Seeing Washington in one day is a challenging undertaking. How fortunate that pretty much all the major Washington attractions are gathered in one central spot: On the Mall (no, it’s not a shopping mall) are all major government buildings and numerous museums of the Smithsonian Institution like the Museum of Natural History. The Capitol, the White House or the Washington Monument are just some of the major sights here.
Tips for Washington in a day: the best sightseeing attractions
Being in Washington right now was exciting. The presidential election had just been decided. The world was still in shock, while comedians around the world were rubbing their hands: There wouldn’t be any lack of material for new comedy programs for the next four years.
In my job as a flight attendant, you get to go places that you often would never have gotten to otherwise. Every leg, every layover can be a new experience. And sometimes you are just at the right place at the right time like here in Washington, DC. For example, when you walk through London still exhausted from your early morning shift and are wondering about the masses people on the side of the road – and then suddenly the Queen drives past you, waving.
Or when, after arriving at the terminal, your own landing is shown from all angles on all the big screens. Because you had the local football club on board, which has just brought home an important trophy and you didn’t notice at all during the flight! Life in aviation can be so crazy. And so I happened to be in Washington DC just as the whole country was preparing everything for the new president.
#1 The White House
For the first time I stood in front of the White House and then in these exciting times. While outside construction workers were already putting together the stands for the festivities, inside people were probably packing boxes. Poor Obama. Moving is really exhausting. Especially if you don’t get along at all with the next tenant.
So I wished the Obamas well in my mind and at the same time wondered if they might not be a little glad to be moving away, because the White House looks somehow much smaller from the outside than I had imagined. And not glamourous at all!
#2 Washington Monument
In general, it’s one thing with architecture in Washington. I had just come from Brasília, a planned capital with extravagant architecture, so I could compare two very different capitals. The two cities are pretty similar: lots of space, lots of unusual architecture. The Washington Monument is located in the middle of the Mall on top of a hill: From here, you have the perfect view of the Capitol and the Mall in general. And on sunny days (and a wide-angle lens) you’ll get surreal photos like this one.
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#3 Lincoln Memorial
Washington is the center of power. Somehow, it wasn’t quite as impressive as I expected. Lots of open space and the architecture is more are a copy of ancient Greek and Roman buildings. Places you’ve seen a zillion times on TV, the Capitol, the Washington Monument, the oversized Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, the Lincoln Memorial itself. Often when you get to see famous places like these in real life, it’s quite impressive. However, that failed to happen in Washington, I wasn’t as flashed as I expected. But it was still enough for a nice photo at the Lincoln Memorial.
#4 The Capitol
I could only admire the Capitol, the seat of the U.S. Congress, from afar (above from the Washington Monument), because time was too short! In hindsight, I would have preferred to spend a little more time at the Capitol and to take one of the tours there. Tours of the Capitol must be booked in advance.
#5 Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
The Mall is lined with some of the best museums in the entire world. One thing I didn’t know before: The admission in all the museums along The Mall is free. So great! I could have spent the whole day just by exploring the various museums here. If I had done better research before, I would now know that most of the state museums in Washington, DC are free of charge. And that’s how I ended up at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History! And I loved it. The quality of the exhibition is truly unique. A lot of volunteers are on hand to answer any questions you might have. An experience not only for children.
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#6 The Mall
Of course, there’s much more to discover in Washington, DC —but a stroll along the Mall actually covers the basics, such as the White House, the Washington Monument, and the Capitol, and gives you a good overview of the center of power in the U.S. And you could spend hours in each and every one of the museums along the Mall. However, if you’re short on time, it’s best to pick one or two museums based on your own interests. Either way, it’s worth a visit—if only because admission to all the museums is free!
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By the way, you can also save money and time with a Washington Sightseeing Pass! Skip the lines and enjoy lots of discounts on most attractions in Washington, D.C.—plus a bus tour is included!
➜ Book your Sightseeing Pass with a bus tour of Washington, DC*
