Washington, D.C. in 3 days

Monuments, world-class free museums and leafy neighbourhoods: America's capital, walkable and deep. Best time to visit: March-May and September-November. Average daily budget: $140 to $260 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: National Mall & Downtown, The monuments, memorials and the cluster of free Smithsonian museums, the heart of any first visit.

Morning: Smithsonian museums. Air and Space, Natural History, American History and the National Gallery, all free, pick two or three.

Afternoon: Explore National Mall & Downtown, The monuments, memorials and the cluster of free Smithsonian museums, the heart of any first visit.

Evening: Walk the National Mall at night. The Lincoln, Jefferson and MLK memorials and the Washington Monument are stunning and crowd-free after dark.

Eat: Ethiopian injera and stews in Shaw

Day 2, Go deeper

Base: Georgetown, Cobblestone streets, the C&O Canal, waterfront, boutiques and historic townhouses.

Morning: National Museum of African American History and Culture. A powerful, must-book Smithsonian, allow at least half a day.

Afternoon: Explore Georgetown, Cobblestone streets, the C&O Canal, waterfront, boutiques and historic townhouses.

Evening: Tour the U.S. Capitol. Free guided tours of the dome and Statuary Hall, book in advance for the gallery.

Eat: A half-smoke at Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street

Day 3, Hidden side

Base: U Street & Shaw, Jazz heritage (the 'Black Broadway'), murals, nightlife and Ethiopian food.

Morning: Cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin. In late March/early April, one of the world's great spring spectacles around the Jefferson Memorial.

Afternoon: Explore U Street & Shaw, Jazz heritage (the 'Black Broadway'), murals, nightlife and Ethiopian food.

Evening: The Kennedy Center's free 'Millennium Stage' performances most evenings.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Global eats at Union Market food hall

Hidden gems

The Kennedy Center's free 'Millennium Stage' performances most evenings.
Kayaking the Potomac with monument views from the Georgetown waterfront.
The Library of Congress reading room, one of the most beautiful interiors in America.
Ethiopian dinner in Shaw, DC has one of the country's best Ethiopian food scenes.

Getting around

DC is one of the most walkable and transit-friendly US cities. The clean, efficient Metro subway connects the major neighbourhoods and both airports' lines, supplemented by buses, the DC Circulator and Capital Bikeshare. The National Mall is best explored on foot, though it's larger than it looks, so wear comfortable shoes. A car is unnecessary and parking is difficult and expensive.

Safety

The main tourist areas, the Mall, Georgetown, Dupont, Capitol Hill and downtown, are safe and well-policed, especially by day and into the evening. Use normal big-city awareness on the Metro and at night, stick to busy, well-lit streets, and be more cautious in some areas east of the Anacostia River, which are outside the typical visitor zones.

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