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Alexandria Tour: Historic Old Town Exploration
4.5
17 Ratings
Washington
Discover colonial history with a scenic ferry cruise to Old Town Alexandria. Explore historic sites, dine like Washington, and enjoy charming shops.
Discover colonial history with a scenic ferry cruise to Old Town Alexandria. Explore historic sites, dine like Washington, and enjoy charming shops.
Duration:
5 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Potomac River - Start your Alexandria adventure with a delightful boat cruise along the Potomac River, departing from Washington, D.C. and heading towards the historic Old Town of Alexandria.
- Carlyle House - Explore the Carlyle House, a magnificent Georgian mansion from 1753 that served as a social hub during the colonial period. Nearby,…
- Potomac River - Start your Alexandria adventure with a delightful boat cruise along the Potomac River, departing from Washington, D.C. and heading towards the historic Old Town of Alexandria.
- Carlyle House - Explore the Carlyle House, a magnificent Georgian mansion from 1753 that served as a social hub during the colonial period. Nearby, visit Wise’s Tavern, a favorite spot of George Washington, and envision the discussions that helped shape a new nation.
- Lavender Moon Cupcakery - Indulge in a locally crafted cupcake from this cherished small business. A cupcake is included with your ticket.
- King St-Old Town - Enjoy a brief, delightful ride on the vintage King Street Trolley through Old Town Alexandria.
- Alexandria’s Christ Church - Discover the historic church where George Washington worshiped, rich in American history.
- Hollensbury Spite House - Capture photos of the famously narrow Spite House and learn about its unique colonial architecture. Then, pass by George Washington’s home and delve deeper into his life in Alexandria.
- Gadsby’s Tavern Museum - Travel back in time at Gadsby’s Tavern, where Washington, Jefferson, and Lafayette dined and socialized. This well-preserved 18th-century tavern offers a unique glimpse into the leisure activities of America’s Founding Fathers.
- Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum - Explore this 18th-century pharmacy, a place Martha Washington visited for remedies.
- Captain’s Row - Wander along this charming street, lined with historic colonial homes.
- Old Town Waterfront - Conclude your journey with some free time to explore King Street, where you can browse charming galleries, shop for souvenirs, or unwind at one of the cozy cafes or restaurants near the Torpedo Factory Art Center.
- Potomac River - Finish your day with a peaceful return cruise to Washington, D.C., enjoying the scenic river views.
What's Included
- Local English-speaking guide
- Cupcake from local bakery
- Tickets to Gadsby’s Tavern
- Round-trip ferry transport
- Local English-speaking guide
- Cupcake from local bakery
- Tickets to Gadsby’s Tavern
- Round-trip ferry transport
What's Not Included
- Hotel Pick-up/Drop-off
- Gratuities
- Hotel Pick-up/Drop-off
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of Washington, D.C. for an afternoon and embark on a historic adventure to Alexandria’s Old Town. With easy transportation and an expert guide, this tour offers a seamless way to explore one of America’s most well-preserved colonial towns. Begin with a picturesque boat ride along the Potomac to Old Town…
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of Washington, D.C. for an afternoon and embark on a historic adventure to Alexandria’s Old Town. With easy transportation and an expert guide, this tour offers a seamless way to explore one of America’s most well-preserved colonial towns. Begin with a picturesque boat ride along the Potomac to Old Town Alexandria, where you’ll disembark to delve into centuries of American history. Visit the renowned Gadsby’s Tavern, where Washington and Jefferson once dined; discover the sophisticated Carlyle House, a hub of colonial social life; enjoy a treat at a local bakery; follow in Washington’s footsteps at his parish, Christ Church Alexandria, where he prayed—and much more. You’ll also ride down King Street on a vintage trolley and have free time to explore the charming town’s art galleries, shops, and cafes before boarding the boat for a peaceful return cruise to D.C.
- This tour is in English.
- Guests should feel comfortable walking at a moderate pace on sometimes uneven terrain.
- There is free time towards the end of the tour for food, so we encourage guests to bring snacks and water.
- Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments or with wheelchairs, or strollers.
- Sites on this tour are subject to occasional closures. If modifications are needed and time permits, we will reach out to you prior to your tour. For last-minute closures, modifications may be communicated at the tour start time.
