Alexandria travel guide
Alexandria Tourism | Alexandria Guide
You're Going to Love Alexandria
With a population of 139,966, Alexandria is a must-see destination in Virginia, United States. It is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Alexandria has to offer.
Where to Eat in Alexandria
Old Town is the neighbourhood with the most restaurants in Alexandria. These include popular favourites such as The Study (116 S. Alfred Street), Mia's Italian Kitchen (100 King St.) and Landini Brothers (115 King Street). If you’re looking for affordable options, Geranio (722 King Street) and La Tasca - Alexandria (607 King Street) are great picks. For delicious green meals, Josephine - Old Town (109 S St Asaph St) and Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza + Tap (401 E. Braddock Rd.) are recommended spots to get vegetarian or vegan food in Alexandria.
When to visit Alexandria
Looking for warm weather? Then head to Alexandria in July, when the average temperature is 26 °C, and the highest can go up to 31 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as -2 °C, with an average temperature of 2 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in May, when precipitation is around 97 mm. In contrast, February is usually the driest month of the year in Alexandria, with an average rainfall of 66 mm.
How to Get to Alexandria
Plane
When flying to Alexandria, you’ll arrive at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), which is located 3 miles from the city centre. The shortest flight to Alexandria from the United Kingdom departs from London and takes around 11h.
Train
Amtrak is the most popular train carrier serving Alexandria, followed by Acela. The train journey from Alexandria to Baltimore takes 0h 28m and costs around £3 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Philadelphia, expect to pay about £6 for a 1h 55m trip. The train station in Alexandria is called Alexandria, and is located 1.0 mile from the city centre.
Car
Another option to get to Alexandria is to pick up a car hire from Washington, D.C., which is about 7 miles from Alexandria. You’ll find branches of Budget and Avis, among others, in Washington, D.C..
Bus
Several bus lines operate bus routes to Alexandria, including Megabus, FlixBus and Bus. From Philadelphia, the bus ride to Alexandria takes 175 miles and will cost you around £10. From New York, the ticket costs about £14 for a journey of 260 miles. Alexandria’s bus station is located 1.5 miles from the city centre.
Airports near Alexandria
Airlines serving Alexandria
Where to stay in Alexandria
If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Hampton Inn & Suites Fort Belvoir Alexandria South and Hampton Inn Alexandria/Old Town. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Alexandria, with prices from £49 to £361 per night. Old Town is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Alexandria are about 62% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.
Old Town - In Alexandria’s most popular neighbourhood to stay, recommended hotels include Hotel Indigo Old Town Alexandria, Hilton Garden Inn Alexandria Old Town National Harbor and Hilton Alexandria Old Town.
Where to stay in popular areas of Alexandria
Most booked hotels in Alexandria
Hiring a car in Alexandria
Budget, Hertz and Enterprise Rent-A-Car are the agencies with the best reviews in the city. The most popular location to hire a car in Alexandria is the Hertz branch at 501 S Pickett Street, which is 5 miles from the city centre.
Expect to pay £0.84 per litre in Alexandria (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between £9.97 and £13.29. The most frequently booked car type in Alexandria is Full-size (Jeep Compass or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Economy car hire (Nissan Versa or similar) is, on average, 59% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.