Written by Katie Howard – Updated November, 2023
From the historic charm of Alexandria, to the beautiful brownstone embassies in Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C. has a diverse set of neighborhoods that carter to most any traveler’s expectations. Whether you’re looking to party, focused on museums, trying to impress a loved one, or bringing the whole family, the greater Washington, D.C. area has a neighborhood for you.
The biggest mistake I see people make is assuming downtown DC is the best place to stay in the greater Washington, D.C. are. Often downtown is not the best choice, and instead is the most expensive. During the weekend however, rates downtown drop, as do they all over the entire D.C. region when business travelers leave. Considering Arlington, Alexandria, Crystal, City or a suburb location in Washington, D.C. can amount significant savings.
The other mistake we see people make is relying on driving or Ubers to get around. The Metro opens up access to places to stay on a budget in Washington, D.C. and more importantly takes away the almighty traffic jam.
| Location | Why | Hotels |
|---|---|---|
| South Alexandria | Budget | $$ |
| Rosslyn | Romantic Getaway, Skyline Views | $ |
| Ballston | Family | $$ |
| Courthouse / Clarendon | Nightlife | $$ |
| Woodley Park | Sightseeing | $$$ |
| Dupont Circle | Nightlife | $$ |
| Capitol Hill | National Mall / Smithsonian | $$ |
| Crystal City | DCA Access | $ |
| Bethesda | Family | $ |
| Branch Ave. | Budget / Family | $ |
Answer: Most people find that staying in Arlington, VA which is located across from the Potomac river outside of Washington, D.C. is the best blend of quality surroundings and affordable hotels.
Answer: Most people who are visiting Washington, D.C. for the first time are going for the National Mall and Smithsonian Musesums. In that case the best places to stay when visiting Washington, D.C. for the first time is to stay south of the National Mall near the L’Enfant or Federal Center Metro Metro stations.
| Location | Hotel Rates | Commute |
|---|---|---|
| Woodley Park | $$$ | 10 mins |
| Chinatown | $$$ | 0 mins |
| Foggy Bottom | $$ | 10 mins |
| Lenfant | $$ | 5 mins |
Answer: The best places to stay in DC for sightseeing will be those closest to the National Mall and the Smithsonian Museums near the Chinatown Metro Station, or Smithsonian Metro Station. Keep in mind that while most Smithsonian museums are located at the National Mall there are Smithsonian Museums elsewhere like the National Zoo in Woodley Park, Mt. Vernon south of Alexandria, and the Udvar Space Museum near Vienna, VA.
Answer: The best places to stay in DC for those who want a short walk to the National Mall, Monuments, and National Museums will be hotels near the Chinatown Metro Station, or Smithsonian Metro Station.
Answer. Tourist looking for the best places to stay should first prioritize what is most important when visiting Washington, D.C. For tourist on a budget the Metro can help save on a hotel by staying near the Van Ness, or Dunn-Loring, Branch Ave Metro station. Alexandria, or in Arlington, are the best alternatives to popular downtown dc tourist locations.
Answer. The best places to stay within walking distance to the Smithsonian Museums are locations near the Smithsonian Metro Station. Foggy-Bottom near GW’s campus is another popular locations for people who are looking for a safe places to stay near Smithsonian Museums.
Pros & Cons to Staying Downtown. Downtown spans from Union Station to Georgetown and is north of the National Mall. The hub of downtown D.C. for tourist is at the Gallery Plaza / Chinatown Metro station. It takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes to walk from downtown to the National Mall. The pros to staying in this area are that there is a great deal of hotels, an abundance of nightlife and restaurant options as well as access to number of museums and shopping. The cons are the costs of hotels, noise and parking fees. There are not hotel in downtown that offer free parking. Most travelers would consider downtown D.C. a safe place. A pro tip is to consider downtown hotels on Friday and Saturday nights, but to avoid it during the week when rates jump up by $75 to $100 a night.
