Things to do in Washington, D.C.

Washington was planned as a capital, to a street grid that Pierre L'Enfant drew in 1791. The Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial stand 3.5 km apart, at either end of the National Mall. Most things to do in Washington follow that line.

Along the Mall

• The Capitol. Tours are free, and booking ahead through its visitor centre is the sure way in.
• Smithsonian museums. Natural History, American History and Air and Space charge no admission. A few, such as the African American History and Culture museum, use timed passes.
• National Gallery of Art. Also free.
• Washington Monument. A 169-metre obelisk, visible from most of the city.
• Lincoln Memorial. A temple of 36 columns at the west end, facing the Reflecting Pool.

Off the Mall

• Georgetown. A river port founded in 1751, older than the capital. It has no Metro station.
• Embassy Row. The diplomatic mansions along Massachusetts Avenue.
• Capitol Hill. Rowhouse streets around the Capitol, with Union Station close by.
• U Street. An evening district with a jazz past.

Across the Potomac

Arlington National Cemetery sits in Virginia. Mount Vernon, George Washington's estate, is about 25 km south of the centre. Old Town Alexandria, founded in 1749, is a stop on the way back.

What gets booked from Washington

• Private drives. A four-hour grand tour includes the Changing of the Guard at Arlington. A three-hour sunset drive covers Embassy Row, Georgetown and the lit monuments. A five-hour Mount Vernon trip takes up to six people.
• Spanish. Several guided city tours run in Spanish.
• Walking games. Phone-led quests of 75 to 180 minutes, including a political-thriller puzzle walk. They start at any hour.
• Niagara Falls. A four-day escorted coach trip, with hotels in Washington and at the Falls.
• New York. A private car, booked as a four-hour run.

Practical

• Weather. July highs reach 32C and the air is humid. April and October average 19 to 21C, May about 24C. January days sit near 6C, with occasional snow.
• Cherry blossom. Peak bloom at the Tidal Basin falls between mid-March and early April, and shifts with the winter.
• The Guard. The Arlington ceremony runs every half hour from April to September, and hourly from October to March.
• Getting around. The Metro reaches Reagan National Airport, Union Station and Arlington Cemetery.
• Cancelling. Most guided tours refund in full if cancelled more than 24 hours ahead.