Traveling to Washington, D.C. during the COVID Pandemic

A quick off-peak trip to the Nation's capital to check out the museums, attractions, and sights of Washington, D.C.

How did you enter the country?

Air

Any difficulties with your vaccination card when entering the destination?

There were no difficulties arriving at Dulles International.

Was your COVID test result accepted?

Yes.

Did the local government ask for travel or health insurance when you arrived?

No additional travel or health insurance was needed.

Did you experience any challenges with customs, immigration, or the health authorities related to COVID?

No challenges at all, everything went smoothly.

If needed, were COVID tests easy to find and book at your destination?

COVID tests were easy to find. A quick Google search brings up several options along with tests being offered at the popular pharmacies.

Did you have any difficulties with testing or receiving your results on time?

I received all my results within 24 hours and I used different providers every time.

Did you have to show proof of vaccination on location? For example, when entering restaurants, shops, events, etc.?

No proof was needed, however, I did carry my digital certificate around just in case.

Were you required to wear a mask inside restaurants, event spaces, or public transportation? If you were able to choose, did you feel comfortable wearing or not wearing a mask?

The only place that required masks was the Smithsonian and everyone over the age of 2 needed to wear one. I wore my mask when walking around all indoor spaces, and the majority of the people around me did, too.

Did the destination adapt physical distancing in day-to-day situations?

It was easy to socially distance in DC and the surrounding areas. I'm sure it would've been more challenging if it was peak season and there were more people around.

Did restaurants, businesses, and public services take COVID-related sanitary precautions that you noticed?

Every restaurant and business I went into had hand sanitizer and extra precautions like markings on the floor and limiting the number in restrooms. However, it was very rare to see those precautions in bars.

Were most attractions open? Were you able to visit the ones you wanted to attend?

Not all the attractions were open (The Capitol Visitor Center was closed), and some places had limited capacity (you needed to reserve a ticket for the National Archives which is normally a "show up and walk in" situation), but I got to check out everything I wanted to go to. I just had to do a little extra planning and stick to a schedule when I got there.

Were there any surprising or unexpected COVID policies on your trip?

Nothing surprising or unexpected, but very inconsistent with policies, much like the UK. You're normally unsure if a mask is required or not, so it's just easier to wear one everywhere.

Anything you found to be noteworthy about your trip related to traveling with additional restrictions and policies?

Save the government website (for your country and your destination country) in your bookmarks and check frequently! It's constantly changing and always be prepared to make a last minute change!

Anything else you think fellow travelers should know?

It's A LOT of COVID tests to take in short period of time, so make sure you stay organized and don't overwhelm yourself. I always take self tests with me (since the US does not require you to take a test after landing at this time) so I can test myself throughout my trip.