Things To Do

Alexandria, VA 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.
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Historic Walking Tours, Self-Guided Routes, Ghost Tours and More

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Alexandria offers a wide range of ways to explore the city, from guided history tours covering colonial roots, Revolutionary War connections and Civil War sites to Black history tours, lantern-lit ghost walks, Potomac River cruises, food experiences, biking routes and multilingual self-guided walking tours. Whether you’re tracing the footsteps of the Founding Fathers, uncovering Alexandria’s buried history or simply finding the best bite on King Street, there’s a tour or experience for every kind of traveler.

Schedules, meeting points, durations and reservation requirements vary by experience, so visit individual operator and tour listings for current details before you go.

At a Glance

Historical Tours

Step back in time on a guided tour to explore Alexandria’s past, from the cities colonial and revolutionary roots to the Civil War and beyond with stories preserved through historic sites, side streets and cemeteries.

Alexandria History Tours

A brick-paved plaza with benches, streetlamps, American flags, flowering hanging baskets, and a large brick building with an American flag, under a blue sky at dusk.

Gravestone Stories

A group of people posing for a photo during the Gravestone Stories walking tour.

Alexandria Colonial Tours

A costumed guide holding a lantern welcomes four visitors at the open gate of a historic brick building at dusk, with a glowing sign and a moon visible in the sky.

Unscripted Tours

A tree-lined sidewalk with American flags hanging from colorful row houses. A pale yellow door numbered 425 is visible, along with flower boxes, brick sidewalks, and parked cars under leafy green trees.

Manumission Tour Company

A group of people stands outdoors, listening to a man speak in front of a sculpture depicting several figures. Trees and buildings are visible in the background on a sunny day.

Boat Tours & Cruises

Get out on the water to see the city and surrounding area from a truly unique perspective. Whether you’re cruising on your way to sites like Washington D.C. or George Washington’s Mount Vernon via water taxi, or just taking advantage of Alexandria’s waterfront setting to sightsee along the Potomac River, learn about seasonal boat tours in Alexandria below.

Water Taxi

A group of people sit and talk on the deck of a boat on a river, with the Lincoln Memorial and a stone bridge visible in the background. Trees and parked cars line the riverbank.

Monuments Cruise

Couple on A Water Taxi in Alexandria

Black History & Cultural Tours

Experience a Manumission Tour Company route or take a self-guided tour through Alexandria’s rich collection of Black history, cultural heritage and historic sites.

A man in a white shirt and cap stands next to a bronze statue of a woman and child outdoors, with trees and a modern glass building in the background.
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A man in business attire stands under a three-pillared metal sculpture at an outdoor memorial surrounded by trees and a brick pathway on a sunny day.
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A woman wearing sunglasses and a light shirt touches a bronze plaque featuring raised figures and inscriptions outdoors, with trees and a grassy area in the background.
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Jones-Point At Dusk
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Self-Guided Walking Tours

Choose your own adventure with these self-guided walking tours curated by Visit Alexandria. Explore Old Town’s history, see the sites around neighborhoods like Del Ray, or stroll through a collection of public artwork.

Downloadable walking guides are also available in several languages: Download the English Self-Guided Tour PDF, Download the Spanish Self-Guided Tour PDF, Download the French Self-Guided Tour PDF, Download the German Self-Guided Tour PDF.

Great Walks

Couple Captain's Row

African American Heritage Trails

Jones-Point At Dusk

Old Town Historical Tour

Two women stand and talk outside the Freedom House Museum, a historic brick building with a white door on a tree-lined sidewalk. A museum sign hangs from a post nearby. Another person walks further down the sidewalk.

Old Town North Art Walk

A mural on a yellow building depicts two large hands reaching toward each other with fingers almost touching, surrounded by purple flowers. A burst of light appears between the fingertips. Two windows are incorporated into the artwork.

