Why visit
Washington, DC is the Smithsonian's 17 free museums, the Mall's monuments, Capitol Hill, and the White House. Walk the Mall once end-to-end to see what you want to return to.
How to use this result
Use it as a capital-city prompt
Washington, DC is useful when you want a city-level starting point in United States. Check whether the capital is the best arrival city, a practical transfer point, or mainly a geography and planning reference.
Check practical trip fit
Before planning around Washington, DC, compare airport access, local transport, time zone, neighborhood choices, weather, safety guidance, and whether another city in United States better matches the trip style.
Washington, DC at a glance
City population
670k
Metro: 6.4 million
Elevation
125 m
410 ft
Time zone
UTC-5 (UTC-4 DST)
America/New_York
Airport
DCA
Reagan National (also IAD, BWI)
Founded
1790
Getting around
Metro (6 lines), buses, Capital Bikeshare
Signature dish
Half-smoke, blue crab, Ethiopian injera (U Street corridor)
Neighborhoods for travelers
National MallGeorgetownDupont CircleU StreetCapitol Hill
United States at a glance
Country center
38.0°, -97.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
9,372,610 km²
3,618,783 mi²
Country population
334.9 million
36/km²
Subregion
North America
Currency
United States dollar ($)
USD
Dial
+1201
Language
English
Demonym
American
Internet
.us
UN
Member state
ISO code
US / USA
Where in the world
38.0° - -97.0°
United States
Open in Google Maps
Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world - CC BY 4.0
Did you know
- The National Mall is technically the world's largest "park" of its specific kind.
- No building in DC can be taller than 40 m (roughly 13 stories).
- DC is its own federal district: residents pay taxes but had no congressional representation until 1973.
- The US has no official national language: English is de facto but not de jure.
- Alaska was bought from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million (~2 cents per acre at the time).
Bordering United States
Traveler notes
- All Smithsonian museums are free
- Cherry blossoms late-March to early-April
- Metro covers most of the city + suburbs
Plan checks
- Choose a neighborhood first: many capitals have tourist centers that are not the best places to stay.
- Public transport passes usually beat taxis and rideshares for multi-day visits.
- Check opening days. Major sites close on Mondays or Tuesdays in many countries.
Explore more
Facts last reviewed June 2026 against GeoNames and national statistics sources. See the editorial policy for how destination data is maintained.
Frequently asked about Washington, DC
What currency is used in Washington, DC?
Washington, DC uses the United States dollar ($), ISO code USD.
What languages are spoken in United States?
The primary language is English.
What is the international calling code for United States?
The calling code is +1201.
What airport serves Washington, DC?
Reagan National (also IAD, BWI) (IATA: DCA).
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