Washington, D.C., D.C.: Reiseführer, Preise und kostenlose Unterkunft · 2026

NBNatasha Belyaevasolnyshko_1994 · 30.11.2015Lesen

Washington in five words: heat, art, free, silence, and running. That is exactly how I remember it. National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden All students coming to the States for the summer can be roughly divided into two categories. The first are those who earn money for crazy trips around the country; the second are those who slave away at three (I'm exaggerating) jobs without days off to take all their earnings home. My Czech friend Michael and I were somewhere in the middle. Neither here nor there. We worked 14 hours a day and dreamed of getting away somewhere, but it just didn't work out: either our days off didn't coincide, or the weather spoiled the fun, or we just wanted to sleep in. In August, realizing that if we waited any longer, our dreams would go down the drain, we decided to act. Where to go? "W" - Washington - it's close, interesting, and budget-friendly. Still the same National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden After going through dozens of possible "how to get there" options, we settled on E-Point. 60 dollars round trip – at 9:30 AM you are at your destination, at 10 PM you are back in the center of our native Bethany – perfect. The first thing we noticed upon arrival was how quiet it was all around. I was prepared to see colorful crowds of people rushing everywhere as soon as I got off the bus, but in the end, the only semblance of a crowd that caught my eye was a group of toddlers that an attendant was vainly trying to get to move in the right direction. People, where are you? Going to Washington for 1 day is a bit of a stretch. We rushed around the National Mall, trying, as they say, to grasp the ungraspable. The phrase of the day became "come on, faster, we still need to make it there." National Museum of Natural History, National Air and Space Museum (must see!), Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Portrait Gallery, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Capitol, White House, National World War II Memorial – we ran through all of this as fast as we could. Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum At the National Museum of Natural History, I spent a long time reading the information on the billboards dedicated to the ocean and the origin of life on Earth - tired of waiting, Michael came up with a great thing: "Listen, do like the Chinese: take photos of everything, and you'll read it at home, come on!" I admit, for lack of another choice, I did just that later on. It's embarrassing, but what can you do. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Most of the time was spent at the National Gallery of Art. Expecting to run through it in an hour, once we got inside, we immediately realized that we would fail this mission, gave up on everything, and began to slowly move from hall to hall with our mouths open. Monet, Van Gogh, Da Vinci, and Warhol – could I have even dreamed of this? At five in the evening, we felt as if we had walked a hundred kilometers in the desert – we wanted to lie down on the grass somewhere and not move. And we also wanted to eat. By the way, about food. For a whole hour, we wandered around the National Mall, trying, as it turned out, absolutely in vain, to find at least one working stall with burgers and hot dogs. Five o'clock is the approximate closing time for all the Mall's attractions, and "food," as I realized, works on the same schedule. We sadly remembered how in the morning, to lighten the weight of our backpacks, we stuffed the leftovers of our packed lunch into ourselves – fools! Who knew. My advice to those who are going to visit Wash – go to the city for a couple of days. Without thinking. It's worth it. And plan in advance what exactly you want to see, because the number of museums collected within this place can drive you crazy. There is an outlet here for absolutely everyone, whether you are a creative soul or a fan of ancient history. And yes, no skyscrapers or shocking buildings – all Washington buildings are elegantly strict, as if to say, look, I'm neo-Got

