10 Things to Do in Washington DC in Winter

Winter brings out the beauty of Washington and offers us a different perspective of the city. In addition, there are many activities especially suited to the season during the winter months. In a city where snow is often the main feature at this time of year, plans to shelter from the cold are always the most recommended. Christmas also dominates much of the calendar, and there are other important festive dates. In this post, I share 10 perfect plans for getting to know Washington DC in winter.

On 4 December, to celebrate the arrival of winter, a very special parade is held in Washington, with a Christmas theme, in which a multitude of boats decorated with lights sail the waters of the Potomac River, which crosses the capital.

This activity is completely free and dozens of stalls are set up from the promenade in Alexandria, Virginia to the pier where the tour ends. At these stalls, you can sample all kinds of hot food typical of this time of year, as well as other stalls offering winter activities or selling traditional products.

But if you're not in the US capital on that date, here's another plan that might suit you: book a cruise in Washington, where you'll sail the waters of the Potomac River through Alexandria and see sights such as the Washington Monument, Reagan National Airport and Old Town Alexandria while listening to the captain's stories. Oh, and this plan also includes a buffet lunch. Sounds great!

After Christmas, Martin Luther King Day is the most important holiday in the United States in winter. It is celebrated on the third Monday in January, around 15 January, Luther King's birthday, to honour one of the most important figures in the fight for civil rights for the African American community in the US.

Marches are usually held, as well as the annual "Let Freedom Ring" concert, which takes place every year at the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts. In Washington, the date is particularly significant, as the capital is home to the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial, which becomes a place of worship during this celebration.

Did you know that it was in Washington that Martin Luther King delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech? You can learn all this and much more by booking the African American History Tour in Washington, which includes priority admission to the National Museum of African American History and Culture and visits to other sites linked to African American culture, such as, of course, the Martin Luther King Memorial.

Christmas is always one of the main attractions of winter in Washington. Washington is one of those special cities that transforms itself for the Christmas season, and the capital of the United States has one of the quintessential symbols of the holidays, not only for the city, but also for the entire nation: the National Christmas Tree.

It is a huge conifer that is installed in front of the White House and decorated with handmade ornaments from every state in the country. Countless activities are held around it, making it the star of the country. Throughout the month and until Christmas is over, there is a small daily light show from 4:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., which is completely free.

A way to discover it without getting cold is to book a 3-hour night bus tour of Washington, which, among other iconic places, passes by the White House. Take advantage and tour DC in comfort and warmth while admiring the Christmas lights!

The Smithsonian National Zoo is one of the most important zoos in the United States and the world. It is famous, for example, for its giant pandas, which attract more than 2 million visitors a year.

Since winter is not the most inviting time to visit the zoo, the zoo itself organises special events and activities to attract people, one of which is ZooLights, when the zoo is specially lit up and some of the nocturnal animal enclosures remain open.

By the way, if you are interested in natural history, be sure to book tickets for the Smithsonian National Museum. You can see more than 146 million specimens of flora, fauna, minerals, etc., and, of course, you'll be sheltered from the cold.

Useful information

• Price: Free
• Opening hours: From 9 p.m.
• Location: Smithsonian National Zoo, Connecticut Avenue

Another of the winter and Christmas attractions in the US capital are its Christmas markets. The most popular is undoubtedly the downtown Christmas market, which has more than 100 stalls selling crafts, food and all kinds of Christmas products, as well as hosting many children's activities. This plan is therefore especially recommended if you are travelling to Washington with children.

Shall I tell you how I would organise it? I would book a seat on the Big Bus in Washington and take a tour on this tourist bus, which passes by the city's most iconic sights. Then I would get off at the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, which is right next to the Christmas market, and take a stroll to buy some gifts and have a hot drink. Are you in?

Useful information

• Price: Free
• Opening hours: 8:00 a.m. to midnight, from late November to late December
• Location: on F Street NW, between 7th and 9th Streets NW

Washington has become a very popular winter destination thanks in large part to the many winter sports opportunities in the surrounding area, perfect for a day trip:

• Whitetail Ski Resort in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania , is just a couple of hours from the capital.
• Bryce Mountain Resort in Basye, Virginia, is also two hours from Washington.
• When it snows, the city of Washington itself becomes an impromptu sledding resort in places with steep hills such as Fort Reno Park, Battery Kemble Park, and Book Hill Park.

