SPEND ONE DAY IN GEORGETOWN WASHINGTON DC: AN ITINERARY

Georgetown, is one of the most vibrant neighbourhoods in Washington DC to visit in a day. It’s  the city’s most historic area and we hope this itinerary guide will walk you through the best things to see and do, from strolling its cobblestone streets to admiring its iconic architecture. You’ll discover where to shop, grab a great coffee, enjoy a delicious lunch or snack, and find the most scenic paths for wandering. To top it all off, your day will end with a refreshing trip down the Potomac River for unforgettable waterfront views. Read on to discover how to spend one day in Georgetown Washington DC. 

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What This Article Covers: At a Glance

Georgetown is one of Washington DC’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, and it’s a visit for a casual, laid back day away from the downtown area to discover this historic district. This guide to one day in Georgetown Washington DC is an itinerary and covers our personal recommendations on:

• Things to do and see in Georgetown.
• Where to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• Strolling through green spaces.
• Supporting independent shops/ shopping streets.
• A famous movie location.
• Georgetown tours by locals. 

Georgetown History

Georgetown is Washington’s oldest district and as of 2025, it’s 274 years old, having been founded in 1751 it predates Washington DC and was part of the town of Maryland, being incorporated into DC in 1871. The neighbourhood started life as a port in Maryland for the distribution of tobacco but in 1967 Georgetown was declared a National Historic Landmark and has a place in the National US Register of Historic Places.

What’s The Best Way to Get to Georgetown?

If like us, your hotel is based in Downtown, we stayed at the Easton DC, then we would recommend  to take the Metro. Hop on the Blue/Orange/ Silver Lines from downtown and alight at Foggy Bottom, George Washington University (GWU). From here, it’s an easy  20 minute walk to the cobbled stone streets of Georgetown. Using the metro is also a mor eco-conscious way to travel around the city. If you’re looking for more sustainable things to do in Washington DC be sure to read our guide.

How to Get Around Georgetown?

Georgetown is easily walkable even with its inclines and hills, exploring on foot will mean you’ll be able to discover small pretty streets and little gems that you would normally miss if you took an Uber or taxi. Strolling the streets will lead you to cobbled stone cute mews, street art and hidden coffee and cake spots!

When’s The Best time to Visit Georgetown?

Georgetown can be visited all year round. We visited Washington DC in November and it was Autumn. Each season brings its won beauty and things to see and do in the neighbourhood. Autumn showed us the pretty colours, the shops, streets and house porches were dressed in orange and brown hues. We hardly experienced any crowds and the days were mild and sun kissed.

Where to Stay in Georgetown?

If you’d rather base yourself in Georgetown, which was something we also looked into before opting to stay in Downtown, to visit some of the other neighbourhoods, then here are some luxury and boutique hotels we can recommend to suit different budgets:

• Four Seasons DC – Right at the entrance of Georgetown this is the capital’s only Five Star, Five Diamond luxury hotel. Expect all the service and luxury here with suites that speak sophistication and views of the P&C canal. Price Range: $$$$ (5 Stars).

• Canal House – A modern hotel taking inspiration from the C&O canal by the Tribute Portfolio. Perfect location in between The Waterfront and the historic streets of Georgetown. $$/$$$ (4 Stars).

• The Poppy Georgetown – A beautifully decorated Bed & Breakfast in a historic home with airy rooms, a terrace as well as continental breakfast included. Well located for all the sites of Georgetown. $$ (3 Stars).

Map of Georgetown

Spend the perfect day in Georgetown, based on our loose itinerary for one day exploring Georgetown. This map is relevant to all of our Washington DC articles therefore can be used to locate all of the Georgetown spots featured in this post. Click on the image to link to Google Maps.

Morning: Things to Do in Georgetown DC

We suggest an early morning start, especially if you enjoy discovering a district watching the locals waking up going about their business.

First stop, head to Call Your Mother for a breakfast bagel and quick coffee for an express fuel up. If like us you’re vegetarian get all our top picks in this article on 20 of the most delicious vegan and vegetarian places to eat in DC.

