Old Town Reviews

Historical place to learn American history in real life. Huge and red color homes are beautiful. Long-wide streets are also beautiful.

Old Town can't be missed! Its absolutely beautiful and charming. Take your time and walk around, stop at the shops and grab a bite to eat.

I live here so probably not the most objective. But it's a lovely city with excellent restaurants and historic areas.

The central Alexandria district, bordering the port on the Potomac) is full of 18th and 19th century houses. Some streets are wooded and have kept their pebble paving (take comfortable shoes). There are many shops. It is a very pleasant walk in a city that is not at all stuffy. It is easy to reach from Washington by subway and I recommend also taking one of the boat rides (from the Washington DC Wharf or from Georgetown).

Over a period of 3 days we enjoyed walking the area, trying several restaurants, and doing alot of window shopping with an occasional purchase or two. It was quite warm but found many shady areas to rest. The views of the Potomac River are beautiful, next time hopefully will take a water tour, can't wait for another chance to visit this section of Alexandria.

Old town is a historical district filled with the usual bars and restaurants, high end clothing stores along with the usual trinket/tshirt shops and bakeries.
Colonial architecture is interesting but not cool bough for a special trip!

5th year wedding anniversary - such a cool town to relax in for a few days. Easy access to DC if you want to check out the sites, or (like us) just visit as many shops, bars and restaurants as possible. Go to the Birchmere for a concert and walk King St up and back. Don't miss the Saturday Farmer's Market as there is more there than you think! Parking can be a challenge - put the car in a garage and forget about it.

Really nice place to visit with kids especially on weekends as there are lot of activities like free magic show, Irish dance.

Old Town is a lovely and adorable area by the waterfront, with lots to do and a street fair going on during my visit in mid-June 2021. We visited for a river cruise on historical replica, Tall Ship Providence. I enjoyed the area so much that I actually wished that I had booked my hotel in this area rather than in Arlington, at least for party of my stay in the DC area!
Old Town also has a variety of incredible shops and restaurants. My party of 4 had an absolutely fantastic dinner at Il Porto Ristorante- an authentic, Old World Italian experience. On the pricey side, but very much worth it!

The high ranking Alexandria receives from residents and visitors is well deserved. Singles, couples, families, and DOGS are welcome. We will return many times.

My kids and I enjoyed walking around Old Town Alexandria for an afternoon. The free King Street trolley was handy. Tons of history, cute shops, and great dining options there!

They have some of the best food which was finger licking and well done. Excellent service and on point.

Very quaint and cozy area. Great restaurants and right near the water. You can even take a water taxi across the river.

Lovely walking around the historic City with great shops, restaurants and historic sites to tour. Great bike trail out to Mount Vernon is a must.

Very beautiful old town area with many boutique shops and theme restaurants. We especially loved Pita House and Taverna Criticue

This place is a crumbling dump slowly being gobbled up and defaced by developers. There are many other historic places to see in the Washington DC area that provide a much better experience than this moth-eaten old dump of a town. Yes, it has a lot of nifty old buildings, but it's overrun with congestion, difficult parking ($40 fines for running 1 minute over on the meters), crappy junk stores and mostly poor-to-mediocre restaurants. If you want to be near the water for some great night life I highly recommend places on the other side of the Potomac like Georgetown or The Wharf (both actually worth dealing with the traffic and crowds), or take the GW Parkway south of Old Town for beautiful water vistas. Old Town Alexandria is a shell of its former self and I will not be going back, not worth it at all.

A great romantic place to sit watch and drink with a cuppa coffee. The deck is refreshing and entertaining. A lot of people roaming in and out of the area.

Enjoyed. Walking the streets of old town. Pretty townhouses. Old historic buildings. We felt very safe day and night. Good restaurants. We loved our hotel Indigo Hotel. Easy to get around in

This was our first time to Alexandria, and Virginia! We absolutely loved the charm the city had to offer. The clean streets and colorful houses make it such a nice area to walk around. The downtown historic area is very walkable and can access anything on foot. We thought street parking would be difficult but we no issues finding parking. We stayed in an Air BnB off Henry, we didn't want to leave! The trees down King st are all lit up at night, it's truly beautiful. The Trolly they have is free and runs up and down king street all day, it's so convenient! I highly recommend a visit to Alexandria, it would be the perfect weekend getaway for 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.

Great strolling through a vibrant district. Enjoyed the shops and restaurant selection and river front.

The sidewalks are bricked and uneven...so beware. The restaurants and shops are mostly local and fun/funky. The area along the water is a great way to walk off your dinner. There are often musicians or artists around to entertain you.

Classic! What a cool area. So quaint but some cool new hotels and restaurants. Really great village area:

Old Town is a nice way to spend the day, strolled up one side of King St and down the other side starting at the waterfront. Got to visit a lot of nice shops and have a bite to eat. A nice way to spend a spring-like December day.

Beautiful, walkable and so much to do! Old Town Alexandria is the perfect place to find upscale boutiques and amazing dining all on the water without the loud noise of cars nearby as many of the roads were closed with tons of outdoor seating. The area feels a lot safer than other nearby waterfronts and is generally less touristy. I can’t recommend the area enough to anyone. The views from the water and especially on the restaurants that sit on the piers are incredible. It’s great for 21+ as there are tons of bars.

Great place to walk around. Waterfront t area is very pretty with restaurant, coffee shops & neat shopping area. Very pretty park! Will return!!!

Many places to eat along King St. A free trolley runs every 15 minutes. Great pubs and happy Hours. Nice little shops.

King St. And the waterfront are rich in historic buildings, great restaurants and interesting shops. Well worth many walks up and down the street. I’d go back just for its ambiance!

Old Alexandria is certainly worth the visit when in DC. The King St stop is at end (west end) of King St and a short walk or free trolley ride down to the waterfront. The walk provides plenty of window shopping and people watching opportunities. But watch your step the historic brick sidewalks can be treacherous if you aren’t paying attention. Be sure to grab a map or follow the signage for suggestions to visit the Christ Church, Lyceum, Friendship Firehouse, City Hall or many of the other centuries old attractions.

The only drawback is the lack of parking. The architecture is amazing. The variety of restaurant choices is staggering. I could have window-shopped for hours in this historic district, stopping at al fresco cafes for a drink or bite to eat here and there, and of course, wandered along the waterfront enjoying the views.

Old town Alexandria was the home of both George Washington and Robert E. Lee. The tavern where Jefferson held his inaugural party is still in existence.

Beautiful place to shop, eat and stroll along the waterfront. Old world charm. Breathtaking during Christmas holiday season.

Great spot to walk around and to sit and watch the bay activity... lots of benches to sit on. Plenty of shops and restaurants near by

While in the DC area please visit Old Town! So many great stores, boutiques and outstanding restaurants! It's located by the water, so it makes even cooler! This is great for walking around and checking out all the interesting places. Highly recommend!

It was a true joy to walk the streets of Old Town. There are a great collection of shops and restaurants on King Street. Do not be afraid to explore other streets as well as you will find other stops and historical buildings.

One of our favorite neighborhoods on the Virginia-side of Washington, D.C. We love Federal Style architecture, and this place has it in spades. There are many museums here - we'd start at the Lyceum, the city's history museum with rotating exhibits and special events (we attended a book signing here with a Lafayette biographer awhile back that was very entertaining). If good food is your thing, large number of restaurants are here to choose from - our current favorite is the Old House Cosmopolitan with great schnitzels and German food in general. If you want to walk off that meal, there are many small shops to visit.

The only downside at the moment is all the Metro stations in town are currently undergoing renovation and won't be back in service until September. They have free shuttle buses up to the Reagan or Crystal City stations or you can try driving (we did it for a week and it isn't that bad, especially if you take some side streets instead of the main drags during rush hour).

A great place to sightsee and walk around the brick side walks are a pain and easy to twist an ankle if you’re not careful as they are quite uneven. Lots of restaurants with a some cool places to visit.

