Photo: Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.05 Days in New York City & Washington DC: Icons, Monuments & the Amtrak Link
Three days on New York's icons — Times Square, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty ferry and the great museums — then ride Amtrak down the Northeast Corridor for two days on the National Mall: the Lincoln Memorial, the free Smithsonians and the U.S. Capitol. The plan re-plans itself around how you travel: your pace, budget and style reshape every day.
Pick a style, a budget and a pace — the route and days below re-plan themselves.
13 stops · 10 meals · 2 hotels · 1 transferThis is the editor’s pick.
5 days, 2 cities
From New York City to Washington DC, with 1 move between cities. The map shows the whole route — pick a day to zoom in.
New York City
Midtown Manhattan · Lower Manhattan · Queens
- Day 1Midtown Manhattan: The Empire State Building & Times Square
- Day 2Lower Manhattan: The Statue of Liberty ferry & the 9/11 Memorial & Museum
- Day 3Queens: The Queens Museum & the Queens Night Market
- Train to Washington DC · 4h 35m
Washington DC
National Mall · Capitol Hill
- Day 4National Mall: The Lincoln Memorial & the White House
- Day 5Capitol Hill: The U.S. Capitol & the Library of Congress
The Art Deco icon with open-air 86th-floor and glass 102nd-floor observatories — 360-degree views on a clear day.
- Book timed tickets online in advance; open 365 days a year.
The Beaux-Arts train station with a celestial ceiling, whispering gallery and dining concourse — and the Amtrak terminal that links NYC to DC.
- Stand at opposite corners of the Main Concourse arches to test the whispering gallery.
Family-style Italian with huge portions — a pre-theater favorite.
- Portions serve 2-3; reservations recommended.
The 'Crossroads of the World' — neon billboards, Broadway marquees and round-the-clock crowds in the heart of Midtown.
- Best after dark when the billboards are brightest; it's free to visit.
- Do Times Square after dark, then a short walk to family-style Italian at Carmine's — portions serve 2-3.
Italian food hall at the World Trade Center with restaurants, markets, and a rooftop.
- Multiple counters; the rooftop has harbor views.
Business hotel by the World Trade Center.
- Steps from the 9/11 Memorial.
Twin reflecting pools set in the tower footprints, plus the museum chronicling September 11.
- The Memorial is free; the Museum needs timed tickets.
Observation decks on the 100th-102nd floors of One World Trade Center with panoramic harbor views.
- The Sky Pod elevators climb 102 floors in 47 seconds.
- Do the 9/11 Memorial in the morning, then ride up One World Observatory (4 min away) for the harbor view.
Historic 1762 tavern where Washington bid farewell to his officers; now a restaurant and museum.
- The museum upstairs covers Revolutionary War history.
The ferry from Battery Park to Liberty Island and Ellis Island: the crown, the museum, the harbor.
- Crown tickets sell out months ahead — book early and go in the morning.
A stretch
60th-floor New American restaurant with sweeping skyline views.
- Book for sunset; the dining room faces the harbor.
Stay put: 13 min walk back from the Statue of Liberty ferry tonight, ~66 min by subway to the Queens Night Market in the morning.
Corona tortilla factory and casual Mexican cafe grinding its own nixtamal; featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
- Tacos al pastor and pozole; open Tue-Sun 11am-8pm; a 10-minute walk from the Queens Museum.
Saturday nights behind the New York Hall of Science: 100+ food, art and merch vendors from dozens of countries.
- Free admission — arrive between 4 and 6pm; crowds peak after sunset.
- Do the Queens Night Market on Saturday evening; fuel up first at Tortilleria Nixtamal — about a 10-minute walk from the Queens Museum.
Museum in the 1964 World's Fair building, home to the Panorama of the City of New York — a 9,335-square-foot scale model of all five boroughs.
- Suggested admission $8; the Panorama is a 1:1,200 scale model built for the 1964 World's Fair.
Mexican restaurant in DUMBO with tacos, guacamole and margaritas; garden views of the Brooklyn Bridge in warm months.
- Garden seating with bridge views in the warmer months.
Stay put: ~68 min by subway back from the Queens Museum tonight, ~66 min by subway to the Queens Night Market in the morning.
