About Washington DC

Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States of America and the seat of its three branches of government, has an unparalleled collection of free, public museums, and the lion's share of the nation's most treasured monuments and memorials. The vistas on the National Mall between the Capitol, Washington Monument, White House, and Lincoln Memorial are iconic throughout the world. D.C. is not only a political center; it is exciting, cosmopolitan, and international and has shopping, dining, and nightlife on par with a world-class metropolis.

Source: Wikipedia

Essential Information

Currency

United States dollar (USD)

Symbol: $

Language

English

Phone Code

+1201

International dialing code for United States

Driving

Drive on the right

Standard for United States

Region

Americas

North America

Connectivity

The D.C. government operates a network of free,public WiFi hotspotsacross the city. Free WiFi is also available at metro stations,D.C. public libraries, and many local coffee shops, which are also nice places to relax. If you need to use a computer, the libraries have public computer terminals. As in most of the U.S., Internet cafes are a rare phenomenon.

How to Get to Washington DC

Transportation options and arrival information

Washington, D.C. (WASIATAforall airports) is served by three major airports. All three airports offer unlimited free Wi-Fi.

Getting Around Washington DC

Local transportation and navigation tips

Be prepared to walk until your feet hurt!It's no surprise that D.C. has been cited as the fittest city in the country; residents and visitors get a lot of exercise simply getting around the city! Even if you plan on taking public transportation or driving, you will often find yourself walking or biking for a large portion of the day. Most of the city's attractions, such as the museums and monuments along the National Mall, are located near each other, which makes driving or taking Metrorail betw

Safety in Washington DC

Moderate Safety (Global Peace Index: 2.44)

About the Global Peace Index: Global Peace Index measures peacefulness on a scale of 1 (most peaceful) to 5 (least peaceful)

Metropolitan DC Police Departmentpresence in the city is predictably very heavy, especially in tourist areas and near government buildings. But they are only one of thedozensof law enforcement agencies operating in the city; in addition to MPD, the Capitol, Parks, and even the Metro have their own, independent forces (not to mention plenty of the Federal ones). In general, the often-traveled areas, such as the area around Smithsonian, the monuments, and the Kennedy Center, are safe to walk aroun

Source: Institute for Economics & Peace (2022)

Where to Stay in Washington DC

Accommodation tips and recommendations

Hotels of all classes and price ranges can be found in many neighborhoods of D.C., as well as in the nearby suburbs. If you are coming by car, be sure to factor the cost of parking, which can be free in hotels outside the city limits but can cost over $35 per day in hotels in the downtown area. The hotel tax in D.C. is 15.95%, while the tax is 14.25% in the nearby suburb ofArlington, 13.00% inBethesdaandReston, and 12.00% inTysons Cornerand most ofHerndon. Hotels in the D.C. area are generally m