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Shoppers at Red Barn
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Visit Alexandria, a Top 3 Small City with Big Cosmopolitan Vibes

On the Potomac River within eyesight of Washington, D.C., Alexandria, VA is nationally recognized for its rich history and beautifully preserved 18th- and 19th-century architecture. Voted a Travel + Leisure Top 5 Best City in the U.S 2025 and a Condé Nast Traveler Top 3 Best Small City in the U.S. 2024, Alexandria is a welcoming escape next to our nation’s capital.

Founded in 1749 and boasting the nation’s third oldest historic district, Alexandria hums with a cosmopolitan feel. Stroll Old Town Alexandria’s King Street mile to find more than 200 independent restaurants and boutiques plus intimate historic museums and new happenings at the waterfront.

Explore Alexandria

Fall in Alexandria

A row of colorful storefronts and parked cars along a tree-lined street in autumn, with orange and yellow leaves framing the scene.

Top 18 Things to Do in Old Town Alexandria

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Shopping

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Experience the Alexandria Waterfront

The Alexandria Waterfront At Dusk

Architecture in Alexandria

A collage shows: a man walking on a brick sidewalk by colorful historic row houses, a tall stone tower with a spire against a blue sky, and a small modernist home surrounded by trees and grass.

Events in Alexandria

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Alexandria’s Neighborhoods

Tap to explore the whole city. Learn more.

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Transportation Options
SVG map showing neighborhoods, transportation, and landmarks in Alexandria with callouts and river features.
People enjoy outdoor dining under red umbrellas on a lively street lined with restaurants, including an ice cream shop, on a sunny day. Trees and flower planters decorate the scene as pedestrians walk by.

Old Town

America’s third-oldest historic district along the Potomac River waterfront.

  • 18th and 19th-century architecture
  • Historic museums and attractions
  • 200+ local boutiques and restaurants
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Del Ray

Del Ray

Alexandria’s modern-day Main Street that marches to the beat of its own drum.

  • Wellness District
  • Outdoor dining and beer gardens
  • Arts community and festivals
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Carlyle & Eisenhower

Carlyle & Eisenhower

An economic engine that celebrates the spirit of innovation and local culture.

  • National Inventors Hall of Fame
  • Black history sites
  • The region’s first urban cidery
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West End

West End

Expansive stretch of the city featuring green spaces and global dining.

  • Award-winning craft breweries
  • Parks, paths and nature preserves
  • Top Ethiopian restaurants
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Arlandria-Chirilagua

Arlandria-Chirilagua

A bustling community representing Central American culture.

  • The Birchmere: America’s Legendary Music Hall
  • Salvadoran, Peruvian and Nepalese dining
  • Meaningful murals
Learn More
A man and woman sit at the marble bar insider the Founding Farmers Alexandria restaurant, smiling and toasting drinks.

Potomac Yard

Alexandria’s emerging vibrant, diverse and sustainable mixed-use community.

  • Potomac Yard Metro
  • Virginia Tech campus
  • Founding Farmers
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Transportation Options

Alexandria’s Accolades

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From Travel + Leisure to Southern Living to Condé Nast Traveler, everybody is buzzing about Alexandria, Virginia.

Discover seasonal events, where to shop, sip and savor and more insider intel in “The Best Of” series.

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A brunch table set with pancakes topped with strawberries and syrup, eggs Benedict with salad, grilled grapefruit, a cappuccino, a glass of orange juice, and a red checkered napkin.
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A collage shows people walking past shops, friends clinking drinks at an outdoor restaurant by the water, and groups enjoying vibrant outdoor dining at colorful tables on a brick sidewalk in a lively town.
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Three women smile as they walk out of a store, shopping bags in hand. The storefront window reads Virginia and Made. Sunlight and shadows dance across the brick sidewalk in front of the shop.
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Featured

Events & Festivals

September 18, 2025
Montgomery Park
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A cocktail in a coupe glass garnished with an orange flower, herbs, and citrus peel sits on a rustic wooden table beside a glass of water and a folded napkin.
September 25 - October 5, 2025
Various locations throughout Old Town
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A promotional poster for Alexandria Oktoberfest features a man and woman in traditional German attire holding beer mugs. Event details and activities are listed, including food, beer, arts, crafts, competitions, and performances.
September 27, 2025
John Carlyle Square
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Flyer for the 83rd Annual Historic Alexandria Homes Tour on Saturday, September 27, 2025. Tickets are $45. Includes a QR code and link to www.thetwig.org for ticket purchase, with a green illustration of a historic home.
September 27, 2025
Historic Old Town Alexandria
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Events Calendar

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