The beauty and grandeur of the nation's capital continue to captivate the millions of American and international tourists who visit Washington, D.C. each year.

Population:                  572,059

Land Area:                   61.4 square miles

Location:                     Washington DC, the capitol of the United States, is located on the eastern seaboard of the country within the District of Columbia, an area bordering the state of Maryland. It is bounded on one side by the Potomac River and on the side by the state of Maryland. 

Time Zone:                  Washington DC is located in the Eastern Time Zone (when it’s noon in Washington, it’s 11am in Chicago and 9am in Los Angeles).  Washington DC observes Daylight Savings Time April – October.   

Weather:

Climate:

Local Seasons:

The most comfortable times to visit Washington DC are in during the spring and fall.  Spring is the time for a visual extravaganza with cherry blossoms in bloom and all that nature has in store for the season.  Temperatures average in the mid-50s in April and in the mid-60s in May.  Fall brings a whole new look to the city.  With the average temperatures dropping to the 60s in September, the 50s in October, and the 40s in November, visitors get to experience a wide array of colors as the leaves turn in preparation for winter. Summer is the most popular time of year when tourists from around the world visit the city. With high temperatures in the mid-80’s June, July and August and evenings in the 60’s, it’s the perfect time to experience the city and its surrounding sites.  From December through March a visitor may experience the sight of snow falling. The coldest month is January with an average temperature of 34 degrees and highs in the mid-40’s and lows averaging 25. 

How to Get There

By Car

Washington is circled by the Capital Beltway, formed by Interstates I-495 and I-95. Interstate 66 leads from Washington west to Virginia. Interstate 50 heads east to Annapolis, MD, the Chesapeake Bay and the beaches. Interstate 95 heads north to Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York. Interstate 270 heads north to Frederick, MD, and beyond.

By Air 

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
44 Canal Center Plaza
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-417-8000
Only minutes from downtown and located south of the city along the Potomac River, the airport is served by a full range of domestic flights on major, regional and commuter carriers.

Washington Dulles International Airport
45020 Aviation Dr.
Sterling, VA 20166
703-572-2700
Located 26 miles west of Washington, DC and offering a full range of domestic and international flights.

Baltimore/Washington International Airport

301-261-1000 or 800 I FLY-BWI
Located 30 miles east of Washington, DC and offering a full range of domestic and international flights.

Ground Transportation

All of the major car rental companies have locations at the airports as well as throughout the city.  Taxis are also readily available.

By Train:

Amtrak

50 Massachusetts Ave NE
Union Station
Washington, DC 20002

800-USA-RAIL

By Bus:

Greyhound

1005 1ST ST NE
Washington, DC 20002

202-289-5160

Getting Around:

Metrorail and Metrobus

202- 637-7000

Metrorail and Metrobus provide the safest, cleanest and most efficient way of getting around Washington, DC and the metropolitan suburbs. Five rail lines and an extensive bus system connect the District with the Maryland and Virginia suburbs. Train lines are named for colors: Red, yellow, blue, green, and orange. Station entrances are marked by brown pylons, capped with the letter “M” and colored stripes indicate which lines are available. Route maps are posted at each station and inside each subway car.

National Holidays:

New Year’s Day, January 1

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the third Monday in January

President’ Day, the third Monday in February

Memorial Day, the last Monday in May

Independence Day, July 4

Labor Day, the first Monday in September

Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, December 24 and 25

New Year’s Eve, December 31

Union Station
50 Massachusetts Avenue NE
(202) 371-9441
Dazzling visitors with its granite walls, marble floors, 96 foot-high gold-leafed ceiling, and bronze grilles, Union Station endures as a classical landmark. As a restored beaux-arts train station, Union Station has been divided up into a series of levels and mezzanines that house 130 shops, restaurants and a movie theater complex.

National Gallery of Art
Constitution Ave, NW
Washington
Phone: (202) 737-4215
Cost: Free
Hours: Mon.-Sat 10:00 am - 5:00pm, Sun 11:00 am - 6:00 pm; Closed December 25, January 1
Floors of green and gray marble, columns of Tuscan, walls of Italian limestone and Italian travertine all make up the West Building of the National Gallery of Art. Designed by John Russel Pope, it contains Western European and American art, spanning between the periods of 13th and 20th century. Highlights include Leonardo da Vinci's Ginevra de' Benci, the only da Vinci painting in the Western hemisphere, collection of Italian paintings and sculptures, French Impressionist, and special exhibitions. Literally thousands of breathtaking canvases and sculptures are housed in this original building. The East building, designed by I.M. Pei, exhibits twentieth -century art within its angular architecture. Designed as a group of triangles, the East Building showcases free films, lectures, and concerts. One of the world's top ten art museums.

