10 Things to Do in Washington DC in January

If you've taken advantage of your winter holiday weeks to escape to America's grand and imposing capital, I've got good news and bad news: the good news is the snow; the bad news...the snow. January is the coldest month of the year in the District of Columbia, but rest assured, Washington D.C. still has the best things to see and do all year round.

There's no such thing as a bad time to travel; all the time is a good time to take that trip you've been longing for. There's plenty to do in Washington D.C. in winter. Just set your mind to travel.

The city's official basketball and ice hockey teams welcome you to the start of the regular season in their respective leagues. The Wizards in the NBA and the Capitals in the NHL.

Both teams have their pre-seasons in November and December, when they prepare physically and mentally to welcome their rivals in the world's best leagues in their disciplines.

Watching the Wizards and Capitalscompete and win is a great option as you enjoy the passion of the fans at Capital One Arena while indulging in hot dogs.

And if you don't know a thing about hockey, take a chance and go toe-to-toe with the reckless Capitals, one of the best teams in the NHL. You'll end up celebrating every goal with the stranger next to you.

Both teams play at the Capital One Arena, so I suggest you go support the home teams, celebrate with the fans and get to know the facilities of one of the most important stadiums in the country, with a capacity of approximately 18,000 spectators.

January is the month with the most games and with the cold weather on the street, you can leave one to enter another. The closest metro station to the Capital One Arena is Union Station, so you can get to and from the stadium safely by public transport.

One of the most popular things to do in Washington is to enjoy its natural skating rinks. The most popular are on the National Mall, located right between the National Archives and the National Gallery of Art.

You can also add to your list of rinks in the Georgetown, Wharf and Navy Yard neighbourhoods, which are great places for a stroll when the sun goes down, to the point where it's one of the best things to do in Washington at night.

Take the opportunity to visit the Hirschorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, where there are constantly changing exhibits, but in January there's the added bonus of a fountain that doubles as an ice rink.

Browse its modern art galleries and finish off with a chocolate in one of the city's best museums.

If you want a more romantic option, the National Gallery of Art, in its beautiful garden, prepares a scenery of lights and scenic art to make your experience more welcoming.

It is one of the smallest ice rinks in the city and prices to enjoy it range from 4 to 10 euros, but every penny is worth it, because it is intimate and the music creates a warm atmosphere among so many works of art.

The gallery is located just a few underground stations away so you can get off at Archives, Navy Memorial or Penn Quarter.

I'm sure you've always wanted to experience a real snowball fight. Since 2009, the city has been organising a snowball fight, which is becoming more and more popular as the winters go by.

The snowball fight starts with the first snowfall of winter, which is usually in January. People get ready for the big war and many even take out their skis. The city does not stand still in the face of adversity: bad weather is a good thing. It's a tradition you can enjoy with your loved ones.

For this war, there is no fixed place: it rotates. You have to keep an eye on the networks and ask your guides, but they always take place at the city's most emblematic sites, such as the monuments on the National Mall or the Dupont Circle fountain.

Martin Luther Jr. Day is one of the two most important holidays in January across the United States. It commemorates the birth of one of the most important social activists and civil rights fighters in history: Martin Luther King Jr., who was born on 15 January.

You can commemorate the day by taking a special guided tour of the Dr. King Memorial on the National Mall which is one of the city's finest monuments for its sculptural detail work.

No entrance fee is required and it's open at any time, but the day is special because of the activities that take place there.

In addition, the African-American History Museum in Washington DC offers special exhibitions on that day and unique activities to commemorate Martin Luther Jr.

My recommendation is to end your day by attending the Let Freedom Ring concert held every year on this day at the John F. Kennedy Center For Performing Arts.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture has its nearest underground station in the Federal Triangle on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines and I suggest using the Metrorail Red line which will drop you off a thirteen minute walk from the John F. Kennedy Center For Performing Arts at its Farragut North station. From there you can also take a bus that will drop you off closer.

Traveller Tip

The other holiday is New Year's Day. If you're in the capital on the first of January, museums, restaurants and other tourist sites are open for those who wish to visit them on the first day of the year, but check opening times beforehand.

Washington D.C. is immensely rich in cultural diversity and the celebration of Chinese New Year is proof of that.

During the last weekend of the month, you must visit the city's Chinatown, better known as Chinatown, where a huge parade of floats, accompanied by incredible attractions and activities, is held to the sound of firecrackers.

It's not just the street that gets organised: I also suggest a visit to the Smithsonian Institution's Freer Gallery of Art, which at this time of year hosts an exhibition of its Asian art catalogue and invites you to take part in its musical events.

At the same time, the American Art Museum hosts arts and crafts events, invites acrobatic troupes and holds a scavenger hunt for the little ones. This is just one of the many activities for kids in Washington.

Join the Chinese community as they look forward to the Lunar New Year and the luck that accompanies the zodiacal animal that will lead them to good fortune over the course of the year. Of course, you'll never be short of food during this celebration.

Chinatown awaits you at the nearest underground stations which are Mt Vernon Sq/7th St-Convention Center and Metro Center station.

The Washington Winter Show, also known as the Washington Antiques Show, is an annual show held in the first or second week of January and its purpose, since 1955, is to raise funds for local charities that help at-risk children and families.

This is a cultural event dedicated to antiques, history and the arts, giving you the opportunity to raise awareness and sponsorship for a foundation while learning and having fun.

