By Air:
There are three major airports that service the Washington D.C. area:

1) Ronald Reagan National Airport (+1 703 417 8600 / http://www.mwaa.com/national)

By far the closest and most convenient airport in the Washington area, Reagan is a mere stone throw from downtown, and is the only airport directly connected to the Metro system. Although in theory it is the airport for quick jaunts up and down the east coast, more and more cross country flights are showing up at the gates due to the location. Shopping ranges from upscale to newsstands selling magazines and Dramamine. Restaurant selections include almost-fine-dining, grub pubs, fast food fry pits and smoothie joints. ATMs abound, and Internet access is as simple as plugging in at a sit down phone booth.

2) Dulles International Airport (+1 703 417 8600 / http://www.metwashairports.com/Dulles/)

Most international air traffic and a substantial chunk of the long haul domestic flights touch down and take off from the runways of this sprawling complex, which seems to be in a perpetual state of construction. Four satellite concourses connect with the main terminal via "mobile loungers" ( i.e. crowded gizmos with entrances and exits at both ends that resemble wide buses ).

3) Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) (+1 800 435 9294 / http://www.bwiairport.com):

Seasoned travelers looking for deals always check bargain flights in out of this airport situated 30 miles north of D.C. The airport more than makes up for the distance issue with excellent transit options, along with the usual convenience factors like ATMs, data ports in all telephones, a business center, currency exchange centers, restaurants and bars and plenty of shopping outlets. An aviation museum and children's play area provide family delay diversions.

By Bus:
Greyhound Buslines ( +1 800 231 2222 / http://www.greyhound.com ) serves several states, parts of Canada and Mexico.

By Car:
Numerous interstate highways flow into I-495 ( the Capital Beltway ), which is the major ring road around the district. I-95 stretches from Washington D.C. south all the way to Miami, Florida and north to the Canadian border in Maine, passing though New York City and Boston along the way. I-70 connects the city with the western United States, via I-270.

By Rail:
Amtrak (+1 800 872 7245 / http://www.amtrak.com) has both traditional chug-along and limited high speed routes (ten to be exact) leaving and arriving from historic Union Station and reaching points around the northeastern, southern and midwestern United States. Routes include the high speed Acela Express, which darts back and forth between Boston and Washington, D.C., with stops in New York. The Federal, Regional and Vermonter also link D.C. and Boston, with stops in Philadelphia and New York City. The Metroliner is a basic line between Washington D.C. and New York City. The Capital Limited heads west to Chicago, and the Crescent wanders south to Atlanta and New Orleans.

Despite Washington's infamous reputation of being an insurmountable road bog, traffic tales tend to be exaggerated. No doubt, gridlock does exist, especially during weekday rush hours on major thoroughfares, and the Capital Beltway can easily become a parking lot anytime of the day. But despite the horror stories it is an easily navigable town, with an uncomplicated grid set up. Certain roads switch from two-way to one-way during rush hour commutes. Weekends (unless something is going on at the Mall) and nights are normally quiet when the roads turn into a ghost town after the politicos head home for the day. Parking, however, is not easy during the day even though most street parking is metered. In the outlying neighborhoods, Adams Morgan especially, it is literally impossible to find a spot, day or night. So if you do find a space, cherish it, keep it, and utilize the excellent public transit system for the remainder of the stay.

If you're internet savvy, check out http://www.hopstop.com for the quick and easy route via public transportation to get you where you want to go.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) (http://www.wmata.com) manages the extensive bus (Metrobus) and subway (Metrorail) system that work hand in hand to cover just about every nook of the central district and most of the neighboring suburbs. Opened in the mid-1970s, Metrorail has long been the envy of other US cities for its upscale and efficient subway loaded with plush trains, well-maintained stations (both underground and over ground) that look straight out of the future. But years of soaring rider traffic are creating some problems with the system as it has been plagued with delays, overcrowding and outages in the last few years. Still, it is the best way to get around town, safe, and exceptionally straightforward to use. It comprises of five lines (Red, Orange, Blue, Green, Yellow) that weave through the city center before branching out into suburban Maryland and Virginia. A number of the lines overlap allowing for trouble-free transfers to Metrobus or other Metrorail lines. Major transfer hubs include: the Metro Center, L'Enfant Plaza and Gallery Place-Chinatown.

Although there are numerous stations on the Metrorail, they are spread out over a vast area, and although the network is quite detailed, there are still places in the city it does not serve directly (e.g. Georgetown) and this is where Metrobus (or walking) comes in handy. Most metro stations are served by multiple bus lines. For instance, if you want to go to Georgetown, you can catch the Orange or Blue metro line to Foggy Bottom station and then hop on to the bus outside Washington Circle (or you can trek up Pennsylvania Avenue into the quarter). You can also opt to take the Red Line to Dupont Circle station and take a bus into Georgetown (or simply hike west on P Street). Various passes, including day and weekly, are also available.

MARC (+1 800 325 7245 / http://www.mtamaryland.com) suburban rail network stretches into the four counties north of Washington D.C., merging with Metrorail on the Red, Orange and Green lines, with halts at Union Station, Silver Spring, New Carrollton and Rockville. It also connects D.C. to Baltimore.

Virginia Railway Express (VRE) (+1 800 743 3873 / http://www.vre.org) has two lines (Manassas and Fredericksburg) that converge on Washington D.C. from the Virginia suburbs with stops at Union Station, Crystal City and L'Enfant Plaza.

D.C. has some of the cheapest cab fares in the country. This is due to the use of a zone scheme rather than meters, although meters always seem to be on the horizon. The city is divided into five main zones and eight subzones. A map hanging in the back seat of cabs pictures the zones, but it may make little sense so it is best to get a fare quote from the driver before accepting the ride. Taxis are abundant (some 90 companies vie for fares) and can be hailed from the street or acquired at various ranks around town.