Places to go in Washington DC in 3 days
- Laura Bruckmann
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
In previous blog posts we’ve given suggestions for how to spend one whirlwind day seeing the best DC has to offer and the perfect weekend itinerary. Today, we are going to bring the pace down and give you three days to explore all the places to go in Washington DC and even make a journey across the river into Virginia!
Day 1 - Top Places to go in Washington, DC
9 a.m. Capitol Hill
The goal of your first day is to set the stage of Washington DC. Starting with Capitol Hill you will see one of the first buildings that rose according to L’Enfant’s plan. The modest US Capitol building started with George Washington laying the cornerstone in 1793. Your guide will tell you about the development of the capital city and its monumental Capitol building.
A tour of Capitol Hill wouldn’t be complete without seeing the Library of Congress. Also humble in its origins, the Library has grown from 740 volumes and three maps in 1801 to more than 178 million items today. Your guide will escort you through its magnificent first building steeped in Gilded Age splendor. By the time you finish the tour, you will have a sense of not only how Washington DC was designed, but how it has developed and grown into the bustling governmental and cultural center that you see today.
Your tour will end at noon leaving you a nice amount of time for leisurely lunch. Capital Hill boasts some fun local spots you might want to try for lunch. If you are looking for celebrity chefs and Michelin stars, you can head towards the Penn Quarter area which is a hub for those types of eateries. Your next tour will begin from the headquarters of Unscripted Tours in the heart of Penn Quarter, so you’ll be right nearby.
3 p.m. Founders
Your next tour will pick up the story of the founding of our nations with its historic documents rather than its first buildings. Your first stop will be the National Archives where your guide will make sure you see the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. These original documents truly tell the story of the American experiment. Your guide will have all of the facts you need to know about the documents and their creation and wonderful stories of the men who wrote them and the times they lived in.
Your exploration of the early days of the United States will finish in the Portrait Gallery. Your guide will bring you to the President’s Gallery, the only complete collection of presidential portraits outside of the White House. The stories of the founding documents will extend into the first presidents and how their views changed from the Revolution, to the founding and finally to the running of our nation. The Portrait Gallery is rich in history and art, plus it shares the building with the Smithsonian American Art Museum. After your tour, your guide can suggest other exhibits to enjoy before you leave the museum.
Dinner options abound with the eateries of Penn Quarter still surrounding you. However, your evening tour is in Georgetown, another neighborhood full of great restaurants. There are highly rated eateries, local places and everything in between. Reservations are encouraged at most places in the city for dinner, particularly on weekends. Â
7:30 p.m. Georgetown Spies, Lies and Politics Tour
You will finish your day of Washington’s origins in the oldest neighborhood in the city. Georgetown was established as a trading port along the Potomac in 1751 and was eventually included within the square designated as the capital city. You will stroll the charming brick sidewalks and residential streets to learn about its history and its residents. While your guide has the official story, they will also share the stories that some would prefer to keep secret.
This enclave has been home to high-ranking government officials, diplomats, and captains of industry since its founding. Their stories form of web of spy vs spy, swings in party power and some personal scandals mixed in. At the end of your tour, Georgetown is the perfect place to keep the evening going. Your guide can recommend bars, clubs and even a late night bowling alley where you can enjoy every minute of your trip.
Day 2 - Places to go downtown Washington, DC
After a busy first day in Washington, you can take this morning slow. Your tour will start at our Penn Quarter headquarters again and you already know how to get there. If you’re an early riser, you might want to check out Eastern Market for a charming start to your day and delicious, fresh food options. It’s also nice to bring breakfast with you to stroll the neighborhood you're staying in as Washington wakes up or even go check out the monuments at sunrise.
10 a.m. Lincoln Assassination
Yesterday was spent on the first chapters of the American story. Today will fill in the later history of the city, starting with the Civil War. This is a period of significant change in Washington and includes the devastating assassination of our 16th President Abraham Lincoln.