Arlington National Cemetery
Virginia side of the Memorial Bridge, Arlington
Cost: Free
Once the estate of Robert E. Lee, the beautiful landscape that now comprises Arlington National Cemetery is a testament to the service rendered to our nation by its citizens.

National Air and Space Museum
Sixth Street and Independence Avenue SW
(202) 357-2700
As a member of the Smithsonian complex, it houses a wide assortment of aerodynamic treasures. The museum exhibits the history of aviation and the space age; presenting the history of flight from the earliest yearning and attempts to fly, to World War II rockets, to modern space probes. The politics, physics, and art linked to man's dream of flying are explored within the 23 additional galleries. This museum presents visitors with the hands-on opportunities to design aircrafts, and inspect a model of Skylab. For a cosmic experience visit the Albert Einstein's Planetarium located within the museum. Projected onto a towering five-story high screen the Langley Theater features Imax films on air and space travel. Visiting the Langley Theater means gliding through the sky on everything from a hot air balloon to a fighter jet.

National Museum of Natural History
10th Street and Constitution Avenue NW
Washington
Phone: (202) 357-2700
Cost: Free
Hours: Daily 10:00 am- 5:30 pm; Closed December 25
Get into the spirit of exploration, and take a tour of 575 million years of history! The National Museum of Natural History encompasses everything from dinosaurs, diamonds and dioramas; this massive museum is filled with 118 million items. Exhibits cover the entire spectrum of the life sciences, minerals, botanicals, and zoological and geological materials. The Dinosaur Hall, exhibits on the evolution of human fossils, live Insect Zoo, bird displays, plants, rocks, and gems. The Sea Life Hall contains live marine life, plus a living coral reef. The Discovery Room is a big hit with children, of every age, with its hands-on activities and exhibits. Children can explore everything from the texture of an elephant tusk to an arrowhead. Plus, the Natural History Museum's costume room allows children to try on costumes from around the world. On your visit, remebber to also check out the Johnson IMAX 2D/3D Theater.

National Museum of American History
14th Street and Constitution Avenue
Phone: (202) 357-2700
Cost: Free
Hours: Daily 10:00 am - 5:30 pm
For the enjoyment of children, the Museum of American History presents the Hands On History Room, Hands On Science Center, Lemelson Center, and the ABC's of American History. In the Hands On History Room, history is placed directly in the hands of children. At this exhibit they will be able to participate in activities such as sending a message by telegraph, and riding on a highwheel bicycle. Children can unravel some of the mysteries of science in the Hands On Scioence Center. It is here where young "Experimenters" can examine DNA, measure distances with a laser, discover the chemical propertioes of common houshold items, measure radioactive hotspots, explore magnetisism, and much more. The Lemelson Center develops programs targeted to expand the study and exploration of invention and innovation among children. The museum fills its rooms with the affluence of American history; Ranging from George Washington's false teeth to the Star-Spangled Banner, this museum showcaes cultural and technological developments of the US. The machine exhibit, located on the ground floor, showcases such objects as railroad locomotives to atom smashers. In contrast the second floor displays people in their home-life, relationships, and community life. As a whole the museum's various floors and galleries, depicts all aspects of the American history.

Entertainment and the Arts

Ford’s Theatre

511 Tenth Street NW

Washington, DC 20004-1402

202-347-4833

Hours:  Call for performance schedule

Ford's Theatre is a live, working theatre located in downtown Washington, DC. As a national historic and cultural site welcoming visitors from across the nation, Ford's Theatre blends its rich history with performance excellence in serving as a living tribute to President Lincoln's love of the performing arts.

Shakespeare Theatre
450 Seventh St., NW

Washington, DC 20004-2207

202-547-1122

Hours: Call for performance schedule

The theatre endeavors to strengthen the tradition of classic theatre in America through productions that reflect its current world.

Studio Theatre
1333 P St., NW

Washington, DC 20004-2207

202-332-3300

Hours: Call for performance schedule

The mission of The Studio Theatre is to produce the best in contemporary theatre and through its Secondstage and Acting Conservatory, to offer rigorous training and provide opportunities for emerging artists. The commitment to artistic excellence serves the diverse communities of the Nation's capital.  

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
DCJCC, 1529 16th St., NW

Washington, DC 20004

202-393-3939

Hours: Call for performance schedule

The mission of the theater is to ignite an explosive engagement between theatre artists and the community by developing, producing and promoting new plays that explore the edges of theatrical style and human experience, and by implementing new ways to use the artistry of theatre to serve the people of Greater Washington, DC.

