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    Old Town Alexandria

    4.4 (144 reviews)

    Old Town Alexandria Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Old Town Alexandria

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    Coming from the Potomac water taxi
    Brian B.

    A very cute old town. Walk down King Street and you will find blocks and blocks of shops, restaurants and fantastic history. It's great for people watching. Stop at a café get a bagel and coffee. Don't forget POP's ice cream near the harbor. Also, there's a wonderful architecture on the side streets and the main King Street.

    Old Town Alexandria was pretty quiet for a while, 9/7/24
    Annzie A.

    If you haven't been to Old Town Alexandria, I would highly recommend it! This is a great outdoorsy area that is perfect for walking around, outdoor dining, getting a coffee, etc. There are just so many places to shop including, but not limited to: -Apparel -Accessories -Jewelers -Souvenirs -Pets -Art galleries Many restaurants line King Street and the Waterfront area. They actually blocked off a portion of the road from cars for outdoor dining/seating. There is a variety of cuisines available including, but not limited to: -Indian -Thai -Italian -Mediterranean -American -French There are plenty of bars, coffee shops and places to get dessert and/or pastries. There is a rich history in old town, with private and public tours available. The hop-on/off trolley is free for anyone to use to navigate through Old Town Alexandria. Parking isn't necessarily the easiest to find here depending on the day/time. There is garage and street (parallel) parking available, but I cannot confirm if payment is required and how much. There is free metered parking on Sundays and state holidays, be sure to read the signs carefully!! Would I return? Sure I would, if I"m in the area or meeting friends here!!

    Robert S.

    This is a major tourist attraction in the area. The historic district along the Potomac, is marked by cobblestone streets and 18th-century townhouses. George Washington slept at Gadsby's Tavern, one of the many small museums in the area. Another is Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary, opened in 1783. Indie boutiques and foodie spots line King Street, and there are open-air eateries by the river. By the water, you will find Waterfront park and a nice marina...with nice shops all over. Some streets are pedestrian only during certain times of the year.

    Ophelia B.

    We went to Old Town Alexandria to see the Christmas Lights and the waterfront area around 3 AM-ish. It was very beautiful with spectacular views. Parking was free and we got some good shots of the streets illuminated by Christmas lights.

    Lovely Old Town Alexandria - 7/30/2023
    Cam E.

    Old Town Alexandria | Things to Do & Restaurants. Visit : https://visitalexandria.com/old-town/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Old%20Town%20Drive%20-%20Market&utm_term=old%20town%20alexandria%20virginia&gclid=CjwKCAjwlJimBhAsEiwA1hrp5tQIa_lLEao2DU8N40tIEhFppJtT2p-2LUkm9qc9ao5xtMV1bBv2IRoCSwgQAvD_BwE Old historic town on the Potomac with many 18th and 19th century landmark homes and buildings on the Cobble Stone and Brick covered streets. King Street is the main attraction with many shops, cafés and restaurants. **10 minutes drive from DC area **

    Orquidea R.

    Living here for the last 17 years reminds me everyday of how much I love this town and how much I love watching it always grow. There's always something to do every day of the day and week, for all in the family. It's a must see place, specially a stroll on King St.

    Thomas S.

    Old Town Alexandria, located in Alexandria along the river front, was a charming and lovable tourist trap. Lots of colonial buildings and houses were restored. Some becames shops and restaurants. A factory became an expensive condo building. However, the streets remain paved with bricks. The city hall was impressive. A free trolley ran on King Street, which provided a relaxing way to sight see. The river front was ok. It was occupied mostly by local and national chain restaurants. But the view of the river view was nice. We decided to check out the neighborhood surrounding the tourist trap. We were impressed with the restored row homes, colonial style houses, and cottages. Most costed north of million dollars. We definitely enjoyed our walk around the residential neighborhood more than the commercial tourist area. It was an enjoyable experience.

    Mike R.

