If you’re looking for the best things to do in Washington DC at night, then you’ve come to the right place! Washington DC is one of our favorite cities in the South to explore. You can easily spend several days in DC, and still feel like there is so much more to see.
That’s because there are so many awesome things to do in our Nation’s capital, especially during the day. Most of the museums and major sites close around 5 or 6 pm.
Planning your trip to Washington DC last minute?
Hotels and tours sell out fast! Make sure to book in advance to ensure availability. Here are our top picks for Washington DC:
Top Experiences And Tours To Book In Advance:
- Monuments By Moonlight Tour (Our pick!)
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour (Easy to get around)
- Gourmet Dining Cruise (Can choose brunch or dinner)
- Capital Wheel Entry Ticket (Save time in line)
Best Places To Stay In Washington DC:
- The Architect (Our choice for location)
- Citizen M Washington DC Capitol (Hip and modern)
- Glover Park Hotel Georgetown (four stars)
- Hotel Washington (Panoramic views!)
Because of this, most people end up heading back to their DC hotel and calling it a night. Sadly, most people think that once the museums close, there’s nothing else to do in Washington DC.
But that’s not the case! Instead, just like any other major city, Washington DC at night is full of activities. From bus tours, dinner cruises, and a wide variety of shows, there are tons of attractions in DC at night.
On this list, we’ve tried to include a wide variety of activities. Whether you’re traveling with kids or having a fun adults-only trip to DC, there are a ton of things to do at night in Washington DC!
So, let’s take a look at some of the best things to do in Washington DC at night!
15 Best Things To Do In Washington DC At Night
Go On A Dinner Cruise
One of the best ways to see the skyline of DC and all the monuments is on a Potomac River cruise. The monuments and skyline are especially pretty all lit up at night.
If you want to see the sites and enjoy a delicious three-course dinner, then we suggest going on a Potomac River Dinner Cruise. It’s a romantic way to spend a few hours in DC.
We think it’s one of the best things to do in Washington DC at night for adults who are looking for a great date night activity. You’ll have a private table on the cruise where you’ll be served an elegant three-course dinner.
Playing in the background is relaxing music and you’ll sail by the monuments all lit up at night. When you finish your meal, you can go up onto the 360-degree observation deck for even better views of the monuments.
Get Your Tickets Here: GetYourGuide.com
See A Comedy And Magic Show
If you’re looking for things to do in Washington DC at night with kids, look no further! They will love seeing real-life magic tricks with some fun humor added in.
There are quite a few magic shows in DC, and some are kid-friendly while others aren’t. When you get your tickets, they’ll let you know if there is an age restriction for the show.
One of the most popular magic shows in DC is called The Magic Duel. This show in particular is probably not a great option for kids. They combine magic and snarky humor that young kids just won’t appreciate.
However, it’s one of the top-rated things to do in Washington DC at night for adults. So, if you love comedy shows and magic shows, you’ll love The Magic Duel.
Stroll Along The Georgetown Waterfront
There are also plenty of free things to do in Washington DC at night. After enjoying your dinner at one of the many amazing restaurants in Georgetown, you may want to go for a walk. We suggest taking a stroll along the Georgetown Waterfront.
Georgetown is one of our favorite neighborhoods in DC and there are tons of things to do. It’s also where you’ll find some of the prettiest waterfront views. The Georgetown Waterfront is a huge 10-acre park on the edge of the Potomac River.
As you walk in the park along the waterfront trail, you’ll be able to see a few different things. The view includes the Francis Scott Key Bridge, Theodore Roosevelt Island, and the House of Sweden. It’s easily one of the best things to do in Washington DC at night!
Take The DC Under The Stars Bus And Walking Tour
You’ll have seen the monuments and government buildings while you explored DC during the day. But seeing them at night is a completely different experience. One of the best ways to see them is by taking the DC Under the Stars Bus and Walking Tour.
The tour is about three hours long. You’ll spend a good amount of time walking the quiet streets around the monuments at night, underneath the moonlight. Since all of the museums around the monuments close early, the monuments at night are very quiet.