Kennedy Center Concert Hall

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20566
 800-444-1324

Hours: Call for performance schedule

The Center continues its efforts to fulfill President Kennedy's vision by producing and presenting an unmatched variety of theater and musicals, dance and ballet, orchestral, chamber, jazz, popular, and folk music, and multi-media performances for all ages. Every year the institution that bears President Kennedy's name brings his dream to fruition, touching the lives of millions of people through thousands of performances by the greatest artists from across America and around the world.

Dance

The Washington Ballet

Held at a host of venues in and around Washington DC

202-362-3606

Hours: Call for performance schedule and locations

Founded in 1976 by the great American ballet pioneer Mary Day, the Washington Ballet is an ensemble of powerfully athletic classical ballet dancers performing a repertory of new work and creativity. Considered one of the country's finest ballet companies, The Washington Ballet is recognized nationally and internationally for its high standards, artistic integrity, and unwavering commitment to presenting the very best in ballet.

Opera

Washington National Opera

Kennedy Center Opera House

202-467-4600

Hours: Call for performance schedule

Washington National Opera continues to move confidently forward on a great adventure that began when the company was founded in 1956. Four and a half decades and countless artistic leaps later, the Opera has achieved the stature of a world class company and plays to standing-room-only audiences at the Kennedy Center Opera House.

Washington National Cathedral
Wisconsin and Massachusetts Aves., N

Washington DC 20004;

202-364-6616

Hours: Call for performance Schedule

Symphony

The National Symphony Orchestra

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
2700 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20566
800-444-1324

Hours: Call for performance schedule

The symphony performs 175 concerts each year in, comprised of a variety of styles.

Sports

Washington Redskins

Professional Football

Games played at the FedEx Field
1600 FedEx Way
Landover, MD 20785

301-276-6248

Season runs August – January

Call for schedule of games and ticket information

Washington Wizards

Professional Basketball

Games played at MCI Center

601 F Street N.W.

Washington D.C 20004

202-661-5100

Season runs April – October

Call for schedule of games and ticket information

January

Chinese New Year Celebration
Held New Years Day
Chinatown, Washington, DC

202-789-7000

Admission Free
Annual parade of marching bands, lion and dragon dancers, clowns and other entertainers.

Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Observance

Held on January 17

Lincoln Memorial

202-727-6306

Admission Free
Wreath laying ceremony accompanied by a recorded presentation of King's "I Have a Dream" speech, local choirs, speakers and military color guard.

Orchid Show
Held in mid-January

U.S. Botanic Garden, Washington, DC
202-226-4082

February

Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday Observance
Held in mid-February
Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC

703-619-7222 

Admission Free
Concerts by military bands, wreath laying and a dramatic reading of the Gettysburg Address.

Washington’s Birthday Ceremony
Held in mid-February
Washington Monument

202-619-7222

Admission Free
Observance with 202 speeches and music.

 

March

Cherry Blossom Festival

Late March – early April

1500 Maine Avenue
Washington, DC 20003
202-484-0206

Making their appearance in late March or early April, the beautiful pink and white lacelike flowers surround DC's Tidal Basin. This yearly sign of spring is one of Washington, DC's natural highlights. The two-week festival features concerts, special exhibits, a street festival, a parade, the Smithsonian Kite Festival, performances, athletic competitions and other events at various DC locations.

Washington Boat Show

Held in mid-March

Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC

804-425-6556

Admission Charged
Showcasing sailboats and motorboats.

Washington Flower and Garden Show
Held in mid-March
Convention Center, Washington, DC

703-569-7141

Admission Charged
Featuring blooming flowers and gardening tips.

April

Earth Day

Held in mid-April
Variety of venues

Admission Free
Annual event raising environmental awareness.

Smithsonian Craft Show
Held in mid-April
National Building Museum

401 F Street NW

Washington, DC

202-357-4000

Admission Charged
Exhibition and sale of contemporary American crafts from more than 100 artists.

Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday Observation
Held in mid-April
Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC

202-426-6841

Admission Free
A commemoration with military drills and a wreath-laying ceremony.

White House Easter Egg Roll
Held at Easter Time
White House, Washington DC

202-456-2200

Admission Free
Annual event for children, ages 3 to 6, accompanied by an adult, on the South Lawn. Eggs and entertainment are provided.

White House Garden Tour
Held in mid-April
White House, Washington DC

202-456-2200

Admission Free
Tour the garden and public rooms of the White House.

May

Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival

Held in early May
Venues throughout Washington, DC
202-727-3120

Admission Free

Georgetown Garden Tour

Held in early May
Georgetown, Washington, DC

202-965-1950

Admission Charged

Tour beautiful public and private historic gardens.

