New York
Washington DC
Travelers compare New York and Washington DC because they are only 360 km apart, are connected by Amtrak and offer opposite experiences: skyscrapers and Broadway versus Monuments and Smithsonian museums.
In a few days you can go from Times Square to the National Mall, optimizing budget and time thanks to trains in 3h00 and buses in 5h00.Key differences: in NYC you pay for museums like the MoMA (about €28) and viewpoints like Top of the Rock (about €37-42), but you have nightlife until 4:00.
In DC you’ll find free museums (Air and Space, National Gallery), spring with cherry blossoms in late March and average hotels at €180-260 per night versus €220-320 in Manhattan.In this guide you’ll find detailed daily budgets, transport costs from JFK and DCA, visiting times for the Statue of Liberty and the Washington Monument, tips for families, shopping and safety.
It ends with a combined 6-7 day itinerary with trains €40-180 and seasonal suggestions in April/October.New York vs Washington DC
| Feature | New York | Washington DC |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budget | In New York a “low” budget is €110-150: hostel bed at €60-90 (e.g., NY Moore), street food meals €25-35 (pizza slice €3-4, bagel €2-4), subway €2,70/ride or weekly cap €31, attractions €20-30/day with a pass.Mid: €220-320 (3-4* hotel in Midtown €180-260, restaurants €35-55, 1-2 entries €30-40).Luxury: €380-600+ (5* hotel €350-550, rooftop/cocktail €15-20, taxi €11-17 for 3 km).Note hotel taxes 14.75% + €3,25 per night. | In Washington DC a “low” budget is €90-130: room in Arlington or NoMa at €70-110, Smithsonian museums free, Metro day pass €12, fast-casual meals €15-25 (half-smoke at Ben’s Chili Bowl €6,50-8,50).Mid: €180-260 (3-4* downtown hotel €150-220, restaurants €25-40, 1 paid museum like Spy Museum €23).Luxury: €320-500 (5* hotel €280-420, steakhouse €60-90, Uber 6 km €14-20).Hotel tax 14.95%, sales tax 6%.✓ Better |
| Main attractions | The Statue of Liberty with the official ferry (€23) takes 4-5 hours including Ellis Island.MoMA costs about €28 (visit 2-3 hours).Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center is €37-42 (sunset 60-90 min).The 9/11 Museum is about €30 (2 hours).Alternatives: Edge Hudson Yards €38-44 and Empire State €41-74.Book online 48-72 hours in advance to avoid lines. | In Washington DC the National Air and Space Museum is free (2-3 hours, timed entry).The National Museum of African American History is free (2-3 hours, timed ticket).The Washington Monument has a €0,90 reservation (ascent 70 min).The US Capitol is free (60-90 min).Paid: International Spy Museum about €23 (2-3 hours).The Holocaust Memorial Museum requires a €0,90 pass (visit 2 hours).✓ Better |
| Food and restaurants | In NYC try pastrami at Katz’s Delicatessen (€24-28 for the sandwich), a slice at Joe’s Pizza (€3-4), and a bagel at Ess-a-Bagel (€2-4).Markets: Chelsea Market (meal €12-20) and Smorgasburg in summer (€8-15 per dish).Cocktail bars like Death & Co €16-20.Mid-range dinner: €25-40 per person; tasting menu €120-250.Tips at 18-22% and sales tax 8.875% on the bill. | In DC Ethiopian cuisine in Adams Morgan at Zenebech (€14-20 per dish), Chesapeake crabs at Ivy City Smokehouse (€22-35), and the half-smoke at Ben’s Chili Bowl (€6,50-8,50).Union Market (meal €12-18) and Eastern Market on weekends (€6-12 snacks).Craft beers at Bluejacket €7-9, cocktails €12-16.Mid-range dinner €20-35; tips 18-22%, restaurant tax 10% in DC.✓ Better |
