Marvel at holiday lights decorating historic homes, ice skate in front of iconic landmarks, warm up with festive drinks and wander winter markets.
One of Travel + Leisure's 15 best places in the world to visit this December, Washington, DC is undeniably magical during the holiday season.
While planning your unforgettable trip, be sure to check out our special discounts and packages – from luxurious experiences to budget-friendly options – and our roundups of things to do this week and weekend. Plus, learn more about accessibility at monuments and museums on the National Mall.
It's time to celebrate history in a whole new way! The Countdown to DC250 check-in challenge is here, a month-long adventure (concludes Dec. 15) that takes you through historic landmarks, museums and hidden gems throughout DC in celebration of America's 250th.
Ride with Metro
Discover DC with ease—tap, ride, go on Metrorail with your preferred payment card and explore the city like never before. Hop on Metrobus for a quick, affordable way to reach every corner of town and plan your trip with the Metropulse app. No wonder Metro is APTA’s 2025 Transit Agency of the Year.
Plan your trip
Ice skate in DC
Lace up some skates and triple axel 'round the District at popular ice skating rinks at the National Building Museum, the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden, Washington Harbour in Georgetown, Canal Park in Capitol Riverfront and The Wharf. Make sure to read our detailed breakdown of each spot.
Washington Capitals
Attend a Capitals, Wizards or Go-Go game
With the winter season comes incredible indoor sports action in the District. The NHL’s Washington Capitals and the NBA’s Washington Wizards play their exciting games inside Capital One Arena, while the Capital City Go-Go, part of the NBA’s developmental G-League, take to the court inside Entertainment & Sports Arena. Discounted tickets to select games for each team are available below.
Wizards Discounted Tickets (most games throughout the 2025-26 regular season; percentages vary)
Capitals Discounted Tickets (select games throughout the 2025-26 regular season; tickets purchased through the link include a free Capitals hat)
Toast to the season
Every year, hot spots deck the halls for you to eat, drink and be merry. Businesses and bars like Death Punch, Penn Social, Wunder Garten, Duke’s Grocery, Colada Shop and Westin City Center are known for making spirits bright with festive beverages like hot buttered rum, mulled wines, hot chocolate and more. Size up some of DC's best hot and cozy beverages and keep an eye out for specials and pop-ups galore.
L'Annexe
DC Cocktail Week – Dec. 1-7
During the first week of December, dozens of DC restaurants will participate in this celebration of mixology curated by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington. DC Cocktail Week showcases innovative drinks, letting local bartenders put their creative brains to work. These tasty creations are paired with dishes to inspire flavor explosions that you will not want to miss. Local distilleries get in on the act as well.
Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show – Dec. 5-21
DC’s Step Afrika!, the first professional company dedicated to the tradition of stepping, puts on a holiday extravaganza at the illustrious Arena Stage this December. The family-friendly show combines clapping, stomping and stepping for a dazzling array of percussive dance.
Arena Stage, 1101 6th Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
Georgetown Jingle – Dec. 6
Spend a festive day in DC’s oldest neighborhood at its first-ever holiday music event. Wander through historic Georgetown’s cobbled streets to take in live music performances at outdoor locations along M Street and beyond. Expect an array of genres, from holiday a cappella and jazz to current pop and alternative. The neighborhood will be alive with cheer as more than 40 businesses offer discounts and pop-ups. You can cap it all off by following the St. Lucia Choir as they process toward Washington Harbour, where holiday treats await at the Embassy of Sweden.
The Wharf's Holiday Boat Parade & Party – Dec. 6
Each year, dozens of dazzling boats traverse the Potomac River from the waterfront in Alexandria, Va. to the The Wharf. You can observe the parade free of charge, and there are holiday festivities to enjoy beforehand, including winter drink sampling, chances to meet Santa, ornament decorating and more. Prizes will be awarded to the most beautiful vessels and the night will conclude with fireworks and live music.
District Pier at The Wharf, 101 District Square SW, Washington, DC 20024
An Irish Carol – Dec. 11-28
The Irish have something to say about that “Carol” of yours, Mr. Dickens. The Keegan Theatre stages this acclaimed play that subs pub-owning David for Scrooge. He’s distanced himself from his family through his profitable bar, but a visitor from the past, along with present figures and the prospect of a sad future could turn David around. With searing wit, fast-paced dialogue and a classic Irish sensibility, Matthew Keenan’s play is perfect for holiday laughs – and intended for audiences 16 and older.