| Location | Hotel Rates |
|---|---|
| Chinatown | $$$ |
| Metro Center | $$ |
| Foggy Bottom | $$ |
| Farragut | $$$ |
| Union Station | $$$ |
Pros & Cons to Staying South of the National Mall. The area just south of the National Mall is home to large government agencies and spans the distance between the supreme court and the Lincoln Memorial. The pros to this area are that you will be able to walk from the hotel to the National Mall including all the museums and monuments. The cons are that hotel choices are limited and the area clears out after dark without much nearby in the way of restaurants or nightlife. For some the quite may be welcomed, for others it is a drawback. Pro tip for this area is that it is home to the #1 hotel for families, that is the Capitol Holiday Inn which also has a rooftop pool.
| Location | Hotel Rates |
|---|---|
| Federal Center | $$$ |
| Capitol South | $$$ |
| Lenfant | $$ |
#1 Courtyard Marriot, at Dunn-Loring |
| Why People Like It. The most popular hotel on this website is the Courtyard Marriot at the Dunn Loring Metro. It is well liked because of its easy access off I-495 and I-66 near Tyson’s corner. The Courtyard Marriott has secure free underground parking and is a short walk to the Metro. The hotel doesn’t have a free breakfast, but it does offer free wifi, a gym, and pool. Online reviews are rarely negative and many reviews appreciated several casual dining options within walking distance to the hotel. |
#2 Country Inn & Suites, at Branch Ave. |
| Why People Like It. The Branch Ave. Metro station is in a suburban setting particularly good for families on a budget who are looking for a base to launch their vacation. The location won’t excite or distress, but that is okay for most travelers who just need a reliable hotel for sleeping and breakfast. These hotels are quite similar. In fact, they are all on the same cul-de-sac. Each are 3 blocks from the Metro and that walk can take about 15 minutes, but out of the bunch Country Inn and Suites is the one to consider first. |
#3 Capitol Holiday Inn, at Lenfant |
| Why People Like It. This is the ideal hotel for families who want to spend almost all of their time in D.C. at the National Mall seeing museums and monuments. The hotel location is within walking distance to the Air and Space Museum. This is not an ideal hotel for business travelers or couples because there are no restaurants or nightlife attractions nearby. Families will appreciate the rooftop pool, and free meals for kids. As of March 2016 the hotel has been renovated. One nagging complaint was that the hotel backs up to the train tracks and this does cause noise. Ask for a hotel room away from the tracks. |
#4 Le Meridien Arlington, Rosslyn |
| Why People Like It. The Le Meridien at Rosslyn is one of the best locations for a variety of travelers. Walk across the bridge to Georgetown, or catch the Metro and be downtown and at the National Mall in under 15 minutes. The hotel is located right off I-66. The express bus stop to Dulles airport is nearby. This hotel is at the nexus of every DC bike / jogging trail. Some travelers liked the balconies that overlook Washington, D.C. Beware this hotel is right under DCA’s flight path, but we didn’t see too many negative remarks about airplane noise. |
#5 Pod Hotel, Chinatown |
| Why People Like It. The premise of Pod is that you get the essentials. The hotel doesn’t have a gym, pool, or free breakfast, nor does it offer parking. What you get is a basic room, and being a new hotel those rooms, while Spartan, are up to date. The hotel also boasts a rooftop bar, coffee bar, restaurant and whiskey bar. Pod is often be the best places to stay in downtown Washington, D.C. |
| Location | Commute | Hotels |
|---|---|---|
| Ballston | 15 mins | $$ |
| Foggy Bottom | 10 mins | $$ |
| Lenfant | 5 mins | $$ |
| Bethesda | 20 mins | $ |
| Branch Ave. | 30 mins | $ |
Answer: Families visiting Washington, D.C. usually will prioritize a safe neighborhood, and a hotel with breakfast for kids, suite rooms and a pool. In that case The Capitol Holiday Inn near the National Mall is the best choice. The hotel is three blocks from the National Mall, in recently renovated, and best of all has a rooftop pool! The hotel is near transit to DCA, and the surrounding neighborhood is quite at night relative to downtown DC.
