Alexandria travel guide

Alexandria Tourism | Alexandria Guide

You're Going to Love Alexandria

With a population of 139’966, Alexandria is a must-see destination in Virginia, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 4 days in order to fully appreciate everything Alexandria has to offer.

What to do in Alexandria

Top activities & attractions in Alexandria

Where to Eat in Alexandria

Old Town is the neighborhood with the most restaurants in Alexandria. These include popular favorites such as Ada's on the River (3 Pioneer Mill Way), The Warehouse (214 King St) and Mia's Italian Kitchen (100 King St.). If you’re looking for affordable options, La Tasca - Alexandria (607 King Street) and Hank's Oyster Bar - Alexandria (1026 King St) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza + Tap (401 E. Braddock Rd.) and Smyrna Restaurant (7588 telegraph road) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Alexandria.

Most popular restaurants in Alexandria

Italian
Wonderful (643 reviews)
Seafood
Very good (459 reviews)
Seafood
Wonderful (411 reviews)
Contemporary American
Wonderful (408 reviews)
American
Wonderful (398 reviews)
Contemporary American
Wonderful (358 reviews)

When to visit Alexandria

Alexandria in November
Estimated hotel price
$155
1 night at 3-star hotel
Alexandria in November
Estimated hotel price
$155
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Alexandria in July, when the average temperature is 78.8 °F, and the highest can go up to 87.8 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 28.4 °F, with an average temperature of 35.6 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in May, when precipitation is around 3.8″. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Alexandria, with an average rainfall of 2.6″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Average
Fahrenheit (°F)
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Alexandria

Plane

When flying to Alexandria, you’ll arrive at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), which is located 5 km from the city center. Airlines that fly from the United States to Alexandria include American Airlines, JetBlue and Delta. The shortest domestic flight to Alexandria departs from Atlanta and takes around 1h 43m.

Train

Amtrak is the only carrier operating train routes to Alexandria. The train journey from Alexandria to Baltimore takes 0h 27m and costs around $5 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Manassas, expect to pay about $5 for a 0h 40m trip. The train station in Alexandria is called Alexandria, and is located 1.6 km from the city center.

Car

Another option to get to Alexandria is to pick up a car rental from Washington, D.C., which is about 11 km from Alexandria. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Budget, among others, in Washington, D.C..

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Alexandria, including Peter Pan Bus Lines, Greyhound and Megabus. From Baltimore, the bus ride to Alexandria takes 56 km and will cost you around $30. From Baltimore, the ticket costs about $30 for a journey of 64 km. Alexandria’s bus station is located 2.4 km from the city center.

Airports near Alexandria

Airlines serving Alexandria

KLM
Good (402 reviews)
British Airways
Good (1,746 reviews)
Delta
Good (3,375 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,039 reviews)
Air France
Good (498 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (3,202 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (1,443 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (2,048 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (668 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (492 reviews)
Finnair
Good (780 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (479 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (3,067 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (1,396 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (181 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (133 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (360 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (229 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (77 reviews)
Japan Airlines
Excellent (579 reviews)
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Where to stay in Alexandria

Average rates range from around $302 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $452 and up for a 5-star experience. There are also lots of vacation rental options in Alexandria, with prices from $50 to $452 per night. Old Town is the neighborhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, vacation rentals in Alexandria are about 109% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Old Town - In Alexandria’s most popular neighborhood to stay, recommended hotels include Hilton Alexandria Old Town, Hilton Garden Inn Alexandria Old Town National Harbor and Hotel Indigo Old Town Alexandria.

Eisenhower East - Courtyard by Marriott Alexandria Old Town/Southwest, Holiday Inn Alexandria - Carlyle and Residence Inn Alexandria Old Town South At Carlyle have some of the best reviews among hotels in this area. A 3-star room in Eisenhower East will cost you about $158 per night.

Most popular hotel in Alexandria by neighborhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Alexandria

Most booked hotels in Alexandria

Hampton Inn & Suites Alexandria Old Town Area South
Excellent (8.2, 2164 reviews)
$152+
Hilton Alexandria Old Town
Excellent (8.2, 392 reviews)
$250+
Washington Plaza Hotel
Excellent (8.1, 2942 reviews)
$230+
Hamilton Hotel - Washington DC
Excellent (8.1, 2157 reviews)
$249+
Yotel Washington DC Formerly Liaison
Excellent (8.1, 1701 reviews)
$262+
Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square
Excellent (8, 478 reviews)
$296+
See all hotels

Renting a car in Alexandria

Renting a car in Alexandria costs $50 per day, on average, or $200 if you want to rent if for 4 days.

Expect to pay $3.79 per gallon in Alexandria (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $45.42 and $60.57. The most frequently booked car type in Alexandria is Supplier choice (Class Special Car or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Mini rental cars (Smart Fortwo or similar) are, on average, 72% cheaper than other rental car types in the city.