3 Days in Washington, D.C.
National Monuments, Global Dining, and Free Museums
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January 16, 2025
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As the U.S. capital, Washington, D.C. attracts school groups, diplomats, social-justice seekers, and visitors from all states and corners of the Earth. It tells the nation’s story through monuments and museums – many of them are part of the Smithsonian network, which offers free admission.
There’s a thriving restaurant scene that reflects the diverse population, and happy hour kicks off with weekday specials as early as 3pm. Things to do in Washington, D.C. also include touring historic estates in Georgetown, catching live music at the 9:30 Club or The Anthem in the waterfront Wharf District, and browsing local markets and boutiques. In spring, admire blooming cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin or the National Arboretum.
Read on for our curated three-day Washington, D.C. itinerary and learn more about the benefits that you can enjoy throughout your journey when you book through American Express Travel®.
A Capital Introduction
Accommodation
Fairmont Washington DC
The Dupont Circle Hotel
The Morrow Washington DC, Curio Collection by Hilton
Place of Interest
Capitol Hill
Eat & Drink
Happy Hour Culture
Albi
Rose’s Luxury
Restaurant Chloe
National Mall & the Arts
Place of Interest
The National Mall Tour
Monuments, Mall & More by Bike
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
National Museum of African American History & Culture
Smithsonian Air and Space Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
International Spy Museum
National Shakespeare Company
9:30 Club
Eat & Drink
Old Ebbitt Grill
Cranes
Fiola DC
The Dabney
Old & New Georgetown
Place of Interest
Arlington House & Arlington National Cemetery
Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens
Discover Historic Georgetown
Boating in DC
Eat & Drink
1310 Kitchen & Bar
Tail Up Goat
Maydan
Lapis
Fairmont Washington DC
Marble floors, a garden courtyard, and high ceilings set a grand scene upon arrival at the Fairmont Washington DC. It counts 413 rooms and suites decorated in soothing earth tones with windows that let in ample natural light. Select suites include separate living and dining areas and additional bedrooms. Guests can take advantage of complimentary fitness classes, from yoga to spin to Pilates, plus a lap pool and sauna. Visit Juniper for locavore American fare, including complimentary daily breakfast for two, an additional benefit provided by Fairmont when you book through Amex Travel. It will fuel you up for exploring; from this West End location, Georgetown, Dupont Circle, and downtown are in reach.
Gold Card Members have access to the following benefits with bookings of 2-nights or more with The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel*
Room upgrade upon arrival, when available**
$100 credit towards eligible charges††
12 pm check-in, when available
Late check-out, when available
**Certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade.
††Eligible charges vary by property.
The Dupont Circle Hotel
Set just off the picturesque roundabout park that gives the neighborhood its name, The Dupont Circle Hotel offers a winning combination of mid-century style and elegance. Rooms and suites are decorated in understated cool, with dark neutrals punctuated with eye-catching geometric patterns and savvy pops of texture. Bathrooms feature heated floors and European marble fixtures for an extra touch of luxury as you get ready. Start the day with an additional surprise benefit at this property of complimentary breakfast for two, provided by The Dupont Circle Hotel in The Hotel Collection, and then make sure to come back to the hotel for a bite later and take in the Maryland colossal crab cakes at Doyle Bar.
Gold Card Members have access to the following benefits with bookings of 2-nights or more with The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel*
Room upgrade upon arrival, when available**
$100 credit towards eligible charges††
12 pm check-in, when available
Late check-out, when available
Additional Benefit: Complimentary Breakfast for Two People Each Day of Stay
**Certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade.
††Eligible charges vary by property.
The Morrow Washington DC, Curio Collection by Hilton
From the moment you step into the sunny, pastel, becolumned lobby of The Morrow Washington DC, Curio Collection by Hilton, you’ll be immersed in an atmosphere of exuberant simplicity, one spilling into the rooms decorated with clean lines and calming shades of blue, brown, and white. The Self-Care Menu makes it easy to dial in a tailored pillow, tea, or toiletry experience for rest on your terms, and the frame-lit vanity and rainfall shower in your bathroom will make getting ready downright luxurious. Once you’re recharged, get out on the town—the hotel is nestled in the buzz and boutiques of the post-industrial NoMa neighborhood, and close to the quirky culinary scene in Near Northeast.
Gold Card Members have access to the following benefits with bookings of 2-nights or more with The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel*
Room upgrade upon arrival, when available**
$100 credit towards eligible charges††
12 pm check-in, when available
Late check-out, when available
**Certain room categories are not eligible for upgrade.
††Eligible charges vary by property.
