7 Hotels near Smithsonian Station in Washington, D.C.

Smithsonian Station is a convenient Metro stop on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., just steps away from many of the iconic museums, memorials, and monuments that make our nation’s capital such a unique and fascinating place to explore.

Popular sites within walking distance of Smithsonian Station include:

• the Smithsonian Castle
• the National Museum of American History
• the National Museum of Natural History
• the National Museum of African American History and Culture
• the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden
• the Sackler Gallery
• the Freer Gallery of Art
• the National Museum of African Art
• the International Spy Museum
• the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
• the Washington Monument
• the National World War II Memorial
• the Bureau of Engraving and Printing

 

Smithsonian Station is on the Blue, Orange, and Silver Metro lines.  If you stay near the stop, you will wake up a short stroll from the National Mall and have efficient  access to most of Washington, as well as parts of Virginia and Maryland.

There are lots of hotels within walking distance of Smithsonian Station.  Here are some of the more suitable:

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Salamander Washington D.C.

★★★★★

This Preferred hotel is a five- to ten-minute walk from Smithsonian Station.

The hotel took over the building that formerly housed the Mandarin Oriental.  It offers fabulous views of the Tidal Basin, the Potomac Park reservoir surrounded by cherry-blossom trees.  Rooms are spacious and elegantly appointed.

The Salamander is a fine choice if you want classic luxury in a waterfront location.

Waldorf Astoria Washington D.C.

★★★★★

This Hilton property took over the Old Post Office Pavilion building that once housed the Trump International Hotel.  It boasts spacious rooms, excellent service, and a spectacular lobby bar displaying an enviable collection of crystal decanters.

The Waldorf is a five- to ten-minute walk to the Smithsonian Station; it is also within a mile of ten open Smithsonian venues on the National Mall.

The Waldorf is an excellent choice if you want classic luxury in a central location.

InterContinental
Washington D.C. — the Wharf

★★★★★

This modern IHG hotel is a 10- to 15-minute walk from Smithsonian Station.  It is also a short stroll to Arena Stage, where I saw Oscar Wilde‘s “The Importance of Being Earnest“.

Rooms are cozy, but suites are more spacious, and some have balconies.  The hotel boasts a rooftop bar, an infinity pool, and wonderful waterfront views.

The InterContinental is a good choice if you want a sophisticated lodgings in a waterfront location.

Hotel Washington

★★★★-1/2

This upscale hotel is a 10- to 15-minute walk to Smithsonian Station.  It is also steps away from the White House.

Its rooftop bar VUE is iconic, offering spectacular views of Washington.  When I worked nearby, it was a favorite spot to meet friends or take out-of-town guests.  It appeared in the Cold War thriller No Way Out.

The Hotel Washington is a good choice if you want sophisticated lodgings downtown.

Hilton Washington D.C.
National Mall the Wharf

★★★★

This upscale hotel sits in L’Enfant Plaza, midway between the National Mall and the Wharf, a vibrant waterfront strip teeming with lots of restaurants and shops.  The building formerly housed the Loews L’Enfant Plaza Hotel (where my parents used to stay when they came to visit me in college).  It is a five- to ten-minute walk to the Smithsonian Station.

The Hilton is a good choice if you want a standard hotel between the Wharf and the National Mall.

J.W. Marriott Washington D.C.

★★★★

This upscale hotel is a 10- to 15-minute walk from Smithsonian Station.  The hotel boasts elegant, spacious rooms with views of the city.  The Marriott is a good choice if you want classic comfort downtown.

Canopy by Hilton Washington D.C. the Wharf

★★★★

This upscale hotel is a 10 to 15-minute walk from Smithsonian Station.  Canopy is Hilton’s “lifestyle” brand, with modern design elements and large common spaces.

Canopy the Wharf was the first of the brand to open in the United States.  Standard rooms are cozy, but suites are more spacious.  Many have waterfront views.  They also have Nespresso machines and “unclosets”, impractical and inelegant open spaces to hang your clothes.

Canopy the Wharf is a good choice if you want contemporary comfort in a waterfront location.

Bon voyage!