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Washington DC City Break
A Washington DC city break puts the White House, the US Capitol and the free Smithsonian museums within easy reach. This 4-night break includes return flights from Glasgow with Icelandair and an apartment-style studio at 2500 Penn, a Placemakr Experience, a short walk from Georgetown. Prices start from £1,199 per person, and there are no resort fees or local hotel charges to pay when you arrive.
Your Washington DC city break at a glance
- Price: from £1,199 per person, based on 2 adults sharing
- Flights: return with Icelandair from Glasgow, connecting at Keflavik in Iceland. Other UK airports are available
- Hotel: 4 nights at 2500 Penn, a Placemakr Experience, in a Junior Studio with a king bed
- Board: room only, with a kitchenette in your studio
- Location: Washington’s West End, a short walk from Georgetown
- Local charges: no resort fees or local hotel charges to pay
Where you’ll stay: 2500 Penn, a Placemakr Experience
2500 Penn was once a traditional hotel. It has been completely reimagined as an apartment hotel, in a lively pocket of Washington’s West End close to the Potomac River. You get more space and more independence than a standard hotel room, with an on-site team on hand when you need them.
Your Junior Studio is around 30 square metres, with a king bed, a modern bathroom with a walk-in shower, and a kitchenette with a fridge, microwave and coffee maker. The building also has a fitness centre, on-site laundry, fast Wi-Fi and a lobby lounge.
Trader Joe’s is across the street for breakfast and snacks, and the restaurants and bars of Georgetown are a short walk away. Foggy Bottom–GWU Metro station is about ten minutes on foot, so the rest of the city is easy to reach.
Good to know: before you arrive, the hotel asks every guest to complete a quick online check with photo ID and a credit card in the name of the booking. The lead guest must be 21 or over to check in. Like most apartment hotels, 2500 Penn doesn’t offer daily housekeeping on short stays.
Things to do on a city break in Washington DC
Many of Washington’s best sights are free, so your spending money goes further here than in most US cities.
- The National Mall: walk from the Lincoln Memorial past the Washington Monument to the US Capitol.
- The Smithsonian museums: most are free to enter, including the National Museum of Natural History and the National Air and Space Museum.
- The White House and the Capitol: see the White House from Lafayette Square, and book a free guided tour of the Capitol.
- Georgetown: cobbled streets, waterfront restaurants, shopping on M Street and walks along the C&O Canal.
- Arlington National Cemetery: just across the Potomac, with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Changing of the Guard.
- Cherry blossom season: from late March to early April, the trees around the Tidal Basin turn pink.
Your flights
You fly with Icelandair from Glasgow, change planes at Keflavik in Iceland and land at Washington Dulles the same evening. The flight home leaves late in the evening, so you have most of a fourth day in the city, and you’re back in Glasgow by lunchtime the next day.
Dulles is around 26 miles from the hotel. The Metro Silver Line runs from the airport into the city, or we can add a private transfer.
Make your Washington DC city break your own
- Fly from another UK airport, or on a different date
- Add a stopover in Iceland on the way out or on the way home
- Stay longer, or upgrade to a larger studio or a one-bedroom apartment
- Add New York, around three hours away by train. Our Boston, New York and Washington holiday shows how it works
- Add airport transfers, tours or tickets
Washington DC city break FAQs
Click or tap a question to see the answer.
Do I need an ESTA to visit Washington DC?
Yes. British passport holders need an approved ESTA to travel to the USA under the Visa Waiver Program. Apply on the official US government ESTA website at least 72 hours before you fly, as unofficial websites charge extra for the same application.
How long is the flight from the UK to Washington DC?
Non-stop flights from London to Washington take around 8 hours. From Glasgow with Icelandair, allow around 13 hours in total, including the connection in Iceland. We can price flights from most UK airports.
How many days do you need in Washington DC?
Four nights is enough to see the National Mall, the main monuments, a few Smithsonian museums and Georgetown. Add a night or two if you want more time in the museums or a day trip, or combine Washington with New York.
When is the best time for a city break in Washington DC?
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable times to visit. The cherry blossom usually peaks from late March to early April, while September and October bring warm days and smaller crowds. July and August are hot and humid, and winter can be cold.
Are the museums in Washington DC free?
Most Smithsonian museums and the National Gallery of Art are free to enter. A few popular museums ask you to book a free timed-entry pass in advance, so it’s worth checking before you go.
How far is 2500 Penn from the main sights?
Georgetown and Foggy Bottom–GWU Metro station are each about ten minutes’ walk from the hotel. The Lincoln Memorial, at the western end of the National Mall, is around 30 minutes on foot, and the Metro takes you across the rest of the city.
Are there any extra charges to pay at the hotel?
No. There are no resort fees or local hotel charges to pay on this holiday. You will need a credit card for the hotel’s pre-arrival check, and optional extras such as early check-in, late checkout or parking are paid locally if you choose them.
What is the time difference between the UK and Washington DC?
Washington DC is 5 hours behind the UK for most of the year.
Plan your Washington DC city break
Talk to our USA travel specialists about your Washington DC city break, or browse more USA city breaks. Call us on 01698 829511, email enquiries@glentravel.co.uk or visit us at 227 Glasgow Road, Blantyre, G72 0YS.
Price based on 2 adults sharing a Junior Studio with king bed on a room-only basis, departing Glasgow on 20 September 2027 for 4 nights. Subject to availability and correct at time of publishing. Other dates and departure airports are available.