1. Call Your Mother

The owners, of Call Your Mother, chef Daniela Moreira and Chief baker, Andrew Dana, began this wild and wonderful journey at farmer’s markets in DC and opened their store in 2018. It’s a Jewish led bakery with a fun pink exterior in the heart of Georgetown. It’s all about the bagels here, and  they’re a cross between a slightly sweeter Montreal style bagel and the classic NYC bagel. The menu is inspired by the chef’s childhood foods. We loved that their community focus on supporting organisations. For the full details read our guide on vegan and vegetarian places to eat in Washington DC.

Be-lavie Recommendations: We started our day in Georgetown by having breakfast here and opted for a cappuccino, drip coffee and the most warm, delicious raisin and cinnamon bagels slathered in butter. 

Note their is no seating at the bakery so most people just grab and go but we managed to grab a seat on the side bench and tucked into our express brekkie. 

• Address: 3428 O St NW, Washington, DC 20007, United States.
• Find it Here: Map location.
• Review: Read what other diners are saying.

After finishing at the bakery, a few steps away take a peek at the Wave Mural

2. The Wave Mural

Located a few streets down from M street the mural was created as a replica of the 100s Japanese print, ‘The great wave of Kanagawa. 

• Address: 3510 O St NW, Washington, DC 20007, United States.
• Find it Here: Map Location.

Next move onto something a little more chilling for the horror film fans amongst you. . 

3. The Exorcist Steps

If like us you’ve seen and were terrified by the 1972 movie, The Exorcist, you’ll be able to recall the steep steps that feature at the end where Father Karras falls to his death from a nearby house. They are now aptly known as The Exorcist Steps. Although there are 97 steps, only 76 were featured in the movie. The steps were built in 1985 and connects Prospect and 36th streets with M Street. The steps were designated a Historic Landmark in 2019 and include a commemorative plaque at the top end on Prospect Street.

The steps are very steep, we went up and down them a couple of times and felt the burn! 

• Address: Washington, DC 20007, United States.
• Find it here: Map Location.
• Reviews: Read what other visitors are saying.

Looking for Spooky Georgetown Tour?

This family friendly spooky tour, Ghosts of Georgetown & The Exorcist Steps is 1.5 hours long and invites you to walk the streets of a Georgetown itself lit up at night. Visit the Exorcist Steps, featured in the movie and hear about haunted houses, curses and tales of true crime from the Victorian Era. Oh and you’ll even have the opportunity to stand in the backyard of the oldest and one of the most haunted buildings in DC.

4. Snap Photos at The Townhouses & Mansions

Georgetown has some of the most beautifully kept townhouses dating back to the 18th and 19th century houses in DC and we think you need to check them out from outside of course. Remember it’s a residential area so be respectful at all times! The tree lined streets were once home to cook, Julie Child, 2706 Olive Street, and John F Kennedy resided on 3307 N Street when he ran for presidency. Personally, we just love the mooch around and looking at the decor and snapping a few pics in front of the step and porch displays. It feels like there’s a street code that houses adopt to ensure they look the best dressed!

5. Get Your History Fix at Tudor Place

If you love a spot of history, then we suggest heading to Tudor Place, a historic home and garden where visitors can take a self-guided visit. The house was once home to six generations of Martha Washington’s family from 1805-1983. There are around 18,000 artefacts displayed here amongst the five and a half acre estate in Georgetown.

• Address: 1644 31st St NW, Washington, DC 20007, United States.
• Find it Here: Map Location.
• Details: Opening hours & to reserve free timed tickets.
• Reviews: Read what other visitors are saying.

We think at this point, it’s time to head for a sweet treat at a famous local spot.

6. Try The Famous Georgetown Cupcakes

Co-founded and owned by Sisters Katherine Kallinis Berman and Sophie Kallinis LaMontagne opened Georgetown Cupcakes, inspired by their grandmothers bakes back in 2008. This small shop with a few tables has over 100 different flavours of cupcakes which can also be shipped nationwide. 

The cupcakes here are pretty famous and have been features on programs such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Washington Post, CNN, Better Homes and Gardens, Food & Wine, People, InStyle, Town & Country, NBC’s Today Show, Good Morning America, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and The Martha Stewart Show.

