TRAVEL TIPS
WASHINGTON
OVERVIEW VISÃO GERAL TRANSPORTATION TRANSPORTE ATTRACTIONS ATRAÇÕES WHERE COMPRAS TO STAY ONDE WHERE FICAR TO EAT ONDE SHOPPING COMER
OVERVIEW Located near the middle of the eastern coast
Washington has a humid subtropical climate
of the U.S.A., Washington, D.C., the country’s
typical of Mid-Atlantic U.S. areas removed from
capital, is more than a city but not quite a
bodies of water. It has four distinct seasons.
state. It is a “district” created by the United
Average winter lows tend to be around 30°F
States Congress in 1790 as a place to meet and
(-1°C) from mid-December to mid-February.
conduct affairs of government. It was originally
Blizzards affect Washington on average once
a ten-mile, square of land straddling the
every four to six years. The most violent
Potomac River between Virginia and Maryland.
storms are called “nor’easters”, which typically
The U.S. Congress at the time called it the
feature high winds, heavy rains, and occasional
District of Columbia and named the new capital
snow. These storms often affect large
city Washington in honour of the country’s
sections of the east coast of the U.S. Summers
founding father and first president, George
tend to be hot and humid, with daily high
Washington. The city’s history, beautiful
temperatures in July and August averaging in
architecture, and excellent cultural centres
the high 80s (about 30°C). The combination
attract millions of visitors each year.
of heat and humidity in the summer brings frequent thunderstorms, some of which occasionally produce tornadoes in the area.
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS WASHINGTON
TRANSPORT Finding your way around Washington can be very confusing. The city is divided into quadrants— Northeast (NE), Northwest (NW), Southeast (SE) and Southwest(SW). These sections of town come together around the U. S. Capitol, which marks the centre of the city. Addresses in Washington, D. C. include a direction, which tells you which quadrant of the city the address is located in. You need to be careful because the same street name and number may exist in for example, NE as well as NW.
METRO Metro lines are designed to carry passengers from the suburbs of Maryland and Northern Virginia into the city centre, and aren’t great for shuttling tourists from locations within the city centre. If you do decide to use the Metro, look for the tall brown columns with the large “M” which mark the Metro stations. The Metro opens at 5:30 a.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. weekends. It closes at midnight Sunday through Thursday. On Friday and Saturday nights, it stays open until 3 a.m.
METROBUS Since some areas of town are a long walk from Metro stations, and the DC Circulator buses do not run throughout the city, it may be easier to get to some places by Metrobus. Metrobus
the route number and destination are displayed above the windshield and on the boarding side of the bus.
operates 24-hours-a-day, 7 days a week with
TAXIS
approximately 1,500 buses. Metrobus stops are
Taxis are easy to find around Washington. To
designated with red, white, and blue signs and
get around the downtown area, the fare will
range from $4 to $15. Each passenger may be
to another without long waits or hassles. With
charged an additional $1.50.
three routes within the city centre, the shuttle
BUSES
connects the most-visited attractions in and around the National Mall, eliminating a great
The Circulator, Washington’s relatively new and
deal of long-distance walking between sites.
cheap public transportation option, quickly gets
The Circulator has three loops:
passengers from one Washington attraction
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS WASHINGTON
The Georgetown-Union Station route runs west/ east from Wisconsin Avenue and 34th Street NW to Union Station in Northeast Washington, primarily along Pennsylvania and Massachusetts Avenues. This route passes through the Georgetown area, the West End business district and landmarks including Lafayette Park, the White House, the Old Post Office Pavilion and FBI Headquarters before reaching the Union Station terminus. Buses run every ten minutes from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The Convention Center-SW Waterfront route runs north-south along 7th Street NW between the Washington Convention Center at 7th and O Streets NW to the waterfront in southwest Washington, passing by the Washington Convention Center, the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery, Chinatown and L‘Enfant Plaza. This route operates every ten minutes from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The Smithsonian-National Gallery of Art
Ford’s Theatre, the International Spy Museum,
route loops around the Mall, with stops
the Jefferson Memorial, the Korean War
at every Smithsonian Museum. This route
Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the National
eliminates the long walks between museums
Gallery of Art, the National World War II
and monuments, such as the Washington
Memorial, the National Zoo, Smithsonian
Monument, the World War II Memorial, and
Institute Museums, the U.S. Capitol, the U.S.
individual galleries, but only runs on weekends
Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Vietnam
from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Veterans Memorial, the Washington Memorial, Washington National Cathedral, and, of course, the White House.
