Bethesda

Bethesda was a quiet suburb until 1984, when the Red Line of the Metrorail was extended. This brought an explosion of growth, and many high rise office and apartment buildings were built. Bethesda became the major suburban destination in Maryland for wining and dining, and is much more family-friendly than anywhere in D.C. Bethesda is generally ranked #1 in the list of the most educated cities in the U.S. and the richest neighborhoods in the U.S.

By plane

Baltimore-Washington International (BWI), Dulles International (IAD), and Washington Reagan National (DCA) airports are more or less equidistant by taxi from downtown Bethesda, usually taking about 30-45 minutes, without traffic. Budget an extra 30 minutes during rush hour.
For information on getting from the airports to Bethesda, see Washington, D.C.#Get_in

By Metrorail

Bethesda is served by WMATA trains via its Red Line, travel time from central Washington, D.C. is just over 20 minutes. is located at the intersection of Wisconsin Ave and Old Georgetown Road. Eventually, the Purple Line will be built, giving easy access to Silver Spring and the campus of the University of Maryland.

By bus

From New York City

• Tripper Bus

  phone: +1 718 834-9214
  Service to Penn Station in New York City. Pickup/dropoff near the Metrorail stations in Bethesda and Rosslyn. $27+ discounts available with multiple online tickets purchased. Elite bus service option includes leather captains reclining chairs.

• Vamoose Bus

  phone: +1 301 718-0036
  Service to Penn Station in New York City Pickup/dropoff near the Metro stations in Bethesda and Rosslyn. $30+ free ticket with every four purchased.

From other points in Montgomery County, MD

Ride-on-Bus and MetroBus operate service between downtown Bethesda and other locations in Montgomery County, including Rockville, Silver Spring, and Wheaton.

By car

Wisconsin Ave (Route 355) and Connecticut Avenue run from Downtown Washington DC to Bethesda.

By bicycle

The Capital Crescent Trail, which runs from Georgetown to Silver Spring passes through Bethesda. Between Bethesda and Georgetown the trail is smooth asphalt suitable for rollerblading, while from Bethesda to Silver Spring is loose gravel.

By bus

Bethesda Circulator operates free bus service within downtown Bethesda. It runs every 10 minutes M-Th 7AM-11PM, F 7AM-midnight, Sa 10AM-2AM, Su no service.
Ride-on-Bus and MetroBus operate service between downtown Bethesda and other locations in Bethesda, including Montgomery Mall and the National Institutes of Health.

By foot

You can walk around downtown Bethesda—it's not so big.

By car

Parking

Parking is usually only available in the public garages, which have rates starting at $0.80 per hour.
Parking meters cost $2.25 per hour. Parking enforcement is aggressive and fines start at $45 for an expired meter.

Bethesda is not known for its sights; it's known for its restaurants and bars. Nonetheless, you might be interested to see:

• Bethesda Fine Art

  phone: +1 240-800-3628
  address: 4931 Cordell Avenue
  Art gallery

• Gallery B

  phone: +1 301-951-9441
  address: 7700 Wisconsin Avenue
  Art gallery.

• KID Museum

  phone: +1 301 897-5437
  address: 6400 Democracy Blvd
  Hands-on learning center and museum where kids learn how to make, build and design things and objects with science and technology. Open to general public only on Sundays 10AM to 5PM and admission price includes 2 adults.

• Madonna of the Trail statue

  address: Wisconsin Ave & Old Georgetown Rd
  The Madonna of the Trail memorial was dedicated at Bethesda in 1929 by the Daughters of the American Revolution. It is one of 12 identical memorials that mark the National Old Trails Road, also known as the Ocean-to-Ocean Highway. Each Madonna of the Trail monument stands 18 feet tall and weighs 17 tons and is constructed of algonite stone. The statue depicts a pioneer woman clasping her baby with her young son clinging to her skirts and is a tribute to the women that headed west with their pioneer husbands.

• National Institutes of Health

  address: 9000 Rockville Pike (north on Wisconsin)
  The mammoth collection of buildings housing the majority of the nation's government bio-research. Due to worries about the security of the bio-weapons research programs here, admission of non-employees to the grounds requires a security screening.

• Walter Reed National Military Medical CenterThe view from Wisconsin Ave of the main building is plenty impressive. If you see a helicopter landing on that main building, it's probably the president or one of the top cabinet officials—this is where they get their repairs. Frankin Delano Roosevelt sketched the design for the impressive main building.

• Waverly Street Gallery

  phone: +1 301-951-9441
  address: 4600 East-West Highway
  Art gallery

Bethesda Urban Partnership sponsors many events including free concerts, movie showings, and art exhibitions, all of which are posted on the website.

