I heart old architecture, so I made it a priority to visit Central Station that opened in 1907. I was amazed at how grand Union station is when we exited our Uber ride. I felt safe here since there were national guardsmen strolling the station. There are 30 eateries here and we ended up having lunch at Shake Shack, indulging in ice cream at Van Leeuwen, chocolates from Laderach and coffee at Blue Bottle Coffee. I like how the station also has 30 retail shops. Happy I visited Union Station and I recommend seeing this architectural marvel. read more

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Union Station is a beautiful historical building. It is a travel hub in the city (Marc train, Amtrak, metro). You can always get a taxi out front if you aren't getting an Uber. I am crossing my fingers that Union Station will get itself together. Outside of attending a handful of events (there is a lot of space due to store/restaurant closures) I don't visit this area frequently anymore. If I take metro at night, I use Chinatown or Convention Center metro. Amtrak had too many incidents with homeless people attacking employees. As a result, all of the seating located in front of each boarding area has been removed. There is a seating area (with security) if you have a boarding pass. The beautiful wooden benches that used to be in the grand hall are gone. My favorite stores are gone. The parking garage has limited spaces & is confusing. The rental area (I have never successfully gotten someone on the phone who could tell me rental prices or what cars were available) takes up lots of spaces now. The food court isn't the same. We used to love visiting and trying one of the kiosks. The places keep going out of business. If you visit the food court, have a fanny pack or sling back purse. Between aggressive pigeons or people asking for money, the experience isn't as enjoyable. Unos is still there. If you need to grab a bite, you won't be bothered by the riff raff there. The circulator buses are all gone, due to budget cuts. They were a wonderful convenience. I hope that things will change. Union Station has an expansion project that should be completed by 2040. Some improvements are starting construction in 2027. That doesn't help anyone now. The halls are beautiful. The statues are photo worthy. The postal museum is directly across the street. Capitol Hill is nearby. This building is a treasure. I'm rooting for it. read more

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A New Yorker is rating review. came back a year later - world famous station in DC. Right after you come outside, you see an amazing views such as capitals and museums etc. This stations are connected to the mall - there're Walgreens, chocolate stores, clothing stores, icecream shop etc. When you go to the basements there're food mall. Restrooms are ground fl and basement. some ppl just spend few hrs eating or shopping. its great transit station! and safe. read more

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I wasn't as impressed with this station as I was expecting. I think I've always heard about how big Union Station is so, I was expecting something like New York City but this isn't anything like that. They did have a pretty nice selection of shops inside and the trains ran smoothly and I saw a few older sections that looked like they had some nice/grand elements remaining and I loved using the metro to get around DC straight from Union. Having our toddler, this was hugely helpful. The restrooms were atrocious and extremely small, cramped and laid out oddly. I had my my toddler and we needed to change her diaper and the way the changing station was mounted beside a narrow hallway of restrooms and directly beside the faucets meant I was blocking something no matter where I was standing to change her. Some decent food and snacks and shopping before and the train boarding process went much more smoothly than our Norfolk departure (chaos). Would 100% ride the train again though - price is reasonable and it's far more enjoyable than driving and fighting traffic and parking in DC. read more

Union Station - Shopping Centers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Quick way to get to and from DC from Baltimore via Amtrak, the staff was courteous both trips. $17 to the airport is much more cost effective than Rideshare. I was able to bid for a business class seat and my bid was accepted. WiFi works well on the train and you can charge your device. read more

Union Station - Rideshare lane out front - Shopping Centers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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My first time here as a passenger, and I loved my experience. 1. Amtrak train services are great. 2. All bus services are also arriving and departing here 3. Rental car companies all have their business here as well. 4. Lots of fast food and Starbucks like services available. 5. Bathrooms are clean inside the building. Don't use the ones by the rental and/or bus pick up if you want clean bathroom! 6. Everything departs on time. Don't be late! and enjoy your journey! read more

Union Station - Union station - Shopping Centers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

What a difference! Train station is shining., absolutely spotless. The old beauty is stunning Bustling depend on the hour. (Take the Acela, not the regional New Jersey,ok?) read more

