Old Town Alexandria is where a lot of DC visitors end up spending their favorite afternoon, usually by accident. It’s 20 minutes from the Mall on the Metro, it was a busy port town before Washington existed, and its brick sidewalks, Federal-era houses and river views feel a world away from the monuments. George Washington kept a townhouse here, worshipped here and danced at its tavern balls, and his home at Mount Vernon is a short drive down the river. Put the two together and you have one of the best days out from the capital, and one that’s easy to do without a car.
Quick answer: Take the Metro’s Blue or Yellow line to King Street-Old Town, then walk or ride the free King Street Trolley a mile down to the waterfront. Allow half a day for Old Town and at least three hours for Mount Vernon, which is about 9 miles farther south and reached by car, bike or a Metro-and-bus trip. Mount Vernon’s grounds pass was $30 for adults in 2026.
Last updated September 24, 2026. Hours, fares and prices below were checked that day against the City of Alexandria’s, Mount Vernon’s, WMATA’s and the attractions’ own websites.
- Getting there: Metro to King Street-Old Town (Blue and Yellow lines), or the Potomac Water Taxi from the Wharf in about 30 minutes.
- Getting around: the King Street Trolley is free, every 15 minutes, 11am to 11pm daily, and Alexandria’s DASH buses are fare-free.
- Free: the Torpedo Factory Art Center, open daily 10am to 6pm, the waterfront and the Saturday farmers’ market.
- Mount Vernon: open 9am to 5pm; grounds pass $30 for ages 12 and up, $16 for ages 6 to 11.
- Farmers’ market: Saturdays 7am to noon, temporarily on North Royal Street and Tavern Square while Market Square is renovated.
On this page: At a glance | Why go | History | Getting there | Things to do | Mount Vernon | Walking route | Map | A day from DC | Food and drink | Shopping | Events | Where to stay | What to skip | FAQ
Old Town Alexandria and Mount Vernon at a glance
| What | Old Town Alexandria | Mount Vernon |
|---|---|---|
| Getting there from DC | Metro to King Street-Old Town (Blue, Yellow); water taxi from the Wharf | Car, or Yellow line to Huntington then Fairfax Connector bus 101; bike via the Mount Vernon Trail |
| Cost | Free to explore; small house museums about $3 to $8 | Grounds pass $30 (12+), $16 (6-11), free under 6 |
| Hours | Shops and restaurants daily; museums vary, many closed one or two weekdays | 9am to 5pm daily |
| Time needed | Half a day to a full day | 3 to 4 hours, plus travel |
| Best for | History, food, shopping, waterfront strolls | History, families, gardens |
| Best time | Weekday afternoons; Saturday morning for the market | Weekday mornings; spring and fall |
Why visit Old Town Alexandria?
Alexandria was founded in 1749 as a tobacco port on the Potomac, and for its first century it was a busier, richer town than the new capital upriver. It was even part of the District of Columbia from 1791 until 1846, when it was returned to Virginia. Its old center survived the 20th century largely intact, and the city protected it early, so today Old Town has one of the largest collections of 18th- and 19th-century buildings in the country, lived in and still busy.
For a DC visitor, it offers three things the capital doesn’t. It’s a real small town, walkable end to end, with independent shops and restaurants instead of federal buildings. It’s where George Washington’s everyday life happened: his church, his tavern, his Masonic lodge and his townhouse were all here. And it’s the gateway to Mount Vernon, which completes the Washington story the monuments start. It also tells a harder story honestly: Alexandria was a center of the domestic slave trade, and its city museums now put that history front and center.
It’s also simply pleasant. The waterfront has been rebuilt into a string of parks and piers, the evenings are lively without being rowdy, and it’s a good base: many visitors stay here and ride the Metro into DC every day, and our guide to where to stay in DC weighs it against the city’s own neighborhoods.
A short history of Alexandria
Scottish merchants laid out Alexandria in 1749 on the Potomac, and within a few decades it was one of the busiest ports in colonial America, shipping tobacco and then wheat and flour from Virginia’s farms. George Washington knew it as his market town. He sold his crops here, bought supplies here, worshipped at Christ Church and kept a small townhouse in town, and the local Masonic lodge he belonged to still meets in the memorial built in his honor.
