Defined by decisions that shape the world, populated by leaders and lobbyists, there’s no disputing that Washington, DC is a high-powered place. Here, imposing monuments and memorials neighbour the country’s best museums, standing in honour of the country’s heroes, sharing its history and remembering its tragedies. March past power deals towards leafy neighbourhoods where cultural and culinary exploration is always just around the corner.
Visit Washington, DC: get started
Sightseeing in Washington, DC should include stops at the White House and the United States Capitol, as well as top attractions like the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall. Visit the best museums in Washington, DC, from the National Museum of African American History and Culture to the National Gallery of Art. It all starts here, with flight and hotel bundles to get you there for less!
Washington, DC travel guide
Destination facts
Language
English
What to bring back
Supreme Court accessories (cufflinks?) or decor from the Supreme Court gift shop, White House-related souvenirs, the locally loved Mambo sauce (a condiment used on pretty much everything) and unique books or gifts from the city’s glorious museums (astronaut candy from the National Air and Space Museum?)
What to eat
Breakfast next to members of Congress at the White House-adjacent Café du Parc or Old Ebbitt Grill, a steak at one of the many politico-preferred steakhouses (Bourbon Steak, BLT Steak, etc.), American classics like pizza, burgers or the city’s iconic half-smoke sausage and international staples like ramen.
Fun fact
Washington, DC sure loves monuments. If you’ve already crossed off the main ones, make a beeline for the lesser known bronze Albert Einstein sitting on the campus of the National Academy of Sciences, the Darth Vader head poking out of the National Cathedral, Neptune chilling in the fountain of the Library of Congress or a particularly scandalous statue of George Washington at the National Museum of American History (it’s….topless).
Important info
For more information on all necessary travel documents, visa, taxes and more, check Air Canada’s Travel Requirements page and the Government of Canada’s Travel and Tourism website.
