RETURN TO TOUR PAGE >> Planning Your Trip: Washington, D.C. Political/Street Map Washington, D.C.   Notice: Many attractions in Washington, D.C., now require a photo ID for entry, and visitors are sometimes subject to security checks.   Orientation After George Washington chose 100 square miles [259 square kilometers] of partly mosquito-infested swamp for a federal city in 1791, Pierre L'Enfant drew up plans for a grid of streets cut across by boulevards and adorned with fountains and statuary. The swamp was filled in, and today L'Enfant's plan still works: Washington is easy to maneuver, once you understand the street pattern. The city has an excellent subway system and many of the most visited sites are within walking distance of one another. Return to Top of Page   When to Go The best times to visit Washington are the spring (March to May) and fall (September to November). Summers in Washington are extremely hot and humid, and winters are usually cold and gray. Return to Top of Page   Statistics Area: 61.4 square miles [38.2 square kilometers] Population: 572,059 Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time, five hours behind Greenwich Mean Time Return to Top of Page   Getting There   By Plane Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) 32 miles [51 kilometers] northeast of city Ronald Reagan National (DCA) 3 miles [5 kilometers] south of city Dulles International (IAD) 26 miles [42 kilometers] west of city Official Airline Guide: Official Airline Guide Washington, DC   By Bus Washington, DC Greyhound Terminal 1005 1st N.E. +1 202 289 5154   By Train Washington-Union Station 50 Massachusetts Avenue N.E. Washington, DC 20002   Amtrak Information 1-800-USA-RAIL Return to Top of Page   Local Links Convention & Visitors Bureau   News Washington Post Washington Times   City Information Digital City Washington DC DC Home Page The District Return to Top of Page