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Came here during my staycation in D.C. Union Station is about a 45 min. train ride from Baltimore and is a great option for travel there without the hassle of driving and paying some of the highest parking prices in the area. It serves as a hub for transferring to the DC Metro or other Amtrak trains that go to your chosen destination. Union Station has a variety of shops and eateries that are pretty decent )Taco Bell, Chick Fil A, Uniglo clothing store,Walgreens, and others). Service was ok and we didn't have to wait a long time in the line to get a bite to eat. The architect is old glam reminiscent of the grand train stations of the past. Tall columns, marble flooring, and the majestic corridors that take you from one area to the next. They have self serve kiosks and there is also a kiosk where a live agent can offer assistance. All in the hustle and bustle is what you would expect for a busy train station. I enjoy taking the he train to destinations when I don't want to worry about traffic and parking and Union Station is a great hub to transfer between trains to get to your destination. read more

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Walking in to the lobby of Union Station really amazes me. It's clean and wide open. Tourists really get a kick out of the decorations. We usually take the Amtrak from this location. It's convenient, again, I say clean and the staff is friendly. read more

Union Station - Shopping Centers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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DC's Union Station has been cleaned up a bit, but honestly there is still a lot of work needed. It is a brilliant and gorgeous building that lacks from regular care and maintenance. The location is fairly ideal. You can walk to a lot of sites or other forms of public transit. It has gotten safer, but I still advise you stay alert. There are food options and bathrooms. It is somewhat easy to get around and find your tracks. Whether you are passing thru or exploring DC, have fun and stay safe! read more

Union Station - Shopping Centers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We were stayinging in Baltimore but took the Amtrak train down to Union Station to have dinner with our daughter. We were a little early for our dinner reservation so we decided to walk around Union Station a little. It is a very convenient location for the trains, taxi rides, and a little shopping or eating. read more

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A lot has changed since my last review, 6 years or so ago. But, the beauty of the station remains. It is definitely large. There are many entrances and exits to be utilized. The taxi area and directly in front can be extremely busy. The taxi area has a line to utilize which helps keep things moving. Seating is away from the gates now. It seems to me a tad less busy since people are elsewhere. There is lounge seating and the lower floor has seating in the food court. I do wish the food court was open past 8pm. The day I came in I was able to eat at my hotel which worked out. But, if I didn't have that option it would have been nice to grab something there. There is a metro station steps from the station. That is so convenient! There is a few hotels within the area that are decently priced and within a 7-15 min walk. This is monitored by police. I felt just a tiny uneasy. But, overall I was ok. Various trains come in and out of DC. Amtrak, public transportation etc. read more

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Fun place to grab food, good for breakfast or quick lunch You can also catch on & off trolley, metro or trains read more

