Fall colors frame the US Capitol in Washington DC

It may be the headquarters of the Free World, but Washington D.C. has a distinctly Orwellian feel about it.

Still, beneath the pompous political surface of America's clean-cut capital lies a vibrant multicultural city with world-class cultural attractions, excellent restaurants and enough hard-drinking students and interns to keep you on the town all night.

Some 20 million visitors a year brave D.C.'s bone-chilling winters and sweltering summers.

Happily, the city's prime cultural and political attractions all lie within walking distance of the iconic white dome on Capitol Hill. Most visitors start their explorations at the US Capitol - home to Congress, the Supreme Court and the enormous Library of Congress. Free tours allow visitors a fleeting glimpse inside America's palace of power and it is even possible to watch the Senate in action if it is in session.

To the west of the Capitol, the two-mile-long grassy Mall packs in some lovely cherry trees, the White House (the current president's pad), historical monuments honoring past presidents such as Lincoln, Roosevelt, Washington and Jefferson, as well as the exemplary Smithsonian Institution - the world's largest museum complex. Among its collection of museums and galleries are the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of American History, the Hirshhorn Museum, the National Museum of African Art and the National Zoo.

Beyond the Smithsonian, the National Gallery of Art, the National Archives, the US Holocaust Memorial Museum and the International Spy Museum all deserve a thorough squiz. Meanwhile, X-File fans can exchange conspiracy theories while waiting in line for a tour of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Beyond D.C.'s political and cultural precinct are some surprisingly funky neighborhoods. Foodies and party animals gravitate towards Adams-Morgan and Dupont Circle, while fashionistas, yuppies and students congregate in historic Georgetown.

Across the Potomac river, a short Metro ride brings visitors to JFK's final resting place at the Arlington National Cemetery and also to the giant fortified Pentagon - America's military headquarters.

Washington D.C. is serviced by two major international airports - Dulles International Airport and Baltimore-Washington International Airport. There is a major domestic terminal at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.