Visiting New York and Washington
 

Your "must sees" might be different than mine. This written, we live in the metropolitan D.C. area, and whenever we have friends or family visiting for long weekends I offer a few guidelines. In short, some research will be necessary on your part.

• Pick 2 Smithsonain museums, no more, to tour in one day. The National Museum of African-America History can take the better part of a day, as can the National Gallery. The National Museum of the American Indian can take quite a while, too. With the Smithsonians you can select galleries of interest.
• Select a hidden gem: The Phillips Collection (first modern art museum in the U.S.); Hillwood Estate; Dumbarton Oaks all come to mind.
• Walk around the monuments at night.
• Eat at Old Ebbit Grill, particularly the oysters. (Make reservations.)
• Tour the Library of Congress

I must admit that I'm not a fan of the Old Ebbitt Grill, but think fourfortravel has given some otherwise very solid advice.

Most museums in DC close at 5 or 5:30 p.m. The Library of Congress is open until 8 p.m. every Thursday and sometimes has special events on those evenings; no need to take a tour. And the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum (which are in the same building) are open every day until 7 p.m.

I think you would benefit greatly from a guidebook or two.

Neither NY or Washington are cheap places for hotels, so be prepared and October is a popular time of year to visit - past the heat and humidity of the summer but before the clocks change and it gets dark early and can become chilly. That said there is a lot to see and do in both places and a lot that is either free or inexpensive. The museums and monuments in DC are free as is strolling around outside. If I recall, the Capital is likely free as is the National Archives with the founding documents and a very good museum with changing exhibits.

In NY, the High Line is free to walk as is Central Park, walking across the Brooklyn Bridge. Some museums have free nights on different days of the week. The Staten Island Ferry is now I believe free. The 9/11 Memorial is free but not the Museum.

Of course all of this is dependent on your interest. If interested in seeing a show in NY, I recommend either the Today Tix app or the discount TKTS booth in Times Square.

Just to be clear: The SMITHSONIAN museums in DC are free. Private museums (such as the Phillips, Dumbarton Oaks, and Hillwood, mentioned above) are not free.

:lol:

OEG is a stalwart in our take-visiting-friends-and-family-into-DC for 30+ years, just like Dante's in Great Falls.

Dennis (are you an Aussie??, hence the relatively cheap question??)
I was in NYC in 2022 and did Washington for 3 nights. I am from Australia and while researching Washington DC I thought I would be able to visit multiple Smithsonian museums. Wrong. Everything in DC is massive, and getting from one musueum to the next is exhausting. By the time you walk there you do not have the energy to do the actual visit. Although I should have planned better.
It is really easy to take the Amtrak from Penn station in NYC to DC.

as to hotels, you really need to use something like Bookings.com and plug in your budget. Both cities are super expensive. nowhere is cheap. In NYC the subway is super easy to get around to all the sites.

Yes I of course meant to say that the Smithsonian hotels are free. We also enjoy the Ebbitt Grill as a Washington landmark destination but haven't been there since the pandemic possibly it has declined.

Yes as well Amtrak between NY and Washington as easy, pleasant and both stations are centrally located.

"We also enjoy the Ebbitt Grill as a Washington landmark destination but haven't been there since the pandemic possibly it has declined."

OEG is still going strong. Have dined there several times since returning to D.C. in 2019 and their standards are still high.

Actually Dumbarton Oaks is free, the grounds and the museum.

if you have to return to NYC for a flight, I would skip DC and spend the week in NYC.

I like the Lower East side area, or the Village, for a hotel location. Most people stay Chelsea or Times Square, mostly tourists and business people here. It’s nice to stay in residential areas of town.

The museum (which, IMO, is excellent) is free. Reserved tickets for the garden are generally required and, while free in the winter, cost $15.
https://www.doaks.org/visit/plan

IME, it's always best to check the web-site of anything that interests you.

Well, the Dumbarton Oaks grounds were free last November. I see they are now charging for November 2025.

Without a car it’s hard to get to.

It's near at least one bus stop, can be reached by taxi / uber / etc., and -- for some -- would be within reasonable walking distance of a metro stop. If the OP is interested, I'm sure s/he can find how to get there. For public transportation in DC, wmata.com has a trip planner.