    It is a neat place to visit here and there. Yet for family entertainment, I now prefer National Harbor just across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. It has more options for single dads or regular families. History wise Old Town Alexandria takes the victory. I'd like to thank the city, for acknowledging the awful but it happened history of slave selling/trading down here. That kind of honesty is how we all learn, as evolving as humans requires us to sometimes focus on uncomfortable situations and subjects. There is more information going up, and I applaud this. The parking situation can be challenging. There's not nearly enough parking here. If not mistaken I believe in two years, there will be a new parking garage on the River. That will help immensely, although I'm sure it won't be cheap. All of the restaurants are pretty expensive. Real estate plays into this, as the rents have to be up there. I like Founders Park and other spots, and Murphys is a fun bar to get a cold one at.

    Nicole E.

    There's lots of cute colorful homes attached to one another. There's lots of cute little shops, cafés and restaurants and places to eat and drink along your path here to the different sections of the city. Brick streets. Tons of old world charm on every street corner here. The street to the water front is blocked off for a street market today. There's no farmers market set up at the market Square today. The waterfront area is teaming with tons of people and is quite vibrant and lively today.

    Washington And King
    Steve A.

    Alexandria is one of the oldest cities in the United States. It doesn't take long to get to from Arlington. The problem is when the Metro isn't running. It also can be reached by bus from the airport. There's lots of cool looking old restaurants, shops, and the waterfront. It's easy to get around. Pretty much everywhere you go there's something interesting. There's a free trolley on King Street. It's actually more like a bus. This takes you all the way from downtown to the waterfront. Along King Street there's all kinds of great businesses. This is where most of the action is, so you can hop on and off as you please. It has a few ethnic restaurants mixed in with the old fashioned pubs and shops, some of which are over hundreds of years old. There's places where George Washington got tipsy. It's much quieter than DC. It's very popular with tourists but there's not as many. The bad thing is that many restaurants are expensive, and the housing costs are fucked up.

    May Day 2022 !
    Eriko P.

    Fun and easy day trip from DC. You can either take the Water Taxi/ Ferry from Georgetown or the Metro ( which drops you off at King St Station). King Street is the main street of Old Town where the Visitor Center is located. King Street takes you right to the waterfront, or the Ferry drops you off right at the waterfront and is steps from King Street. We enjoyed strolling the streets and there are several historic buildings and museums to see if you have the time. On this trip we had only a few hours, so we found a couple places to have snacks and then checked out the waterfront park where families can enjoy the swinging benches and the playground by the I LOVE YOU sign. That's a perfect selfie area! Right along the waterfron are several restaurants and then there is the Torpedo Factory, and art gallery and studio! Three floors of art in a former torpedo factory! It's free to explore and browse. I loved our few hours here and would love to return.

    12/5/21. Walking around Old Town Alexandra...
    John F.

    12/5/21 I have been here a number of times and each time I learn something new or see something different. Today I saw where some in my extended family works, and it is just as well we did not see each other. Will the hatchet be buried, probably not. It would most likely be snatched up and used by the opposite family member. I enjoyed walking by the waters edge and saw how the docks and buildings were upgraded along with the docks. I saw a restaurant area who's name I can't remember right now. I also enjoyed seeing the ferris wheel on the Maryland side near the National Harbor. The only thing between us is the Potomac River. Good luck swimming across it. Seeing the Art Gallery by the docks was short lived. Mainly we stopped by to use the restroom. Still, masks must be worn here at all times. We didn't have to wear masks the last time we were here. How time changes. Listening to the band by the Christmas Tree was nice. People were standing in the fountain area slow dancing swaying to the music. (yes, I know how its supposed to spelled...my review my choice) Not one police officer told anyone to not be stand in the fountain area. Guess they got tired of repeating themselves. No naked people running around this time. Just kidding, this never happened while I was in Old Town Alexandra. All in all, we had a great time. We did see doggy doggies wearing human clothing. A trend that is picking up more and more, but especially this year. Do what you have to do to keep your furry friend warm...warmer. Next time we come here in the Summertime, we might get a couples massage in Old Town Alexandra. The question is where?

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    One of my favorite areas in the DMV to walk and enjoy the community scene. Wonderful shops, restaurants and boundless historic relevance.