As well as having classic flavours the store also has month specific flavours so during our visit in November, you’d naturally find options like, Pumpkin Spice and Maple Chocolate Chip to mention a few.

Be-lavie Recommendation: We shared the Apple Pie with, Caramel and apple cheesecake with a graham crust topped with a caramel and apple buttercream frosting and finished with a graham crumble, diagonal drizzle of caramel, and a burgundy fondant heart; and  Salted Caramel Chocolate Chip Cheesecake, salted caramel cheesecake studded with chocolate chips and baked with an Oreo cookie crust, topped with a salted caramel buttercream frosting, fudge and caramel lattice drizzles and chocolate chips. 

• Address: 3301 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007, United States.
• Find it Here: Map location.
• Reviews: What other diners are saying.

After a sweet fix, it’s definitely time to work off some calories by hitting M Street and Wisconsin Avenue for some retail therapy or window shopping depending upon how plush you feel. Alternatively call into see the Healy Building of Georgetown University.

7. Georgetown University

One of the things we wanted to do but ran out of time was to pop by the Georgetown University Historic building, even though we saw it from a far and walked only a few streets away. 

The Healy Building is located on a hill overlooking the Potomac River, with Healy Hall being the main symbol of the University, with construction finishing in 1879. It’s part of the universities 90 acre site.

• Address: 3700 O St NW, Washington, DC 20057, United States.
• Find it Here: Map Location.
• Reviews: Read what other visitors are saying.

8. Hit The Boutiques & Independents (Or Window Shop)

M street and Wisconsin Avenue are full of boutique stores such as Georgetown founded brands like Tuckernuck and LiLi The First, to L.A.’s Clare V., as well as small independent shops selling beautiful homewares, beauty products and more. Many of the shops look rather quintessential . We don’t tend to shop on our travels, but we enjoy walking past them and admiring their fascia. We recognised a few names like Aveda, The Ordinary, Sephora, Barnes & Noble and so many more. Interspersed you’ll also see plenty of cafes and restaurants. 

Whilst on M Street/Wisconsin Avenue don’t forget stopping by a few of these other interesting spots, we stumbled upon on our visit, namely the Book Hill Park, the, Alma Indigena mural and another piece of street art that was created for shop small week in 2015, on the side of Just Paper & Tea.

9. The Old Stone House

Amongst the modern boutiques and stores, you’ll spot The Old Stone House, Washington DC’s oldest building dating back to 1765. It also happens to be the capitals, pre-revolutionary colonial home and is open for visitors daily. If you’re not a fan of shopping then this may well be what you are looking for.

• Address: 3051 M St NW, Washington, DC 20007, United States.
• Find it Here: Map Location.
• Details: Opening Hours & Admission.
• Reviews: Read what other guests are saying.

10. Scope Out Wisconsin Avenue Murals 

 Alma Indigena

Artist Victor “Marka27” painted this mural featuring an indigenous Wixárika Elder with ingredients used in many native cultures – blue maiz and guajillo peppers.

• Address: 1564 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA.
• Find it Here: Map Location.

‘Shop Small Events’ mural of a Girl Drinking Tea

Artist Aniekan Udofia painted this mural on the side of Just Paper & Tea during a 2015 Shop Small event. 

• Address: 3232 P St NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA.
• Find it Here: Map Location.

11. Take in Panoramic Views at Book Hill Park

Located at the top end of Wisconsin Avenue, walk up the stairs from the main road to Book Hill Park, and take in a panoramic view of Georgetown, the Potomac River, and out to Virginia.

• Address:Wisconsin Ave NW & Reservoir Road Northwest, Washington, DC 20007, United States.
• Find it Here: Map Location.
• Details: Opening Hours & further information.
• Reviews: Read what other visitors are saying.

After a wander up and down Wisconsin Street, it’s time to stop for lunch because you know all that walking and shopping makes you work up quite the appetite! 