DennisA, are you a US citizen? If so, check your Senator and Congressperson's websites as they will likely have information about how to get tickets to the White House, Senate and other places that may interest you. Our previous Senator used to host a light breakfast and her aides would then give tours of the Capitol building.

There is a lot to do in both New York and Washington, DC and a good guide book will help you pick and choose your "must do" list.

Thanks all for your prompt response, much appreciated. Got some really good information. I am from Australia (for those who asked the question).

Old Ebbitt Grill in DC is loud and crowded, with average food. I find it unpleasant. For many, it's average-ness is the drawing card. If you go, just realize that OEG serves more meals than any other restaurant in the United States. it is supposedly historic, though it is not in its original location.

My #1 tip is to go to the monuments at night. Particularly amazing at night is the FDR memorial, the Korean War memorial, WWII, and the Air Force Memorial near the Pentagon. At any monument, if you see a National Park Service Ranger, then can give you an impromptu tour on the spot. They are tremendously knowledgeable.

Nothing in the DC area is difficult to get to. Either public transportation or hopping in an Uber or Lyft is easy, and four people sharing makes a car hire service a good alternative for people on a time crunch.

If you are in DC on a Thursday night, Library of Congress is open and has free cultural events, though you may have to reserve. The LOC is an outstanding place to visit and the interior is purposely designed to look like a palace. It is stunning. Almost every night, the Kennedy Center has free performances at 6pm. The program is called Millenium Stage and you should reserve in advance. I think reservations open up 2 weeks in advance, but check.

The ;Millenium Stage is in the Kennedy Center's lobby. Reservations would allow seating in the area nearest the stage, but as rule, any one in the lobby can hear the performance-- no reservations are needed for that.

Visit to Washington and New York in September
 

We have now finalized our trips to Washington (3 days) and New York (4 days) in September. Please suggest one or two good museums to visit in these cities. Secondly, for travelling in the NY subway, is it recommended to buy 4 metrocards (one for each of us) ? We will be staying in the Manhattan area. Your suggestions would be appreciated.

New York uses tap pay with credit card so don’t buy any different card, been that way for years. Will need a credit card for each person though, else buy OMNY card for additional people.

Most famous museum in NY probably the Metropolitan Museum of Art, takes about 10 hours to see everything.

I think you are being misled by locals, transit systems in DC work poorly for tourists, it’s a hard city to go from tourist site to tourist site. Lots of walking, allow up to an hour to walk from Capitol to Lincoln Memorial (going by metro likely would take longer). Last time I checked the Mall circulator bus was discontinued and that was the only reasonable tourist option. This is a case where an expensive hop on hop off bus ticket may be worth the money.

In New York you should go see the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. It is all done by guided walking tour only, you must reserve well in advance as they sell out for every tour. It is unique to NYC.

Am a bit miffed by your responses so far. You are asking, again, for suggested museums. You got suggestions but it seems that you have not followed up on any of them. With no reply from you, why should we offer more?

There is a lot to see in D.C. just along the Wahington Mall. You really need to do some of your own research.

Spend some time and scroll, zoom, move around this map: Map of the National Mall - Guild of Professional Tour Guides of Washington, DC
Click on the icons for site names to see what interests YOU.

What interests you: the Air & Space Museum?, Art or Natural History?, Holocaust or Spy Museums? or ...

Obviously we don't know your interests but in addition to the Met, there is MOMA, the Museum of Modern Art as well as the Museum of Natural History. There are countless other museums including the previously mentioned Tenement Museum, there is the Museum of the City of New York, the Jewish Museum, the Frick, the Morgan Library, the Jewish Heritage Museum, The Studio Museum in Harlem, the Whitney which has the benefit of being at the foot of the High Line. There is of course the 9/11 Memorial and the Museum.

In Washington, there are so many museums that are part of the Smithsonian, all stand alone as well as others and it totally depends on your interests.

What mrwunrfl said.

BTW, I can't imagine seeing "everything" at NYC's Met in 10 hours. I can't imagine seeing it all in a week! But you can see some wonderful things in a day, or even a part of a day -- if you are very selective.

And, in D.C. you can have a nice day on the Washington Mall without even entering a museum. There are quite a few memorials and monuments some of which you are probably aware of from movies or the news.

Take the metro to the Smithsonian station and step onto the mall. You will see the Capitol building at one end and the Lincoln Memorial at the other end with the Washington Monument in between. Visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It is stunning.

