Washington, D.C., isnt just a destination for school field trips. Our nations capital is a full-fledged tourism hot spot, thanks to its plethora of restaurants, museums, historic sites, charming neighborhoods, sporting events and more.

But visitors tend to get some things wrong when they travel to the District, and the people who live there have certainly taken note. We asked D.C. locals to share the various faux pas theyve observed over the years.

From poor timing to navigation snafus, here are 17 mistakes tourists often make while visiting Washington, D.C. and some advice for avoiding these errors during your travels.

Visiting the monuments at peak hours

Dont go to the monuments during the day. The monuments, and landmarks such as the Jefferson Memorial, are always better at night. Less crowded, more picturesque, and very romantic! Vy Luu , content creator and real estate expert

If you want to see the monuments and get the best pics, always go super early in the morning like 6-8 a.m. Grab a bagel and coffee and enjoy sunrise at the Lincoln Memorial solo-dolo! I did this a few months ago, and it was the best. Imani Keal , blogger at Imani At Home

Booking accommodations based on the metro

Dont prioritize the location of your hotel or Airbnb near a metro line. While the metro is helpful for certain travel needs (i.e. getting from Columbia Heights to Navy Yard), the metro really isnt the most helpful with inner-city transportation. Youll likely end up taking the metro not as often as youd expect, or not at all, so dont factor that in regarding your stay preferences. Meghan Hoffman, photographer and founder of District by Meg

Sticking to the front of the Lincoln Memorial

When checking out the Lincoln Memorial, dont just stop at the front like most people. Head around to the backside of the Memorial for one of my favorite views in the city. Youll be able to see Memorial Bridge spanning over the Potomac River into Arlington National Cemetery. Theres also another set of stairs on the backside of the Memorial that are perfect for taking in the moment or enjoying some food you brought along. Katie Urban, blogger at A Touch of Teal

Being too ambitious with museum timing

Schedule accordingly. One huge faux pas that people often make when touring the District is not accounting for the time it takes to tour the museums and other sites. For instance, people think that they can see the entirety of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in a couple of hours. Im yet to see it be done! The extent of the exhibits is so vast, and the information so compelling, that you would be hard pressed to take in every floor in just a few hours. People are often astonished when they realize the museum realistically takes about an entire day of touring! Rashida Banks , home decor and lifestyle content creator

Eating at chain restaurants

D.C. has one of the most incredible food scenes in the country, but tourists like to (unknowingly) stick to their comfort zones. Pass on the big chains during your trip to experience new cuisines. Head to Albi for amazing Levantine food, to Mandu for delicious Korean staples, to Allegory for unforgettable cocktails. The list goes on and on. Kimberly Kong, blogger and digital marketer

I think tourists tend to miss out on D.C.s local culture when they get too museum- and monument-focused. Were right next to Chesapeake, so the seafood you can find at places like Rappahannock Oyster Bar and Hanks Oyster Bar at the Wharf and Capitol Hill is fantastic. The vibrant D.C. food, music, and art scene in areas near Union Market and on 14th Street tends to get missed too. Elisabeth Pendergrass , blogger at District of Chic