What are the best hotels in Washington, DC? Where is the best area in Washington, DC to stay when you visit? With over 100 hotels in DC and hundreds more in the suburbs, there is no simple answer to this question.

However, you should not despair! We created this guide to help you figure out where to stay in Washington, DC. We identified the best hotels in DC based on location, reputation and prioritized hotels near DC Metro. Furthermore, we included all of the major hotel brands (Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and IHG) and some independent properties. Also, we marked any freebies the hotel offers. For instance, free breakfast or happy hour are including links to reviews on TripAdvisor and other reputable websites. 

Do you want to know more about these areas before getting started? Check out our 11 recommended areas in Washington, DC video. Afterwards, navigate this guide by clicking or tapping on one of those areas below. 

  1. Downtown
  2. Convention Center
  3. The Wharf
  4. Dupont Circle
  5. Georgetown / Foggy Bottom
  6. Union Station
  7. Woodley Park
  8. Navy Yard
  9. Crystal City
  10. North Arlington
  11. Old Town Alexandria

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Downtown DC Hotels

For tourism and sightseeing, Washington, DC visitors will find downtown an ideal place to stay. The most conveniently located hotels in this area are near the White House, north of the National Mall. This area is the best of all worlds. So, this is within walking distance of most monuments, museums and major federal sites. It’s also close to several Metro lines. So, you can easily travel to the Capitol, National Zoo, Arlington Cemetery. Also, sites that are beyond walking distance.

Homewood Suites Downtown

Exterior of the Homewood Suites Downtown DC hotel - one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

Residence Inn Downtown

Exterior of the Residence Inn Downtown DC hotel - one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

The Willard InterContinental

Exterior of the Willard Intercontinental, a historic downtown Washington DC hotel and one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

DC Convention Center Hotels

On the eastern end of Downtown, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center hosts big events throughout the the year with plenty of nearby hotels to accommodate attendees. Furthermore, hotels in this area are convenient to most  museums and federal sites and Metro’s green and yellow lines.

Kimpton Hotel Monaco DC

Lobby of the Kimpton Monaco DC hotel - one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

Embassy Suites Washington DC Convention Center

Exterior of the Embassy Suites Washington DC Convention Center hotel - one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

Marriott Marquis Washington DC

Lobby of the modern Marriott Marquis Washington DC hotel - one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

DC Wharf Hotels

The Wharf is a multi-billion dollar development on the Southwest Washington Waterfront that opened in 2017. Notably, visitors to DC will find this an excellent place to stay. Above all, the hotels are modern and brand new. There are restaurants, coffee shops, nightlife and local businesses in the development. So, it is also a short walk to the Jefferson Memorial. Furthermore, there is a free shuttle bus that runs to the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum on the National Mall. However, Wharf hotels aren’t as close to Metro as hotels in other areas. This is still a very convenient place to stay. 

InterContinental Washington DC The Wharf

Exterior of the Intercontinental Washington DC Wharf hotel - one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

Canopy by Hilton The Wharf

Exterior of the Canopy by Hilton Washington DC Wharf hotel - one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

Hyatt House Washington DC The Wharf

Exterior of the Hyatt House Washington DC Wharf hotel - one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

Dupont Circle Hotels

Dupont Circle is a neighborhood in Washington, DC with a diverse mix of residents and visitors. People come to this area to work in one of the office buildings, shop at one of the local stores, or grab a beer at one of the many bars. where to stay in washington dc, Dupont Circle is perfect for travelers looking for a lively neighborhood that’s loved by locals but still has plenty of comfortable hotel options. So, this is also a great area for nightlife as it’s walking distance of Adams Morgan and U Street. These are the two of the most popular nightlife corridors in DC. 

Kimpton Hotel Palomar DC

Hotel room at the Kimpton Palomar DC hotel - one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

Residence Inn Washington, DC Dupont Circle

Exterior of the Residence Inn Washington DC Dupont Circle hotel - one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

 Georgetown / Foggy Bottom Hotels

Georgetown has the reputation as an upscale neighborhood and hotels in this area to match. All of Washington DC’s certified AAA 5-diamond hotels are here. Also, there are more modest hotel options here. Also, this is a great area. Especially if you want to spend time in Georgetown.

