The poetry of spring.
Washington D.C. was the first U.S. city that I ever visited, and it still holds a very special place in my memory. I still remember a very peculiar feeling of thinking that anything was possible while strolling that windswept expanse of land called the National Mall, bookended by the Lincoln Memorial and Capitol Hill, and bordered on the other sides by majestic neo-classical museum buildings containing various mementos of humanity’s achievements. In the early 1900s, Japan gifted DC several thousand cherry blossom trees, and these may all be found around the Tidal Basin, just south of the National Mall. One of the best times of the year to visit the city that governs the rest of America is during the cherry blossom season, and this guide sets out the easiest way to see DC’s Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms, and the most memorable cherry blossoms desserts you should check out enroute.
*Updated February 2024
Best Way to See Washington DC’s Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms
Where are the cherry blossoms located?
The main cherry blossoms in DC form a wreath around the Tidal Basin. The Tidal Basin itself is just south of the Washington Monument and the National Mall.
The closest train stops to Tidal Basin are the Smithsonian and L’Enfant Plaza stops, and then it’s about a 20 minute walk from either station to Tidal Basin. I don’t recommend driving because of the road blocks.
When is the best time to go?
1. Go in late March. My best advice is to monitor updates issued by the National Park Service and the Cherry Blossom Watch from late February onwards, and make your travel plans flexible. I visited in 2022, and blossoms peaked on the weekend of 20 March 2022. Each year, the blossoms arrive earlier and earlier. From the point of peak, the blossoms can last 3-5 days, if it doesn’t rain or if it isn’t particularly windy.
2. There is no “best time” of the day to visit. Realistically, you will find crowds anytime of the day, and you just have to block them out. The least amount of crowds will likely occur at sunrise. I recommend going at least once during the daytime, and once near sunset.
What to expect – is it worthwhile?
1. Crowds and blossoms. In terms of the blossoms, they are a mix of white and pale pink petals. Some cascade towards the shimmering waters of the Tidal Basin in the most ethereal way.
2. It’s free. There is no entrance fee – the Tidal Basin is free to access anytime of the year. During the weeks that the cherry blossom is blooming however, there may be road blocks to help control the crowds.
3. Plan for 2-4 hours to walk the circumference of the Tidal Basin, depending on how long you linger for photos. I visited early in the morning at 8.30am, and meandered around until noon. The crowds picked up around 11am.
4. It’s not Japan, or China, or Korea. Having visited Kyoto and Arashiyama in Japan at the height of the cherry blossom season, DC’s Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms do not surpass that experience. For example, I remember a stronger, though evanescent, scent from the blossoms in Japan, but I didn’t discern such a fragrance in DC. The Tidal Basin Cherry Blossoms are also not lit at light, whereas evening viewing is one of the most magical experiences during cherry blossom season in Japan. See for example, here. All that said, I do not regret visiting DC during cherry blossom month. It’s just a different experience.
Best Cherry Blossom Dessert in DC to hunt down
Once you have had your fill of the cherry blossoms, consider refueling on cherry blossom-themed food! Some of the city’s restaurants offer special themed drinks, desserts and meals, and they are worth booking and/or hunting down. For example, we indulged in a cherry blossom doughnut from Astro Doughnuts. Be forewarned that on weekends, you may have to wait up to 30 minutes or so to get your little hands on a doughnut. The lines are quite long!
The second dessert spot we visited was the St Regis Hotel, which was offering a special-themed cherry blossom high tea to commemorate, and coincide, with the flowering of the cherry blossoms. The St Regis Hotel in DC is furnished in the style of a very old European castle. It’s redolent in burnished brass and gold leaf, dripping with crystal and draped in heavy garnet velvet brocades. Price at USD $75 pp (plus tip/tax), afternoon tea was hosted on the lobby floor of the hotel, a setting which somewhat deprives diners of a little privacy and genteel quiet. The tea menu was average in length, featuring a variety of black, green, white and herbal tea infusions.
What distinguished St Regis’ high tea from the countless extravagant high teas we have had over the years, was that the high tea was presented on a tree! From the boughs of a golden-stemmed tree embellished with a scattering of blush-pink blossoms, the St Regis had hung a few glass baubles of desserts. There was a white chocolate eclair, red velvet cupcake, raspberry layered cake, and a panna cotta verrine. Savouries (not just limp ribbon sandwiches yay!) were presented on a separate plate, and scones (accompanied with lush cream, strawberry jam and lemon curd) wreathed the trunk of the tree. It was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon before meandering over to the National Mall and Tidal Basin area to watch the sun illuminate the cherry blossoms in a silvery glow as it slowly disappeared into the twilight.
Dessert adventure checklist
- ☑ Dessert destination:
- Astro Doughnuts, 1308 G Street N, Washington DC.
- St Regis Hotel, 923 Black Lives Matter Plz NW, Washington DC.
- ☑ Budget: $ for Astro Doughnuts; $$$ (USD $75 pp+ tip/tax) for St Regis.
- ☑ Sweet irresistibles: Cherry Blossom Doughnuts and Cherry Blossom High Tea.
- ☑ Travel notes:
- How long? We recommend a long weekend. If I had more time, I would have loved to catch the cherry blossoms at the National Aboretum or Dumbarton Oaks. Here’s a great list of other DC cherry blossom spots too.
- When to visit? See above on my tips on the best time to visit for the cherry blossoms.
- How to get there? I flew from NYC into DC’s Reagan National Airport (DCA). I generally prefer to ride the Amtrak train between DC-NYC, but during the cherry blossom month, Amtrak was extremely expensive.
- Where to stay? I stayed on the Arlington side of the Potomac River at the Westin Crystal City because (i) it was approx 10 minutes from Reagan National Airport (DCA), (ii) it was close to the DC Metro Line, which gets you to Tidal Basin cherry blossoms in approx 20 minutes, and (iii) it was more affordable than hotels closer to Tidal Basin which were in the region of USD $500-800 p/night during the cherry blossom weekend. The Westin is what you would expect from an American chain hotel — it’s basic, clean, spacious, but otherwise rather forgettable. If you prefer to stay in DC itself, stay in the Downtown or Foggy Bottom area. These areas are the closest to Tidal Basin. I have stayed at other DC hotels in the past, and can recommend Hotel Lombardy, St Regis or the Willard.
Dessert Correspondents 