This historic port city along the Potomac River has colonial-era buildings, cobblestone streets, and was once home to George Washington. 8 miles from Washington DC.
Alexandria, Virginia lies along the Potomac River just 6 miles from Washington, D.C. Walk down King Street's red brick sidewalks past Federal-style townhouses from the 1700s, watch artists create sculptures at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, or climb the 330-foot George Washington Masonic Memorial tower for views across the river. You can attend a service in George Washington's own pew at Christ Church, then take a water taxi to the National Mall.
Getting Around Alexandria by Public Transit
The King Street Trolley runs free every 15 minutes between the King Street Metro station and the Potomac River waterfront. Four Metro stations link Alexandria to Washington D.C., with trains running from 5am to midnight. Water taxis cross the river regularly, and DASH buses serve the residential neighborhoods. You can walk the one-mile length of King Street to reach most shops, restaurants, and historical sites.
Walking Through Old Town's Streets
King Street forms the heart of Old Town Alexandria, where local businesses operate from Federal-style buildings dating to the 1700s and 1800s. The red brick sidewalks and cobblestone streets date back to when tobacco and wheat ships filled the harbor. Every Saturday morning since 1753, farmers have sold produce at Market Square - making it one of America's longest-running markets.
Creating and Performing Arts
At the Torpedo Factory Art Center, a converted World War II munitions plant, you can walk into 82 working studios to see painters, sculptors, and jewelers at work. The Athenaeum displays contemporary art exhibitions inside an 1851 Greek Revival building. The Birchmere Music Hall has been a cornerstone of folk, country and acoustic music since 1966, with intimate 500-person concerts in its main hall.
Walking Through Three Centuries of History
The George Washington Masonic National Memorial rises 330 feet above the city, with nine floors of exhibits including Washington's personal belongings and Masonic artifacts. Christ Church, built in 1773, still holds regular services where you can sit in George Washington's original family pew. At Gadsby's Tavern Museum, walk through the rooms where Thomas Jefferson celebrated his inauguration in this preserved 18th-century hotel and restaurant.
Activities Along the Potomac
From the waterfront, you can dine at riverside restaurants or join boat tours ranging from 40-minute sightseeing trips to sunset dinner cruises. Water taxis depart regularly to National Harbor, Georgetown, and The Wharf in D.C. The Mount Vernon Trail stretches 18 miles along the waterfront - you can walk or cycle from Old Town to George Washington's Mount Vernon estate 9 miles south.
