Downtown

Downtown D.C. is where government, commerce, and entertainment meet. The streets are wide, the buildings as tall as they get in Washington, and it is here that D.C. feels most like a big city. It's an extensive area, encompassing some distinct districts, and packed with historic and cultural attractions, with still more development in the pipeline. Downtown is compact; you can see the main sights in an hour and a half, not counting time spent inside museums. Travel light—you'll have to have your bag screened before entering almost everywhere.