Washington Union station is a hotbed of economic and social activity, along with the capacity to provide transportation services to the traveling public, myself included. I found myself traveling on Amtrak from Washington DC to Roanoke, Virginia on a brisk warm March 2026 day. I arrived here via Uber to beat the morning rush hour and not have to waste time with the local Fairfax county connector bus system and the Washington DC metro. I had 1 hour before my train was set to depart that morning, so I wandered around Union station to get the vibe of the area. I noticed that it was a very large area for anyone traveling to come through and make the experience much easier than usual. It was nice to see McDonald's there but at the time I was there, it was roped off and a sign about gas pipe repairs. That made me look for breakfast elsewhere. I decided to get Jamba Juice, which was readily available nearby. It was a quick hour here and I took my large smoothie from Jamba Juice onto the train for consumption. Washington Union station was grand and I did enjoy the ambiance. At the time of the morning, at 7am, not much foot traffic, but there was a lot of people already. Union Station felt like an airport. It was Part mall shopping experience and the other part that had the departure terminals for anyone and everyone who needs to hop a train out of Washington DC. It was an typical experience for sure. Easy navigation and they have restrooms for everyone who needs it before or after coming or leaving into Washington DC on any given day. I enjoyed the ambiance for sure and hope to be back sometime soon, if my future plans permit me to do so. The overall experience here at the Washington Union Station was good and casual. It was nice to be traveling and spending only $25 on a one way ticket versus spending $150 more to fly into Roanoke, as my initial itinerary was. So it was flying to DCA and then Amtrak it to Roanoke to save a bit of money. I spent about an hour here at Washington Union station before boarding my Amtrak train to Roanoke with my Jamba Juice smoothie for breakfast. Union station was relatively quiet and clean at 6:30am but a lot of people were arriving for their trains out of DC that morning. I probably enjoyed the solitude more than I should. Too bad majority of the food vendors including the McDonalds wasn't open for business that early that morning. It is cool that Amtrak is providing a great alternative service for those of us who choose to travel on rail vs flying. It can be a good thing especially on cost and convenience. For the most part though, Washington Union Station is a large building that is the train station for Amtrak and other transnational bus services. It's in walking distance to the DC landmarks and located centrally in Washington DC. Washington Union station is the quintessential place for those who travel on Amtrak and want to stop in Washington DC. It's physically located at 50 Massachusetts Avenue NE in Washington DC. Anyone can walk in and people watch for free. They can purchase food and drink from the vendors, but if you want to catch a train, you'd need to buy Amtrak tickets to ride the train out of Washington DC. Not sure if there is a parking garage for those who want to park here and ride the train nearby but I suppose there is something. For myself though, I came here via Uber since I didn't like waiting for the local Fairfax connector bus at 5am in the morning commuting to DC. It worked well for me. And so, Washington Union Station is the place to be if you're using Amtrak to commute to and from Washington DC. There's local metro stations near Union station. Make sure you know which one you are going to use beforehand. Getting lost in a new city is not the fun way to spend your time on vacation. Washington union station is easy to navigate and seeing the McDonald's restaurant there made me smile. Nice to see a familiar site that morning before boarding my Amtrak train out of DC. If you have any questions, there's uniformed Amtrak employees to help you on your way. If you need to use Amtrak and in the DC area, consider using Union Station as the best place to start your journey on the railroads. Not much in terms of food vendors but they have enough. 4.0 stars for the overall experience. Support local! B read more

Discovered The Stage at Union Station. Live music every Wednesday from 4-6pm. Performances vary each week. https://www.unionstationdc.com/events/the-stage-at-union-station-7-105-256-197-599/ read more

Union Station - Shopping Centers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Beautiful building. It might not be a shopping destination, but they did a great job getting some decent retailers in. Also great job getting good food vendors. It makes waiting for your ride not just bearable, but even enjoyable. The ticket counters is clean and in great condition. The people work as quickly as they can. Trying to add more counters when the line got longer. The waiting lounge is clean, brightly lit and has charging stations in each row. The gates, lines and routes are clearly marked. The local metro/subway station connects to the station directly -- as well as Amtrak (national train line) and MARC (regional line, I think). Their BWI stop (Baltimore Washington International Airport aka Thurgood Marshall Airport) is not at the airport itself but there is a free shuttle that connects the stop to the airport. This station (and Amtrak) made me want to buy an unlimited pass and hit all the major east coast destinations. read more

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If you're visiting Washington, there's no reason you wouldn't connect through this station as it is in an awesome location close to the Capital and other monuments. Union Station is actually worthy of a separate trip even if you're not connecting through the station. Lots of great food and retail opportunities. Very clean, modern, and historic.. read more

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This place is beautiful and grand. We took the Amtrak from MD to DC and it was a very fast and smooth ride. The main hall is very breathtaking and has some interesting architecture up ton the top. The station itself was clean and felt safe. The pickup and drop off areas are right outside the front of the main doors, very easy to access. read more

