How to See Washington D.C. in 2 Days
The best way to see Washington D.C. in 2 days is by combining Old Town Trolley Tours for citywide sightseeing with Arlington National Cemetery Tours for the official loop inside the cemetery grounds. Together, they provide a fast, convenient way to cover D.C.’s major monuments, museums, and historic landmarks without the hassle of driving, heavy traffic, or exhausting walks.
Why You Should Include Arlington National Cemetery Tours on Your 2-Day Trip
- Official In-Cemetery Tour Service: Ride the only authorized tour operating directly inside Arlington National Cemetery across its 639 sacred acres.
- Maximize Your Time: Efficiently explore major gravesites and memorials within a tight 2-day schedule without wasting hours on steep, long walks.
- Live Guided Context: Listen to compelling stories of military history, sacrifice, and valor shared by knowledgeable local guides throughout the loop.
- Hop-On, Hop-Off Access: Disembark at key stops—including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the John F. Kennedy Gravesite, and Arlington House—to explore at your own pace.
- Seamless City Connection: Effortlessly link your cemetery tour with Old Town Trolley’s citywide routes across the Potomac River for a complete D.C. experience.
Key Highlights of a 2-Day Washington D.C. Itinerary
- Monuments & Mall: Start with a guided city tour before visiting the Lincoln Memorial, World War II Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the Washington Monument.
- Smithsonian Museums: Spend the afternoon exploring free museums along the National Mall, including the National Museum of American History, National Museum of Natural History, National Gallery of Art, and National Air and Space Museum.
- Georgetown: Finish your first day with dinner and relaxation in Georgetown’s historic dining district.
- Tidal Basin & Capitol Hill: See the FDR Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial at the Tidal Basin, followed by visits to the U.S. Capitol, Library of Congress, and Supreme Court.
- Attractions & Historic Sites: Visit the U.S. Botanic Garden, stop by the International Spy Museum or Ford’s Theatre, view the White House exterior, and conclude in Chinatown under the Friendship Arch.
Planning a weekend in Washington DC? You’re in for a few days of fascinating history, inspiring landmarks, and great restaurants. But if you only have 2 days, you’ll need to plan ahead to make maximize your time. Read our itinerary that will help you see the best of Washington DC in 2 days.
Day 1
9:00am
Start your first day off by hopping on the city’s most unique sightseeing tour, the DC Tour. This is a quick, 90-minute tour that starts on the streets of DC and continues into the Potomac River on an amphibious vehicle that goes from land to water without missing a beat. You’ll see many of the city’s most popular landmarks, including several of the monuments and museums, learn some history, and get to see great views from the water. It’s a fun way to get your vacation started.
11:00am
After your DC Tour, head to the National Mall to get a closer look at our nation’s most beloved monuments. Start at the Lincoln Memorial and plan on spending about 90 minutes seeing the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Veteran’s Wall Memorial, the Korean War Memorial and the Washington Monument. They are all in close proximity to each other so you can take your time at each.
12:30pm
Grab a delicious lunch at any of the restaurants close to the Washington Monument, there are several within less than a mile of where you’ll be. You’ll have your choice of anything from American favorites like Hard Rock Café and Five Guys to international delights in seafood, Indian, Greek, Mexican, Thai and more.
2:00pm
After lunch, get ready to immerse yourself in culture at the various Smithsonian Museums, all offer free admission and a wealth of education and enlightenment. Plan on spending the rest of the day exploring a few institutions. Start at the Museum of American History, located next to the Washington Monument. Then, take some time to tour through the Museum of Natural History. After, you can check out the National Gallery of Art and then, the Air and Space Museum.
6:00pm
As the day winds down, it’s a great time to relax and reflect on all that you’ve seen on your first day in DC. For a delicious dinner, head to Georgetown, DC’s most historic neighborhood and the city’s top nightlife and dining destination. There’s a plethora of restaurants, from casual to fine dining and everything in between. Georgetown is the perfect way to end the day in the Capital City.
Day 2
9:00am
The Tidal Basin is a good place to start your second day in DC. Depending on what time of year you’re visiting, you’ll be treated to great natural scenery; if it’s springtime, the world famous Cherry Blossoms will create a spectacular backdrop. You’ll also see the FDR Memorial, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. Give yourself about an hour here before heading to your next destination.
10:00am
For the next few hours, plan on spending your time exploring the US Capitol, the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court. If you’re there on a day when they offer tours of each of these buildings, take some time to see the inside and learn about their role in the US Government.
12:00pm
Next, head to the US Botanical Garden, located at the foot of the US Capitol Building. Here you’ll enjoy the natural beauty of more than 4,000 plant and flower species. There are several exhibits within the conservatory that are not only filled with different plants, flowers, ferns, vines and more, but also showcase the importance of plant life to people. Give yourself an hour to enjoy this special place.
1:00pm
By now you’re ready for lunch and you’ll have a choice of many restaurants to indulge your appetite. There are dozens of exceptional eateries very close to the US Botanical Garden offering a choice of American and international cuisine.
2:30pm
After you’ve satisfied your hunger, it’s a great time to head over to some of the city’s most unique attractions. The International Spy Museum is a one-of-kind museum dedicated to the craft of spying. You’ll be immersed in the history of the industry, see hundreds of spy gadgets, tools and other items related to espionage and enjoy learning about real life spies throughout history into present day.
4:00pm
One of the most chilling historic events was the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and so, a visit to Washington DC is not complete without a stop to the site of that horrific event. Ford’s Theatre is still a working theater, presenting plays and performances by some of the top artists of our time. But it’s also home to the Lincoln Museum, where you can learn about the conspiracy to assassinate the President. Plan on spending about an hour here before heading next door to learn more about that fateful night.
5:00pm
The Petersen House is where President Lincoln was brought after being shot at Ford’s Theatre and where he passed away just hours later. Today, you can tour the house that is a National Historic Site. On the tour, you’ll see furnishings, including a bed that is much like the one where the President died, period pieces and other items from that era. You’ll be able to take a self-guided tour and see first hand where the events of that solemn night took place.
6:00pm
A visit to Washington DC must include a look at The White House. If you’ve never seen it in person, it is a sight to behold. Although you need to book a tour many months in advance, you can still view it from the outside, see the grounds and get a feel for the significance of this imposing building.
6:30pm
Now that you’ve seen so much of the city, a great place to bring your visit to a close is Chinatown. Here, you can walk underneath the well known Friendship Arch, enjoy some authentic Chinese cuisine for dinner, browse through some of the shops and learn a little about this historic Washington DC neighborhood.