ATTRACTIONS
DOWNTOWN (The National Mall, East End, West End, Waterfront) | Virtually all of D.C.’s tourists flock to the Mall—a two-mile long,
Some of the most recognized cultural and
beautiful stretch of parkland where you will
historical attractions in the United States are
find many of the city’s monuments and
to be found in Washington, D.C. To name but
museums. Downtown is also where you will
a few, there is Arlington National Cemetery,
find D.C.’s main theatre district, Smithsonian
and non- Smithsonian museums, fine dining,
shopping, beautiful embassies, Little Ethiopia,
Chinatown, the Verizon Center, the Convention
and lots of nice hotels.
Center, the central business district, the White House, West Potomac Park, the Kennedy
Washington is a significant and outstanding
Center, George Washington University, the
centre of African American culture. North
beautiful Tidal Basin, and the new Nationals
Central is home to Howard University, one of
Stadium.
the most important historically black colleges. U Street was once known as “Black Broadway”,
OTHER DISTRICTS | Washington is a vibrant
with Duke Ellington performing in many of its
metropolis that a lot more to offer than
venues. The city has also been the hometown
monuments, politics, or white, neoclassical
of many other significant Black figures of
buildings.
history and culture.
NORTH CENTRAL (Dupont Circle, Shaw, Adams
WEST (Georgetown, Upper Northwest) | The
Morgan-Columbia Heights) | D.C.’s trendiest
prestigious, wealthy side of town, home to
and most diverse neighbourhoods and prime
the historic village of Georgetown with its
destination for live music and clubbing,
energetic nightlife and fine dining, the National
as well as loads of restaurants, boutique
Zoo, the National Cathedral, Dumbarton Oaks,
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS WASHINGTON
the bulk of D.C.’s high-end shopping, more of
transportation. The period from Thanksgiving
Embassy Row, American University, and plenty
to shortly after New Year’s is when many of
of nice dining strips.
the government bodies have little activity, resulting in fewer official visitors, elected
EAST (Capitol Hill, Brookland-Takoma-
officials, and their staff members being in
Petworth, Anacostia) | Starting at the Capitol
town. This translates to easier transportation
Building and Library of Congress, this district
and overall fewer people in the city.
fans out past grandiose Union Station and the historic Capitol Hill neighbourhood, to the less often visited neighbourhoods by Gallaudet and Catholic Universities, historic black Anacostia, D.C.’s “Little Vatican” around the National
DINING OUT
Shrine, the huge National Arboretum, the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, and the Atlas
Washington has a little bit of everything, from
District famous for its bohemian nightlife.
really good inexpensive ethnic takeaways to
PLANNING YOUR VISIT
high-dollar lobbyist-fueled restaurants.
Before heading to Washington, you may want
You can find just about any cuisine you want
to check out what events will coincide with
in this city if you look for it. Washington’s
your visit. Showing up during an international
international might draws representatives
conference, a protest, or a march may affect
from all corners of the globe, and they all need
your ability to visit attractions that you want
ex-pat cafes and restaurants to haunt.
to see, as well as impact dining, lodging, and
Most of the high-end cuisine is available in
The West End also offers upscale hotels close
Penn Quarter, Georgetown, and Dupont Circle.
to The Mall. These hotels cater especially to the business travellers who bustle along K
For cheaper dining, there are endless options
Street during the day. The downside to the
scattered around the city. The two most
West End is that the downtown commercial
notable “ethnic” enclaves are Little Ethiopia,
area is deserted after dark.
and what remains of D.C.’s Chinatown. Salvadorian food is near ubiquitous throughout
A bit further west is Georgetown with a wealth
the northern reaches of the city, with an
of smaller, expensive hotels in the midst of a
unbelievable concentration of pupuserías in
great dining and nightlife scene. Georgetown
Columbia Heights. (Pupusa = thick corn tortilla
lacks a metro stop, so if you choose to stay
stuffed with cheese, fried pork rind, refried
there, you will find yourself taking taxis
beans, and squash.).
or buses to get to The Mall and to other neighbourhoods.
D.C. HALF-SMOKE | Hot dog stands which are ubiquitous in Washington sell the unique D.C.
