How to Get to Washington DC

Washington has three airports, and the one you fly into changes your first hour more than anything else. Check which one your ticket uses before comparing prices.

Reagan National (DCA)

Just across the Potomac in Virginia, and one of the most convenient city airports in the country. The Metro station is connected to the terminals, and Blue and Yellow Line trains reach central stations such as L'Enfant Plaza and Metro Center in under twenty minutes. Most flights are domestic, with a few to Canada and the Caribbean.

Dulles (IAD)

The main international airport, about 25 miles (40 kilometres) west in Virginia. The Metro's Silver Line runs from a station by the terminal to downtown in around fifty minutes, without changing trains. A taxi is quicker outside rush hour but costs much more.

Baltimore/Washington (BWI)

Between Washington and Baltimore, and often the cheapest option. A free shuttle bus runs from the terminal to the BWI rail station, where MARC commuter trains and Amtrak run to Union Station. MARC is cheaper but runs less often at weekends, so check the timetable.

By train

Union Station, a grand Beaux-Arts hall next to Capitol Hill, is the southern hub of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. Trains run frequently to Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York and Boston, and the faster Acela cuts the time to New York. For most trips between Washington and New York, the train beats flying once you count the time getting to and through the airports.

Getting around

• Metro. Six colour-coded lines reach most places a visitor goes, with the notable exception of Georgetown. Tap a contactless bank card or phone at the faregates, in and out.
• Buses. Useful for Georgetown and a few other gaps in the Metro map. The red Circulator buses that used to run around the Mall and out to Georgetown stopped at the end of 2024, so older guides are out of date.
• Bike-share. Capital Bikeshare docks are everywhere around the Mall, and cycling between the memorials is the quickest way to see them in one go.
• Walking. How most people see the Mall and the neighbourhoods, though distances on the Mall are longer than they look.

Skip driving in the city: parking is expensive, many streets are one-way, and security closures around federal buildings change without warning. For trips beyond the Metro, see our day trips guide, and for which station to stay near, our where to stay guide.