DC is one of the most magical cities in the country during the holidays. Old, historic buildings get adorned with lights. Government institutions get festive and spread cheer.

The best way to see it all is on a holiday tour.

This holiday season gets the family together for a limousine tour of this beautiful city. Or, gather your colleagues for a festive outing!

There are tons of amazing sights to see this season in DC. Keep reading for a list of the top eight you must see on one of your holiday tours.

1. See All the Christmas Trees

DC has a selection of epic Christmas trees around the city you don’t want to miss. The first, and most popular, is the National Christmas Tree in President’s Park.

This magnificent tree gets lit every day at 4:30 PM and stays on until 10. Notice the various handmade ornaments from each of the 56 states and territories.

Another conifer to check out is on Capitol Hill’s West Lawn. This tree is traveling all the way from New Mexico to DC, and anyone who’s curious can track its journey online.

The third Christmas tree you’ll want to stop and see is at Union Station. The entire station gets dolled up for the holidays which includes setting up a massive, lit up tree.

2. Stop by a Festival

Did you know that there’s a large Russian community in DC? Each year, the community puts on the Russian Winter Festival at the Hillwood Estates.

In this holiday spectacular, you’ll witness Grandfather Frost and the Snow Maiden touring the property and taking photos with visitors. There will be live performances of traditional Russian music and dance.

Another festival worth seeing is the Hot 99.5 Jingle Ball at Capital One Arena. Big names in music will be performing holiday hits, like Halsey, French Montana, and Khalid

3. Get Enchanted at Enchant

For the first time ever, DC is hosting the magical event, Enchant Christmas. For a week in National Park, Enchant transforms the area into an Instagram-worthy wonderland.

Wander through the light maze and stop to take photos as you go. Go skating on one of the ice trails and do some holiday shopping at the bazaar. There will be over 60 vendors selling epic holiday gifts.

In addition to the displays and Santa Claus visits, there will be lots of live performances. Not to mention the Enchant Cinema which shows the best holiday classics.

4. Shop the Holiday Markets

What better place to get your gift shopping done than at a local market? During the holidays, DC gets dotted with various holiday markets and bazaars.

The first market to add to your tour itinerary is the Downtown Holiday Market. Located in front of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, at night the market turns into a lit-up masterpiece. You can drink hot cocoa and shop from the rotating list of vendors.

The second market you don’t want to miss is the German Christmas Market. Hosted by the historic Heurich House Museum, you can shop for various arts and crafts.

The last market to see is in the National Harbor’s two weeks of festivities. Besides shopping from local vendors, you can marvel at the ice sculptures, light displays, and take a ride on the Capital Wheel.

5. Light Candles at Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon is a historic property in DC once owned by George Washington. Every holiday tour in DC will take you to this legendary monument.

For the month of December, you can walk through the estate and see it in all its festive glory.

On select weekends, you can tour the house when its lit only by candles. A tour guide (in historic character costume) will guide you through the home. There’s also impressive 18th-century dance performances and caroling by the fire.

6. Marvel at a Holiday Show

Break up your tour with a stop to see a full-blown holiday performance. There are plenty of arts centers around DC that pull out all the stops for Christmas.

To start, The Washington Ballet puts on its annual showings of The Nutcracker. This classic holiday story is part of the quintessential winter experience.

Ford’s Theatre is doing their rendition of A Christmas Carol. See this classic play in one of DC’s most historic theatres.

If you’re a fan of jazz, check out A Chorus Line at Signature Theatre. Not only has this story won nine Tony Awards, but it also fuses jazz with ballet and tap dance. It’s a definite crowd-pleaser.

7. Go to the Georgetown GLOW

You’ve never seen a light exhibit like GLOW, hosted in Georgetown. This historic neighborhood in DC looks phenomenal lit up.

For the entire month, you can come witness some of DC artists’ electricity-based masterpieces. There are even light artists coming from around the country and internationally to display their work.

Located near the Washington Harbor, GLOW is the perfect spot for holiday tours.

8. Enjoy the Choir at The Willard Hotel

DC is full is historic buildings with jaw-dropping architecture. The Willard InterContinental Hotel is no exception.

Every holiday season, the hotel livens up with Christmas cheer. The seasonal decorations hit every surface and special tea services are held every day.

It’s the perfect tour stop to experience the history and culture of DC while sipping some seasonal teas. Not to mention the harp playing festive music in the background.

Ready to Go on Some Holiday Tours?

During the holidays, DC comes alive with Christmas cheer and the holiday spirit. Businesses all over the city stay open longer to accommodate all the festivities.

To ensure you see all the sights on this list, sign up for limousine holiday tours. It’s the most glamorous and exciting way to see the city.

For information on our holiday tours and chauffeur service, contact us.