Ghost Tours

Discover the haunting secrets hidden in Old Town Alexandria’s centuries-old streets on a ghost tour. Unique ghost tours include pirate ghost tours, pub tours (must be 21+ to participate), Halloween-themed tours and more.

Nightly Spirits – Ghost Tour Pub Crawls

A person in historical costume gestures animatedly while speaking to a group of people standing outside a building at night. The group appears to be listening attentively.

Alexandria Colonial Tours

A costumed guide holding a lantern welcomes four visitors at the open gate of a historic brick building at dusk, with a glowing sign and a moon visible in the sky.

Phantoms of the Potomac: Old Town Alexandria Ghost Tour

A dark brick building with tall windows and double green doors stands against a dramatic sky filled with purple and pink clouds, creating a mysterious and moody atmosphere. Trees partially frame the scene.

Bike Tours & Rentals

Take a tour on two wheels through Alexandria and head south along the Mount Vernon Trail toward George Washington’s Mount Vernon or north toward Washington, D.C.

See below for resources on bike rentals, self-guided tour routes and guided tours.

Two bicycles with brown tires are parked on a gravel path beside a river, with classic-style brick buildings in the background under a clear blue sky.
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A row of red Capital Bikeshare bicycles are docked at a bike-sharing station on a sidewalk next to a street lined with trees and brick buildings, with a person in the background.
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A man wearing a helmet and casual clothes smiles while standing next to a bicycle on a road beside a stone wall, near the entrance of a tunnel.
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Food Tours

Sip and savor the city on a guided tasting tour of Alexandria. Note that exact schedules, included restaurants and reservations vary by operator.

Blue Fern Travel – Fork & Fizz Tours

Four people sit at a table in a bar or restaurant, smiling and clinking glasses of beer together in a cheerful toast. The atmosphere is lively and friendly.

Alexandria Food Tours

A book titled Classic Restaurants of Alexandria by Hope Nelson is propped against a beige wooden window sill. The cover features photos of restaurant signs and historic buildings.

Nightly Spirits – Ghost Tour Pub Crawls

A person in historical costume gestures animatedly while speaking to a group of people standing outside a building at night. The group appears to be listening attentively.

Explore Seasonal Experiences

In addition to the year-round offerings above, visit our events calendar for seasonal specialty tours, food and art festivals, historic experiences, kid-friendly activities and more.

Browse Events Calendar

Purchase a Key to the City Attractions Pass

Complement your tour experience with our Key to the City attractions pass, offering access to 9 historic sites plus additional discounts.

View Key to the City Pass Details

Featured Tours

Explore All Tours

The directory below includes guided tours, private and group experiences, ghost tours and other ways to explore Alexandria. Use the category and region filters to find the perfect tour experience.

Featured
A man in colonial attire holding a lantern welcomes four casually dressed adults at the open gates of a historic brick building at dusk, with a glowing light from the entrance and signs on the gate pillars.

Alexandria Colonial Tours

Alexandria’s Original Ghost & Graveyard Tour, Celebrating 50 Years: Follow an 18th-century costumed guide by lantern light through the charming...
221 King Street Alexandria, Virginia
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A book titled Classic Restaurants of Alexandria by Hope Nelson is propped against a beige wooden window sill. The cover features photos of restaurant signs and historic buildings.

Alexandria Food Tours

From seaport pubs to international cuisine, Alexandria’s culinary history runs deep. George Washington danced in the ballroom of Gadsby’s Tavern,...
Old Town Alexandria, Virginia
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A brick-paved plaza with benches, streetlamps, American flags, flowering hanging baskets, and a large brick building with an American flag, under a blue sky at dusk.

Alexandria History Tours

Alexandria History Tours offers private and public tours exploring the Revolutionary War, George Washington, early American commerce, the Civil War,...
Old Town Alexandria, Virginia
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A red brick church with a large stained glass window above double doors, an orange awning, and a historical marker reading “Beulah Baptist Church” in front. Cars are parked to the left, and a tree shades part of the building.

