Things to Do in Georgetown
A colonial-era river port with cobbled lanes, a canal and a busy waterfront.
See top-rated activities »About Georgetown
Georgetown was a tobacco port on the Potomac decades before anyone thought of building a capital next door, and it kept its own identity even after it was folded into the District in the 1870s. Today it is the city's most photogenic neighborhood: steep side streets of Federal-style brick houses, gas-style street lamps, a few surviving cobblestone lanes and the campus of Georgetown University on the hill above the river.
The main commercial streets are M Street and Wisconsin Avenue, lined with shops, bakeries and restaurants. Step a block south and you reach the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, whose towpath runs 184.5 miles from here to Cumberland, Maryland; even a half-hour walk along the water and past the old locks is a pleasant break from city traffic. Below the canal, Georgetown Waterfront Park stretches along the Potomac with fountains, lawns and views of the Kennedy Center and the Virginia shore. Kayak and paddleboard rentals operate from the riverbank in the warm months, and water taxis connect Georgetown with the Wharf and Old Town Alexandria.
Higher up the hill, the residential streets hold some of the area's finest houses and gardens. Dumbarton Oaks combines a research library and museum of Byzantine and pre-Columbian art with ten acres of terraced formal gardens. Tudor Place, built by Martha Washington's granddaughter, is a house museum with original furnishings. Film fans look for the long stone staircase at Prospect and 36th streets made famous by The Exorcist.
Georgetown has no Metro station, so most visitors arrive by bus, by rideshare or on foot from Foggy Bottom, about fifteen minutes away. Pennsylvania Avenue runs straight here from the White House, turning into M Street as it crosses Rock Creek. Come in the morning for coffee and a quiet walk through the residential blocks, or in the late afternoon to finish at the waterfront as the sun sets over the Virginia side of the river.
Don’t Miss
The start of a national historical park that follows the old canal 184.5 miles up the Potomac; the Georgetown section has restored locks and quiet walking.
A riverside park with a fountain, terraced lawns and views across to Roosevelt Island and Virginia.
Terraced formal gardens and a small museum of Byzantine and pre-Columbian art, run by Harvard University.
An 1816 house museum with gardens, home to descendants of Martha Washington for six generations.
A small 1760s house on M Street run by the National Park Service, often cited as the oldest building still on its original foundations in Washington.
Founded in 1789; the spires of Healy Hall dominate the skyline above the river.
Top-Rated Tours, Tickets & Activities in Georgetown
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ViatorTours, tickets, prices and reviews from Viator (a Tripadvisor company) and Tiqets — prices are per person, from, and were checked October 27, 2026. Best of Washington, DC may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
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Get free trip quotes »Georgetown — FAQ
How do I get to Georgetown without a Metro station?
Walk about 15 minutes from the Foggy Bottom station, take one of the Metrobus routes along M Street or Wisconsin Avenue, or ride the water taxi from the Wharf or Alexandria in the warmer months.
Where can I walk along the water in Georgetown?
Georgetown Waterfront Park runs along the Potomac south of K Street, and the C&O Canal towpath begins a block north of it. The two make an easy loop.
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