The capital of the United States is home to a wide variety of monuments, memorials, museums and government buildings that are open to tourists. As of 2010, Washington, D.C., monuments are open year round, and many are accessible on weekends and national holidays. Some famous landmarks include the Washington Monument, the Lincoln and Jefferson memorials, the White House and the Capital building. Washington, D.C., is a tourist-friendly city, but preparing beforehand will enable you to get the most out of all there is to see.
Get a guide book with a detailed map that shows where the monuments are located. The city of Washington, D.C., is separated into four quadrants: Northwest, Northeast, Southwest and Southeast, with the majority of monuments and memorials located in Southwest (SW). The four largest monuments (the Capital, the Washington, Lincoln and Jefferson memorials) form a cross formation, with the National Mall as the center axis. Understanding this layout will help you easily locate monuments.
Use the Metro. The D.C., Metro bus and rail system provides access to just about all of the monuments and museums, including the Smithsonian Institution, the Washington Monument and the White House. If you are staying in the suburbs, the Metro has stations in Maryland and Virginia. You can get free D.C., Metro maps at the station in which you purchase tickets.
Sign up for a guided tour. Many companies offer guided walking and bus tours with themes, such as historic landmarks and haunted areas. These take you with a group of people to all of the monuments and memorials, usually providing information about each. Each company offers its own itinerary for sightseeing, and some provide meals or snacks.
Download a free walking tour. You can download a variety of Washington, D.C., walking tours maps and complete itineraries. Most walking tours come in PDF format for easy printing.
Ride the trolley. Washington, D.C., is home to Old Town Trolley Tours, a company that offers service on multiple trolley lines with stops at D.C., museums, memorials and monuments. You can hop on and off the Old Town Trolley and visit landmarks at your own pace. The Old Town Trolley provides a free D.C., guidebook and all-day service with frequent pickups and stops.