Parks

• Elm Street Urban Park

  address: 4600 Elm St
  A 2.1-acre park in downtown Bethesda. There is a playground, a picnic area with an open shelter, and a stone and metal statue by Jenny Read titled Girl with Hoop. Occasionally, this is the site of free dance classes on weekends.

Bowling

• Bowlmor Lanes Bowling

  phone: +1 301 652-0955
  address: 5353 Westbard Ave
  A big, 34-lane upscale bowling alley with two large and popular bars.

Live music

• Bethesda Live

  address: 7719 Wisconsin Avenue

• Strathmore Hall

  address: 5301 Tuckerman Lane North Bethesda
  A fantastic hall for seeing concerts because of its state-of-the-art acoustics and great seating. Even the last row has great sound and viewing lines. Check the schedule to find everything from classical music symphonies to rock concerts to kids music performances.

Festivals

• Bethesda Row Arts FestivalA festival featuring arts and crafts for sale by local artists and live music.

• Taste of BethesdaThe taste of Bethesda is the biggest festival of the year, when people from all over the area come to sample Bethesda's restaurant offerings and to enjoy big free concerts. A pack of 4 taste tickets costs $5, and restaurants will give you a food serving for 1-4 tickets. Many great restaurants participate!

Farmer's markets

• Bethesda Farm Women's Market

  address: 7155 Wisconsin Ave
  Dates back to the Great Depression. Food, drink, and crafts are sold.

Shopping malls

• Westfield Montgomery Mall

  address: 7101 Democracy Blvd
  Includes many clothing stores such as Aeropostale, Abercrombie & Fitch, American Apparel, American Eagle, Banana Republic, Forever 21, GAP, Old Navy as well as an Apple Store and a food court

Bethesda is known throughout the Washington D.C. area for its nearly 200 restaurants.

Budget

• Bangkok Garden

  phone: +1 301-951-0670
  address: 4906 St. Elmo Ave
  This Thai restaurant is one of the best in the D.C. area. It has relatively inexpensive food served in a warm, inviting atmosphere.

• Gringos & Mariachis

  phone: +1 240-800-4266
  address: 4928 Cordell Ave
  Tacos and margaritas.

• Tastee Diner

  phone: +1 301-652-3970
  address: 7731 Woodmont Ave
  Looking for the true American diner experience with greasy spoons and waitresses with too much eye shadow? How about cheap eats any time of day or night? Look no further than the Tastee Diner to serve your needs. Indeed, this might be the most dineresque diner in the D.C. area.

• Vace's Italian Deli

  phone: +1 301-654-6367
  address: 4705 Miller Ave
  Vace's serves the best, most authentic New York style pizza you'll find anywhere this far south. Takeout only.

• California Tortilla

  phone: +1 301 654-8226
  address: 4871 Cordell Ave
  Large tortillas filled with delicious and creative ingredients. The most popular choice is the blackened chicken caesar burrito. Any menu item can be made vegetarian upon request. For customers who like spiciness, customers can help themselves to any of the hot sauces on their Wall of Flames. Occasionally, the restaurant's social media accounts will announce a free item for anyone saying a particular word to a cashier on a particular date.

• VÜK

  phone: +1 301 652-8000
  address: 4924 Saint Elmo Ave
  True New York-style pizza. Huge slices. And over 12 pinball machines. Too much fun.

Mid-range

• Bethesda Crab House

  phone: +1 301-652-3382
  address: 4958 Bethesda Ave
  What better reason to cross the District line into Maryland than a Maryland crab feast! This is not a nice restaurant, it is a crab shack that somehow made its way into Bethesda, with the brown paper on the table, buckets of crabs, tons of Old Bay seasoning, and a lot of messy patrons.

• Jaleo

  phone: +1 301-913-0003
  address: 7271 Woodmont Ave
  José Andrés' excursion to Bethesda brings the same excellent modern takes on Spanish tapas and the same excellent sherry and port lists. While extremely popular, this location is big enough where you can get a table without reservations.

• Kadhai

  phone: +1 301-718-0121
  address: 7905 Norfolk Ave.
  Indian cuisine. All dishes served with hand prepared spices and fresh ingredients.

• Maki Maki

  phone: +1 301-913-9888
  address: 8023 Wisconsin Ave
  Just a bit north of the hotbed of restaurants, this unassuming but pleasant and friendly corner sushi bar is excellent. They specialize in creative sushi (or Maki) dishes like the "Red Dragon" (spicy crunchy tuna inside, topped with avocado, tobiko and spicy sauce) and "Fuji Maki" (eel, tobiko, shrimp tempura, cucumber, tamago, cream cheese & eel sauce).

