Ultimate Solo Female Travel Guide to Washington D.C.: Museums, Food & Safe Stays

Every country’s capital has some of the best museums, restaurants, food, and other historical landmarks, making Washington, D.C., the perfect place for solo female travelers. This blog consists of places to visit, and I will focus on the places I’d want to visit as a solo traveler, but you can always visit these places with others, too! I’ve researched these locations and can confirm that they are great places to visit. Here are 15 destinations that will give you a full picture of Washington, D.C., as a solo traveler.

Where to Go as a Solo Female Traveler in Washington, D.C.

1. Exploring the Smithsonian Campus: A Solo Traveler’s Dream: There are 17 museums and galleries, as well as a zoo in Washington D.C., with the country’s best artifacts, portraits and collections. You could spend two weeks going to each museum, and it wouldn’t be enough time to explore all the museums have to offer! When I visit D.C., I will pick one museum a day, starting with the National Portrait Gallery, the National Museum of American History, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
2. Free Places to Visit in Washington D.C.*: D.C. is famous for its free museums, but also for its free outdoor attractions beyond the monuments.
   • Several places are great for solo travel, such as the National Mall, the epicenter of D.C., which is also great for walking, picnics, and people-watching.
   • The White House is great to visit from the outside, where you can see the front lawn.
   • There are free tours of the U.S. Capitol Building and the Library of Congress.
   • Then there’s the top of my list, the National Botanical Garden, a beautiful collection of the nation’s flowers.
   • There’s also Georgetown, a fun area for window shopping and historic architecture.
   • Visit free museums, such as the National Archives Museum, which houses the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. There’s also the Holocaust Memorial Museum.
3. Indulge Your Palate: Solo Dining in D.C.: Visit some of the city’s top restaurants, like Middle Eastern favorite Albi or the Mediterranean favorite Tail Up Goat. There’s this Japanese restaurant called Nasime that looks too good not to try. I enjoyed learning about the many Ethiopian restaurants in the D.C. area, and I’ll use this guide to the Very Best restaurants in the nation’s capital. I looked at these restaurants, and most of them seem solo-friendly – and I’m not talking bar tops for the other shorties in the world.
4. Areas to Visit in Washington D.C.:  One area that looks fun with restaurants, shopping and fun activities is the Wharf. The Hillwood Estate or Dumbarton Oaks is gorgeous, with great history, phenomenal gardens, and other sites to see and enjoy!
5. Where to Stay in the Capital: If you are looking for luxury, many people recommend the Hay-Adams Hotel or the Riggs Hotel in the Penn Quarter. There’s the Kimpton Monaco Hotel or the boutique hotel, The Ven on Embassy Row. There are great options for all levels of affordability. Still, as a solo female traveler, I would like to stay in a unique yet safe hotel that provides the security and peace of mind I value when traveling alone.
6. Try the Markets: One area not to be missed is Union Market, perfect for sampling local food and shopping. There are great restaurants, including Michelin-star eateries, as well as a 20,000 Latin Marketing, La Cosecha. There’s also the historic Eastern Market, a place to try fresh produce, baked goods, and other local favorites. There’s also the Market Lunch, a historical establishment with the city’s best blueberry-buckwheat pancakes.
7. Tours to Try: The monuments of D.C. are spectacular during the day, but I’ve always wanted to see them at night. That’s why I would book the Monuments by Moonlight Night tour. Another way to see the city is with the DCAcar: Top Private Tours, if you prefer not to see the city in a group.
8. Outside the City: Just two hours outside the city is the famous Shenandoah Valley, filled with scenic drives, a national park, great hiking trails, and local museums that are filled with history, character, caverns, and charming restaurants. One I want to try is Patowmack Farm, one of the first farm-to-table restaurants.