12 Things to Do in Washington DC at Night

You have many options of activities to see and do in Washington DC, and the night is the ideal time to rest a little and let yourself be surprised by its atmosphere. Every corner of the city invites you to get to know it a little more.

From quiet meetings in a bar to ghost-hunting excursions at night, what Washington DC has to offer to entertain your evening will blow your mind and surely leave you wanting to come back.

If you like sports, a night plan you can't miss when you are in Washington DC is to attend a game of one of America's star sports, the NBA or baseball.

The Washington Wizards play their home games at the Capital One Arena, a stadium for more than 20,000 spectators. However, do not be fooled by the capacity of the facilities because if you want to attend an NBA game you should book your Washington Wizards tickets as far in advance as possible, as tickets fly.

If, on the other hand, baseball is your thing, you should know that the Washington Nationals play in the National League and tickets sell out months in advance. So, once you know what dates you are going to travel, do not think twice and book your tickets to see the Washington Nationals play.

Can you imagine relaxing and unwinding on board a cruise along the Potomac River after a "hard" day of sightseeing? And if you add to this plan a delicious three-course dinner with drinks and live music while enjoying the best panoramic views of Washington DC, it becomes absolutely irresistible, right?

During the tour you can enjoy points of interest such as the Washington Monument or the Lincoln Memorial, as well as the buildings and skyscrapers of the city completely illuminated under the night sky.

Book a dinner cruise on the Potomac River and enjoy Washington's nightlife as a couple or with family and friends.

Built in 1920, the Lincoln Memorial is one of the most beautiful attractions to see at any time of the day, but especially at night. It is an ideal place to take your best night photographs and in its impressive reflecting pool the sunset looks multicolored and completely clear.

Besides being a beautiful place to enjoy with the whole family, friends or alone, it is one of the most important sites in the city that over the years has been a background witness to many of the most important events that have taken place in the United States.

An excellent idea is to take a three-hour bike tour of Washington to see the city's most important monuments, including, of course, the Lincoln Memorial and its reflecting pool, from a different perspective than during the day.

Practical Information

• Location: 2 Lincoln Memorial Cir NW, Washington, DC 20024.
• Price: Admission is free.
• Hours: Open all day.
• When: Every day at dusk.

The Tidal Basin is another of the most beautiful and impressive places in Washington DC. In fact, this is one of the places you can't miss among the activities to do in Washington in spring. It is a great infrastructure dating from the nineteenth century and is an ideal plan to go at night because you can see from another perspective all the beauty of the place.

No doubt, if you like photography you will enjoy this night walk because the picture becomes perfect to capture all the splendor of the Tidal Basin and its surroundings.

To get to Tidal Basin you can use bus, metro or bike but my advice is to hire a night tour by electric car around Washington DC This way, you can comfortably get another point of view of the best monuments of Washington DC, from the Jefferson Memorial to the White House and the Capitol, as well as the Martin Luther King Memorial, bathed by the indirect light of the Tidal Basin.

The Pentagon Memorial is the first memorial dedicated to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack. It is located just outside the Pentagon and admission is free.

Although it is open all day, at night it takes on a more special meaning, because the reflective lights positioned under each memorial are impossible to admire during the day.

It is a truly impressive work of infrastructure and engineering comprised of 184 benches, each representing a 9/11 casualty. The arrangement of each bench determines whether it was on the plane or in the offices and each memorial unit details the date of birth and age of the victim.

Practical Information

• Location: 1 N Rotary Rd, Arlington, VA 22202.
• Price: Free.
• Hours: Open all day.
• When: The lights are best seen after dark, after 8pm.

Traveller Tip

You are allowed to take pictures, but I recommend you make your night visit in silence, remembering that it is a monument dedicated to honor people who died unjustly.

Chinatown is one of the most special places to visit at night in Washington DC, due to the fact that virtually every house, every store and every restaurant is illuminated with its own lights that come on at dusk. In addition, the Friendship Arch, located at the entrance to the neighborhood, is also illuminated and full of color.

A perfect plan is to dine in Chinatown, to enjoy authentic Chinese cuisine, and then stroll through its streets and stores. It looks good, doesn't it?

