Welcome to the best university in the world, located in one of the most amazing cities in the country. The following is a guide on how to navigate and explore Washington, D.C. Your new city has so much to offer — don’t be afraid to dive in and occasionally get lost. All of the fun is in the journey.
GUTS
The Georgetown University Transportation Shuttles — or as all Hoyas call them, GUTS buses — are your free ticket around the district and its suburbs. From the Main Campus bus turnarounds near McDonough Arena and Lombardi Circle, shuttles can take you to Arlington, Va., Dupont Circle, Capitol Hill and Rosslyn, Va., among others. The GUTS system also operates out of Georgetown’s Capitol Campus and offers holiday shuttles. The full list of GUTS routes can be found here.
Metrorail
The Metrorail, commonly known as just “the Metro,” is the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) area’s underground rail system, and it needs no introduction. The Metro is operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), the government agency responsible for public transportation in the DMV, and has 98 active stations across six color-coded lines, stopping at malls, airports, cultural centers and neighborhoods across the region. Although the Georgetown neighborhood does not have a stop, nearby stations — including Rosslyn and Dupont Circle — are easily accessible via the GUTS bus. To pay for the Metro, you can use a physical or digital SmartTrip card or contactless payment.
Every Metro stop has something to offer, and a great way to explore D.C. during your time here is to visit as many as you can.
Metrobus
WMATA’s Metrobus network also has dozens of lines across the DMV, including several close to campus. The WMATA Trip Planner makes it easy to sort through the many routes and plan trips that could cross multiple lines. As with the Metro, you can pay for the bus with a SmartTrip card or contactless pay. Transferring from Metrorail to Metrobus within two hours of exiting a Metro station is completely free. Here are some useful Metro bus lines to know:
C91
Route C91 runs from Georgetown’s front gates at its west end to Ledroit Park, near Howard University, at its east end. C91 also conveniently stops at the Dupont Circle metro station, Logan Circle and Shaw. WMATA recently updated this route to run every 20 minutes, rather than every 30.
D80 and D82
Routes D80 and D82 follow the same path from Friendship Heights Station through Georgetown. A quick walk from campus to Wisconsin Avenue can get you to either route. D80 goes to Union Station and moves through downtown D.C., while D82 stops at Foggy Bottom, at George Washington University’s (GWU) campus.
D96
Route D96 stops just east of campus, with several stops along 35th Street. It runs from Bethesda Station in Maryland to Potomac Park, near GWU. This route also stops at American University and Dupont Circle.
D94
Route D94 stops on Reservoir Road, just north of St. Mary’s Hall. D94 runs from Sibley Hospital in the district’s western corner to Gallery Place, right next to Capital One Arena. This route can take you near several metro lines and travels just north of the White House.
SafeRide
From 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. from Sunday through Wednesday, and until 3 a.m. on Thursday through Saturday, the Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD) offers SafeRides, a free service that takes you to and from campus and the nearby neighborhoods. You can call for a SafeRide at 202-784-RIDE or use their LiveSafe app to request a SafeRide.
Rideshare
Like any major city, D.C. is rife with Uber and Lyft vehicles. Within the city, an Uber can run you about $20, while rides to the airport can approach $50. As long as you’re willing to pay, rideshare services are highly convenient when you need them.
Bikes and Scooters
Biking and scootering are also popular among Georgetown students. Through apps like Lime, you can rent e-bikes and e-scooters, which can typically be found right outside Georgetown’s front gates. They can make your travel a lot more fun and throw some flair into your quick trips. Although be aware, you’re charged by the minute.
Also outside the front gates sits a Capital Bikeshare rack. The D.C. municipal government runs Capital Bikeshare, offering both e-bikes and manual bicycles. Using the district’s bike lanes, you can travel from one Capital Bikeshare Rack to another for a relatively low cost. Capital Bikeshare gives you the option between three types of membership: single rides, day passes and annual passes. Information on each plan can be found here.
Walking
As always, your own feet can provide quite a bit of freedom. Whether it’s walking from campus to get dinner in Georgetown or picking up some groceries, trekking around monuments at the National Mall or just taking a lively stroll in a new area, walking is the best medicine. Walking to the Georgetown waterfront is the perfect way to reset when college life gets to you.
Congratulations on arriving in your new city — now your task is to discover what it has for you.