Go to the Lincoln Memorial and read the words on the walls next to the statue. When you leave you will have the view that you saw in Forrest Gump. You can find the spot where MLK gave his I Have a Dream speech. Walk along the Tidal Basin, it is real pretty.

If you are ambitious, then go over to Arlington to visit the Marine Corps Memorial (the Iwo Jima statue) and you can enjoy a great view of the Mall and D.C.

Thanks all for your valuable suggestions, it was very helpful. And ... sorry, I didn't mean to offend anyone by a repetitive or delayed post. Thanks once again.

You've gotten a lot of valuable information. Once you review it, let us know if you have further questions.

Good luck with your planning!

For where to stay, Queens should have cheap hotels. For 4 days in NYC, I'd recommend you go to central park and check out the boat house restaurant, as they offer cheap boat rentals. Usually, I like eating out at night and taking the NYC ferry across the east river ($4 per person, you get transportation and a nice view). Walking across the bridges and going to the World Trade Center + museums is a popular option for tourists. I'd recommend you book everything beforehand if possible, or schedule out time blocks, so that you can make the best use of your time. A hidden gym that is often overlooked is Flushing, Queens. There, you can find a wide selection of East Asian restaurants, malls, karaoke places, and street food. Tangram Mall is very popular currently, and has shops selling anime merch and has a Japanese style arcade. If you're interested in experiencing Japanese, Korean, and Chinese culture, Flushing is a great place to go. In my opinion, it's better than Chinatown.

I’m a fan of the Old Ebbitt Grill, also Ben’s for a half smoke with chili, breakfast at the Florida Avenue Grill for pork chops and eggs.

Just an FYI. Ben's is closed right now for renovations. They have a pop-up somewhere in the interim.

Agree with the recommendation to select two museums per city, one major, one smaller. Also a good idea to see major tourist area, plus some other area such as Georgetown in DC or Flushing in NY. But both Washington Metro, where you now can tap and pay, and NYC subway, where you also can tap and pay, are excellent to use …and quick, to boot.

Agree that NY combining Met and Tenement is a good idea. You won’t see all of either so must be selective. Both $30 each. For DC, the National Museum of African American History and Culture plus Renwick, both free, could work.

To speak with a local, try a pay what you wish tour in each city…or Big Apple Greeter (free) in NYC.

Try a Shake Shack in either city for Burgers and an ethnic spot or food hall in each city. Chelsea Market is a great one in NY.

Have fun. Amtrak is easy from NY to DC. Takes 3 1/2 hours. It connects to
metro/subway. If you can fly from DC to the NY airport you’ll use, that may be simplest.

Ben's pop up is right across the street from Ben's original spot which, as noted, is being renovated. 1208 U Street NW, DC. If you take in a ball game at National's Park, Ben's is located there as well.

Go to the Lincoln Memorial and read the words on the walls next to the statue. When you leave you will have the view that you saw in Forrest Gump. You can find the spot where MLK gave his I Have a Dream speech. Walk along the Tidal Basin, it is real pretty.

There is a lot of scaffolding and construction stuff surrounding the Lincoln Memorial while the new museum (located on the floor under Abe) is underway. Due to open in 2026. You can still get into the building to see the important parts of the memorial but most of the iconic views are obscured for the near term.

Hi, I live in NYC and just happened to see this post while I’m traveling in Portugal.

No offense to anyone but if you’re visiting NYC, I would not stay in Queens. I would try to find affordable accommodations in NYC even though it will be challenging. You won’t have much time during your stay and it’s part of the experience. Also, if you stay out late doing touristy things, you will not want to travel by subway home if you’re not familiar with where you’re going because subways are not safe at all times.

As far as museums, I also would suggest Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art and/or potentially the Whitney. The Whitney is in the meat-packing district which is, in and of itself, a very popular and trendy area to visit.

<!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}-->I’ll come back to this topic now that I’ve finished my own NY–DC tour in October. Regarding the train versus plane question: we took the train to Union Station and then a private transfer to the airport. I chose DCAcar because I wanted to avoid the crowds and know exactly what I was paying. They have a wide fleet (SUVs, sedans, even minibuses if you’re in a group). I also liked that they offer private tours, we did a DC Daylight Tour with them and managed to see all the main monuments in half a day without wasting time with maps. For three days in DC, it was exactly what we needed.