My wife and I did a couple’s trip to National Harbor MD with a day trip via water taxi to Old Town Alexandria the next day. We debated over driving and parking the car in Alexandria but after taking that refreshing riding on the top level of the water taxi I am very pleased with our choice. It was a relaxing, pleasant 20 min scenic ride to our destination. Without the hassles of driving and parking.
The Old Town Alexandria marina is very small but is really nice place to sight-see and eat; and there is at least one major attraction to visit - the Torpedo Factory Art Center. There are benches on the marina to sit and enjoy the water and watch the boats sail by. There are three main restaurants each one offering indoor and outdoor dining; views of the marina; the water and the boats -The Chart House, The Blackwall Hitch and the Vola. We dined at the Chart House and had a delicious lunch on their outdoor patio.
Then we toured the Torpedo Factory Art Center – a 3 story building on the marina that was used to make torpedoes during the war, that was re-purposed into a working art studio and sales center. There are 82 art studios and 7 galleries that use this facility and produce some very impressive art work from a variety of different mediums. There was an artist who drew ink sketches on the skulls of dead animals. Another who does fabric art created pictures with hidden words inside that you must mentally focus to see. Another who made an old torpedo casing into a pedal powered soap box racer. So many paintings, sculptures, ceramics, glassware, metal ware and fabric ware pieces to examine.
There is an actual torpedo from the building’s old factory days during the war on display and several dioramas dedicated to the manufacturing past on display. There is a small archaeological museum on the 3rd floor of the building dedicated to preserving items from Alexandria’s past. Our tour of the Torpedo Factory Art Center took about 2 hours.
After touring the Art Center, we wandered onto King Street to stop in some shops and see the local sights. We passed a street performer who made music with water glasses. We visited the Old Town Shop which sells all souvenirs related to Old Town. We visited the Market Square to see its water fountain with the Alexandria City Hall in the background. This is nice spot to sit and watch the fountain, enjoy a cool breeze and take photos. We also visited Captain's row, which I was not very impressed with. This was the original homes of seafarers who lived in Alexandria. It is a single city block that is blocked off to car traffic. Which is a good thing, because the roadway is extremely rough consisting large stones with no black top for driving cars. There was not much to look at here. King Street also offers a trolley which travels from the marina pass the shops, restaurants and attractions along King Street to the King Street Old Town -Metro train station in Alexandria. It is free trolley that operates year around, every 10 to 15 mins. During our travels we stopped at the Dolci Gelati to cool off after our walk with a mint chocolate and vanilla gelato and to rest on their comfy chairs out of the sun.
While in town, we also toured the Carlyle house and historical park. This mansion used to be the home to John Carlyle, Scottish merchant and town founder in the 1700s. It has a beautiful garden in the back of the home and offers guided tours of the home. But at just $5 for a 1-hour house tour, I was not expecting much from the house tour and was really interested in just seeing garden. To my surprise I found the house tour to be the best part of our visit. Not so much due to the appearance of the house, but due to the knowledgeable guide that lead our tour. The tour was both interesting and entertaining. I felt this visit was a bargain at the price of $5.
At the end of the guided tour you are released to wander the garden in the back of the building on your own. The garden was small and was mostly green during our spring visit with two large, flowering azaleas adding a splash of bright red color to the landscape. It consisted of many well-manicured shrubs and trees, a gazebo and a bench to sit and rest.
There are also lot of nice eateries in historical buildings along streets of Old Town that are worthy of a stop – such as the Gatsby Tavern and The Warehouse. Next door to the Gatsby Tavern is the Gatsby Tavern museum which used to be a hotel and tavern in the 18th century. It was once the center of political life in Alexandria. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had visited there. They offer guided and self-guided tours. Unfortunately, the museum was not open the day we arrived.

Alexandria is an exception place - this is a piece of history that has great shopping, eating and lots of history

Wonderful shops and restaurants along King Street in the Old Town. The view of the Potomac River is fantastic,
There are boat rides which tour the river. We also enjoyed pit bbq in the old town, which exceeded expections

Lovely Small Georgetown. With A art center located in a industry style plant building. all artists create their mind in their studios

It looks like an old English town with narrow street and decent pedestrian curb.

The Main Street is full of restaurants and nice shops

we stayed at the Embassy Suites at the top of King Street near the metro station and thoroughly enjoyed our strolls down King Street with its plethora of small stores and eating establishments, very nice area and would stay again.

Good places to visit and plenty of new restaurants to try. Definitely worth a visit, especially when the weather is cool :)

We have visited DC several times from Uk. We had not visited Old Town Alexandria and decided to stay here for a change. This was a good decision. We stayed at an apartment near the Centre through Airbnb. This was good value and comfortable. The Old Town is quaint and packed with good restaurants. River taxis were food fun. Great and relaxed atmosphere. We will be back.

Our walking tour went through the streets of Old Town. I learned a lot about Revolutionary times and Civil War times. Alexandria was an important location during both of these eras.

Lots of restaurants and local history. Brick sidewalks. Lots of shops to wander through. Close to DC. The metro is close by. Hotels, food and shopping, that’s all you need. Trolley available also

Old Town Alexandria is a fabulous piece of history where the buildings have been maintained to reflect early life on the Potomac. You can see many historic homes, and walk the waterfront. There is a Trolley from the King St Metro station to the waterfront which is over a mile. There’s a preserved cobble stone street just a block off King St. Saturday mornings have the oldest running flea market in the morning and a summer farmers market in the afternoon in front of the Tiwn Hall. You can pay to take walking tours from the town hall. Lots of antique shops and specialty boutiques, as well as every type of food imaginable from $5 to $500!

We just happened to visit Old Town while they were hosting a weekend Art Show. The art selections were varied and we saw some very good pieces. The booths were set up right down the main street which made browsing very easy.

Chadwicks has the nicest people working there; the service is great. And the food is delicious. Haven't had a bad meal there.

Old Town has so much to offer to locals and out of towners alike. There is always something new or different to see. From street performers, to events at the Torpedo Factory, to great food and desserts options, to a visit to the Principle Gallery and their amazing artists work.

Old town has such a nice collection of shops, restaurants, and bars. Lovely in the summer evenings. Great place to find a unique gift or enjoy a drink. Many places have live music

Took the opportunity of visiting Alexandria after recommendation and TA review. Must say this is a lovely place to spend some of your valuable time and an easy commute from Washington dc ($20 uber). Wonderful architecture both old and new and with lots of character and charm. The free trolley bus is a terrific service and the town deserves credit for providing this.
Lots of shopping, food etc. The wharf area and old torpedo factory are noteworthy.
Recommended for a different experience to the capital.

Old Town Alexandria is vibrant and alive. However, because of the attractiveness of the location parking on the street can be a bear. Luckily there are numerous parking garages that charge $5 max on the weekends. I'd recommend the one under the market or on Pitt street. From there it is a short walk down to the river front. The Marina there does have clean public restrooms too. There are numerous cafes, restaurants and shops all up and down King Street. The side streets offer glimpses at very old architecture and quaint gardens.

Beware right now there’s construction seemingly everywhere! King St was a nightmare car wise, walking it was awesome. I was surprised I didn’t see a litter patrol. There was quite a bit of trash on the ground.

There is a lot of parking enforcement though, the city is very strict about their parking laws. I found all day on Strand St for $7.

A regular stop for showing off Alexandria to visiting family and friends. A nice place to walk around when the weather is good. Plenty of different places to eat. Plenty of different people to watch.

Fun place to wander through at just about any hour of the day or night. SAFE which is nice to keep in the back of your mind. You don't need to keep a watch over your shoulder. Lots of quaint old shops and several good restaurants.

Tons of parking (we parked for $2.50/HR), tons of restaurants and cute little stores. The waterfront was nice to get some fresh air and relax as well. Nice way to spend some free time. The smallest historic house is located in the area and there are several plaques explaining some historical significance of certain buildings (like city hall).

Alexandria old town is a place that deserves your time to wander around, explore and soak up the lovely atmosphere, plenty of walking required, lots to see and a free trolley to try, well worth a visit.

Beautiful part of the state. Small cosy restaurants and shops. Loved the tranquility in the surroundings. Will definitely be back

Great place to find something for everyone. This is a place you will find things to do, eat and see :). You may take a water taxi, eat at local pizza joint or just sit and play on the waterfront

Old Town Alexandria is wonderful historic town on the Potomac river. History runs deep in Alexandria — from Lt George Washington and General Braddock’s departure for the French and Indian war to the formation of a large armada by General McClellan during the Civil War to making torpedoes for WWII. For visitors, the waterfront at the foot of King St. is the central area for visiting Old Town with the Torpedo Factory, many restaurants along King St. and growing waterfront walk along to Potomac. Water taxi’s provide access to Washington DC and National Harbor to expand opportunities while in Old Town. Alexandria’s Old Town provides opportunity for the whole family to enjoy our historic town. Please visit and enjoy our town!

Come to Old Town, there really is something for everyone. Use trip advisor for good meals. Understand the closer you get to the water the more money the food costs. Great bars and food. You cannot go wrong with seafood! Leave a helpful "thumbs up"

We loved staying in the area. We walked around the area a lot. There is so much to see and do. King street is so beautiful with all the old buildings, shops, and restaurants. You could spend days here.

great shops, historic, and convenient trolley runs length of King Street. Unique shops and tons of great restaurants

I am obsessed with cute little towns such as this one. Day or night there is something to see or do. Even just walking around to all the little shops there and eating at one of the local cafes is a great way to spend your day. Everyone is super friendly and the everything is clean. The waterfront is quaint, the cobblestone streets are endearing and the free trolley is a fun way to get around. Would have loved to spend more time there if it wasn't the last stop on my D.C. trip prior to driving back home.

A lovely and historic city slowly being ruined by the "progressive" city council who has little regard for the historic significance of the city. It is not the oldest city in the United States, but one of the old cities. It was originally a tobacco port and that is how the city started and grew.

Brick sidewalks, many fine eating establishments, free trolly up and down King Street, dog-friendly, walkable.

Being the pocket of developers, the city council's decisions do not favor historic preservation. Their recent decision to allow scooters running up and down the streets with little regard for the safety of pedestrians is an example of disregard for its citizens.

I've lived in Old Town for 35 years and am sadden in the direction the city is taking.

While there is a free shuttle that travels along King Street, Old Town is very walkable. Certainly the best way to see the many stores and restaurants.

Nice area to browse the shops and enjoy a snack or meal! Very walkable, but there’s also a free trolly you can ride on King Street.

A great little town! So many cute shops and restaurants. A great day trip if you're visiting the DMV and are looking for a more relaxed day of meandering through a cute and historical city.

We took a break from DC touring and rode the metro to Old Town for a change of pace. We were surprised to discover the large number of stores which were closed on Mondays or not open until 11:00. Heck, the free trolley doesn't even start until 11:00. This area is not handicap friendly based on brick sidewalks, many of them heaving. Many of the stores are not handicapped accessible with having to step up sometimes two steps to enter. Ironically, the store on King Street called Old Town Souvenirs had zero Old Town Souvenirs. We meandered around for a bit and then returned to DC.

