Washington D.C. is a city that is always alive with activity. Whether you are visiting for business or pleasure, there is always something to do in this amazing city.
In this article, we will provide a detailed two-day itinerary of the best things to see and do when visiting Washington D.C. in 2022.
3 Famous Hotels To Stay In
1. The Willard InterContinental
This historic hotel is located in the heart of Washington D.C. and is within walking distance of many popular tourist destinations.
2. The Ritz-Carlton Washington, D.C.
This five-star hotel offers stunning views of the city and is home to award-winning restaurants and bars.
3. The Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C.
This luxurious hotel is located on Pennsylvania Avenue and features spacious rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows that offer views of the city.
5 Of Washington’s Best Restaurants to Satisfy Your Cravings
1. 2Fifty Texas BBQ
A trip to Riverdale Park, Maryland, is required to sample the most enticing brisket within the Beltway. The owners and operators of 2Fifty, Fernando González and Debby Portillo pay homage to Central Texas by utilizing oak smoke to build a black bark on fatty hunks of prime and American wagyu beef on the cutting board.
St. Louis-style ribs, beef ribs, pulled pork, sliced turkey, and beef ribs are all offered. Daily specialties like beef tacos and BBQ pupusas provide a creative outlet for the chef. The founders’ Salvadoran background is reflected in dishes such as red kidney beans simmered with beef, caramelized pineapple, and coleslaw with raisins.
Preorders may be picked up Wednesday through Sunday, with the option to eat in or take out.
2. Thip Khao
Thip Khao—created by mother-and-son chefs Seng Luangrath and Boby Pradachith—is considered the standard-bearer for Lao cuisine in Washington, D.C. With a menu packed with fermented fish sauce, a strong dosage of chilies, offal, and cured meats, their Columbia Heights staple continues to gratify heat-seekers.
Crispy tamarind-glazed wings, grilled pork shoulder with lemongrass, and a hot Lao papaya salad are all popular dishes. The restaurant is open from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm Wednesday through Sunday, with carryout, inside dining, and outdoor service over a charming tented patio (90-minute limit, $20 deposit via Tock).
3. Makan
Chef James Wozniuk balances pungent, spicy-sweet, and funky umami tastes at this Malaysian restaurant in Columbia Heights, varying in strength but never veering out of control.
Wozniuk’s condiments, such as sambal prepared with bird’s eye chilies, palm sugar, tamarind, and fried anchovies; appetite-piquing pickled limes with prune and golden raisin; and peanut-based satay sauce, make an appearance in a variety of rice and noodle meals.
Complex tropical drinks, such as a blackstrap rum and pineapple Jungle Bird, compete for attention at the bar. Takeout or delivery may be ordered online. Tables may be found in a light-filled dining area or on the terrace.
4. Ellē
Chef Brad DeBoy is the fermenter-in-chief, in charge of an ambitious café menu that includes beet ‘nduja lettuce wraps, kimchi grilled cheese, and curry pickled cauliflower with koji-cured radish, among other changing dishes.
Dinner is served Tuesday through Saturday, and indoor and strategy eating reservations are available one month in advance. Regulars can swing by for a coffee, pastrami breakfast sandwiches, a guava turnover, or a tiny goat cheese cheesecake seven days a week.
5. Martha Dear
Martha Dear owners Tara Smith and Demetri Mechelis serve a sort of Greek pizza unlike anything else in D.C., serving it beneath an ice cream store in Mount Pleasant.
Mechelis runs a domed oven that bakes circular, naturally leavened pizzas filled with salty Mediterranean cheeses; the white pizza has crumbly myzithra and hard kefalograviera, while Mechelis’ interpretation on pantzarosalata adds candied hazelnuts and herbs to the traditional roasted beet and yogurt salad.
Slices of very soft chocolate olive oil cake resemble brownie batter, although one prepared with first-press fat acquired from one of Mechelis’s uncles in Greece.
Two-Day Itinerary When Visiting Washington: Day 1
1. Tour The Capitol
The United States Capitol is located on top of Capitol Hill at the eastern end of the National Mall.
The Capitol Visitor Center is the main entrance to the building and it offers free tours year-round. You can also take a tour of the Library of Congress, which is adjacent to the Capitol Visitor Center.
2. Visit The National Mall
The National Mall is a national park in downtown Washington, D.C. and it’s located between the Lincoln Memorial and the United States Capitol.
The mall is home to some of the most famous monuments and museums in the country, including the Washington Monument, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Smithsonian Institution Museums.
3. Stroll Around The White House
The White House is the official residence of the President of the United States and it is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C.
Tours of the White House are available for groups of ten or more people and they must be scheduled at least 21 days in advance.
Two-Day Itinerary When Visiting Washington: Day 2
1. Visit The Smithsonian National Zoo
The Smithsonian National Zoo is one of the most popular zoos in the country and it’s home to more than 2000 animals from around the world.
The zoo is open every day of the year except December 25th, and admission is free.
2. Visit the Memorials
The national memorials in Washington, DC, are breathtaking historical sites and must-see attractions. They’re scattered out, so the best way to view them all is via a guided tour, which you must plan ahead of time.
If you want to wander around the memorials on your own, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam War Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and the World War II Memorial are all within walking distance of one another. Similarly, the Jefferson Memorial, FDR Memorial, and Martin Luther King Memorial are all within walking distance of one another.
3. Tour Arlington National Cemetery
The Arlington National Cemetery is a national cemetery located in Arlington, Virginia and it is the final resting place for more than 400,000 military service members and their families. The cemetery is open 365 days a year and tours are available.
Washington D.C. is a great place to visit for history buffs and those who want to learn more about the United States government. There are many things to see and do, and this two-day itinerary covers some of the highlights. Be sure to plan ahead so you can make the most of your time in Washington!