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How have I not reviewed Union Station?? In 2024, Amtrak took over control of Union Station's commercial lease and pledged a multibillion dollar renovation project. I think we're already seeing the station start to revitalize. The 2010s was not a particularly great time for Union Station, punctuated by the COVID-19 pandemic; many anchor stores and food venues closed. But businesses and shops are finally coming back, and the space feels much more lively. You can get a fancy bagel, salad, ice cream or more while waiting for a train, in addition to fast-food level entires like Sbarro and Auntie Anne's. There is also now a dedicated seating area for ticketed passengers. And the process of boarding has gotten somewhat more well managed, even though lines are often quite long. Union Station is conveniently connected to the red line metro and regional rail. It is not too far of a walk from the Capitol. The passenger pickup/drop off isn't the greatest, but it's manageable. It's also fairly easy to get a taxi or ride share in this area. Finally, the Union Station architecture is quite beautiful, preserving more than 100 years of history since it was built. I still miss the Pizzeria Uno that was there for 30+ years, but I'm glad that the Norwegian Christmas tree lighting continues in the main hall each holiday. It's worth a visit to check out. read more

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Quick take: Union Station vibes. Union Station gives off a SF Ferry Building vibe. Except the SF Ferry Building is much nicer. There's shops inside. The prices were high in the souvenir shops. Didn't buy anything. It's worth a visit if you need public transportation. read more

It's impressive to think that this rail station was built so long ago at such an impressive size, prior to DC being the massive infrastructure it is today. The architecture is beautiful. Designed by Burnham, the architect who did the Chicago World, fair, and designed the layout of the city of Chicago, this rail station is impressive to see. You won't need a lot of time here, but it's worth taking a little bit to visit if you're in town. read more

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This is a beautiful train station, which a decent amount of shopping and quick bites to eat. I didn't actually take the train, so I don't know how smoothly it runs. I do recommend walking around the building, though, as the architecture is stunning. Heads up - there seemed to be an exorbitant amount of border patrol outside. read more

Wow, 6 years ago since my last review! Time for an update! I was in town for a meeting and arrived early with plans to visit a museum....but...everything was closed due to the government shutdown...so, I figured I'd wander Union Station for a bit while just walking around the area. The station is beautiful so definitely worth going inside even if you're not catching a train. The architecture and art are amazing. There are a bunch of shops with a lot of chocolate and ice cream options, and some restaurants. They had live music; a string trio playing 80's tunes which was fun! The Metro station is easy to access from outside so you don't have to walk through the main station if you're just catching the Metro. Taxis are always plentiful here too if you need a ride and they aren't already clustered by your hotel. read more

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Union Station is one of those places that whenever you travel through it you notice something new. For me it is something I notice historically or the constant attempt to improve services via new restaurants or making it easier for travelers. So it is best to keep your head on a swivel when here As there always new surprises. You might find a reporter popping out of nowhere to ask you a question. That was my experience when a FOX 5 DC reporter surprised me. My situational awareness is top notch but there must have been a glitch in the matrix on this particular. Of course at the time of reading this review the mobilization of the National Guard is currently happening. Of course in my many trips to Union I have never had an issue with crime or any other type of issue. Very safe place to be in the present and in the future. read more

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Crown Jewel for DC [Washington DC] I couldn't help but look up when we entered the Union Station in Washington DC. I don't know much of the history of this place but the architecture in its vaulted ceilings was just beautiful. I can tell that they put a lot of work on the detail of the stone inscriptions and the expensive materials they used (granite and marble). The beautiful and historic Union Station is a DC landmark as well as the hub for transportation (Amtrak and Metro are a few)... it includes various shops, and many quick dining options including Raising Cane's, Chipotle and Shake Shack. We reserved a parking spot at the parking garage thru ParkWhiz. Parking is available at 30 Massachusetts Avenue NE. We purchased tickets for the Hop-On, Hop-Off Big Bus and redeemed our vouchers at the front entrance of the Union Station which is where departure starts. After a full day in DC I stopped by Läderach and purchased chocolate. Ahhh ツ Review #3653 read more

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Union station is basically a little mall inside a train station. There are shops and a food court. The architecture is stunning and it's relatively clean considering it's a hub for travelers. While we didn't take a train from here, we visited a shop and had lunch a couple of times. read more

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The building is beautiful. A good selection of shops and food. It was really fun to explore!

