Old Town
About
Quaint old seaport section of Alexandria on the National Register of Historic Places.
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Neighbourhood: Old Town
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  • romadaro
    Washington DC, District of Columbia1,585 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Hard to Believe You’re So Close to DC
    I’ve lived in the DC metropolitan area over 30 years, am a Richmond native, and never thought about visiting Old Town Alexandria until I was invited to a party. Man, it’s awesome! Love the Charleston-like vibe, the old neighborhoods, storefronts and the cobblestone streets. An excellent escape from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
    Visited April 2023
    Written 29 April 2023
  • JFD
    Yorktown Heights, New York10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Park your car and explore.
    Beautiful historic area to visit, shop and dine. Our location on King Street was perfect, a few blocks to the Metro into DC. The King Street Trolley runs up and down the street. So easy to get around without having to drive. Enjoyed the quaint and peaceful surroundings, brick and cobblestone walkways, plentiful shops and restaurants.
    Visited May 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 9 May 2023
  • MissLoraLane
    Washington, Pennsylvania300 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Walkable Area
    You can park your car on the corner of King Street near the Alexandria Visitor Center in an underground parking garage and tour on foot the Old Town section of Alexandria. It is quite quaint and picturesque. There are little shops to explore, historical sites to see - such as the apothecary and Carlisle House - and places to eat outside. There is a section of King Street at the end of the street towards the harbor where it is closed off to traffic and deemed a place for pedestrians to walk and enjoy and sit outside under an umbrella at a restaurant table and watch the world go by. There is a harbor park at the end of the street to view the Potomac River.
    Visited June 2023
    Written 16 June 2023
  • Bill2025
    Surrey, Canada213 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Majestic
    Lots of shops and restaurants from Mexican, Italian, Asian and American cuisine. The water front is very nice to walk around. Take the free trolley bus to see the sites. I would recommend visiting Old Town.
    Visited June 2023
    Travelled with friends
    Written 21 June 2023
  • Wildwoodgrammy6691
    Kissimmee, Florida9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful section of the old city
    So much to see and do in Old Town! There is a free bus and a free trolley that stops many places. Visit the Visitors Center and get a city passport for $20 and you can get discounts at a lot of places in town. There is a wonderful Farmers Market on Saturdays, a water taxi, and more restaurants than you could count. Amazing food, amazing views, loved the whole trip.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 14 July 2023
  • wilson k
    2 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Old Town Alexandria newbie
    First time to old town and it was very beautiful and charming. Love the row houses and wharf. The West Coast does not have too many of these historic places. Even though it was humid, there were tons of people on a Sunday afternoon. Lots of outdoor eating places. Definitely hard to find parking as expected.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 19 August 2023
  • Rod D
    Atlanta, Georgia166 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Charming, fun destination for couples or families.
    I highly recommend Old Town Alexandria for a multiple night stay. Taking the metro from King Street Metro Station in Old Town Alexandria to all the historical sights in Washington DC is easy and reasonable. King Street is fun and interesting. Walk down King Street to the Potomac water front. There are many good restaurants. I loved the ambiance of the water front. We were there five nights and there are still many things we want to go back and experience that we did not get to do on this trip.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 31 October 2023
  • GastroEclectico
    Phoenix, Arizona803 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A fascinating day excursion romp of enjoyment!
    Having lived in Virginia for many, many years, Old Town Alexandria was a regular jaunt for us. From retail shopping, gift shops, incredible restaurants, its historic homes, building architecture, antique shops, art galleries, walking-friendly streets and alleys, cobblestone streets, friendly people, easy parking, cleanliness, museums, wharf, docks and parks make this unique 1700s town not just a historical landmark in American history, but a fascinating day excursion romp of enjoyment. One can easily start with breakfast, enjoy lunch, have a fine dinner and wrap up with a nightcap in a full day’s visit. The town is full of historical locations with the likes of Gadsby’s Tavern, Christ Church, the Torpedo Factory, and much, much more. Virginia is full of historical places, but this is one location where you can soak in most of what the State has to offer in one fell swoop. Not to mention it’s a hop, step and jump from our Nations Capitol. I’m sure this will be a fascination and enjoyable visit for everyone young and old.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 25 November 2023
  • dustythoughts
    Manchester, Connecticut2,128 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Quaint, charming area
    This charming Old Town was a wonderful way to perambulate and take in the fascinating architecture. There are numerous small shops, great restaurants, and historical sites throughout the Old Town, which abuts the gorgeous wharf/waterfront. The pathways are lined with cobblestone, which adds to the quaintness of the area. Everything is clean and well-maintained, and everyone here is very friendly. At night, fairy lights are strung through the trees, which we absolutely loved. The row houses are lovely. You could spend days just in the Old Town.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 12 March 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles2,818 reviews
Excellent
1,878
Very good
796
Average
123
Poor
13
Terrible
8

