The DC Darlings Travel Guide: 3 Days in Washington, DC

Visiting DC for a long weekend and want to do as much as possible, in a short period of time?! See the best of everything Washington, DC has to offer, from the National Mall to neighborhood attractions – with this fabulous three-day itinerary.

3 Day Guide:

Day 1: The National Mall & Capitol Hill

Day 2: Georgetown & City Center

Day 3: Logan Circle & Shaw

DAY 1: The National Mall

Photo Contributed by Angela B. Pan Photography

 

Morning/Afternoon

Begin your first day in Washington, DC in the downtown area. We recommend grabbing a bite to eat at The Smith, in the Penn Quarter…the avocado toast & vanilla bean french toast will make your mouth water! After a hearty breakfast, begin your walking tour of DC landmarks. You will start on Capitol Hill and finish the day at the White House. If you don’t want to walk, there are tons of bike rentals located all around the city and the mall is super “bikeable.” The tour should last a few hours so make sure to fuel up in the AM! Check out the walking tour map below for an easy guide to follow.

 

DC Landmarks Walking Tour Guide

 

Depending on how long the walking tour takes you, you may have time to visit Smithsonian Museums! We recommend the museums listed below:

Smithsonian Museums (all free of charge!)

• National Museum of American History
• National Museum of African American History and Culture
• National Air & Space Museum
• National Museum of Natural History
• National Gallery of Art (they just re-opened the east wing and it is fabulous!)
• National Portrait Gallery

 

$ Museums in close proximity to the Mall

• Newseum
• Renwick Gallery

National Gallery of Art

 

Evening

After your big day of site-seeing, reward yourself with a delicious dinner at the Michelin star rated restaurant, Rose’s Luxury. Chef Aaron Silverman’s menu is an absolute game changer – think southern comfort food mixed with ingredients & ideas from Southeast Asia, Mexico, Italy, and France.

Tip * – reservations are limited to groups of 6 to 8. The majority of seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. There can often be a line so make sure to get there early and put your name in. Then you can walk around 8th street and see the cute shops & restaurants while you wait!

If the gambling on a table at Rose’s deters you, head to The Yards, the area of DC where the National’s play and home to tons of fabulous restaurants!

Rose’s Luxury

DAY 2: Georgetown & City Center

Georgetown is DC’s most historic neighborhood; full of cobblestone streets and 18th- and 19th-century homes. There are a variety of things to see & do in Georgetown and we recommend spending at least 1/2 a day in the area.

 

Morning/Afternoon

Begin your day with a delicious breakfast at either Ladurée or Boulangerie Christophe. There is nothing better than a flaky croissant to jump-start a fun day in the city! After, walk around Georgetown and see the cute sights and shops. Here are a few suggestions of what to do in the area:

Molly @ Ladurée Georgetown

 

Things to do in Georgetown:

• Walk around the historic homes…one of our fav things to do, they are so so pretty!
• Visit the waterfront and grab a cocktail
• Stroll along the Canal and stop by Baked & Wired for a treat
• See the oldest homes and gardens in the area (Old Stone House, Dumbarton House and Tudor Place)
• SHOP!!! (Alice & Olivia, All Saints, Anthro, Calvin Klein, Club Monaco, Cos, CUSP, Ella Rue, Free People, Intermix, J. Crew, Kate Spade, Kendra Scott, Lilly Pulitzer, Loft, Lululemon, Madewell, & Other Stories, Rag & Bone, Rent the Runway, Steve Madden, Tory Burch, Tuckernuck, Urban Outfitters, Warby Parker, Zara…& tons more!!)
• Bike on the Capital Crescent Trail
• Kayak or paddle board on the Potomac River (spring, summer & early fall)
• Walk around Georgetown University campus
• Ice skate on the waterfront (in the colder months)

Charming Streets of Georgetown

 

After you have shopped your heart out and visited the historic homes, we suggest dining for lunch at Fiola Mare. We LOVE this restaurant and it is one of the most picturesque spots in the city with unreal food. The hospitality is wonderful and you really can’t have a less than amazing experience at this hot spot!

Fiola Mare Brunch

 

Evening

After lunch and more Georgetown activities, you will be ready to hit City Center in downtown DC. City Center has more than 30 fabulous shops and fantastic eateries! It is a cute spot to stroll around, grab a coffee, and shop – City Center always has fun things going on!

City Center

 

You can either dine in City Center or you will be close to a variety of incredible DC restaurants like Kinship, Rasika, or classic DC restaurant Old Ebbitt Grill (circa 1856). Post dinner, if you are looking to see the amazing views of the city, go to the W hotel rooftop for yummy cocktails! To keep the night going, head to Barmini by José Andrés for craft cocktails – they are SO COOL! It will be an experience you won’t forget.

 

DAY 3: LOGAN CIRCLE/SHAW

On your last day in DC, you will visit the Logan Circle/Shaw areas. Logan Circle is the perfect mix of old-time charm and new shops and restaurants. The area is extremely ‘walkable’ and you will be able to cover everything within a few hours. Shaw is home to trendy and acclaimed restaurants, cute boutiques, craft cocktail bars, and beer gardens. Within Shaw is the 1910 Howard Theater where Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald and once performed! We love this part of DC!

 

Morning/Afternoon

Start your final day in DC with brunch at Le Diplomate by Stephen Starr. Make a reservation in advance because it is a hugely popular brunch spot in DC. It is so delicious and très French (swoooooon)! The Shrimp Salad is mouthwateringly amazing if you are looking to stay on the healthy side…or if you want to indulge, get the burger…you won’t be disappointed!

Le Diplomate

 

Once you finish your incredible meal at ‘Le Dip’ walk along 14th street. Definitely pop into Salt & Sundry and Room & Board. After 14th Street, make your way to the Shaw area and go to Blagden Alley. This area is full of bars and restaurants and the #vibesareright.

 

Evening

After making your way through Shaw, you can head to The Dabney for dinner. The Dabney sources all of its food from the Mid-Atlantic’s finest farms and purveyors. The restaurant is decorated in a chic farmhouse-style interior and it boasts an open kitchen…with a wood-fired oven (so cool). The restaurant recently received a Michelin star so it can be quite difficult to get into…make a reservation in advance if you want to dine here!

La Colombe Coffee Shop in Blagden Alley

 

End your trip with a cocktail at The Columbia Room, named as the “Best American Cocktail Bar.” The ambiance is fabulous and the cocktails are out of this world. There is no better way to toast to a wonderful vacation than a nightcap at this hot spot.

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We hope you enjoy your 3-day weekend in Washington, DC! Please leave comments and questions with trip ideas, we would love to help you plan your perfect trip!