Beulah Baptist Church

African Americans escaping slavery found refuge in Alexandria after Union troops occupied the city in 1861. The Rev. Clement “Clem”...
320 S. Washington Street Alexandria, Virginia
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Four people wearing helmets stand with bicycles on a city street, smiling at the camera. The bikes have blue bags labeled “Bike and Roll.” Brick buildings and trees are visible in the background.

Bike to Mount Vernon

Bike to Mount Vernon. Rent a bike through Bike and Roll, Capital Bikeshare, Pedego Electric Bikes or Wheel and Nuts...
106 N. Lee Street (Unlimited Biking) OR 210 N. Lee Street, Unit 102 (Pedego Electric Bikes) Alexandria, Virginia
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A white and blue tour boat named “Admiral Tilp” with passengers on board cruises on a river. In the background, a larger riverboat with yellow trim is docked. The weather is sunny and calm.

City Cruises

City Cruises provides water taxi service from Old Town Alexandria to Washington, D.C. via water taxis to The Wharf, National...
105 N. Union Street Alexandria, Virginia
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Vintage arcade games and colorful neon signs in entertainment venue

Continues Arcade, Bar, Restaurant

Step into a world where the past meets the present. Get ready to embark on an adventure that will transport...
1050 N. Fayette Street Alexandria, Virginia
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Featured
Family exploring the historic grounds and mansion at Mount Vernon

George Washington’s Mount Vernon

George Washington’s Mount Vernon is the riverside home of our nation’s first president, George Washington. The estate includes a Mansion,...
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Mount Vernon, VA 22121
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A group of people posing for a photo during the Gravestone Stories walking tour.

Gravestone Stories

Discover Alexandria’s Hidden Past with Gravestone Stories Explore one of Alexandria’s most remarkable historic landscapes with Gravestone Stories, a historian-led...
Hamilton Avenue & Wilkes Street Alexandria, Virginia
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A two-story brick house with green shutters, white columns, and a wide front porch. Red chairs and potted plants decorate the porch, and a neatly trimmed hedge lines the front yard.

Historic Garden Week’s Alexandria Tour

Every April, five of Old Town Alexandria’s private homes and gardens will open to the public, as part of the...
Alexandria Visitor Center 221 King Street Alexandria, Virginia
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A group of people stands outdoors, listening to a man speak in front of a sculpture depicting several figures. Trees and buildings are visible in the background on a sunny day.

Manumission Tour Company

Manumission Tour Company curates guided cultural heritage tours designed to highlight Alexandria’s extensive African American History. Owned by a fourth...
112 W. Taylor Run Parkway Alexandria, Virginia
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A white and blue sightseeing boat is docked at a wooden pier on a lake, with a small pavilion, a few people on the dock, and trees in the background under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Mount Vernon by Bike, Boat or Bus

Planning to visit George Washington’s Mount Vernon from Alexandria? Why not add to the adventure by cruising down the Potomac...
221 King Street Alexandria, Virginia
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Frequently Asked Questions

Do Alexandria tours need to be booked in advance?
Reservation policies vary by operator. Guided and seasonal tours may have limited capacity, so booking in advance is recommended, particularly on weekends and during peak season. Confirm availability through the individual operator or tour listing before your visit.

Where do Alexandria tours begin?
Meeting points vary by experience. Many tours operate in Old Town or along the waterfront, but exact starting locations differ by operator. Confirm the meeting point with your tour operator before arriving.

Are Alexandria tours available year-round?
Many guided and self-guided experiences are available throughout the year. Boat tours, cruises and some specialty tours operate seasonally. Check individual listings for current availability.

Are self-guided Alexandria tours available?
Yes. Visit Alexandria provides self-guided walking tour resources and downloadable guides in English, Spanish, French and German. Find them in the Self-Guided Walking Tours section above.