Washington, D.C., is rich in history, architectural beauty, and artistic culture. 

From the historic monuments lining the National Mall to the art museums and eclectic dining near Dupont Circle, people living "Inside the Beltway" of I-495 have plenty of ways to have fun. 

Folks have access to a range of homes, from historic Colonials and Victorian mansions in Georgetown near Downtown Washington to high-rises in Southwest Washington overlooking the waterfront of the Potomac River. Yet, figuring out where to live can be overwhelming for homebuyers. 

To help explain the layout to interested buyers, the team at Prevu Real Estate put together a list of the best neighborhoods in the District of Columbia. 

Best Neighborhoods in DC

• Columbia Heights 
• Woodley Park 
• Georgetown 
• Dupont Circle 
• Logan Circle
• Capitol Hill
• Southwest Washington

Columbia Heights 

If you want to walk the streets of D.C. and see history come alive, you should check out Columbia Heights. This storied neighborhood began growing after the Civil War, and developers built a mix of brick-faced rowhouses on residential side streets and larger Beaux-arts buildings lining Northwest 14th Street. 

Columbia Heights is a melting pot of ethnic backgrounds, from African and Hispanic cultures to Vietnamese and Korean collectives. And one of the best ways to experience it is by trying out all the great food. NW 14th Street is the central hub for the area, where you can find Laotian food at Thip Khao or get a taste of New Orleans from Creole on 14th. 

When folks are not dining out, you can find them shopping at the DC USA Mall, which has familiar big-box retailers like Best Buy and Target. This location is also where commuters can hop on the Metrorail to reach the Penn Quarter. 

When it comes to relaxing on the weekends, you can find folks lounging at Meridian Hill Park, which is just down the road from the Mexican Cultural Institute on 16th Street NW. The park is an ideal spot for picnics as it has a large lawn, multiple statues, and a cascading fountain. 

Woodley Park 

The beauty of Washington, D.C., is that you can have quiet residential roads next to bustling city quarters. One of the best places to find this balance of scenery is Woodley Park. 

Giant trees hang over winding streets, where you can discover rowhouses built at the turn of the century. The Adams Morgan neighborhood is next to Woodley Park, separated by the thick urban forest of Rock Creek Park. 

These dense woodlands extend into Woodley Park, creating a sense of peace you can't find in other parts of D.C.. People from all over the city come here to visit the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, which has everything from apes to pandas. 

While the area is known for historic rowhouses, condo units are also available on Connecticut Avenue, which is the main commercial drag for the neighborhood. While there are no major shopping centers in Woodley Park, there are opportunities to grab a bite without having to leave town.

Across from the Zoo, you can find locals recharging with some Starbucks, cooling off with frozen yogurt from FroZenYo, or enjoying British pub fare at Duke's Counter. While there are not major grocery stores in Woodley Park, you can find a CVS and a mix of restaurants at the intersection of Calvert Street Northwest and Connecticut Avenue. 

The Metrorail station for Woodley Creek is near this intersection, making it easy to get to other parts of D.C. in a breeze. After a day of work, you can find locals dining in at Thai and Time Again or grabbing a drink at Macintyre's Sports Pub.

Georgetown 

Georgetown has everything from waterfront dining and eclectic nightlife to historic streets and storied homes. 

This quaint neighborhood started as a port town situated on the Potomac River, and it predates the foundation of the District of Columbia as the nation's capital. The neighborhood's western side is home to the illustrious Georgetown University, founded in the 1780s. 

Today, many aspiring students come here to study politics, finance, and law in historical buildings like the famed Healy Hall. When it comes to winding down after class or work, many Georgetown locals hang out at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and M Street. There is a mix of upscale eateries like Martin's Tavern and French bakeries like Boulangerie Christophe. 

Just off the main drag, you can find quiet streets, some paved with cobblestones, with beautiful Victorian and Federal-style homes. As you wander south of M Street, condos are by the shoreline overlooking Georgetown Waterfront Park. Rock Creek separates Georgetown from Foggy Bottom, which is where the George Washington University campus is.

