Cheap Flights to Washington D.C.

Cheap Flights to Washington D.C., U.S.A

Why visit Washington D.C.?

The iconic capital of the United States gleams like the white marble that has gone into making its most famous buildings. All at once serene and imposing, the political brain of the country has more to it than just being a centre for administration. With a huge variety of excellent museums, theatres, galleries, and buzzing with the vim and vigor that comes with a multicultural and cosmopolitan city, you will discover Washington D.C. is a cultural smorgasbord.

Things to do in Washington D.C.

For tourists, Washington D.C. is great, as most of its famous monuments and buildings are clustered in quite a small area. Starting at the instantly recognisable Capitol Hill and the neoclassical building that sits atop it, servicing as the seat of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

From there it is an easy walk to the Library of Congress—the world’s largest, and then stroll down the National Mall, where you will pass the National Gallery of Art, and the extraordinary Smithsonian Museums of Natural History, American History and Air and Space, each housing some of the most impressive collections of their kind. From dinosaur bones, to Dorothy’s ruby red shoes, or Neil Armstrong’s space suit gloves.

In the middle of the Mall you will see the Washington Monument rise up, and be mirrored in the reflecting pool, and on either side you will find the Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the impressive White House, where every President of the United States has resided since John Adams.

At the end of the Mall, you will come to the Lincoln Memorial, and see the great man cast in marble, and looking out onto Capitol Hill. Around him, you will be able to look out onto Potomac River, and across from it the Arlington Cemetery and The Pentagon.

Outside of this famous section of the city, visitors should head to historic George Town, where many people come to enjoy the hip restaurants, trendy bars, lovely boutique shops, and small museums.

Best time to visit Washington D.C.

· The autumn (September-November) months in Washington are surprisingly pleasant, with less tourists, high of 15-26°C, and some big events, like the Labour Day Concert, and the Library of Congress Book Festival.

· The spring is a great season too, especially when the cherry blossoms come out and the days hover between 8 and 19°C.

· Summers and winters are the polar opposites, with summer being sticky and hot, seeing highs of 31°C, and winter being freezing and snowy, with lows of -3°C.

Best time to book

· Holidays to Washington D.C. can be a little easier on your wallet if you look to buy your flights around 28 weeks in advance.

Expect to pay

· United States Dollar (USD).

· It’s roughly 4USD ($5.25) for a regular cappuccino in the capital.

Arriving in Washington D.C. by plane

· Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Ronald Regan Washington National Airport (DCA), and the Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) all service international flights in the U.S. capital. There are lots of airlines that fly to these airports like Air New Zealand, United, American Airlines, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Virgin Australia, Etihad Airways, Air China, Delta, Korean Air, and British Airways.

· All airports are well located for access into the city, Ronald Regain (DCA) is the closest at 8km away, with Washington Dulles (IAD) and Baltimore Washington (BWI) at 43km and 50km, respectively. All airports are well equipped with restaurants, shops, banking facilities, and free WiFi.

· The stops that generally show up on this route are Los Angeles (LAX), Auckland (AKL), Dallas (DFW) and San Francisco (SFO).

Visa requirements

· Australian nationals can travel to the United States once they enroll in the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), which will generally grant a stay of up to 90 days. The Australian smart traveller website has lots of information on the requirements of the visa waiver program, and details on your local Embassy and Consulate.

Transportation to city centre

· A taxi from Ronald Reagan Airport will come to 25USD ($33), from Washington Dulles about 75USD ($99), and from Baltimore-Washington about 85USD ($112).

· There are buses, shuttles and rail services from each airport, or arrange an airport transfer instead if you’d prefer to have everything organised before you fly.

· Many travellers choose to drive, and it’s easy to book a car either at the airport, or online with Skyscanner's search tool.

Where to stay in Washington D.C.

· Georgetown is a beautiful neighbourhood to stay in, with tons of things to do, easy access to many of the sites and a good variety of hotels from budget options through to luxury ones.

· Old Town Alexandria, is just outside the district area, but in Virginia, but it is well linked by the Metro and city buses, and feels like a real slice of Americana. Walk along cobbled streets, sit in the outdoor cafes, and tour the historical attractions.

Useful tips before you go

· Tipping is unavoidable in the United States, but the service is excellent, so you won’t feel too hard pressed to part with your money. Rule of thumb is about 15-20% for restaurant staff, 10% for taxi drivers, and a few dollars for staff working behind a bar, or hotel staff taking your bag.

Please note that the information provided above is accurate as of June 2016