Bethesda, MD

Travel Guide

Bethesda, MD featuring a house and a park
Bethesda showing street scenes and cafe scenes
Strathmore featuring performance art and interior views as well as a large group of people
Bethesda, MD which includes street scenes and heritage elements
Bethesda, MD featuring signage

Discover centers of art and culture in one of the country’s most livable cities, just north of Washington D.C.

The city of Bethesda, Maryland is a center of arts, culture, and modern history. It has been rated one of America’s most livable cities for its high education level and income growth rate and low crime. You’ll find many restaurants, bars and nightclubs in the modern Bethesda Row district near the city center.

Visit the arts and culture center, Glen Echo Park, formerly an amusement park. Attend classes and workshops to learn about the performing arts and make pottery, textiles or music. The antique Dentzel carousel on-site dates back to 1921. Explore the Spanish Ballroom. Take the kids to one of the children’s theaters, such as the Puppet Playhouse. Then have a snack at the Glen Echo Café.

Then make your way to Strathmore, a center for music and the arts. Explore the picturesque 11-acre (4.5-hectare) grounds near the main mansion. Attend a classical concert at the 100-seat Dorothy M. and Maurice C. Shapiro Room in the mansion and dine at the Prelude Café. Peruse the artwork on display.

Learn about the 19th-century nurse, teacher and humanitarian who helped thousands of people at the Clara Barton National Historic Site. Stroll around the well-kept gardens and enjoy the scenic and tranquil ambiance. Admire the lumber-built main house where Clara Barton lived. Its intriguing interior is shaped like a Mississippi River steamboat.

See one of the Madonna of the Trail series of monuments in downtown Bethesda. This statue paying homage to the female pioneers of the country is one of a collection of 12 in several states. Dine at a restaurant in Bethesda Row, west of central Bethesda.

Walk to a bar on Bethesda Lane, an extension of the lively central district. It is also a popular shopping area to buy souvenirs of your cultured vacation.

The nearest major airport is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, 11 miles  (18 kilometers) from central Bethesda. Get around the city by bus, metro or bicycle. Use the free Bethesda Circulator to reach attractions in the downtown area.

Where to stay in Bethesda

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Brookmont

If you're spending some time in Brookmont, Potomac River and Chesapeake and Ohio Canal are top sights worth seeing.

Brookmont
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Woodmont Triangle

4.5/5(9 area reviews)

Though Woodmont Triangle might not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like The Bethesda Theater and Bethesda Row.

Woodmont Triangle
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Bannockburn

When in Bannockburn, you can plan a visit to Puppet Co. Playhouse and Burning Tree Country Club, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Bannockburn
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Woodacres

When in Woodacres, you can plan a visit to Puppet Co. Playhouse and Bethesda Row, some noteworthy sights in the nearby area.

Woodacres
Hyatt Regency Bethesda

Hyatt Regency Bethesda

4 out of 5
1 Bethesda Metro Ctr, 7400 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD
The price is NT$3,561 per night from Aug 23 to Aug 24
NT$3,561
NT$4,024 total
Aug 23 - Aug 24
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this eco-certified hotel in Bethesda. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour health club, and valet parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,218 reviews)
"Staff was enormously helpful and friendly. Doors were held, good mornings offered! Loved it!"

Reviewed on 2025/8/6

Hyatt Regency Bethesda
The Bethesdan Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

The Bethesdan Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

4 out of 5
8120 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda, MD
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is NT$3,286 per night from Aug 15 to Aug 16
NT$3,286
NT$3,713 total
Aug 15 - Aug 16
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Bethesda. Enjoy an outdoor pool, a rooftop terrace, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the pool and ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,570 reviews)
"they accommodated us by changing rooms for us to get the bed we wanted, next door is Guapos - excellent food - a lite meal (taco) or a great steak dinner!"

Reviewed on 2025/8/4

The Bethesdan Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
Embassy Suites by Hilton Bethesda Washington DC

Embassy Suites by Hilton Bethesda Washington DC

4 out of 5
6711 Democracy Blvd, Bethesda, MD
The price is NT$3,642 per night from Aug 14 to Aug 15
NT$3,642
NT$4,116 total
Aug 14 - Aug 15
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Bethesda. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in ...
9/10 Wonderful! (2,353 reviews)
"Friendly staff, convenient location"

Reviewed on 2025/8/4

Embassy Suites by Hilton Bethesda Washington DC
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Global Luxury Suites Bethesda Chevy Chase

Global Luxury Suites Bethesda Chevy Chase

3.5 out of 5
4850 Rugby Ave, Bethesda, MD
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly aparthotel in Bethesda. Enjoy free WiFi, an outdoor pool, and a rooftop terrace. Popular attractions Smithsonian's National ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (102 reviews)
"I am so glad that we stayed her before my friends wedding. Plenty of space to move around."

Reviewed on 2025/6/30

Global Luxury Suites Bethesda Chevy Chase
Glover Park - Georgetown

Glover Park - Georgetown

4 out of 5
Washington
Stay at this aparthotel in Washington. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and room service. Our guests praise the restaurant and the helpful staff in our ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (2,528 reviews)
"It was very close to my business appointment."

Reviewed on 2025/8/4

Glover Park - Georgetown
ARC HOTEL Washington DC, Georgetown

ARC HOTEL Washington DC, Georgetown

3 out of 5
824 New Hampshire Ave Nw, Washington, DC
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly aparthotel in Washington. Enjoy free WiFi, a 24-hour fitness center, and valet parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (2,412 reviews)
"The hotel is in a safe area. We walked to some of the places we had to go, and it was nice. The room was clean and the staff was friendly. The process for check in and out was as quick and easy as it can be."

Reviewed on 2025/7/31

ARC HOTEL Washington DC, Georgetown
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

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