Washington, D.C. is one of those cities that deserves several days of exploring — but if you’re short on time, it’s still possible to see many of the highlights in just one day.

During our trip to New York, we decided to squeeze in a day trip from NYC to Washington, D.C., and although it made for a very long day, it ended up being one of the highlights of our entire trip.

Before leaving for New York, we booked a return day ticket with Megabus, which made the journey both easy and affordable.

Our day began very early — 4am early. We left my brother’s house in Brooklyn and walked through freshly fallen snow to the bus stop. Despite the freezing temperatures, there was something magical about starting the journey before the city had even woken up.

The bus ride itself took around three to four hours, but it passed quickly as we all fell asleep almost immediately.

• Touring the U.S. Capitol and Library of Congress
• Walking the National Mall and the Reflecting Pool
• Exploring the Smithsonian Museums
• Sunset at the World War II Memorial and a Visit to the White House

Touring the U.S. Capitol and Library of Congress

As soon as we arrived in Washington, we headed straight to United States Capitol, where we had pre-booked a guided tour.

The tour started with a short but incredibly patriotic film about the history of the United States and the story behind the Capitol building. As someone who loves American history, I found it fascinating to learn more about how the building — and the country — came to be.

After the tour, we walked through the underground tunnel that connects the Capitol to the magnificent Library of Congress.

The library is easily one of the most beautiful buildings in Washington. The intricate architecture, marble staircases, and detailed ceilings make it feel more like a grand palace than a library.

Walking the National Mall and the Reflecting Pool

After grabbing lunch at a nearby restaurant — where I had one of the best mac and cheese dishes of the entire trip — we began walking along the famous National Mall.

From there we followed the path along the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, stopping frequently to take photos of the United States Capitol from a distance.

Exploring the Smithsonian Museums

One of the best things about visiting Washington, D.C. is the incredible number of free museums.

The Smithsonian Institution operates several world-class museums along the National Mall, including:

• National Air and Space Museum
• National Museum of Natural History
• National Museum of American History
• National Museum of the American Indian
• National Gallery of Art

Each museum could easily take hours to explore.

Because we only had limited time, we chose to visit the National Air and Space Museum (mainly for my brother!) and the National Museum of Natural History — both of which were absolutely fascinating.

If we had more time, I would have happily spent the entire day museum hopping.

Sunset at the World War II Memorial and a Visit to the White House

By the time we reached the end of the reflecting pool, we were ready for a short break, so we sat near the World War II Memorial and took in the view.

From there, we decided to take a quick detour to see the White House and the Washington Monument lit up at night.

After snapping plenty of photos (most of which turned out terribly thanks to the dark!), we returned to the National Mall to admire the memorials illuminated against the evening sky.

Seeing these historic monuments glowing at night was one of the most memorable moments of the day.

Racing Back to Catch the Last Bus to New York

By this point, exhaustion had well and truly kicked in.

In true chaotic travel style, we ended up running back through the city to grab some quick food from the train and bus station before catching the final Megabus back to New York.

It was rushed, slightly stressful, and absolutely worth it.

Even though we only spent one day in Washington, D.C., the city completely won me over. If anything, the trip only made me wish we had stayed longer.

Our whirlwind day trip ended up being one of the most memorable highlights of our entire U.S. adventure.