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    Good historical town for difference atmosphere when visiting Washington DC. Great architecture from colonial past.

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    Lots of fine restaurants dining and fun boutiques for shopping. Can walk in the closed off streets which is always fun.

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    Old Town Alexandria Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Old Town Alexandria

    Best river view restaurant for dinner in Old Town Alexandria?

    In this weather? ( cold) , I'd say Ada and Barca are the closest to the water, but the weather might prevent you from enjoying! I'd say Jula's might be a good option! ( high… Read more

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    Review Highlights - Old Town Alexandria

    From waterfront restaurants to outlet stores along the king street, it can be a fun filled day.

    Mentioned in 32 reviews

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    Visit Colonial Beach Virginia CBVA - Come visit Colonial Beach, where the party is over at 11pm but our beach stays wet 24/7.

    Visit Colonial Beach Virginia CBVA

    3.9(54 reviews)
    38.4 mi

    I'm fairly new to the area, and I am so glad that we found this diamond in the rough…read more We visited Colonial Beach (technically estuary, I think) during a weekday near the end of June, and it was exactly what we were looking for. During our four hours at the beach, I think we saw only 10-13 people in our area. This was absolutely perfect for me because I was looking for a quiet, chill beach experience. Since we visited during the week, parking was not a hassle. The walk from our parking spot to the beach was less than 5 minutes on foot. Also, parking was about $2 an hour, which is not bad because some places charge $5+ per hour. I would image that parking probably is a nightmare during the weekends. From other reviews, I guess we lucked out because we did not have any interaction with jellyfish. Although I saw information about shops and business along the boardwalk, we did not visit any local businesses during our trip. *Hopefully, we'll have a chance to check out some shops during our next visit.* However, I think a lot of places were closed anyway because we did not see many people on the boardwalk in general. If you are used to (or looking for) crystal blue water and fine sand on a beach, this beach might not before you. The water is dark (you're technically in the Potomac River) and the beach itself is quite rocky. I think if you visit without high expectations of experiencing a beach off of the Amalfi Coast or somewhere in the Caribbean, I think you will be fine with a very low-key beach/estuary/river adventure at CBVA.

    It was quiet. It wasn't crowded. It was peaceful... BUT... it's so many rocks and bugs in the…read moresand... like millions of these sand flea black crab looking things... it was a very uncomfortable situation. So glad we had chairs because sitting on that beach blanket was awful. Probably won't be back... but it is okay

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    Visit Colonial Beach Virginia CBVA
    Visit Colonial Beach Virginia CBVA
    Visit Colonial Beach Virginia CBVA

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    Jones Point Park

    Jones Point Park

    4.4(48 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    It's one of those hidden gems!…read more Great place to walk / hang out Great place to walk around, play basketball, chalk art the sidewalks, have a picnic. Located below the I-495 -Woodrow Wilson Bridge, the park is right at the southernmost point and great water views of Virginia and sites within Maryland like the National Harbor across the Potomac River. There is a walking trail along the river with informational signs and displays that describe the really cool, informative information markers of sights and the past history of the area along the trail. A 10-minute walk on the trail will bring you to other parks (Ford's Landing, Shipyard, and Roberdeaux) and eventually to Old Town Alexandria with its many shops and restaurants --situated along the water. Another added plus is that the park offers a place for fishing, playgrounds, basketball courts, and multi-use fields. I came here with some friends for the first time and had a relaxing time just being outdoors and enjoying this great space in nature. We grabbed a picnic table....while having lunch and taking in the weather. Between the space and multi-use areas, it is the perfect spot to for walks along the river, running, exercising or simply....raking time to put things on pause and enjoy the outdoors. ELITE TIP: It is a good place to park if you are planning to visit Old Town Alexandria and want an easy place to park.....without having to deal with the limited street parking, risk of parking meter tickets or the high price garage parking. and enjoy a walk along the river.

