The city of Washington reflects the history and cultural heritage of a powerful nation, so when you travel to the United States, you can’t miss it.
Located on the banks of the Potomac River, Washington offers a great number of buildings, educational institutions and historical monuments of great importance that honor their ancestors.while walking through the city it is impossible to ignore the beauty of its iconic constructions that are known worldwide.
Washington perfectly mixes historical environments with the modernity of a city in expansion.L he capital of the United States of America offers entertainment, picturesque streets, parks, monuments, shops and museums that you cannot miss.
Explore the most popular areas and discover what is around every corner.In Washington you can go into the art and culture , while you know the history of the United States and admire the sculptures dedicated to Lincoln, Jefferson and Washington.
You can also enjoy modern art galleries, shopping in spectacular malls, take a walk outdoors, take a cruise on the Potomac River to admire the beauty of the surrounding area, or even engage in outdoor sports activities such as taking a bike ride in any of its designated lanes, or taking a kayak.
The best areas to stay in Washington
Unlike other much larger American cities, choosing a good neighborhood where to sleep in Washington is not that complicated.Here are the most prominent neighborhoods so you can decide which one is right for you.
1.Downtown: the most central neighborhood
Downtown offers the best places to stay in Washington.The benefit of staying in this area is that you can access more comfortably and quickly places of major tourist attraction .
Among the tourist attractions that you can easily visit are the White House or the National Mall , this place that brings together the monument to Washington and Lincoln, the National Art Gallery, as well as the Smithsonian Museum and the National Museum of American History.
Downtown is also home to the National Museum of Women in the Arts, which features pieces by Frida Kahlo, Sarah Bernhardt and Mary Cassatt.
But downtown is not limited to historical landmarks.This area occupies several blocks and has a street designed in the best style of Rodeo Drive.
The center can be explored quietly on foot , but also has access to taxis, and means of public transportation as buses and subway.
– Downtown Accommodation
2.Capitol Hill: a combination of fairs and politics
The neighborhood is named after the United States Congress building which, with its majestic construction, dominates the landscape of this area.
Capitol Hill is a twenty minute drive from Reagan National Airport, and a forty minute drive from Dulles International Airport. The White House is located fairly close to this neighborhood, as public transportation is only ten minutes away.This is an area where is easy to get around on public transportation .
The neighborhood is an excellent choice to stay in Washington, given its proximity to the Capitol, where centuries of history of American politics are housed .This building is the epicenter of Washington and at its feet is the botanical garden
This historic district offers well maintained gardens, and quiet parks where you can relax for a while. colorful villas decorate the neighborhood with vibrant tones.
This historic neighborhood is also home to markets where local farmers and second-hand vendors display and market their products.If there is one thing the residents are proud of, it is their well-decorated community activity spaces.
In the evening, the pubs are frequented by both locals and visitors, making them an excellent option to end the day.
– Capitol Hill Lodging
3.Chinatown/Foggy Bottom: near the tourist attractions
One of the best neighborhoods to stay in Washington is, without a doubt, Chinatown, firstly because is a very lively area , and secondly because it offers an ideal location to access the tourist attractions of the city.However, you must take into account that the hotel offer in this area is scarce , so prices are high.
Chinatown is a commercial and residential neighborhood , there you can walk through the door of Chinatown, eat at any of its Asian food restaurants, or visit their shops.This neighborhood is quite small compared to the Chinatowns of New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco.
Foggy Bottom contrasts with Chinatown for its federal offices atmosphere like the famous Watergate and academic buildings that offer few areas to eat.However, the area has historical monuments, federal-style residences along cobblestone streets and a shopping mall.
– Accommodation in Chinatown
4.Dupont Circle/Logan Circle: charming and trendy areas
Both neighborhoods are located in downtown , so it is easy to move to other areas.This is a peaceful place for to stay in Washington , as it offers a fairly quiet pace of life .
Dupont Circle offers a wide repertoire of bars and restaurants hipster style , while its boutiques give this neighborhood a funky touch.This is a neighbourhood that dictates trends, especially on a culinary level because of its tascas and where you can appreciate a contemporary sensibility .
This part of the city is famous for its leisure, its large park where people sit to contemplate, paint or read, and for its nightlife .
Logan Circle is also a good sleeping area in Washington as it offers a variety of modern showcases , and elegant manor houses with the oldest architecture in the city.
It is the ideal place for shopping , because it offers specialized fashion shops.At the end of the day you can walk through any of its two historical districts which include popular night spots where you can taste handcrafted beers.
Logan Circle is an exclusive neighbourhood where you won’t see many people, as it doesn’t have an underground stop.Both the White House and Georgetown are only a few minutes away from this area.
These two neighborhoods have a great offer of accommodations , and the best is that they offer an excellent ratio between quality and price .
– Accommodation in Dupont Circle / Logan Circle
5.Georgetown: an elegant and exclusive neighbourhood
Georgetown is the perfect neighbourhood for its cleanliness and architecture , and is home to the University which bears the same name.its streets, shops, historic houses, cafes and universities are very elegant, offering unique Gothic and Georgian architecture.
