Washington Metro

Washington Metrorail, or Metro, as everyone calls it, is the subway/rapid transit system serving Wshington, DC and its Maryland and Virginia suburbs. Metro is an excellent, clean, and safe transit system and is the best way for the traveler to get around Washington, DC.

Metro operates five color coded lines. All five lines pass through downtown Washington, DC. Major downtown transfer stations are at Metro Center, L'Enfant Plaza, and Gallery Place-Chinatown. You can board Metro at any station and travel to any other station on the sytem by changing trains only once. Stations are identifeid by pylons with the station name.

The Red, Blue, Orange, and Green lines also serve stations in Maryland.
The Blue, Orange, and Yellow lines also serve stations in Virignia.

Riding Metro requires purchase of a Farecard or a plastic SmarTrip card from a vending machine at the station. Cash, credit cards, or ATM cards are accepted. One-day passes are also available. (Day passes are not valid before 9:30 a.m.) Metro fares vary according to the distance traveled and the time of day. (Fares are higher during rush hours.) Metro staff are on hand to assist travelers unfamiliar with the system.

Metro serves Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) directly as well as Washington Union Station.

Metro unfortunately does not go to a few popular areas. Among these are Georgetown and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. To reach the popular nightlife, restaurants, and shopping in Georgetown, you need to walk or take a bus from Wshington Circle, near the Foggy Bottom Metro station. Dedicated shuttle buses run from Foggy Bottom Metro to the Kennedy Center. (Or you can walk there, too--it's only about five blocks.)

Metrorail Hours of operation:
Opens: 5 a.m. weekdays, 7 a.m. weekends
Closes: Midnight Sunday-Thursday, 3 a.m. Friday-Saturday nights

Parking garages are available at most of the suburban terminal stations. Many visitors park their cars and ride Metro to Washington. Note: you must have a SmarTrip card or a credit card to pay for garage parking.