Washington D.C holidays
Although D.C enjoys a more laid-back vibe than NYC, America’s capital has plenty going on. Washington offers up a lively food scene, buzzing nightlife, and a tranche of iconic museums and monuments where you can soak up centuries of history. It’s also home to the nation’s corridors of power, of course, and you can even tour iconic government buildings from where momentous world events have been directed.
Our cheapest holidays to Washington D.C
Form a more perfect union with the US capital
Stroll along the National Mall, past stunning presidential memorials, and visit the Smithsonian’s many free museums. Take a ghost tour of Georgetown, the city's oldest neighbourhood, channel your inner James Bond at the International Spy Museum. Stop by at The Wharf to listen to live music along the waterfront.
Traverse the trails of the huge Rock Creek Park. Visit in spring, when the city’s 3,000 cherry blossom trees burst into bloom, and the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park becomes the focal point for the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival. When evening comes, sip a pre-Prohibition cocktail at buzzy Allegory and tap into the community spirit at cultural hub Busboys and Poets. Book your flights to Washington D.C today to get your adventure started.
Carefully selected Washington D.C hotels
Best hotels in Washington D.C for all types of traveller
Searching for a Washington D.C city break? We have a great choice of hotels. Eco-friendly Hotel Zena has a seasonal rooftop pool and cocktail bar with sweeping views. For an affordable break, opt for the Courtyard Washington, DC/U.S. Capitol, one and a half miles from Capitol One Arena. The Ven at Embassy Row has been designed around the Danish concept of hygge and features a rooftop pool with Downtown views and the Ven Cafe serving breakfast and takeaway meals. The stylish Viceroy Washington D.C, on trendy 14th Street in Logan Circle, has a seasonal rooftop bar and rooms kitted out with Google NestHub virtual concierges. The Washington Hilton offers rooms with views of the Capitol Building and the Washington Monument. Located between the White House and Capitol Hill, the Grand Hyatt Washington is a 12-storey atrium hotel with direct Metro access. The Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill features a large fitness centre and the Article One-American Grill. The Royal Sonesta Washington D.C is a luxury hotel in Dupont Circle with an outdoor pool and sun terrace. The luxury Waldorf Astoria Washington DC is set within a former post office and clock tower dating from 1899 and offers an observation deck with fine city views and an indulgent spa. Finally, the Yotel Washington D.C has a large rooftop pool, a rooftop bar and an award-winning restaurant.
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Top 5 facts about Washington D.C
1. It's affordable
There are more than 100 free things to do in the city. The National Mall is a ginormous National Park encompassing some of the best attractions in the district – including 11 of the 17 free Smithsonian Institution museums. See the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial while you’re in the area. Check if there’s a free annual event or festival happening during your stay, too: discover different cultures at Passport DC’s embassy open houses in May, celebrate all things literature at the National Book Festival in the summer or join H Street Festival’s huge block party in September.
2. It's iconic
As the capital of the United States of America, Washington D.C is awash with iconic sights. Start at the Washington Monument, the tallest stone structure in the world. Look closely and you’ll see the monument is two different shades of grey (the society who first built it ran out of money, and the Government had to complete the upper two thirds with different marble). The city is also home to the Library of Congress, the largest library in the world, and the National Gallery of Art where you can admire the only Da Vinci painting in the Americas.
3. Full of history
The historic neighbourhood of Georgetown is home to the Old Stone House – the oldest unchanged building in Washington, DC. Built in 1765, it has now been turned into a house museum and is still 85% original to its 18th-century construction. DC’s oldest bar is the Old Ebbitt Grill – the perfect place for an early morning breakfast or post-theatre supper. It does the best oysters in the district and serves up delicious clams, lobsters and shrimps. Daily oyster happy hours run from 15:00-17:00 and 23:00-01:00.
4. Presidential
Home to the President of the United States, the White House has a whopping 35 bathrooms, 132 rooms, 412 doors, 147 windows and 28 fireplaces in its living quarters and requires 570 gallons of paint to cover its outside walls. It remains one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. If you're visiting the White House, make sure to also stop in at The People’s House nearby. The free attraction features a full-scale replica of the Oval Office for photo ops.
5. Great global food
D.C’s best dishes range from wallet-friendly favourites such as ‘half smokes’ (like spicy hot dogs with chilli, onions and mustard) to meals from more than 20 Michelin-starred restaurants. If you’re visiting in summer, see if your trip coincides with the Giant BBQ Battle. Pitmasters vie for titles and promise tonnes of free food samples, so arrive hungry. The city’s food scene is also influenced by its global community, which includes the largest Ethiopian population outside of Ethiopia: tuck into doro wat stew or try injera (a type of flatbread) with meats and vegetables on your holiday.
