didn’t need to purchase a ticket as you can simply pay by tapping your card.

Metrorail (Subway / Metro)

• On weekdays during peak hours, fares range from about US $2.25 to US $6.75 depending on how far you ride.
• Weekends (and late-night/after 9:30 p.m.) fares are simpler: typically US $2.25 to $2.50, also depending on distance.
• If you ride often, there are passes: for example, a 1-day unlimited pass is around US $13.50. You can check the updated fares and find out more info here.

Metrobus (Buses)

• For standard/local bus routes, a ride costs US $2.25.
• Some “express” bus routes (longer distances / faster service) cost more — typically US $4.80 per ride

I was surprised to see that there was no really heavy traffic in the city, so taking an Uber can be really convenient too.

For a basic ride with Uber’s standard offering fares usually start around US $8–$10 for short trips and up to $20 for medium-length ones.

Food

And we finally get to my favorite part!

We weren’t in Washington long enough to explore more of its culinary side, but I do have two recommendations, equally great:

Old Ebbitt Grill

I have already mentioned Old Ebbit Grill, the oldest saloon-style bar in the city, its roots tracing all the way back to 1856.

But that is not the only thing that makes this restaurant so popular and worth visiting. The food was absolutely to die for, especially their cheese platter and their oysters. The service was also great and the atmosphere so cozy and christmassy.

Zaytinya

Zaytinya is a Mediterranean / Eastern-Mediterranean restaurant in downtown Washington, DC.

The restaurant draws inspiration from Turkish, Greek, and Lebanese cuisines, offering a “mezze” concept: shared small plates ideal for sampling a variety of flavors.

And I am telling you, we did sample quite a few dishes and all of them were absolutely great.