Answer: The best place to stay without a car if you are flying into Washington, D.C. is Crystal City. If you are coming to D.C. without a car than in most cases you are arriving by train or through one of the three major airports. In this case staying near the Metro is critical and there are over 100 hotels within walking distance to the Metro that are in DC, and outside in Maryland and Virginia.
Answer. Tourist looking for a safe places to stay in Washington D.C. often look at staying out in the suburbs near Dunn-Loring, or near the Branch Ave Metro station south of Washington, DC. If you want to visit DC in the day and stay somewhere else at night locations Ballston, or Bethesda are popular choices for safe places to stay.
Answer: The average tourist should feel comfortable in most conventional places in DC. While visiting you’ll be amazed at the variety and multitude of police operating in the surrounding areas. These neighborhoods in areas are ones that tourist continually criticize for lack of feeling safe in their surroundings; Union Station, the NoMa station, and neighborhoods near the Nationals Ballpark.
Answer: Most people who are vesting Washington, D.C. will want to stay at least 2 nights and spend 3 days. This is enough time to see the essential monuments and museums along the National Mall.
Woodley Park Neighborhood: Woodley Park can be an expensive area to stay in, but is a great option for families who are looking to spend some time at the Zoo, or for visitors looking to party with the locals. Woodley Park is an affluent neighborhood in northwest DC on the red line. North of Dupont Circle, Woodley Park is home to families and young professionals in a mix of apartment buildings and single-family homes. While Woodley Park is generally quite safe, Adams Morgan, the adjacent neighborhood across the Duke Ellington Bridge does attract rowdy crowds on weekends—you can except fights even with a heavy police presence, this is the most intense bar scene in DC. The main attraction at Woodley Park is the National Zoo, part of the Smithsonian Institution. Free and open every day except Dec. 25, the Zoo is a favorite for young and old alike. Woodley Park also has easy access to the trails in Rock Creek Park. Find hotels near Woodley Park.
Branch Ave. Neighborhood: The Branch Ave. Metro station is in a suburban setting particularly good for families on a budget who are looking for a base to launch their vacation. Hotel prices here are routinely lower than most other areas in Washington, DC. The location won’t excite or distress, but that is okay for most travelers who just need a reliable hotel for sleeping and breakfast. A suburban area that is home to quite a few government buildings, most travelers will feel safe if they chose to walk the short distance from the hotels to the Metro. There is parking available at the Metro for over $5 per day. Find hotels near the Branch Ave. Metro.
| Location | Commute | Hotels |
|---|---|---|
| Huntington-Eisenhower | 30 mins | $$ |
| Van Ness | 10 mins | $$ |
| Shady Grove | 40 mins | $ |
| Branch Ave. | 30 mins | $ |
Finding a place to stay in Washington, D.C. can be made a lot easier by utilizing the Metro. There area over 100 hotels within walking distance to the Metro and often the best places to stay on a budget are located just outside the city limits within a 15 to 20 minute commute to downtown or the National Mall.
If you are looking for a hotel in the Washington, D.C. area that is best for a romantic getaway than we like the Le Meridian at Rosslyn, or the Embassy Row hotel in Dupont Circle, and the Capitol Hill Hotel near the Near the National Mall for one of the best locations for sightseeing and culture in D.C. Embassy Row has an excellent roof top pool, and the neighborhood is filled with fun bars alongside an assortment of options for restaurants. Rosslyn hotels often have views overlooking Washington, D.C. If you have ever watched House of Cards on Netflix the opening credits utilizes many of the view from Rosslyn in Arlington, VA.
| Location | Hotels | Commute |
|---|---|---|
| Courthouse / Clarendon | $$ | 15 mins |
| Woodley Park | $$$ | 10 mins |
| Dupont Circle | $$ | 10 mins |
| Chinatown | $$$ | 0 mins |
| Area | Avg. Rate | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal City | $224 | Good |
| Ballston | $204 | Limited |
| Rosslyn | $247 | Good |
| Clarendon | $202 | Limited |
We spent over 40 hours digging into Airbnb listings in Washington, DC that compare the hotels near the Metro listed on this site. Our priority was to examine reliable Airbnb’s with a strong track record that are also in close proximity to the Metro that ARE AVAILABLE as a while house or whole apartment
Airbnb’s in and around Washington, D.C. come at a high cost relative to the value of hotels. When we looked at common weekends tourist visit Arlington, VA Airbnbs that compare closet with hotels are more expensive. Below are the average cost of Airbnbs when you have the whole place to yourself, meaning that the host is not staying with you. These averages also don’t include cleaning fees, and other fees that Airbnb charges.