In 1791 Alexandria became part of the new District of Columbia, but it never got much from the arrangement: federal buildings went to the Maryland side, and the town’s economy stalled. In 1846 Congress returned it to Virginia. Alexandria’s large slave-trading business was one reason local leaders wanted out, since there was talk in Congress of ending the slave trade in the District, which it did in 1850.
Union troops occupied Alexandria in May 1861, at the very start of the Civil War, and held it for the whole war, which is why so many people escaping slavery made their way here. In the 20th century, the Navy’s torpedo plant brought jobs to the waterfront, and in 1946 the city created one of the country’s earliest historic districts to protect the old town. That early protection is why Old Town looks the way it does today.
How to get from DC to Old Town Alexandria
| Option | How it works | Time and cost (September 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Metro | Blue or Yellow line to King Street-Old Town | About 20 minutes from downtown; regular Metro fare |
| King Street Trolley | From the Metro station down King Street to the waterfront | Free; every 15 minutes, 11am to 11pm daily |
| DASH bus | Alexandria’s local buses | Fare-free |
| Water taxi | Potomac Water Taxi from the Wharf to the Old Town waterfront | About 30 minutes; about $22 one way; March to December |
| Bike | The Mount Vernon Trail along the Potomac from DC and Arlington | Flat and scenic; Capital Bikeshare docks in Old Town |
| Car | George Washington Memorial Parkway south from DC | Paid garages and metered street parking in Old Town |
By Metro. King Street-Old Town station, on the Blue and Yellow lines, sits at the top of King Street, about a mile from the river. From downtown DC it takes about 20 minutes. Rail fares were $2.25 to $6.75 on weekdays before 9:30pm and $2.25 to $2.50 at other times as of September 2026, and you can tap a contactless card or phone at the gates.
The free trolley. The King Street Trolley runs from the Metro station down King Street to the waterfront every 15 minutes from 11am to 11pm daily, and it costs nothing. Ride it down and walk back up, or the other way around; the walk is about 20 minutes and it’s the best way to see King Street.
By water. The Potomac Water Taxi runs between the Wharf in DC and the Old Town waterfront in about 30 minutes, at about $22 one way, from March to December, with connections to Georgetown and National Harbor. Arriving by boat at the foot of King Street is the most enjoyable way in. The Potomac Riverboat Company also runs sightseeing cruises from the Old Town waterfront, including a monuments cruise up to Georgetown for about $30.
By bike. The paved Mount Vernon Trail runs along the Virginia bank of the Potomac from Arlington past Reagan National Airport into Old Town, and on to Mount Vernon. From the Mall, it’s a flat and beautiful ride.
Things to do in Old Town Alexandria
Ranked for a first visit. The house museums keep short and varied hours, and several close on one or two weekdays, so check the day before you plan around them. Here they are side by side:
| Museum | Open (as of September 2026) | Adult price |
|---|---|---|
| Torpedo Factory Art Center | Daily, 10am to 6pm | Free |
| Gadsby’s Tavern Museum | Closed Wednesdays; also Mondays and Tuesdays in fall and winter; tours 1:15, 2:15, 3:15pm | $5 |
| Carlyle House | Mon-Sat 10am to 4pm (closed Wed), Sun noon to 4pm; last tour 3pm | Check the museum’s site |
| Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary | Closed Tuesdays; also Mondays in fall and winter | $5; guided tour $8 |
| Alexandria Black History Museum | Tue-Sat 10am to 4pm | $3 |
| Masonic Memorial | Tours Mon and Thu-Sun, 9:30am to 3:30pm | Check gwmemorial.org |
1. Walk King Street
Free. King Street is Old Town’s spine, running about a mile from the Metro to the river, lined with 18th- and 19th-century buildings that now hold boutiques, galleries, cafes and restaurants. The lower half, nearer the water, is the older and livelier end. The side streets, especially Prince Street’s cobbled Captain’s Row and the lanes between King and Duke, are where the town looks most like it did two centuries ago.
Plan it: free; the free King Street Trolley runs the length of it. Allow 1 to 2 hours. Best for: first-timers, shoppers, photographers.
2. The waterfront and the Torpedo Factory Art Center
Free. At the foot of King Street, the Torpedo Factory was built after World War I to make torpedoes for the Navy. Since 1974 it has been an art center, with working artists’ studios, galleries and the city’s archaeology museum on three floors, and you can watch artists at work and buy directly from them. Outside, the rebuilt waterfront has parks, piers, benches and river views toward National Harbor and DC.
