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Your guide to Washington DC’s up-and-coming suburbs

Think you know Washington DC? Think again.

Washington DC is well known for its uniquely American museums and history, but you’ll find even more to this city than a stoic seat of government. Today, it’s a diverse capital that’s constantly evolving and growing thanks to the best suburbs of Washington DC, delighting visitors with vibrant eateries, bars and entertainment.

You’ll still find iconic attractions like the Smithsonian Institution and the United States Capitol, but you’ll also discover what the locals love about DC – namely, that it’s a city rich in culture, history and passion, with lots of locally owned restaurants and shops, museums and parks to explore.

If it’s been a few years since you visited, you might be surprised just how much it’s changed. Here are some of the best DC neighbourhoods to explore.

National Mall, Washington DC
When you’ve seen the icons, it’s time to explore the up-and-coming trendy suburbs.

1. Penn Quarter & Downtown

Just north of Pennsylvania Avenue, you’ll find Penn Quarter, a happening downtown area that’s great for shopping, dining and museums. You’re just steps from the White House, but also make sure to check out some of this neighbourhood’s more under-the-radar museums, including Planet Word, the only voice-activated museum, this unique space dedicated to the love of words and language.

You’ll also find Capital One Arena here, making Penn Quarter the ideal base for catching a concert, hockey match or NBA game. Afterwards, walk or Uber over to The Mirror on K Street NW, a fabulous speakeasy hidden behind a mirror. This dimly lit den transports you back to the 1920s, when the martinis were strong and the music was hot.

For a taste of lux DC hospitality, base yourself at Riggs Washington DC; this five-star hotel and former Riggs National Bank building was built in the grand Romanesque Revival style. Besides accommodation, inside you’ll find award-winning speakeasy, Silver Lyan, hidden inside the building’s original vault.

Planet Word washington DC
Discover the only voice-activated museum, Planet Word.

2. Georgetown

Renowned for its Colonial, Federal and Victorian architecture, cobblestoned streets and distinguished university, Georgetown is DC’s most historic neighbourhood – and conveniently just a short bike ride away from the National Mall.

In Georgetown, book a table at 1789 Restaurant & Bar. It’s one of the city’s most iconic dining experiences, serving modern seasonal fare in antique-filled dining rooms in a renovated historic home. While Georgetown is a year-round delight for boutique shopping, nightlife and dining, it’s also an ideal spot for warm weather fun, as its position on the Potomac River makes it perfect for kayaking or paddleboarding.

You’ll find no shortage of five-star hotels here, including The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown. For something different, book into The Poppy; this charming boutique townhouse offers guesthouse-style accommodation and a serene backyard for relaxation, complete with an outdoor fire pit.

georgetown washington dc
Explore DC’s most historic neighbourhood.

3. Dupont Circle

The northwest neighbourhood of Dupont Circle has long been a favourite for unique dining, bars and beautiful architecture. Home to many nation’s embassies, it also played a key role in the city’s LGBTQI+ history.

You’ll find DC’s diversity well represented in food in Dupont Circle and the nearby neighbourhood of Adams Morgan, a popular area known for its nightlife and restaurants. Visit Lapis, a family-owned Afghani bistro that does a mean weekend brunch, and Anju, a contemporary Korean gastropub serving up comfort food in a stylish spot. Dupont Circle is also home to Kramers, one of the city’s best independent bookstores, so pop in for a browse before grabbing a bite to eat.

Nothing pairs better with food than a local brew, so make a visit to the relatively unknown Heurich House Museum, where you’ll learn the fascinating tale of German immigrant and philanthropist Christian Heurich, DC’s most famous brewer.

To nod off to sleep in style, check in at The Dupont Circle, a Top 10 Hotel in the 2023 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.

Dupont Circle Fountain, best suburbs of Washington DC
Find unique dining, bars and beautiful architecture at Dupont Circle.

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4. U Street & Shaw

A visit to U Street and the nearby neighbourhood of Shaw will connect visitors to DC’s heart and soul through music. U Street was the birthplace of jazz musician Duke Ellington. His musical legacy lives on here today, as this part of DC draws visitors to its live music venues nightly. The 9.30 Club is a beloved local spot that’s been named the top nightclub in the US by Rolling Stone, and Black Cat is a favourite for listening to alternative live music while mingling with an eclectic crowd.

Refuel at Ben’s Chili Bowl, an iconic DC staple and Black-owned business. It’s known not only for its unforgettable chilli dogs and half-smokes, but also for its importance to the neighbourhood’s civil rights movement.

Of course, you can find quieter parts of U Street and Shaw, too. Meridian Hill Park, a serene National Historic Landmark, is worth a visit to see the largest cascading fountain in North America.

