What First Timers to Washington DC NEED to Know | ULTIMATE Washington DC Travel Guide

This hotel is recommended as an ideal place to stay for first-time visitors to Washington DC, offering easy access to museums, monuments, transportation, and dining options.

This hotel is recommended as an ideal place to stay for first-time visitors to Washington DC, offering easy access to museums, monuments, transportation, and dining options.

This hotel is recommended as an ideal place to stay for first-time visitors to Washington DC, offering easy access to museums, monuments, transportation, and dining options.

This hotel is recommended as an ideal place to stay for first-time visitors to Washington DC, offering easy access to museums, monuments, transportation, and dining options.

This hotel is recommended as an ideal place to stay for first-time visitors to Washington DC, offering easy access to museums, monuments, transportation, and dining options.

This hotel is recommended as an ideal place to stay for first-time visitors to Washington DC, offering easy access to museums, monuments, transportation, and dining options.

This hotel is recommended as an ideal place to stay for first-time visitors to Washington DC, offering easy access to museums, monuments, transportation, and dining options.

This hotel is recommended as an ideal place to stay for first-time visitors to Washington DC, offering easy access to museums, monuments, transportation, and dining options.

This hotel in Arlington, Virginia, is recommended as an option for those open to staying outside the city, offering a short Metro ride into DC and potentially helping with budget.

This hotel in Arlington, Virginia, is recommended as an option for those open to staying outside the city, offering a short Metro ride into DC and potentially helping with budget.

This hotel in Arlington, Virginia, is recommended as an option for those open to staying outside the city, offering a short Metro ride into DC and potentially helping with budget.

This hotel in Arlington, Virginia, is recommended as an option for those open to staying outside the city, offering a short Metro ride into DC and potentially helping with budget.

The video mentions getting a timed entry ticket for the elevator ride to the top of the Washington Monument, which can be obtained online 30 days in advance or on the day of, and notes that there are no outside bathrooms on The Mall except at the Washington Monument.

The National Archives is listed as one of the top things to do in DC.

As the nation's capital, DC is the political heart of the United States with landmarks like the US Capitol; if you'd like to see Congress in action during your visit to the US Capitol, check Congress's schedule online; if you're wanting a tour, book it well in advance; tour requests must be submitted from 3 weeks to 3 months in advance online through a member of Congress, and tours are granted on a first-come first-serve basis only.

The Library of Congress is mentioned as one of the top things to do on your first time visit.

Arlington National Cemetery is listed as one of the top things to do in DC.

The Smithsonian Institute museums are mentioned as free attractions in DC where you can easily spend a half day in one alone, and DCNet provides free public Wi-Fi hotspots around the city as does Smithsonian Museums.

The Smithsonian Zoo is listed as one of the top things to do in DC.

The National Mall is highlighted as a natural and green space in DC, crowded areas like The Mall requires to be aware of your surroundings, and there are no outside bathrooms on The Mall, except at the Washington Monument, and surrounding museums, and when museums close, The Mall basically becomes quiet so plan your evenings out elsewhere.

Georgetown is described as a wonderful historic neighborhood in the Northwest with great shopping and dining, but it's not Metro accessible and not recommended for a first-time stay; the red DC Circulator Bus has routes around the popular sites and neighborhoods, including Georgetown.

The Potomac River waterfront is highlighted as a natural and green space in DC; there's also a Potomac River cruise to mix it up.

Mount Vernon, George Washington's historic estate, is recommended as a great day trip to consider.

Explore charming Old Town Alexandria or Annapolis is recommended as a great day trip to consider.

Take a Virginia wine region tour, a perfect diversion for wine lovers.

All Amtrak trains arrive at Union Station and are an ideal way to get from points like Baltimore, Philadelphia, or New York; Flix Bus and Greyhound buses are plentiful and also arrive at Union Station.

Baltimore Washington International, or BWI, is 40 miles northeast of DC in Maryland and can take close to an hour by car without traffic, or you can take the MARC commuter train, which arrives at the Union Station.

Dulles International Airport, or IAD, is the largest of the three airports and only 30 miles west of DC in Virginia, and can take about 40 minutes by car to DC without traffic, or just over an hour by the Metro Silver to Orange and Blue lines.

The Ronald Reagan Washington International Airport, or DCA, which is the easiest and closest airport to DC, just 5 miles south in Virginia and a 15 to 20 minute car ride without traffic, or the same by metro on the Blue and Yellow lines.

As the nation's capital, DC is the political heart of the United States with landmarks like the White House; the Old Ebbitt Grill, just steps from the White House, has been a classic since 1856.

Dupont Circle is very trendy area with lots of dining and nightlife options; Dupont Circle is lively with dining and nightlife, eclectic eateries, coffee shops, and dance clubs that cluster on Connecticut Avenue.

Downtown is with swanky hotels, wide avenues, and old school power broker bars near the White House; Downtown is where it's at for finding power dining restaurants, steakhouses, and see and be seen hotspots perfect for happy hours or a pre-theater meal.

Foggy Bottom is a government and cultural hub mix of university students, fine dining, and the riverside Kennedy Center; Foggy Bottom has dining options ranging from upscale restaurants to casual chain eateries and pubs full of local university students.

Penn Quarter is a central area with sports bars, music venues, shopping, and museums; Penn Quarter is known for sports bars and sporting entertainment where the Cap One Arena is holding home basketball and hockey games; On the north end of Penn Quarter is Chinatown, if you need a dim sum fix.

Catch a concert at the Kennedy Center, home to the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera.

Penn Quarter is known for sports bars and sporting entertainment where the Cap One Arena is holding home basketball and hockey games.

The Navy Yard is where to go for sports bars and beer gardens before taking in a baseball game at the Nationals Park.

If you're open to staying outside the city, Arlington, Virginia is a great option just across the river, which might also help with your budget, and it's just a short Metro ride into DC.

Harper's Ferry, a scenic town with Civil War history, is recommended as a great day trip to consider.

Explore charming Old Town Alexandria or Annapolis is recommended as a great day trip to consider.

Baltimore's waterfront is recommended as a great day trip to consider.