12. Have Lunch at Flor Coffee & Books

Located in the heart of the historic district of Georgetown, Flor Coffee & Books owned by an Argentinian couple, is a combination of a wellness and literature cafe that serves up delicious food with a healthy focus in terms of fresh, locally sourced ingredients together with a balancing list of hot and cold drinks. Its spit over two floors and has an outdoor courtyard mezzanine level which is great to sit in during the summer and as we did on milder days in November when we visited Washington DC. 

We loved the books focussing on gratitude and mind wellness as well as the first floor space where their are designated ‘quite’ times. The decor is simple and relaxing with white and sage hues.

The cafe gets very busy, especially at weekends, we would advise to visit early. We visited on a Sunday afternoon and it was difficult to find somewhere to sit and headed outside but luckily the weather was on our side!

Be-lavie Recommendations: After exploring Georgetown on foot we were so ready to experience Flor and decided upon, a small pot of the Jasmine Pearls tea which is a light, floral, aromatic green tea with jasmine flowers rolled into pearls. We accompanied that with a grilled cheese sandwich filled with melted Swiss and mozzarella cheeses, homemade green pesto and honey roasted cherry tomatoes in two slices of buttery toasted sourdough.

• Address: 1220 31st St NW, Washington, DC 20007, United States.
• Find it Here: Map location.

Looking for Foodie Georgetown Tour?

The Taste of Georgetown Walking Tour with Food Tasting is a three hour duration and consists of a small group where guests discover the best places to eat including James Beard Nominee spots to Pizza places and mouth watering creme brûlée tastings. There are three stops to try local food accompanied by a local guide, who will also walk and highlight the history of the neighbourhood.

The experience includes, electronic, photos taken by the guide during the tour, as well as a meaningful donation to feed a local person in need by a portion of each tour ticket being donated to Bread for the City, a local charity.

Afternoon: Things to Do in Georgetown DC

Following lunch make your way south towards The Waterfront and head over to the C&O Canal en route. 

1. Walk Along The C&O Canal Towpath

Unfortunately, during our visit, the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal tow path was closed but we still managed to walk along the portion where we spotted some brightly coloured houses which houses artisans and labourers after they were built in 1865, following the civil war. The C&O canal is 185 miles long and runs right up to Cumberland in Maryland.

• Address: Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007, United States.
• Find it Here: Map Location.
• Reviews: Read what other visitors are saying.

2. Explore the Georgetown Waterfront Park

A great leisurely way to spend the afternoon is to head down to the Waterfront Park which has undergone a lot of development completed back in 2011. There once was old factories and warehouse style buildings that have undergone regeneration and now the area has some great river side restaurants, apartments and is a National Park. 

We saw locals promenading here, taking bike rides, grabbing food and drinks and marvelling the grand view of the Francis Scott Key Bridge,  Washington’s oldest existing road bridge across the Potomac River. 

We’d suggest taking a water taxi from The Wharf area by City Cruises to get an alternative perspective of the historic Georgetown points of interest along the Potomac River. If you have more than a day, you can even go to Alexandria for the day, which is an old quaint town in Virginia with historic buildings, galleries and cafes.

• Address: WW2Q+MG3, Washington, DC 20007, United States.
• Find it Here: Map Location.
• Details: Water taxi times, fares and schedule.
• Reviews: Read what other visitors are saying.

Following a round trip along the Potomac river, head back into historic Georgetown and walk up to Wisconsin Avenue and treat yourself to an afternoon coffee and later on to Dunbarton Oaks.  

Fancy Seeing DC From a Boat & Touring Georgetown?

Then the Potomac Cruise and Georgetown Walking Tour is for you! This guided tour combines the iconic sights of Washington DC on a river cruise along the Potomac where guests can learn about the history of the US capital and visit its oldest neighbourhood of Georgetown. There’s plenty of anecdotes and untold stories plus try a cupcake from a family-run bakery that’s a favourite among locals. You will discover all about he history of Georgetown’s past combining being on the water and exploring by foot.