I love Old Town Alexandria for its quaint shops, lovely riverfront boardwalk park, and scenic views up and down the Potomac River. There are many nice and fairly reasonable independent bistros at which to dine, and history all around. On Saturdays enjoy the farmers market in front of the Alexandria City Hall. If you’re not lodging in the area, it’s easy to reach the historic area via Metrorail by getting off at King Street Station and strolling east on King until you reach the river. While it is an approximate 14 block walk, the blocks are medium sized and the scenery makes the time fly. If you get tired of walking just hop on one of the free King Street Trolley buses that transport folks up and down King Street from the Metro Station to the riverfront. Be sure to visit the Torpedo Factory Arts Center once you arrive at the river. If you wish, take a ferry across to the Maryland National Harbour to enjoy the shopping, dining, and attractions (Capitol Eye, MGM Resort and Casino, Gaylord Hotel, etc...). If you love it so much that you want to move to Old Town, be sure to bring an armored car full of money, because it’s going to cost you $1M+ for one of those lovely historic townhomes. Enjoy! 🙂

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.

Its the place to go for dinner, drinks, ice cream, shopping or hop into a water taxi. Everything is badically on the same street.

With metro, free trolley service, water taxi to Washington, DC or National Habour, Maryland, numerous restaurants and shops, this is the place you want to live in, not only visit.

Old town has some wonderful historic places to see and at the cheap price of usually $5/per site or you can buy the "Key to the City" & it is even cheaper. Absolute Musts: Walk between the various sites with a map from the Visitor's Center and Walk OFF of King Street. The architecture and little side allys are fascinating (see if you can find the "Spite" House: Hint- it was an alley at one time) but you will not know the stories unless you take some tours. Do go to the CARLYLE HOUSE (covers the early period of Alexandria and Braddock's stay during the French & Indian War); the APOTHECARY (like a Time capsule!), the LEE FENDALL HOUSE ( history from the post Revolutionary War, thru the Civil War where the first successful blood transfusion of the Civil war took place in the house when it was a Union Hospital, to the Labor Movement under John L Lewis) and CHRIST CHURCH (where just about everyone from Washington, Lee, Roosevelt and even Churchill have worshipped). Stay awary from the chain stores and visit some of the smaller, more intersting stores - already too many have been overtaken by Chain stores. Cupcakes, coffee, wine, good food, local candy and lots more. Also, leave time for a boat taxi ride to the other side of the Potomac or boat ride to Mount Vernon!

We visited Old Town Alexandria. The main street is King street along which there are many restaurants and stores. Its hot in the summer, though.

Love Old Town. Lots of shops, eateries bars, etc. Plenty to do and see, plus you can take the water taxi to DC or National Harbor. Metro Stop right on King Street to get into DC. Love this place!

Wonderful shopping, restaurants and walking!! Loved visiting at Halloween time to see all the decorations for Halloween and fall. Very friendly dog town where all the shop owners know the locals who visit with their dogs and they r given dog treats!

Such a wealth of things to do and see. Lots of activities for children. Entertainment every evening. Well worth visiting.

I really enjoyed walking up and down King street, there is alot of unique shops and some great places to dine. There is a free trolley that goes up and down the street and stop at stops every 15 min. It was a great place with plenty of parking!

It is a real pleasure to stroll the streets of Old Town, and I jumped at the chance when meeting an old friend for dinner. History, character, and delight a short hop from the ostentation of DC

Love Old Town! Always a favorite spot to visit. Perfect spot to enjoy a meal or sit along the Potomac Riverfront.

Gorgeous street with cute businesses and flowers. Crazy traffic trying to leave at 6 pm. Walked around to dock and found dinner.

Here for a week for a wedding. Beautiful place with a lot of American history. Lots to see around the town and DC is just 10mins away as is Arlington. A great place to visit.

There are so many to do and see in King Street and also the Waterfront. Along the street, there are many selections of restaurant that serve different type of cuisine and merchandise shop with great selection too. I like to hang out at King Street after the dusk, especially when they turn on the lights and lamps that make the street looks beautiful.

Loved walking the streets and poking into shops along the way. Even the Starbucks is in a historic building with exposed stone and low hanging ceiling. Wished we had more time to see more shops.

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.

Old Town is expanding the Waterfront. Walk north and you find Oronoco Park area.
Stroll this area. Watch the boats.
Read about and see an old Canal lock.
Check the town’s events.
This is an area to get away from the crowds for awhile.

The King Street Station, built in 1904, provides the best access to Old Town Alexandria because you can reach this station by Amtrak (up to 26 trains daily), 30 weekday VRE commuter trains, up to 160 subway trains, and numerous buses. You can also reach the western terminal of the free Old Town Trolley. A quick tour of this historic station is worthwhile.

We visited during the Cherry Blossom Festival and found Old Town a wonderful area. Old city streets with lots of shops and restaurants and very active. It offers a free trolley that runs up and down the one miles stretch of road making getting around very easy. The area feels very safe and we enjoyed spending several evenings here during our visit.

Old Town Alexandria is a fantastic place to roam around. Many of the buildings date from the 18th century, and each is unique. Historic row houses stretch for blocks. There is a walkway all along the waterfront. We enjoyed walking to the Jones Point Lighthouse. Before leaving Old Town, we stopped at the large Saturday morning farmer’s market to buy apples and flowers.

Walk the length of King street (a couple miles) or a free trolley runs along the street. Lots of character in the buildings and fun shops in addition to a wide variety of restaurants. At night there are white lights in the trees and a nice amibiance to enjoy.

Old Town is in a category all it's own. It offer shops of all kinds and a couple of chain stores, but mostly has a wonderful old town feel to it. I enjoy eating in the restaurants and taverns. I like the yarn shop and the book store. I like getting souvenirs at the harbor. I enjoy walking the town.
Location is great for visiting Washington. On the busiest holidays, the Metro is the best way to travel.
The new MGM is another attraction and National Harbor is also a free shuttle bus ride away.

Loved visiting this little town and will definitely come back. Lots of boutique shops, quaint restaurants and a beautiful seaport to walk around. Town has a street trolley that runs up and down King St, and is free, you can hop on and off. Great picture taking spots and friendly people. Many different restaurants and bars. Some have rooftop bars and streets are lined with lighted trees.

On checking in to Holiday Inn on Carlyle it was recommended to visit Old Town as we arrived earlier than planned for Cosmos Tour.Shuttle by Hotel to waterfront “which had started flooding week earlier “was our starting point.Shuttle Driver”Chris” was very informative “being in a foreign country “to get us started. There was a great variety of Old architecture with mix of modern buildings,shops,restaurants,cafes both along King St and various side streets to keep you occupied.We also found it suitable to walk back to hotel,but there is a free trolley bus service up and down King St. Would recommend to tourists in the area.

Never traveled to this city (Alexandria Virginia) however was quite impressed with the beautiful architecture. The quant shops were nice and the people were very helpful in directing when I was lost.

Old town is full of historic homes, quaint shops, excellent restaurants, an arts center (The Torpedo Factory -- go to learn the history), parks and a chance to take a cruise on the Potomac River. On weekends you may find an acapella group or a man playing songs on glasses filled with various amounts of water. Always something to see and do!

Alexandria’s Old Town is a charming and historic downtown with a mile of local boutiques and restaurants along King Street. Reminiscent of Newport and Nantucket with brick sidewalks and cobblestone streets, Old Town offers quaint port city vibes in an incredible location. For dining, there’s seafood, steakhouses, Italian, and everything in between. The shopping is another draw for locals and visitors with curated boutiques filled with clothes, home decor, and priceless antiques. Just beyond the hustle and bustle of King St, you can stroll down Prince or Cameron St for a look at the estates and centuries old architecture. The city is very pedestrian friendly but, also has protected bike lanes and trails running throughout. There are three Metro stops which can take you anywhere in the region and a Water Taxi if you’re looking to boat over to the Wharf for a Nationals game.

We were there on a Saturday night and it was quite busy. We stopped a couple Irish Bars and had Italian food. The waterfront is nice and the Torpedo Factory, if you are interested is right there. There is a free trolley if you don’t want to walk.

It is nice if you get out early, and don't plan to eat at a restaurant. If it rains much, it floods, and this is often. The streets are very crowded at night, and there seem to be no loud noise ordinances, that are policed.

My husband and I stopped in Old Town Alexandria while driving from Virginia to New Jersey on Memorial Day. We have been making this stop on our travels for almost ten years. We walked Kings Street with our three young children (6, 2, and 1). We had ice cream, stopped at the coffee shop, went into Old Town Books, walked the waterfront, walked up and back down Kings Street, and then went to dinner. The restaurant was right on the waterfront which provided a nice view of the boats, people walking by, and planes flying over the water.
Old Town Alexandria is a beautiful town. Kings Street is filled with restaurants and shops, it was decorated beautiful for the spring. It is perfect for couples or single people. It is not a town I would venture out for with young children. Although, we all definitely enjoyed ourselves.

We parked near the waterfront and spent a few hours walking around the waterfront park and some of the streets nearby. The entire area was clean and the people were very friendly. There are so many small shops and eateries available that my wife could have spent several days exploring. I found the architecture and cobblestone streets fascinating. I also enjoyed the waterfront and watching the boats up and down the Potomac. The kids enjoyed the park and walking the streets. This was a great day for the whole family!

We had a great time simply exploring on what turned out to be an unexpectedly beautiful day (rain had been predicted but failed to show up). Enjoying the history, authentic buildings, waterfront, the old torpedo factory, and the walks all made for a special day.

