10 Places to Visit on a Weekend Trip to Washington DC

Are you headed to DC for a weekend getaway or spring trip? Read on for my top 10 places you must visit on a weekend trip to Washington, D.C.

National Mall + Washington Monument

You can’t visit DC without seeing the National Mall! It’s a beautifully maintained national park and right at the center of some of the best monuments and museums in the city. The Washington Monument is a must-see here.

Georgetown

From the second I set foot there, I knew Georgetown had my name written all over it. The charm here is undeniable, from the ivy-covered townhouses to the cute corner bakeries, to the stunning architecture of Georgetown University. The fact that snow started gently falling the moment I started exploring this quaint little place didn’t hurt either. My favorite part about exploring a new city is finding a neighborhood where I can blend in and experience it like a local—this was very easy for me in Georgetown and I felt so at home here.

A few must-sees for Georgetown:

1. Upscale shopping and dining on Main Street
2. Famous cupcake bakeries: Georgetown Cupcakes and Baked & Wired
3. Georgetown University
4. Bars and restaurants near the Georgetown campus on 36th Street
5. Scenic neighborhood streets
6. Georgetown Waterfront Park

U.S. Capitol

The U.S. Capitol Building is another must-see attraction for your time in DC. You can book a complimentary tour on site: they last around an hour. Pro tip: If you visit during cherry blossom season, you can capture some pretty spectacular photos in the garden areas all around the Capitol.

National Archives

If you loved “National Treasure,” then you will love visiting the National Archives. It’s super cool seeing those filming locations, and there’s honestly nothing quite like seeing the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Constitution in person: makes you feel proud to be an American 🙂

It’s worth noting that the lines here can get quite long and if you visit during the afternoon, you’ll be standing in direct sunlight for quite some time. I *almost* got out of line after waiting for 30 minutes because of my limited trip time, but I’m so glad I stuck it out for another 10 minutes. The Archives ended up being one of my favorite experiences in DC.

Tip: You can pay to book entry tickets ahead of time for only a dollar so you can spend less time waiting in line and more time exploring DC!

The Tidal Basin During Cherry Blossom Season

The cherry blossoms were my primary motivation for booking my spontaneous weekend trip to DC in the first place, and I’ve got to say: pictures don’t even come close to doing them justice.

I lucked out and the first day of my trip fell during “peak bloom”: the one day out of the year where most of the cherry blossoms are in full bloom at the exact same time. Since the blossoms are fragile and greatly impacted by weather conditions, they don’t stick around for long. But if you’re lucky enough to time your travel plans right, the blooms alone make the whole trip worth it.

I have never seen so many gorgeous flowers in my whole life: the view really does take your breath away. I’ll be sharing my guide to the DC cherry blossoms soon with photography tips, bloom locations and tips on timing your trip, so stay tuned!

The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court may be another well-known sight to see, but the building is truly so impressive in person. Since I visited on a Saturday, the building wasn’t open for tours, but you can book a free tour during the week. Even if you visit on a weekend day, there’s nothing like sitting on the steps and taking in the view and the history from there. It’s so picturesque in spring with cherry blossoms and freshly-planted tulips spread out amongst the grounds.

National Museum of Art

DC has a lot of incredible museums to offer, but this one really takes the cake for me. The amount of art here is truly amazing: you can definitely spend hours getting lost in here. Some notable exhibits include artwork by Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Monet and Picasso. I loved this museum so much the first time, I went back a second time for lunch and the Van Gogh exhibits 😂

Art museums are always on my list for every city I visit, and this one is truly the best I’ve visited so far. (I even enjoyed it more than The Met, which I didn’t think was possible!)

A little insider tip: If you’re looking for a form of transportation that doubles as an art installation, the underground moving walkway between the eastern and western wings of the museum is unreal. You can find it on the ground level just past the food court. See for yourself:

The Smithsonian Gardens

Another beautiful spring destination, these gardens are tucked away behind the Smithsonian Institution on the National Mall. It’s so relaxing to sit on one of the benches here and just people watch while enjoying some fresh air. If you time your trip correctly, you can see the magnolias in bloom right before the cherry blossoms hit peak bloom 😊

Library of Congress

This is by far the sleeper favorite out of all the government buildings in my opinion. When I was researching popular attractions in DC, the Library of Congress surprisingly did not come up as a recommendation.

I stumbled across an incredible interior photo of the building by DC Instagrammer @dccitygirl and instantly fell in love (she’s a great resource for photo spots in the city!). After seeing her photos, I knew I had to add it to my list. It ended up being my favorite spot I visited in DC.

The architecture and attention-to-detail inside is honestly stunning, and if you’re a big reader like me, the rare book collection is amazing. There’s a Gutenberg Bible on display, a collection from Thomas Jefferson’s personal library and first editions of Hemingway novels: my kind of place. The library also showcases a special installation during cherry blossom season that’s pretty impressive in and of itself!

Lincoln Memorial

This one is another given. The memorial is about a 20-minute walk from the Washington Monument, and this route also takes you right by the Korean War Veterans and WWII Memorials. I highly recommend visiting around sunset for great lighting for photos—the views can’t be beaten.

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