• Mon Ami Gabi

  phone: +1 301-654-1234
  address: 7239 Woodmont Ave
  French bistro

• Mussel Bar & Grille

  phone: +1 301-215-7817
  address: 7262 Woodmont Ave
  Mussels, frites, and Belgian beer.

• Olazzo

  phone: +1 301-654-9496
  address: 7921 Norfolk Ave
  Italian food in a rustic environment.

• Passage to India

  phone: +1 301-656-3373
  address: 4931 Cordell Ave
  The often fiery cuisine here is some of the best Indian food you'll find anywhere in the metro area, and it's also attractive, rather quiet, and has reliably excellent service. If you are up for a challenge, try to finish one of their vindaloos without asking them to dull down the spice level.

• Pizzeria Da Marco

  phone: +1 301-654-6083
  address: 8008 Woodmont Ave
  Authentic Neapolitan pizza from a wood-fired oven. Fresh imported tomatoes & mozzarella; ingredients also sourced from local and organic farmers.

• Raku

  phone: +1 202-718-8680
  address: 7240 Woodmont Ave
  Arguably the best Asian food in Bethesda. It's kid-friendly and rather noisy, but the food is made with incredibly fresh, high quality ingredients, and will not likely disappoint. Very popular so make a reservation or get there early.

• Tako Grill

  phone: +1 301-652-7030
  address: 4914 Hampden Ln
  Japanese cuisine. Wide variety of sushi. Cooked entree dishes include teriyaki, negimaki, tonkatsu, tempura and broiled fish. Noodle dishes: ramen, soba, udon. Also izakaya (small plates). Delivery available via Uber Eats.

• Woodmont Grill

  phone: +1 301-656-9755
  address: 7715 Woodmont Ave
  American food. Live jazz music nightly.

Splurge

• PassionFish Bethesda

  phone: +1 301-358-6116
  address: 7187 Woodmont Ave
  Seafood and great cocktails in a sleek atmosphere.

• Persimmon

  phone: +1 301-654-9860
  address: 7003 Wisconsin Ave

• Barking Dog

  phone: +1 301-654-0022
  address: 4723 Elm St
  Dance floor upstairs.

• Black's Bar & Kitchen

  phone: +1 301 652-6278
  address: 7750 Woodmont Ave
  A very nice place for a few drinks with some oysters on the half shell, particularly during happy hour (M-F 4-7PM), when there are good deals to be had on the oysters and on the drinks. It can get very crowded around meal times—make reservations.

• Brickside

  phone: +1 301-312-6160
  address: 4866 Cordell Ave
  Local modern American bar. A relaxed environment with artisan bar food, creative drinks, and neighborly service. Crowded during happy hour with a professional crowd and hosts trivia nights on Wednesdays.

• Caddies on Cordell

  phone: +1 301-215-7730
  address: 4922 Cordell Ave
  A sports bar.

• Flanagan's Harp and Fiddle Pub

  phone: +1 301-951-0115
  address: 4844 Cordell Ave
  Good Irish pub with all the beer and food you'd expect.

• Rock Bottom Brewery

  phone: +1 301-652-1311
  address: 7900 Norfolk Ave
  The food is fine, but this small but national chain is best visited for the excellent beers on tap, which can be ordered in sampling glasses. DJs show up F Sa nights, but this isn't really the sort of place for that. Great people watching from the outdoor seating in good weather.

• Tyber Bierhaus

  phone: +1 301-913-0352
  address: 7525 Old Georgetown Rd
  Great selection of German and Belgian beers.

• Vino Volo

  phone: +1 301-656-0916
  address: 7243 Woodmont Ave
  A popular wine bar.

• Bethesda Marriott Suites

  phone: +1 301-897-5600
  address: 6711 Democracy Blvd

• Bethesda Marriott

  phone: +1 301-897-9400
  address: 5151 Pooks Hill Rd

• Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center

  phone: +1 301-822-9200
  address: 5701 Marinelli Rd
  This hotel offers conference space and services for any event. It also offers a fitness center, heated indoor pool, restaurants, the largest ballroom in Maryland.

• Doubletree Bethesda Maryland

  phone: +1 301-652-2000
  address: 8120 Wisconsin Ave

• Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC/Bethesda

  phone: +1 301-654-8111
  address: 7301 Waverly St

• Hyatt Regency Bethesda

  phone: +1 301-657-1234
  address: 1 Bethesda Metro Center

• Residence Inn Bethesda

  phone: +1 301-718-0200
  address: 7335 Wisconsin Ave

Bethesda, like most of the county, is very safe. This being an urban area, it wouldn't hurt to be watchful of your belongings though.

• Rockville includes the grave of American novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, writer of The Great Gatsby.
• Silver Spring
• Washington, D.C. is a 10-minute ride south on the Red Line Metrorail from the Bethesda Metrorail Station.