The trouble with Airbnb is the fees, particularly the cleaning fees. When you stay at a hotel you don’t pay a cleaning fee, and outside of taxes the price shown is what you end up paying. This can make shopping Airbnb difficult because most of the time you won’t understand all the fees until you are ready to book and have decided on a particular place. The extra work deciphering fees makes comparing Airbnb to a hotel in Washington, DC more difficult. Below are the fees to be aware of with Airbnb.
Couples or groups trying to determine where to stay in Washington, D.C. for nightlife will want a mix access to restaurants and bars, as well as relatively short commute to day time tourist spots. One of the best places to stay in Washington, D.C. for nightlife is Dupont Circle. Dupont Cirlce is located in the urban residential neighborhoods north of downtown D.C. As for nightlife the area is home to the DC Improv, dive bars (try the Big Hunt), dance clubs (Eighteenth Street Lounge is a local favorite), and many restaurants.
Chinatown is in the heart of downtown DC near the Version Center and will offer up plenty of bars and restaurants with a short walk to the National Mall. Clarendon is well suited for 20 somethings who want the just out of college nightlife and, finally Adam’s Morgan has a high concentration of bars within a 5-6 block stretch that gets very rowdy on Friday and Saturday nights.
The Clarendon and Courthouse metro stations form the heart of bustling Arlington. A little less than a mile separates these two stations, but the area is a vibrant, urban center, and the section of Arlington that has the most to offer visitors. Full of luxury high-rises and single-family homes, Clarendon/Courthouse is home to affluent families and young professionals. hoppers will enjoy the mix of major retailers, like Ann Taylor and Pottery Barn, and independent shops, like South Moon Under, a local clothing boutique. Though the area can get a bit rowdy on weekend nights, this neighborhood is safe and welcoming. Hotels near Clarendon / Courthouse Metro.
Dupont Circle is a trendy, urban area in the heart of DC. It is perfect for a romantic getaway to Washington, DC. Close to downtown and to the major tourist destinations, this neighborhood is a mix of many things—high rise buildings and massive row homes, young professionals and seasoned diplomats, local boutiques and national chains. A bustling area full of embassies and wealthy residents, this area is comfortable and regarded as safe by nearly all travelers. As for things to do at night the area is home to the DC Improv, dive bars (try the Big Hunt), dance clubs (Eighteenth Street Lounge is a local favorite), and many restaurants. Give Dupont Circle consideration if you are coming to Washington, DC, but be prepared to pay dearly for parking, and extra on hotels. Hotels near Dupont Cirlce Metro.
| Location | Hotels | Commute |
|---|---|---|
| Chinatown | $$$ | 0 mins |
| Foggy Bottom | $$ | 10 mins |
| Tysons Corner | $ | 30 mins |
| Metro Center | $$ | 0 mins |
There are lost of hotels in Washington, D.C. that are great for families that will want to eat breakfast and other small meals in their hotel room, or at their hotel. Here are the four hidden gem hotels that are great for families that need a hotel with a kitchen in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. has an expansive network of trails that quite literally connect each corner of D.C. and each far into the Suburbs of Maryland and Virginia. For those who want to arrive in D.C. and bike from their hotel to attractions some of the best locations for staying in a bike friendly part of Washington, D.C. are Alexandria, Rosslyn and Crystal City. Each of these locations are along the Mt. Vernon bike path that site right next to the Potomac river. The bike trail has great views of Washington, D.C. from Arlington, VA and passes the Pentagon, DCA and Arlington National Cemetery. Other locations with access to bike path ways are Dupont, Van Ness along the Rock Creek Park Trails, then Bethesda along the Capitol Crescent Trail. Ballston and Falls Church are along the Custis trail. Each of these locations also have Metro access. Its easy to visit D.C. and have a green vacation!