Keegan Theatre, 1742 Church Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC Holiday Show – Dec. 13, 14 & 20
Tap-dancing elves, a moving Christmas tree, snow and unforgettable choral renditions of holiday classics will all be part of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC's annual holiday show. The festive program will include songs like “Sleigh Ride,” “Underneath the Tree” and “The 12 Rockin' Days of Christmas.” Expect performances from the full Chorus, soloists, all GMCW ensembles and the GenOUT Youth Chorus.
Tickets
Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
National Symphony Orchestra: Handel’s Messiah
This holiday epic, which explores the story of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, is performed at the Kennedy Center each year. The National Symphony Orchestra will be joined by standout singers and will be conducted by Baroque authority Masaaki Suzuki at the beautifully decorated Concert Hall to tell Handel’s riveting tale through song.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20566
Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon – Dec. 20-21
George Washington’s estate knows how to celebrate the holiday season like few other locales in the area. Tour the gorgeous mansion, visit a winter market and hang out with the estate’s favorite pet, Aladdin the Camel. To cap it off, enjoy an incredible fireworks display along the Potomac River.
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon, VA 22121
DowntownDC Holiday Market – Nov. 21 – Dec. 23
The DowntownDC Holiday Market occupies the street and sidewalk on F Street between 7th and 9th Streets, NW. Now in its 21st year, its bright lights bring Penn Quarter and Chinatown to life, providing a holiday spark to the neighborhood. The spacious, open-air village is free and open to the public, kicking off the holiday season just ahead of Thanksgiving (closed on Thanksgiving Day) and closing for the season just before Christmas.
Free admission
F Street between 7th and 9th Streets NW, Washington, DC
DC Holiday Market at Dupont Circle – Nov. 14 – Dec. 23
Opening just before Thanksgiving through mid-December, the 1500 block of 19th Street NW hosts 30-plus small businesses with artisanal goods, boutique brands, worldwide handcrafts and unique gift items, plus festive decor, local performers and beloved holiday treats.
Free Admission
1500 Block of 19th Street NW, Washington, DC
Winter Wonderfest – Nov. 28 – Dec. 30
Celebrate the season with days of magical merriment at Nationals Park, which will transform into the city's headquarters for all things thrilling, chilling and fantastically fun. Activities include a 100-foot tubing slide, a Northern Lights Experience, a winter train ride, LED see-saws, a putt-putt challenge, curling lanes, a snowball speed throw challenge and a sculpture garden. There will even be a 21-and-over area with a hidden speakeasy. Tickets are available now. Use the code "VISITDC" for $5.50 off each ticket purchased.
Tickets
Nationals Park, 1500 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
A Christmas Carol – Nov. 20 – Dec. 31
Acclaimed actor Craig Wallace assumes the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in a lavish Victorian-style musical production of Charles Dickens’ timeless classic, the staging of which is a time-honored holiday tradition in the nation’s capital. Scrooge’s riveting journey alongside the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future is a joy even if you’ve experienced it a hundred times before – especially in one of the world’s most historic theaters.
Tickets
Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004
ZooLights – Nov. 21 – Jan. 3
Join the thousands of visitors who make ZooLights, powered by Pepco, a part of their annual holiday tradition. The event includes live music performances, tasty winter treats and plenty of opportunities for holiday shopping. Environmentally friendly LED lights and dozens of glowing animal lanterns transform the Smithsonian's National Zoo into a winter wonderland. Note that timed passes are required. Admission is just $6.
Hours & Admission
Smithsonian’s National Zoo, 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Season's Greenings – Nov. 27 – Jan. 4
Trade in your dreams of a white Christmas for something even better – a green Christmas. At this year's Season's Greenings exhibit at the U.S. Botanic Garden, displays will feature not only holiday lights, but thousands of poinsettias, unbelievable plant-based sculptures, a circuit of model trains and pollinators galore. Tickets are not required. This year's theme? Dinosaurs.
The Botanic Garden will stay open late on Dec. 9, 11, 16, 18, 23 and Jan. 1. It is closed on Dec. 25.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20001
Folger Shakespeare Library
Folger Frost Fair – Nov. 28 – Jan. 4
Inspired by frost fairs held in London from the 1600s-1800s when the River Thames would freeze over, the Folger Frost Fair (Nov. 28 through Jan. 4, 2026) is a month-long winter festival filled with holiday music, decorations, walk-up tours, seek-and-find games, holiday gift shopping, craft stations, printing press demonstrations and much more. The Folger Shakespeare Library offers free admission and pay-what-you-will timed-entry passes.
