Overlooking the Potomac River, the magnificent Kennedy Center hosts a staggering array of performances – more than 2000 each year in venues including the Concert Hall, home to the National Symphony, and Opera House, home to the National Opera. Free performances are staged on the Millennium Stage daily at 6pm as part of the center's 'Performing Arts for Everyone' initiative.

　　Reduced-rate tickets are available for people aged 18 to 30 via the MyTix program; details are on the Kennedy website.

　　Free guided tours of the building are offered from 10am to 5pm on weekdays, to 1pm on weekends; call 202-416-8340 for more information.

　　At the time of writing the center was undergoing an expansion, adding three pavilions designed by New York–based Steven Holl Architects to the original 1971 building designed by Edward Durell Stone. These will house a performance space, rehearsal spaces, classrooms and a lecture hall. A new cafe, outdoor video wall and walkway connecting the center with the river are also planned.

　　A free shuttle bus runs to and from the Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro station every 15 minutes from 9:45am (10am Friday and Saturday, noon on Sunday) to 11:30pm (to midnight Friday and Saturday, 11pm Sunday).