Your tour will take you through the Penn Quarter neighborhood where the assassination plot was hatched and even show you some historic buildings that have survived since Lincoln’s day. Next, your guide will take you to Ford’s Theatre where President Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth and finally to Petersen House where Lincoln took his last breath. Whether you are a casual Lincoln fan or have read all the books, this tour is a wonderful way to see where history happened.
Your tour will end nearer to the White House than you have been so far on your trip. This neighborhood sports older, historic hotels, bars and restaurants that can add something different to your lunch break today. Make sure to ask your guide for recommendations.
2 p.m. Smithsonian Highlights
Most people come to Washington and their wish list includes the enormous task of seeing the Smithsonian. Many visitors are dismayed to discover that the Institution is actually more than a dozen buildings in the DC area containing millions of items. How could you possibly see it all in just one visit? At Unscripted, we have developed an answer.
On the Smithsonian Highlights tour you will visit the three most popular museums: the Museum of Natural History, the Air & Space Museum, and the Museum of American History. In each museum your guide will take you directly to the most historic, iconic and popular items on display. In just three hours, you will have seen more of the Smithsonian than most visitors see in a whole day.
If this tour whets your appetite for another visit, your guide can give you tips on what to see on your next visit and additional museums you can try on your next trip. Completing this marathon tour means you will have taken the most steps on any tour during your stay. This is great news because it’s dinnertime and you can eat whatever you want! Your final tour of the day will take off from Penn Quarter so perhaps its time to find some pasta for fuel or share all of those little plates that look so delicious.
7:30 p.m. DC at Dusk evening bus tour
After maximizing your steps on the Smithsonian Highlights tour, it is a nice night to ride on the bus. Our partners at USA Guided Tours will take you by all of the beautiful DC monuments and memorials lit up against the night sky. This is perfect time to practice your photography skills and enjoy cruising through a city that is starting to feel familiar.
Day 3 - Places to go like a local
9 a.m. Arlington National Cemetery
An early morning tour of Arlington is the perfect way to avoid the heat of the day and the crowds of the afternoon. Your guide will explain the history of the Cemetery and share some of the amazing stories of those who have been laid to rest in its hallowed ground. You will see the most requested sites including the Tomb of Unknown Soldier with its Changing of the Guard ceremony, the eternal flame at the Kennedy gravesite, and Arlington House with it breathtaking views of Washington DC.
After your tour, you’ll be headed back into Washington and lunch options abound. Perhaps it is time to try something at the Wharf or maybe the Georgetown waterfront. Regardless, take your time as you won’t need to be back at our headquarters until your 2 p.m. tour.
2 p.m. National Gallery of Art
Spend the afternoon with the magnificent collection at the National Gallery of Art. Your guide will take you from the Italian Renaissance, and a DaVinci portrait, to breathtaking Impressionists and everything in between. Having a guide will ensure you navigate the warren of galleries to the highlights of the collection and enjoy all of the stories about the painters, their subjects and techniques.
At the end of the tour, your guide can direct you to the cafe where you can snack on gelato and ponder if you want to enjoy a few more galleries. After you head out, you will have a comfortable early evening break to enjoy dinner and reflect on everything you have seen and done in your three days. You are headed to the Dupont Circle neighborhood for your final tour; a great time to try a some restaurants in a new neighborhood!
7:30 p.m. Dupont: Mansions of the Gilded Age
You will finish your visit to DC enjoying the splendor of Gilded Age mansions in the Dupont neighborhood. These sprawling, ornate buildings housed some of Washington's wealthiest residents and hosted some of its most scandalous events. Your guide will take you through the history of the area and the characters who lived here. You’ll see how these grand private homes became the embassies and clubs spread along Embassy Row today.
Your three days have been filled with history, architecture, culture and stories. While there will always be more to see in this city rich with heritage and creativity, you have done everything on the list for the first time visitor. Each tour is linked to our website in its title or if you would like help booking the entire trip you can reach us at info@unscripted.city or 202-590-4460. We can also customize your itinerary or suggest additional activities for a longer stay.