Best things to do in Washington DC

National Mall

Extending for more than two miles (3km), from the US Capitol to the Potomac River, the tree-lined grassy strip known as the National Mall is the central hub for tourists in Washington DC. It's home to the tapering Washington Monument; the Lincoln, Roosevelt and Jefferson Memorials; the Capitol Building; the White House; the museums of the Smithsonian Institution; and the National Gallery of Art. The Mall is at the heart of the city's social life, it being a site for many celebrations and festivals, as well as joggers, picnickers, food vendors and strollers. The Tidal Basin, a beautiful lake famous for the blossoming Japanese cherry trees in spring, lies to the south.

Website www.nps.gov/nama

US Capitol

Sitting atop Capitol Hill with its giant white dome visible from all over the city, the Capitol Building is probably the most prominent landmark in Washington DC. The heart of the US government, it contains the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress. Statues of important historical figures fill its halls while paintings and frescoes decorate the rotunda, depicting 400 years of American history. The enormous circular space capped by the 180-foot (55m) high dome is the hub of the Capitol, with a symbolic fresco masterpiece at its centre.

Website www.visitthecapitol.gov

White House

The residence and headquarters of the President of the United States since 1800, the White House sits at the edge of the National Mall. The palatial building has undergone numerous alterations under each incumbent, such as the exercise pool for Roosevelt's polio affliction, Jacqueline Kennedy's famous Rose Garden and the glitzy additions of a hot tub and humidor for Clinton. Tours visit several rooms on the Ground and State Floors, including the Oval Office, the State Dining Room and the East Room, the publicised scene of presidential receptions and other social events. American citizens can book these tours through their Member of Congress and foreigners must book through their embassy in Washington DC.

Website www.whitehouse.gov

Washington Monument

In recognition of his leadership in the fight for American independence, the Washington Monument was built to commemorate the first president of the United States, George Washington. The tallest structure in the city, the gleaming white obelisk offers 360-degree views of some of the most famous sights in the world, including the White House, the Capitol Building and the Lincoln Memorial. The monument, a 555-foot (169m) marble spire, stood uncompleted for 37 years and a change in the colour of stone halfway up marks the two building phases. Climbing its steps is prohibited but a free elevator conveys visitors to the gallery that provides unparalleled views of Washington DC and across the Potomac River.

Website www.nps.gov/wamo

Lincoln Memorial

The grandiose Lincoln Memorial is a tribute to the 16th US president, who preserved the Union during the Civil War and ended slavery. In the centre of this temple is a huge marble statue of Abraham Lincoln, staring out over the Reflecting Pools towards the Washington Monument and Capitol Hill. Carved in the walls of the memorial chamber around the statue are inscriptions of two of his most famous speeches, the Gettysburg Address and his Second Inaugural Address. The memorial is the site of numerous demonstrations committed to justice, most notably the Civil Rights March in 1963 when Martin Luther King delivered his classic speech.

Website www.nps.gov/linc

Federal Bureau of Investigation

The FBI Experience, a self-guided tour, is open to the public and explores the Bureau's past and present. The tour takes visitors through crime laboratories and past displays of thousands of confiscated weapons and illegal items seized during narcotics operations. There are exhibits on crime fighting techniques and counterintelligence operations, as well as terrorism, agent training and famous cases. Due to security reasons, the tours are only available to US citizens and tours must be booked at least four weeks in advance with FBI clearance needed to enter the building. Those in search of espionage history should rather go to the nearby International Spy Museum.

Website www.fbi.gov

International Spy Museum

The International Spy Museum features the largest collection of publicly displayed international espionage artefacts in the world. It is the result of years of planning and advice by former officials of the CIA, FBI and KGB. Interactive exhibits cover the history of spying and espionage techniques during the 20th and 21st centuries. There is also a section dealing with high-tech gadgets such as bugs and tiny cameras, with interactive stations exploring disguises, code breaking and threat analysis. There are several interactive exhibits such as safe and code-cracking, escape rooms and polygraph tests, experiences which are combined with special effects and live action. The museum complex includes a restaurant, spy-theme cafe and shop.

Website www.spymuseum.org

Smithsonian Institution

Nicknamed the nation's attic, the Smithsonian Institution is one of the world's finest research centres, with 17 of its museums and a zoo located in Washington DC. The museums contain collections of historical importance on almost every subject. They include the National Air and Space Museum, packed with full-size space and aircraft, including the Wright brothers' plane; the Natural History Museum, with the Hope Diamond and the world's largest stuffed blue whale; and the American History Museum, displaying the original Kermit the Frog. Others include the Freer and Sackler Galleries of Asian Art, the African Art Museum, the National Museum of the American Indian, the Arts and Industries Building, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and the National Portrait Gallery. The Smithsonian Museums are a fantastic attraction for families in Washington DC, and a wallet-friendly one as admission is free.

Website www.si.edu

National Gallery of Art

Two buildings, the West and East Wings, make up the visually stunning National Gallery of Art that is the most popular art museum in North America. Together they house one of the world's leading collections of Western paintings, prints, photographs, graphics, and sculptures from the Middle Ages to the 21th century. Walking from the West Wing to the East provides a near chronological display of European art. The West Wing, the original building, is a marble architectural work of art with a domed rotunda over a fountain, housing most of the permanent collection. The one hundred or so collection galleries display modern and contemporary art with masterpieces by famous artists arranged by nationality, including what is considered to be the finest Renaissance collection outside of Italy, as well as an outstanding Impressionist collection. The gallery's newer addition is the ultramodern East Wing, composed of two glass-walled triangles, and is devoted to 20th-century paintings and sculptures. The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden is a large park outside the museum, which features a huge central fountain with some of the museum's permanent collection of sculptures on display.

Website www.nga.gov

US Holocaust Memorial Museum

The United States Memorial Museum is a memorial to the millions of Jews murdered by the Nazis between 1933 and 1945. There are three floors, starting with the occupation of Poland, then the Holocaust and finally the after effects of the war and liberation of the camps. While the exhibits convey the scale of the genocide through voice recordings, personal belongings of victims and Nazi propaganda, the Hall of Remembrance remains a quiet place of reflection, filled with dozens of burning candles lit in memory of the victims. The permanent exhibition's graphic content can be disturbing and is not recommended for children under 11 years of age.

Website www.ushmm.org

Ford’s Theatre

On April 14th, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated while watching a performance at Ford's Theatre in Washington DC. He was shot by an actor named John Wilkes Booth who sympathised with the Confederates in the ongoing Civil War. Today, Ford's Theatre is both an active performance venue and historical site, with the Ford's Theatre Museum containing artefacts related to the assassination, including the Derringer pistol Booth used. Across from the theatre is the Petersen House, which is where President Lincoln finally died early the next morning. Tours are limited to groups of 20 people at a time so should be booked in advance to avoid disappointment.

Website www.fordstheatre.org

National Archives

While looking at historical papers may sound dull compared to some of Washington DC's more light-hearted museums, the National Archives is one of the most popular attractions in the city, housing priceless documents from US history, including the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, the Emancipation Proclamation and even the 1297 version of the Magna Carta. All these documents are displayed to the public in the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom, along with other collections of photography and historical memorabilia. Apart from the historic documents, the impressive building itself makes a visit to the National Archives worthwhile.

Website www.archives.gov/nae/visit/

Washington National Cathedral

One of the largest cathedrals in the US, the Washington National Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, is a magnificent Gothic Revival structure standing 301 feet (91m) tall. The interior is just as grand, with the long, narrow sanctuary framed by buttresses, chancels, transepts and beautiful stained-glass windows. The most famous of these is the Space Window, which contains a piece of moon rock brought back by Neil Armstrong from the Apollo 11 mission. The cathedral is the final resting place of noted figures such as Helen Keller, President Woodrow Wilson and Admiral George Dewey.

Website cathedral.org

Kennedy Center

One of the most prestigious performing arts centres in the US, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is also its busiest, hosting roughly 2,000 performances each year for an audience totalling nearly two million people in its eight separate performance halls. It is home to the National Symphony Orchestra, and has commissioned hundreds of new works in various disciplines, including theatre, dance and jazz and folk music. Each year five artists or groups are awarded the Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime contribution to American culture and the performing arts in a gala ceremony televised nationally. There are a number of interesting tour options for those who don't have the time or money to take in a performance.

Website www.kennedy-center.org

National Zoo

The Smithsonian National Zoological Park, commonly known as the National Zoo, is a wonderful attraction for families on holiday in Washington DC. As part of the Smithsonian Institution, the zoo has no entry fee and offers visitors the chance to explore 163 acres (66ha) of habitats containing more than 1,800 animals, a fifth of which are endangered. The star attractions of the zoo are definitely the giant pandas while other popular exhibits include the Great Ape House, Elephant Trails, Lion-Tiger Hill, Cheetah Conservation Station and Seals and Sea Lions.

Website nationalzoo.si.edu

Washington DC

Things to do in Washington DC

National Mall

US Capitol

White House

Washington Monument

Lincoln Memorial

Federal Bureau of Investigation

International Spy Museum

Smithsonian Institution

National Gallery of Art

US Holocaust Memorial Museum

Ford’s Theatre

National Archives

Washington National Cathedral

Kennedy Center

National Zoo

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National Mall

US Capitol

White House

Washington Monument

Lincoln Memorial

Federal Bureau of Investigation

International Spy Museum

Smithsonian Institution

National Gallery of Art

US Holocaust Memorial Museum

Ford’s Theatre

National Archives

Washington National Cathedral

Kennedy Center

National Zoo