What to do in Washington, D.C. for a few days?

To the point What to do in Washington, DC: presentation of its must-sees, and my suggestions of activities, hotels and favorites.

A sweet spot of Aeroplan

What to see in Washington? Recommended activities My suggestions

Where to sleep in Washington? How to get around? Washington Cherry Blossom Festival Foreign exchange fees Bottom Line

Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States and is located on the banks of the Potomac River. The city is characterized by its imposing historical monuments and buildings and the spectacular cherry blossoms in early April.

The political center the United States is about an hour and 40 minutes by plane from Montreal, and offers an incursion into American history and politics for a few days.

A sweet spot of Aeroplan

Travel to Washington, D.C., using Aeroplan points will be based on the North America Reward Chart.

From Montreal (YUL) to Washington-Reagan (DCA) – which I recommend, as you’ll be closer to the city and save valuable travel time – Aeroplan points award tickets are around 11,200 points for round-trip standard economy with preferred fare for late March through early April 2023.

Expect a higher number of points during peak periods such as the cherry blossom season (April).

And you could get free Aeroplan points with the TD^MD Aeroplan^MD Visa Infinite Card, which has the following caractéristiques :

With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you can earn up to 55,000 Aeroplan points and a first-year annual fee rebate:

A welcome bonus of 10,000 Aeroplan points when you make your first purchase with your new card^†
30,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $5,000 within 180 days of Account opening^†
15,000 Aeroplan points when you spend $7,500 within 12 months of Account opening^†
Plus, get an annual fee rebate for the first year (instead of $139)^†
Annual fee rebate for the first year for up to 3 additional cardholders (instead of $75 per additional card)^†
$100 NEXUS fee rebate^†
Up to eight passengers travelling on the same reservation will all enjoy their first checked bag free (up to 23kg/50lb) when your travel originates on an Air Canada flight^†

It’s the best TD credit card for occasional Air Canada travellers.

With the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card, you earn 1.5 points^† per dollar of eligible purchases for:

Grocery stores
Gas stations
Air Canada purchases, including Air Canada Vacations

Tip: For the best view of the Washington Monument (obelisk), Lincoln Memorial and National Mall upon landing, be sure to select a seat on the left side of the aircraft.

What to see in Washington?

There are obviously some must-sees in Washington that can be visited very well on foot:

the White House,
the Lincoln Memorial,
the National Mall,
the Washington Monument
and the many memorial parks and museums located around the National Mall.

La Maison Blanche – Washington DC Crédit Emmanuelle21

Lincoln Memorial – Washington DC Crédit Emmanuelle

Lincoln Memorial – Washington DC Crédit Emmanuelle19

At the end of the latter, the Capitol is obviously a must from where you will have a magnificent panorama. You should also visit in the evening, especially the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol, when the lighting enhances the imposing and even dramatic aspect of these buildings.

Capitol – Washington DC Crédit Emmanuelle17

Capitol – Washington DC Crédit Emmanuelle18

Recommended activities

My suggestions

I walked to all of the places mentioned above on my first day of touring and chose, with a colleague who accompanied me, to visit the Holocaust Museum.

I was not disappointed: the place is very well laid out, presents the chronology of events in a sensitive and touching way, but you have to expect to come out shaken and even upset. The range of museums of all kinds in Washington is so incredible that you could spend an entire week there and still not have done it all.

Holocaust Memorial Museum – Washington DC Crédit Emmanuelle23

Washington, D.C. has no less than 22 museums on the National Mall alone and 15 memorials, gardens and monuments. Here are some of them:

Since I had little time to visit Washington, I opted for the Hop on Hop off bus tour which offers two routes:

the red line showing the main sites in the heart of Washington,
the blue line running outward to the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery.

I had time to do both routes, although the blue line is less interesting in my opinion. This type of ticket allows you to get off at any stop, visit, and board and continue the route. Very convenient for a quick tour of Washington.

Where to sleep in Washington?

During my stay, I was able to try the Moxy Washington, DC Downtown Marriott and here is my feedback:

To earn Marriott Bonvoy points for staying at any of the hotels in the U.S. capital, here are the best credit cards:

How to get around?

Washington, D.C. is well served by public transportation. The subway network is composed of 6 lines and 97 stations. The bus lines are also numerous: you don’t need a car to get around the city.

Transportation passes are also very convenient. At all metro stations, you can buy a SmarTrip card for 1, 3 or 7 days (US$13, US$28, US$58). This gives you unlimited access to all public transportation. There is also a mobile app to use a virtual card with Apple Wallet or Google Play.

Washington Cherry Blossom Festival

Visiting Washington during the cherry blossom season is a magical experience. They are mainly found around the Tidal Basin and on the National Mall. Head to the Jefferson Memorial for a great view of the cherry trees with the Washington Monument in the distance.

The peak bloom is variable and the date changes every year. This event is always in early spring, around late March/early April. The U.S. National Park Service makes its forecast and publishes the expected date about a month in advance.

You can even watch the live condition of the cherry trees from cameras installed around the Tidal Basin.

Several activities and events are organized. Every year there is an opening ceremony, a parade, a kite festival and even a fireworks show.

Please note that the price of accommodations skyrockets during this period. So this is a great opportunity to get more value for your Marriott Bonvoy points. For example, the Courtyard Washington DC/U.S. Capitol is $474 per night or 30,000 points. That’s a valuation of 1.6¢ per point, well above Milesopedia’s average valuation of 0.9¢.

Foreign exchange fees

In the U.S., use one of these three no-FX-fee credit card to avoid paying a 2.5% fee!

Bottom Line

Washington, D.C. is a great place to visit in a few days, and there are plenty of museums, parks and historic buildings for everyone to enjoy.

There are obviously a lot of tourists in summer (I visited in August) and during the cherry blossom season. Finally, Washington is a great option when using Aeroplan points and Marriott points.