Plan Your Visit

Plan Your Visit to Old Town Alexandria

Old Town is one of the easiest day trips or weekend getaways in the Washington, DC area — just minutes from the airport and a quick Metro ride from downtown DC. Here's how to get here, where to park, and how to make the most of your visit.

Getting Here

How to arrive

Old Town is remarkably easy to reach.

By Metro

Take the Blue or Yellow line to King St-Old Town station, then hop the free King Street Trolley down King Street to City Hall/Market Square, a few blocks from the waterfront. Reagan National Airport (DCA) is three stops away.

By Water Taxi

In season, cruise in by water taxi from The Wharf and Georgetown in DC or from National Harbor — arriving right at the Old Town marina.

By Car

Easy access from I-495, the GW Parkway, and Route 1. From DCA airport it's about a 10-minute drive.

Parking in Old Town

  • The Market Square Garage is closed while City Hall is renovated. The City's own garages include the Courthouse Garage at 111 S. Pitt St. and the North Union Street Garage at 220 N. Union St.
  • Most street meters charge $2.75 an hour, Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and you can pay at the meter or with the ParkMobile app.
  • Meters on blocks that are not residential are usually free on Sundays and state holidays, but some residential blocks charge cars without a permit even on Sundays.

The City of Alexandria's parking page for Old Town lists every garage and lot the City runs. Our guide to parking in Old Town covers garages and street parking.

Getting Around

The free King Street Trolley runs daily along King Street between the Metro and City Hall/Market Square, a few blocks short of the waterfront, every 15 minutes from 11 AM to 11 PM, so you can park (or arrive) once and ride most of the way. Capital Bikeshare stations and flat, walkable blocks make biking and walking easy too.

Best Time to Visit

Old Town is a year-round destination. Spring brings blossoms and patio weather; summer is peak waterfront season; fall offers crisp strolls and festivals; and the winter holidays bring the Scottish Christmas Walk Parade and the Holiday Boat Parade of Lights (this year's dates are in our holiday guide). See our events calendar to time your visit with a festival.

Where to Stay

Old Town has 15 hotels and inns inside about a square mile, and the choice is less about amenities than about which end of King Street you want to walk out onto — the Metro end, the middle of the corridor, or the waterfront. Our guide to where to stay in Old Town covers all of them, including the two small inns that booking sites rarely surface.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a car to visit Old Town Alexandria?

No. You can take the Metro to King St-Old Town and ride the free King Street Trolley to City Hall/Market Square, a few blocks from the waterfront, or arrive by seasonal water taxi. Old Town is very walkable once you're there.

Where should I park in Old Town?

In one of the City's garages, such as the Courthouse Garage at 111 S. Pitt St. (the Market Square Garage is closed while City Hall is renovated), or at a street meter, which is usually free on Sundays on blocks that are not residential. Then explore on foot or by the free trolley. Our parking guide covers garages and street parking.

How far is Old Town Alexandria from Washington, DC and the airport?

It's about a 10-minute drive or three Metro stops from Reagan National Airport (DCA), and roughly 15–20 minutes from downtown DC.

Ready to explore?

See what's on while you're in town, and start planning what to do and where to eat.

Things to DoEvents Calendar
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What's on in Old Town this week

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