Exploring Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill’s architecture stands as symbols of democracy, justice, and power. Besides the federal buildings, the area has a wonderful community spirit which can be found at bustling markets rich in local produce, arts, and crafts. Stroll the streets showcasing eclectic stores selling handmade pieces by local artists, restaurants creating the next must-have dish, and bookstores packed with unique finds.
ON YOUR WAY
Congress meets at the U.S. Capitol (visitthecapitol.gov), which has its own collection of art and a visitor’s center that welcomes millions annually.
The Supreme Court Building was built in just four years between 1931 and 1935 (supremecourt.gov). You can walk through the landmark with a private guide, watch educational movies, and participate in various programs.
The Library of Congress holds over 39 million books across 838 miles of bookshelves (loc.gov). It comprises three historical and architectural buildings offering gallery talks, guided walk-throughs, lectures, and concerts.
Completed in 1873, Eastern Market (easternmarket-dc.org) remains a lively community hub for this Capitol Hill neighborhood. It’s made up of several smaller markets: the South Hall Market selling fresh produce, deli goods and flowers; the Fresh Tuesdays Farmers Market selling their own range of dairy goods; and the Weekend Outdoor Market selling antiques and handmade arts and crafts.
Eastern Market Pottery is a creative space for locals and visitors (easternmarketpottery.com). If you head to the basement, you will find a range of ceramics from different artists. And if you’re feeling curious, you can join a one-time Try It Class on a Friday evening.
Fight Club DC is your source for over-the-top, one-of-a-kind snacks and sandwiches (fightclubdc.com). The menu is filled with delicious sandwiches including the namesake roasted club steak with roasted tomato, brown butter mayo, bacon, and shrettuce (shredded lettuce) all on white bread. If you have any room left, go for the ice cream sammich in ever-changing seasonal flavors.
Open daily, this indie bookstore has three levels of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves stacked with second-hand books and some first editions (capitolhillbooks-dc.com).
A historic 1900 wooden Victorian house got a bright and beautiful refresh with the opening of this stationery and gift store that specializes in displaying local artists' work and carries distinctive candles, glass art, picture frames, and wine and cocktail glass sets.
The Happy Hour Scene
Happy hour is an entrenched part of the social scene in the nation’s capital, particularly along U Street around 14th Street and in Adams Morgan. Bars lure powerbrokers and eagle-eyed young grads alike for weekday specials on drinks and bar food – starting as early as 3pm.
Dine at One of D.C.’s Hottest Tables
Albi
Albi’s chef is deeply influenced by his family’s Palestinian heritage and shares the flavors of his childhood here in D.C.’s Navy Yard neighborhood. At the center of the dining room is the wood-burning oven, and guests can reserve the Hearth Table for a curated tasting menu and an intimate view of the open kitchen. An incredibly flavorful journey through the Levant awaits.
Rose’s Luxury
This buzzed-about restaurant serves Southern comfort food with an international twist in an industrial-chic space. The classic dining experience is a five-course “choose your own adventure” where guests pick shareable items from an eclectic menu that includes grilled cucumber salad, poached lobster, and miso glazed short rib. The meal culminates with the Baklava Sundae and other super-sized desserts.
Restaurant Chloe
There are no compromises at Chloe, where Haidar Karoum builds his dishes based on his Lebanese heritage, his prior restaurant work, and his extensive travels. Standouts include the pork belly bánh mì or anything on the menu labeled "crispy,"—from cauliflower to fingerling potatoes to churros.
Tour the National Mall by Foot or Bike
National Mall: Monuments & Memorials Architecture Tour
Stretching from the Potomac River to the cast-iron dome of the U.S. Capitol, the National Mall is America's front yard and full of symbolic significance. Join this two-hour walk with a historian for the Mall’s backstory and insight into why D.C.’s street grid is divided into quadrants or how designs are chosen for monuments like Maya Lin's Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Book your experience at dcdesigntours.com.
Monuments, Mall & More Tour
On this leisurely 6-to-8-mile trip, you’ll cycle by the White House, the Capitol Building, and the National Mall, where you can spy the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. The Vietnam and WWII Veterans Memorials are also on the route. If interested, you can also see the Jefferson Memorial, located on the Tidal Basin, among Japanese cherry trees. Expect your guide to share fun facts along the way.
Book your experience at dccyclingconcierge.com. Bicycles, helmets, water bottles, and snacks included.
