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District of Columbia, United States

National Mall & Downtown

Two nights by the White House for the monuments, classic dining rooms and midnight on the Mall. This guide pulls together 2 sights, 2 activities and 2 places to eat from our curated routes.

Plan National Mall & Downtown with friendsBrowse 9 places
National Mall & Downtown, District of Columbia, United States
Places
9

2 See · 2 Do · 2 Eat · 2 Drink · 1 Stay

Curated routes
1

Washington, DC New Year's Eve

Best season
Dec 30 – Jan 1

from our route notes

Warmest month
July

31°C / 88°F avg high

Coolest month
January

4°C / 40°F avg high

Wettest month
June

about 118 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Washington, DC, the nearest city we track.

Things to do in National Mall & Downtown

9 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

The landmarks we would not skip in National Mall & Downtown in National Mall. All 2 are free to visit.

  • See

    Lincoln Memorial

    Open around the clock; its steps look down the Reflecting Pool to the Washington Monument and the Capitol.

    Tip The steps are the classic place to watch the Mall at midnight; go after 10 p.m., when the monument is quietest and lit.

    • National Mall
    • Free
    • 45 min
    • After dark
  • See

    National Museum of Natural History

    Smithsonian museum of the Hope Diamond, dinosaur hall and ocean hall; free, and open on Jan 1.

    Tip Smithsonian museums close only on Dec 25, so this works for a slow New Year's Day too.

    • National Mall
    • Free
    • 2.5 hr
    • Morning

Do

Hands-on ways to spend time in National Mall & Downtown across National Mall and Southwest Waterfront.

  • New Year's Eve on the National Mall in National Mall & DowntownPhoto: NASA Headquarters / NASA/Bill Ingalls · Public domain
    Do

    New Year's Eve on the National Mall

    In 2025, Freedom 250 projected a 250-foot birthday candle onto the Washington Monument and fired fireworks at midnight.

    Tip That free show was part of the 250th anniversary; confirm whether a show is planned before you plan the night around it.

    • National Mall
    • Free
    • 1.5 hr
    • 11 p.m. to midnight
  • Do

    The Wharf

    Southwest waterfront district of piers, bars, restaurants and The Anthem concert hall on the Washington Channel.

    Tip New Year's Eve here means ticketed shows and bar parties; buy tickets weeks ahead.

    • Southwest Waterfront
    • $$
    • 3 hr
    • Evening

Eat

2 places to eat across Downtown and Penn Quarter, picked for groups who care about the food.

  • Eat

    Old Ebbitt Grill

    Washington's oldest saloon, founded in 1856, with mahogany bars and an oyster bar a block from the White House.

    Tip Book New Year's Eve weeks ahead; on Dec 30 the bar is the easiest way in.

    • Downtown
    • $$$
    • 2 hr
    • Dinner
  • Eat

    Rasika

    Ashok Bajaj's modern Indian restaurant in Penn Quarter, known for its crispy spinach palak chaat.

    • Penn Quarter
    • $$$
    • 2 hr
    • Dinner

Drink

2 bars & cafés across Downtown and Lafayette Square for coffee, a round or a nightcap.

  • Drink

    Round Robin Bar

    Circular, green-walled bar inside the Willard, a meeting place for Washington politicians for generations.

    • Downtown
    • $$$
    • 60 min
    • Late evening
  • Drink

    Off the Record

    Low-lit basement bar in the Hay-Adams hotel across Lafayette Square from the White House.

    • Lafayette Square
    • $$$
    • 60 min
    • Late evening

Stay

Places to stay in National Mall & Downtown in Downtown.

  • Stay

    Willard InterContinental

    Grand 1901 hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, two blocks from the White House and a walk from the Mall.

    • Downtown
    • $$$$

How to fit National Mall & Downtown into a trip

National Mall & Downtown is stop 1 of 2 on our Washington, DC New Year's Eve route. Follow it as-is or lift National Mall & Downtown into your own plan.

Weather by month, based on Washington, DC

Our climate figures for National Mall & Downtown come from Washington, DC, about 2 km (1 mi) away. Average daily highs run from 4°C / 40°F in January to 31°C / 88°F in July. June is the wettest month, with about 118 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for Washington, DC. Washington, DC weather (covers National Mall & Downtown) →

Near National Mall & Downtown

8 other destinations from our guides within about 200 km (124 mi), measured in a straight line.

National Mall & Downtown questions, answered

How many days do you need in National Mall & Downtown?

Our route notes suggest 2 nights in National Mall & Downtown. On our Washington, DC New Year's Eve route it is stop 1 of 2 in a 3-day trip. The listed visit times for our 9 places add up to roughly 14 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is National Mall & Downtown best known for?

Two nights by the White House for the monuments, classic dining rooms and midnight on the Mall. Standouts on our list: Lincoln Memorial (Open around the clock; its steps look down the Reflecting Pool to the Washington Monument and the Capitol); National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian museum of the Hope Diamond, dinosaur hall and ocean hall; free, and open on Jan 1); New Year's Eve on the National Mall (In 2025, Freedom 250 projected a 250-foot birthday candle onto the Washington Monument and fired fireworks at midnight).

When is the best time to visit National Mall & Downtown?

Our Washington, DC New Year's Eve route is best Dec 30 – Jan 1. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages for nearby Washington, DC put the warmest highs in July (31°C / 88°F), the coolest in January (4°C / 40°F) and the most rain in June (about 118 mm).

What are the best things to do in National Mall & Downtown?

Start with New Year's Eve on the National Mall, Lincoln Memorial, The Wharf and National Museum of Natural History. Our guide lists 9 places in all, from 2 sights, 2 activities, 2 places to eat, 2 bars & cafés and 1 place to stay.

Where should a group eat in National Mall & Downtown?

Our picks: Old Ebbitt Grill (Downtown); Rasika (Penn Quarter). Book New Year's Eve weeks ahead; on Dec 30 the bar is the easiest way in (Old Ebbitt Grill).

What is near National Mall & Downtown?

The closest destinations in our guides are Washington, DC (about 2 km / 1 mi), Georgetown (about 3 km / 2 mi) and Inner Harbor & Harbor East (about 57 km / 35 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan National Mall & Downtown with your crew

Open the Washington, DC New Year's Eve route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 9 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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