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The best-known symbol of American power and pageantry, the White House is open for visitors. You need to book in advance and go through a thorough vetting process first, of course, by applying through the American Consulate in your home country or your country’s consulate in DC up to to six months in advance. Since that’s a considerable hassle, consider simply popping into the Visitors’ Centre. That still counts, right?

This wide, tree-lined avenue stretching imperiously for 3,2km is actually a national park, filled with an abundance of monuments, memorials, museums and stunning government buildings. The views between the Capitol, the Washington Monument, the White House and the Lincoln Memorial have been seen a million times in international newsreels, but are even more impressive in real life. You’ll feel important just by being there. The mall is on the banks of the Potomac River.

The American Congress is based at the Capitol building and you can watch its staff and dignitaries at work in this spectacular, white-domed building. There’s an underground Visitors’ Centre where you can get a ticket for a free, hour-long guided tour. The route leads you around ornate halls stuffed with memorabilia dating back to 1800. To watch Congress in session, you need a separate visitor’s pass and foreigners must take their passports to the Appointment Desks on the upper level.

There’s a joke that half of the USA’s politicians believe they’ve been personally elected by God, so it’s no surprise that Washington Cathedral is quite a stunner. It’s a soaring Gothic affair with fanciful gargoyles, dramatic sculptures and spires that pierce the city skyline. The Space Window contains a piece of lunar rock presented to the cathedral by the astronauts of Apollo XI.

The power of the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial lies in the heartbreaking notes, photographs and flowers that the bereaved leave there. The edifice honours members of the American armed forces who died during the war or were reported missing in action. The Memorial Wall consists of two identical walls that chronologically list more than 58 000 names. People can visit this open-air memorial at any time and it’s illuminated at night.

The downtown area has the National Mall, the White House, the theatre district and Chinatown. The North Central district is the top destination for live music and entertainment, as well as many hotels, especially around Dupont Circle or the Shaw district, where the nightlife’s geared towards a slightly older crowd and there’s good live jazz. The Waterfront is another pleasant place to stroll around, with an open-air waterfront seafood market.

Amid all of Washington’s long-established history is the relatively new addition of the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial. Its centrepiece is a giant statue of Dr King carved into the Stone of Hope, which emerges from two large boulders. The boulders represent the Mountain of Despair and are split in half by the Stone of Hope. Text from King’s great “I have a dream” speech is carved into the rock. It opened to the public in 2011.

Perhaps most people visit the Ford Theatre out of macabre curiosity, to see the spot where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. It’s a working theatre as well as a historical monument and museum celebrating the life and legacy of Lincoln.

This honours the 16 million people who served with the American armed forces, including more than 400 000 who were killed in the line of duty. The memorial is part of the National Mall at the Reflecting Pool. It contains 56 granite columns symbolising unity among the 48 states, seven federal territories and the District of Columbia.

Ben’s is an institution, serving “half-smokes” – a smokier version of the hot dog. Slap on plenty of mustard, onions and the eponymous chilli and you’ll be eating like a local. It was originally opened by Ben Ali and his wife Virginia in 1958, but their sons have taken it over and opened additional branches.

The John F Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts host more than 2 000 events a year on its multiple stages, including free performances and concerts on the Millennium Stage. Its concert call is home to the National Symphony Orchestra, while its opera house is home to the National Opera. A free shuttle bus runs to and from the nearest metro station every 15 minutes until midnight.

During summer, a free outdoor movie is shown every weekday evening on a large outdoor screen at one of several locations around the city. Look out for the notices and ensure you arrive early to secure a good spot, where you can unpack your picnic hamper and socialise. Most people start arriving at 7pm and films start at sunset, at around 8.30pm.