Note: most hotels with Georgetown in the name are not in the heart of the neighborhood. However, they are half mile to mile down the street. So, proximity to the Foggy Bottom Metro station, provides access to the rest of the city.

Hyatt Place Washington DC / Georgetown / West End

Exterior of the Hyatt Place Georgetown DC hotel - one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC Hotel Georgetown

Exterior of the Hilton Garden Washington DC Georgetown hotel - one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

Washington Marriott Georgetown

Exterior of the Washington DC Marriott Georgetown hotel - one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

Union Station Hotels

The main train station in Washington DC is only a half-mile north of the U.S. Capitol. To Emphasize, hotels in this area are perfect for train travelers who want to be close to the station. But, it is also great for tourists who want to be close to Capitol Hill and the museums on the National Mall.

Caution: Many hotels that have Union Station in their name are not within walking distance to the station. Although, it is also not in an area that visitors would consider very comfortable.

Kimpton George Hotel

Lobby of the Kimpton George Washington DC hotel - one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

Phoenix Park Hotel

Lobby of the historic Washington DC Phoenix Park Hotel - one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

Woodley Park Hotels

Two huge hotels are located directly adjacent to the Woodley Park Metro station. This attracts a lot of business from conference organizers. So, for visitors you can find great rates here when there aren’t any big events scheduled. Also, this is the ideal location for proximity to the National Zoo. Although, the nearby Metro Red Line is convenient but you will need to hop on a train to get to most sites as it’s a bit too far of a walk. 

Omni Shoreham Hotel

Exterior of the Omni Shoreham Washington DC hotel - one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

This area around Nationals Park is a newly developed area of the city that has several brand new hotels. So, this makes it a great option if you in town to see a Washington Nationals baseball game. Also, if you want to stay in a newly developed area of the city that’s relatively close to the Capitol and National Mall. 

Homewood Suites Washington DC Capitol – Navy Yard

Exterior of the Homewood Suites Washington DC Navy Yard hotel - one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

Residence Inn Washington Capitol Hill / Navy Yard

Exterior of the Residence Inn Washington DC Navy Yard hotel - one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

Crystal City Hotels

In a few years, Amazon will bring thousands of employees in this Arlington, Virginia neighborhood. In the meantime, Crystal City is good for travelers who want easy access to Reagan National Airport or relatively easy Metro access to downtown DC. Additionally, The National Mall is only 3 stops away on the Yellow Line. However, the downside is that Crystal City is not a very lively area. So, you probably will not spend much time there outside of sleeping hours. 

The Westin Crystal City

Exterior of the Westin Crystal City hotel in Arlington, Virginia- one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

Crystal Gateway Marriott

Exterior of the Crystal Gateway Marriott hotel in Arlington, Virginia- one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

North Arlington Hotels

In the northern half of Arlington, there are a handful of hotels clustered around the Rosslyn and Court House Metro stations that are convenient for visitors. Furthermore, hotels in this area are are only a few stops from the city and there are restaurants and nightlife nearby too. So, on a nice day, you can walk across the Key Bridge into Georgetown. Also, you can walk to the Marine Corps Memorial and Arlington Cemetery for this area.

Hyatt Centric Arlington

Exterior of the Hyatt Centric hotel in Arlington, Virginia- one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

Residence Inn Arlington Courthouse

Exterior of the Residence Inn Courthouse hotel in Arlington, Virginia- one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

Old Town Alexandria Hotels

Old Town Alexandria is a great historic area with plenty of excellent restaurants, shopping and things to see and do. However, this is the farthest area from DC. Likewise, you can use Metro or Water Taxi to get to and from the city. However, make sure to factor in the time and cost of staying in Old Town . In case, you plan on spending a significant amount of time downtown during your trip.

Hilton Alexandria Old Town

Exterior of the Hilton Old Town hotel in Alexandria, Virginia - one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Alexandria Old Town

Exterior of the Embassy Suites Old Town hotel in Alexandria, Virginia - one of our recommended hotels for visitors deciding where to stay in Washington DC.