Most visitors to Washington never realise that some of the area’s most moving sights sit just across the Potomac in Arlington, Virginia. With its famous cemetery, easy Metro links, and quieter, often cheaper streets, it makes a smart and comfortable base for exploring the capital region, without the crowds and cost of staying downtown.

This guide covers Arlington’s own sights and why it works so well as a place to stay for a DC trip.

Arlington National Cemetery

Arlington’s most significant sight is Arlington National Cemetery, the largest military cemetery in the country and the resting place of more than 400,000 service members and their families. The rolling rows of white headstones, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with its solemn Changing of the Guard, the eternal flame at President Kennedy’s grave, and Arlington House on the hill above are among the most moving experiences in the whole DC area, and as someone who reads a great deal of history, I found the Changing of the Guard genuinely hard to walk away from. Entry is free, and the official Washington DC tourism board has full visiting details.

A Base for the Capital

Arlington’s trump card is location. It sits directly across the Potomac from Washington, one short Metro ride from the National Mall, and since I’d almost always rather hop on a train than drive in a strange city, that suits me perfectly, putting the Smithsonian museums, the monuments, and the Capitol within easy reach. Its hotels are frequently better value than those downtown, and the Metro even connects it to Reagan National Airport in minutes, making arrivals and departures painless.

More Than a Suburb

Arlington is not just a dormitory for DC. Neighbourhoods like Clarendon and Rosslyn have their own lively restaurants, bars, and rooftop views back toward the monuments, while the striking Marine Corps War Memorial (the Iwo Jima statue) and the Air Force Memorial, whose three soaring stainless-steel spires I, as a pilot, could have stared at for hours, are worth seeking out. It is a pleasant, walkable place in its own right, with a relaxed feel that the busy heart of the capital lacks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Arlington a good base for visiting Washington DC? Yes. It sits one Metro stop from the National Mall, often offers better-value hotels than downtown, and connects quickly to Reagan National Airport, making it a smart, convenient base.

What is Arlington, Virginia known for? Above all, Arlington National Cemetery, with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and JFK’s grave, plus the Pentagon, the Marine Corps War Memorial, and its walkable neighbourhoods across the river from Washington.

How do you get from Arlington to Washington DC? The Metro connects Arlington to the National Mall and central DC in minutes, so you can stay in Virginia and sightsee in the capital with ease.

Final Thoughts

Arlington gives you the best of Washington with a calmer place to lay your head. For monuments, museums, and value, the Virginia side is well worth choosing, and its own cemetery is one of the most powerful sights in the region. Exploring more of the US East Coast? See our guides to Durham, North Carolina and to riding the New York subway.