2 Days in DC: A Power-Packed Itinerary for History, Art & Family Fun

Morning (7am - 11am)

Breakfast: Start your morning with a side of poetry and pancakes at Busboys and Poets. This artsy café-bookstore serves up vibes and values along with killer food. Try the sweet potato pancakes, avocado toast, or the Oaxaca omelet with black beans and queso. 

Attraction: National Gallery of Art

If your idea of a perfect morning includes staring lovingly at a Rothko or silently judging a Da Vinci brushstroke, welcome home. The National Gallery of Art lets you wander through centuries of creativity, from Renaissance big shots to bold modernists, all for free. 

Nearest stop: Air & Space Museum

Highlights:

• See iconic works by Vermeer, Monet, and Van Gogh housed in gorgeously lit galleries.
• The Sculpture Garden mixes modern art with ducks, jazz, and a seasonal ice rink.
• Head to the East Building for bold architecture, Calder mobiles, and wild color-blocked walls.

Pro tip: The underground tunnel connecting the West and East buildings has a mesmerizing light installation—don’t just pass through, bask in it.

Suggested time to spend: 2 hours

Time to next stop: Board the bus—8 to 10 minutes to go. 

Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)

Lunch: Café at the National Museum of African American History and Culture doesn’t just serve food—it serves heritage on a plate. Go for the buttermilk fried chicken with collard greens or the creamy shrimp and grits, both packed with flavor and history. The mac and cheese is outrageously good, and yes, dessert deserves a second round.

Attraction: Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

Calling all modern art fans: the Hirshhorn is your visual playground. Inside, it’s bold, brash, and brain-bending. Outside? A circular fortress surrounded by a sculpture garden that dares you not to Instagram. It’s DC’s coolest clash of avant-garde energy and concrete chic.

Nearest stop: L’Enfant Plaza & International Spy Museum

Highlights:

• Wander through immersive exhibitions from heavyweights like Barbara Kruger and Mark Bradford.
• Step inside Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms—it's like falling into a kaleidoscope.
• The Sculpture Garden boasts big names (The Burghers of Calais) in a refreshingly low-key space.

Pro tip: Don't skip the lower level, as some of the most daring installations hide down there, including sound and video works

Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours

Time to next stop: Hop on for a 25-minute ride on the Washington Big Bus tours to the next stop.

Evening (4pm - 7pm)

Attraction: Renwick Gallery

Think of the Renwick as the cool, artsy cousin in the Smithsonian family—always full of surprises. This gallery champions American craft and contemporary design in bold, whimsical ways. If you're an art lover with a thing for the unconventional, this place will steal your heart (and maybe your weekend plans).

Nearest stop: The White House & Willard Hotel

Highlights:

• "Art happens here" isn’t just a slogan—the rotating exhibits turn everyday objects into jaw-dropping installations.
• Giant nets, swirling glass, floors you walk on as art, and yes, this place goes big on sensory and scale.
• The building itself is a beauty—historic bones outside, wild creativity pulsing through the halls inside.

Pro tip: Check out the “No Spectators” archive online beforehand, as it gives great context to Renwick’s immersive art vibe.

Suggested time to spend: 1 hour

Time to next stop: Dinner is a 20-minute walk from here.

Late Night (8pm – 12am)

Dinner: Dinner at Blue Duck Tavern is like if a farmers’ market put on a tux and started quoting Alice Waters. The open kitchen churns out seasonal American dishes that are both refined and deeply comforting. Top picks? The wood-oven roasted duck, hand-cut fries that deserve their own fan club, and the apple pie with that unforgettable caramel crust.

Morning (7am - 11am)

Breakfast: Start your morning at Tryst with a giant mug of coffee, a comfy couch, and some serious breakfast envy. Go for the Everything Bagel Sammie, the Belgian waffles with fruit and whipped cream, or their famed avocado toast with a soft-boiled egg. 

Attraction: Phillips Collection

America’s first modern art museum lives in a Dupont Circle mansion, and yes, it’s just as charming as it sounds. The Phillips Collection is an intimate, walkable museum that punches way above its size, serving up Renoir, Rothko, and unexpected emotional gut-punches. 

Nearest stop: Union Station

Highlights:

• Renoir’s Luncheon of the Boating Party is the museum’s celebrity moment—crowd favorite, and still somehow underrated.
• Housed in the Phillips family’s 19th-century home, the layout feels less like a museum and more like discovering art in someone’s living room.
• Rotating exhibitions often spotlight underrepresented artists, experimental formats, and bold political themes.

Pro tip: Look out for their Sunday Concerts series—live chamber music surrounded by world-class art–it’s a vibe.

Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours

Time to next stop: It's a short 15-minute bus trip to your next destination.

Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)

Lunch: Come hungry, leave with a Southern accent. Art and Soul nails upscale comfort food without getting too fussy. Start with the deviled eggs, then go big with the fried chicken and mac or the shrimp. The ambiance walks the line between sleek and soulful, with plush booths, modern art, and warm hospitality.

Attraction: National Museum of Women in the Arts

If your idea of a perfect day includes smashing the patriarchy and admiring masterful brushwork, this is your museum. The National Museum of Women in the Arts is the only major museum in the world solely dedicated to championing women artists—and it does so with style, substance, and some truly jaw-dropping work spanning centuries.

Nearest stop: City Center & Chinatown

Highlights:

• From Renaissance painters to contemporary provocateurs, the permanent collection rewrites the canon through a woman’s lens.
• Temporary exhibitions dive deep—expect bold themes, rich storytelling, and underrepresented global voices.
• Their grand building, a former Masonic Temple, features gilded ceilings, sweeping staircases, and galleries full of surprises.

Pro tip: The museum’s library isn’t just for show. It’s a hidden gem for rare books and feminist archives, open to the public by appointment.

Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours

Time to next stop: 10 minutes on the bus, then you're there.

Evening (4pm - 7pm)

Attraction: National Portrait Gallery

Come for George Washington’s steely stare, stay for Beyoncé in all her glory. The National Portrait Gallery isn’t just a stroll through history—it’s a bold, ever-evolving snapshot of American identity. From presidents to poets, icons to outlaws, every face here has a story, and the art styles are as varied as the people portrayed.

Nearest stop: City Center & Chinatown

Highlights:

• The American Presidents gallery features official and unconventional takes, from classic oil paintings to Kehinde Wiley’s iconic Obama portrait.
• Explore “Contemporary Americans,” where activists, artists, and trailblazers are captured in striking, often surprising mediums.
• Don’t skip “Outwin Portraiture Prize” exhibitions—this juried show brings emerging talent and boundary-pushing work to the forefront.

Pro tip: Visit after 5pm on select days for live music, sketch nights, and slow-looking tours—art after hours, no stuffy vibes.

Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours

Time to next stop: Walk for a minute and you arrive at your dinner destination.

Late Night (8pm – 12am)

Dinner: Dinner at Zaytinya is like getting a golden ticket to the Eastern Med—only the ticket is edible and possibly covered in labneh. José Andrés’ mezze-style masterpiece serves up airy pita, tangy tzatziki, seared halloumi, and show-stealing lamb kleftiko in a stylish space. It’s vibrant, social, and perfect for sharing plates and stories.

Morning (7am - 11am)

Breakfast: Start your morning at Lincoln’s Waffle Shop—this no-frills diner sits right across from Ford’s Theatre. Go for the crispy fried chicken and waffles combo, or keep it classic with a buttery stack of pancakes and scrambled eggs. 

Attraction: Ford's Theatre

Stand where history quite literally happened. Ford’s Theatre isn’t just where Lincoln was shot—it’s where American memory was marked. With a museum, the historic theater, and the Petersen House across the street, this is one immersive, emotional deep dive every history lover needs to experience.

Nearest stop: City Center & Chinatown

Highlights:

• View the Presidential Box where Lincoln was sitting the night of the assassination—eerily intact, hauntingly quiet.
• Wander through exhibits tracing Lincoln’s leadership and final hours, plus artifacts like the actual murder weapon.
• Cross the street to the Petersen House, where Lincoln spent his final hours, and the aftermath truly hits home.

Pro tip: If you're short on time, hit the museum before the Petersen House—it’s denser, and the context helps everything land harder.

Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours

Time to next stop: Just 20 minutes away by DC hop-on hop-off bus to your next stop

Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)

Lunch: Dining at Old Ebbitt Grill feels like grabbing lunch with the ghosts of presidents past—and they’d probably order the oyster platter. The place is known for its crab cakes, juicy burgers, and velvet-soft clam chowder. The polished mahogany, brass railings, and historical portraits seal the classic power-lunch vibes.

Attraction: National Archives Museum

This is where the receipts of American democracy are stored. For any history lover, seeing the actual Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights in person is goosebump-inducing stuff. It’s like the American origin story in archival form—with all the faded ink and drama intact.

Nearest stop: Air & Space Museum

Highlights:

• Gaze upon the real-deal founding documents in the Rotunda—yes, the parchment kind from your high school textbook.
• Dive into the Public Vaults, where letters, maps, and photos offer a raw peek into everyday life across American history.
• Check out Records of Rights, a powerful exhibit linking historic documents to ongoing struggles for equality.

Pro tip: Look out for rotating exhibits on topics like wartime propaganda or presidential decision-making—they’re small but mighty.

Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours

Time to next stop: 15-minute bus ride to your next attraction.