Plan it: Torpedo Factory open daily 10am to 6pm, free (as of September 2026). 105 N. Union St. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours with the waterfront. Best for: families, art lovers, a rainy hour.
3. Gadsby’s Tavern Museum
Paid, small fee. Two connected buildings, a 1785 tavern and a 1792 hotel, where George Washington celebrated his birthday at balls in the upstairs ballroom and where Jefferson and Lafayette were later feted. The museum’s guided tours bring the rooms and their politics to life, and the restaurant next door still serves dinner in Colonial-style dining rooms.
Plan it: closed Wednesdays year-round and also Mondays and Tuesdays in fall and winter; adults $5, children 5 to 12 $3; 45-minute tours daily at 1:15, 2:15 and 3:15pm (as listed on the City of Alexandria’s site in September 2026). 134 N. Royal St. Allow 1 hour. Best for: history buffs, couples.
4. Carlyle House
Guided tours. A stone Georgian mansion built in 1753 by the Scottish merchant John Carlyle, and the grandest house of colonial Alexandria. In 1755 General Edward Braddock met five colonial governors here to plan his campaign in the French and Indian War. The garden behind the house is a calm escape from King Street.
Plan it: Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm, closed Wednesday, and Sunday noon to 4pm; tours on the hour, last tour 3pm (as listed by NOVA Parks in September 2026). 121 N. Fairfax St. Allow 45 minutes. Best for: history buffs.
5. Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum
Paid, small fee. A family-run pharmacy that operated from 1792 to 1933, then closed with its shelves, bottles, herbs and ledgers still in place. It’s one of the most complete old shop interiors in the country, and far more interesting than a pharmacy has any right to be. George Washington’s household bought supplies here.
Plan it: closed Tuesdays year-round and Mondays in fall and winter; recent hours Wednesday to Friday 11am to 4pm, Saturday 11am to 5pm, Sunday and Monday 1pm to 5pm; $5 adults, $3 children 5 to 12, guided tours $8 (as of September 2026). 105-107 S. Fairfax St. Allow 30 to 45 minutes. Best for: curious minds, families with older kids.
6. Christ Church
Free; an active church. This brick Episcopal church, finished in 1773, is where George Washington had a family pew, and Robert E. Lee was later confirmed here. It’s still a working parish, so visitors are welcome outside services; check the church’s schedule for visiting times. The churchyard holds some of the oldest burials in town.
Plan it: free; open to visitors outside services. 118 N. Washington St. Allow 20 to 30 minutes. Best for: history buffs, architecture fans.
7. George Washington Masonic National Memorial
Paid, guided tours. The tower on Shooter’s Hill, visible for miles, rises 333 feet and was modeled on the ancient lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt. Inside are exhibits on Washington, who was a member of Alexandria’s Masonic lodge, and an observation deck with long views over Old Town and toward DC. It’s a five-minute walk uphill from the King Street Metro, so it’s easy to start or end a visit here.
Plan it: guided tours, included with admission, on Monday and Thursday to Sunday at 9:30am, 11am, 12:30pm, 2pm and 3:30pm; closed federal holidays (as listed on gwmemorial.org in September 2026). Check gwmemorial.org for the admission price. Allow 1.5 hours. Best for: views, history buffs.
8. Alexandria Black History Museum
Paid, small fee. Housed partly in the city’s first public library for Black residents, which opened in 1940 after a sit-in protest in 1939, this small museum tells the story of Black Alexandria from slavery through civil rights. It’s one of the most important stops in town, and among the least visited.
Plan it: Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm, closed Sunday and Monday; $3, free for Alexandria residents (as of September 2026). 902 Wythe St. Allow 45 minutes. Best for: history buffs, families.
9. Freedom House Museum
City museum. The building at 1315 Duke Street was the headquarters of Franklin and Armfield, once the largest domestic slave-trading firm in the United States, which shipped thousands of enslaved people from Alexandria to the Deep South. The city opened it as a museum in 2022. It’s a sobering, essential visit, and a necessary counterweight to the Colonial polish of the house museums.
Plan it: check the city’s museum page for current hours and admission. 1315 Duke St, about a 10-minute walk from the King Street Metro. Allow 45 minutes. Best for: history buffs, adults and older teens.
10. Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Memorial
Free. During the Civil War, thousands of people escaping slavery fled to Union-occupied Alexandria, and many who died here were buried in this cemetery on the southern edge of Old Town. It was paved over in the 20th century, and the city restored the site as a memorial park in 2014. A short, quiet stop with a lot of weight.
Plan it: free; open daily. 1001 S. Washington St. Allow 20 minutes. Best for: history buffs.
11. The Old Town Farmers’ Market
Free to browse. Alexandria’s Saturday market has been held near Market Square since the 18th century, making it one of the oldest in the country. Since January 10, 2026 it has moved temporarily to the 100 block of North Royal Street and the Tavern Square courtyard, just across the street, while City Hall and Market Square are renovated. Expect produce, baked goods, flowers and crafts.
Plan it: every Saturday, rain or shine, 7am to noon (as listed on the City of Alexandria’s site in September 2026). Go early for the best selection. Allow 45 minutes. Best for: food lovers, Saturday mornings.
12. A river cruise or water taxi
Paid. Seeing Old Town from the river, and the river from Old Town, is part of the experience. The Potomac Riverboat Company’s monuments cruise heads north past the monuments to Georgetown, and the Potomac Water Taxi links Old Town with the Wharf and National Harbor. A late-afternoon boat back to DC is a lovely way to end the day.
Plan it: monuments cruise about $30; water taxi about $22 one way, March to December (as of September 2026). Allow 1 hour or more. Best for: couples, families, sunset.
13. An evening ghost tour
Paid. Old Town’s narrow streets, old graveyards and lantern-lit alleys make it a natural setting for ghost walks, which run in the evenings and mix local legends with genuine history. They’re especially popular in October. Check operators and prices when you book, since they vary.
Plan it: about 1 to 1.5 hours on foot after dark; book ahead in the fall. Best for: teens, groups, Halloween visitors.
14. Del Ray
Free. North of Old Town, the Del Ray neighborhood’s Mount Vernon Avenue has a small-town main street of cafes, bakeries and independent shops, with a far more local feel than King Street. It’s worth the short bus ride or 30-minute walk if you’re staying a second day, or if you want brunch away from the crowds.
Plan it: free; take a DASH bus, which is fare-free, or walk. Allow 1 to 2 hours. Best for: repeat visitors, locals-style afternoons.
Mount Vernon: George Washington’s estate
Mount Vernon was George Washington’s home for more than four decades, and it’s where he died in 1799 and where he’s buried. The estate sits on a bluff above the Potomac about 9 miles south of Old Town, and it’s one of the best historic sites in the country, far richer than the mansion alone. You can see the house, the kitchen and outbuildings, the gardens and farm, the Washingtons’ tomb, and the memorial and burial ground of the enslaved people who worked the estate. The museum and education center, with its galleries on Washington’s life, is excellent, and worth an hour on its own.
Tickets, hours and the mansion
Mount Vernon is open 9am to 5pm. In 2026 a grounds pass cost $30 for ages 12 and up and $16 for ages 6 to 11, with children 5 and under free, and online tickets bought three or more days ahead were $2 cheaper. You choose a timed entry to the mansion when you buy, so book online and pick an early slot. The mansion tour is short and busy; the rest of the estate is where you can spread out.
| Mount Vernon ticket (2026) | Adults (12+) | Youth (6-11) | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grounds pass with timed mansion entry | $30 | $16 | Daily, 9am to 5pm |
| Distillery and gristmill only | $10 | See site | Saturdays and Sundays, April to October |
| Mount Vernon by Candlelight | $41 | $33 | Nov 27-28, Dec 11-12, 18, 21-22; 5:30pm to 8:30pm |
| Christmas Illuminations | $58 | $36 | Dec 19-20; fireworks about 8pm |
Children 5 and under are free for all of these. Prices are for the general public; members pay less.
The distillery and gristmill
About 3 miles from the estate, Washington’s reconstructed whiskey distillery and working gristmill are open for tours on Saturdays and Sundays from April through October. A tour ticket for just the distillery and gristmill was $10 in 2026. Washington’s distillery was one of the largest in the country in its day, and the site still produces small batches of rye whiskey and milled grain.
