What to do in Washington DC

Advice on what to do in Washington DC, including culture, relaxation, nightlife, sport and food.

Cultural attractions in Washington DC
Washington DC is rife with museums, monuments and plenty of memorials for presidents past, including Abraham Lincoln and FDR. The National Mall may sound like a shopping centre, but it is actually the first port of call for anyone wanting to learn a little about Washington and America, thanks to its mass of Smithsonian museums.

The International Spy Museum is a top attraction in the city, as is the National Building Museum, while Capitol Hill is home to important buildings such as the Supreme Court. It is also the base of the Folger Shakespeare Library, which houses the world's largest Shakespeare collection.

Art lovers are well catered for with the National Gallery of Art, which includes works by Raphael, Vemeer, Rembrandt and Pollock.

Relaxation in Washington DC

The National Mall is good for just sitting on the green and taking in everything around you. It is also home to Screen on the Green in the summer, where you can watch movies, often of a political bent, in the open air in full view of the Capitol dome.

There is hiking and biking to be done and wild life to be admired in Rock Creek Park in the north-west of the city.

Nightlife in Washington DC
Washington DC is a hotbed of nightspots covering every musical and social proclivity one can think of. The 9.30 Club has regular legendary and diverse guests like George Clinton and the Pogues, while the Pharmacy Bar offer an interesting medicinal setting for a quiet drink.

For a snazzy yet financially heavy-hitting night out in the DC, try the Republic Gardens, where greasing the staff can be useful if you want to play with the sophisticates.

Sport in Washington DC
Washington caters for the big four US sports: baseball, ice hockey, basketball and American football.

For baseball catch the Washington Nationals at the RFK Stadium in the south-east of the city.

Touch down with the Washington Redskins at the FedExField for some American football.

For some basketball action you can check out the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center.

And the Verizon Center is also the place to go for some hard-hitting ice action with the Washington Capitals.

Recommended restaurants in Washington DC
Takeaway and small out of the way cafes are best for those on a budget, with Vace's Pizza near Cleveland Park being regarded as the best place for pizza in all of Washington DC. Mitsitam Café in the National Museum of the American Indian, offers a wide range of native American foods.

Fin in the north west of the city is a little more expensive, but high quality seafood restaurant, which does have happy hour specials, making it more affordable for those trying to make their money go further.

For the cash-rich, Olives offers high-class Mediterranean food in a humming atmosphere, while Michel Richard Citronelle is for those with serious money to burn who want to eat some of the best French food in the world. Bring a jacket.