Goodwill Embassy Tour

Held in early May
Held at the various embassies in and around Washington

Admission Charged
Tour of Washington, DC's embassies.

International Flower Mart
Held in early May
National Cathedral, Washington, DC

202-537-6200

Admission Free
Annual flower market with flower booths and entertainment.

Memorial Day at the Women’s Memorial
Held during Memorial Day weekend
Women's Memorial Ceremonial Entrance, Arlington National Cemetery

800-222-2294
Formal ceremony honoring all the men and women who defended this country.

 

Memorial Day Ceremony
Held during Memorial Day weekend
Vietnam Veterans Memorial and US Navy Memorial

202-426-6841

Admission Free
Events include speeches, military bands and keynote addresses.

 

Memorial Day Concert
Held during Memorial Day weekend
West Lawn of the Capital Building

202-225-6827

Admission Free
Concert includes the National Symphony Orchestra, actors and various bands.

Filmfest DC

Held in mid-May

4000 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016
202-244-0882

Tickets, popcorn, and politics: It's all in a night at the movies at Filmfest DC, where political landscapes and inventive cinema come together in late April. The international festival offers 12 days of more than 100 feature, documentary and short films from around the world in theaters throughout the city.

Taste of DC

Held over Memorial Day Weekend

Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20530

Admission Free

DC's annual culinary celebration is one of the areas most attended events.  Pennsylvania Avenue between Seventh and 14th streets N.W. is brimming with live music, kids' activities, chef demos and booths selling food and drinks at the three-day outdoor festival. Take time out from all the edible entertainment to check out what else is going on, from kids activities to crafts. The biggest inedible hit is always the multiple stages that are taken over by loads of musical acts throughout the afternoon.

June

Capital Jazz Fest

Early June

Held in the D.C. suburbs

Jazz lovers get an outdoor treat: The Capital Jazz Fest, which slants towards contemporary jazz but manages to keep just about everyone happy. The weekend festival typically includes a headline act with more than a dozen other musicians jamming throughout the weekend.

Capital Pride

Held sometime in June

DC's Capital Pride, which started in 1975 as a small block party, is now one of the largest pride festivals in the country. Highlights of the weeklong event include the street festival, a parade, a pageant, drag contests, film screenings, panel discussions and parties.

DC Caribbean Festival

Held at the end of June

Admission Charged

The DC Caribbean Carnival brings out the Washington-area Caribbean community and other cultures for dancing in the streets and an eye-popping parade. Performances at Crossroads Entertainment Complex in Bladensburg, Md., about a mile from the DC line, kick off the week, with a steel band jamboree featuring nationwide performers. On "Dimanche Gras" ("Big Sunday"), elaborate and flamboyant parade costumes are displayed and judged, and later in the week, calypso concerts take the stage. On both Saturday and Sunday, a street festival keeps everyone grooving.

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

15th Street at Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-426-6841

Held in late June – early July

The Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage presents a living tapestry across the National Mall, introducing visitors to the grassroots cultures of different American regions and their cousins abroad.  The festival typically focuses on one to four countries or regions. After festival exhibits and food vendors close for the day, free concerts are held in the evenings. Events geared toward children are also part of the festival.

National Capital Barbecue Battle

Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20530

Visitors won't want to miss out on the area's biggest barbecue event of the year. Every June, the National Capital Barbecue Battle takes over the streets of DC for one smokin', fun-filled weekend all in the name of barbecue.  Plus, there are tons of other activities for all ages and interests. And if that's not enough, the Barbecue Battle hosts top national and regional rock, reggae, R&B, jazz and blues musicians.

Duport-Kalorama Museum Walk
Held in early June
Washington, DC

202-667-0441
Visit this neighborhood's six museums and enjoy demonstrations, interactive tours, hands-on workshops and concerts.

Shakespeare Theatre Free For All
Dates vary in June
Carter Barron Amphitheatre, Washington, DC

202-547-1122

Admission Free

Performances of the plays of Shakespeare featuring the performers and artists of the nation's premiere producer of classic theatre.

July

Army Blues Jazz Ensemble
Held on July 4

Washington Monument Grounds, Washington, DC.
703-696-3399

Admission Free

Independence Day Parade
Held on July 4 at 11:45 am
Parade featuring floats and entertainment, traveling down Constitution Ave. at 7th St.

July 4^th along the George Washington Memorial Parkway

703-289-2500

Admission Free
Celebrate July 4th along the shoreline of the Potomac River in Virginia, including fireworks.