Ben's Chili Bowl, best suburbs of Washington DC
Refuel at the iconic Ben’s Chili Bowl.

5. Capitol Riverfront

Just south of the US Capitol, Capitol Riverfront and nearby Southwest are two vibrant neighbourhoods along the Anacostia River. It’s perhaps best known as the home of the Washington Nationals baseball team, but it’s just as popular for the eye-catching street murals sprinkled around town.

With plenty of restaurants, shops and watersports to enjoy in this pocket of DC, you’ll never run out of fun activities, including kayaking and paddleboarding. When you work up an appetite, All Purpose Pizzeria is one of the best picks for casual waterfront dining; their bottomless brunch is a big hit and it’s just across the street from Nationals Park.

For something unique (and free!), climb aboard the Wharf Jitney, a ferry service which runs on the Washington Channel between Recreation Pier and East Potomac Park. The latter is a top spot to enjoy mini golf, tennis and cycling.

best suburbs of Washington DC
Go kayaking along the river.

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12 grand journeys throughout North America

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    Discover North America’s epic adventures — from Route 66 and Alaska cruises to Hawai‘i road trips, NYC culture, Mexico trails and more.

    1. Route 66, the Main Street of America

    Travelling with: Ricky French

    Sunset on Route 66 in the California Mojave Desert.
    Hit the open road and trace America’s legendary highway. (Image: Getty/Der_Thomasa)

    Dubbed the Main Street of America, Route 66 radiates serious main character energy, cemented into popular culture through everything from John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath to the Disney Pixar film Cars. Spanning nearly 4000 kilometres from Chicago to Los Angeles, the historic highway celebrates its centenary next year, a timely invitation to take the mother of all road trips along the Mother Road. Allow two to three weeks to tackle the full length, or bite off a smaller chunk at either end, cruising the dramatic deserts of California or the more pastoral landscapes of Illinois, lined with neon-lit diners, retro gas stations and quirky roadside attractions.

    2. Mexico’s Día de los Muertos

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    emblematic catrina of mexico with flowers and necklace with sempasuchil flowers
    Celebrate life and honour loved ones in vibrant style. (Image: Getty/Fabian Pacheco)

    You might know Oaxaca as the birthplace of mole and mezcal. But the state in southern Mexico is also where the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) began. Time your visit to coincide with the colourful holiday, on 1–2 November, which honours and celebrates loved ones who have passed away. Oaxaca is also Mexico’s Michelin-starred culinary capital, with 18 restaurants and a humble taco stand listed in the 2025 guide.

    3. Museum-hop in New York City

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    The Guggenheim Museum’s iconic spiralling exterior, a highlight of North America Epic Adventures.
    Step inside and marvel at bold, world-class art. (Image: Damiano Fiore)

    Your map app will look like it’s been scattered with confetti after you’ve dropped pins on all the museums you want to visit in New York City. Must-sees are the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art aka the Met, and the Museum of Modern Art. The American Museum of Natural History is also a draw. It’s also worth venturing into the boroughs to browse institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum, which has a huge permanent collection categorised by culture.

    4. The USA’s music scene

    Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead

    The Seattle skyline at night, aglow with city lights on North America Epic Adventures.
    Soak up skyline views and dive into the city’s coffee culture. (Image: Abigail Boone)

    If you’re a muso, chances are you’ve wanted to make a pilgrimage to the United States, the epicentre of so many beloved genres. Whether you’re head-banging your way around the Grunge Circuit in Seattle, chasing the twang of the pedal steel through Tennessee or bouncing between blues bars in the Mississippi Delta, the USA’s rich music culture has something that’ll strike a chord.

    5. Road-tripping Hawai‘i

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    A woman surfing in Hawaii, gliding across turquoise waves on North America Epic Adventures.
    Catch the waves and ride Hawaii’s iconic swells. (Image: Ben Ono)

    Hawai‘i is one of the most diverse US states to road trip around. Of the six major islands to visit, the Island of Hawai‘i packs in everything from the snowy summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa to black-sand beaches and lava fields frozen in the act of flowing forward. Change down a few gears on the island of O‘ahu, too, where you can find your own patch of sand on Waimanalo Beach. Visit poi and pineapple plantations. And hang ten on beginner-friendly waves on the North Shore.

    6. Cruising Alaska

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Explora Journeys ship cruising in Alaska.
    Sail past glaciers and spot whales in pristine waters.

    Seeing Alaska from the sea allows you to cover a lot of distance quickly. This immersive frontier now beckons more than ever before with Explora Journeys adding the American state to its global destination portfolio. Best of all are the pre-and post-journey immersions that connect the luxury of a cruise onboard Explora III with the rugged grandeur of the Alaskan interior. UnCruise Adventures also weaves in access to remote national parks, legendary wildlife corridors and authentic cultural experiences on its Alaskan itineraries.

