Union Station is among the most visited destinations in Washington DC, with over 32 million people entering the building each year. The building was constructed in 1908 and originally only serviced passengers trains on the B&O that ran between Washington DC and Pittsburgh. Over the years, the station grew in size and popularity, with its peak traffic volume occurring during World War II when approximately 200,000 people passed through Union Station each day.
Today, this historic train station still services passengers, with the major railroad companies operating here including Amtrak, Acela Express, Capitol Limited, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Northeast Regional, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Vermonter, and others. It is a part of the electrified rail line that services such major cities as Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.
In addition to being one of the area's busiest train stations, this popular venue is also home to great shops, restaurants, and entertainment options. Altogether, shoppers at Union Station can browse the merchandise at over 100 shops, including Bon Voyage, Lids, Parfumerie Douglas, Swarovski Crystal, Express, Chico's, Victoria's Secret, and dozens of others. Inside the shopping area, there are numerous dining options including Au Bon Pain, Cafe Renee, Johnny Rockets, Sbarro Italian Eatery, and more. Union Station features the area's most popular movie theater as well, the Phoenix Theatres Union Station 9. Here, you can see the latest hit movies from Hollywood in a unique section of Union Station that once was used for storage and still today retains its historic character.
Whether you are arriving in Washington DC at Union Station or just visiting for the day, you can enjoy the convenience of several other venues on site. Here, you will find rental car booths from major rental car agencies such as Budget, Avis, Alamo, National, and others. You can also rent a bike at Union Station and tour the city on your own, or take a guided sightseeing tour departing from Union Station.
With so much to see and do at this bustling district of Washington DC, it is no surprise that it draws in tens of millions of visitors each year for travel, shopping, dining, entertaining, and more. Make plans to explore all that Union Station has to offer on your trip to Washington DC.
