A woman and a man ride red rental bikes together on a leafy street lined with colorful historic houses, one displaying an American flag.

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 one of Travel + Leisure’s Best Cities in the U.S 2024 and a Condé Nast Traveler Top 3 Best Small City in the U.S. 2024, Alexandria is a welcoming weekend 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. Alexandria is the perfect home base for your D.C. vacation and an unforgettable getaway of its own.

Summer in Alexandria

Top 18 Things to Do in Old Town Alexandria

A person walks past three colorful row houses—white, blue, and red—on a tree-lined street with a sidewalk and utility pole in the foreground.

Explore Alexandria During WorldPride 2025

Two Progress Pride flags hang from a lamppost decorated with hanging baskets of purple flowers, surrounded by green trees and a building in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Old Town Festival of Speed & Style

A vibrant illustration of a red Lamborghini Countach with its doors up, a woman sitting inside, two women posing by the car, and a man standing nearby in a stylish urban setting.

Alexandria Tours

A group of five people walk through a brick gate with a tour guide in a white shirt at the entrance of Carlyle House, surrounded by trees and historical signage.

Shopping

Alexandria is 5 miles south of Washington, D.C., a water taxi ride away from National Harbor and a bike ride from Mount Vernon.

: WATER TAXI DOCK

Transportation Options

Alexandria’s Accolades

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

Vote for Alexandria!

Help us make Condé Nast Traveler’s “Best Small Cities in the U.S.” list for the 8^th year in a row and cinch the top ranking—plus, enter to win a European excursion with Viking Cruises. Voting closes June 30, 2025.

Vote Now

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