Visit DC in a Weekend
- Laura Bruckmann
- Jun 16
- 6 min read
Looking for a great weekend getaway from New York, Philly, Chicago? Washington is the perfect destination. With a centrally located train station, three major airports and easy access from the major north-south and east-west highways, DC conveniently located for a short trip. A weekend is just enough time to get your feet wet and leave wanting to return for more.
The real question is, what to do once you’ve arrived? How do you make sure you’ve seen the highlights and some off the beaten path hot spots? Things to do in DC on the weekends are endless, so how do you decide which to choose? Not to worry, Unscripted has you covered with a 2-day itinerary that hits the must-sees and a thing or two off of the main drag.
Weekend in DC Itinerary
Day 1:
On your first morning, we recommend starting your Saturday like a local. Head to Eastern Market, established in 1873 in a location originally designated by Pierre L’Enfant when he laid out the city grid. As you stroll through the historic European style market and the surrounding area, grab some breakfast and start walking towards the US Capitol for your first tour.
9:00am Capitol Hill Tour
The Capitol and Library of Congress are the perfect combination to start your weekend. The U.S. Capitol Building dates to the original founding of Washington DC. When you take the tour you will learn about its construction, modifications, and many of the historic events that have happened in its hallowed halls.
The Library of Congress, the most beautiful building in Washington, will take your breath away.
Its Gilded Age splendor holds a number of impressive exhibits. Your tour guide will share with you its origins and how to use the Library today.
When you visit these two buildings, you’ll explore the earliest days of the nation’s capital, the population boom that occurred after the Civil War, and how Washingtonians interact with these monumental structures today.
After your tour, you’ll have time to explore more of Washington and grab some lunch to stay energized for the afternoon. You can try one of the many restaurants on Capital Hill or head down towards your next tour to enjoy lunch in Penn Quarter. With so many celebrity chef offerings and highly rated eateries, there are plenty of options to enjoy a relaxing lunch.
3:00pm Founders Tour
For the afternoon, you will continue the story of early American history. The Founders Tour begins with the National Archives. Your guide will take you to see the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and a selection of rotating documents. These are the must-see items of any trip to Washington DC. Not only will you get a photo, but you’ll learn the story behind the papers and the building that houses them.
The second half of the tour will introduce you to the men who made the documents. At the Portrait Gallery you’ll see famous portraits of George Washington and the other founding fathers who went on to serve in the Presidency. Your guide will connect the men with their contributions to the documents that you saw in Archives and continue their stories into the early days of the United States. Many visitors miss this special gallery because it is a few steps off of the Mall, but your guide will give you the history, take you right to the Presidents, and can give you tips if you would like to stay and enjoy more of the museum after the tour.
The Portrait Gallery tour wraps up in the Penn Quarter neighborhood, so if you didn’t grab lunch in the area or were trying to decide between two great choices, you can get another chance at dinner. If you’ve already enjoyed this area and are ready to move on, your final tour of the day will leave from Georgetown which is well known for great shopping and restaurants. For most weekends, you will need to make reservations in advance, but some of the larger establishments, Clyde’s or Hamilton’s, can accommodate walkups or offer open seating at the bar.
Finish your first day in DC with a look at the oldest neighborhood in the District. Georgetown was founded as a merchant village with a thriving port on the Potomac. When Washington DC was originally founded around it, the established village retained much of its independence as the development of the capital city was centered further to the east where you started your day.
The Georgetown Spies & Lies Tour will give you an overview of the area, but focus on the famous and infamous residents of this tony neighborhood. Your guide will walk you through the historic streets while sharing stories of spies, Civil War conflicts carried out across streets and even a good haunting or two. Georgetown is full of nightlife, so after the tour your guide can suggest plenty of places to keep your evening going.
Day 2
After a busy day, you can sleep in and rest up before setting out for a tour that starts a bit later. Or, if you are an early bird, we recommend grabbing a rideshare to the Jefferson Memorial and watching the sunrise along the water. You will see runners, photographers and plenty of dogs traversing the paths surrounding the Tidal Basin and you will get great views of the Washington Monument and the White House while you sip your morning coffee.
You’ll have no trouble locating our Penn Quarter headquarters again to check-in for your Lincoln Assassination tour. This best-selling tour meanders through our neighborhood making stops at the historic landmarks where the conspirators plotted Lincoln’s murder. Your guide will weave the story of John Wilkes Booth and Abraham Lincoln co-existing in the nation’s capital.
In the story, and on your tour, you will arrive at Ford’s Theater where the fateful night will come to life. Your guide will take you to see the most important artifacts in the museum and make sure you see the President’s Box where the deed was done. Your tour will finish at the Petersen House where President Lincoln died in the early morning of April 15, 1865.
With plenty of places to grab lunch in the area, your guide can make suggestions from grab and go cafes to fine dining restaurants. You’ll want to take this break to refuel as your afternoon tour will be the most walking you’ll do on tours in Washington.
Smithsonian Highlights is the final walking tour of the complete weekend in Washington DC. The Smithsonian is the world’s largest museum complex spanning more than a dozen buildings in the DC area and touching upon virtually every area of knowledge and innovation. How could you possibly see all of that in just three hours?
Our Smithsonian Highlights tour takes you through the three most popular museums. Your guide will focus on the most iconic items. In museums that could take up at least a day each, you will see the most popular, most famous, and most historic objects on visitors’ wish lists. You will also learn about the history of this incredible institution and how it developed along the National Mall. From the Hope Diamond to the Ruby Red slippers and even shiny rockets, you’ll finish your tour with a sense of satisfaction that you tackled the Smithsonian in just one afternoon.
A well deserved dinner break is in order. You can explore all of the options in the downtown area. Your guide can make suggestions or you can finish the list of ideas from your guides the day before. The DC food scene has come a long way and you will have worked up the appetite to enjoy it!
7:30pm DC at Dusk
To finish your last night in DC, we have chosen a tour that lets you rest your feet and just enjoy the beauty of the most famous sites in town. DC at Dusk evening bus tour by our partners at USA Guided Tours is the perfect way to see all of the iconic monuments and memorials with their stunning evening lighting. You’ll cruise around the city that you have come to know so well in just one weekend. The photos you take will be the perfect souvenir of the perfect weekend.
Ready to book your perfect DC weekend?
If this weekend sounds like just what you need, we have made it so easy for you to turn it into a reality. First, book your trip to Washington DC. Next, check out our blog post for “Where to Stay in Washington DC”. Then head to our website to book all of your tours. You will want to book ahead as many of our popular tours, including the Lincoln Assassination, Smithsonian Highlights and Capitol Hill book up weeks in advance. Finally, with this post bookmarked all you have to do is enjoy the weekend.
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