This post is a guide on where to stay in Washington DC, the capital of the United States. We selected the 5 best neighborhoods for you to stay in the city and also some hotel tips in each region.
You will find that most of the attractions in the city are very close to each other, which will make it easier to visit DC’s many tourist attractions.
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• What to do in Washington DC
• Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Washington
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7 Best Hotels in Washington DC
- Best Cheap Hotel in DC: YOTEL Washington DC (4 stars, rating 8.1 – $$)
- Best Hostel: Duo Nomad (grade 8.2 – $)
- Good Value for Money Hotel: Canopy by Hilton Washington DC Embassy Row (3 stars, rating 8.7 – $$$)
- Comfortable Accommodation: Lyle DC (4 stars, rating 8.9 – $$$)
- Luxury Accommodation: InterContinental Washington DC The Wharf, an IHG Hotel (5 stars, rating 8.9 – $$$$)
- Comfortable Inn: The Georgetown House Inn (grade 8.4 – $$)
- Budget Apartment: 2500 Penn, a Placemakr Experience (3 stars, rating 8.5 – $$)
What is the average price of accommodation in DC?
- Backpacker – $: Hostels up to 50 dollars
- Economic – $$: Hotels, inns and apartments from 50 to 150 dollars
- Comfortable / Value for Money – $$$: 3 or 4 star hotels between 150 and 350 dollars
- Luxury – $$$$: Boutique or 5-star hotels from 350 to 600 dollars
DC is considered an expensive city in the United States, due to the high volume of business travelers. Even cheap hotels in Washington are a little more expensive than average.
The values above are a general overview of prices, it is possible to find accommodation a little more expensive or cheaper depending on the season, day of the week or location.
How many days to visit Washington DC?
In three days you can see the essentials in Washington: visit Capitol Hill, the White House, the city’s excellent museums and some of the coolest neighborhoods in the capital of the United States.
Stay longer if you like to travel leisurely or if you are a museum aficionado, after all, the city has some of the best in the country.
What is the best area to stay in Washington DC?
- Downtown e Chinatown
- Dupond Circle e Logan Circle
- Capitol Hill e Waterfront
- Georgetown e Foggy Bottom
All of the neighborhoods above guarantee a good location in Washington, and allow you to get around on foot or by public transport with ease.
Where to stay in Washington DC: the 4 best neighborhoods
Below, we explain the advantages and disadvantages of each neighborhood in Washington DC, so you can choose the hotel with the best location that fits your travel style.
Downtown and Chinatown: Staying in Downtown DC
You know that place in the city where everything happens? This is Downtown DC, basically the city center, which is the best neighborhood to stay in Washington if you want to be close to everything.
The White House is right there, as are all the important tourist attractions, just a leisurely walk away. Furthermore, the cultural life is bustling, with restaurants, bars, theaters and shops. Chinatown, an interesting area to visit, is also in this circle.
Anyway, what you can expect from Downtown is a lot of movement – and also ease of movement.
This is the region with the most accommodation options for different traveler profiles.
Photo: Por Anton_Ivanov / shutterstock.com
You don’t find many hostels in DC, an option in Downtown with an excellent price is the Duo Housing hostel (rating 7.9 – $).
A budget hotel option in this region is The Architect (3 stars, rating 7.6 – $$) which is 700 meters from the White House.
For those who prefer comfort and good value for money, we recommend the excellent Canopy by Hilton Washington DC Embassy Row (3 stars, rating 8.7 – $$$) and the modern and cool Eaton DC (4 stars, rating 8.7 – $ $$).
Finally, for those who want luxury with a view of the White House, check the availability of the Sofitel Lafayette Square Washington DC (5 stars, rating 8.1 – $$$$) or the historic The Hay – Adams (5 stars, rating 8.7 – $ $$$).
Dupond Circle e Logan Circle
Dupont and Logan Circle are areas above downtown. In other words, the location is still excellent, but it has a little less of that city center vibe and more charm.