And if you're not into playing sports, but rather watching them live, here are three options for enjoying the best American sport in the winter months. Take note!

• Book tickets to see the Wizards at Capital One Arena during January and February.
• Book tickets to see the Baltimore Ravens, who play some games in January and February at M&T Bank Stadium.
• Book tickets to see the Washington Capitals play in February and March at Capital One Arena.

Washington has a wide variety of theatres offering a wide range of performances during the winter months. It is one of the most popular and recommended activities to protect yourself from the winter cold, and there are many Christmas plays at this time of year.

The historic Ford Theatre, the site of President Lincoln's assassination, is not only a tourist attraction in itself, but also one of the best venues to enjoy this type of Christmas play.

And if theatre isn't your thing, the venue itself is also a museum where you can learn all about Lincoln and his assassination, something you can discover in depth by booking the Lincoln assassination tour. Don't miss it!

Washington is the museum capital par excellence:

The Smithsonian Museum, or rather complex, as it consists of 17 museums, art galleries and a zoo, is the best known and one of the most important in the world. These places are the most popular in winter, as they offer a huge range of history, culture, science, art, etc. And all of this is indoors and protected from the cold.

• Booking a guided tour of the Smithsonian National Museum is an almost obligatory plan in DC in winter, but this is not the only museum in the city.
• Taking a guided tour of the National Gallery of Art is a great plan.
• And a visit to the Washington Bible Museum will undoubtedly surprise you.

The Wharf is a district of Washington on the banks of the Potomac River that is full of life and good vibes all year round, but in winter it has a special feature that attracts thousands of locals and tourists: throughout the area there are several bonfires around which cultural and leisure activities take place on winter days.

It is common to go to this area full of bars, restaurants, cocktail bars, pubs, hotels, theatres and a wide range of leisure and cultural activities and end the night with a drink in the warmth of these unique bonfires. The Wharf is undoubtedly the best place to enjoy the capital's leisure activities in the cold winter months.

As they say, if you can't beat them, join them. And that's what they do in Washington with the cold. The low temperatures are used, among other things, to set up ice rinks throughout the city of Washington.

The Washington Harbour rink in Georgetown is the largest and most important of all. It is located next to the Potomac River and has the great advantage of being in an area full of restaurants and cafés, perfect for rounding off a day of skating with a hot chocolate or a good dinner to warm up.

Useful information

• Price: around $10
• Opening hours: Sunday – Thursday: 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 11:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
• Location: The Washington Harbour – 3000-3050 K St NW

Winter is, logically, the coldest season in Washington and perhaps the harshest in terms of temperatures. In addition to the low temperatures, snowfall is very frequent and often covers the city in white.

On average, during December, January and February, temperatures range from a high of 8 degrees to a low of -3 degrees, which is usually reached in January, the coldest month of the year.

Despite all this, the cold in Washington DC is a dry cold, so it can be easily combated with good warm clothing.

If you want to visit the capital of the United States during its quietest season, winter is the time to go.

The cold weather is the main reason why tourist numbers are much lower than during the rest of the year, which means shorter queues at the city's main monuments, fewer crowds and easier access to hotels and restaurants.

If we take the prices in European cities as a reference, we can say that Washington DC is an expensive city to visit. Even so, winter is the cheapest time to visit, given the lower demand for hotels and reservations.

Since we are travelling to another continent, and in winter, we must carefully consider what to pack in our luggage. Here is a list of the essentials:

• It is essential to bring a good, well-lined, waterproof coat. Coats designed for snow are best.
• Bring thermal T-shirts. They are the best allies for effectiveness and comfort in combating the cold.
• Do not forget accessories such as hats, gloves, and scarves.
• Wear good footwear that is comfortable, waterproof and has good grip in case you encounter snowy streets.
• Remember that plugs in the US are different from those in Europe, so you will need to bring an adapter.
• It is always important to carry your passport and documentation, but in the US it is even more so, especially when entering the country.