City guide
The city guide
Fifteen practical guides to enjoying Washington, DC: getting around, nights out, museums, parks, seasons and the neighborhoods where the stages cluster.
The city guide is organised into four shelves. Getting around covers transit and accessibility, the two things that most often decide whether an evening feels easy. Nights out is about concerts, theatre and game days. Culture & outdoors covers museums, parks, the seasons and family days. Neighborhoods gives short portraits of the parts of town around the main venues.
Everything here is general, independent information. We point to the official sources for current details instead of repeating schedules or prices that might be out of date by the time you read them.
Getting around
Metro, buses, bikes and your own two feet: how to reach the show and get home again without fuss, including step-free routes.
- Getting around on event nightsMetro, buses, bikes and the walk home
- Accessible event-goingAsk early, plan the route, enjoy the night
Nights out
Concerts, plays and game days, planned from the first bite of dinner to the last train home.
- Planning a night outBefore, during and after the show
- Concert day checklistWhat to pack, what to check, how to leave
- Theater in DCA primer on the city's stages
- Game day basicsHockey, hoops, baseball and soccer in the city
Culture & outdoors
Museums, parks and the rhythm of the seasons, with ideas for slow afternoons and busy family days.
- Museums on the MallHow to see a lot without seeing too much
- Parks and green spacesWhere the city goes to breathe
- Seasons in the cityBlossoms, heat, golden leaves and snow days
- Family days outAnimals, fountains, dinosaurs and first shows
Neighborhoods
Short portraits of the parts of town where the city's stages, stadiums and riverside walks cluster.
- U Street and ShawBlack Broadway, live music and late nights
- The Wharf and Southwest WaterfrontConcerts, theater and the river
- Navy Yard and Capitol RiverfrontBaseball, soccer and the Anacostia
- Penn Quarter and ChinatownArenas, stages and museums in a few blocks
- GeorgetownCanal paths, river views and old streets