 

U.S. Army Orchestra & the Washington Cathedral Choral Society
Held in late July
703-696-3399

Admission Free

August

Georgia Avenue Day
Held in late August
Washington, DC

202-723-5166

Admission Free
Parade, rides and ethnic cuisines highlight this neighborhood festival.

National Frisbee Festival
Held in late August
Washington, DC
World Frisbee champions and disc-catching dogs take part in this festival on the grounds of the Washington Monument.

September

Black Family Reunion

Held at the National Mall

15th Street at Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-426-6841

A massive gathering that takes place on the National Mall at summer's end, the Black Family Reunion was conceived of by legendary civil rights activist Dorothy Height in the early 1980s to show the world the positive side of black life in America. The two-day reunion is a mix of informative booths and musical performances.

Adams Morgan Day

Held in early September
Washington, DC

202-724-4091

Admission Free
Two-day event celebrating the ethnic diversity of this Northwest neighborhood.

Coming of Age: Elderfest
Held in early September
Freedom Plaza, Washington, DC

202-581-8100

Admission Free
A celebration of older Americans with food, crafts and entertainment.

Constitution Day Commemoration
Held in mid September
National Archives, Washington, DC

866-272-6272

Admission Free
The original US Constitution is displayed with a naturalization ceremony and concert.

DC Blues Festival

Washington DC
Held in early September

202-828-3028

Admission Free
Annual festival with a variety of blues music.

 

Fiesta Musical
Held in late September
Washington's National Zoo

202-673-4800

Admission Free
Annual Latin Fiesta celebrating Hispanic culture.

Labor Day Concert with The National Symphony
Held on Labor Day
West Lawn of the Capital Building

202-619-7222

Admission Free
Concert includes the National Symphony Orchestra and various bands.

 

October

DC 101 Chili Cookoff

Independence Avenue and 12^th Street

Admission Charged

Add a little spice to your life: Grab your favorite spoon and head downtown to DC101's annual Chili Cook-Off. What has proven to be one of DC's best street parties of the year keeps kicking it up a notch. Vendors from the city's best restaurants line up to hawk samples of their zesty recipes. Grab a bowl or two and cruise the streets with fellow revelers to check out some of today's hottest bands on DC101's main stage.

Marine Corps Marathon

Held in late October

Marshall Drive
Arlington, VA 22211
703-289-2500

The Annual Marine Corps Marathon is an open, amateur race beginning and ending at the Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial). The race has been nicknamed the "Marathon of the Monuments" because it passes many of the area's attractions -- the Capitol, Union Station, the Jefferson and Lincoln memorials and the Kennedy Center. It's also dubbed "The People's Marathon," for the diverse group of 18,000 runners it attracts from around the world.

White House Fall Garden Tours

Held in late October

White House, Washington, DC

202-208-1631

Admission Free
Annual tour includes Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, Children's Garden and South Lawn of the White House.

November

Annual Seafaring Celebration

Held in early November
Navy Museum, Washington, DC

202-433-4882
Annual sea festival, with storytelling and musical performances.

Army Ten Mile Run
Held the second weekend in October
One of the nation's largest ten-mile road races and rated as one of the Top 100 races in the nation by Runner's World Magazine. Starting in Arlington, VA, the flat, fast course travels through scenic Washington, DC, passing some the most famous monuments and memorials in the United States. The field is limited to 16,000 runners.

 

Theodore Roosevelt Birthday Celebration
Held in late October

Theodore Roosevelt Island, George Washington Parkway

703-289-2500

Admission Free
Celebrate the 26th president's birthday, featuring tours and exhibits.

White House Fall Garden Tours
Held in late October
White House, Washington, DC

202-208-1631

Admission Free
Annual tour includes Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, Children's Garden and South Lawn of the White House.

December

The National Christmas Tree

Held in early December

703-237-5993

Admission Free
Thousands of spirited patriots turn out for the annual lighting ceremony of the National Christmas Tree in early December, and thousands more make a trip to the Ellipse to see the tree throughout the rest of the month. The festivities are all part of the Christmas Pageant of Peace.  The National Christmas Tree, with a large-scale model train running around it, is a must-see for Washingtonians and tourists alike.  Fifty-six smaller trees representing the 50 states, five territories and DC surround the main tree, each decorated by state-sponsored organizations. A Yule log burns nightly to keep warm, and local groups put on shows on a performance stage. It's a fabulous way to celebrate the holidays in our nation's capital.

Candlelight Tours
Held in late December
White House, Washington, DC

202-619-7222

Admission Free

Tour the candlelit and decorated White House.

 
Christmas Poinsettia Show
Held in mid-December
US Botanic Gardens
202-226-7674

Admission Free