We just moved to Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. What a great interesting fun place. It's loaded with history and culture - and of course, a bit of quirkiness. Here you'll find great restaurants that also offer jazz on weekends, charming small businesses, and beautiful old colonial architecture from the late 1700's and 1800's. Definitely worth a visit so add it to your bucket list.

What a great place to spend a weekend, day or evening out. Lots of things to do and see. The waterfront area is great. More restaurants, bars and shops for all tastes and interests. Parking is crazy and difficult to find. Parking garages are a bit pricey. Would come back again.

Very pretty part of the city with lots of shops and restaurants to explore. You can even take a riverboat tour from this location. Definitely recommend seeing this historic, quaint little part of the city.

I’ve lived near and love Old Town. Whether dining, browsing or just hanging out at the Torpedo Factory, I couldn’t be without

Old Town Alexandria, Virginia - Alexandria is a quaint historic town in Northern Virginia just on the other side of the Potomac River from Washington, DC. Dating back to 1749, Alexandria’s riverfront was an important colonial port during the colonial, Revolutionary, and Civil War periods. King Street is a walkable mile of centuries-old architecture. it is George Washington's hometown and part of the original Washington, DC. General Lee moved here when he was a little boy. Many sites in the town are wallkable. The town has seen many of our famous historians. The town has seen many of our forefathers and it was a critical Union stronghold during the civil war. If you don't like all this history, you could enjoy a beautiful lunch waterfront at many of the fine restaurants. The city has something for everyone.

Old Town is a great walking experience, fun shops great food and a wonderful people watching venue!
King Street is the main thoroughfare but don’t be afraid to get a couple blocks off it!
A couple favorite places like Bilbo Baggins, Myron Mixons, La Portas and Table Talk for a great breakfast! Go for the garbage omelet!
And don’t miss Hank’s Oyster Bar, one of the best anywhere!

We recently visited Old Town, staying for three nights while visitng family and sightseeing. We loved the many varied restaurants, the various historical sites, and the easy access from our King's Street hotel to the Potomac waterfront via the free Trolley-shuttle. Our hotel was very near the King's St Metro station, but even if it hadn't been, the Trolley goes right to the station, making access to DC and the surrounding area easy, too. We had a lovely time in Old Town!

Old Town Alexandria is extraordinary place to visit. From fantastic restaurants t to small shops along beautiful King Street. Love this place:)

Old Town is pretty and quaint and full of shops and restaurants.
It is a short stroll to walk through and stroll along the waterfront.

The adult Disney with shops, restaurants, galleries, bakeries, bookstores, finally, all very beautiful and romantic. Just walking around the city and appreciating the houses and buildings is already gratifying. The Christmas celebration is also famous.
Little Washington DC and easy access.

The whole area is so ripe it drips of history! If you love history and tradition this is the place for you! Many many old buildings and things to do. Quaint shops and restaurants are a plenty. The atmosphere and people in it make this an awesome place for food, drinks or both. I have been here several times and will continue to come back. It is a town time forgot thanks to aggressive preservation efforts. Do yourself a favor and pay a visit!

The old water front former warehouse factory location has been turned into a pedestrian user friendly neighborhood. It is charming and its historic value and quality has been reborn to be enjoyed.

This was my first time in Old Town and I can't believe it has taken me so long to get there. A great historic (and fun) town with a lot going on. We were lucky to be there during their 270-year celebration, so we were able to enjoy the fireworks display and seeing all the people down at the waterfront.
I can't wait to go back!

There's something for everyone here in the Old Town. Historic sites for granda. Shopping for mum and grandma. The town has a relaxed feeling in contrast to DC. There's plenty of places for coffee and for lunch. We did all of the above and enjoyed it.

such a lovely little place to explore. Full of history, lots of unique shops and beautiful houses.
Visited here whilst on holiday from the UK and it was nice to visit somewhere older and less commercialized.
Lovely place to stroll around and grab a bite to eat
I would recommend a good couple of hours to stroll around and take it all in.

If you haven't had the PLEASURE of visiting Old Town and taking a stroll down by the water, you are truly missing out. So much to see; so MANY GOOD restaurants; and just walking along the streets is so much FUN.

lots of history, great food, the water view and water taxis are really fun and take you lots of great places along the Potomac River. it's also great for locals along with tourists

This is a great community to stay in when you are visiting DC. Lots and lots of Restaurants. Beautiful waterfront vistas to drink and dine by. I’ve stayed in DC several times. I would never stay in downtown DC again.

We had a great time walking around Old Alexandria. Lots of shopping and eateries to take patronize. The waterfront is bristling with loads of restaurants and easily accessible to the ferries.

Old Town Alexandria has more original historic buildings than Colonial Williamsburg, but they are surrounded by a modern city. Stroll the streets and you will discover many treasures. Stop at the visitor center (located inside a historic home) to pick up information. Then walk around and stop at the various historic homes and museums. You can take the free King St. trolley to get an introduction to the area and to return to the Metro station.

After spending a night in Alexandria in March I decided to return for a long weekend. We enjoyed the slow summer pace. There are many interesting restaurants, some with a water view. You can relax on a bench along the river watching the boats and planes. There are shops that have something for everyone. A free trolley goes up and down King Street. Summer evenings are perfect for walking and stopping in one of the many ice cream shops.

Old Town is lovely but consider spending your hotel/rental $$ elsewhere. The constant and uncontrolled airplane noise from Reagan National Airport beginning before dawn and lasting after midnight is a major detraction.

The last time I was here was for a quick visit before my son’s graduation from Quantico. Now my husband and I have time to relax. This place is charming, beautiful and very walker friendly. I jus have to keep remembering to pick up my feet-the brick sidewalks can be a little uneven.
Great shops, and friendly restaurants with delicious food. A place to escape to over and over.

A truly beautiful spot to go and walk around. There is so much to see and look at and the architecture in the area is incredible. Lots of restaurants, bakeries, ice cream parlors, and shops to check out along the way as well! Parking was a bit challenging, but depending on the time of day, you can park on the street in certain areas.

Old Town was easy to get around. There is a wonderful street trolley that is free to use. We spent 2 days and could have stayed for 4. There is so much to see and do, everyone was helpful. This is a great area to geo-cache.

Take the subway, yellow line, and get off at King Street station. From here you can follow the trolley through King Street. This trolley is free and you can descend on any marked and then climb again. Very nice place!

This was our second visit to this charming area but our first overnight stay. Our first visit was to eat at Myron Mixon’s Bbq restaurant during a previous DC vacation. I absolutely loved the cobblestone streets, beautiful architecture, & waterfront steeped in history. Staying overnight here 2 days allowed us unhurried time to explore the quaint Old Town shops & restaurants, in addition to easy access to also explore Georgetown & Downtown Washington.

Plenty to see and do in Old Town without needing to go into any buildings. There's a nice outdoor sculpture exhibit by the Torpedo Factory and a couple of the streets are closed to traffic near the waterfront so outdoor dining can flourish. Nice sunny day excursion. About 50% less crowded then it used to be so pretty safe.

We spent most of a day walking Old Town, the shops, restuaruants and bars and many and all looked very good, we were able to get to a few of them, the waterfront is beautiful and relaxing

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.

I always enjoy strolling in Old Town and around the waterfront. Lots of nice restaurants to stop in for a drink, snack, or meal.

Beautiful walk to take and explore different parts of this old town, the square, the marina, the commercial premises. It is a very picturesque walk! There are places to eat, ice cream parlors and cafes. With the snow as a frame, the town looked beautiful!

The time to come here is during dusk to catch tall the people and environment while its just a hopping place to enjoy a nice evening with your significant other and family if choose to. Plenty to do ride the ferry, eat some ice cream or catch a meal.

A great place to walk, shop, and eat. Check out the Masonic Temple and historic churches if you go. A nice, quiet morning respite from the busy-ness of our DC visit!

So many streets...so many restaurants...so many taverns...so many shops! We enjoyed our time here and if you plan it right you can walk on the shady side of the street on every turn due to all the tall buildings.

We loved this area so much. We love history, art, and trying new restaurants so it was the perfect place for us. Great place to just take your time and wander around and maybe pick up some gifts to take home.

Old Town has everything you want for a visit to DC. The metro is only 25 minutes from the heart of the Capitol. There is an amazing variety of restaurants and the prices for lodging is much cheaper than staying in the city. The waterfront offers a variety of things to do.

I loved Old Town Alexandria and the Harbor area so much I had to visit twice. Lots of restaurants, bars, shops. Ice cream and chocolate shop were good too.

Ride the free trolley to get a view of where everything is and then enjoy a stroll from the wharf to the Torpedo Factory, to the Apothecary Museum, to Gatsby's Museum and the Tavern for dinner. When you come out of the Torpedo Factory, follow your nose to Myron Mixon's Pitmaster BBQ! Old town is an excellent place to stroll and enjoy everything you pass.

A great, picturesque, old city, full of arts and crafts. Beautiful seaside buildings. A town full of history. Has good transportation available.

Full of history and great place to spend an evening. Loved walking through its old streets, there were cute little coffee shops and restaurants nearby. We got so many great pictures! Can't wait to go back!

Four friends and I was in Old Town in May.
The atmosphere was great, many things to do and see.
Plenty of restaurants and pubs to stop at. We really enjoyed the waterfront in particular. The environment was friendly and clean. We did have a local Police Officer approach us “Very Friendly “ and asked us if we were enjoying our stay, and exchanged pleasantries. Definitely a public friendly department!!!
Overall, wonderful experience that I highly recommend to any visitors in the area to try “Won’t Regret”

I found this to be a very walkable town but beware, no spike heels! Most of the area is brick or cobblestone paving. We felt very safe there, even at night.
Some very nice, older homes.
Unfortunately, many shops are closed Sunday & or Monday. Even the Torpedo Art Gallery is only open 4 days a week.

