Your birthday is a special day and whether or not you like going all out to celebrate your big day, we think you should treat yourself to at least something special!
Whether you’re looking into doing something interactive and engaging to make for a fun new experience with a few others, doing something intimate with those closest to you, or having a good time with as many friends as possible, there’s something in D.C. for everyone!
Here are our 12 ideas for celebrating your birthday in the capital:
1. Dance the night away at one of D.C.’s top nightclubs
The best part about D.C.’s nightclub scene is the variety, there are places for everyone no matter your tolerance of crowds or your taste in music!
A nice group outing with friends can make any night out at one of these clubs an incredible birthday that you won’t forget any time soon.
2. Take a private tour of one of D.C.’s top museums!
Whether or not you are an avid art fan or nerd out over natural history, a private tour of one of D.C.’s most famous museums is not an experience you should pass up on!
If you want to skip the line at the National Archives Museum, take a private tour at the American & Natural History Museum, or get a personal guide through the Smithsonian Portrait Galley, there’s no better time to do it than your birthday!
3. Attend a live show at one of D.C.’s incredible venues!
Washington, D.C.’s incredible selection of concert venues means that world-class musical talent performs here consistently throughout the year.
This is exactly why it’s worth checking to see who will be playing in the capital around your birthday, there might just be one of your favorite groups or artists coming to perform around the same day!
4. Plan a stroll through one of D.C.’s iconic gardens
Particularly a fun plan during the Spring and Summer when most flowers are in full bloom – these incredible green spaces throughout the city are an oasis of nature amidst the chaos of the capital!
- National Arboretum
- The Conservatory
- Hains Point
- Enid A. Haupt Garden
- The Tidal Basin
- Dumbarton Oaks
Be sure to check out our guides on where to see some of the District’s most popular flowery sites:
5. Explore a touring LEGO® exhibit that’s visited over 24 countries
A world-famous LEGO® exhibit just opened in D.C., featuring a whopping 130 sculptures composed of over a million LEGO® bricks!
The Art of the Brick is really for anyone – art aficionados, LEGO®-obsessed kids, and even those simply seeking a new D.C.-based adventure.
You don’t have to be a big LEGO® fan or art aficionado to have a good time here!
6. Head to a game to see one of D.C.’s top sports teams in person
If you’re a D.C. sports fan then you know it has its ups and downs; there’s no denying that, but if you have the chance to witness one of those high moments live / in person, it’ll stick with you forever!
So whether you want to see the Nationals for a Summer afternoon game, a Commanders game in the Fall, or a Capitals / Wizards game during the winter, there’s no going wrong!
7. Make plans to eat at a romantic restaurant
If you’re looking to keep your birthday plans low-key, several great date-night restaurants around D.C. are the perfect setting for a birthday meal for you and someone special!
8. Plan a picnic at Hains Point
It’s not a very controversial opinion to say that the views from Hains Point might be some of the best in all of Washington, D.C., and given its open space and public picnic tables, it’s not an uncomfortable place to plan a birthday meal!
9. Plan a bottomless brunch with friends at one of these iconic spots
It may depend on your crowd, but in our opinion, there’s no better way to celebrate a birthday than with a fun brunch with friends!
While the bottomless part of the brunch is optional, we like to think it helps facilitate a good time.
10. Plan a putt-putt outing with your friends at one of these fun-inducing mini-golf venues around D.C.
Whether you’re planning a kid’s birthday, a friend’s birthday, or your birthday, mini-golf is truly a fun-for-all-ages activity that is bound to get a few laughs and smiles going!
Some of these venues have an incredible selection of cocktails and adult beverages like beer or seltzer, which might just take your round of golf from a good time to a great time!
- Swingers – Dupont Circle
- Perch Putt – Tysons Corner
- Puttery – Penn Quarter
- Pixar Putt – The Wharf
11. Treat your taste buds to a memorable meal at Dining In The Dark
This unique dining experience is something completely different from what you may have experienced before!
This blindfolded secret menu is prepared to match the dining preferences that you enter when you reserve your seat and it is one of the most fun, intimate, and memorable dining experiences you might ever have.
12. Head to a beautiful Candlelight Concert right here in D.C.
Whether you want to see a string quartet rendition of Taylor Swift’s top songs or a classical tribute to the most iconic songs of your favorite genre, there is a Candlelight Concert perfect for you! They’re taking place at some of D.C.’s finest venues, such as St. Francis Hall.