overview
Welcome to Washington D.C. > overview

Welcome to Washington, D.C., our nation’s hometown. It houses the White House, Capital Hill, numerous museums and memorials, and countless activities for all ages. There is a thriving tourism industry, and the DC Metropolitan Area has been nicknamed “the melting pot” for the extent of ethnic diversity it boasts. With such a mixture of government, culture, history, and symbolism, our nation’s capital is one of the premier places to visit, live in, and pursue an education.

The District of Columbia is 67 square miles, with a population of over 571,000. It is divided into four quadrants: Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast. The Capital Building, home to Congress, is located at the center meeting point of these sections. The streets are numbered (running north-south) and lettered (running east-west), and streets named after the states run diagonally. The Metropolitan Area of Washington, D.C. also includes 5 counties from Virginia ( Arlington, Fairfax, Loudon, Prince William and Stafford) and 7 counties from Maryland (Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's).

The Washington, D.C. area is full of exciting attractions to enjoy. Some of the most popular places to visit include the White House, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam and Korean War memorials, Arlington Cemetery, the Smithsonian museums and the Capital Building. Bus, train, and walking tours are offered to guide you; or, if you are feeling adventurous, grab a map from one of the many information kiosks and navigate yourself around town. When you get hungry, there’s cuisine from every corner of the earth to choose from.

Alongside the many tourist attractions, you’ll find a variety of other activities to enjoy in Washington. Professional sports, first-rate theatrical and musical entertainment, beautiful parks and cultural events abound in this unique city. We invite you to discover everything that D.C. has to offer!