By car or ferry, great place to eat and visit. Very scenic and in the spring/summer its a nice place to visit

We go to Alexandria with the kids, just to get out and do something. A lot of old cobblestone roads and great views of DC.

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.

Just got back and already want to go back! Walked the streets, went down to the river, ate good food, drank good wine and enjoyed good vibes! Utilized the trolley and the metro! Great visit and will definitely go back!

Lively area with a lot of weekend activity. Nice variety of restaurants and pubs. Easy walking and a nice view of DC from the waterfront area.

If you want to have an authentic Alexandrian experience, Old Town is the place to go. It doesn't matter the time of the year, you can always breath the beauty of Virginia through its amazing arquitecture, cute boutiques, awesome restaurants, and friendly people. A visit will be in your memory forever!

Very pretty town, enjoy walking around and looking around the beautiful houses, water front and shops.

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.

My favorite neighborhood in the DC area! Very historic, loaded with cobblestone streets, gas lanterns on houses, historic homes, and lots of places to eat & drink. Right along the Potomac River and a quick drive from DC or a quick water taxi from DC or Nat’l Harbor in MD.
Highly recommend coming here when visiting the area!

This is the area that I have loved for almost a decade nice restaurants ghost tours sea food. escape rooms, french restaurant you name it. its all here.

Not to miss. Cute shops with a diverse array of offerings and various price points. The free trolley makes it easy.

We had an awesome meal at one of the local restaurants (Black Wall Hitch). Then took the water taxi to the harbor to play slots at MGM CASINO, and back to old town. Great day outing with friends

King street and the historic tour. Unfortunately some sites are closed due to COVID, but the shopping stores are all open. It's a nice walk especially during COVID when options are limited.

This place consists of lot of dine in and take away options plus variety of shops to cater for different segments of visitors. A must see attraction during your trip.

We visited Old Town on a Saturday in May. We started out at the George Washington Masonic Memorial and walked all the way to the waterfront. It is about a 1.6-mile walk downhill. The King Street Metro and Amtrak service are close to the Masonic Memorial.
Old Town has lots of restaurants, shopping, and parks. Something for everyone.
If you get tired of walking, there is a free trolley that goes up and down King Street. It runs from the metro to the waterfront. The trolley was very crowded when we rode.

Old Town Alexandria is one of those places that goes back in time further than Washington DC and National Nightmares offers a great look into the past of this more than haunted, more than haunting little city. There are truly amazing sites as well as amazing stories to go along with them, and National Nightmares "Of Poltergeists and Pirates" tour is a great way for anyone to learn not only about the history of Old Town Alexandria, but the haunts as well. Let's face it; there is no haunt without the history. Book a walking tour with National Nightmares and discover more than just what's on the surface.

We decided to check out old Town Alexanderia after dinner! The shops and restaurants are awesome!!

We decided to just sit in a bench - grabbed some ice cream- and just watched the boats and water taxis.

Also the street musician playing the water glasses was great too!

Wonderful evening!

Thanks! Doc 703

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.

I was in town for business and booked a hotel on King St. I checked into the hotel after a long day of meetings between Richmond and D.C. I hadn’t been in the area before and the hotel filled me in on the King St shops and restaurants as well as the free trolley. I never used the trolley but I did love the idea of having free transportation up and down the street. You can jump on and off the trolley whenever you want. It runs all day until 10:00 p.m.

The cobblestone sidewalks and historic buildings of Old Town are beautiful. The area is safe and pretty peaceful, although one homeless guy near the hotel yelled out at people pretty often. And the end of King St near the train station was busier, with people and traffic.

I took the opportunity to stretch my legs and get some steps in during the last daylight hour before dark. (My word, I hate the time change in the fall and the early darkness!)
There are many restaurant choices and a lot of different kinds of shops on both sides of the street. I saw local, unique shops as well as the typical chains that you see in many malls. I did see a skateboard museum and shop but it was closed by the time I saw it. I don’t skateboard but I probably would have learned something in there. I did like the store, “America” and bought my son a souvenir baseball in there.

After a good walk up and down all of King St, I settled into a restaurant to relax and eat some dinner. As far as restaurants, there may be some chains but I mostly saw local options. I enjoyed my short time here and would visit again. I think it would be a good home base if visiting Washington D.C., Mt Vernon, and other touristy places in the area.

I travel to Virginia and mostly work in DC but a choose to stay in Old Town because there is so much to do and so many choices of restaurant!

We were headed to DC. Found a nice hotel in Alexandria so we decided to check it out. We have taken 4 trips with the kids and seen everything in DC. This time it was just my husband and I. We went to see the cherry blossoms in DC. We spent every evening and the last morning in Alexandria. Great restaurants shops and a beautiful place to walk around!!! So thankful that we accidentally stumbled upon it!

We love Old Town and visit two or three times a year. The restaurants are great with lots of choices. Waterfront attractions are fun. The streets are beautiful, with so many historic buildings. Highly recommend the farmers market on Saturdays.

Old Town has been preserved to showcase the history of the area while seamlessly blending it with the 21st Century. There are numerous shops, boutiques and restaurants for every taste. Take your time and stroll the streets and enjoy the ambiance.

"What is more relaxing than a summer night in August, strolling through an historic town? Not much" says I.

Really liked staying in Old Town. Easy access to Metro to get around DC. Loads of restaurants and shops. Felt comfortable walking down King St. Quaint old homes to see and friendly people.

We stayed in Old Town Alexandria. We loved it. Close to King Street Station Metro too DC. The place has tons of places to eat, and shops to walk through. There is a FREE trolley that you can take up and down the Main Street. We loved staying in this area.

My 3 years old still talks about red trolley- three trolley that run through the town. Beautiful quaint town with lots of food choices, water front, board walk, closed to all the attractions in DC, clean and friendly. A perfect little town to stay!

I always love coming to Alexandria, it's such a beautiful place to walk around and visit. King Street is fun to wander, with lots of shops and boutiques, and walking along the river is lovely.

Nice array of shops and places to eat. A quiet placer to enjoy the mild evenings. plenty of places to stay in the area.

It was nice and relaxing. Quaint town and beach. The executive dinner has the best grits and service. Food was good but pricey

Many good restaurants, antique shops and history. A great place to walk and enjoy beautiful scenery. If you like ice cream it’s the place to go.

While visiting DC we stayed in Alexandria and spent an evening in Old Town and every block offers a new history lesson. Spend some time sstudying all that is here first and map out what is important to you.

I live near Old Town and love it. The atmosphere is lively and positive. It’s a nice mixture of modern and historic. Lots of restaurants but don’t forget to check out the many museums and historic sights.

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!

Most nteresting way to start a tour is to go down King Street all the way to the waterfront from the Alexandria Metro station. A slow walk will take you 25 minutes. Visit the stores, restaurants, and the historical sites that are found left and right from the street and you can easily spend two profitable and interesting hours

Went with friends for brunch on Sunday. I am constantly surprized by the variety of food and the choices available. The people watching is extraordinary. The parking is plentiful depending on the time of day and how close you are to the water. This is just a lovely Sunday outing for people of all ages.

My daughter and I spent the night to break up our trip as we were headed to the Amtrak Auto Train. We stayed at the Kimpton and everything was clean and we felt very safe in this time of Covid. We enjoyed walking down to the water and shopping and dining along the way.

I always enjoy a trip to Old Town Alexandria. The shops and restaurants leave nothing to be desired. You are sure to find something to your liking. The atmosphere is one of comfort and warmth. I always feel as if I am amongst friends. This is definitely a must for travelers to the Northern Virginia area. You will not be disappointed

Loved staying in Old Town. The restaurants and shops were amazing. Delicious food and a diverse night life. The brick sidewalks and cobblestone streets are reminiscent of rich history and the waterfront is an added bonus!

we took the trolley down to Old Town on a Sunday night after travelling all day and enjoyed it very much. There was a street performer (very entertaining), lots of places to eat that looked quite nice and it's relaxing to be down by the water, even though there were lots of people walking around.

Alexandria, Virginia a place where you can enjoy a peaceful walk while you learn the history of Old Town. There are a variety of restaurants from Mexican to Mediterranean cousin.

Old Town is really a neat place. For a touristy area, the restaurants were really good. Lots of local flavor and everybody was very nice. Good times were had by all.

Alexandria is a good size 18, 19 century town near Washington D.C. with homes and architechure of the century still there. It is located on the Potomac River just south of Washington Reagan National Airport. The old towndown is very vibrant both days and nights especially weekends. Visitors can find good restaurants, giftshops, and art stores especailly on King Street and near the Waterfront. The Torpedo Factory Art Center is a converted warenouse and made it heaven for artists and art products mall near the the water. If you visit Washington D.C. area, schedule your short trip to visit Alexandria and it is a few minute by metro from the heart of Washington D.C. If you choose to drive, there are plenty of pay parking; both in garages and on street. The concentration of shops and restaurants are on King Street; from King Street Metro Station to the Waterfront. If you choose the metro, there is a free bus shuttle from the Metro Station to the Torpedo Factory Art Center and the Water front. Come to visit.

We live in DE and happen to have a couple
of days off together, so we decided on a short distance weekend getaway. Alexandria VA was less than 2 hrs away. What a great decision!

