Local knowledge

Taxis

Gone are the crackpot zoning rules for DC cabs – once upon a time only the locals knew the secrets of which corner to jump out of the taxi to avoid crossing zone boundaries and racking up the cost. Now, taxis have moved over to the meter system, to widespread relief. Smith tip: take note of compass points in Washington addresses – ignoring seemingly insignificant ‘NW’, ‘NE’, ‘SW’ or ‘SE’ denotations can mean a costly mistake – time-wise, location-wise, and cash-wise. For a pre-booked car, try the Yellow C

Tipping culture

As elsewhere in the US, tipping is expected pretty much everywhere. Adding 20 per cent to a restaurant bill is not unusual, and bartenders, housekeeping staff, and taxi drivers et al are accustomed to receiving a token for each drink/service/journey.

Siesta and fiesta

Washington’s a commuter city during the week, so restaurants fill up early (6pm–7pm) and tend to shut close to 9pm. Things are a little less demure at weekends, when some bars stay open beyond midnight.

Packing tips

Washington’s rain is notoriously unpredictable, so umbrellas are a matter of course. Tailor your luggage to cope with hot, humid summer months, and biting winters.

Recommended reads

As well as your stash of political thrillers, pick up All the President’s Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward for a riveting account the Watergate scandal. If you’re in town for a while, you might just have time to get through Gore Vidal’s seven-volume Narratives of Empire saga.

Cuisine

True, it can’t rival New York as America’s culinary capital, but Washington nevertheless has a thriving fine dining scene. In response to the a vast range of international embassies that have sprung up around its political heart, you’ll find good quality ethnic cuisine of almost any imaginable origin. Neighbouring Baltimore is famous for all things crab-related, and shares its catch with the capital’s kitchens. For a fine sample of that most quintessential US culinary staple – try a smoked chilli hotdog f

Currency

US dollar ($)

Time zone

GMT -5 (EST)

Dialling codes

United States: +1; Washington DC: 202.

Do go/don't go

Notoriously hard to predict but wonderful if you catch it, the blooming of cherry blossom across the city in early April make it an extremely photogenic time to visit – aim for early April. Summer (August in particular) can be unbearably hot and overrun with snap-happy tourists, so aim to visit during spring or autumn to see DC at its best.