Study the Metro map. The Metro has five lines—red, blue, orange, yellow, and green—which cover most of downtown. Further from downtown, the system is not as comprehensive as New York’s or Paris’s public transit.
Buy a ticket. The D.C. Metro has automated ticket machines that accept cash, coins, and credit or debit cards. You can purchase a single ride ticket, though the price varies depending on how far you’re traveling. Daily and weekly passes are also available.
Run your ticket through the turnstile to enter the Metro system. Be sure to hang on to your ticket—you’ll need to do this again to exit at your destination. Always carry extra change in case you travel further than your ticket allows. You can put this change into the “Exit Fare” machine to get out of the station.
Choose the right direction. This is indicated on electronic display boards over the platform—the board will show the last stop on the train’s route, as well as the number of cars on the train and its expected arrival time.
Stand several feet back from the edge of the platform. The trains come into the stations at high speed. Stand to the sides of the doors, and allow passengers to exit before you enter.
Look and listen for announcements about service changes or disruptions. Summer weekends are popular times for the Metro system to perform maintenance, which can result in delays or altered routes or schedules. Special events in the city can also affect Metro schedules and stations.
