Travel Don’ts: Tips for Your Washington DC Trip
Greetings from Washington, D.C. Every travel blog tells you what to do when you travel, but we like to tell you what not to do, so you can be prepared for your trip. These are the “don’ts” of visiting Washington, D.C.
Washington DC Trip Tip #1: Don’t Stand Left on the Escalators
When you are out and about in DC, make sure you stand to the right when you are on an escalator or moving sidewalk. Nothing annoys DC locals more than trying to dodge a bunch of meandering tourists moving slowly. Just remember: stand right, walk left.
Washington DC Trip Tip #2: Don’t Afraid to Take the Metro
The Metro system in DC is pretty clean, and easy to use. It goes to most of the places you’ll want to visit.
Washington DC Trip Tip #3: Don’t Expect the Metro to Go Late into the Night
While the Metro is great for travelers, it doesn’t run super late at night. Pay attention to the schedule so that you don’t miss the last train.
Washington DC Trip Tip #4: Don’t Eat on the Metro
Eating on the Metro is really frowned upon, so don’t plan to eat while you’re riding around. (It doesn’t hurt to speak in a lower tone as well; the DC Metro has a more chill vibe than some other cities, so there’s no need to shout)
Washington DC Trip Tip #5: Don’t Bother with Rush Hour
Don’t try to drive, or even take the Metro, during rush hour. It’s crazy packed with everyone trying to get to work or get home from work. Wait until after 9am to set out for the day; the Smithsonian Museums don’t open until 10:00 anyways. The streets practically empty out before and after rush hour, so it pays to wait.
Washington DC Trip Tip #6: Don’t Block the Intersection
If you do decide to drive in DC, pay attention to the signals and make sure you don’t get stuck in the intersection at a red light. It can cause a lot of problems if a driver ends up blocking the intersection.
Washington DC Trip Tip #7: Don’t Stop in the Middle of the Sidewalk
There are so many things you’ll want to take a picture of in DC, but remember to step aside before you do so. There are a ton of locals trying to go about their everyday business in the midst of hordes of tourists. Stepping aside allows them to continue on without slowing everyone down for a tourist photo opp.
Washington DC Trip Tip #8: Don’t Forget to Look Up From Your Phone
Whether you’re chasing Pokemon, or following a map app to the next DC attraction, don’t forget to look up from your phone to see where you’re going. DC sidewalks are crowded, so it’s important to pay attention to where you’re going.
Washington DC Trip Tip #9: Don’t Leave Valuables in the Car
This is common travel sense for any city, but a good reminder not to leave any valuables in your car.
Washington DC Trip Tip #10: Don’t Trust Hotel Distance from Attractions
A lot of hotels will claim to be a “ten minute walk from the Mall” or “15 minutes from the White House.” Don’t rely on the hotels to tell you how close (or far) they are from major attractions, look it up to verify. DC involves a lot of walking, but make sure you at least know what you’re signing up for.
Washington DC Trip Tip #11: Don’t Forget Good Walking Shoes
You will be walking a lot in DC, so don’t forget to bring good walking shoes.
Washington DC Trip Tip #12: Don’t Mess With Heat & Humidity
DC is very hot and humid in the summer; don’t forget to stay hydrated. There are water fountains around where you can refill a bottle of water.
Washington DC Trip Tip #13: Don’t Forget Sunblock and Bug Spray
If you are visiting DC in the summer, don’t forget to bring sunblock and bug spray.
Washington DC Trip Tip #14: Don’t Lose Your Metro Card
DC Metro fares are based on distance, so you need the card when enter the train and when you exit. Don’t tuck it away or throw it away after you swipe into the Metro station.
Washington DC Trip Tip #15: Don’t Say You’re Going to the Smithsonian
The Smithsonian is a huge collection of museums, with over 20 individual destinations. So, if you tell someone you’re going to the Smithsonian, that doesn’t really narrow down your destination.
