Visiting DC Between Christmas and New Year's: What's Open, What's Closed and How to Plan

For many families, the quiet week between Christmas and New Year's is the one time everyone is free to travel together, and Washington is an appealing destination: free museums, monuments lit up at night, and the city's holiday decorations still on display. It is also a week with its own quirks. A few major sites close on the holidays themselves, daylight is short, the weather can turn cold or snowy, and the most popular attractions are busy with other families who had the same idea. Here is how to plan the visit.

The Two Days to Plan Around

Most of Washington stays open through the holiday week, but Christmas Day and New Year's Day are different.

• Smithsonian museums are open every day of the year except December 25, which makes them the backbone of most holiday-week itineraries.
• The National Gallery of Art closes on December 25 and January 1.
• The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day, among other dates.
• The memorials on the National Mall are outdoors and can be visited at any hour, which makes Christmas Day a good time for a quiet walk along the Mall.
• Private museums, restaurants and shops set their own holiday hours, and many close or shorten their hours on December 24, 25 and 31 and January 1.

Holiday schedules can change, so confirm hours on each site's official website a few days before you visit, and plan Christmas Day and New Year's Day around the places you know will be open.

Expect Crowds at the Big Museums

With schools out and many people on vacation, the most popular Smithsonian museums are busy during the holiday week, especially from late morning through mid-afternoon. A few strategies help:

• Arrive at opening and visit the most popular museum first, while lines are shortest.
• Check whether a museum requires free timed-entry passes, as some have in recent years.
• Save smaller museums and galleries for the afternoon, when the big ones are at their busiest.
• Plan one or two major museums per day rather than trying to see everything.

If you're not sure where to start, our guide to which Smithsonian museums to visit first covers the most popular choices.

Short Days and Cold Weather

The sun sets before 5 p.m. in late December, and the walk between museums on the National Mall can be long and windy. The distance from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial is about two miles, and the Mall has little shelter from the cold. For families with young children or older relatives, those distances add up quickly.

This is where an hourly chauffeur booking helps. A car that moves you from one museum entrance to the next, holds your coats and bags, and is warm when you come out lets you see more in less time and keeps everyone comfortable. Our guide to visiting the Mall with limited mobility has more tips for older visitors.

The Monuments at Night

One of the best things about a winter visit is that the monuments are lit early. By late afternoon, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument are illuminated, and an evening tour of the memorials is a highlight for many visitors. The National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse, near the White House, typically remains on display through the holiday season. Our DC holiday lights guide covers the tree and other seasonal displays.

Seeing the monuments by car avoids long walks in the cold. Your chauffeur can drop you as close as allowed to each memorial, wait while you visit, and take you to the next. A typical evening tour takes a couple of hours.

Tours That Need Planning Ahead

Some of Washington's most popular experiences need reservations well in advance, and holiday-week slots go quickly.

• The White House tour must be requested through your Member of Congress, weeks in advance. Our White House tour guide explains how.
• The Capitol offers tours through the Capitol Visitor Center, which is closed on the holidays. Our guide to the Capitol and the Library of Congress covers how to fit both into a morning.
• The Washington Monument uses timed tickets for trips to the top. Check availability and holiday hours on the official site.

Where to Stay and How to Get Around

Most visitors stay downtown, near the Mall, or across the river in Arlington. Metro reaches many major sites, but it runs on modified schedules on holidays, and the walk from the nearest station to some museums is longer than it looks on a map. For families with luggage or small children, the trip from Reagan National to a downtown hotel is quick by car, often about fifteen minutes in light traffic. For a group, a Chevrolet Suburban seats five, a Lincoln Navigator six, and a Mercedes Sprinter up to thirteen.

Day Trips When the Mall Is Packed

If the Smithsonian crowds become too much, the region's historic towns make a good change of pace. Old Town Alexandria, with its brick sidewalks and waterfront, is about fifteen minutes from downtown and still decorated for the season. Georgetown's shops and restaurants are close by, and our Georgetown car service page covers getting there. George Washington's Mount Vernon estate, south of Alexandria along the Potomac, offers holiday programs in December; check its official website for hours and tickets. With an hourly booking, a half day outside the city is easy to arrange without worrying about parking or directions.

Eating Out Over the Holidays

Restaurant reservations are one of the most overlooked parts of a holiday-week visit. Many restaurants close on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, others offer special holiday menus that sell out weeks ahead, and New Year's Eve tables are in high demand. Hotel restaurants are often the most reliable option on December 25. Reserve as early as you can, and tell us your dinner plans when you book so your pickup matches your reservation time.

New Year's Eve in DC

If your visit includes New Year's Eve, plan transportation early. December 31 is one of the busiest nights of the year for car services, and rideshare prices often surge around midnight. Our guide to New Year's Eve car service in DC covers how to plan the night.

Flying Home After the Holidays

The days just after New Year's are among the busiest of the year at DC's airports. If you're leaving then, allow extra time for security and book your ride to the airport in advance. Many visitors combine a final morning at a museum with a late-afternoon flight, keeping luggage in the vehicle until it's time to head to the airport. If a winter storm is forecast for your travel day, check your airline's app early and read our DCA winter weather playbook for how to handle delays and cancellations without missing your ride.

Booking Your Holiday-Week Rides

The holiday week is busy for us too, so book airport transfers and hourly sightseeing days as soon as your plans are set. Sedans and SUVs can be cancelled free of charge up to 3 hours before pickup, and Sprinter vans and special-event bookings up to 12 hours before. Your quote is all-inclusive. Call (877) 609-1919 at any hour or book online.