It’s worth noting that Washington is a relatively
half-smoke. A half-smoke is a type of sausage
small city acreage-wise, and another viable
found in Washington and the surrounding
option is to stay in the suburbs and take the
region. It is similar to a regular hot dog
metro into town. Suburban hotels are often
sausage, but slightly larger, spicier and with
substantially cheaper than the hotels in the
more coarsely ground meat.
centre of the city. Visitors will find good hotels in Arlington and Alexandria, Virginia, as well as in Bethesda and Silver Spring, Maryland, with
WHERE TO STAY Most tourists in D.C. look for accommodations close to the Smithsonian and accordingly
easy subway access to Downtown Washington.
SHOPPING
the East End (Penn Quarter area) is where most tourists choose to stay. There are lots
TOURIST ITEMS | Around the Capitol Building
of restaurants and nightlife options in the
and the White House, there are shops that sell
immediate area, you can walk to The Mall, and
souvenirs, postcards, t-shirts, etc.
you’ll feel like you’re in the centre of town. THE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM SHOPS | Sell many Some visitors might prefer to stay in one of the
souvenirs that are more upscale and diverse
numerous hotels just a little further north in
than those sold by street vendors and tourist
Dupont Circle or near Logan Circle. Both of these
shops, but they are usually more expensive, as
neighbourhoods are real hot spots among locals
well. The National Building Museum’s shop has
for their upscale dining and nightlife scenes.
a notable shop that focuses on modern design.
DUFRY TRAVEL TIPS WASHINGTON
ECLECTIC & VINTAGE | Along the U Street
THE SHOPS AT GEORGETOWN PARK | A
corridor, many independent boutiques, vintage
combination of the history and the new
clothing shops, home furnishing stores, and
makes Georgetown a unique and exciting
antique retailers have sprung up. Most shops
shopping and dining destination. At the Shops
can be found along U Street, NW between 12th
at Georgetown Park you’ll find everything and
and 18th Streets, with a few south of U Street
more at Washington’s largest shopping centre.
along 14th Street.
Discover over 100 stores or relax at the elegant food court.
ADAMS MORGAN DISTRICT | Is better known for its nightlife, but it has an active shopping
UNION STATION | For nearly 100 years,
scene during its daylight hours. Included
Union Station has been the gateway to the
among the small shops are vintage clothing
U.S. capital. Every year, 29 million visitors
shops, cooperatives of independent local
enjoy shopping, entertainment, and an
designers, international grocery stores and
international variety of food in this Beaux Arts
importers especially catering to the Central
transportation hub. Union Station offers 130
American and African populations, shoe stores,
fabulous stores, a nine screen movie complex,
and antique home furnishings.
seven restaurants, and a myriad of casual dining establishments. Only two blocks away
2000 PENN RETAIL MERCHANTS | The shops at
from the U.S. Capitol Building.
2000 Pennsylvania are in a unique architectural setting and include GAP, Tower Records,
THE OLD POST OFFICE PAVILION | This former
Kinkead’s Restaurant, Au Bon Pain, La Prima,
post office houses shops and restaurants,
Expressions ladies fashions and many more.
daily entertainment and a dramatic view of the city from the 315-foot clock tower. Shops
HECHT’S METRO CENTER | Hecht’s is a full line
and international food court. The Tower Tour is
department store offering the best brands in
offered daily.
apparel, accessories, shoes, cosmetics, gifts and home furnishings.
CHEVY CHASE SHOPPING DISTRICT | Is Washington’s upscale fashion district found
SHOPS AT NATIONAL PLACE & NATIONAL PRESS
near the Friendship Heights Metro stop,
| Your visit to Washington won’t be complete
straddling the D.C.- Maryland border within
without a shopping trip to The Shops at National
two blocks of the Red Line station of the same
Place, a festive retail complex featuring 60
name. It is home to many high-end stores such
shops, boutiques, and eating establishments,
as Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth
located in the heart of downtown.
Avenue, Gucci and Dior.
GEORGETOWN | Is well-known for its variety of mid-range to high-end retail shops that line M
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
Street and Wisconsin Avenue, NW.
STREET MARKETS EASTERN MARKET | Near the Capitol is open every Sunday for antiques dealers, second-hand book dealers, and local artists, photographers, and craftspeople to showcase their wares. It also hosts a local farmers’ market and indoor food vendors selling fresh meats, pastas, produce, and cheeses sporadically throughout the week and every weekend.
CURRENCY The unit of currency used in United States is the U. S. dollar which is normally abbreviated as the dollar sign, $, or as USD or US$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies and from others that use the dollar symbol. The U.S. dollar is divided into 100 cents.
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TOURIST INFORMATION
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