If you’re visiting the United States for the first time, you might skip Washington DC in favor for the big spots like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and New York. But it’s a surprisingly budget-friendly American destination, as I recently found out on my #Tweet2Toronto journey.
I hardly spent any money on my trip, apart from train tickets and meals. Be aware that it is sweltering in the summer months (bring a water bottle to fill up at public fountains!) and snows in the winter, so fall is probably the best, and most scenic, time to visit. For more free and cheap things to do in Washington DC, see the 100 Free (& Almost Free) Things to Do in Washington DC.
The Free Things to Do in Washington DC
Museums
Washington DC’s museums are easily its greatest resource. The large majority of them are free and located around the National Mall. While there will be long lines at the Air and Space Museum, the U.S. Holocaust Museum and the Spy Museum, this gives you the chance to check out lesser-known museums like the fascinating National Museum of the American Indian, as well as my favorite art museums, the Hirschorn Museum and Sculpture Gallery, the National Gallery of Art, and the National Portrait Gallery and Art Museum.
Attractions
The biggest name attractions are also free, but it wouldn’t be Washington without some red tape. Tours of the White House are free, but you must submit a request to your Congressman at least 21 days in advance. They are currently cancelled as of March 2013 for an indefinite period. Tours of the US Capitol are also free, but must be booked in advance.
If you’re visiting the memorials, I recommend doing so at night when it’s less crowded and when they’re all lit up. Be sure to stop by the memorials for Iwo Jima, the Korean War, Vietnam Veterans, Lincoln, Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr., Franklin D. Roosevelt, World War II, and the Washington Monument, which is currently under renovation.
The Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center offers free concerts by well-known musicians.
The Outdoors
Pack a picnic or grab a bite from one of the many street vendors to bring to Washington DC’s many parks. I spent a lazy afternoon people watching with a friend in DuPont Circle, reading a book on the National Mall and even more people watching in Lafayette Park, right across from the White House.
A good walk is also a free way to get to know the city. I recommend the walk from Ben’s Chili Bowl to DuPont Circle via Embassy Row.
The Cheap Things to Do in Washington DC
Transportation
Since I have now arrived to Washington DC by all methods of transport, bus, plane and car, I can tell you that you should not drive in the city with some of the worst traffic in the country. If you must, park and leave your car while you use the Metro or rent a bike.
Metro fare is about $3 per ride, so purchase a SmarTrip card or one-day pass for $14. Capital Bikeshare has spots all over the city, much like Bixi in Montreal and DecoBike in Miami, and starts at $7 per day.
Accommodation
Accommodation in Washington DC is what can quickly deplete your budget, so try to stay with friends or use services like CouchSurfing or AirBnB. On my most recent trip, I stayed at the Capital View Hostel and thought it was a fantastic location for seeing the city. Check out other options for cheap sleeps in Washington DC on Hostelworld.
Eating and Drinking
I wasn’t in DC long enough to sample the many great restaurants, but I did get to visit the famous Ben’s Chili Bowl, where $6 will get you the famous “half smoke” chili dog. Chinatown is also known for cheap restaurants, as are other ethnic neighborhoods like Little Ethiopia and Koreatown.
See Twenty-Something Travel’s How to Eat Like a Local in DC.
Tours and Activities
There always seems to be some sort of event or festival in town, so grab a local newspaper to find out what’s going on. And while I am a Braves fan to the core, attending a Washington Nationals game is a free and cheap way to enjoy the city. Tickets start at $10 and be sure to go on $1 hot dog night. For local experiences in Washington DC’s neighborhoods, check out Urban Adventures tours or experiences through Viator.
DC is incredibly “walkable” if you take the time to plan out your course of action. Getting off at a strategic metro stop will let you walk the entire National Mall from Capitol to Lincoln Memorial, hitting a good portion of the Smithsonian museums and the National Archives along the way.
Also, if going to the Zoo (FREE!), get off at Cleveland Park instead of Woodley Park- Zoo. They are equidistant from the Zoo, but CP is a downhill walk so you aren’t exhausted before you get there.
man, dc was awesome. i agree that the free museums were pretty amazing – i think we spent a full day on the mall and went through a ton of the smithsonians (the flight museum and the american history were my two faves). i also liked looking at the monuments at night. they are lit at night, which made for some great photos, and there are hardly any crowds except at the lincoln memorial. thanks for the great ideas!
You can sightsee for free and get a good exercise as you walk around to see the many memorials of DC such as the Washington monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam Memorial. Most of the monuments are within a short walk of each other and are near the reflecting pool of the Mall.