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Photo via Shutterstock/Brandon Bourdages

The 13 best places to break up in D.C., mapped

By Michelle Goldchain Updated
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By Michelle Goldchain Updated
Photo via Shutterstock/Brandon Bourdages

Now that your smooching is out of the way with the honeymoon dead and over with, it's time to figure out when and how you're going to break it to your significant other that it's just not working anymore. While you sweat the small stuff, Curbed will help you out with a list of the best places to untie the knot.

Below, see a range of places to choose from with locations either focused on practicality (easier escape routes) or symbolism (you'll see what we mean). If you have any suggestions for places that we should have added, feel free to leave them in the comments. For now, good luck and smooth sailing on your journey to bachelordom and bachelorettedom.

[UPDATE 2/14/17: New images and three new locations were added to the map.]

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Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro

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After you break up with your significant other, they can leave on the Metro, and you can enjoy yourself a nice steaming bowl of ramen.
Gallery Place, 630 H Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20001
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Caroline Léna Becker

MLK Library

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A library may be one of the best spots to break up at because there's no way to get in a shouting match. If your significant other tries to make a scene, they'll have to hear a thing or two from some shushing librarians.
901 G St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 727-0321
(202) 727-0321
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/David Monack

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Washington Harbour

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There's something about walking while breaking up that makes it seem so much more reasonable. Also, if you don't want to look your significant other in the eyes, you can just casually look at the waterscape. Wow, what a view.
3000 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(877) 628-5427
(877) 628-5427
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/AgnosticPreachersKid

Dupont Circle

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Dupont Circle may be one of the best places to break up in Washington, D.C. With the many benches there, you'll have many options for places to sit. Also, if you need to run away from your ex, you'll have plenty of directions to choose from.
1 DuPont Cir NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/AgnosticPreachersKid

The White House

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Take your significant other on a tour of the White House. When you break up with them on the tour, you can get the Secret Service on your side if he or she starts throwing punches.
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20500
(202) 456-1414
(202) 456-1414
Photo via ESB Professional/Shutterstock

City Segway Tours

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"I'm sorry, but this isn't working." Peels off from group.
502 23rd St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
(877) 734-8687
(877) 734-8687
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Mariordo

Theodore Roosevelt Island

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It's so easy to get lost on the Theodore Roosevelt Island. At least, that's what you'll tell your significant other when they can't find you after you break up with them.
Analostan Island, Washington, D.C. 20037
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Daderot

The National Airport

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Say goodbye to the relationship and to Washington, D.C., while you board a plane to somewhere tropical.
2401 S Smith Blvd, Arlington, VA 22202
(703) 417-8000
(703) 417-8000
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/dbking

Also featured in:

Smithsonian's National Zoo

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How can you stay angry when there are pandas everywhere? How??!
3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
202 633 3038
202 633 3038
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Quadell

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U.S. Capitol

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Make your breakup location symbolic by choosing the U.S. Capitol. Just like our Congress, this relationship can't stay together.
Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. 20002
Photo via Shutterstock/Brandon Bourdages

National Museum of Women in the Arts

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If you have a girlfriend, this might be one of the best places to drop them off after ripping their heart in half. Here, in this museum, the poor girl can look at the faces of strong women. Buck up, girl. You're not alone.
1250 New York Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 783-5000
(202) 783-5000
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/AgnosticPreachersKid

The Exorcist Steps

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Breakups are scary. Do you know what's even scarier? A tall, spooky staircase. If you're thinking of throwing your significant other down the steps, try not to do that. Instead, maybe make a fun reference to the girl in the movie and how much your lover resembles them. That should help.
3600 Prospect St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/SDC

Union Market

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Stop dating. Start eating.
1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(301) 652-7400
(301) 652-7400
Photo via Jason Rosenberg

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Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro

Gallery Place, 630 H Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20001
After you break up with your significant other, they can leave on the Metro, and you can enjoy yourself a nice steaming bowl of ramen.
Gallery Place, 630 H Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20001
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Caroline Léna Becker

MLK Library

901 G St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
A library may be one of the best spots to break up at because there's no way to get in a shouting match. If your significant other tries to make a scene, they'll have to hear a thing or two from some shushing librarians.
901 G St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 727-0321
(202) 727-0321
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/David Monack

Washington Harbour

3000 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
There's something about walking while breaking up that makes it seem so much more reasonable. Also, if you don't want to look your significant other in the eyes, you can just casually look at the waterscape. Wow, what a view.
3000 K St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(877) 628-5427
(877) 628-5427
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/AgnosticPreachersKid

Dupont Circle

1 DuPont Cir NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
Dupont Circle may be one of the best places to break up in Washington, D.C. With the many benches there, you'll have many options for places to sit. Also, if you need to run away from your ex, you'll have plenty of directions to choose from.
1 DuPont Cir NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/AgnosticPreachersKid

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20500
Take your significant other on a tour of the White House. When you break up with them on the tour, you can get the Secret Service on your side if he or she starts throwing punches.
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20500
(202) 456-1414
(202) 456-1414
Photo via ESB Professional/Shutterstock

City Segway Tours

502 23rd St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
"I'm sorry, but this isn't working." Peels off from group.
502 23rd St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
(877) 734-8687
(877) 734-8687
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Mariordo

Theodore Roosevelt Island

Analostan Island, Washington, D.C. 20037
It's so easy to get lost on the Theodore Roosevelt Island. At least, that's what you'll tell your significant other when they can't find you after you break up with them.
Analostan Island, Washington, D.C. 20037
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Daderot

The National Airport

2401 S Smith Blvd, Arlington, VA 22202
Say goodbye to the relationship and to Washington, D.C., while you board a plane to somewhere tropical.
2401 S Smith Blvd, Arlington, VA 22202
(703) 417-8000
(703) 417-8000
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/dbking

Smithsonian's National Zoo

3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
How can you stay angry when there are pandas everywhere? How??!
3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20008
202 633 3038
202 633 3038
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/Quadell

U.S. Capitol

Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. 20002
Make your breakup location symbolic by choosing the U.S. Capitol. Just like our Congress, this relationship can't stay together.
Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. 20002
Photo via Shutterstock/Brandon Bourdages

National Museum of Women in the Arts

1250 New York Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
If you have a girlfriend, this might be one of the best places to drop them off after ripping their heart in half. Here, in this museum, the poor girl can look at the faces of strong women. Buck up, girl. You're not alone.
1250 New York Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 783-5000
(202) 783-5000
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/AgnosticPreachersKid

The Exorcist Steps

3600 Prospect St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
Breakups are scary. Do you know what's even scarier? A tall, spooky staircase. If you're thinking of throwing your significant other down the steps, try not to do that. Instead, maybe make a fun reference to the girl in the movie and how much your lover resembles them. That should help.
3600 Prospect St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
Photo via Wikimedia Commons/SDC

Union Market

1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
Stop dating. Start eating.
1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
(301) 652-7400
(301) 652-7400
Photo via Jason Rosenberg