Jun 10, 2024
8 min read
The Best Neighborhoods to Visit in Washington D.C.
Welcome to Washington D.C.! Whether it's your first time visiting or you teach 8th grade and this is your 10th annual trip, there are endless exciting sights to see. From hipster college hangouts to the best museums in the country and the history oozing from every road, D.C. won't disappoint. There's a lot of information on where to go and what to see, so we've pulled together the latest and greatest on Washington D.C.'s best neighborhoods from the travel mavens we all know and trust.
14th & U Street Corridors
This is an upscale area home to businesses and great shopping.
"Known during the Jazz Age as America's 'Black Broadway', the neighborhood around U Street became an African American cultural powerhouse during the 1920s and '30s. Poet Langston Hughes and jazz great Duke Ellington matured here. Along with Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole and Redd Fo, they made 'You' Street world-famous." -
Time Out"...this bustling stretch of hospitality-packed real estate includes everything from dive bars to avant-garde dining rooms. It’s also the place to experience the city’s exciting music scene...U Street is also a unique destination for shopping, with various vintage and artisanal stores, quirky boutiques and bookshops." -
National Geographic"Most folks flocking here at night now are the young and the restless in search of a hot new eatery or bar hangout." -
Frommer's
Adams Morgan/ Mount Pleasant
Adams Morgan and Mount Pleasant are hip gayborhoods and home to a great food and nightlife scene.
"Known for its historic houses, colourful murals and cosmopolitan culinary scene, the Adams Morgan neighbourhood captures the essence of the city’s diversity. Here, restaurants range from Ethiopian and Ghanaian to Dutch, Cajun, Palestinian, Peruvian, Pakistani and Lebanese." -
National Geographic"While Adams Morgan will be your nightlife hangout, residential Mount Pleasant makes for perfect lowkey days. Each Peach Market is a dreamy store with sandwiches, a carefully curated selection of wine, and mostly local products, so it’s the perfect place to gear up for an afternoon picnic in nearby Meridian Hill Park or Rock Creek Park." -
ThrillistDowntown
Downtown Washington D.C. is home to the city's primary landmarks and many businesses.
"Hop off the metro and experience this vibrant, urban hub. Visitors can shop high-end brands all day at CityCenterDC and party all night at Penn Quarter’s buzzing restaurants and live performance venues. Historic hotels, unique museums and more encompass one of DC’s premier neighborhoods." -
Modern Luxury"Downtown is home to the most important address in America: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. In addition to the White House, you'll find a number of D.C.'s most famous museums downtown, including the National Geographic Museum, which is currently being renovated to include amazing new experiences for visitors." -
Travel + Leisure
Dupont Circle
Dupont Circle is a historic gayborhood and a great area for shopping, nightlife, and foodie exploration.
"Dupont Circle is perhaps one of the most cosmopolitan DC neighborhoods, its bars and restaurants drawing a diverse public. The circle itself is a popular green space, with a collection of chess tables in constant use. The area was a countercultural hotbed in the 1960s, when anti-Vietnam War and Black Power activists claimed the circle for demonstrations." -
Time Out"Dupont Circle is historically known as the hub of L.G.B.T.Q. life in Washington, packed with lively nightlife venues, trendy bistros and longstanding independent shops like Kramers bookstore. In the middle of it all is Dupont Circle itself, a prime spot for people watching, reading or playing chess next to the massive marble fountain..." -
New York TimesFoggy Bottom/West End
The Foggy Bottom and West End neighborhoods are home to businesses and city landmarks.
"A historic district on the National Registry since 1987 because of the design of its rowhouses, these days Foggy Bottom is home to highly transient foreign service workers, federal appointees, college students and performing artists—along with older long-term residents." -
Time Out"...don’t skip these riverside neighborhoods, with their tree-lined streets dotted with embassies and global headquarters, and home to both the illustrious Kennedy Center and the infamous Watergate complex" -
New York Times
Georgetown
"Georgetown was originally established in the 1700s as a tobacco-port town...Today, visitors can amble its cobblestone streets to scout out its federal architecture, historic brick-and-frame row houses and iconic landmarks, such as the Old Stone House, the famous steps from The Exorcist and the one-time homes of JFK and TV chef Julia Child." -
National Geographic"The neighborhood around Georgetown University is more than just your classic college enclave. You'll find upscale restaurants and hotels along the C&O Canal, luxury shopping on M Street, and historic homes dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries." -
Travel + Leisure"Today’s Georgetown is unlike the rest of the city, with tranquil residential streets lined with historical homes and haughty boutiques...At night the neighborhood jumps with dozens of bars and Georgetown restaurants filled with suburban twentysomethings and international glitterati." -
Time OutShaw
Shaw is a hip area home to amazing food and many historical landmarks and museums.
"Steeped in African American history, Shaw is one neighbourhood that’s seen major revitalisation in recent years. It’s located in the popular northwest quadrant of Washington, DC and takes its name from Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, who commanded an all-Black regiment during the Civil War. Visitors can learn about the area’s rich history at the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum..." -
National Geographic"A surge of high-rise apartments, retail, and hotel developments in recent years have added to the hustle and bustle of Shaw, the historic Northwest neighborhood that lures locals, visitors, and nearby students from Howard University. Anchored by longstanding Ethiopian establishments along 9th Street NW, the booming area is now home to a steady stream of reliable bars, Michelin-rated restaurants, and live music venues..." -
Eater
Capitol Hill
Capitol Hill is home to the most famous city landmarks, as well as a vibrant food scene.
"Home to the U.S. Capitol building, the Supreme Court building, and the U.S. House and Senate, this neighborhood is the political epicenter of our country. You'll find plenty of tourists and the political working crowd here, some of whom reside in the lovely 19th-century Capitol Hill row houses." -
Travel + Leisure"Businesses along Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, include bars and restaurants luring a youthful, politics-obsessed crowd. There are still vintage hangouts like the fabled Tune Inn...the Hill's principal shopping streets are the 7th to 8th Street dogleg from Eastern Market, featuring food stores, galleries and craft shops, supplemented by the market's weekend flea and craft marts." -
Time Out"In October, residents especially love to go all out decorating their homes for Halloween, while in March and April, you can beat the Tidal Basin's cherry blossom season crowds at Capitol Hill's Stanton Park, which is lined with the same gorgeous blooms" -
Lonely Planet
The Wharf / Navy Yard / Capitol Riverfront
This hip and upscale area along the Potomac River is home to a great food and shopping scene.
"The former site of one of the nation’s oldest naval facilities, Capitol Riverfront has been transformed into a haven for sports fans, nature-lovers and foodies. Set along the banks of the Anacostia River, just south of the US Capitol, this fast-growing, urban area has seen its dining scene blossom in recent years." -
National Geographic"It’s hard to deny that the city’s newest neighborhood and undeniable tourist haven has become a hot spot for those seeking waterfront views and splashy names in food, drink, and entertainment...Between The Wharf and Navy Yard, there are plenty of lowkey outdoor activities to fill up your entire weekend. Yards Park has an Instagram-famous bridge you can explore..." -
Thrillist"Start with a bit of shopping at Shop Made in D.C., where everything is made by local makers. Next door is a branch of Politics & Prose, one of Washington's favorite independent bookstores...Surfside, a locally owned taco stand with an island vibe...the family-owned and -operated Southwest Soda Pop Shop for homemade ice cream and vegan soft serve." -
Travel + Leisure
