4 days in New York City & Washington DC Itinerary

Writer Pearl Buck once called New York City “a place apart,” and this giant urban center remains unlike any other in the world.

Kick off your visit on the 26th (Mon): examine the collection at New York Public Library, go for a charming ride with a horse-drawn carriage tour, pause for some serene contemplation at St. Patrick's Cathedral, then browse the exhibits of 9/11 Memorial, and finally wander the streets of SoHo.

For where to stay, traveler tips, ratings, and more tourist information, read New York City trip builder app.

Use the Route module to find travel options from your starting location to New York City. In December, plan for daily highs up to 48°F, and evening lows to 36°F. Finish your sightseeing early on the 27th (Tue) so you can fly to Washington DC.

The capital of the United States, the District of Columbia contains the lion's share of the country's most treasured monuments, memorials, and public museums.

Satisfy your inner culture vulture at Smithsonian American Art Museum and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Kids will enjoy National Gallery of Art and National Air and Space Museum. The adventure continues: get a new perspective on nature at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, deepen your understanding at Georgetown University, get engrossed in the history at National Museum of African Art, and admire the masterpieces at The Phillips Collection.

To see more things to do, photos, reviews, and more tourist information, use the Washington DC trip itinerary site.

You can fly from New York City to Washington DC in 3 hours. Other options are to take a train; or drive. December in Washington DC sees daily highs of 51°F and lows of 37°F at night.