Christmas at Mount Vernon
The estate’s holiday events are some of the most popular of the year. In 2026, Mount Vernon by Candlelight evening tours, with costumed interpreters playing the Washingtons’ family, friends and enslaved and hired staff, run on November 27 and 28, December 11 and 12, December 18, and December 21 and 22, from 5:30pm to 8:30pm; tickets are $41 for adults and $33 for ages 6 to 11. Christmas Illuminations, on December 19 and 20, adds fireworks over the Potomac at about 8pm, for $58 for adults and $36 for youth, with a $5 mansion-tour add-on (as listed on mountvernon.org in September 2026). Both sell out, so book as early as you can.
Getting to Mount Vernon
By car, it’s a scenic drive down the George Washington Memorial Parkway along the river, about 9 miles from Old Town. By public transit, take the Yellow line to Huntington, the end of the line, and then Fairfax Connector bus 101 to the estate; allow about an hour from downtown DC. By bike, the Mount Vernon Trail runs about 9 miles from Old Town along the river to the estate’s gates, and it’s one of the loveliest rides in the region. Tour companies also offer packages from DC that combine Mount Vernon and Old Town.
Tips for Mount Vernon
- Arrive at opening. School groups and tour buses arrive mid-morning, especially in spring.
- Allow at least three hours, four if you want the museum properly and a walk to the wharf and the tomb.
- Wear walking shoes. The estate covers a lot of ground, much of it on gravel paths and grass.
- Visit the enslaved people’s memorial and burial ground, near the Washingtons’ tomb. It’s easy to miss and essential to the story.
- Pair it with Old Town the same day only if you have a car or a tour; by transit, it’s a long day.
A self-guided walk through Old Town
This route covers the essentials in about three hours at an easy pace, or a full day with museum visits. It’s about 3 miles and mostly flat, apart from the climb to the Masonic Memorial at the start.
- King Street-Old Town Metro. Walk five minutes uphill to the George Washington Masonic National Memorial for the view, ideally on an early tour.
- Ride the free King Street Trolley down King Street, or walk it, and get off around Royal Street.
- Gadsby’s Tavern Museum on North Royal Street, and on a Saturday morning the farmers’ market across the street.
- Carlyle House on North Fairfax Street, then down to the river.
- The waterfront and the Torpedo Factory, with time for the studios and the river views.
- Captain’s Row, the cobbled 100 block of Prince Street, then back up to the Apothecary Museum on South Fairfax Street.
- West to Christ Church on North Washington Street.
- South to the Freedom House Museum on Duke Street, and back up to the Metro, about 10 minutes away.
If you have extra time, add the Black History Museum on Wythe Street, north of King Street, or walk south along the river to the Contrabands and Freedmen Cemetery Memorial.
Map of Old Town Alexandria
King Street-Old Town station and the Masonic Memorial are at the left of the map, and the waterfront and Torpedo Factory on the right. The historic core, with Gadsby’s Tavern, Carlyle House, the Apothecary and Christ Church, sits in the eastern half, within a 10-minute walk of the river.
A day from DC: Old Town and Mount Vernon
With a car or a tour, do both. Start at Mount Vernon when it opens at 9am, with an early mansion slot, and give it until lunch. Drive the parkway back to Old Town, eat on King Street, and spend the afternoon on the waterfront, at the Torpedo Factory and in one or two house museums. Finish with dinner in Old Town, or the water taxi back to DC at sunset.
By Metro, choose one. For Old Town, take the Metro to King Street-Old Town mid-morning, visit the Masonic Memorial on the first tour, ride the free trolley down King Street, and spend the afternoon on the waterfront and in the house museums. For Mount Vernon, go straight there first thing via Huntington and the bus, and come back for a late afternoon in Old Town if you have the energy.
On a Saturday, start at the farmers’ market at 7am or 8am, walk the old streets while they’re quiet, and head to Mount Vernon or the waterfront later in the morning.
By bike, ride the Mount Vernon Trail from the Mall to Old Town for lunch, and on to Mount Vernon in the afternoon if you’re fit, then take the Metro and bus back.
Where to eat and drink in Old Town Alexandria
Old Town has a strong restaurant scene for a town its size, much of it along King Street and near the water. These were all operating in 2026:
- Gadsby’s Tavern restaurant (Royal Street): Colonial-style dining rooms in the historic tavern buildings, serving lunch and dinner. It leans into the history, and that’s the point.