BSBulat Shaydullinbulat8801 · 01.02.2015Lesen

27 hours on the road - that's exactly how long the bus ride from Miami to Washington takes. 36 hours without sleep - that's how long you need to hold out so you don't miss anything and keep your belongings safe. A torn backpack - sometimes things just wear out. All of this fades against the backdrop of the city's splendor! Downtown is a pleasant surprise. After not really enjoying the South, you feel cozy here: the streets get narrower, the buildings taller, and there are more people on bicycles. After reaching the hostel, checking into my room, and taking a shower, I headed to the supermarket. My eyes were wide with excitement! The prices were reasonable (though still more expensive than Walmart), and the quantity and variety of goods were a huge relief after the bus trip, where the only food was waffles, bananas, brownies, and a gallon of water. After stocking up on fruit, rice, juice, water, and tomatoes, I returned to the hostel and fell into a deep sleep. Tip: Usually, the smaller and less known the store, the higher the prices. In huge supermarkets, the same food can cost 1.5-2 times less. The next morning, I made breakfast in the company of a Norwegian, 2 Germans, a Turkish girl, a Scotsman, a Chinese girl, and a woman from Texas. The hostel provided dishes; also, people checking out leave food on a special 'Free to use' shelf (where a jar of Nutella was lying, which came in very handy). During the whole time I was there, nothing went missing from the fridge. It's very convenient to see the sights: if you live downtown, you can just walk to the National Mall, where the main monuments and memorials are located, and all the world-famous national museums of Washington and the botanical garden are situated around the National Mall. Tip: Don't be fooled by the size of the National Mall. It's better to set aside 2 days for sightseeing to make it to all the museums (they are very, very interesting!), because they, like all government institutions, close at 5:00 PM. Walking from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, I heard Russian speech. Then, after listening for a bit, I walked over and saw 4 girls and a guy who was silent the whole time (later I found out he was Polish). I introduced myself, and it turned out that two of them were from Kazan, and the other two were from Kyiv, but they were studying in Poland. Dawid, that same Pole, turned out to be a good guy, and we started talking. According to him, he rented a car and drove first to Chicago, then from Chicago to Miami, and from there to Washington. It turned out he was also leaving for Philadelphia in a couple of days! He offered to go with him. I already had a ticket to Philadelphia from Washington, but I agreed anyway. Tip: If you want to visit the White House, you need to apply in advance through the embassy. Otherwise, they won't even let you onto the grounds. We only managed to see 1 museum - the Museum of Natural History. So, we agreed to leave tomorrow at lunch to manage to visit at least the Museum of National History. That's what we did. The weather for all these 3 days was just right: sunny, but not scorching like in the South, and pleasant, not stuffy, slightly cool evenings. And you know who I met at the very end? Those same girls I met at the hotel in Orlando) It's a small world, Washington is beautiful! #Washington #Travel #USA

ASAlexandra Sinichkinasssahsha · 31.01.2015Lesen

Early in the morning, we headed to the US capital. After reaching the hotel, which due to my carelessness turned out to be in a rough neighborhood (yikes), we rushed to the Mall. The National Mall is an open area with memorials and numerous museums. We didn't manage to see all the sights, but we did manage to see the main ones. That's a relief!) I captured the three branches of government: the very beautiful Capitol, no wonder several architects built it for 38 years. It is magnificent. The White House, I admit honestly, I expected more... But the games on the lawn in front of the house are very cool, great guys.) And the Supreme Court building. The USA, which conquered with its beauty. In the center of the Mall, you can see the Washington Monument. It is a marble obelisk pointing straight to the sky. And right opposite is the Lincoln Memorial, inside which a grandiose sculpture of Abraham Lincoln is installed. Yes, and between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial is the National World War II Memorial. In the evening light, everything looks so attractive and flawless that you don't want to leave at all, just sit and enjoy.)) We also visited the Smithsonian Institution and the National Air and Space Museum. It's something unreal. So many amazing things, really interesting and informative. I am delighted with this museum!) This city is completely different from New York. Such a contrast. Washington is a very calm and quiet city. It feels like a business city. But in the evening, the city comes alive. Fans appear in bars, all tables in cafes are occupied, and there are crowds of people in line in stores. Something like that... My thoughts are very contradictory. But definitely, this city is very beautiful and requires attention and detailed study. But unfortunately, I don't have time.((( Tomorrow we hit the road. Hello, Orlando!))