- Walks and Devour comply with all local government regulations. Please refer to local government guidelines for the most up to date information.
Location
950 Wharf St SW
Wharf Street Southwest
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a green Walks sign. This tour meets at 950 Wharf St. SW Washington DC 20024 (it is on the other side of the street of The Anthem Theater, please meet your guide near the boat dock).
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.5
(17 Ratings)
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Snow_w
Aug 31, 2025
Perfect mix of activities walking tour - Nice balance of historical information and local current social activities. Our tour guide Matt was the Best !!! Must be fit to walk for extended periods. I enjoyed the exercise. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Cheryl_h
Aug 22, 2025
Our tour guide was Ayana... - Our tour guide was Ayana and she was excellent. Friendly, knowledgeable and knows the history of the area very well. We learned so many new facts about Alexandria and our country’s overall history, both good and bad. She also peppered the presentation with a few “fun facts” as well. The sites we covered gave an in-depth view of Alexandria. The water taxi ride from Washington DC’s Wharf area added an exciting touch at the beginning and end of the tour. Time and money well spent!
Review provided by Viator
Kimberly_t
Aug 3, 2025
Wonderful tour that... - Wonderful tour that includes ferry ride from DC to Alexandria, walking tour of the city of the Alexandria with history of the city that you wouldn't get visiting it on your own. Our tour guide was amazing, very knowledgeable and personable. Overall a really good experience that we were happy we did.
Review provided by Viator
Susanvm
Aug 1, 2025
Easy Alexandria! - This tour was a great way to see Alexandria as an introduction to the old quaint city. I enjoyed not having to figure everything out myself as our family usual tour guide:) Our great guide Matt gave us all the history of George Washington’s old stomping grounds along with all the historical stops described. The ferry was a great way to travel there and back and the tour gave us priority boarding. Matt guided us onto the trolley, to shopping areas and places for lunch. The free cupcake was a bonus and was fresh and very good.. I had Boston Cream. Our day was hampered by extreme heat and a thunderstorm downfall but Matt adjusted to the conditions and we were so glad we took this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Leslie_c
Jul 27, 2025
Nice overview of... - Nice overview of historical sites. The church visit was a highlight. Jjana was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. A real treat for us.
Review provided by Viator
Barbara_s
Jun 15, 2025
Great Tour - It includes more walking than expected. The guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. The water taxi ride was very smooth. I enjoyed all the sites we visited.
Review provided by Viator
Justine_c
Jun 6, 2025
Old Town - Lovely day out with knowledgeable tour guide best to do when weather is good as lots of outdoor walking
Review provided by Viator
Janiceby7963qk
May 1, 2025
Walking through Alexandria - We met our tour guide Matt at the DC wharf and boarded the ferry to Alexandria. We enjoyed the ride on the Potomac River and Matt pointed out many interesting sights along the way. This was a historical walking tour that Matt made interesting with his vast knowledge of all the stops that were thought out and narrated. The Christ Church stop was a real page of history that was delivered by Margot. We enjoyed the stories she told us and all the photos of the history of the church. We stopped at a local cupcake shop and were treated to our pick out of many delicious choices. We are seniors and got a little winded so we found a restaurant and had a nice lunch and then Matt escorted us back to the ferry for our return trip to the DC Wharf. We did not like the fact that the lunch break was at 3:00 and would have liked the tour to have started earlier and broke for lunch in the middle. Just our input.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stephen_r
Jul 30, 2025
Passing But Unsatisfactory Tour - I must admit that we were some what disappointed with this tour. While our tour guide (Susan T.) was very knowledgeable, we were expecting a trolley tour of Old Town as part of the tour package, and did not receive it. It was 95 degrees last Week in Old Town Alexandria for what turned out to be a walking tour. This was very disappointing. We have come to expect far better from your company. Hopefully, our next venture with Via Tours will be better.
Review provided by Viator
Go29823853068
Apr 28, 2025
Lov d Alexandria but could have visited without a guide. - I loved the history and any stories shared but not sure I feel it was worth the cost. Seems like we could have done the self guided tour and got the same info. Guide was nice but she should have been pointing out buildings and sharing more history. Instead I was asking all the questions and once she had to Google for an answer.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