- Virtue Feed & Grain (near the waterfront): a big, lively modern American restaurant and bar in an old warehouse near the river.
- Hank’s Oyster Bar (Old Town): oysters, lobster rolls and a busy happy hour.
- Vermilion (King Street): seasonal American cooking in a narrow, handsome dining room.
For something quick, King Street and the streets around it are full of cafes, bakeries and casual spots. Weekends are busy, so book dinner, and expect waits at brunch. For drinks, the blocks near the water and along lower King Street have the liveliest bars, and Old Town’s evenings are busy but relaxed.
Shopping in Old Town
King Street is one of the best places in the DC area for independent shopping: boutiques, home goods, bookstores, antique shops and galleries, mixed with a few national brands. The Torpedo Factory’s studios sell art directly from the artists, which makes for better souvenirs than anything in a gift shop. The Saturday farmers’ market adds local food and crafts. Virginia’s sales tax applies here, not DC’s; it’s lower than DC’s general rate, which is 7 percent from October 1, 2026.
Events through the year
Old Town’s calendar is busiest around Washington and around the holidays. Alexandria marks George Washington’s birthday each February with events that include a parade. In December, a holiday boat parade lights up the waterfront, the Scottish Christmas Walk celebrates the town’s Scottish founders, and Mount Vernon’s candlelight tours and illuminations run through the month; the 2026 dates are above. Summer brings outdoor concerts and the city’s birthday celebration in July, and the Saturday farmers’ market runs year-round. Check dates with the city before you plan around any event.
Old Town and Mount Vernon with kids
Both work well with children. In Old Town, the free trolley is a treat in itself, the waterfront has room to run and boats to watch, and the Torpedo Factory’s open studios let kids see artists at work. The Apothecary Museum’s shelves of strange old remedies tend to fascinate older children. A water taxi ride from the Wharf turns the trip into an adventure.
At Mount Vernon, children usually enjoy the working farm areas, the animals and the outbuildings more than the mansion, and the museum has hands-on displays. Children 5 and under get in free, and the grounds pass for ages 6 to 11 was $16 in 2026. With young children, skip the tavern and house museum tours, which are long for small attention spans, and keep the day to Old Town’s waterfront or Mount Vernon’s grounds rather than both.
Old Town through the seasons
Spring and fall are the best times to visit, with mild weather for walking and Mount Vernon’s gardens at their best. The distillery and gristmill run their weekend tours from April through October.
Summer brings the waterfront to life, with boats, outdoor dining and the city’s July birthday celebration, but it’s also hot and humid, so plan museum time for the afternoon and the river for the evening.
December is Old Town’s most atmospheric month. King Street is decorated, the holiday boat parade and the Scottish Christmas Walk fill the calendar, and Mount Vernon’s candlelight tours and illuminations run through the month. Book those well ahead.
Winter outside the holidays is quiet. Several house museums shorten their weeks in fall and winter, closing on Mondays or Tuesdays as well as their usual day, so check before you go.
Practical tips
Old Town’s brick sidewalks are uneven and can be slippery in rain, so wear flat, comfortable shoes. The main streets are flat, but the walk up to the Masonic Memorial is steep. Street parking in Old Town is metered and garages fill on weekends, which is one more reason to arrive by Metro or water taxi. Keep in mind that Alexandria is in Virginia, so Virginia’s sales and meals taxes apply rather than DC’s. And if you’re heading back to DC in the evening, check the time of the last water taxi before you settle in for dinner; the Metro is the reliable fallback.
Where to stay: Old Town as a base
Old Town makes an excellent base for a DC trip. Hotels here are often cheaper than in downtown DC, the King Street Metro puts the Mall about 20 minutes away, and you get quiet evenings on the river instead of empty office streets. The trade-off is the commute into the city each morning. Our guide to where to stay in Washington DC compares Old Town with DC’s own neighborhoods, including which hotels sit closest to the Metro.
What to skip, and honest advice
Don’t walk King Street both ways if you’re tired. It’s a mile from the Metro to the river. The trolley is free; use it.
Skip trying to do Old Town and Mount Vernon in one day by transit. It works by car or on a tour, but by Metro and bus you’ll spend too much of the day in transit. Choose one, or split them across two days.
Don’t assume the house museums are open every day. Several close on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays, especially in fall and winter. Check before you build a day around one.