And, of course, if your trip coincides with the Chinese New Year, which is celebrated between January and February, visiting Chinatown at night is a must among the things to do in Washington in winter.

This is a bar, restaurant and meeting place for activists and intellectuals that was born in 2005 in the midst of the protests against the Iraq War and today is one of the most popular nightlife options in the city.

For dinner you can choose from a wide variety of options to taste, such as traditional sandwiches with meat or chicken, as well as vegetarian paninis or vegan burgers. In addition, in this space you can read a book, write something or simply enjoy a pleasant conversation with friends while enjoying its gastronomic offer.

From 16:00 to 19:00 the Busboys and Poets restaurant offers discounts on drinks and wines, which is ideal for you to start the night on the right foot.

Practical information

• Location: 2021 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009.
• Price: Free admission.
• Hours: 8:00 am to 10:00 pm.

If you're drawn to the paranormal and ghosts, scary stories and spooky tales, you'll find the best night tours in Washington DC**.

On this tour designed only for brave adults who face their fears, you'll hear chilling and terrifying stories of unexplained suicides, macabre murders and other gory events that have scarred the city for life and now shroud it in a veil of mystery.

In addition, you will hear from your guides all the dark history of Washington's past, as it seems that the city drags centuries and centuries of darkness. To take this tour I recommend that you wear comfortable shoes, and make sure you don't suffer from heart disease. You can find this tour for prices starting at 30€.

More than a specific place, the Dupont Circle is an area whose popularity has been increasing in recent times. It is one of the most special, dynamic and entertaining places to visit in downtown Washington.

If there is something interesting about Dupont Circle, it is the number of bars and galleries in the area, as well as clothing boutiques and even Michelin-starred restaurants. And the best part is that you can stay late into the night enjoying the activities you want:

• Former U.S.President Woodrow Wilson's House Museum, where you can have a little fun at the vintage games they host in the evenings.
• Kramerbooks & Afterwords Library where you can go to read a little and then have some dinner.
• Discotheques and dance places where you can spend a nice time among Latin rhythms and even take some lessons.

To get to Dupont Circle you should take the subway and get off at the station of the same name or, better yet, book an architecture tour of Dupont Circle and Embassy Row in the morning, spend the afternoon discovering its stores and galleries and finish the day with dinner and a drink in one of its establishments.

At 1127 Connecticut Avenue you'll find an incredible magic and comedy show that has been running for more than 30 years with the same success as the first day. The key? Its amazing and constantly changing routine.

It's Magic Duel, a show that mixes magic with comedy and is one of the events you can't miss if you want to experience the charm of Washington during the night.

It is an ideal show to have fun with friends and family, although keep in mind that it is entirely in English, so you should have some knowledge of the language to really enjoy it.

Practical information

• Location: The Mayflower Hotel.
• Price: From 50 euros.
• Schedule: Saturdays at 17:00 and 20:00.

Traveller Tip

Tickets sell out fast, so I recommend that before going to the show, buy your tickets in advance through their website, where you will also know their schedule.

One thing you can't miss about Washington's nightlife is its live jazz evenings. It is common that in many bars in the city you can go to listen and watch jazz, but what makes Blues Alley special is that you feel part of the atmosphere. No wonder it has been open since 1965.

It also has an excellent menu that combines flavors and traditions from various parts of the world and can be accompanied with a few drinks while you enjoy the musical show. What more could you ask for?

Its culinary offerings give it a place in the gastronomic tours of Washington DC and its musical offerings have always included talented artists and iconic jazz voices of all time such as Sarah Vaughan.

Practical Information

• Location: 1073 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007.
• Price: Free admission.
• Hours: 18:00 to 00:30.

The Observation Deck is located in the CEB Tower and if you visit it you will be in the highest public place in Washington. No less than 32 floors from where you can observe the immensity of the U.S. capital.

During your visit to the Observatory you will see the esplanade in all its splendor, the most iconic places of the city and how they impose their illumination in the darkness of the night. In the building you will have a 360º view to look at any angle of the city.

Practical information

• Location: 1201 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22209.
• Price: From 50 euros.
• Hours: 09:00 to 17:00.