More Info
Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
O Tree Jubilee – Through Jan.
Even outside of the holiday season, the Mansion on O Street is a wonder to behold—a mind-bending, multilevel miracle that rewards repeated visits to search for its secret doors and hidden treasures. Add some of the District’s most creative Christmas trees to the mix and you’re sure to be dazzled. These trees (and wreaths and gingerbread houses) are created and donated by volunteers, landscape architects and florists, and you can try to win your favorites! Who wouldn’t want Oscar the Grouch as a tree?
O Museum in the Mansion, 2020 O Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
Photography and the Black Arts Movement, 1955-1985 – Through Jan. 4, 2026
The National Gallery of Art hosts a monumental tribute to the work of Black artists from around the world. Photography and the Black Arts Movement spans four decades and features roughly 150 pieces by more than 100 artists, including luminaries such as Gordon Parks, Carrie Mae Weems, Frank Stewart, Billy Abernathy, David C. Driskell, Lorna Simpson and many more.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
National Gallery of Art, 6th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 2056
Rik Freeman: Wade in the Waters – Through Feb. 19, 2026
DC artist Rik Freeman’s work is showcased in-depth at this free exhibition displayed at Phillips@THEARC. For more than three decades, Freeman has engaged history, community, resilience and joy in his work. Wade in the Waters zooms in on waterways – from the beaches of Bahia to the Anacostia River – and how they connect to the diaspora over generations.
Wednesday & Thursday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
Phillips@THEARC, 1801 Mississippi Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20020
The Two Georges: Parallel Lives in an Age of Revolution – Through March 21, 2026
The Library of Congress brings together letters, ledgers, diaries, maps, drawings and other artifacts to illuminate the similarities and differences between two iconic figures of the Revolutionary War: George Washington and King George III. Although the two never met, visitors can envision where they would clash and where they would compromise in this stirring exhibit that features items from a wide range of collections, including the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle, London’s Science Museum and George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
Hours | Free Admission
Library of Congress, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20540
Grandma Moses: A Good Day's Work – Through July 12, 2026
Anna Mary Robertson Moses, who was dubbed “Grandma Moses” by the press, lived through the American Civil War, two world wars and the civil rights era. In the 1940s, she emerged as a central figure thanks to her unique tapestries of American life. The Smithsonian American Art Museum introduces her essential work to new generations with an in-depth exhibit.
11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. | Free Admission
Smithsonian American Art Museum, 8th and G Streets NW, Washington, DC 20004
Water's Edge: The Art of Truman Lowe – Through Jan. 2027
The acclaimed Ho-Chunk artist receives his first major retrospective at the National Museum of the American Indian. Truman Lowe used willow branches, feathers and organic materials to create minimalist sculptures to evoke rivers, streams and waterfalls. The exhibit also features similarly distinctive drawings and paintings by Lowe.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
National Museum of the American Indian, 4th Street & Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20560
Adam Pendleton: Love, Queen – Through Jan. 3, 2027
Known for his rigorous work in creating jaw-dropping paintings, Adam Pendleton will showcase new and recent pieces as well as single-channel video in this landmark exhibition at the Hirshhorn Museum. Pendleton’s first solo showcase will highlight his contributions to contemporary American painting and utilize the architecture of the Hirshhorn and the vast history of DC’s National Mall.
10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Admission
Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, Independence Avenue & 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20560
Fierce Flora: Tales of Survival and Demise – Ongoing
The U.S. Botanic Garden invites you to see the ferocious side of flora and fauna at its special new exhibit. Many plants have evolved defenses against infection, herbivores and their plant competition. The multisensory display will showcase this evolution and also pinpoint how these plants can be both harmful and helpful to humans.
10 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Free Admission
U.S. Botanic Garden, 100 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20001
Places to Stay
The Riggs Hotel
Need some inspiration for a place to stay in between events? Washington, DC is filled with a multitude of hotels to fit your needs. Whether you are looking for that specialty boutique hotel or booking at your favorite hotel brand, Washington, DC's booking engine has it all. Find your stay today!
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