City guide

Washington

The US capital runs on marble and mission: a monumental core of memorials and free Smithsonian museums flanked by leafy, politically-charged neighbourhoods. It is compact, walkable and unusually green for a capital city, with the Potomac and cherry blossoms softening the government-town seriousness. Expect ID checks and security queues at major sights, and a city that empties out fast once the workday ends.