We love to eat & drink, and were so very pleased with the many restaurants, bars and specialty places (dessert, coffee, bakeries, etc) that are peppered throughout the area!

Had brunch at Whiskey & Oyster (excellent), ate and or had drinks at the Fish Market, Vola’s, Chadwick’s (seems to be where those in the F&B world go after work), Urbano Mexican and Del Ray Cafe for breakfast. Had dessert crepes and coffee at Fontaine on Sunday and Cafe du Soleil on Monday. Both were very good, but we liked du Soleil best of the two.

We also found a very nice hookah lounge/restaurant, Zikrayet, near our hotel that we checked out for drinks and hookah after dinner.

We I’ll be leaving reviews for all those places as well.

Only bad part of the trip was leaving after only 2 days. We plan to be back to also check out some of the historical sites nearby as we were just enjoying the walks, eating, drinking and shopping for the time we were there!

Would highly recommend Old Town Alexandria as a great, quick getaway. Want to definitely return when weather is warmer to enjoy outdoor seating.

Old town Alexandria is a charming place with good restaurants, fish market, art center, great views of Potomac river and the nation’s capital. It is easily accesible from DC, Maryland and the rest of Virginia. To spend an exciting afternoon or evening, old town is an excellent choice.

Old Town Alexandria is very walkable and filled with great restaurants and boutique shops. A great place to spend a summer evening exploring. I try to at least drive all my out-of-town visitors through Old Town.

Old Town Alexandra is so adorable and quaint! Cute restaurants & shopping! Definitely worth visiting for locals or tourist.

Rated a 4 of 5 simply because I felt there was an opportunity for historical interpretation traded away for commercialism. The Old Town area is neat and the story is incredibly representative of how our Nations growth shaped it port and trade. Blocks of authentic early 1700’s homes are throughout the area but what most visitors will see are 3 blocks of heavily commercialized space with numerous high quality restaurants, ice cream and novelty shops. It’s a fantastic day for families and couples but it is not a Colonial Williamsburg experience. Numerous bronze and modern informational plaques do tell the story of George Washington’s townhome, Christ Church, the wharf, and general business development in the area.

Here in Alexandria for the weekend and we did the King St stroll down to the waterfront. Along the way you will find cafes, bars, restaurants and a couple of attractions to while the day away. There was no free trolley running for unknown reasons however from start to finish the round trip is about 3 miles. If you take your time it is enjoyable. Don’t forget to walk 2 blocks parallel to King st to see the real Alexandria

Grand area to walk about and enjoy all that Old Town has to offer!
There are numerous restaurants, places to explore, and shops. We walked about Prince, Royal, and King Streets, took in the Apothecary museum, had a cold beer at a pub, explored the Torpedo Art Center (and noted a Alexandria Archaeology Museum), sat & people watched at the waterfront park, and selected restaurants for our dinners.

Old Town Alexandria seems to have kept its Colonial charm in the 21st century. Its atmosphere is so personal, inviting and it is a pleasure to walk around, discovering gems of the last three hundred plus years. Great food, fun shopping, lots of historical sites to discover.
Highest rating!

Sightseeing and great food choice abound. Whether you are local or visiting, there is to much to see.Several of my favorites are: Chart House restaurant, The Principle Gallery(art), Ben & Jerry's(ice cream), Torpedo Factory(local artists studios).

This is a really nice walkable area with Cobblestone streets, cafes and boutiques.

I found a great leather shop with imported Italian leather that I loved with a very nice shop keeper. Serafino Fine Italian Leather is the name of the place.

Some fun jewelry and furniture shops too. We did not make it all the way to the water this trip. We will return.

We walked from the metro to King Street.

Some of the shops were closed and had odd hours. It may have been due to pandemic.

Old Town has a quaint and historic atmosphere that makes for a nice walk. There are numerous shops and restaurants and a very nice waterfront area. It's a great gateway to DC.

It is by sheer chance that we came to Alexandria because we were looking for a cheaper alternative stay prior to our visit to DC. Oh boy, it sure is a great experience. The townsfolk were so nice whenever we were looking at our map, they will just ask us what we are looking for and gladly point us where to go. From the mom who is walking her little boy to the car to the lady whose house front we stopped while looking at our walking map, THANK YOU!

In a surrounding area of highways and byways, old town is a refreshing breath.

Old virginia. Lots of charm. New and old shopping. Perfect walkability. Many excellent old style airbnb's in the area. I loved it and wish we'd stay longer. Ill definitely return. It has all of the charm that Baltimore lost and the DC never had.

There are restaurants of every kind and coffee houses, ice cream shops and other specialty shops. You can take the water taxi over to National harbor, the Nation Mall in DC, or to Mt Vernon. Plan to spend most of not all day to do it justice.

We always enjoy old town. A collection of shops and restaurants. You can pick up anything that you need in the area. A safe place to enjoy in the evening.

We stayed three nights in Alexandria but mostly visited DC. The last day in Alexandria we ate lunch at the Wharf and then headed to the park for some live music. Everything was fine until this weird woman came up to me to ask about my purse. She said that she was going on a trip and needed a purse and that mine was what she was looking for. She wanted to know where I got it, was it leather, maker, etc. She started touching it and even peered inside it when I tried to find the manufacturer tag. I didn't think anything of it until afterward. I think she was trying to see what I had in it to maybe grab something out of it(?) She looked to be in her mid to late 50s, short stature, short blond hair, not very white teeth with small gaps between them. She was wearing a white t-shirt needing some bleach and too short, shorts. I wonder who else she approached?

always something fresh and new when we visit it seems....a lively neighborhood both in the daytime and in the evenings...nice hotels; interesting shops; and the choices for restaurants abound...there is a free trolley if you need help walking the length of the street...

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.

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.

Great place to walk around. Great rest options and Nice environment. The historical houses are beautiful and dont forget to get some ice cream!

Old town Alexandria is a hidden gem. We love it and spend a lot of time there whenever we are in town. It is filled with boutiques and one of a kind restaurants.

Alexandria founded 1749 and Old Town is designated as a historic district. This area offers colonial charm with museums, boutiques and restaurants. Added character are the row houses and a couple blocks have cobblestone streets. Enjoy the waterfront and take a water taxi or take a trolley around town. Lovely area to be admired by all. Be sure to wear flats or tennis shoes for uneven footing on walkways and streets. Meter street parking with limit 2-3 hours and many pay parking lots/garages.

I really can recommend this old town. Different what you normally find in and around Washington.

It’s worth to spend a day and evening there, walking around, check the different stores and having lunch or dinner in one of the many good restaurants.

If you like you can also have a nice walk at the river. But see some of the pictures

I always enjoy coming to Old Town. There are usually street musicians playing, including a man who plays Beethoven on water glasses. Besides interesting shops to browse, on Saturdays they have a outdoor farmers' market where you can find all kinds of crafts, too. Really fun town to walk.

A variety of shops and restaurants. Take a trolley from one end of King St. to the waterfront. The architecture is wonderful.

A quaint little town with a Main Street lined with shops and restaurants. Trolleys run up and down at no cost. Some cobblestone roads down by the water which give additional charm to this area. Row houses line the streets in the residential area and it is hard to overlook the history of this town.

This was one of our favorite shops on our trip to DC. Really enjoyed looking at the old architecture. The captains row is a must see when coming to the old town. It is one city block and has the old cobblestone streets. I was told by a local that this is the oldest street in the US. The waterfront is nice, but walking around the streets was my favorite.

Great place to stroll the sidewalks, shop and eat. The waterfront has great views and good seafood restaurants. Bring your Dog!

Stayed at Alexandrian. The Hotel is great with an awesome bar. Old Town this time of year is magic, not crowded and truly enjoyable.

Just a short metro journey south of DC in Virginia this lovely old town is well worth a visit. Go first to the visitors centre and buy a town pass ticket - good value and leads you to the places you should go to.

This was my first time stopping in Alexandria (instead of driving through and around). We had a wedding to go to and we found a ton of things to do in Old Town. First, we toured 2 museums: Gadsby's Tavern and the Lee-Fendall House. Then we meandered down the sidewalk and stopped for lunch. We went a little further and stumbled upon an art show (King St). We could see the water from various streets. There was ample public parking (cheap too). Traffic gets a little backed up for left-hand turns but parking once and walking around can solve that. It was a good time in a very nice city. Lots of history and many attractions. Several resting spots for the weary, we enjoyed sitting near the fountains! I would certainly go back!

Love walking around Old Town. A free trolley runs along King Street for those who would prefer to ride. Metro station on King Street connects you to greater DC area. While in Old Town explore the restaurants and shops en route to the Wharf area. From there you can ride a ferry to National Harbor or Georgetown waterfront.

We love Old Town. 17 blocks on king Street of shops and restaurants. They offer a free trolley and water taxi 18.00 round trip to national Harbor The Wharf and Georgetown .

You can definitely spend several days visiting all of the historic attractions here. There is underground parking near the visitor center $2.50 an hour for a maximum of $10/day. There is also street space to park. If you want street parking be sure to get there early. I recommend going to the visitor center as they can give you a map and information on all of the historic buildings. There is a free trolley that goes up and down King street.

We took the water taxi from National Harbor, which worked out great. Walked around for a few hours in the afternoon, checked out a few historical tours, and went to dinner. Nice area down by the river. Not as interesting as you move away from the water.