EKElnara Kainazarovakelnara193 · 15.12.2014Lesen

Later, towards the end of July, we traveled to Washington, D.C., and visited the NASA museum and the National Museum—the very ones where the movie 'Night at the Museum' was filmed. Washington is a quiet city; while Baltimore had many African Americans, here there were mostly Caucasian and Asian people. Of course, I wanted to see the old town and the zoo, but we weren't lucky enough, so we returned to our city with incomplete memories. But I'm not upset, as I'm planning a trip to Washington this year too, and believe me, I will try to get into the White House instead of just standing nearby in the park, and I will try to visit the Capitol instead of just taking a photo with the front facade. I liked the alley on the way to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. I tossed a coin into the fountain at the entrance for luck and to ensure I return. We also rode pedal boats near the Jefferson Memorial and met a talented poet near the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. In August, we mostly ran to various employer parties (Barbecue party, Birthday party) right after work, as well as farewell parties for our compatriots. In early August, we were supposed to go to an Eminem concert, but we didn't manage to buy tickets in time, so definitely buy tickets for such events a month in advance—they are cheaper and the seats are better. But on August 12, our group went to a place every self-respecting tourist who has visited the States must see—Niagara Falls. It's unforgettable and indescribable; we were lucky enough to get so close that we basically took a shower) Niagara is proof of the natural beauty of nature. Now I also have a desire to go to Canada to see Niagara from the other side (for those who don't know, Niagara Falls is located on the border of the USA and Canada). There are three levels: on the shore, on the observation deck, and on the bridge. Be sure to visit all levels. There were only a few days left before saying goodbye to my beloved Ocean City, which touched my soul. There were tears and promises to return again, but regardless, we left Ocean City on September 10 and headed to Philadelphia. Philadelphia is not as noisy as New York, but it is still a colorful and mesmerizing city. There is a street with flags of all nations where you can find your country's flag. The Art Museum in the city center is truly grand. I was only there for a day, so I didn't manage to fully experience the city.

ARAnna Rutmanrutman-anna · 07.12.2014Lesen

On August 8th, the girls and I worked until 5 instead of 6. Our kind manager let us go early. We ran to our rooms, changed, ordered a taxi, and went out to wait for the car. The taxi arrived quite quickly. We made it to the bus station on time and boarded the bus. The whole way we discussed where else we wanted to go, listened to music, and just chatted :) The trip went by unnoticed, as it was only 2.5 hours. We arrived at the south station. We had a little time before the bus to Washington left, so we decided to walk around Boston. We walked through a couple of streets in the center. Boston is very beautiful. I was amazed. It seems calm, but at the same time, it's not. Everything is in moderation. It's hard to get lost in the city. We were charmed by this city. After walking for about an hour, we headed to the bus. A long journey awaited us. It was about 11 hours. We took our seats and went to sleep. The bus wasn't very comfortable, it had wifi, but as we expected, it was cold. For Americans, such a temperature on a bus is normal. We couldn't sleep properly. Finally, around 8 a.m., we arrived in Washington. The first thing we did was go to the restroom. We had a whole routine there :)) We washed up, brushed our teeth, changed clothes, and put on makeup. In short, we fully prepared ourselves for the big city :)) Then we headed to get something to eat and went to the Apple store. The thing is, we decided to buy ourselves an iPhone 5s. Upon arrival, we discovered that Apple only opens at 11 on weekends. We walked around the city. There were tons of shops of different brands around. We wanted to go everywhere, it was a huge temptation. As a result, at 11 we were at the Apple store. I bought myself a 64GB phone, Mashka got a 32GB one, and Aika got a 16GB one :)) I also bought a screen protector, and I had bought a case in advance. Regarding iPhone prices, they aren't much different from ours. Let me explain the system. When you enter the stores, you see 3 prices. For example, my 64GB iPhone 5s could be bought for 299, 399, or 799. The difference is very noticeable. So, when signing a contract, for example with AT&T (it's like our MTS), for a year, you buy the phone for 399, for two years for 299. And if you don't want to be tied to a company and want to use the phone everywhere, then it's 799 for you. Naturally, I bought it for 799, since I was going to use it in Russia. And it's not just with phones. The situation with tablets is the same. But the prices for tablets there are inexpensive. Whether it's worth buying a phone specifically in America is up to you. After that, we headed to the “Spy Museum”. Honestly, I wasn't impressed. The entrance cost me about $26. They showed a couple of clips. At the beginning, they told us information about different agents, and then we had to complete tasks. Still, this place is designed more for children. I won't post many photos from this place. Let it be a little mystery in case you go there :)) Then we walked through the streets of Washington. We mostly moved around the city by metro. It has a very interesting system. You go up to a machine, buy a card that costs $2, and load $8 onto it. As we understood, the card is enough for a day of trips. It's better to ask how to use it. There is a person specifically there who helps to make the cards correctly. It's better not to do it yourself. After the museum, we headed to the “White House”. I wouldn't say it's a “wow” factor, but seeing this building in person was not bad. There is a fence, so you can't get too close. Also, a bunch of people and everyone wants to take a picture. We also walked along the street after that :)) Not far from the “White House” there is a shop. You can buy souvenirs there. If you buy something there, you can take a picture as if you are inside the “White House” :))) I bought a t-shirt as a souvenir. Then we walked and walked and walked, and came out onto a path that connected many famous places and monuments. This was t