    Beautiful park in Alexandria with water views. We walked about a mile, just past the restaurants…read moreBarca and some on the water. Then circled back for about a little over 2 miles. It's best to go early. Plenty of benches and covered areas for comfort while in the sun. Great place to walk with your dog or go on a date. There were also other places you could park further down the walk if you don't want to start at the end near the bridge. Lovely walk that I would enjoy doing again.

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    Jones Point Park
    Jones Point Park
    Jones Point Park

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    Historic Alexandria Visitor Center

    Historic Alexandria Visitor Center

    4.1(8 reviews)
    0.2 miOld Town Alexandria

    If you are visiting Old Town Alexandria for the first time, I highly recommend going to the visitor…read morecenter on King Street. There are public restrooms on the first floor. The second floor is the visitor center area. Jeff was very helpful, kind, and friendly in providing information and maps in the visitor center. I got a lot of pamphlets, info, and ideas of where to go and what to do in Alexandria there. They also sell tickets for ghost & historical tours in Alexandria. Overall, the place was clean, inviting, and informative.

    Thank you to everyone who works or volunteers here! After a flight delay of a day from IAD, we…read morespent an unexpected day in Alexandria, VA. The airline put us in a nasty hotel about 20 minutes outside Alexandria but a friend alerted us that Old Town Alexandria was beautiful, historic, and a don't-miss. My husband and I and our five kids in tow ubered with all our luggage to Old Town and popped into the Visitor's Center. I begged to leave our bags with them so we could tour around. It isn't something they are used to doing but gladly helped us with the request and locked our bags safely away. Barbara came out from the back and asked if she could take us around on a one-hour tour. Best decision we made. What an amazing town! The people who work at the Visitor's Center were so sweet, kind, considerate and helpful and what could have been a chaotic and hectic day from our unexpected flight cancelation turned into a historic and memorable time for our family. Thank you Visitor's Center of Old Town Alexandria! Be sure to visit them and TAKE THEIR TOUR!

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    Historic Alexandria Visitor Center - Before our tour, Visitor's Center Old Town Alexandria

    Before our tour, Visitor's Center Old Town Alexandria

    Historic Alexandria Visitor Center
    Historic Alexandria Visitor Center

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    National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

    National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

    4.5(29 reviews)
    6.4 mi

    This is a low-key memorial that is dedicated to the brave men and women of law enforcement who have…read moremade the ultimate sacrifice. There is metered street parking within a reasonable walking distance. It is right across the street from the Law Enforcement Museum and the DC Court of Appeals. On the other side of the memorial, you will find the Building Museum. The memorial was designed by architect Davis Buckley and dedicated on October 15, 1991. It sits on three acres of federal park land. It has a water feature. However, it was dry during my visit. I looked like they were doing some maintenance on it. The Memorial also features two curving limestone walls along its perimeter, each over 300 feet long, with the names of more than 24,000 officers who died in the line of duty etched on them. The walls are a part of the memorial, along with a line of trees, called "pathways of remembrance". You will find a pathway on each side of the memorial, and each entrance is marked by a powerful statuary grouping of an adult lion protecting its cubs. The sculptures are the work of Raymond Kaskey. They symbolize the protective role of law enforcement officers and convey the strength, courage, and valor that are hallmarks of those who serve and protect. The people being honored date back to the first known death in 1786. The memorial is ever-changing. New names of fallen officers are added to it each spring, in conjunction with National Police Week. I did not see much seating at the memorial, but this place is not a park. It is meant to honor. It does have a peaceful effect, even with the Metro elevator right in the middle. This is not a destination spot, but it is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

    I visited a lot of law enforcement museums, and this is the best one I have ever been so far. This…read moreis not a free museum, but it worth the money you spent. They offers law enforcement and student discount tickets. Security and staff were very friendly. My favorite were the use of force demonstration and driving stimulator that visitors can experiences how police officers handle certain situations. There was an instructor, who had 30+ years experience coaching us throughout the experience. I enjoyed that a lot. I will come back again if I happened to be in town.

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    National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
    National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial
    National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

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    Old Town Alexandria - municipality - Updated July 2026

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