Washington D.C.
How to Get Around Washington D.C.
Getting Around
The Metro is clean, straightforward and reaches most of what a visitor wants, including both the closer airports. It closes earlier than New York's — check the last trains if you are out late.
Walking is the right way to do the Mall, but it is bigger than it looks: the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial is two miles, and there is no shade. Bike-share stations are everywhere and are the better option in summer.
Do not drive. The diagonal avenues and circles confuse everyone, parking is scarce and expensive, and the traffic is among the worst in the country.
Reagan National is on the Metro and minutes from downtown; Dulles is further out with its own Metro extension; Baltimore-Washington is served by commuter rail.
Union Station handles intercity rail, with frequent services north to Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York.