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Home/Destinations/Washington DC/Washington, D.C. in 1 day
1 day · Washington DC itinerary

Washington, D.C. in 1 Day: The Perfect One-Day Itinerary

Only have one day in the capital? See the Mall and the monuments. Here is how to spend one perfect day in Washington, D.C. — plus the best-rated tours to book.

At a glance

  1. 1Morning Mall
  2. 2Capitol & Archives
  3. 3A Smithsonian
  4. 4Monuments by night

Morning: the Mall

The monuments and a Smithsonian.

Afternoon: Capitol

The Capitol and National Archives.

Evening: by night

The illuminated memorials.

Book the experiences in this itinerary

Top-rated tours for exactly what this plan recommends in Washington DC — prices per person.

Private Pedicab Tour of DC Monuments and Memorials
Washington Dc
Private Pedicab Tour of DC Monuments and Memorials
5.0(104)·1 hour
from$270/ person
via Viator
Skip-the-Line National Archives VIP ALL ACCESS Tour Semi-Private
Washington Dc
Skip-the-Line National Archives VIP ALL ACCESS Tour Semi-Private
5.0(222)·1h–2h 30min
from$69/ person
via Viator
Private DC Monuments at Night Bike Tour
Washington Dc
Private DC Monuments at Night Bike Tour
5.0(70)·2h 30min–3h
from$595/ person
via Viator
Classic Monuments & Memorials Tour
Washington Dc
Classic Monuments & Memorials Tour
5.0(84)·3 hours
from$554/ person
via Viator
DC: US Capitol & Library of Congress / Supreme Court Guided Tour
Washington Dc
DC: US Capitol & Library of Congress / Supreme Court Guided Tour
5.0(254)·3–4 hours
from$65/ person
via Viator
Washington DC Monuments and Memorials Night Tour
Washington Dc
Washington DC Monuments and Memorials Night Tour
5.0(364)·3 hours
from$89/ person
via Viator
Small Group National Mall Tour with Washington Monument
Washington Dc
Small Group National Mall Tour with Washington Monument
5.0(79)·2h 30min
from$55/ person
via Viator
National Archives Skip-the-Line Express Guided Tour
Washington Dc
National Archives Skip-the-Line Express Guided Tour
5.0(122)·1 hour
from$59/ person
via Viator

Washington, D.C. in 1 day — FAQ

Can you see Washington, D.C. in one day?
Yes — tour the National Mall monuments and a Smithsonian museum in the morning, the Capitol and Archives in the afternoon, and the illuminated memorials on an evening tour.
What is the best one-day DC tour?
A guided National Mall monuments tour combined with a Smithsonian highlights visit and a memorials-by-night tour is the perfect one-day plan.
Is one day enough for Washington, D.C.?
One day covers the Mall and monuments; add days for more Smithsonian museums, Arlington and a Potomac cruise.

Explore more in Washington DC

Monuments & MemorialsCapitol & ArchivesSmithsonian MuseumsMonuments by NightPotomac CruisesArlington Cemetery