НКНаталия Карпенкоmoscowmain_788129278804 · 27.10.2012Lesen

My summer in America is coming to an end. In just a couple of days, I'm heading off on a trip across the vast states) I can't even believe I'm leaving so soon. It feels like just recently I arrived, was getting settled, afraid to speak English, looking for housing, running late for work... At first, time dragged on terribly slowly, and I thought this summer would never end. But the closer it got to the end of summer, the faster time flew by. My route is already set: Niagara Falls(?); Boston, MA; Washington, DC; Miami, FL; Key West, FL; New York, NY. Niagara is still a question mark, I'm not sure if I'll go. But the rest of my route is confirmed. I've already found travel companions for Boston and Washington, so it won't be as boring) Also, in Washington, I plan to meet an acquaintance of mine who has a very interesting life story. She was born in Russia, in St. Petersburg, but was raised in an orphanage until she was 6. Then she was adopted by an American family. Now she lives near Washington and is trying to remember the Russian language. After Washington, I'll fly to Miami, where I also have an acquaintance) This guy is American, studied political relations in college, has been to Russia, loves Russia very much, and wants to build super friendly relations between America and Russia) In short, he's also a very interesting person) I met both him and the girl from Washington on a language learning site when I was trying to improve my English) I'm going to Key West to relax - to lie on the beach all day and do nothing, pure bliss) and then, for the finale, I'll swing by New York, spend my last full day in America there, and the next day I'll fly back home... Transport tickets are already booked, and I'll be staying via Couchsurfing. Although I haven't made arrangements with anyone yet, I need to get moving, otherwise I'll be left without a place to stay. Honestly, I don't really want to go anywhere, I want to spend the remaining 2 weeks in New York, walking around, enjoying the city... Despite the fact that I lived near it, I still haven't walked around enough, there's so much more I want to see... By the way, it's not really common to travel in America) Often, when I tell Americans about my upcoming plans, I hear something like, 'Oh, I haven't left Long Island in my whole life.' And I'm not even talking about the fact that I came here all alone from another country - they just don't get it here)) Although I've changed a bit here myself. I've become Americanized)) I don't know about all the states, but here people don't worry at all about how they look. Many even go to the store in pajamas and it's considered normal) And now I've fallen into the same routine. Back in Moscow, I used to get all dolled up before leaving the house... here, I just don't care how I look) It's like being at a summer cottage - you don't care about your appearance) Well, in principle, Long Island can be called a village, just without the livestock)) I'm packing my suitcases. I'll be on my way soon. I feel like I'm going to miss these places. Every time I go to work, I look at the landscapes around me... and I realize how close these places have become to me. I'm sure I'll miss all these streets, shops, trees, roads... Again, deep down, there's that same fear that enveloped me at the beginning of the trip, I think it's the fear of the unknown. It's not clear at all where I'll be living during the trip, and where fate will take me... But this time it's not a paralyzing feeling, just a light shade that only spurs me on to adventures) So, off I go)