I've been visiting Old Town in Alexandria, VA since 1963. Old Town has evolved to a great place to visit and walk on both sides of King Street, which are lined with a variety of restaurants and shops. The latter are on the pricey side. However, the trees that line the streets are lit at night with Christmas like lights and make for a festive atmosphere. You have a variety of places to kick back for a meal; pub fare to some restaurants that offer value and great food. In the summer months there are street entertainers near the Torpedo Factory or the new park near the river. A great place go to or meet friends for drinks or a meal. Some of the bar/restaurants have live music. There are also nightly candle light tours of some of the historic sites. To me, its more family friendly and way cleaner than New Orleans.

Having an afternoon free while in Washington, we took an Uber to Alexandria and had a beautiful time exploring Old Town.
Such interesting and unique architecture.
It is easy to walk and wander, with lots to see including cute shops and restaurants.

So many shops and restaurants, one cannot be bored! This is the 2nd time we have visited the city and I still love it! Watch the planes as they descend over the water, while you are sipping a nice cold beverage over-looking the rive, and the shopping, well - it's awesome.

The restaurants are awesome, the historic sites are well marked, plentiful and describe the rich history of this town. We like to see off the beaten path sites, so we really enjoyed the tunnel. We also enjoyed looking at all the different door knockers. There is lots of walking, so where comfortable shoes. We have also used the King Street Trolley (a free hop on hop off bus along King Street) which is a great way to move around the town when you get tired.

Wish we had more time to spend here. We arrived by Water Taxi and started at the Chart House. We walked along the water and then up some of the cobblestone streets. Wonderful town. I would like to spend a whole day looking around. We ended the day with ice cream from Pop’s Old Fashion Ice Cream. Would love to come back again.

I love the Alexandria train station where one can take Amtrak, VRE, and Metrorail trains to DC or up the NE Corridor.

Fantastic old town which is easily accessible to Washington. Easy to get around on foot but complimentary trolley buses available

Fun, friendly, charming, historic, safe, beautiful and welcoming. How can you beat this city! You’ll want to stay awhile....

I have been to several old towns in different countries. While Alexandria is cute, and the free transportation is helpful, I don't really feel the vibe of old town here.

We were here in the fall when all the trees were changing colour, plus a lot of the homes and businesses were decorated out for Halloween, making it very atmospheric. It is a great place also to stay and take the metro in to see DC.
The old town is full of nice little boutiques, galleries and restaurants. Stroll around the side streets as well there are very pretty and there are a lot of historic homes and building you can visit as well. The waterfront is also very picturesque and you can take the water taxi from there or do boat tours.

Love the beauty and history of this city, which is an old colonial town very close to Washington DC. Many great seafood restaurants and beautiful views along the waterfront of the Potomac River. Also has many boutique shops along the King Street corridor. Easily accessible by the Metro or car from anywhere in the DC area. Despite being near the capital, has a distinct colonial charm and somewhat less congestion than many other areas in the DC region. Highly recommed for anyone interested in history, fine dining (especially seafood) or scenic views of the Potomac river.

A fifteen-minute ride from DC on the Blue or Yellow Metro rail lines, Old Town Alexandria (Virginia) has a storied and diverse landscape. Its central hub is the intersection of North Washington Street and King Street – populated by Murphy’s Irish Pub, the Light Horse, a Lululemon, H&M, Anthropologie . . . a convergence of unique shops and restaurants, and national brands that brings in a walking crowd year-round.

I’ve been a pedestrian frequenting these establishments for about 14 years, so I’ve witnessed its character evolve. A significant part of that evolution involves the rough brick sidewalks that have been a feature of the place since forever. The sidewalks are rough because the ground underneath those bricks is ever-changing. Tree roots push up the bricks, time wears the bricks down, and nature takes its toll. No one should wander these sidewalks without appreciating the uneven surfaces created by these bricks.

Old Town’s guardians include the merchants who maintain a presence there and the City Council and City Manager. Historic preservation is clearly an important consideration throughout the spectrum of stakeholders.

Recently the trend has been to accept the challenges presented by a range of users of these sidewalks. The city amended its laws to permit bicycle riders to use the sidewalks – apparently a nod to the biker community and its influence on city government. Early on it embraced the proliferation of motorized scooters, whose fans include many who disregard sidewalk restrictions and use the scooters on the sidewalks. Both bikes and scooters share a common thread – they put pedestrians at risk of collision and personal injury.

I speak from experience, having twice been hit by scooter operators on sidewalks, both in the District and in Old Town. And toward the end of 2025 the city introduced a new threat to Old Town shoppers: robotic Uber Eats.

As I approached the Metro bus station at N. Washington Street and King Street, a robotic vehicle entered the sidewalk, blocking my way to the bus stop. There was no warning, no noise, just a movable mass operating well below eye level, entering the sidewalk and maintaining a path that offered no hint of where it was heading or when it would stop to allow pedestrians to use these cobbled sidewalks.

Reporting for ALXnow, an online newsletter, James Cullum wrote in an article dated December 12, 2025, that the purpose of these robots was to permit Uber Eats to partner with Serve Robotics. Quoting Aaron Emrich, Global Head of Autonomous Delivery at Uber, Cullum reported that the goal of this collaboration was to “enable more consumers to experience the convenience and novelty of robot-powered delivery, while helping merchants serve their customers in new ways.”

We happened to be in town on Halloween. This is a great area to walk around and watch the children trick or treating and see the people dressed up in costumes. It’s beautiful anytime of year, but we really enjoyed our Halloween visit.

Came to town to see the Scottish Christmas Walk parade - I had not seen it in over 25 years and felt like a kid again!!

Looking for great places to eat? Old town has a plethora of choices. You cant go wrong. Quaint shops line the streets and the waterfront is relaxing.

When you are visiting Washington DC catch the M (yellow or blue) to King street and take a day to stroll trough wonderful Old Town Alexandria

My family had the Filet and it was fine. I had the Ribeye and ordered it Medium-Rare. It came almost well done and had been off grill until it was only warm. It was charred on outside. I complained and waiter pulled his flashlight to convince me it was medium. He offered to get me another but begrudgingly.

Although the price is expensive they charge extra for all sides and even bread if you order it .

Old town is one of our favorite places in the US. Quaint, historic and close to DC and other areas of interest and easy to get around. Lots of great restaurants and cute shops. Things close a little early though so plan accordingly.

I've been before but never taken advantage of the free trolley. It's a game changer. We caught it at the metro stop and went all the way down to the water.

Torpedo Factory - one of the best things about Old Town!

There are several historic buildings with organized tours - most for $5 each. The buildings date back into the 1700s.

Great restaurants everywhere!

Shops up and down the streets.

Very unique experience and it doesn't feel touristy except down at the water taxis.

Just a wonderful clean and old town that has taken great efforts to preserve those old historical buildings. On weekends got a bit overrun by tourist though. The free trolley made things much better.

Beautiful view, great views of National harbor and vibrant night life. You can't go wrong if you decide to hangout here on a weekend..new phase is open but with limited capacity...overall charming stop before DC

Attractive, clean waterfront. Can be very crowded and busy. Lots of great boats to watch come and go.

We came here after visiting nearby Mount Vernon and were looking for restaurants etc. The main road is beautiful, you can easily place it in most of the small towns in UK: lots of small restaurants, ice cream places, shops etc

Very busy just before Easter despite of the rain and windy weather. The main road leads to the Potomac and it was packed with people.

The nearby streets though with car parks were rather empty.

Old Town is great for a nice stroll down King Street. You should avoid the freebie trolley and walk to the Wharf. Later, when you are all tuckered out, you can take the freebie trolley back to where you began your journey. There are lots of places to shop, eat, and just enjoy life.

Tons of shops and restaurants on King St. It's a great place to stroll around! It's also a very pet friendly area.

There is so much to see that a weekend wasn't enough time. Perfect for couples of all ages. Nice for families with older teens. (Nothing that I saw to appeal to little ones other than ice cream shops.) We were there over a crowded weekend but everyone was pleasant and polite everywhere we went. I was surprised at how may smokers there were. Like, actual cigarette smokers. I can't remember the last time I walked down a street through so many pocket of cigarette smoke. Weird. I guess vaping isnt as popular in this area? I never thought I'd miss walking and smelling cotton candy out of nowhere!

One of the most interesting historic villages in the US. Historic preservation meets unique accommodation for contemporary life. Lots of great restaurants and cafes with a variety of cusine choices. The riverfront is a wonderful area to walk around.

We come regularly (every 1-2 weeks) to the Saturday farmer's market. The fruit and veggies are top notch and most stalls provide tastes, so we can decide where to buy on a given day. Also outstanding is the stall that sells fresh homemade jellies & jams, whole tomato sauce, corn relish, pickled jalapenos & garlic, etc--all amazing. Worth the trip from Maryland.

I have lived in Alexandria for many years and it is an amazing place to visit. Great for walking around, seeing the shops,and many fine places to eat. Alexandria is loaded with history and there are several fine museums to see.

We loved the Colonial homes and walking along the waterfront. Many great restaurants to choose from. Shopping was ok, but it's probably just depends on what you're interested in.

Old Town is actually a section that has much to offer with quite a bit of variety. Also it is very close to transportation, that is if you are not right in the area, even if you are it is good for walking, mostly flat and there are even transit offerings with it. this includes the free trolley service between the King Street Metro Station and the Waterfront.

Much to see and go to near by Beautiful place wonder past the tourist spots and beyond. Down by the water there are Happy hours M F 4-7 near a big museum and the water

We stayed in Old Town while visiting the sites and museums in DC. A great location with wonderful history, hotels and restaurants and a convenient metro location.