Evening (4pm - 7pm)

Attraction: US Capitol

The US Capitol isn’t just where laws are made; it’s where history is constantly being written, sometimes loudly and with dramatic filibusters. Geek out over the symbolism, stories, and sheer gravitas packed into every fresco, corridor, and chamber. 

Nearest stop: US Capitol at Garfield Circle

Highlights:

• The Capitol Rotunda is a jaw-dropper with soaring ceilings and murals that chronicle everything from Columbus to Lincoln’s funeral.
• The National Statuary Hall feels like a political wax museum, except the statues are real, and they all have a backstory.
• The Visitor Center is surprisingly cool, with interactive displays on how a bill actually becomes law.

Pro tip: Ask your rep or senator’s office for a staff-led tour—it’s more detailed and can get you into areas regular tours skip.

Suggested time to spend: 2 hours

Time to next stop: Take a 10-minute walk to dinner.

Late night (8pm – 12am)

Dinner: End the day with steaks and whispers of scandal at The Monocle, DC’s oldest political steakhouse, just steps from the Capitol. Their signature filet mignon is a safe bet, but the crab imperial and bourbon-glazed salmon are worth lobbying for. The vibe? Think mahogany booths, dim lighting, and the smell of negotiation in the air.

Morning (7am - 11am)

Breakfast: A Baked Joint is a full-on, laid-back café-meets-bakery vibe. Try their OG biscuit sandwich, “The Beast” with egg, bacon & cheddar, or one of their cult-favorite “cruffins.” Pair it with a killer cortado or house-made tea. 

Attraction: Library of Congress

The Library of Congress isn’t just a library—it’s a living archive of the nation’s story, with jaw-dropping architecture that feels more like a palace than a reading room. Come for the books, stay for the awe.

Nearest stop: US Capitol at Garfield Circle

Highlights:

• Peek into Thomas Jefferson’s personal library—yes, the real one—donated after the British torched the Capitol in 1814.
• The Main Reading Room looks like it was built for ancient knowledge and dramatic film scenes and it kind of was.
• Exhibits rotate rare finds: think Lincoln’s papers, Gutenberg Bibles, and treasures from pop culture to politics.

Pro tip: Check out the Gershwin Room, it’s got music history gold if you’re into jazz, swing, or Grammy gossip.

Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours

Time to next stop: Your next highlight is 20 minutes away by bus.

Afternoon (12pm - 3pm)

Lunch: Skip the usual museum cafeteria fare—Mitsitam Native Foods Café inside the National Museum of the American Indian dishes up indigenous cuisine that actually slaps. Try the cedar-planked salmon, bison chili, or fry bread tacos–yes, they're as good as they sound.

Attraction: Smithsonian American History Museum

This museum unpacks U.S. history through the objects that shaped it—like Lincoln’s top hat, the original Star-Spangled Banner, and Dorothy’s ruby slippers. You’ll find everything from presidential artifacts to quirky pop culture relics, all telling the messy, brilliant story of America.

Nearest stop: Washington Monument West/East

Highlights:

• Gawk at the actual Star-Spangled Banner that inspired the anthem—faded, fragile, and full of stories.
• Peek at Lincoln’s top hat, Dorothy’s ruby slippers, and even George Washington’s uniform—yes, it’s all real.
• Explore how America moved—planes, trains, automobiles, and one awkwardly amazing 1950s kitchen setup.

Pro tip: Don't miss the "American Democracy" exhibit, as it’s packed with protest signs, campaign swag, and a voting machine or two.

Suggested time to spend: 2 hours

Time to next stop: Hop back on DC Big Bus—20 minutes to go.. 

Evening (4pm - 7pm)

Attraction: Arlington National Cemetery

This cemetery is 639 acres of American history carved in white marble. From Civil War soldiers to astronauts, the nation’s heroes rest here. You will find powerful symbolism in every detail, from the eternal flame to the precision of the Changing of the Guard.

Nearest stop: Arlington Cemetery

Highlights:

• The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is guarded 24/7, even during hurricanes—watch the exacting ritual of the guard change every hour on the hour.
• JFK’s grave isn't just symbolic—the eternal flame was Jacqueline Kennedy’s idea, first lit with a cigarette lighter during the funeral.
• The Memorial Amphitheater hosts national ceremonies; look for inscriptions that trace how America remembers war across centuries.

Pro tip: Take a guided tour and ask about the Women in Military Service Memorial. It’s often overlooked but incredibly impactful.

Suggested time to spend: 1.5 hours

Time to next stop: A 20-minute walk takes you straight to dinner.

Late night (8pm – 12am)

Dinner: Whether you’ve walked 10,000 steps or 20, Ruth’s Chris Steak House is the dinner you reward yourself with. Go for the sizzling filet mignon, or level up with the bone-in cowboy ribeye. The sweet potato casserole is a small, sugary miracle. The mood? Classic, clubby, and full of post-hill staffers debriefing over martinis.