3. Enjoy A Mid-Afternoon Coffee & Snack At Compass Coffee.

Head to Compass Coffee on Wisconsin Avenue. Look out for the red and white neon ‘Georgetown’ theatre sign which hangs right above the coffee shop which was first put up in 1945 and subsequently been restored. We loved how the interiors are themed around a vintage movie theatre. They serve a range of great drinks here if you’re familiar with the brand as well as seasonal hot drinks We opted for a regular black coffee.

• Address: 1351 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007, United States.
• Find it Here: Map Location.

4. Visit Dumbarton Oaks House & Dumbarton Oaks Park

If you love historic houses and fine gardens then the Dumbarton Estate is perfect for you to end your day or substitute some of the other activities in place for this. This really feels like an oasis in the city and serves scholarships for research into Byzantine gardens and landscaping. The Dumbarton Museum houses Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art. Think tapestries and paintings as well as many artefacts in the grand house. There are sixteen acres of terraced gardens and vistas, orchards and kitchen gardens plus meadows and wooded pathways to scope out too.

• Address: Dumbarton Oaks Museum: 1703 32nd St NW, Washington, DC 20007, United States.
• Find it here: Map Location.
• Details: Opening Hours & Admission.
• Reviews: See what other visitors are saying.

Unfortunately during our visit Dumbarton Oaks House was closed, however we decided to walk around Dumbarton Oaks Park as it was just adjacent to the property. Access to this national park is via Lover’s Lane and it has lovely natural gardens behind the Dumbarton estate. During Autumn it looks really pretty with the golden foliage and spot the brick bridge with a stream running under it. Locals tend to take their dogs for walks here. It’s peaceful and serene, you wouldn’t think it’s in the middle of a bustling capital city. We also checked out some of the autumn foliage and beautiful houses in the area! Can’t resist pretty seasonal fascia’s.

• Address: Dumbarton Parks House: R St NW, Washington, DC 20008, United States.
• Find it Here: Map Location.

We decided to head back to Downtown after this as we had made dinner reservations at Elizabeth’s, a vegan fine dining resraurant in downtown. However, if you’re looking to dine or maybe enjoy some entertainment after dinner, we looked into the following options as part of our trip planning.

5. Dine Amongst Celebrities at Martin’s Tavern

Owned by four generations of the same family since 1933, Martin’s Tavern is a historic dining institution serving classic American and Irish fare with locally sourced ingredients. 

Aside from the food, the Martin’s family has served prominent movers and shakers and often has famous guests dining with them. John F Kennedy lived just two blocks from the restaurant and on June 24 1953, he proposed to Jacqueline Bouvier in both #3, which is now referred to as ‘The proposal Booth’. 

They don’t have many vegetarian options but the decor is gorgeous with Tiffany style lamps.

• Address:Find it Here: 1264 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007, United States.
• Find it Here: Map Location.
• Reviews: Read what others are saying.

6. Have Supper at Blues Alley Jazz Club 

We were a little sad that we ran out of time to go Blues Alley Jazz. You do need to book in advance but this is the US’s oldest continually operating jazz supper Club. It’s a little like a late night sanctuary that has a great looking menu including vegetarian options as well as some wonderful Jazz artists playing. It is also housed in a converted eighteenth century carriage house.

• Address: 1073 Wisconsin Ave NW 1st Floor, Washington, DC 20007, United States.
• Find it Here: Map Location.
• Details: Shows & other events.
• Reviews: Read what other guests are saying.

If You’re Short of Time in Georgetown

If you only have a few hours, the best way to discover and get a feel for this local neighbourhood is to go on the Georgetown History & Architecture Tour with Local Guide. HIghlights of this tour include, the cobblestone streets and charming 18th and 19th-century buildings, Georgetown’s rich history, from its colonial origins to its role in the nation’s capital, learn fascinating stories about notable residents and significant events that shaped this historic neighbourhood. You’ll be in the company of great professional licensed tour guides who are also local experts as well as being published authors on the history of Georgetown. You’ll also get to see where former presidents and congressmen resided in DC’s oldest neighbourhood.

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• 20 Delicious Places for Vegan & Vegetarian Food in Washington DC
• Elizabeth’s Vegan Fine Dining in Washington DC 

Resources To Help Plan Your Trip to Washington DC

À bientôt

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