New York City to Washington DC
333 km, rated for speed and cost. For a first-timer trip on a comfortable budget at a balanced pace, take the Amtrak Northeast Regional. It's only 35 min slower than the quickest option, at $$ instead of $$$.
Foggy Bottom bar and restaurant serving Southern-twist American comfort food.
- Signature tater tots with homemade dipping sauces; a few blocks from the Kennedy Center.
The president's residence and office — admire it from Lafayette Square or the Ellipse.
- Public tours are free but must be requested through a member of Congress weeks to months in advance.
The nineteen-foot seated Lincoln in a Greek-temple memorial above the Reflecting Pool.
- Open 24 hours a day, free — no tickets needed.
Bustling American bistro with a dog-friendly patio — small plates, burgers and flatbreads steps from the Metro.
- Happy hour with 20+ wines by the glass; lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.
Playful micro-room hotel near GWU and the Kennedy Center — a budget-friendly base.
- Compact smart rooms at a good price; walk to the Kennedy Center.
Seat of Congress with the Rotunda, Crypt and Statuary Hall.
- Free guided tours; reserve timed passes online in advance.
The world's largest library — the Jefferson Building's Great Hall, Gutenberg Bible and Main Reading Room stun.
- Free timed-entry passes required; closed Mondays.
- The U.S. Capitol tour exits near the Library of Congress (6 min) — the Jefferson Building is the prettiest stop in DC.
Cafe in the National Gallery Sculpture Garden with salads and sandwiches by the fountain.
- Pleasant terrace seating in good weather; open during museum hours.
Food truck near the National Mall serving smash burgers, lamb shawarma and quesadillas.
- Open daily 10am-6pm.
Guided evening tour of the illuminated memorials by bus or on foot — the most atmospheric Mall experience.
- Several operators run nightly tours; book online ahead, especially in spring and fall.
DC's oldest saloon (1856) by the White House: oysters, burgers and steaks in landmark Victorian rooms.
- Very busy — reserve or expect a wait at peak times.
Stay put: ~16 min by taxi back from the Monuments by Moonlight tour tonight, ~21 min by taxi to the U.S. Capitol in the morning.
Where to stay in New York City & Washington DC
Ranked for first-timer travelers on a comfortable budget. The places this plan sleeps in come first.
New York City
Club Quarters Hotel World Trade Center
Business hotel by the World Trade Center.
The Jane Hotel
1908 sailors' hotel with tiny cabin rooms in the West Village.
Hotel Wales
Carnegie Hill boutique hotel near the Met.
Washington DC
Hotel Hive
Playful micro-room hotel near GWU and the Kennedy Center — a budget-friendly base.
Hotel Indigo Old Town Alexandria
Modern boutique on the Alexandria waterfront with river views.
Tabard Inn
Historic 1922 inn with antique-filled rooms and a beloved garden restaurant.
Flights to New York City & Washington DC
Fly into JFK (JFK)
Flight results via Travelpayouts — we may earn a commission on bookings.
Getting around New York City & Washington DC
How to actually move around each city — transit, rideshare, bikes, and taxis.
New York City
Public transit
The subway runs 24/7 and is the fastest way across town; buses fill the gaps. Tap to pay with OMNY.
- OMNY tap-to-go on the subway
Subway and local buses cost $3.00 per ride; tap a contactless card, phone, or OMNY card at the turnstile. Transfers between subway and bus are free. After 12 paid rides within 7 days using the same payment method, the rest of the week's rides are free (7-day fare cap, $35).
Tip: Use the same card or phone every tap so the 12-ride fare cap tracks you; single-ride tickets cost $3.50 and don't count.
- JFK AirTrain
From JFK, the AirTrain ($8.75) connects all terminals to Jamaica station (E/J/Z trains and LIRR to Penn Station or Grand Central) and to Howard Beach (A train). Pay with any contactless card, phone, or OMNY card; the subway leg onward costs $3.00.
Tip: For the fastest airport-to-Manhattan trip, take the AirTrain to Jamaica and switch to the LIRR (about 20 minutes to Grand Central).
