Washington DC Life and Travel Tips

(Washington, District of Columbia - DC, USA)



As the national capital in its third century, life in Washington DC is often rather high-paced, with the city being home to many important federal government offices, international organizations and business headquarters, such as both the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund.

The city is a part of the Washington Metropolitan Area, which comprises chunks of Maryland and Virginia, and boasts a population approaching some six million people, which makes this America's seventh-biggest metropolitan region.

Also residing within the city are many of the country's national monuments, memorials and museums, while almost 180 foreign embassies live in the city, along with countless professional institutions. When it comes to education, both the Georgetown University and the George Washington University stand out, and between them, accommodate more than 40,000 undergraduates and postgraduates.


Panorama of Washington D.C.


Tourism and Tourist Information

There are a number of tourist offices throughout Washington DC and these provide useful information for sightseers, such as brochures, maps, opening hours, directions and more. Contact details are as follows:


Tipping

Tipping is more or less compulsory in DC, with waiters in restaurants and taxi drivers usually being given a gratuity of anywhere between 10 and 20 percent. Hotel staff, such as luggage handlers and porters, happily accept a tip of one or two US dollars. Generally, no other public service workers expect tips.

Washington Federal Triangle photo

Safety

As in any large city, always maintain an awareness of your surroundings, and try to blend in and not look like a tourist when visiting Washington. Look like you know where you are going and remain alert when in crowded places, since pick-pockets may well be in operation and can quickly vanish before you realise they have struck. Consider wearing a bag or camera across your body, or even use a concealed money belt. Sensible rules apply - do not flash large amounts of cash, hide jewelry or leave it at a safe in your hotel. It is also advisable to avoid the less populated subway lines late at night, perhaps arranging a cab instead.

Language

English is the most commonly spoken language in the USA, but Americans have developed their own version, 'American English'. This consists of many variations of words, such as 'sidewalk' for pavement, 'zip code' for postcode and 'rest room' for toilet, with many locals tending to speak very fast.

Places of Worship

The cosmopolitan city of Washington is home to a large number of different cultures and most religions have a presence here. Newspapers generally list times of services for the main denominations. The city contains numerous churches, chapels, mosques, temples and synagogues, with the most notable including St. Paul's Cathedral, Old St. Paul's Church and St. Mary's Basilica.

Pharmacies

Most pharmacies are open from at least 09:00 until 18:00. Drugstores will usually open until 21:00 and these have a pharmacy counter for dispensing prescriptions. Drugstores are like mini-supermarkets, with a wide range of products on sale.