Dig into Natural History or African American History
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History has been showcasing moments of natural wonder since 1910 (naturalhistory.si.edu). With more than 140 million cultural artefacts and natural specimens on display, from the cursed Hope Diamond to some of the world’s most complete Dinosaur fossils, the museum is an endless source of education and fascination for all ages. Teens and pre-teens can make their own scientific discoveries at the Education Center. Admission is free.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The National Museum of African American History and Culture showcases first-person tales and moving accounts in the Slavery and Freedom and other exhibitions. Musical Crossroads examines the evolution of African and African American music, from the songs of the slave trade to the lyrics of hip-hop. Notable artifacts include Harriet Tubman's hymnal and an authentic plantation cabin brought in from South Carolina.
Book your free timed-entry passes at event.etix.com
Lunch at a Modern Spanish Kaiseki Spot
Cranes
Chef Pepe Moncayo marries the culture and culinary prowess of Japan and Spain at his Spanish Kaiseki house. The restaurant is spread over 12,000 square feet and features a striking long bar (customary in each respective country), a sake lounge, a private dining room, and open kitchen. Take your pick of the omakase, tapas, and a la carte menus, all of which feature seasonally inspired dishes.
Set Out on a Museum Mission: Space, Art, or Spies
Smithsonian Air and Space Museum
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum takes visitors from the first flight by the Wright brothers in 1903 to Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s 1969 moon landing. Other exhibitions include The Nation of Speed – vintage vehicles, race cars, and planes show how technology has transformed movement – and the Kenneth C. Griffin Exploring the Planets Gallery about the solar system. The museum continues to develop its exhibition space with new works planned for 2025.
Book your free timed-entry passes at event.etix.com
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Housed in one of the oldest federal buildings in D.C., the Smithsonian American Art Museum (americanart.si.edu) brings together a diverse array of artistic styles and media with one important shared feature: they reflect the American imagination and experience. Be sure to visit the Renwick Gallery, which is devoted to contemporary crafts and boasts a wonderful gift shop with handmade wares.
Admission is free of charge.
International Spy Museum
Located on L'Enfant Plaza, the Spy Museum is a purpose-built building where you can discover the life of a genuine spy and incredible international artifacts. You can be a spy for a day as you participate in an "Undercover Mission." During your experience, you will receive a cover identity and be tested on your skills and knowledge through the interactive exhibitions. Your "mission" will end in the Debriefing Center, where you will discover your skill ratings and your award.
Buy your tickets at spymuseum.org.
Experience D.C.’s Fine Dining
Fiola DC
This is Fiola’s acclaimed flagship location and a standard bearer for the mini restaurant empire. It’s an in-the-mood-to-splurge type of place, where the four-, five-, and nine-course fixed-price menus take inspiration from Tuscany and the Adriatic coast – with produce sourced from the restaurant’s dedicated garden in Rappahannock County.
Catch a Theatrical Drama or Live Music
Shakespeare Theatre Company
This award-winning theater company breathes fresh life into Shakespeare’s tales while also staging works that are Shakespearean in nature with “profound themes and complex characters.” On a given night, you might be in for The Odyssey; an adaptation of Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute; or the Mock Trial (Malcolm v. the Estates of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth) in which the audience decides who must pay damages.
Book your tickets at shakespearetheatre.org.
9:30 Club
A D.C. institution since 1980, the 9:30 Club has been repeatedly ranked one of America’s top live-music venues. Its intimate size (up to 1,200 people) attracts emerging acts, though some of music’s biggest names have played here too. You can expect good sightlines, great acoustics, multiple bars, and cupcakes that will very possibly sell out.
Book your tickets at 930.com.
Arlington National Cemetery
This vast military cemetery just across the Potomac in Virginia opens daily at 8am; arrive early and let yourself be humbled by the quiet beauty and somber feel (arlingtoncemetery.mil). Its 639 acres include graves dating back to the earliest moments of US history along with tombstones for a few former presidents, Supreme Court justices, and other luminaries (find them with the help of the free ANC Explorer app). Catch the ceremonial changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where soldiers keep a 24-hour watch in honor of the unidentified dead from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.
Hillwood Estate, Museum, and Gardens
Courtesy Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens
Once the home of Marjorie Merriweather Post (of Post cereal fortune), Hillwood is a lovely place to while away a few hours. The 25-acre site overlooks Rock Creek Park and includes beautifully manicured gardens. The home itself captures her rarified 1950s lifestyle and penchant for French porcelain and gilded furniture. Rooms are dripping with chandeliers and museum-worthy art including a dazzling collection of Faberge eggs and Russian icons and jewelry.
Buy your tickets at hillwoodmuseum.org.