The event offers talks with antiques and history specialists. If you go, you will be able to see unpublished historical and artistic pieces that many museums keep in their vaults and exhibit them on special occasions like this one.

I suggest that you clean your shoes well, lest you run into a celebrity or a well-known political actor at the jazz concerts offered at the event.

All in all, it is an event that will warm your heart because of the warm welcome from those who seek to benefit the neediest in the country, as well as warm your stomach and palate with the food on offer.

It's not only one of the best things to do in January, it's one of the best things to do all winter long in DC because of the good effects it generates.

What's special about the event is its ability to offer you inexpensive donation packages. The more you donate, the more you get privileged access to exclusive rooms and events.

The nearest metro station is Tenleytown-AU on the Red line. The event provides you with a free shuttle service to the American University campus. Just ask the driver to stop at the Katzen Arts Center.

Practical info

• Location: Katzen Arts Center at American University. 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20016
• When: The event generally begins on 6 January and concludes on 9 January, but these dates are adjusted so that the dates fall on weekends.
• Price: Each event offering the show has its own cost, but general admission is about €25.
• Hours: Friday: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm,Saturday: 11:00 am - 8:00 pm, Sunday: 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

Restaurant Week is one of the events made for the most exquisite palates and your trip cannot be complete without visiting the best restaurants in the world and eating your favourite dishes at reasonable prices.

The event was created by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington to encourage consumption in January, a month when money is traditionally tight.

During this week you can go to the city' s most prestigious restaurants and order a three-course lunch for around 20 euros, while three-course dinners are around 30 euros.

You can take advantage of this week to go on the city's most outstanding gastronomic tours in January. Restaurant Week is a great idea as you are in one of the world's capitals and can experience the diversity of cultures through gastronomy on a budget.

Traveller Tip

January is the month with the lowest demand for restaurants, so you'll have a better chance of booking your favourite restaurants. But be careful, I suggest you plan ahead for reservations because Restaurant Week activates every palate in the city.

Every second week of January, the monumental Smithsonian Castle, home to the incredible Smithsonian Institution and Museum, hosts one of the most dynamic and fun events in the city.

The National Mall becomes a board game and you and your companions must find hidden treasure- what better way to warm up in the beautiful snow than with the warmth of adventure!

One of the best ways to get to know and enjoy a place is through play. Washington D.C., through digital technology, becomes a board game. The company Roaming runs the smartphone app that turns the capital into a huge map. Year after year the event is gaining popularity and is waiting for you.

It's a dynamic in which you can learn about history, art and culture as you explore the city's most emblematic sites, searching the app for new challenges and puzzles. The more clues you get, the more chances you have of finding the treasure.

It's one of the best things to do with kids in DC, as they explore the city in an unusual way.

The activity has offers, depending on the size of your team, ranging from 30-50 euros so you can enjoy one of the most alternative events in DC. I suggest you take the Metrorail to the Smithsonian station, as it drops you off just a few blocks from the castle.

The United States is the most important car centre in the world, so you can't miss an opportunity like this to attend one of the best car shows in the world: the Washington Auto Show.

It starts in the last week of January and here you'll find the latest in automotive technology and displays of vintage classic cars.

Past, present and future collide to give you that dose of adrenaline and warmth you deserve on your visit to D.C. with around 600 cars from at least forty factories around the world.

Even if you're not a fan of motoring, this festival of art and design is complemented by the historical narrative of each exhibit. The history of a nation told from behind the wheel: that's what you'll find at this event. There are also talks, a food and entertainment area and a live car paint show.

From the Metrorail you can get off at Mt. Vernon Square/7th St. Convention Center station on the Yellow and Green lines, or at Metro Center station on the Red, Orange and Blue lines. Another option is at Gallery Place station on the Red, Green and Yellow lines.

Practical info

• Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center. 801 Mount Vernon Place, NW Washington, DC, 20001
• When: Opens Friday 21 January and runs until Sunday 31 January.
• Price: Admission for adults on weekdays is around €10, but can go up to €15 on weekends. Children under the age of 6 are free and children between 6 and 12 have a reduced admission of around €5.
• Opening times: The event starts at 10am and runs until 10pm.

Every year, the International Spy Museum celebrates Spy Fest on the third Tuesday of January. On that date you can visit the museum and interact with all the amazing activities it has to offer.

In addition to the usual tour of one of the most technologically advanced museums in the city, where you can see and learn from its catalogue of 600 real spy objects, the festival gives you the opportunity to be a spy for at least a day.

But how?

You'll be put to the test in their lie detectors as you solve various cryptic messages, while being taught new self-defence tricks and becoming a king of disguise. Get enthralled by the talks of expert spies who tell their anecdotes and testimonies of this interesting world during the day.

The price of the festival includes the museum tour which costs around 30 euros. The best metro station I can recommend is L'Enfant Plaza.

You will most likely spend several hours training like the next 007. My advice is to eat in the restaurants inside the museum.

In January, temperatures can range from 10 to 7°C during the day and can drop to -5°C at night. Days are usually pleasant enough to walk around. You'll also find that January is the snowiest month in the city, making it a great month for photographs and souvenirs.

Well, you know the temperature in Washington at this time of year. That's why you'll want to pack a warm coat in your suitcase, along with a woolly hat and gloves to match your style.

Are boots a must? Washington D.C. is a city made for walking and cycling tours, and boots will be more of a nuisance than a help if you're not used to wearing them.

If you are already used to wearing boots in winter and have no problem wearing them for long distance walking, then pack them in your suitcase.