    7. The Wixárika Route in Mexico

    Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead

    People journeying through the Wixarika Route.
    Journey deep into sacred Huichol traditions and art.

    For generations, the Indigenous Wixárika People of Mexico have walked a sacred path known as Tatehuarí Huajuyé, or ‘The Path of Our Grandfather Fire’. The annual pilgrimage route spans 500 kilometres, taking in significant sites in Wixárika spirituality and cosmology. The route passes through the deserts, mountains and forests of northern Mexico before reaching Wirikuta, believed to be the place the sun first emerged. The route is a living cultural landscape of Indigenous culture pre-Columbian influence and, in July this year, was formally inscribed into UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

    8. Drive the Iceberg Coast in Canada

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Iceberg off the east coast of Canada
    Chase icebergs along Expedition 51 on Canada’s east coast. (Image: Canadian Tourism Commission/ Chris Hendrickson)

    Download the icebergfinder.com map to better plan your road trip along Canada’s Iceberg Coast. The new highway, which has been nearly 25 years and CAD$1.1 billion in the making, threads through the country’s pleated coastlines around Quebec, Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick before looping in the French islands of St Pierre and Miquelon. As well as chasing icebergs along Expedition 51, travellers will have the opportunity to engage with cultures that have thrived in the pristine provinces for thousands of years.

    9. A foodie tour of Nova Scotia

    Travelling with: Katie Carlin

    Lunenberg Nova Scotia
    Try lobster rolls in Lunenburg on the east coast of Canada in Nova Scotia. (Image: Natalia Kvitovska/ Unsplash)

    World-famous for its lobster, Nova Scotia is a Canadian province best savoured through its culinary clout shaped by sea and terroir. Bite into lobster rolls at historic Lunenburg’s Salt Shaker Deli & Inn and sip maple rum at Ironworks Distillery. Winery-hop around Wolfville’s rising vineyards (don’t miss Lightfoot & Wolfville). Take a maple syrup tour at Sugar Moon Farm near Earltown. And pull up a seat at waterfront Bar Sofia in Halifax, where Nova Scotia oysters aguachile arrive bright with cucumber, lime and pickled onion.

    10. Soak up the sun in the Caribbean

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Overwater bungalows off a beach in the Caribbean
    Experience the white-sand beaches and cerulean seas of the Caribbean on board a cruise.

    The Caribbean is on the radar for seasoned cruisers. And it’s easy to see why, with white-sand beaches, cerulean seas and swaying palms so picture-perfect they look AI-generated. Cruise with Windstar, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity on its inaugural Xcel season to the Caribbean to enjoy action-packed excursions such as snorkelling coral reefs and shopping for local trinkets. And those sea days? Spectacular.

    11. Red Chair Hikes of Canada

    Travelling with: Kassia Byrnes

    Red Adirondack chairs overlooking Lake Minnewanka in Canada
    Take a seat at Lake Minnewanka, one of more than 400 red Adirondack chairs scattered across Canada’s hiking routes. (Image: Getty Images/ Autumn Sky Photography)

    No one appreciates the great outdoors more than Canadians, emerging from snow-covered winters to tread glacial rivers and snowshoe through forests, or to hike mighty mountains and wildflower-strewn valleys come spring. Along popular hikes around the country, more than 400 red Adirondack chairs have been placed in peaceful, breathtaking locations. What started as a social media contest now sees hikers soaking in classic Canadian lake and mountain vistas, overlooking historic sites or gazing down on the mountainous path they just travelled.

    12. Ride the Rocky Mountaineer from Denver to Moab, USA

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Sweeping views from the Rocky Mountaineer.
    The Rocky Mountaineer will continue as the Canyon Spirit in 2026, seen here carving through Ruby Canyon.

    Sighting wild animals is one of many incredible thrills along the two-day luxury Rockies to the Red Rocks route onboard the Rocky Mountaineer across America’s Southwest between mid-April and mid-October. In addition to the lone bear, we spot bighorn sheep, elk, beavers, pronghorn antelope, bald eagles and ospreys. Riding the rails onboard the luxury train, which was founded in Canada in 1990 and has been awarded the prestigious World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train several times, has never been about just getting from A to B. Ride the train from Denver to Moab and you will see the scenery change from snow-capped peaks to meadows, red-rock canyons and soaring cliffs that resemble ornate Gaudí-esque cathedrals. But it’s not until you get off the train that you can produce the ultimate Venn diagram, with nature and adventure in the intersecting spheres.

    Your guide to the best suburbs of Washington DC