Things to Know About Alexandria, Virginia

Written by

Updated 06/03/19

Photo © Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association

Alexandria, Virginia is an independent city located along the Potomac River, six miles south of downtown Washington, DC. The historic center of Alexandria, known as Old Town, is the third oldest historic district in the United States. The charming neighborhood contains more than 4,200 historic buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, including homes, churches, museums, shops, small businesses and restaurants. Alexandria is the center of nightlife in Northern Virginia and is a popular destination for tourists as well as residents of the DC/Capital region. See, Top 10 Things to Do in Alexandria

Neighborhoods within Alexandria

Old Town, Del Ray, Arlandria and West End

Location

Alexandria is located north of I-95, south of I-395 and west of Route 1. See a map

Alexandria Demographics

According to the 2000 census, the City of Alexandria is home to 128,283 residents. The race breakdown is as follows: White: 59.8%; Black: 22.5%; Asian: 5.7%; Hispanic/Latino: 14.7%. Population under age 18: 16.8%; 65 and over: 9%; Median household income: $ 56,054 (1999); Persons below poverty level 8.9% (1999).

Alexandria Transportation

Metro Stations: King Street, Braddock Road, Eisenhower Avenue and Van Dorn
King Street Trolley:

The trolley is free and is the best way to get from the King Street Metro Station to the Old Town Alexandria waterfront area. The trolley operates from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, between the King Street Metro station and North Union Street. The trolley stops along King Street so visitors can hop on and off along Old Town Alexandria's main thoroughfare.
DASH Bus Service:

The Alexandria Transit Company provides bus service within the City of Alexandria, and connects with Metrobus, Metrorail, Virginia Railway Express, and all local bus systems.
Amtrak: Alexandria’s Union Station, 110 Callahan Drive, located in Old Town, Alexandria next to the King Street Metro. 1-800-USA-RAIL.
Virginia Railway Express (VRE)

: Alexandria’s Union Station, 110 Callahan Drive, next to the King Street Metro. Commuter rail service is available from Northern Virginia to Alexandria, Crystal City and downtown Washington, DC. 1-800-RIDE-VRE.

Parking in Old Town Alexandria

On-street parking and public parking garages are available. See details about how to find parking in Old Town

Photos

See a photo gallery of Alexandria

Attractions in Alexandria

George Washington National Masonic Memorial
Torpedo Factory Art Center
Birchmere Music Hall
Alexandria Black History Museum
Alexandria Archaeology Museum
Fort Ward Museum and Historic Park
Friendship Firehouse Museum
Gadsby's Tavern
The Lyceum
Christ Church
The Little Theatre
Robert E. Lee's Boyhood Home
Carlyle House
Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
Oronoco Bay Park
Mount Vernon Trail

Dining in Alexandria

Alexandria has a wide variety of restaurants from family-friendly sandwich shops to elegant fine dining. See a guide to the best restaurants in Alexandria. It is especially nice to dine outdoors in good weather. See Alexandria restaurants with outdoor seating.

Shopping Alexandria

Alexandria is one of the best places to shop in the Washington DC area. The historic town has a variety of unique shops ranging from antiques to art galleries to jewelry stores to souvenir shops. See a guide to Shopping in Alexandria

Alexandria Sightseeing Tours

There are a variety of fun sightseeing tours of Alexandria available including cruises on the Potomac River, horse drawn carriage rides, ghost tours, and historic walking tours.

Hotels in Alexandria

Alexandria is an interesting place to visit and with its convenient access to Washington, DC, the area is a great option of a place to stay while visiting the nation’s capital. See a guide to hotels in Alexandria

Outdoor Recreation

Alexandria, Virginia has several parks providing visitors and residents the opportunity to enjoy walking, picnicking, relaxing and participating in all kinds of sports activities.