Fodor's 25 Best Guides offer highlights of major city destinations in a compact package that includes a sturdy, detailed street map you can bring along with you to help you navigate when cell service is not available. By focusing only on top sights―all divided by neighborhood―we make planning your days easy.

Save time and space by having Washington DC's top 25 sights and experiences in one convenient guidebook:

• UPDATED FOR 2020: Fully updated coverage on the information you need to know

• DISCERNING RECOMMENDATIONS: Best bets from local writers for sightseeing, eating, drinking, sleeping, and shopping, for every budget.

• GORGEOUS PHOTOS AND MAPS: Full-color photos and full-size street maps cover the best Washington D.C. has to offer, all in one easy-to-use package. A handy, weather-resistant pullout city map will help you quickly orient yourself and plan your day.

• INDISPENSABLE TRIP-PLANNING TOOLS: The “City Tours” section shows off the best of the city with self-guided tour ideas. Plan excursions outside the city with the “More to See” section.

• PRACTICAL TIPS AND PHRASES: Travel like a local with our “Need to Know” section, filled with useful travel tips.

• COVERS: The White House, FDR and Jefferson Memorials, the Lincoln and Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorials, National Air and Space Museum, the Holocaust Museum, the National Museum of the Native American, National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Washington Monument, Arlington Cemetery, and more!

Ready to experience Washington, D.C.? The experts at Fodor’s are here to help. Fodor’s Washington, D.C. travel guide is packed with customizable itineraries with top recommendations, detailed maps of Washington, D.C., and exclusive tips from locals. Whether you want to explore the Smithsonian Museums, visit the Lincoln Memorial or the White House, or explore the city's increasingly sophisticated restaurant scene, this up-to-date guidebook will help you plan it all out.

This new edition has been FULLY-REDESIGNED with a new layout and beautiful images for more intuitive travel planning! Fodor’s Washington, D.C. includes:

• AN ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE GUIDE that visually captures the top highlights of Washington, D.C.

• SPECTACULAR COLOR PHOTOS AND FEATURES throughout, including special features on the National Air and Space Museum, the U.S. Capitol building, and Arlington National Cemetery.

• INSPIRATIONAL “BEST OF” LISTS that identify the best things to see, do, eat, drink, and more.

• MULTIPLE ITINERARIES for various trip lengths to help you maximize your time.

• MORE THAN 20 DETAILED MAPS AND A FREE PULLOUT MAP to help you plot your itinerary and navigate confidently.

• EXPERT RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS with options for every taste.

• TRIP PLANNING TOOLS AND PRACTICAL TIPS including: guides to getting around, saving money and time, beating the crowds, and a calendar of festivals and events.

• LOCAL INSIDER ADVICE on where to find under-the-radar gems.

• HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL OVERVIEWS that add perspective and enrich your travels.

• COVERS: The Washington Monument, the White House, the Capitol Building, the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial, the Smithsonian museums, Arlington National Cemetery, Georgetown's boutiques, U Street's restaurants, Alexandria, Mount Vernon, Annapolis, Baltimore, and more.

VanDam's 2020 MallSmart Washington DC maps all top attractions including museums, memorials, monuments, major architecture, hotels, the Smithsonian, government and association buildings, the National Mall and the Metro system for all of Washington DC at an immensely legible super-scale of 1:9,500 complete with 3-D building illustrations. Clear information design allows you to read the map from three feet away and has earned VanDam maps a place in the MoMA Collection. The map is film-laminated, accordion folded and pocket size.

Coverage: Mall Map: 1:9,500 Washington DC Street Map 1:16,000 Beltway Map: 1:238,000 Capital MetroTransit Map. Dimensions: 4 x 9 folded, 9 x 24 unfolded, fits into shirt pocket or purse.

2020 MallSmart Washington DC is so legible you will instantly understand the National Mall and how it connects to other parts of the District and Old Town Alexandria. You get God's perspective on Monument City as well as the minute details. This 18th Century city grid with grand diagonal avenues designed by Pierre L'Enfant is a metaphor for the division of power in the Republic. A right triangle with Pennsylvania Avenue as hypotenuse and grand connector between the Executive (White House) and the Legislature (Congress) with the Judiciary (Supreme Court) backing up to Congress on Capitol Hill. The Washington Monument describes the triangle's Western point and serves as your compass needle to navigate the Capital.

2020 MallSmart Washington DC includes a stunning dimensional Mall detail of the central city from Arlington National Cemetery through Foggy Bottom, Federal Triangle, Judiciary Square, Penn Quarter, Chinatown, Downtown, the East End and Capitol Hill. Restrooms and concessions are clearly marked. Separate Beltway and Metro DC maps insure you have everything you need for a successful trip. While politics in the Capital may be petty and divisive, the riches of art, science and culture offered in its museums almost all of them free are generous, conciliatory and un-equalled anywhere else. The hot ticket in town is the new African American Museum of History and Culture. Its bronze colored corona architecture boldly breaks the mold of the mostly white neo-classicist structures on the Mall and offers an intriguing perspective on American history. On the West Mall history is made manifest in the placement of the MLK Memorial where Dr. King stares down Jefferson with Lincoln's backing.

2020 MallSmart Washington DC map scale of 1:9,500 makes you feel you are there with 3D buildings illustrations as your compass. All Metro stops are marked by their respective line in context right on the main map and on a separate subway overview so you know both the local details and understand the larger system. Stephan Van Dam, the map designer and publisher has mapped the Capital for the Smithsonian, The National Gallery and the National Park Service. We also publish a series of Presidential History Maps Lincoln, Jefferson and Washington as well as WDC Pop up Map.

