Top 18 Things to Do in Old Town Alexandria

Enjoy stunning views of the Potomac River while you dine al fresco at Alexandria’s waterfront restaurants. Watch boats and water taxis glide across the Potomac, catch the last light of a golden hour sunset and let the evening unfold at one of the most scenic dining destinations in the D.C. region. Hummingbird by James Beard nominee chef Cathal Armstrong offers lobster lemon linguine, pan-seared black bass and more nautical fare. Nearby at Vola’s Dockside Grill, enjoy oysters Rockefeller, lobster rolls and a wide-ranging drinks menu. There are plenty of riverside restaurants to choose from, including BARCA Pier & Wine Bar, Ada’s on the River, Blackwall Hitch and more. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.

Located in a former World War II torpedo factory, the Torpedo Factory Art Center is home to the largest collection of publicly accessible working artist studios in the U.S. Guests can visit more than 80 artists’ studios featuring a variety of media including painting, ceramics, jewelry and printmaking, plus ten galleries featuring 165 artists and also visit the Alexandria Archaeology Museum. Check the Torpedo Factory calendar for special happenings like late night events and new exhibit openings. The Torpedo Factory Art Center is free to visit and open daily.

Alexandria’s Black history is woven into every block of the city, and several essential sites bring that history to life in ways that are both sobering and significant. Freedom House Museum occupies what remains of one of the largest slave-trading complexes in the country, where thousands of enslaved men, women and children were trafficked between 1828 and 1861. The Alexandria Black History Museum, originally the segregated library for Alexandria’s African American residents, documents local and national Black history, culture and contributions. The African American Waterfront Heritage Trails connect many of these sites on foot. Guided tours through Manumission Tour Company offer a deeper, expert-led exploration of Alexandria’s Black history and its connections to the Underground Railroad, the Civil War and the Civil Rights era.

Feel like you’ve landed in Harry Potter’s world by visiting the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum. Founded in 1792 and operated continuously until 1933, the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum is one of the oldest and most intact apothecary shops in the country. More than 15,000 original objects line the shelves, including hand-blown glass bottles, early medical devices and drawers full of botanical curiosities. Harry Potter fans can see the real-life ingredients used throughout the 1800s that were also used as “potion” ingredients in the series, including dragon’s blood, mandrake root, lavender, castor oil, valerian and many more. Admission is ticketed and guided tours are available. Plan for 45 minutes to an hour. Located just off Historic King Street at 105-107 S. Fairfax Street.

Forbes named Alexandria the ‘Ice Cream Cone Capital of the U.S.’ and one visit will tell you why. Ice cream parlors, gelato shops, cupcakeries and chocolate shops line King Street, making it impossible to leave without something sweet. Try authentic artisanal gelato from Old Town Dolci Gelati, whose chef is a global “gelato ambassador,” or head to Casa Rosada for freshly made artisan gelato and sorbet. Alexandria Cupcake’s made-from-scratch flavors like chocolate peanut butter will have you dreaming of when you can return.

If these walls could talk, you’d want to pull up a chair. Many Old Town Alexandria restaurants operate inside historic buildings that have been standing for two centuries or more. Virtue Feed & Grain occupies an 1800s animal feed warehouse steps from the waterfront. Gadsby’s Tavern Restaurant has served diners in its elegant Colonial dining rooms since 1770. Josephine, Alexandria’s French brasserie, operates inside a converted 19th-century firehouse with pendant lights sourced from the Paris Metro. Enjoy a taste of century-old French flavors while celebrating the elegance of Parisian life. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.

Raise a glass of Alexandria’s award-winning craft beer from Port City Brewing Company at local restaurants, pubs and sports bars along Historic King Street in Old Town Alexandria, or head straight to the source by visiting brewery in Alexandria’s West End, which is about 15 minutes away by car or rideshare. While you’re in the West End, neighborhood sample more creative brews at Aslin Beer Co. then head a few doors down to enjoy craft spirits at Motherwell Distilling Co. You can continue your craft beverage tour by checking out Lost Boy Cider, Northern Virginia’s first urban cidery, in Carlyle & Eisenhower.

Alexandria’s nearly 280 years of history have left behind no shortage of ghost stories, and the city’s ghost tours are some of the most entertaining ways to experience Old Town after dark. Alexandria Colonial Tours offers the classic Ghost and Graveyard Tour and the newer River Route Ghost and Pirate Tour along the waterfront. Alexandria Ghosts leads lantern-lit walks through the city’s most haunted streets. Nightly Spirits combines ghost history with a pub crawl for visitors 21 and older. Tickets are required and we recommend booking in advance, especially on weekends and in October.

Outdoor enthusiasts can take advantage of 20 miles of trails and 900+ acres of protected open space in Alexandria, including eight waterfront parks. Nearly 18 miles long, the Mount Vernon Trail stretches from George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate in Alexandria alongside the scenic Potomac River to the national monuments and memorials in Washington, D.C. A favorite among runners and cyclists, the trail is one of the most popular sections of the 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway that extends from Maine to Florida. Need a bike? Consider renting one through Strictly Ebikes, Unlimited Biking, Capital Bikeshare, Pedego Electric Bikes or Wheel Nuts Bike Shop. Consider combining with the City Cruises Potomac Water Taxi for a one-way bike ride and scenic return by boat.