Washington D.C holiday FAQs
- Catch a show at the Kennedy Center. One of the nation’s leading arts hubs, it hosts over 2,000 shows a year, and is home to the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera. Rock up at 18:00 however and you can watch a free daily show on the Millennium Stage.
- Take a free tour of the US Capitol building. While you wait, browse galleries stuffed with artifacts from the Library of Congress and the National Archives and watch a live video feed of the House and the Senate.
- Visit the Lincoln Memorial. See how the 16th president has been immortalised for a century in a Neoclassical marble temple adorned with engravings and murals, and gaze into the Reflecting Pool pondering the site where many a Civil Rights demonstration has taken place.
- Go to the top of the Washington Monument. Once you’ve craned to look up at the 555-foot-tall icon, step inside and take the 70-second lift journey up to its observation deck at 500 feet. From here, you’ll get an eagle-eyed view of D.C including the US Capitol and the Pentagon. On a clear day you can see as far as Maryland and Virginia. Take time to gawk at the lightning rods in the small museum before heading back to ground level.
- Take a Black Broadway walking tour curated by local author and historian Briana Thomas. On your tour you’ll admire murals, pop into some of U Street’s Black-owned businesses and visit the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum. You’ll also learn about the jazz and cultural renaissance, stopping at venues like the Howard Theatre and Lincoln Theatre where Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong wowed crowds.
- Try a half smoke at Ben’s Chili Bowl restaurant. Gathering locals since 1958, Ben’s is also a symbol of U Street's community spirit. Among the hugely recognisable names who’ve appraised Ben's half smokes and chili burgers, you’ll find Martin Luther King Jr, Nat King Cole, Prince, Anthony Bourdain and many more.
- For another great view of Washington D.C from above, head up to the Old Post Office Tower’s observation deck for free. It’s not as high as the Washington Monument’s deck at 270 feet, but it is a calmer and quieter experience with fewer crowds. From the tower you’ll be able to see downtown and spot monument after monument – including the Washington Monument, the White House and the National Mall.
- Washington D.C has six professional sports teams - including the renowned D.C. United who, with 13 international and domestic titles are the most decorated team in US Major League Soccer history.
- Capitol Hill is famed for its government buildings, 19th Century rowhouses, bustling market and vibrant dining scene. The Folger Shakespeare Library and the US Botanic Garden are also there.
- Downtown is home to high-end shopping, top-flight museums and refined dining. Fashionistas flock to CityCenterDC, while gourmands indulge at Central Michel Richard. Take in the views of the White House from VUE Rooftop at the Hotel Washington, or enjoy a Sunday jazz brunch at Georgia Brown’s.
- Both trendy and historic, Dupont Circle is packed with bars, pubs, nightclubs and galleries. Cut some rug in a restored mansion, sip cocktails in a swanky lounge bar and check out cool cafes like Kramers.
- Southwest and the Wharf is home to the country’s oldest continually operating open-air fish market and a lively riverfront community. Cruise past the Gangplank Marina’s extensive collection of houseboats and catch a free al fresco film or yoga session in the warmer months.Multicultural Adams Morgan is known for its nightlife and dining scene. Wander past historic rowhouses and browse the area’s many cool indie shops.
- Georgetown might be the city’s oldest neighbourhood but there are always new ways to explore the area. For a classic Georgetown day, shop in boutiques until you drop on to a restaurant chair on the waterfront. Then spend your evening in Blues Alley, a supper club jazz venue in an old alley carriage house where the likes of Ella Fitzgerald have previously taken to the stage.
- Bethesda is a quieter area, but still packs a punch thanks to its eateries, shopping and trendy hotspots. The vibey Arts and Entertainment district is full of inspiring venues like the Strathmore and Bethesda Blues and Jazz, while public art studs the streets.
- Arlington, connected to D.C by two Metro lines, has ample bike trails, ethnic eateries and mom-and-pop stores. Its main attraction is Arlington National Cemetery, where nearly 400,000 people are buried, including many dignitaries. It’s home to the Tomb of the Unknowns and the grave of John F Kennedy.
- Charming Alexandria is just five miles from downtown D.C, yet feels like a world away with its early American architecture, cobbled streets, unique boutiques, award-winning restaurants and museums.
Why choose British Airways Holidays?
The British Airways experience is more than a flight.
We’re one of the UK’s largest holiday companies offering carefully chosen hotels and resorts in the most amazing places, and car hire with no hidden extras. Our access to the extensive British Airways global network and oneworld® alliance puts us in a unique position to create holiday packages with convenient flights across the globe. From start to finish consider your holiday taken care of.
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Secure your holiday with a low deposit and spread the cost with flexible payments.
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