2020 MallSmart Washington DC maps are updated at least twice a year and are more current than any other map available. Its film lamination is extra durable and will last you for your next trip. A customer recently suggested our maps are too good but we like quality that lasts. Simplicity reigns supreme to make complex cities clear and understandable. Our typography creates character and reveals the true bones of the vertical city. VanDam uses a letter grid to identify locations on maps - no confusing and cluttering K-28 or V-34s - its just the city from A-Z. Our covers map the icons of each city and turn them into collectible graphic art. Each sleek and laminated city map package opens to 24" x 9" and then easily folds down to 4" x 9" to snuggly fit into a shirt pocket.

Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher

Lonely Planet's Washington DC is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Climb the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to feel the grand sweep of history; explore space, dinosaurs, art and the history of the nation in the Smithsonian museums; and grab a half-smoke at legendary Ben's Chili Bowl. All with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Washington DC and begin your journey now!

Inside Lonely Planet's Washington DC:

• Full colour maps and images throughout
• Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests
• Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots
• Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices
• Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss
• Cultural insights provide a richer, more rewarding travel experience - covering history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politics
• Covers National Mall, White House Area, Foggy Bottom, Georgetown, Capitol Hill, Southeast DC, Downtown, Penn Quarter, Dupont Circle, Kalorama, Adams Morgan, U Street, Columbia Heights, Upper Northwest DC, Northern Virginia

The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet's Washington DC is our most comprehensive guide to Washington DC, and is perfect for discovering both popular and offbeat experiences.

Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet's USA for an in-depth look at all the country has to offer.

About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world's number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveler since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travelers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, video, 14 languages, nine international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more.

'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' - New York Times

'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves, it's in every traveler's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' - Fairfax Media (Australia)

• NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Washington, DC can be an overwhelming destination for visitors. With so many museums, so many historic sights, so many working government buildings to see―not to mention its scintillating foodie and nightlife scenes―just coming up with a plan can be stressful.

That’s where Frommer’s comes in. We’ve hired local journalist Elise Hartman Ford (a noted expert who has written for the Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine, Ladies Home Journal and countless other publications) to give you the advice and details you need to create the right vacation for you. These include strategies for seeing the iconic sights without fighting the crowds; places that only locals know about; and smart itineraries so you can make the most of your time in the city.

Frommer’s EasyGuide to Washington, D.C.2019 includes:

Dozens of maps, including a handy fold-out map of the city and its underground train system to help you make the most efficient (and fun) use of your time in the Capitol

Exact pricing and public transportation information for every listing in the book, so there’s never any guessing

Opinionated reviews which tell you which attractions are worth your time, and which will only be of interest to some visitors

Star ratings that take value into account, and will help you find the right hotels, restaurants, nightspots and shops for you, in all price ranges

Fun-to-follow, self-guided walking tours of DC’s most intriguing neighborhoods

16-page photo guide with vibrant photographs, at the front of the book, plus black and white photos throughout

About Frommer’s: There’s a reason that Frommer’s has been the most trusted name in travel for more than sixty years. Arthur Frommer created the best-selling guide series in 1957 to help American servicemen fulfill their dreams of travel in Europe, and since then, we have published thousands of titles became a household name helping millions upon millions of people realize their own dreams of seeing our planet. Travel is easy with Frommer’s.

Headed to Washington, D.C. with kids? Want to ensure your young explorers get the most out of their incredible opportunity to experience the U.S. capital? Then you've come to the right place!

Mission Washington, D.C. takes your young travelers through the famous sights of D.C., engaging them in an exciting scavenger hunt as you explore city landmarks together.

Say “goodbye” to a trip filled with the stress of keeping everyone entertained. Instead, say “hello!” to a memorable family trip. Imagine - your kids will be excited to sightsee (yes, even at museums!) as you discover the wonders of D.C. as a family.

Get Mission Washington, D.C. today for your young jet-setters…and make sure it’s in their bag when they take off for the U.S. capital!

Mission Washington, D.C. offers a fun vacation for everyone - with a captivating, spy-theme scavenger hunt packed with entertaining activities. When your kids set off on their “mission,” with the goal of earning enough points to become a “special agent,” they’ll gain points as:

-History Sleuths: They’ll search for clues in the statues and sculptures of the Capitol, Supreme Court, MLK, Jr. Memorial, World War II Memorial, to name only a few.

-Culture Detectives: They’ll discover the fascinating stories as they explore the collections of the American History Museum, Air and Space Museum and the Natural History Museum.

-Monument Investigators: They’ll uncover clues on the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial …and many more engaging activities.

Note: This edition includes the FDR Memorial and Korean Vets Memorial but it does not include Mt. Vernon. (Amazon 'Search Inside' is incorrect.)

Experiencing D.C. is an amazing opportunity for anyone, especially a young person. Make your kids’ trip one to remember. Get Mission Washington, D.C. today for your young explorers…and be sure it’s in their suitcase when they set off for the Capital City!

Our series also includes books for Paris, Rome, London, Amsterdam, Barcelona, New York, and St. Augustine.

Here’s what Amazon customers have to say about the Scavenger Hunt Adventure^TM series:

“The book rendered the city and its many monuments and attractions accessible and understandable to our daughter; and, the book turned out to be equally fun for the adults…This book would be appealing for a wide range of ages.” – RS in SF (from ‘Mission Paris’)

“This book was flat out fantastic…We took a family trip with two adults and one seven year old. I was worried that he would be bored looking at the museums and sights the adults wanted to see. This book made a huge, huge difference. He loved being a secret agent and earning points.” – Chinagrl (from ‘Mission Paris’)

“My son enjoyed finding things in the city & we all enjoyed finding things that we may not have known existed.” – Enjoying Life (from ‘Mission Barcelona’)