1310 Kitchen & Bar
Wholesome Mediterranean influences make for a feel-good menu that tastes good: hearty salads, fish, vegetable side dishes, and brunch options that are vegan and gluten free. The spacious restaurant interior has plush booths with vintage glass partitions for a more elevated take on the traditional diner. Black-and-white photographs of female musicians adorn the walls and the chef, too, is a woman in a male-dominated field.
Wander Historic Georgetown
Stroll the cobblestone streets of Georgetown to take in the charm of its historic townhomes and prominent namesake university, founded in 1789. The neighborhood is dotted with cafes and college dives, upscale boutiques, and art and antique stores, where you never know what kind of treasure you might find. If you prefer to explore with a guide, consider Blue Fern Travel’s food-themed walking tour (blueferntravel.com.)
ON YOUR WAY
Hidden among the name-brand stores on bustling M Street is Washington's oldest unaltered building and the city's only pre-Revolutionary colonial house, built in 1765. Today, Old Stone House (nps.gov) is managed by the National Park Service.
This cosmetics boutique focuses on natural brands, offering chemical-free, cruelty-free, and vegan products (takecareshopdc.com). Brands include foot and hand care brand Province Apothecary, luxury skincare from Earthwise Beauty, and fragrances and skincare from Ojai Wild. If you have time, you can request a skincare consultation or a makeup bag makeover.
Shop Made in DC works with local artists and displays their art prints, photography, ceramics, jewelry, and so much more (shopmadeindc.com). It’s a retail initiative meant to bring attention to the creative community and allow locals and visitors to uncover unique products. The shop also hosts events, such as pottery painting and calligraphy workshops.
Healy Hall is Georgetown University's most acclaimed piece of architecture (healeyhall.com). It’s a National Historic Landmark and example of Romanesque design at its finest (built in 1882). The massive building is one of the centerpieces of campus and houses academic and administrative offices.
Georgetown Flea Market is an outdoor market generally held every Sunday from 8 am to 4 pm, weather permitting (thegeorgetownflea.com). Rummage the booths for antiques and art, Chinese pottery, jewelry, old books, and unique furniture. Work up an appetite while you hunt here and then stop for snacks at one of the many nearby cafes.
Tudor Place sits atop a hill overlooking Georgetown and the Potomac River (tudorplace.org). The home and gardens maintain their original early 19th-century character and preserve the stories of six generations of Martha Washington's descendants – and of the enslaved and free people who lived and worked here for nearly two centuries. In examining their legacy, it challenges all who visit to celebrate the triumphs and confront the complexities of the past.
Boating in D.C.
Hit the water for scenic views along the Potomac and an invigorating workout. You can rent single or double kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards from six D.C.-area boathouses, including Key Bridge Boathouse in Georgetown. Boating in D.C. also offers classes and tours such as a 75-minute host and history themed guided kayak excursion. Boating season typically runs from April to October.
Book your rental at boatingindc.com.
Spin the Globe for Your Last D.C. Supper
Tail Up Goat
Taking its cues from the US Virgin Islands, the childhood home of one of the owners, this restaurant offers a four-course tasting menu for the table in the dining room and on the patio, with a la carte options available at the bar. Rockfish crudo, seared scallops, confit potatoes and coconut panna cotta are standouts, as is the international wine list.
Maydan
Centered around a stylish blazing fire pit, this buzzing restaurant with industrial-chic interiors serves up the finest of Middle Eastern, African, and Mediterranean cuisine – family style for the tawle (table). Plenty of vegetable, meat and poultry dishes are available and accompanied with fresh herbs and spices that pack a memorable punch.
Lapis
The Afghan rugs and inviting décor of Lapis welcome you in for a meal built around fluffy cardamom rice, succulent lamb kebabs, stews layered with flavor, and other delightful dishes like baked eggplant. The setting and food will transport you without ever having to leave the vibrancy of Adams Morgan neighborhood.
Must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. Please drink responsibly.
Ways to Earn Points with The Gold Card
The Gold Card offers several Membership Rewards® points-earning opportunities. When you’re ready to travel, you can earn: 3X Points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. And 2X Points on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel – such as prepaid car rentals, vacation packages and cruises when you book through AmexTravel.com. Terms apply.
Shop Small® in Washington, D.C.
When you Shop Small®, you’re not just supporting neighborhood favorites – you’re investing in the community. Whether you’re a local or visiting, explore our map to find small businesses near you.
Book Unique Tours & Activities
Thrill seekers and adventurers alike can get out and enjoy unforgettable experiences from GetYourGuide booked at gyg.me/amex. Terms apply.