| Climate and best time | In New York spring (April-May) 12-21°C and fall (September-October) 15-22°C are ideal.Summer (July-August) 29-31°C with 60-70% humidity and evening thunderstorms.Winter (January) 0-5°C, lows -5°C, annual snowfall about 60-70 cm.Rain evenly distributed (90-110 mm/month).For clear photos: morning between 8:00-10:00 in October.Events: NYC Marathon in early November with hotels +20-30%. | In Washington DC spring with cherry blossoms between late March and early April: 12-20°C.Summer (July) 31-33°C, high humidity and afternoon thunderstorms.Winter (January) 2-8°C, lows -3°C, snow 30-40 cm/year.Fall (October) 14-22°C, stable skies.Annual rainfall about 1,000 mm.Best time: mid-April and mid-October; during the Cherry Blossom Festival hotel prices +25-40% and reservations needed 4-6 weeks in advance. |
| Transport and how to get there | In NYC airports JFK, LGA, EWR.From JFK: AirTrain €7,60 + subway €2,70 (45-60 min) or taxi flat fare €65-80 (40-70 min).From Newark: AirTrain+NJ Transit €14-16 (35-50 min).Subway ride €2,70, weekly cap €31.Taxi 3 km €11-17.MTA buses included.Rideshare like Uber cost €25-45 for 8-10 km at rush hour. | In DC airports DCA (7 km), IAD (42 km), BWI (51 km).From DCA: Metro Blue/Yellow lines €2-4, 15-20 min to Downtown.From IAD: Silver Line €5-6, 50-60 min to Metro Center.From BWI: MARC €7-9 or Amtrak €12-18 to Union Station (35-45 min).Metro day pass €12, taxi 3 km €9-12.Rideshare airport-downtown: DCA €18-23, IAD €50-70.✓ Better |
| Nightlife | In New York bars and clubs often close at 4:00.Areas: Lower East Side, Williamsburg, Meatpacking.Rooftops like 230 Fifth cocktails €15-18, free entry or €10-20.Clubs like House of Yes from €20-35.Draft beer €7-9.Subway runs 24/7; after 01:00 waits 10-20 min.Smart casual dress code in upscale Chelsea venues.✓ Better | In DC bars close around 2:00-3:00.Areas: U Street, Adams Morgan, H Street NE.Historic jazz at Blues Alley (€25-40 ticket).Craft beer €7-9 at Bluejacket, cocktails €12-16.Club cover €5-15.Metro until about 0:00 weekdays and 1:00 weekends; after that, Uber is advisable (€10-18 for 4-6 km).More relaxed vibe than NYC and shorter lines. |
| For families with children | In NYC the Central Park Zoo €18 adults is compact (60-90 min).The American Museum of Natural History costs about €26 adults, €15 children (2-3 hours); strollers allowed.The Staten Island Ferry is free (60 min round trip) and offers views of the Statue.Distances: from Times Square to the Museum 3.2 km (15 min by subway).Restrooms and playgrounds in Central Park.Avoid rush hours 8:00-9:30 and 17:00-18:30. | In DC the Smithsonian National Zoo is free (2-3 hours, parking €28-30).The National Museum of Natural History is free (2 hours) and very interactive.The Air and Space fascinates from age 6 (2-3 hours).Wide spaces on the National Mall for strollers; frequent water fountains and restrooms.Distances: Smithsonian Castle to Capitol 2.4 km (30 min on foot).For rain: Spy Museum €23 with activities for kids 8-12.✓ Better |
| Beaches and nature | In NYC urban beaches like Coney Island 20 km from Midtown (D/F/N/Q subway, 45-50 min), and Rockaway Beach 25 km (60-70 min on A subway).Nature in Central Park (3.4 km long) and on the High Line (2.3 km).For dunes and ocean: Jones Beach 55 km (car 60 min).Great in June and September with 22-26°C.✓ Better | In DC no ocean in the city, but Great Falls Park is 24 km away (car 25-30 min, vehicle entry €18-20).Rock Creek Park offers 32 km of shaded trails in the city.Theodore Roosevelt Island has nature boardwalks (60-90 min).Nearest beach: Sandy Point State Park 52 km, 50 min by car, entry €5-6.Best months: May and October with 18-22°C. |