Washington DC Trip Tip #16: Don’t Miss the DC Monuments at Night
Seeing the DC monuments lit up at night is a highlight of any trip to DC. Even though you’ll be tired after a long day of touring DC, make sure you get to see the monuments lit up at least once during your visit.
Washington DC Trip Tip #17: Don’t Worry About Paying at the Smithsonian Museums
The Smithsonian Museums are all free, which is really cool. Definitely take advantage of this; not only are they great museums, but it’s a great way to save money on your DC vacation. If you want to visit one of the more popular Smithsonian museums, you may be able to go online and get a “convenience” ticket for a small fee.
Washington DC Trip Tip #18: Don’t Get Stuck Behind an 8th Grade Class
It’s tradition for many 8th grade classes to take a trip to DC, and they come from all over the US between March and May. If you visit during this time, you may be surrounded by a lot of junior high kids. If you get stuck behind them getting into a museum, or even a restaurant, it can be frustrating. The best approach is to avoid these months.
Washington DC Trip Tip #19: Don’t Forget About the Museums Away from the National Mall
There are so many great museums on the National Mall, it can be easy to forget there are other museums in Washington D.C. The National Postal Museum is located near the Capitol and Union Station. The Portrait Gallery, located near the Capital One Arena has some great portraits.
Washington DC Trip Tip #20: Don’t Forget About the 2nd Set of Doors at National Mall Museums
When you visit the National Mall museums, there is usually a second set of doors to the museums. Rather than entering through the National Mall, try to find the entrance doors on the other side, which often have shorter lines. Entering the museums often requires a bag search and metal detector, so it can take a while if you’re in a long line.
Washington DC Trip Tip #21: Don’t Try to Visit All of the Smithsonian Museums
If you try to hit all of the Smithsonian Museums, you’ll get museum burnout pretty quickly. Since they are free, it’s tempting to want to see all of them, but it’s best to plan for one to two museums per day.
Washington DC Trip Tip #22: Don’t Disrespect the Monuments
There are many great monuments around DC that pay homage to historical figures and fallen soldiers. It’s really important to show proper respect at these monuments. Fountains aren’t for cooling off and splashing around; Arlington Cemetery isn’t a park to be running around.
Washington DC Trip Tip #23: Don’t Sleep In
If you want to beat the crowds, get up early and be the first one at the museums. There’s too much to do in DC to spend too much time sleeping. Some of the museums will also have extended evening hours, which many people don’t know about.
Washington DC Trip Tip #24: Don’t Expect a Cheap Vacation
Even though many of the DC attractions are free, it’s still going to be an expensive vacation. Hotels, parking and restaurants are all pricy. Many people travel to DC for work, so hotels take advantage of that with higher rates and they aren’t catering to budget travelers.
Watch: Tipping in the USA Explained
Washington DC Trip Tip #25: Don’t Forget to Make Dinner Reservations
There are lots of great restaurants in DC, and really great international cuisine, but don’t forget to make reservations. DC gets a lot of tourists, so restaurants fill up quickly every night, especially in summer.
Read: What to Eat in Washington DC
Washington DC Trip Tip #26: Don’t Be Afraid to Take a Bus Tour
DC is huge, and to see everything efficiently, a bus tour is a great introduction to the city and a great way to get your bearings. Along the way, you’ll get a history lesson and explanation of some of the major sights. Another way to see the sights is to rent a bide with the bikeshare app.
Watch: Seven Reasons to Hire a Private Tour Guide
Washington DC Trip Tip #27: Don’t Just Stay in DC
There’s so much to see outside of DC, so make sure you leave time to explore the areas outside of the main city center. Some great day trips from DC include Mount Vernon, Monticello, Colonial Williamsburg, Busch Gardens. Breaking up your visit with day trips is a great way to avoid museum burnout.
We hope that you enjoy your visit to Washington D.C. Feel free to add more “don’ts” in the comments below! For more travel tips about the United States, check out these blog posts and videos: