Washington, D.C.

Museums Without End (or a Price Tag)

The Smithsonian Institution's extraordinary collection of museums and galleries lines the Mall like a gift to the curious traveller, and every single one is free to enter. From the Air and Space Museum, where real spacecraft hang overhead, to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened to immediate global acclaim, there is more to see here than a single trip can hold. Art lovers will find further riches at the National Gallery of Art, while the Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum fill a stunning Beaux Arts building nearby.

Neighbourhoods Full of Character

Step beyond the official precincts and you will find a city with genuine personality. Georgetown's cobbled streets and Federal row houses are a delight to explore on foot, while the 14th Street corridor hums with restaurants, bars and independent boutiques. Shaw and U Street carry deep roots in African American music and culture, and Adams Morgan brings an international flavour that makes every evening feel like a small adventure. The waterfront districts of Southwest and the Navy Yard have transformed dramatically, offering a lively riverside scene that locals love.

A Table Worth Travelling For

Washington's dining scene has grown into something genuinely exciting, reflecting the diplomatic community and diverse population that call the district home. Ethiopian cuisine is a particular highlight, with Ethiopian restaurants concentrated along 9th Street NW making DC one of the finest places outside Addis Ababa to explore the cuisine. Beyond that, you will find acclaimed tasting menus, spectacular seafood, buzzing rooftop terraces and every kind of street food imaginable. The city's bar and cocktail culture is equally vibrant, with craft breweries and stylish speakeasies tucked into every neighbourhood.