| Shopping | In NYC shopping on Fifth Avenue and in SoHo (fashion and design).Chelsea Market for crafts/food.Outlet Woodbury Common 80 km away: bus 1h15, round trip €40-50.Sales tax 8.875%, but clothing under $110 (about €100) is taxed at 0%.Souvenirs: caps €10-20, limited-edition sneakers €120-200.Best time: 10:00-12:00 on weekdays.✓ Better | In DC go to Georgetown (M St and Wisconsin Ave) for boutiques, CityCenterDC for luxury, and Eastern Market for crafts (€10-30).Malls: Tysons Corner Center 21 km (Metro Silver Line 35 min).Sales tax 6%; dining taxed at 10%.Books and historical posters at the Smithsonian €8-25.Sale periods: late July and January with 30-50% discounts. |
| Safety and practical tips | In NYC tourist areas are monitored; avoid at night parts of Brownsville, East New York and the South Bronx.Watch out for scams by costumed characters in Times Square and unlicensed taxis at airports.Useful numbers: 911 for emergencies and 311 for information.Keep your backpack in front on the subway during rush hours.Water: fountains in Central Park and main stations. | In DC avoid late at night parts of SE such as Anacostia, Deanwood and Trinidad.On the National Mall watch for pickpockets on crowded days and vendors charging €3-4 for water.During protests near the Capitol and the White House, follow detours and carry ID for checks.Emergency number 911.Use Uber after 23:00 if far from the Metro. |
| How many days you need | For NYC minimum 3 days: Midtown, Lower Manhattan, one museum and a viewpoint.Ideal 5-6 days to include Brooklyn (DUMBO), Central Park and the Statue.Pace: 12-15 km walking per day; use the subway for routes > 2 km.With kids, plan 1 long afternoon break and cut to 4 attractions per day. | For DC minimum 2 days: National Mall with main memorials and 1-2 museums.Ideal 3-4 days to add the Capitol, Georgetown, Arlington Cemetery and U Street.Distances are linear but large: the Mall is 3 km long with limited shade; alternate museums and water breaks every 90 min.Metro useful between L’Enfant Plaza and Smithsonian.✓ Better |
| How to combine the two cities | From NYC to DC with Amtrak Northeast Regional: 3h20, €40-80 booking 2-8 weeks in advance from Penn Station to Union Station.Acela: 2h50-3h05, €90-180.Megabus/Bolt/FlixBus: 4h30-5h30, €20-40, departures from Hudson Yards or 34th St.Flight 1h10 but with checks total time reaches 3h+. | From DC to NYC the train is convenient to arrive downtown: from Union Station to Penn Station.Choose Northeast Regional to save (€40-80, 3h20) or Acela for time (€90-180, ~3h).Night buses €20-35 (5h) if your lodging is near Port Authority.Avoid rush hours 16:30-19:00; book a window on the east side for views of the Delaware and Hudson. |
The Verdict
Choose New York
Choose New York if you want an intense urban trip with art, views and nightlife.Recommended period: late September or May with 18-22°C.Realistic mid-range budget: €220-320 per day (Midtown hotel €180-260, meals €35-55, 1 attraction €30-40, subway €2,70 per ride).Quick 4-day itinerary: day 1 Midtown + Top of the Rock; day 2 Lower Manhattan + 9/11 Museum; day 3 Statue of Liberty + SoHo/Brooklyn Bridge; day 4 MoMA + Central Park and cocktails at 230 Fifth.Book viewpoints at sunset 48 hours in advance.
Choose Washington DC
Choose Washington DC if you love free museums, history and a more relaxed pace.Ideal period: mid-April for the cherry blossoms or October with 18-22°C.Mid-range budget: €180-260 per day (central hotel €150-220, meals €25-40, Metro day pass €12, 1 paid museum €23).3-day itinerary: day 1 National Mall + Air and Space; day 2 Capitol + National Museum of African American History + Washington Monument; day 3 Georgetown + Lincoln Memorial + jazz at Blues Alley.Book timed passes 7-10 days in advance.