Library of Congress

Washington, DC

　　The world's largest library – with 164 million books, manuscripts, maps, photos, films and other items – awes in both scope and design. The centerpiece is the 1897 Jefferson Building. Gawk at the Great Hall, done up in stained glass, marble and mosaics of mythical characters, then seek out the...

Meridian Hill Park

Washington, DC

　　This is an incredible bit of urban green space. The grounds are terraced like a hanging garden replete with waterfalls, sandstone terraces and assorted embellishments that feel almost Tuscan. The prettiest bits reside in the park's south end, including DC's only memorial to James Buchanan (the USA's 15th president). Many...

Tidal Basin

Washington, DC

　　The 2-mile stroll around this constructed inlet incorporates the Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Thomas Jefferson memorials as well as the Floral Library. It's a lovely way to spend a couple of hours – just watch out for low-hanging tree branches near the FDR memorial. During the National Cherry Blossom Festival,...

Supreme Court

Washington, DC

　　The highest court in the USA occupies a pseudo-Greek temple protected by 13,000lb bronze doors. Arrive early to watch arguments (periodic Monday through Wednesday from October to April). You can visit the permanent exhibits and the building’s two five-story, marble-and-bronze spiral staircases year-round. On days when court is not in...

Union Market

Washington, DC

　　The cool crowd hobnobs at this food hall, where culinary entrepreneurs sell their banana-ginger chocolates, herbed goat's cheeses and smoked meats. Among the stalls featuring prepared foods, everything from Burmese milkshakes to Indian dosas to Korean tacos boggle taste buds. Craft beers and coffee provide added sustenance. Tables dot the...

National Archives

Washington, DC

　　It's hard not to feel a little in awe of the big three documents in the Archives: the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Taken together, it becomes clear just how radical the American experiment was. The archival bric-a-brac of the Public Vaults makes a flashy...

Martin Luther King Jr Memorial

Washington, DC

　　Opened in 2011, this was the first Mall memorial to honor an African American. Sculptor Lei Yixin carved the piece, which is reminiscent in concept and style to the Mt Rushmore memorial. Besides Dr King’s striking, 30ft-tall image, known as the Stone of Hope, there are two blocks of granite...

Kennedy Center

Washington, DC

　　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...

Artechouse

Washington, DC

　　Straddling technology, art and science, this 15,000-sq-ft, three-level state-of-the-art digital gallery mesmerizes with large-scale, interactive, multi-sensory installations of light and sound. Exhibits change several times a year, with past themes including fall leaves, cherry blossoms and abstract landscapes. Kids love it and, with a bar that stays open after work...

Rock Creek Park

Washington, DC

　　At 1700-plus acres, Rock Creek is twice the size of New York’s Central Park and feels wilder. Terrific trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding extend the entire length, and the boundaries enclose Civil War forts, dense forest and wildflower-strewn fields. 　　Beach Drive is undergoing extensive renovation and various sections...

National Symphony Orchestra

Washington, DC

　　This is the affiliate orchestra of the Kennedy Center and one of the best chamber symphonies in the nation. ...

Busboys & Poets

Washington, DC

　　Busboys & Poets is one of U Street's linchpins. Locals pack the place for coffee, boozy brunches, books and a progressive vibe that makes San Francisco feel conservative. The lengthy, vegetarian-friendly menu spans sandwiches, pizzas and Southern fare such as shrimp and grits. Tuesday night's open-mike poetry reading ($5 admission,...

Eastern Market

Washington, DC

　　One of the icons of Capitol Hill, this roofed bazaar sprawls with delectable chow and good cheer, especially on weekends. Built in 1873, it is the last of the 19th-century covered markets that once supplied DC’s food. The South Hall has a bakery, a dairy, a deli, a fishmonger, butchers,...

Smithsonian's National Zoo

Washington, DC

　　Home to more than 2700 animals and more than 390 species in natural habitats, the National Zoo is famed for its giant pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and Bei Bei. Other highlights include the African lion pride, Asian elephants, and orangutans swinging 50ft overhead from steel cables and interconnected towers...

Georgetown Waterfront Park

Washington, DC

　　This park is a favorite with couples on first dates, families on an evening stroll and power players showing off their yachts. Benches dot the way, where you can sit and watch the rowing teams out on the Potomac River. Alfresco restaurants cluster at nearby Washington Harbour. They ring a...

Compass Rose

Washington, DC

　　Compass Rose feels like a secret garden, set in a discreet townhouse a whisker from 14th St's buzz. The exposed brick walls and sky-blue ceiling give it a casually romantic air. The menu is a mash-up of global comfort foods, so dinner might entail Jamaican curried lamb, Argentinian asado (rib...

Washington National Opera

Washington, DC

　　The Washington Opera is based at the Kennedy Center and puts on a varied showcase throughout the year. Plácido Domingo helmed the company until 2011, when he stepped down after 15 years for Francesca Zambello. ...

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Washington, DC

　　In a city of classic, white-marble monuments, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial stands out on the National Mall for its stark modernism. Designed by 21-year-old Maya Linn and dedicated in 1982, its two black, 246-foot-long, granite wedges cut into the earth, symbolizing a healing wound. 　　On its dark, shiny face, the...

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Washington, DC

　　Image bykanzilyou/GettyRF 　　For a deep understanding of the Holocaust – its victims, perpetrators and bystanders – this harrowing United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is a must-see. 　　Located among national monuments to freedom on the National Mall in Washington, DC, the living memorial to the Holocaust aims to inspire citizens and...

White House

Washington, DC

　　Play image association with the words “Washington, DC,” and chances are the first thing that comes to mind is the White House. The president’s pad is likely to take your breath away the first time you see it, not least because you’re standing in front of a building whose image...

US Capitol

Washington, DC

　　Rising atop Capitol Hill, the US Capitol represents the foundations of American democracy. President George Washington, who laid the cornerstone in 1793, was determined to create a republic in which supreme power was held not by a king but by the people and their representatives. And he did. To this...

National Museum of African American History & Culture

Washington, DC

　　Located in Washington, DC, the sensational National Museum of African American History & Culture is devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history and culture. Since it opened in 2016, the museum has collected more than 36,000 artifacts and almost 100,000 people have become members. 　　The museum details...

Lincoln Memorial

Washington, DC

　　Anchoring the National Mall's west end is the hallowed shrine to Abraham Lincoln, who gazes across the Reflecting Pool beneath his neoclassical, Doric-columned abode. The words of his Gettysburg Address and Second Inaugural speech flank the huge marble statue on the north and south walls.  　　Be sure to visit the...

National Gallery of Art

Washington, DC

　　Two buildings. Hundreds of masterpieces. Infinite enjoyment. It's easy to spend a full day at the National Gallery of Art, which showcases a whole range of artworks and masterpieces from the 11th century to the modern day. Its highlights include works by da Vinci, Manet, Monet and Van Gogh as...

National Air and Space Museum

Washington, DC

　　The legendary exhibits at the National Air and Space Museum include the Wright brothers' flyer, Chuck Yeager's Bell X-1, Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St Louis, Howard Hughes' H-1 Racer and Amelia Earhart's natty Vega 5B. 　　The hugely popular Smithsonian museum in Washington, DC, maintains the world's largest and most significant...