Washington: Travel guide, prices and free housing · 2026

VBValeryia Brazdetskayalera.brozdetskaya · Dec 9, 2019Read

We are leaving for New York tomorrow. And I suddenly realized that I still haven't told you about Washington. First of all, Washington is very tourist-friendly. All the most significant places are within walking distance of each other. Admission to most places is free, so you want to visit as many as possible. The architecture is very different from most American cities; there are practically no skyscrapers. It felt like I was walking somewhere in Europe; it reminded me of Paris, it was just as cozy and comfortable. We were in Washington for two days. This time is quite enough to visit the main attractions. Of course, we didn't get inside the White House and couldn't break into the Pentagon. But to my great surprise, it is possible to do so. You need to sign up for a visit to the White House two months in advance, and to the Pentagon no later than six months in advance! The Capitol really captured my heart (no surprise there). Every year, about 4.5 million tourists visit the famous Congress building. There are 540 rooms in the Capitol in total, but tourists can only see 2 of them. The first and second floors house the Congress offices, and the third is occupied by the House of Representatives, the Rotunda, and the Senate. Tours of the Capitol are absolutely free. Getting to the Capitol is no trouble at all. The country's main building stands in the very center of Washington, and all the main streets of the city lead to it. At night, it looks especially majestic; opposite it is an alley that leads directly to the famous Washington Monument. Everything around is planted with beautiful lawns where you can have a picnic while admiring the beautiful sunset.

LLLiubov Lopakovalyubalopakova · Dec 16, 2017Read

From Boston, we had a night bus waiting for us to Washington. We had the cheapest seats - $20 for two. The travel time was 10 hours. It's not easy, but you can endure it for the sake of big savings (other tickets cost about $40 per person). And now a life hack from Sasha and me. How to store your luggage cheaply or for free while you walk around? Look for hotels near the bus station, call them, and ask how much this service costs. We found a place that provides it completely for free! Note that at the station, they charge $30 for 4 hours for each suitcase. Washington is the capital of the USA. One day is enough to see the city. That's exactly what I liked about it: it's completely unlike other American cities. Different architecture, no skyscrapers, and the streets are filled with, like, an American spirit, I guess. A huge number of free museums for every taste, which are actually quite impressive. Of course, the main attraction was the Capitol. A huge white building that we are used to seeing in pictures. I remember sitting on a bench opposite, and I just couldn't realize that I was seeing all this beauty in real life, not in photos. Also, naturally, you need to visit the White House. I'll be honest, I didn't immediately understand what it looked like. Only when I saw a tiny white building surrounded by police along the perimeter and a small crowd of people taking pictures against the backdrop of the White House.

NBNatasha Belyaevasolnyshko_1994 · Nov 30, 2015Read

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

KBKatsiaryna Bohushms.drop55 · Nov 29, 2015Read

The next stop was a trip to the American capital – Washington, D.C. This city struck me, first and foremost, with its architecture. In my memory, the American capital will remain a city-museum. At every turn, there are majestic buildings with columns, all kinds of architectural museums, the National Gallery of Art and Sciences, the Newseum, the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian and American History, the National Museum of African Art, the Postal Museum, and many others. If you compare Washington and New York, in my opinion, they are two completely different cities, not at all like each other. Washington has a more aristocratic, measured beauty. Streets cleaned to a shine, parks with perfectly manicured lawns – it's a perfectionist's paradise. We managed to see a lot, but the Capitol – the main strategic target for alien invasions in every movie – was, unfortunately, under renovation, so we couldn't fully enjoy the grace of its famous dome. However, we were lucky enough to visit the memorial park, walk through almost all the museums, and just soak up the atmosphere of American capital life. Next was a spontaneous and grand trip to an American football game at Metlife Stadium near New York, to see the New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles match. I had dreamed of attending an American football game for a very long time, and finally, I managed to make my dream come true. The emotions were so overwhelming that I was jumping for joy like crazy, happy about everything happening. It was truly just like in the movies!

