Set in a redbrick house at Downtown's far edge, the Capital View is a decent backpacker option. The groovy, hammock-hanging roof deck is the showpiece. The dorms – some mixed gender, others single sex, each with two to six beds in metal-frame bunks – are tidy. Alas, the bathrooms are pretty grungy, and the area can be a bit forlorn at night.
Capital View Hostel
Washington, DC
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
13.88 MILES
One of America's most visited historic sites, Mount Vernon was the beloved home of George and Martha Washington.
0.95 MILES
The legendary exhibits at the National Air and Space Museum include the Wright brothers' flyer, Chuck Yeager's Bell X-1, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St…
0.74 MILES
Two buildings. Hundreds of masterpieces. Infinite enjoyment. It's easy to spend a full day at the National Gallery of Art, which showcases a whole range…
2.05 MILES
Anchoring the National Mall's west end is the hallowed shrine to Abraham Lincoln, who gazes across the Reflecting Pool beneath his neoclassical, Doric…
National Museum of African American History & Culture
1.16 MILES
Located in Washington, DC, the sensational National Museum of African American History & Culture is devoted exclusively to the documentation of African…
0.87 MILES
Since 1800, this is where the legislative branch of American government (ie Congress) has met to write the country's laws.
1.17 MILES
Play image association with the words “Washington, DC,” and chances are the first thing that comes to mind is the White House. The president’s pad is…
2.9 MILES
Sprawling across hills above the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia, Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place for America’s most revered…
Nearby Washington, DC attractions
1. Surratt House Site (Wok & Roll)
0.29 MILES
Today this building is the Chinese restaurant Wok & Roll, but in 1865 it was the boarding house where Abraham Lincoln's assassins met and plotted their…
0.29 MILES
Devoted to architecture and urban design, the museum is housed in a magnificent 1887 edifice modeled after the Renaissance-era Palazzo Farnese in Rome…
3. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
0.34 MILES
This memorial in Judiciary Sq commemorates US police officers killed on duty since 1794. In the style of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, names of the dead…
0.35 MILES
Colorful, dragon-decorated Friendship Arch – the largest single-span arch in the world – marks the entrance to DC's Chinatown.
0.35 MILES
DC’s dinky Chinatown is anchored on 7th and H Sts NW. It was once a major Asian American entrepôt, but today most Asian Americans in the Washington area…
6. National Law Enforcement Museum
0.39 MILES
The group that operates the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial has built an accompanying museum across the street. Exhibits let visitors explore…
0.4 MILES
Fans of Morning Edition and All Things Considered can see where the magic happens at National Public Radio's ecofriendly headquarters. Hour-long tours…
8. Washington Convention Center
0.45 MILES
The hulking Convention Center hosts major trade shows, events and the occasional inaugural ball.