Washington DC has always been a popular tourist destination as the epicenter of the American government. It had been my dream to see the popular cherry blossoms in bloom, and thankfully we timed it just right the year we visited. My two requirements when we visited during the spring were to stay in Georgetown to easily see the blooms, visit the hidden gem Dumbarton Oaks, and of course, have a sunrise visit to the Tidal Basin. There are so many other wonderful and even free things to do in Washington DC, but if you’re visiting in the spring keep reading for the perfect Washington DC trip itinerary to see the blossoms!

3 Day Washington DC Trip Itinerary

Day 1: See Georgetown, Dumbarton Oaks, and the Library

Eat at one of the many iconic Georgetown spots

During cherry blossom season, reservations are a must to dine without a wait. Some of the best restaurants in Georgetown are Farmers Fishers Bakers, Brasserie Liberte, the Italian landmark Filomena Ristorante, and Martin’s Tavern. This tavern is iconic because the rumor is JFK proposed to Jackie here. You can find other great restaurants along Wisconsin Avenue and M Street which are some of the main streets through Georgetown.

I have also heard JFK proposed to Jackie at the Omni Parker House in Boston. We had an anniversary dinner there one year and our waiter said we sat at the same corner table they had!

Make reservations at Dumbarton Oaks

If you love to escape to magical places, you’ll definitely want to make reservations at Dumbarton Oaks. Not only is it a perfect oasis from the city, but you can find cherry blossoms here. Later in the spring, you can also find crabapple trees in bloom and an entire courtyard of wisteria. Sadly, cherry blossoms and wisteria do not bloom at the same time and it won’t likely be in bloom when you visit during DC’s cherry blossom season.

If you want to visit the museum you will need a separate ticket for the museum and garden. You can easily walk around the gardens within an hour or two, so depending on how much time you want to spend here you could have time for the museum. This was one of my favorite spots in DC, and I would highly recommend a visit!

If you’re looking for other perfect weekend destinations, this is the most magical island I’ve visited, and this location consistently ranks as a top destination in the USA!

Don’t miss Georgetown’s Instagrammable locations

The most magical courtyard is Cote Jardin Antiques. Take a walk around this neighborhood and stop at the Call Your Mother Deli, the vibrant pink corner spot serving the most delicious sandwiches. Don’t miss the famous Wave Wall just down the street too.

The BEST cupcake in Georgetown

Even though Georgetown Cupcake is the most popular, you will always be met with a line at Baked and Wired because it is just as good if not better! In my opinion, this newer bakery has the most delicious cupcakes and would have my vote. They also have delicious breakfast choices and coffee to go!

Visit the Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is one of my favorites and one of the most beautiful places to visit in Washington DC. Even though the library is located near the National Mall, it might be too much to squeeze it into a different day depending on your travel times. You can easily catch a taxi from Georgetown to the Mall. Make sure to check out their website for same-day and advanced tickets. As with all the Washington DC Museums, the library is completely free to visit!

Visiting Washington DC during Cherry Blossom season

When planning a weekend trip, since you won’t have all the time in the world, plan your itinerary around places you have to visit versus ‘it would be nice’ to visit. There are TONS of museums and things to see, but if you’re primarily visiting to see the cherry blossoms focus your DC itinerary near Georgetown and around the National Mall cherry blossom locations.

When’s the best time to visit Washington DC?

The best time to visit Washington DC is the spring when the cherry blossoms bloom. Because of its location in the USA Washington DC experiences all seasons. It can become hot in the summer and cold and snow in the winter making the weather in the spring perfect for visiting. The weather is also mild in the spring which is perfect for walking and exploring the city.

If you want to plan a Washington DC trip itinerary during the spring season to witness the cherry blossoms in bloom, you need to plan early. The DC Tourism Board predicts peak bloom each year and will announce its predictions a few months before. Since this is a popular time to visit DC, avoid waiting for those predictions to start planning your trip. When my husband and I visited we planned a year in advance. I’m not saying this is necessary, but if you want to avoid paying premium hotel prices or finding an ideal location close to the city you will want to book much earlier than you think.

What is the best time to see Cherry Blossoms in DC?

The best time to see cherry blossoms in DC is the end of March to early April. The exact timing changes based on yearly weather patterns and current weather conditions. The DC Tourism Board does predict this exact timing each year but doesn’t release its predictions until a few months before.

How long will Cherry Blossoms last in DC?

The cherry blossoms in DC generally last a few weeks, sometimes even less based on weather conditions. It can still be cold in Washington DC throughout March into April, which also affects the blooms. The year we visited we just missed peak bloom by a few days. We also experienced strong winds that started blowing the blooms off the trees so because of this saw fewer blooms than we anticipated.

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Where to Stay in Washington DC

When planning your Washington DC trip itinerary, I recommend staying in Georgetown or closer to downtown and the National Mall. DuPont Circle is also one of the best areas to stay in Washington DC, however, it can be quite expensive and has fewer options for public transportation.

The Hamilton Hotel $$-$$$: This is one of the most beautiful hotels in Washington DC and would be the perfect location for a long weekend. This location is downtown and in the heart of the city center. It will be more expensive to stay downtown, but if you’re only staying three days it would make a very convenient location to make sure you can complete the entire Washington DC trip itinerary below!

Georgetown House Inn $$: This Inn feels more like an Airbnb than a hotel, but has an excellent location in Georgetown and is reasonably priced. My husband and I had a wonderful stay here when we visited.

Georgetown Inn $$$: This hotel is also in a great location right off Wisconsin Ave and offers a 24-hour concierge, a restaurant, and a fitness center. This location is close to high-end shops and restaurants. This hotel would be perfect for families.