Down by the waterfront, you will find the Washington Harbor Mall, home to some of the most popular restaurants in D.C., like Fiola Mare and Tony and Joe's Seafood Place. Locals can get groceries on the north side of town, where there is a Safeway and a Trader Joe's on Wisconsin Avenue near Dumbarton Oaks Park. 

Dupont Circle 

If you are looking for luxurious condo units in the heart of Washington, D.C., you should check out the neighborhood of Dupont Circle. 

Located just northwest of Downtown D.C., this neighborhood is known for having unassuming bookstores like Second Story Books and cozy cafes where you can find political staffers on their lunch break. At just two miles from the White House, political aides and other young professionals will frequent places like PAUL on Connecticut Avenue, which extends north through Dupont Circle. 

There are a lot of name-brand retailers in this area, such as H&M, but you can find smaller boutiques as well. The Circle is a gathering place for locals who come here to do yoga, play chess, or lounge in the sun. After dark, nightlife in this neighborhood is second to none, as you can find upscale clubs like Twelve After Twelve for dancing or sample German beers at the Sauf Haus Bier Hall. 

Once you move off the main drag, Dupont Circle sheds the high rises in favor of single-family homes. Many properties date back to the late 1890s, featuring multiple bedrooms and baths. Yet condos are also available for interested buyers on Q Street, near Stead Park. 

Folks love this section of Dupont Circle as it is more residential, yet you can still find top-rated restaurants like the Michelin-starred Sushi Taro.

Logan Circle

Despite being only a few blocks from Dupont Circle, Logan Circle is one of the most peaceful neighborhoods in D.C..

Whether you are grabbing brunch at local favorites like Le Diplomate or lounging by the outdoor fireplace at the Barcelona Wine Bar, life in Logan Circle is much quieter than the hustle and bustle of its Dupont counterpart. 

Beautiful brick-faced Victorian homes surround Logan Circle, creating a calm backdrop perfect for having lunch in the park. Rowhouses are common here, and one home just off Q Street in the northwestern section of the neighborhood is painted to resemble a watermelon. 

Live music is a staple in the neighborhood, and you can catch blues acts after the happy hours at the Vegas Lounge or head farther north to see bands play at Black Cat. When it comes to getting groceries, there is a Whole Foods on the western side of Logan Circle, on P street. 

Capitol Hill

From the Library of Congress to the Thomas Jefferson building, there is plenty of American history in the Capitol Hill section of Washington, D.C.. 

Located just east of the iconic domed US Capitol Building and Supreme Court, this neighborhood attracts people working the levers of government and homebuyers who appreciate historic homes. Plenty of storied properties await buyers, from Federal-style residences to Victorian homes complete with turrets. 

One of the main attractions of Capitol Hill is the Eastern Market, just off C Street Southeast. This long, brick-faced building was built in the 1870s and contains some of the best produce in Washington, D.C.. Even if you are not grabbing groceries, there are bars across the street like Tunnicliff's Tavern where you can grab a bite and a brew. The Metrorail has a station at Eastern Market, so reaching other parts of D.C. is easy. 

While the National Mall is a popular place for folks to relax, many locals watch the day pass at parks like Folger Park, Marion Park, and Providence Park. When it comes to winding down, you can find folks at Barracks Row Main Street, where there is seafood, Belgian delicacies, and plenty of craft cocktail bars. 

Southwest Washington 

Most of the housing stock in Washington, D.C., is from the turn of the century. Yet if you want new construction condos, you can find them in Southwest Washington. 

The area is a collection of several neighborhoods, including Southwest Waterfront, Capitol Riverfront, and Buzzard Point, near Fort Lesley J. McNair. Much of the redevelopment centers around The Wharf, a waterfront revitalization project completed in 2017 that created multiple high-rises with shops and restaurants built into the ground floor. 

Folks seeking the waterfront lifestyle flock to the region as there are marinas to dock a vessel and plenty of restaurants on the water, such as Gordan Ramsey's Fish & Chips. Music is a big attraction in Southwest Washington as well, and many folks come from around the D.C. area to burn the midnight oil at venues like The Anthem, which is right on the waterfront. 

If golf is your pastime of choice, you'll love Southwest Washington, as right across from The Wharf is the illustrious East Potomac Golf Links, a 36-hole course with great views of the Washington Monument.