dustythoughts
Manchester, CT2,128 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2024 • Couples
This charming Old Town was a wonderful way to perambulate and take in the fascinating architecture. There are numerous small shops, great restaurants, and historical sites throughout the Old Town, which abuts the gorgeous wharf/waterfront. The pathways are lined with cobblestone, which adds to the quaintness of the area. Everything is clean and well-maintained, and everyone here is very friendly. At night, fairy lights are strung through the trees, which we absolutely loved. The row houses are lovely. You could spend days just in the Old Town.
Written 12 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GastroEclectico
Phoenix, AZ803 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
Having lived in Virginia for many, many years, Old Town Alexandria was a regular jaunt for us. From retail shopping, gift shops, incredible restaurants, its historic homes, building architecture, antique shops, art galleries, walking-friendly streets and alleys, cobblestone streets, friendly people, easy parking, cleanliness, museums, wharf, docks and parks make this unique 1700s town not just a historical landmark in American history, but a fascinating day excursion romp of enjoyment. One can easily start with breakfast, enjoy lunch, have a fine dinner and wrap up with a nightcap in a full day’s visit. The town is full of historical locations with the likes of Gadsby’s Tavern, Christ Church, the Torpedo Factory, and much, much more. Virginia is full of historical places, but this is one location where you can soak in most of what the State has to offer in one fell swoop. Not to mention it’s a hop, step and jump from our Nations Capitol. I’m sure this will be a fascination and enjoyable visit for everyone young and old.
Written 25 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rod D
Atlanta, GA166 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Couples
I highly recommend Old Town Alexandria for a multiple night stay. Taking the metro from King Street Metro Station in Old Town Alexandria to all the historical sights in Washington DC is easy and reasonable. King Street is fun and interesting. Walk down King Street to the Potomac water front. There are many good restaurants. I loved the ambiance of the water front. We were there five nights and there are still many things we want to go back and experience that we did not get to do on this trip.
Written 31 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KHATRI_TANZANIA
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania694 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Family
Visited Alexandria old town for sightseeing, it is a beautiful place with plenty of restaurants, that restaurant street was decorated with lights all over, nice old buildings, very lively place.
Written 21 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Amy P
77 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Solo
So much history and charm to explore. From the shopping to the restaurants, there was something new to explore every day during the conference. There were restuarants that were great for casual dining as well as finer dining. Breakfast spots, dessert options...a little bit of everything. What a fun area to explore on foot!
Written 28 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

wilson k
2 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
First time to old town and it was very beautiful and charming. Love the row houses and wharf. The West Coast does not have too many of these historic places. Even though it was humid, there were tons of people on a Sunday afternoon. Lots of outdoor eating places. Definitely hard to find parking as expected.
Written 20 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Becky
Morning View, KY3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Family
Very cool town. Love the atmosphere. Lots of great food choices. Park and walk to the shops, and restaurants. Would love to spend a weekend or longer here.
Written 30 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wildwoodgrammy6691
Kissimmee, FL9 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023 • Couples
So much to see and do in Old Town! There is a free bus and a free trolley that stops many places. Visit the Visitors Center and get a city passport for $20 and you can get discounts at a lot of places in town. There is a wonderful Farmers Market on Saturdays, a water taxi, and more restaurants than you could count. Amazing food, amazing views, loved the whole trip.
Written 14 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bill2025
Surrey, Canada213 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Friends
Lots of shops and restaurants from Mexican, Italian, Asian and American cuisine. The water front is very nice to walk around. Take the free trolley bus to see the sites. I would recommend visiting Old Town.
Written 21 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Nazaria F
1 contribution
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Family
It was nice and relaxing. Quaint town and beach. The executive dinner has the best grits and service. Food was good but pricey
Written 17 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Old Town - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Old Town

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