The St Gregory Hotel Dupont Circle Georgetown $$-$$$: This is one of the best hotels in DuPont Circle if you’re looking to stay in that area. You can also use this guide for additional hotel recommendations. This four-star hotel is ‘cosmopolitan sophistication’ at its finest. This location in DuPont Circle is close to both the DuPont Circle and Foggy Bottom metro stations. This hotel offers live entertainment including jazz night and comedy shows.

The DuPont Circle Hotel $$-$$$: The Mall is less than two miles from this location and the DuPont Circle metro station is just steps away. Don’t miss their bar that serves cocktails inspired from the 1950 and 1960 eras.

Normandy Hotel Dupont Circle $$: This is another great location in DuPont Circle. The Smithsonian National Zoo Park is only a mile from this location, making this one of the best places to stay for families in Washington DC.

Day 2: Roam the National Mall and museums

Don’t miss the Lincoln Memorial

One of the best things to do in Washington DC is taking a walk around the National Mall. There are multiple memorials around the Mall, but don’t miss the beautiful Lincoln Memorial. You can head to the Tidal Basin after this, but it will be quite crowded if you’re visiting during the day during cherry blossom season in DC.

Visit a Washington DC Museum

Which Smithsonian Museum should I visit?

Washington DC has more than 70 museums and 17 Smithsonian museums that are all completely free to visit. When planning your Washington DC trip itinerary, you won’t have much time to see them all. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you decide. There are lots of blog posts delving into the specifics of each museum, but my advice would be to do your own research to decide which one you would be most interested in.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

Since my husband and I have already visited many Smithsonian museums, we wanted to visit the newest one, the National Museum of African American History and Culture. This museum was designed by a well-known architect and is quite beautiful. It even made CN Traveler’s top ten museums in DC! This museum didn’t disappoint, and also has a wonderful restaurant on site serving the most delicious Southern, comfort food.

Best Places to Eat near the National Mall

Here’s another pro tip for you! Many of the museums have cafes or restaurants since there are few restaurants near the Mall. There are of course food trucks that will serve touristy and fast food trucks. As I mentioned above the African American museum served the best food. We enjoyed fried chicken and macaroni and cheese. If you’re going to be museum hopping, stopping at one of their restaurants on-site will be the perfect idea for a meal and a break for those tired feet!

Day 3: Spend Sunrise at the Tidal Basin

Where is the best place to view the cherry blossoms in Washington, DC?

The best place to view the cherry blossoms in Washington DC is at the Tidal Basin. This is also the most popular place to view the cherry blossoms and will be crowded during the day.

Spend an early morning at the Tidal Basin

Watching the sunrise from the Tidal Basin should be included in your Washington DC trip itinerary. As mentioned before, the best place to view the cherry blossoms in Washington DC is the Tidal Basin. Visiting at sunrise affords you beautiful views without the crowds. The backdrop with the incredible sunrise hues also makes for the perfect photo opportunity.

Spend some time at the Gardens

One of the most beautiful Smithsonian Gardens in Washington DC is the Enid A Haupt Garden. We had time to visit this garden as well as time to walk around the Botanical Gardens. Another reason to visit the Botanical Gardens is that it has great views of the Capitol! You can spend as long as you like here but don’t need too much time; we snuck this in before heading to the airport!

Is Washington DC worth visiting?

Washington DC is worth visiting, especially in the spring season with the cherry blossoms in bloom. Spring is the best time to visit Washington DC, as the weather is mild and perfect for walking around and exploring.

If you’re looking for other best places to visit in the USA in April check out New England. Boston also has beautiful cherry blossoms and Newport, Rhode Island offers incredible daffodil blooms.

How to get around DC: Tips for using public transport

The best way to get around DC is walking or by uber. Even though DC is a large city, I will be honest the DC metro isn’t fabulous. DC calculates Metro rides based on distance, so your trip could cost more or less depending on your distance. Uber is another great option if you’re not bringing a car.

Planning a Washington itinerary 5 days?

If you’re planning an itinerary for 5 days in Washington DC, I would highly recommend you explore a few more of the museums as well as try to book in to visit the White House! Keep reading for how to book your visit, keep in mind you will need some time to plan this!

Is the White House open to the public?

The White House is open to the public but only with approval from the Congressional Office for American citizens and embassy approval for citizens from a foreign country.

What are the best day trips from Washington DC?

Some of the best day trips from Washington DC include a Gettysburg day trip, visiting Mt Vernon, and Old Town Alexandria.

What’s the best thing to do on a Washington DC trip with kids?

The best thing to do in Washington DC with kids is to visit some the family-friendly museums. The National History Museum has an exhibit dedicated to dinosaurs and dinosaur fossils, make sure to find the Hall of Fossils. If your kids love space, then visit the National Air and Space Museum. You can find Neil Armstrong’s moon suit dusted with moon dust and the craft he flew in the Destination Moon! This museum also has exhibits ‘Exploring the Planet’ and ‘Nation of Speed’ with plenty of wonderful hands-on activities. Both of these museums are wonderful for children of multiple ages.

How far is a Washington DC trip from NYC?

If you’re wondering how far is a Washington DC trip from NYC it is around four hours by car depending on traffic. If you’re wondering if you can take a Washington DC day trip from NYC it definitely is possible! Here’s a highly rated tour that departs and returns to NYC and explores some of the best things to do in Washington DC!

Planning a trip to Washington DC on a budget?

You can visit Washington DC on a budget and the best ways to do so are to decide which free museums you would like to visit and find a budget friendly accommodation. You’ll also want to avoid visiting during cherry blossom season, summer, or the holidays as these are the most expensive times to visit Washington DC.