12 essentials: what to see and do in Washington in 1 or 2 days

The capital of the United States, Washington It is an essential visit if you are considering a tourist trip along the East Coast.

Or even in a trip to the west coast in which you choose to stop in the east of the country.

That's how I did it in my trip to the united states , when after the route along the west coast, upon returning to the east of the country we had the aforementioned capital as our destination with the aim of visiting it and taking a tour by car through other nearby areas.

There are countless images that we all have of the city of Washington, either through the cinema, or simply through the news, and when you arrive in the city you realize that those images become reality, that the places really exist.

Essential monuments when visiting Washington

El Capitol, Casa Blanca, the monolith of Washington Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Pentagon or Arlington National Cemetery, are scenarios that are in everyone's memory and, I tell you, your visit will not disappoint you.

And this is precisely one of the first characteristics of Washington.

Despite the many times that we have been able to see images of those places, when you can really see them live they don't disappoint.

It doesn't happen like with other places that you can also have in your retina and that, when you arrive at the place, you are left with the feeling that you expected something more.

To give an example from the United States itself, personally that is the frustrating feeling I had when I visited Hollywood.

Furthermore, the visit to Washington It is very comfortable and simple, since most of the places to visit are concentrated around the incredibly huge meadow called National Mall.

Around it you find a succession of monuments, museums and official buildings whose visit will take you, at least, a full day.

Curiosities History of Washington

El origin of the city of Washington dates back to 1785, when the United States Congress decided to build afederal capital".

Finally it was agreed that it would be built on the banks of the Potomac River and the own George Washington He was the one who chose the location of the capital.

The design of this city was commissioned by a French architect named Kids, whose initial project was developed throughout the 19th century.

Its key point was the large landscaped avenue, the aforementioned National Mall, which with a length of more than a kilometer and a half, extends from the Potomac River to the building Capitol.

At Mall You will be able to visit the most important monuments and museums, and that should be the main objective of your trip to washington.

The best things to see and do in Washington

Below I am going to tell you which are the main monuments and museums what you should see in your Washington visit.

And I already tell you that the Capitol, Air and Space Museum and Washington Memorial must be essential visits when planning your trip.

Washington Capitol

At Capitol you can visit the exhibition of the Visitors Center or make a free tour through the main rooms of the building, including the Rotonda, the interior of its great dome.

You can also visit the Thomas Jefferson Building for the Library of Congress.

What museums to see and visit in Washington

El Air and Space Museum It is, from my point of view, the truly essential museum to visit of all the Smithsonian Institute museums.

In this museum you find an incredible airplane collection who have been protagonists of the aviation history, as well as aircraft that are already mythical in the history of the conquest of space.

In this regard I am also going to point out the National Museum of the American Indians, National Museum of American History or the National Gallery of Art, a large art gallery with a collection of paintings and sculptures by European and American artists.

What monuments to see on the National Mall in Washington

The famous central monolith of the Mall known as Washington Memorial It is going to be the main monument that you are going to see in Washington, since its great majesty gives it all the prominence in the National Mall.

If you wish, you will have the opportunity to climb to the top of this great obelisk that was completed in 1884.

But your visit should not miss the monuments of the Lincoln Memorial and Vietnam Veterans MemorialAs well as Thomas Jefferson Memorial and Grant Monument that you find in front of the Capitol.

Specifically, the aforementioned memorial dedicated to president lincoln It is another of the iconic images of the city of Washington.

Arlington Cemetery in Washington

Besides, outside of National Mall, in the Arlington National Cemetery, which is located on the other side of the Potomac River, you will find monuments and tombs of famous people in American history.

This has become one of the most typical visits to make in the capital of the United States, during which you have the possibility of seeing the ceremony of the changing of the guard, as you can see in the video that accompanies this report.

Georgetown neighborhood in Washington

Tu Washington visit It should be completed with a walk through the streets of the central neighborhood called Georgetown, where you can enjoy the atmosphere of the city, in addition to seeing palatial houses Of great beauty.

Washington day trip from New York

If you are limited on time on your trip to the United States, and being in a city of skyscrapers you don't feel like it. visit Washington on your own, you have the option of signing up for a tour to Washington from New York,

This excursion will take you to visit the capital of the United States with guide in spanish in one day.

Tours and Excursions in Washington

And if instead of visiting the city on your own you prefer to sign up for a tour or guided tour of Washington with a guide in Spanish, you have several options.

Eg guided tour of Washington in which in four hours you will travel the main corners of the capital, from the Capitol and the White House, to Arlington Cemetery.

You can also sign up for a more specific Private Capitol Hill Tour, which focuses on the monuments of said enclave whose nerve center is the Capitol.

Another option is a tour of Arlington Cemetery, where you will see its main corners, and in which you will also see the Pentagon and you will learn some curiosities about its history.

From Washington You also have the opportunity to make a Private tour to Alexandria and Mount Vernon, the city where George Washington spent much of his life.

Here you also have useful information about transfers between the airport and Washington.

Map: how to get to Washington

If you want to fly directly to Washington, there is no problem finding the right combination from Spain.

Keep in mind that the capital of the United States has three airports, Baltimore-Washington International, located between both cities (32 miles from the capital, between 45 minutes and an hour), the dulles airport, in suburban Virginia, and the Reagan National Airport (domestic flights), right next to the city, on the edge of the Potomac River.

If your trip includes a route by car down the east coast, and you leave from New York, get to Washington It means traveling 228 miles, in normal conditions, 4 hours of travel, but with heavy traffic, which is common, it is 5 hours.

Washington is located. Likewise, 137 miles from Philadelphia, that is, two and a half hours.