- LaGuardia via the free Q70 bus
LaGuardia has no rail link; the Q70 LaGuardia Link bus runs free between all LGA terminals and the Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av subway station (7/E/F/M/R), about 30-45 minutes to Midtown for one $3.00 subway fare.
Tip: The planned AirTrain to LaGuardia was cancelled, so plan on the Q70 + subway; it's luggage-rack equipped.
Rideshare
App-based cars are everywhere and usually faster than a cab outside Manhattan. Expect surge pricing at rush hour and late nights.
- Uber
Uber operates citywide across all five boroughs with upfront pricing shown before you book. Expect surge pricing at rush hour and late nights, when the subway is usually cheaper for short hops.
Tip: Tipping 15-20% in the app is the expected norm; drivers rate riders, and cash isn't needed.
- Lyft
Lyft operates citywide across all five boroughs with upfront pricing, and its app can also hail yellow taxis through the Curb partnership. Like Uber, prices rise at peak times.
Tip: You can hail a yellow cab inside the Lyft app via its Curb partnership and still get Lyft's upfront pricing and in-app tipping.
Bikes
The city is flat and the densest sights sit within a few miles; bikeshare beats a cab for short hops below Central Park.
- Citi Bike
Lyft-operated bikeshare with stations across all five boroughs, 24/7. A day pass ($25) buys unlimited 30-minute classic-bike rides for 24 hours; e-bikes cost extra per minute (27 cents/min for members, more for pass holders). Get the pass in the Citi Bike or Lyft app.
Tip: E-bike overage racks up fast: dock within 30 minutes or grab another bike.
Taxis
Iconic and plentiful in Manhattan; elsewhere you'll usually wait less for an app car.
- Yellow cabs and the Curb app
Yellow cabs are the only cars allowed to pick up street hails anywhere in the city; hail by raising a hand or book through the Curb app for upfront pricing. Street hails run on the meter. Green boro taxis serve northern Manhattan and the outer boroughs at the same metered fares.
Tip: Tip 15-20% on the metered fare at the back-seat touchscreen; cards are accepted in every cab.
Washington DC
Public transit
WMATA's Metrorail and Metrobus cover the Mall, Capitol Hill, Georgetown (via bus), and Arlington. The Metro runs 5am-midnight weekdays, 7am-midnight weekends.
- WMATA Metrorail
Six-line subway system connecting downtown DC, National Mall (Smithsonian, Archives, Federal Triangle stations), Capitol Hill (Capitol South, Union Station), and Arlington/Alexandria.
Tip: Buy a SmarTrip card ($2) at any station; fares are distance-based ($2.25-$6.75 peak). The $13.50 Day Pass pays off after 3+ rides.
- Metrobus
Extensive bus network filling gaps where Metro doesn't reach, including Georgetown (30-series lines) and late-night service.
Tip: Same SmarTrip card works; $2.25 base fare. The Circulator bus ($1) loops the Mall and Georgetown.
Rideshare
Uber and Lyft operate throughout DC with typical urban wait times of 3-7 minutes.
- Uber
Full Uber service (UberX, Comfort, XL) available across the District, Arlington, and Alexandria.
Tip: Surge pricing hits during rush hour and major events on the Mall; Metro is often faster for Mall-to-Capitol trips.
- Lyft
Lyft operates with similar coverage to Uber in the DC metro area.
Tip: Compare both apps — prices vary by 10-20% during peak times.
Bikes
Capital Bikeshare has 700+ stations across DC, Arlington, and Alexandria. The Mall and Tidal Basin are flat and bike-friendly.
- Capital Bikeshare
Docked bikeshare with e-bikes available; stations every few blocks downtown and along the Mall.
Tip: $8 day pass includes unlimited 45-min rides. The ride around the Tidal Basin is the best 30 minutes in DC.
Taxis
Licensed DC taxis use metered fares; hail on the street or use the Curb app.
- DC Taxis (Curb app)
Metered taxis — $3.50 base + $2.16/mile. The Curb app hails and pays for licensed DC cabs.
Tip: Taxis can't use bus lanes; during rush hour they're slower than Metro for downtown trips. Tip 15-20%.
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- Photo: Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.05 days
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