You won’t find a ton of crowds, which makes it a great time to see them. Plus, they all are lit up! While you’re exploring, the tour guide will give you the history of the monuments. You’ll learn about the process of getting them built and how the designs were created.
It’s a great way to escape the crowds and learn about the monuments. We also think that the monuments are one of the best places to visit in Washington DC at night.
Get Your Tickets Here: GetYourGuide.com
Visit The National Portrait Gallery
Almost all of the National Museums close around 5 pm in Washington DC. However, a few times a month, the National Portrait Gallery stays open late. Late Nights at the Gallery are always themed, and the gallery stays open from 6 to 10 pm.
At these Late Night events, the gallery is open for you to enjoy the art. But they also have live music performances and other activities.
Those activities include hands-on art-making and self-guided tours. Some nights are geared toward adults while others are more kid-friendly.
Late Nights at the Gallery are free, but you’ll want to book your tickets ahead of time. It’s a pretty popular late-night thing to do in DC, so tickets get snapped up pretty quickly.
The Sunset Parade At The Iwo Jima Memorial
During the summer months, one of the best free things to do in Washington DC at night is the Sunset Parade. The Sunset Parade takes place once a week at the Iwo Jima Memorial, just outside of DC in Arlington VA.
However, it is dependent on the weather. So, if it’s raining on the scheduled night, they won’t do it that week. But, if you can see the Sunset Parade, it’s something that will definitely stick with you.
Starting during the daylight, the US Marine Drum and Bugle Corps perform at the Iwo Jima Memorial. They perform a few different songs before the Silent Drill Team does a performance.
These performances take place as the sun sets, thus the name. Early in the season, the Sunset Parade ends around twilight. However, later in the season, the Sunset Parade ends at night after the sun has completely set. It’s a moving thing to do in Washington DC at night.
DC African American Heritage Walking Tour
The U Street Corridor is a historically Black neighborhood in Washington DC. During its hay day, the U Street Corridor was known as ‘Black Broadway. Many people don’t know that the U Street Corridor is an incredibly important historical area. So much so, that many consider it to have been the heart of Black culture in the US.
When you take the DC African American Heritage Walking Tour, you’ll walk through the U Street Corridor when it comes alive – once the sunsets. As you walk, your tour guide will tell you all about the diverse history of the area.
You’ll see the birthplace of jazz legend Duke Ellington, iconic Black-owned restaurants in DC, and more! It’s easily one of the best activities in Washington DC at night. The area is incredibly unique and diverse, and it’s a great way to learn about an often-overlooked area of the city.
Get Your Tickets Here: GetYourGuide.com
Visit The National Gallery Of Art Sculpture Garden
Every summer from late May to early July, you can enjoy free concerts in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden. The Music in the Garden series is a super popular event every year. This is one of our favorite Fun Kids Activities In DC!
In fact, it’s often considered one of the best activities in Washington DC at night! It’s completely free, but you’ll need to register to get your tickets ahead of time.
In the winter, you can find a huge ice skating rink in the Sculpture Garden. The ice rink is open from late November to early March. You’ll need to purchase tickets to actually skate on the rink.
It’s easily one of the best things to do in Washington DC at night and it’s super unique!
Boos And Booze Haunted Pub Crawl
This downtown DC attraction at night is just for adults. The Boos and Booze Haunted Pub Crawl is a really fun thing to do in Washington DC at night. It combines the fun of a ghost tour with a pub crawl at some of the most famous and historic pubs in DC.
Your tour is about two hours long and is led by a professional tour guide. You’ll see eight historical sites, four of which are pubs. These pubs have hosted Presidents, politicians, and other famous people in their 150 years of being open.
You’ll get to share a drink with the ghost of Ulysses S. Grant, learn about DC bootleggers, and taste-test cocktails and mocktails on this fun tour. If you’re looking for a unique and fun thing to do in Washington DC at night, look no further!