This area offers different tourist possibilities to its visitors.You can’t miss a walk to their bakeries, pastry shops and artisan ice cream shops located on the main street.the awnings of these businesses give shade and color to the place.
You can admire the showcases of the famous “Calle M” which is full of vitality, thanks to the huge amount of university students.Its residential areas have a very peculiar air due to the cobbled streets.
To enjoy a serene and relaxing environment you can choose to take walks along the Potomac River The C&O Canal combines several trails where you can admire architectural beauties of the nineteenth century .For those who prefer to venture into the river, it is possible to take a kayak and paddle in its waters, and along the river you can appreciate the fabulous view of the city.
Georgetown has the particularity of not having subway stops, but it offers public bus service and is located very close to downtown .
– Accommodation in Georgetown
6.North East (Union Station): a convenient and eclectic neighborhood
The North East neighborhood is conveniently located near Downtown and there is the imposing train station , as well as a significant amount of accommodation.This is a neighbourhood that has been recovering its splendour and has been filled with small restaurants and bars where you can enjoy folk music. It is one of the main shopping areas of the city.
The Union Station offers connections to New York, Maryland and Virginia, as well as a subway and taxi stop, car rental and parking.
The station is a unique site that combines 130 shops of category and serves as a place for the realization of events and cultural exhibitions world-class. It is one of the most visited places in the city of Washington. Its food fair is a great place to enjoy something delicious for a good price.
From the station you can access the tour buses that offer tours of the city and its surroundings.
– Accommodation in North East
If you have been interested in this article about the best neighborhoods where to stay in Washington you may also be interested in the following: Where to stay in New York, where to stay in Los Angeles, where to stay in San Francisco
Best area to stay in Washington DC
If you want to know where to stay in Washingthon DC you have to have as reference the National Mall The National Mall is the national park located in downtown Washington DC which houses the main tourist attractions of Washington DC.From East to West we can visit the Whashington Monument, The National History Museum, The National Museum of Natural History, The Newmuseum, The National Air and Space Museum, The Capitol, and the Library of Congress.
To the left of the National Mall and just below is the West Potomac Park, which houses two other tourist attractions: the Lincoln Memorial and the Museum of Korean Veterans. North of the National Mall is the White House and then the extensive Downtown Washingnton DC, without doubt the best area for stay in Washington .
If you are interested in knowing where to stay in Washington DC , you may also be interested in knowing where to stay in New York, where to stay in Chicago and where to stay in Boston.
Staying in Downtown Washington DC
The heart of the city could be considered the National Mall & Memorial Parks, which runs from the Washington Monument to the Capitol, so by staying nearby you will ensure that you have the most important things in the city just a few steps away.In fact, Washington is known for having all the main points of interest nearby, such as the White House, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court, Chinatown, the Convention Center, Georgetown and Union Station-main train station in the city.
Washington or simply D.C. The White House and the Capitol are the heart of the three branches of the U.S. government, as well as the headquarters of other major international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Organization of American States, the Pan American Health Organization and the Inter-American Development Bank.
The political power of the city is reflected in the tourist attractions, such as the monuments to Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Franklin Delano Rooseveltel, as well as the Lincoln Memorial and the Library of Congress.Among the museums it houses are the National Museum of History, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of Native History, the National Gallery Sculpture Garden, the National Gallery of Art, the National Air and Space Museum, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Freer Gallery, the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the National Museum of African Art.
Other attractions are the Capitol, the Ulysses S. monument, the National Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of African Art. Walking from the National Mall & Memorial Parks, you can also find the National Archives, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Albert Einstein and Martin Luther King, Jr. monuments, and other interesting museums such as the Holocaust Museum, the Newmuseum – a museum of the history of journalism – and the Korean Veterans’ Museum.
When the sun goes down, the city centre is also a good option: On Capitol Hill, just a few minutes from the centre, there are several pubs frequented by tourists and locals, such as Capitol City Brewing Co. and Dublin, while the more modern discos such as Adams Morgan and U Street are to the north, about 15 minutes away by car. is certainly the best place to stay in the U.S. capital, but if you’re looking for something away from the hustle and bustle, you can choose Georgetown.
Hotels in Downtown Washington DC
Other areas to stay in Washington DC
Georgetown
This historic neighborhood, located on the banks of the Potomac River, is home to some of the city’s wealthiest families.It is famous for its shops as there are many shopping malls in the area, as well as boutiques of the world’s top designers.
The Old Stone House, one of the oldest buildings in the United States, is located in this neighborhood and commemorates the daily life of the average American.
Hotels in Georgetown
Capitol Hill
A much quieter area than downtown where you can have a more local experience, either by visiting one of its nightclubs or having dinner at one of its prestigious restaurants.It is a sophisticated area with art galleries and antique shops, and the Dupont Circle, a public park located at the intersection of Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire avenues.Recently the neighborhood has become famous for concentrating the city’s upper class gay community.
