Introduction
Where to eat
When to visit
How to get there
Where to stay
Hiring a car

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 one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. We recommend you stay at least 3 days in order to fully appreciate everything Alexandria has to offer.

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Where to Eat in Alexandria

Old Town is the neighbourhood with the most restaurants in Alexandria. These include popular favourites such as Mia's Italian Kitchen (100 King St.), Ada's on the River (3 Pioneer Mill Way) and The Warehouse (214 King St). If you’re looking for affordable options, Josephine - Old Town (109 S St Asaph St) and Matt and Tony's All Day Kitchen + Bar (1501 Mt Vernon Ave) are great picks.

When to visit Alexandria

Alexandria in November
Estimated hotel price
$242
1 night at 3-star hotel
Alexandria in November
Estimated hotel price
$242
1 night at 3-star hotel

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.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Alexandria

Plane

When flying to Alexandria, you’ll arrive at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), which is located 5 km from the city centre. The shortest flight to Alexandria from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 18h 55m.

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 $10 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Philadelphia, expect to pay about $19 for a 2h 01m trip. The train station in Alexandria is called Alexandria, and is located 1.6 km 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 11 km from Alexandria. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Thrifty, among others, in Washington, D.C..

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Alexandria, including Washington Deluxe, OurBus and CoachRun. From Richmond, the bus ride to Alexandria takes 185 km and will cost you around $80. From Harrisburg, the ticket costs about $38 for a journey of 314 km. Alexandria’s bus station is located 2.4 km from the city centre.

Plane

When flying to Alexandria, you’ll arrive at Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), which is located 5 km from the city centre. The shortest flight to Alexandria from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 18h 55m.

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 $10 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Philadelphia, expect to pay about $19 for a 2h 01m trip. The train station in Alexandria is called Alexandria, and is located 1.6 km 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 11 km from Alexandria. You’ll find branches of Dollar and Thrifty, among others, in Washington, D.C..

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Alexandria, including Washington Deluxe, OurBus and CoachRun. From Richmond, the bus ride to Alexandria takes 185 km and will cost you around $80. From Harrisburg, the ticket costs about $38 for a journey of 314 km. Alexandria’s bus station is located 2.4 km from the city centre.

Airports near Alexandria

FDKFrederick
FMEFort Meade Tipton

Airlines serving Alexandria

KLM
Good (1,480 reviews)
British Airways
Good (7,836 reviews)
Delta
Good (8,359 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (4,291 reviews)
Iberia
Good (3,160 reviews)
Air France
Good (1,558 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (9,516 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (1,731 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (3,550 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (3,730 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (10,862 reviews)
LOT
Good (1,179 reviews)
Finnair
Good (1,376 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (2,185 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (1,431 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (1,234 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Good (12,140 reviews)
JetBlue
Good (2,906 reviews)
China Eastern
Good (200 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (300 reviews)
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Where to stay in Alexandria

If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Comfort Inn and Suites Alexandria West and Travelers Motel. There are also lots of holiday rental options in Alexandria, with prices from $136 to $826 per night. Old Town is the neighbourhood with the highest amount of rentals to choose from. On average, holiday rentals in Alexandria are about 48% more expensive than a hotel room in the city.

Eisenhower East - In Alexandria’s most popular neighbourhood to stay, recommended hotels include Holiday Inn Alexandria - Carlyle By IHG, Residence Inn by Marriott Alexandria Old Town South at Carlyle and The Westin Alexandria Old Town.

Old Town - Here you’ll find travellers’ favourites such as Hilton Garden Inn Alexandria Old Town National Harbor, Morrison House Old Town Alexandria, Autograph Collection and Hotel Indigo Old Town Alexandria By IHG. The average nightly price for a double room in Old Town is $252.

Eisenhower East - In Alexandria’s most popular neighbourhood to stay, recommended hotels include Holiday Inn Alexandria - Carlyle By IHG, Residence Inn by Marriott Alexandria Old Town South at Carlyle and The Westin Alexandria Old Town.
Old Town - Here you’ll find travellers’ favourites such as Hilton Garden Inn Alexandria Old Town National Harbor, Morrison House Old Town Alexandria, Autograph Collection and Hotel Indigo Old Town Alexandria By IHG. The average nightly price for a double room in Old Town is $252.
Most popular hotel in Alexandria by neighbourhood

Where to stay in popular areas of Alexandria

Most booked hotels in Alexandria

See all
Hyatt Centric Arlington
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
$336+
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Hotel Indigo Old Town Alexandria By IHG
4 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
$361+
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Hampton Inn & Suites Alexandria Old Town Area South
3 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$236+
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Washington Plaza Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
$269+
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The Alexandrian Old Town Alexandria, Autograph Collection
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, Excellent reviews)
$376+
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Clarion Collection Hotel Arlington Court Suites
3 stars
Excellent (8.1, Excellent reviews)
$277+
View

Hiring a car in Alexandria

Expect to pay $1.88 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 $22.56 and $30.08. The most frequently booked car type in Alexandria is Compact (Nissan Sentra or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate car hire (Tesla Model 3 or similar) is, on average, 65% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.

Expect to pay $1.88 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 $22.56 and $30.08. The most frequently booked car type in Alexandria is Compact (Nissan Sentra or similar). If you’re looking to save money, though, keep in mind that Intermediate car hire (Tesla Model 3 or similar) is, on average, 65% cheaper than other car hire types in the city.