Get Your Tickets Here: GetYourGuide.com
Dinner In Dupont Circle
Some of the best restaurants in Washington DC can be found in Dupont Circle. The area is known for its upscale restaurants and bars. Many of them are world-renowned!
If you’re looking for things to do in Washington DC at night, consider getting dinner at one of these amazing restaurants. In Dupont Circle, you’ll find a wide variety of cuisines available.
You’ll be able to try anything from upscale French cuisine to Tex-Mex. No matter what you’re in the mood for, there’s a restaurant in Dupont Circle that is open for dinner that you’ll love.
See A Show At Ford’s Theatre
Ford’s Theatre is probably best known for being the site of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. However, Ford’s Theatre is still an open and active performance center. During the day, you can tour the theater and learn more about the events that led to President Lincoln’s assassination.
But, at night, the theater puts on a few performances a week. Performances include live music, plays, and musicals. Every year during the holidays in DC, you can head to Ford’s Theatre to see The Christmas Carol. In the past, they’ve also done one-act plays about Lincoln’s assassination.
If you’re wondering what to do in Washington DC at night, consider checking out the Ford’s Theatre performance calendar. You may get the chance to see a great performance in this beautiful, and historic, theater!
Grab A Late Night Meal At Ben’s Chili Bowl
If you go on the DC African American Heritage Walking Tour, you’ll learn about Ben’s Chili Bowl. Ben’s Chili Bowl is a historic Black-owned restaurant in DC. It’s one of the best places to visit in Washington DC at night if you are hungry.
That’s because this restaurant is open every Friday and Saturday until 4 am. Ben’s Chili Bowl has been open on the U Street Corridor for over 60 years. It’s known for its world-renowned chili, but they also sell hot dogs, hamburgers, and other American classics.
Head to Ben’s Chili Bowl if you’re looking for one of the best late-night things to do in DC! Even if you just stop by to take a picture of this iconic restaurant, it’s worth a visit to the U Street Corridor.
Monuments By Moonlight Trolley Tour
Another one of the best activities in Washington DC at night is the Monuments by Moonlight Trolley Tour. The tour is mostly by trolley, but there are two portions where you get out and walk around. In total, the tour is a little over two and a half hours long.
You’ll get to see all the monuments lit up by night as a tour guide tells you about the history of each one of them. The portions where you get out are so that you can walk around the Lincoln, Vietnam, and Korean War Memorials, as well as the JFK and MLK Memorials.
Get Your Tickets Here: GetYourGuide.com
Go Duckpin Bowling
Duckpin bowling was a huge pastime in Maryland and Washington DC around the late 1800s into the 1900s. Today, there aren’t many duckpin bowling alleys in existence anymore. However, there are a few spots in DC where you can still try your hand at this miniature version of standard bowling.
The most popular place to find duckpin bowling lanes is at The Eleanor in DC. The Eleanor is a bowling lounge with a bar and grille. Today, they have two duckpin bowling lanes along with standard bowling lanes.
They are open daily from 10 pm, and Friday and Saturday they stay open later, until 12 am. If you’re looking for fun things to do in downtown Washington DC at night, head to The Eleanor for a round of duckpin bowling!
Ride The Capital Wheel
Just minutes from downtown DC, you’ll find the National Harbor. The National Harbor is full of things to do. But it also has one of the best things to do in downtown Washington DC at night. That’s where you’ll find the Capital Wheel, a giant ferris wheel in the National Harbor.
The gondolas for the Capital Wheel are fully enclosed and temperature controlled. So you can enjoy this downtown DC attraction at night all year round. As you go up in the gondola, you’ll get to enjoy 360-degree views of the National Harbor.
You’ll see sites like the Washington Monument, the Capitol Rotunda, and more. It’s also a great place to watch the sunset over Washington DC.
Get Your Tickets Here: GetYourGuide.com
We hope you’ve found something to pique your interest on our list of the best things to do in Washington DC at night! The Nation’s capital really has so much to do and see, both during the day and at night! Have you had the chance to see any of these attractions in DC at night? If so, we’d love to hear about your experience in the comments!
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