In regards to train stations, this is an amazing piece of architecture. It's beautifully clean, immense and well appointed with stores and food options. This might be the most impressive station I've seen in the United States. read more

This is a beautiful train station, there is tons of variety for shopping and food here. There are also plenty of helpful signs to guide you around. My biggest complaint is there isn't enough seating. This is a train station you want to arrive early to because they close their gates two minutes before the scheduled departure time. While it's great that they have food options, these aren't all next to the gates. They do offer a section for Amtrak ticket holders to sit, but I wish there were more casual seating options at this station. That being said, it has all the nice and clean amenities that train stations should have like ample restrooms and water fountains. I typically avoid this train station because I live in Richmond, VA and when you're coming from South of DC, the train goes really slow to DC from Alexandria. So depending on where we stay, I just get a ticket to Alexandria and take the metro into the city. Here's a little tip: know that when your train is passing through Union Station, they have to change the engines. This can take up to an hour sometimes. read more

We visited Union Station and explored both levels and walked a loop of the entire property. My last visit was over 20 years ago and I was disappointed with how run down it is now and most shops are now franchise operations. The building architecture is gorgeous. Outside views are also phenomenal. read more

Taking the Amtrak train to NYC for daughter's 1st trip via train. Very smooth process! The staff was very friendly and made sure to assist us with priority boarding with our stroller. The price wasn't bad, we had 4 traveling that had to pay, $78 each on the way back, 115 each going. ( round trip) They are asking for our next trip via train so I'm planning something new to come read more

Union Station - Shopping Centers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This is a major hub of transportation with Amtrak, buses and car rentals.. We are here early to catch a ride to New York City. There are three floors of restaurants and shopping during regular working hours. The Main Hall is absolutely gorgeous and great in stature. The station is clean and workers are helpful in directing you. read more

Union Station - Main Hall - Shopping Centers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Easy to access, easy to navigate, spacious. I understand that this is not the right comparison, but still - a lot more comfortable than grand central terminal in New York. Good amount of comfortable seating, some also with power. Large number of food options. read more

A beautiful station that is easy to navigate. It's super easy to know where to go to catch your train or bus. There's direct metro access which is appreciated. The staff is so friendly here too read more

The inside was beautiful architecturally and it was spacious and very clean. There were good variety of shops and restaurants available. I went to catch an Amtrak and there was a clean and well lit Amtrak lounge where you can wait how your train. read more

Union Station - Shopping Centers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Union Station is huge and beautiful. There are plenty of dining and shopping options while you wait for your train, including a Uniqlo. The Marc and Amtrak trains run here. There is also buses, taxis, and car rentals available as well. This transportation hub has it all. It is clean and trending with different events every week. In April, they have their Spring Fling event with musical performance, photo booths, and a variety of vendors. They are also a 20-30 minute drive from the National Mall. Marc train tickets to Baltimore City are under $10 and usually take about 45 minutes to an hour. There is a huge sign to tell you which Gate to board at - so everything is clear and organized. read more

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My first time on the Amtrak was solid thanks to Union Station! Bathroom was clean, signage was accurate, and the staff was making sure we boarded and left on time. The train itself was clean and comfortable, WiFi worked, and the staff was kind. read more

Ive been here multiple times and it's a great experience every time. Easy getting off Amtrak and finding the exit and same for getting back on. I love that you really can't get lost. I like the different food , coffee and dessert options. I really like the enclosed waiting area and the fact that you can get a taxi asap , no excessive waiting. I enjoy coming to this station. read more

Train station @ DC. After visiting National Postal museum, we walked over to the station and walked around. We saw Uno pizza and shops upstairs, Uniqlo, European chocolates, blue bottle coffee and a Christmas tree on the first level. We also passed by amtrack gates and waiting area. The down stairs had a lot of fast foods, such as Dunkin donut, Mcdonald, Chipotle etc with a lot of seating. read more

Union Station - Shopping Centers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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DC union station is clean and easy to navigate. I typically take the train either to Baltimore or New York and have never had any issues with service, wait time, or delays. There are a number of new restaurants there now but plenty of options to grab something quick. read more