ARAnna Rutmanrutman-anna · 07.12.2014Lesen

It was already August. Two whole months had passed. That was when I decided with the girls that it was time for us to take a break) We took 3 days off in a row and started thinking about how and where we would go. Initially, we wanted to go to Washington-Springfield-Boston. But then we decided to swap Springfield for Philadelphia. One evening, sitting at Dunkin' Donuts and sipping coffee, we started making plans for our trip. After weighing all the pros and cons, we came up with a plan. The closest big city to us was Boston. Tickets from Boston to Washington were cheap. Tickets from Hyannis, which is 15 minutes away from us, were more expensive. The thing is, there is a website where tickets are really very cheap. But you can only book from a major city to a major city. Here is the site: https://us.megabus.com/ So we decided that on Sunday we would work until 5, take a taxi, and head to Boston at 6 PM. We were supposed to be there around 8 PM. In Boston, we planned to transfer around 10 PM and travel until morning to Washington, then around 11 PM, get on and go from there to Philadelphia. It's not far from Washington to Philadelphia, so according to our plan, we should have been there around 3 AM. Then at 10 PM, we were supposed to get on a bus and go to Boston. We were supposed to arrive in Boston in the morning and stay there until the evening. In the evening, take the last bus and get home. Thus, we got the following picture: 1) On Saturday evening, we get on the bus and arrive in Boston around 8:00 PM (before getting on the bus, we had to get to the city where it departs. We lived in West Yarmouth, and the bus was from Hyannis. That's 15 minutes from us) 2) At 10 PM, we get on the bus and go to Washington, arriving there around 7 AM on Sunday 3) The whole day in Washington, and at 11 PM we leave for Philadelphia, where we arrive around 3 AM, or even earlier, on Monday 4) The whole day in Philadelphia, and at 10 PM we get on the bus to Boston, where we arrive at 8 AM (around that time) on Tuesday 5) The whole day in Boston, we get on the bus around 9:00 PM and arrive home around 1 AM (Tuesday night to Wednesday). Route: West Yarmouth - Hyannis - Boston - Washington - Philadelphia - Boston - Hyannis - West Yarmouth Having decided on the route, we decided to book the tickets. Most of the tickets were bought on the site I mentioned earlier.) The tickets cost us a total of about $180. As you noticed, there were no hotel stops in our plan) That was the first thing we saved money on. We slept on the buses and that was enough for us))) You will learn more about how it was as I continue my story about the trip) After we chose the cities, we started studying what to see in them.) We wrote down the places in the order we wanted to see them. We made the list as optimally as possible (i.e., if two attractions are close by, see them together, rather than going to the other end of the city to see something else and then coming back). We wrote down the name of the place, the street it's on, the subway station, and the approximate time we planned to be there. I advise you to do the same. It will save you time. Write down every little detail. It's clear that there will be some mishaps, but by planning, you will reduce their number) And so, having written down everything to the smallest detail, we started getting ready for our trip)) We packed all the essentials) We took a change of clothes that we planned to walk around in, dry shampoo, cosmetics, money, passport, tickets, and personal hygiene items. And we dressed warmly for the road because, as I said earlier, it's cold on the buses( The day finally came. It was August 8th, Saturday. We went to work and waited with excitement for 5 PM, when we could run to get our things and head out on our trip:)

VSViktoryia Stsepanchukvicstepanchuk · 23.11.2014Lesen

Washington DC The next stop was the capital. We spent a whole day in Washington. Friends promised that a few days wouldn't be enough to see all the museums and interesting spots, so our goal was to grab as much as possible. We chose four museums where we spent most of the day: the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Air and Space Museum, and the National Gallery of Art. I was very impressed by the National Museum of Natural History. You will definitely like it there if you want to see interesting plants, minerals, animals, fossils, precious stones, and much more. The biggest bonus that Washington offers tourists is that all the museums are in one place and admission is completely free. Furthermore, the halls are equipped with huge screens showing immersive films, many exhibits can—and should—be touched, and no one will ask you to hide your camera. And in the interactive hall of the National Air and Space Museum, for example, you can observe the laws of aerodynamics in action and participate in the processes yourself. I think every adult who gets there forgets that they are an adult. You will have to pay for some exhibitions or attractions, like the IMAX theater or the Butterfly Pavilion at the National Museum of Natural History, but you can get into the permanent exhibitions completely for free. Of course, we managed to take photos near the White House, the Capitol, and the Washington Monument. But by evening, we were so tired after a busy day that we were too lazy to take more selfies or even talk to each other. I bought a few packs of chocolate bars so the guys wouldn't fall asleep in the car and could keep a better eye on the road, but I successfully slept through the whole trip home in the back seat of our Jeep. Instagram: 1. Eisenhower Executive Office Building. 2. Me and the White House. 3. Me and The Washington Monument. 4. Me and a creature at the National Museum of Natural History. I can't believe I volunteered to hold a large insect in my hands. We decided to spend the day before leaving for New York in Atlantic City. We needed to do some last-minute shopping, try Japanese sweet and sour chicken, say goodbye to the ocean, and eat a farewell cheesesteak and an Oreo Stack dessert at Tony Luke's. Once the plan was fulfilled, we went to pack our suitcases. But we weren't watching the clock at all, so there was no time left for sleep. And who thinks about sleep when there is so much interesting stuff ahead?!