Skip driving into Old Town on a weekend afternoon. Parking is scarce and slow. Take the Metro or the water taxi.
Don’t go to the distillery on a weekday. It’s open for tours only on weekends, from April through October.
Don’t miss the harder history. The Freedom House Museum and the Black History Museum take an hour between them and change how you see the rest of the town.
Old Town Alexandria FAQ
How do I get from DC to Old Town Alexandria?
Take the Metro’s Blue or Yellow line to King Street-Old Town, about 20 minutes from downtown, then walk a mile down King Street or ride the free King Street Trolley, which runs every 15 minutes from 11am to 11pm. The Potomac Water Taxi from the Wharf takes about 30 minutes.
Is Old Town Alexandria worth visiting?
Yes. It’s one of the best-preserved 18th-century towns in the country, 20 minutes from DC by Metro, with George Washington’s church, tavern and Masonic memorial, a lively waterfront, good restaurants and independent shops. It’s also the gateway to Mount Vernon and an easy, often cheaper, base for a DC trip.
Can you do Old Town Alexandria and Mount Vernon in one day?
Yes, with a car or a tour: start at Mount Vernon at 9am, then spend the afternoon in Old Town. By public transit it’s a long day, since Mount Vernon means the Yellow line to Huntington and a Fairfax Connector bus. In that case, pick one or split them across two days.
How much does it cost to visit Mount Vernon?
In 2026 a grounds pass cost $30 for ages 12 and up and $16 for ages 6 to 11, and children 5 and under were free, with $2 off online tickets bought three or more days ahead. Mansion entry is timed and chosen when you book. The distillery and gristmill have a separate $10 ticket.
How do I get to Mount Vernon without a car?
Take the Metro’s Yellow line to Huntington, the last stop, and then Fairfax Connector bus 101 to the estate. Allow about an hour from downtown DC. You can also cycle the Mount Vernon Trail about 9 miles from Old Town, or join a tour from DC that includes transport.
Is the King Street Trolley free?
Yes. The King Street Trolley is free and runs every 15 minutes from 11am to 11pm daily, between the King Street-Old Town Metro station and the waterfront. Alexandria’s DASH buses are also fare-free, which makes getting around Old Town and nearby neighborhoods like Del Ray easy.
What is Old Town Alexandria known for?
Old Town is known for its 18th- and 19th-century streets and buildings, its George Washington connections, the Torpedo Factory Art Center, its waterfront, its King Street shops and restaurants, and its Saturday farmers’ market, one of the oldest in the country. It’s also the closest town to Washington’s Mount Vernon.
Is the Old Town farmers’ market open year-round?
Yes. The Old Town Farmers’ Market runs every Saturday, rain or shine, from 7am to noon. Since January 2026 it has been held temporarily on the 100 block of North Royal Street and in the Tavern Square courtyard, across from Market Square, while City Hall and Market Square are renovated.
Related Washington DC Guides
- Where to Stay in Washington DC: DC’s neighborhoods compared with Old Town and Arlington as a base.
Sources and How We Checked
We checked every hour, fare and price on this page on September 24, 2026 against the official websites below, and compiled the page from them. We don’t claim first-hand visits.
- City of Alexandria: Gadsby’s Tavern Museum
- City of Alexandria: Alexandria Black History Museum
- City of Alexandria: Old Town Farmers’ Market
- NOVA Parks: Carlyle House Historic Park
- George Washington Masonic National Memorial: Tours
- Mount Vernon: Candlelight tours
- DASH: fare-free transit
We also checked Mount Vernon’s distillery and illuminations pages, the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary and Freedom House Museum pages, WMATA, the Potomac Water Taxi, the Potomac Riverboat Company’s listing and current restaurant listings.
Washington DC Tourism Guide is an independent publication. We are not affiliated with Destination DC, Visit Alexandria, the City of Alexandria, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association or any attraction listed here, and no one paid to be included.
Photo Credits
- King Street, Old Town Alexandria: photo by DiscoA340, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Potomac Water Taxi at Old Town Alexandria: photo by Beyond My Ken, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Gadsby's Tavern at night: photo by Harrisonkenneth, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Christ Church, Alexandria: photo by Farragutful, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- George Washington Masonic National Memorial: photo by Joe Ravi (Shutterstock iStock Dreamstime), via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
- The mansion at Mount Vernon: photo by Martin Falbisoner, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)