It’s an elegant area, with beautiful embassies and art galleries, many colonial houses and few buildings. It is also the LGBTQ+ region of Washington.
See all accommodation options in this region
Photo: Por Andrei Medvedev / shutterstock.com
These are good regions for those who want to be close to nightlife, markets, restaurants and cool boutiques.
We list good options in this region:
Capitol Hill e Waterfront
In this region is the famous Capitol, the most important building of the US government, as well as Union Station, Washington DC’s main train station.
To top it off, the Smithsonian Institute, with the largest museum complex in the world, is right there.
Photo: Por Orhan Cam / shutterstock.com
This area, however, is very quiet at night, so avoid it if you intend to enjoy the nightlife in the capital. Furthermore, to wake up with a view of the Capitol, there are few options and prices can be a little steep.
See lodging options on Capitol Hill
Georgetown e Foggy Bottom
Georgetown is the most beautiful area in DC, with its colorful and charming houses and buildings. This is a university neighborhood, and as a result, it is very busy day and night, whether by tourists or students. It has a variety of shops, bars, nightclubs, etc.
There aren’t many hotel options there, but the prices are not very expensive. I would stay there on my next visit to Washington.
Photo: By Tupungato / shutterstock.com
Among the most economical options there is The Georgetown House Inn (grade 8.4 – $$). Another good value for money option is the boutique hotel The Avery Georgetown Hotel (4 stars, rating 8.9 – $$$).
Finally, for those who want luxury, the Four Seasons chain (5 stars, rating 9.2 – $$$$$) has an excellent hotel in the region.
View hotel options in Georgetown
Between the White House and Georgetown is the Foggy Bottom neighborhood. There are the offices of the IMF and the World Bank, as well as George Washington University.
Therefore, the region is a mix of business tourism and a university neighborhood.
Photo: Por Jon Bilous / shutterstock.com
Expect to find a lot of movement day and night, as well as student parties. The good thing about this area is the cost/benefit: they are good hotels at reasonable prices!
The Hotel Hive (3 stars, rating 8.7 – $$) is an economical option in this region of Washington. See also the economical apartment 2500 Penn, the Placemakr Experience (3 stars, rating 8.5 – $$)
Finally, the State Plaza Hotel (4 stars, rating 8.6 – $$$) is a 4-star hotel with excellent value for money!
See accommodation options at Foggy Bottom
Where to stay in Washington: Arlington and Alexandria, options outside the center
Arlington and Alexandria are two cities that are on the outskirts of DC, but so close that they have access to the city’s subway. Basically, they are on the other side of the river.
Both areas are considered safer than the capital. In Arlington there is the Pentagon, the National Cemetery and one of the airports.
Alexandria is known for its beautiful historic center – like a hidden gem for those who know DC well. Furthermore, in these regions you can find cheaper accommodation options than in Washington.
Make sure your hotel is close to a metro station.
Lodging Options in Arlington and Lodging Options in Alexandria
Where to avoid staying in Washington DC?
The main tip you need to know before booking your hotel in Washington is that it must not have the letters “NE” in the address.
This means that it is in the East area of the city, an unrecommended location, due to problems with urban violence, in addition to the distance from tourist attractions. What divides the city between East and West is the Union Station train station.
Sand the address says NW (or West), then everything is fine. Other than that, DC and its surroundings are well served by subway, and are very clean and organized.
It is not a good idea to travel to the United States without international health insurance, as hospital costs there are very high. Read here how to find cost-effective insurance (and with a discount!)
How to save on accommodation in Washington DC
You can explore Washington’s other neighborhoods as well as the surrounding area. Additionally, you can exclusively check out the city’s hostels, bed and breakfasts and motels, which are always the most economical options.
Furthermore, as it is a business tourism city, weekends can often have better prices than during the week. Keep this in mind when planning your trip.