Staying Alexandria Virginia just outside of Washington, D.C. is best for people who are prioritizing Mt. Vernon as part of their trip to D.C. or for those who are driving from the south and need to stay at a hotel with parking near the Metro. Alexandria will charm anyone who loves restaurants, its location near the Potomac river also makes it the boarding destination for various river cruises.
If you love to bike DC loves you. There are over 75 miles of trail spanning in all directions and bikers often don’t have to navigation busy roads to enjoy the miles and miles of bike trails. Bikers who are comfortable riding between 10 to 15 miles per day can experience riding from their hotel to the National Mall. Stay in Bethesda and commute in via the Capital Cresent trail, or through Rock Creek Park. Stay in Ballston and take the Custis trail. Or, stay in Alexandria and ride in via the Mt. Vernon trail.
While there are a number of hotels in northeast Washington, D.C. its not a great option because of the lack of hotels that are connected to public transit. A lot of people will look for hotels between Baltimore and DC, the best metro stations for staying in northeast DC between Baltimore are New Carrollton, Greenbelt, Shady Grove, and Silver Spring.
Washington, D.C. coolest neighborhood is always up for debate, but as a rule of thumb you can rule out anywhere outside of Washington, D.C. in Maryland and Virginia as up and coming. The most trendy and hip areas are usually between DuPont Circle and Logan Circle along P street, Adams Morgan (nightlife) and H street east of the Capitol. For the most posh, boutique hotel experience look at DuPont Circle.
There are two factors to consider when comparing staying inside or outside D.C. Those are how you’re getting to D.C. and what is your budget. If you’re arriving by car and need a place to park it will be at least $20 inside the District of Columbia, if you want a hotel under $150 that may also be hard to come by inside D.C. A lot of people who arrive at the airport, or Union Station via bus or train will want to explore options that are within walking distance to National Mall like Chinatown, Foggy-Bottom or the area just south of the National Mall near the Federal Center Metro Station.
| Location | Hotel Rates |
|---|---|
| Chinatown | $$$ |
| Metro Center | $$ |
| Foggy Bottom | $$ |
| Farragut | $$$ |
| Union Station | $$$ |
| Station | Hotel Rates | Commute |
|---|---|---|
| Woodley Park | $$$ | 10 mins |
| Dupont Circle | $$ | 10 mins |
| Van Ness | $$ | 10 mins |
| Friendship Heights | $$$ | 15 mins |
| Mt. Vernon | $ | 5 mins |
| Station | Hotels | Commute |
|---|---|---|
| Twinbrook | $$ | 25 mins |
| College Park | $ | 30 mins |
| Greenbelt | $ | 30 mins |
| White Flint | $$$ | 32mins |
| Shady Grove | $ | 40 mins |
| Bethesda | $ | 20 mins |
| Silver Spring | $$ | 25 mins |
| Rockville | $$ | 40 mins |
| Station | Hotels | Commute |
|---|---|---|
| Branch Ave. | $ | 30 mins |
| Franconia / Springfield | $ | 30 mins |
| Largo Town Center | $ | 30 mins |
| New Carrollton | $$ | 30 mins |
| Station | Hotel Rates | Commute |
|---|---|---|
| Rosslyn | $ | 10 mins |
| Ballston | $$ | 15 mins |
| Courthouse / Clarendon | $$ | 15 mins |
| Crystal City | $$ | 15 mins |
| Pentagon City | $$ | 15 mins |
| Station | Hotels | Commute |
|---|---|---|
| Braddock | $$ | 20 mins |
| King Street | $$$ | 20 mins |
| Eisenhower | $$ | 30 mins |
| Station | Hotels | Commute |
|---|---|---|
| Falls Church | $ | 20 mins |
| Dunn-Loring | $$ | 30 mins |
| Spring Hill | $ | 30 mins |
| Tysons Corner | $ | 30 mins |
| Vienna | $ | 30 mins |
| Reston | $$ | 40 mins |
