Confused on what to see in Washington DC in a day? Not sure if it is worth a day trip from New York to Washington DC? Surprise, surprise – it is absolutely worth it and also possible with the right planning. This blog covers all the must see places to see in Washington DC and provides that perfect itinerary to follow to get maximum results. So why spend another second ruminating when we can begin right away.
This itinerary is suitable for travelers using public transport. It covers all the essential places to see in Washington D.C and is meant for first time visitors. This tour involves a lot of walking so it maynot be ideal for people with walking difficulties.
Looking for a New York guide? Look up my itinerary for 4 day in New York here.
Reaching Washington DC from New York
There are two viable options to reach DC from New York. The fastest and the more expensive option is via train. Amtrak has two types of train services between these cities – the non stop Acela fleet with journey time of 2hr 35 mins and the usual Amtrak taking about 3hr 30 mins.
The cheaper option is to take the bus which takes about 4 hrs. There are multiple service providers to choose from and we chose the new entrant Flixbus as we were more familiar with its services in Europe.
Itinerary map
This walking tour map covers all the places of interest. Some places could not be marked due to Google Map’s limitation on number of stops. But I have listed them in the details below.
Itinerary details
Pro Tip: Pack sandwiches for the journey and have breakfast on the bus
Colorful houses in Washington DC 
Colorful houses in Washington DC
Our Flixbus dropped us near the Union station which is also where you would get down while traveling via train. The first stop would be The White House. There are guided tours possible of the interior but you need to book them in advance, we did not go for it anyways. To know more, visit their website. The atmosphere outside the White House is quite amazing with protestors and supporters camping alike with placards.
The White House Protesters in front of the White House More protesters
From there follow the map, stopping at the Washington Monument, World War II Memorial and Lincoln Memorial. One of the best shots of D.C is from the Lincoln Memorial with the reflection of the Washington Memorial and the US Capitol faraway in the background.
WWII Memorial
Reflections View from the Lincoln Memorial
Between the Lincoln Memorial and Dr Martin Luther King Jr Memorial is the Korean War Veteran’s Memorial. After visiting the Dr Martin Luther King Memorial you can choose to walk further south to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. You can also add the Jefferson Memorial which is across the lake.
Walk further on towards the Smithsonian Museums stopping at the Japanese Lantern on the way. The Japanese Lantern would be a good place to relax for a while during Spring / Summer with the Cherry Blossoms and a great view across the lake. Beware of dog poop though on the grass near the lantern.
Pro Tip: There is a public restroom right after you cross the bridge from the Japanese Lantern.
Lunch break
From the Japanese Lantern walk across the bridge towards the National Mall. The National Mall is a 1.2 mi long green space connecting the US Capitol with the Lincoln Memorial. It is a good time to have lunch now after the long walk. You can choose from about 30 odd food trucks that line the National Mall. Sit down on the grass or use some of the benches to relax.
Post lunch tour
Next stop is the Smithsonian museums – there are 17 to choose from of which 11 are around the National Mall. The two most famous ones are the National Museum of Natural history and National Air and Space Museum. You would mostly have time for just one or maybe two if you rush. We chose the Air and Space museum having visited the Natural history museum in NYC. We also visited a temporary exhibition of ancient monuments at the adjacent Sackler Gallery.
To know more about a 4 day New York itinerary, click here.
Pro Tip: All Smithsonian museums have free entry which is a great bargain given the amount of knowledge on display. If you are confused on what to see, stop by at the Smithsonian Castle which is also the information centre.
The last stop of the day is the US Capitol. Depending on what time it is already you can visit the visitor centre (open till 4.30pm). To know more about visiting hours check their website. From here you will walk back to either Union Station or to the bus boarding point.
Do tell me what you think about this itinerary from New York to Washington DC in a day trip in the comments below.
Till then, Happy Travels.