Heard about Old Town from friends who had visited Alexandria prior to our visit. Had a say 5 minute walk to get to King St from our hotel. You could either catch a trolley/bus, which by the way is free to ride, or you can walk. There is a lot of shops and restaurants up and down King St. Also Historical Places to see. Took a bus down to the Potomac River, had dinner, and decided to walk back to our hotel. Was told it was approx. a mile and a half walk back from the river, but didn't really notice it. A busy area in the early evening, with lots of places to stop and have a drink.

Great place to wander around and explore historical Alexandria. Lot's of good restaurants to choose from and often free concerts and such in the park

Hop on Old Town Cruise and enjoy the beautiful scenes along the way to George Town. Waterfront is always our fun place to go to, Even if it's just for a walk. Touring the Torpedo factory is one of our favorite things to do in Old Town.

Spent an evening wandering the streets of this picturesque small town. It has many interesting things to see and there are many good restaurants around to choose from if you get hungry or just want to have a couple of drinks. Beginning of April is a wonderful time to visit this town because that’s when the Cherry Blossom trees are blooming.

This is a small historic town but compared to Washington DC a bit boring. It is, however a bit less hectic and nice for a stroll. It seems to be VERY tourist oriented and was quiet when we were there but I suspect it may not be like that year round... it is nice for a quick trip but I would not devote a day to it nor would I consider this a must see.

We had a great time visiting Old Town Virginia. We also had dinner there and we rode the trolly car for free. We also visited gearge Washington Masonic Memorial, very interestin an a beautifull view od Old Town.

Founded by the british back in the 1600's is one of the oldest towns in the US. Lots of history, very quaint, nice place to visit. Close to DC and very close to the National Airport. Only 2 metro stops from the airport

I walked around Alexandria Old Town for a couple of hours in July 2021. The first challenge is to find parking. I parked my car in the Courthouse Parking Garage at King Street and Pitt Street. It was an extremely hot and humid day. I stopped by the Alexandria Visitors Center for a map and brochure. I walked on King Street to the Waterfront which is full of restaurants, water taxis and boat tours and a view of the Potomac River. Unfortunately, the Torpedo Factory Art Center was closed (it is closed on Tuesdays). I took the King Street Trolley which is free towards the George Washington Masonic Monument and got out at the last stop which is the Metro Station. After visiting the monument, I walked back on King Street to the parking garage and my car - a walk of 20-30 minutes. King Street is full of shops and restaurants. It was a very nice visit. I wish that I had had more time in Alexandria and plan to return in the future.

Old Town has so much to offer visitors. Lots of restaurant, shopping and parks. Lots of events going on as well.

Parking here is messy and confusing. Got a parking ticket too $40. It’s a run down place. Virginia is not worth it. Never be coming back to Virginia.

Love Old Town, tons to do, many shops, markets, waterfront activities, planes to watch, art to view.

Great place to take your children and see history in real life. See original homes and historic sites.

Beautiful waterfront to explore. Recommend sitting near the water and enjoying a cocktail with a friend.

This town is cute and charming..

We stayed at the Embassy suites and took the free trolly down to the water and walked up the street.

So many cute resturants and shops!!. Everything from famous stores to boutiques.

Awsome resturants and bars.

Old town is a must..

Only saw Old Town Alexandria at night. It looked gorgeous. The trees were strung with lights along the main streets. I would love to come back and see this historic area during the day!

What a beautiful place!
My wife lived in DC several years ago and had been promising to bring me here.
"You'll love it" she kept telling me. And she was right I did.
we got the metro and then hopped on the free trolley bus. It is a lovely way to get along King street and to the waterfront. Then from there it's up to you. We took a gentle stroll along King street and popped in to shops, bars and restaurants. What a lovely way to spend a relaxed afternoon.

This area of Arlington is great to just wander around, browes the shops, have a coffee, beer, etc.
There is a farmer's market every Saturday in the town square which has very intersting offerings.

Wonderful walkable town with great boutiques and restaurants! We stayed at the Alexandrian Hotel which is near everything. There is a free trolley to take you to other parts.

Old town is the best part of Washington. You get away from the crowds on the Mall and can enjoy a stroll through a small town that reflects colonial charm combined with modern amenities. The night life is fun for the young professionals, and still very much family friendly. My daughter is a history buff, and you can find a ton of interactive colonial and civil war history spots alongside some excellent restaurants and delicious ice cream spots.

I honestly hate paying to park. However, Old Town us small,quaint and has a trolley. Irs nice to 2alk around too but Alexandria needs to attend more to their rodent issue.

took trolley from Metro, great shops line both sides of King St. Good variety of stores. Prices varied. Shop owners suggested other local businesses. Made some purchases

My husband and I went to Alexandria for a weekend getaway. We had a great time! Great food, friendly people and such a quaint, walkable area. Will definitely return!

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.

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.

There are so many things to see in Washington DC...the Smithsonians, the monuments, the Capitol, the White House, Ford's Theater, The Mall. Just outside of DC, and a quick subway ride on the Blue or Yellow Line, is Old Town Alexandria. It's famed King Street is lined with boutique shops, restaurants, coffee shops (don't miss Killer ESP). There's even an awesome new tattoo shop, Marlow Ink on Madison Street. Old Town is rich with history. You can easily imagine George Washington bringing goods from his farm at Mt. Vernon, which is just down the Parkway. You'll definitely want to visit Old Town. Plan a full day. Go on a Saturday and take advantage of the Saturday morning farmer's market. You'll be amazed not only at the quality of the products, but the amount of people. And you'll get a good sense of what it's like to be a local :)

Staying with a friend who lives locally so she took me into Old Town for a walk and browse in the afternoon. Caught the Metro there so we walked down to the waterfront, had a look around, visited the visitors centre and the Torpedo Factory Arts Centre, watched a very talented busker then had dinner in one of the many restaurants on the walk back to the Metro.
What a lovely town with beautiful historic houses and buildings and even still had some cobblestone street. The visitors centre is in the oldest house still there so that was great to see. Would def recommend coming for a few hours, I will be coming back to see the places that were closed as we were there late in the day.

A great place to spend the day if you love history, especially early American history. Lots of original colonial architecture and cobblestone streets for design lovers. Great restaurants and shops, but both can get pricey. Parking off street can be difficult but there are parking lots off of King St and walking distance to wherever you need to be. Brick sidewalks can get crowded on weekends and evenings and may be hard to navigate with a stroller or wheelchair.
I recommend Bilbo Baggins, La Tasca, and Virtue Grain and Feed for food. The People’s Drug is one of the best cocktail bars I’ve ever been to. And for shopping, I like looking at the great mid century modern finds at Atomic and can spend hours at any of the great secondhand bookstores.

First time here am from
Boston and i really liked this little jam makes u feel like u went back on time

Was in town for a business trip and spent an evening walking around old town. I enjoy sight seeing in historical places, and this place is rich with it. Plenty of excellent restaurants, pubs, and coffee shops in the area, as well as specialty shopping. Definitely a nice place to walk around and take it all in.

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.

You must go when you visit DC area. Very charming and cute neighborhood. Lots of great restaurants and bars. Nice boutiques. King street has lot to offer. At the end you can enjoy river side and harbor. Very good experience

Old Towne is a great place to spend time. The restaurants are diverse and delightful. The shops are unique. The waterfront is under renovation and it will be great. There's always something to do or see in the area. The Torpedo Factory is great if you are looking to do an Art Walk. You can take a water taxi to Georgetown or National Harbor. It has something for everyone.

No loud truck engine brakes allowed. No E-scooters. Cars are okay though. So a modern yet clinging to the past type of city.

We used the metrorail to get to the Musem of the Bible, American History Museum and the World War Two Memorial in Washington. It was too cold to go down to the Old Town waterfront like we do during the warmer months.

Don't miss Old Town if you are in Alexandria! There are so many places to eat and shop that you can go there three days in a row and not get tired of it.

This well-preserved old town has about a mile of great shops and restaurants. There's a visitor center towards the end of the King St near the water for tips on where to shop and eat.
We tried Brabo Tasting Room on the train station end and My Thai on the water end of King St and liked both.
Check out Blue Print Chocolates and one of several ice cream shops for sweets.

We enjoyed our three nights in Old Town. We stayed at an Airbnb just off of the main street. Everything was in walking distance. The waterfront was a great place to hangout. There is lots of great shopping and restaurants. The Torpedo Factory shops were fun. While we did not take a boat trip, they were available. We Ubered from here to DC monuments for $15 and drove about 15 minutes to see Mt. Vernon. We would come here again.

Spent a lovely evening strolling the streets of Old Town. Plenty of history as you walk the streets. Take the time to appreciate the history of Alexandria. Touch of 2021. Plenty of stores such as J Crew, Lululemon to keep those not interested in history engaged. Lots of options for food and ICE CREAM.

After dining at the Chart House I took a stroll along the waterfront/there was a street show going on which I found to be very entertaining/the atmosphere along the waterfront is very lively/It was a nice way to end my mesl

Old Town Alexandria is a quaint few streets with lovely shops and eateries. The Christmas decorations were lovely. It really got you in to the Christmas spirit. It is pricey, so bring you credit card!

We came here to check it out as I'd seen so much in tourist magazines about this place being so amazing. We found it a little boring. Yes the streets are cool and the buildings are neat - but we didn't find that many stores we even wanted to go into. If you are eating or drinking you will find somewhere to go - we were just a little underwhelmed after all the hype!

I found it mostly hair salons, nail galleries and small business and actually
lacked any real charm. Did finally find a few shops and restaurants/bars.
Nothing to rave about, Maybe, I missed out on something, but I found it
sorely lacking in any real WOW factors,