SRSergei Rubanserega24ruban · Nov 13, 2015Read

My DS-2019 form expired on September 1st, and as soon as that day arrived, I rushed off on a trip. Having planned everything in advance, my friend and I agreed that he would fly into Chicago and we would start our journey from there. (The greatest trip around the East Coast). Our return ticket was for the morning of September 7th, which meant we had: · 4 cities · 5 days · 120 hours for the trip, including: · 48 hours for sleep · 12 hours for travel and flights · 60 hours for sightseeing in Chicago, Washington, Philadelphia, and New York · 100 dollars in our pockets With conditions like these, even the hosts of the show "Orel i Reshka" would have thought twice before agreeing, but we simply had no choice. And after all, you can sleep at home, but in the USA, you have to live it up. So, the city is Chicago, the vibe is criminal. As soon as I got to Chicago, I dubbed it the best city in America without a shadow of a doubt. By the end of the trip, I still felt the same way, because Chicago deserves it. Our walk through this city started at the Chicago Riverwalk. A picturesque place. Crystal clear water and an atmosphere of complete peace and enjoyment. Chicago was different from all other cities in that we didn't need to go to any specific place to see a particular landmark. The city, like our personal guide, led us through all the most wonderful spots. One landscape replaced another. The view of the beautiful lake was replaced by the view of the tallest skyscrapers. It's hard to imagine that it was once very restless here. Now, Chicago is the best city in the USA in the opinion of this blog's author. (This text was paid for by the Mayor of Chicago). Time was running out and Washington was already waiting for us. And we were in such a hurry to get there that I accidentally mixed up the departure airport. (Facepalm) We spent the whole night traveling from one airport to another and still managed to catch the plane. So, the city is Washington, the style is official-business. Arriving in Washington, you immediately realize that the word "capital" in the USA doesn't mean that absolutely everything is concentrated there, as it is in Moscow, London, and other world capitals. Quite the opposite, there is nothing here but politics. You're unlikely to hear an average American say: "I'm tired of everything, I'm moving to Washington to build my career." Therefore, about Washington, very briefly: the President is in the White House, the Capitol is under renovation, there's a tent with dresses in the city center, lots of free muse... seriously, who even allowed them to sell dresses almost in the city center? Who???? (No criminality)

BSBulat Shaydullinbulat8801 · Feb 1, 2015Read

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 · Jan 31, 2015Read

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!))

VMValeriya Matyukhinalera.matyukhina · Jan 31, 2015Read

That's exactly what we did. For a whole month, we were booking tickets and deciding what to visit in each city; in short, preparations were in full swing. It wasn't without a lump in our throats that we said goodbye to our Virginia Beach, to all the people we met and befriended, and headed to Washington (that's where our flight to San Francisco was departing from). We actually missed our bus from Norfolk (a city near Virginia Beach) because saying goodbye to the city or just wanting to hang out didn't let us get to sleep on time. As a result, after sleeping for an hour or two, we were woken up by a loud knock on the door from a Russian guy who had agreed to drive us to the bus station. Throwing our last unpacked things and some food into our suitcases, we bolted out of the house and took off. We arrived at the bus station five minutes late, but that was enough for the Greyhound bus, which rarely left on time, to pull away right from under our noses. After paying our "taxi driver" extra, we caught up with it in Hampton, the neighboring city. We spent two days in Washington, the capital of the USA. To our surprise, the weather was warmer, or maybe we were just lucky, because Virginia saw us off with rain despite such a southern climate all summer. What can I say about Washington? It might be a stretch, but if you compare it to Russia, Washington is like Saint Petersburg: a capital city, but with a less hectic atmosphere, beautiful architecture, and a more measured pace of life. And New York reminds me of Moscow with its scale, noise, fun, and traffic. If they say that a person prefers either Moscow or Saint Petersburg, I can say the same about Washington and New York. I liked the American capital more. We didn't make it to the museums (we ran out of time), although most of them are free in Washington. But we managed to walk around plenty, saw the Capitol, the Washington Monument, and the White House itself! And we just strolled through the cozy streets of the capital. By the evening of the second day, we headed to the train station with all our suitcases (and their number exceeded the number of people), stood there blankly in front of the terminal for a bit, but still managed to handle such a "difficult" task as buying a train ticket and went to the airport in Baltimore. We sat there hungry and freezing all night. All that was left of our food was an open jar of peanut butter and some tea bags. I went up to different cafes every time and asked for "some boiling water" with a pitiful look. In the same waiting area, there were scales to check if your suitcase was overweight. We couldn't think of anything better than to weigh ourselves instead :)