Alexandria Travel and Things to Do Guide

On the waterfront within eyesight of Washington, DC and National Harbor lies an alluring mix of historic authenticity and urban sophistication. Named a Top 5 Best Small City in the U.S. 2020 by Condé Nast Traveler Readers, this beautifully preserved waterfront city, frequented by presidents from George Washington to Barack Obama, is nationally recognized for its rich history and 18th and 19th-century architecture, but has all the upscale, top-rated amenities of a major cosmopolitan city. Experience a walkable city that caters to executive to mid-size meetings up to 800.

A nationally designated historic district founded in 1749, Old Town Alexandria is home to more than 200 independent restaurants and boutiques alongside intimate museums and a vibrant waterfront. Nestled in the heart of historic Old Town Alexandria, major brand hotels, regionally acclaimed restaurants, unique boutiques, and historic sites are all within a leisurely walk or just a quick ride on the free King Street Trolley. Just minutes to Ronald Reagan National Airport and served by four Metrorail stations, getting to and around Alexandria is easy.

Home to the 4th largest number of professional associations in the United States, such notables as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, United Way of America and the American Diabetes Association and organizations including the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and the forthcoming Virginia Tech Innovation Campus, the city continues to be a growing hub for innovation. Influencing leaders for centuries, tap into Alexandria’s intellectual capital with The Leadership Collection at Alexandria™. Elevate your meeting with a two-hour to three-day leadership or teambuilding program at one of three nationally recognized leadership institutes- George Washington Leadership Institute at Mount Vernon, McChrystal Group, and Building Momentum.

Proudly boasting a strong community partnership and a dedication to customer service and well-being, the City provides a safe and welcoming environment. Visit Alexandria’s complimentary concierge service will help you find creative solutions and manage flexible contracts and provide all the resources for safe and successful meetings.
• Community-wide ALX Promise commitment to safety and well-being
• Hotels offering enhanced safety protocols and contract flexibility
• Outdoor meeting and event spaces
• Streaming and audiovisual resources
• Curated virtual experiences and customizable 3D city and hotel tours

See more reasons why Alexandria is the perfect host for your executive to mid-size meetings:

Award-Winning Meetings Facilities and Unique Venues: Recognized by Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure for outstanding hospitality, Alexandria's distinctive hotel collection ranges from a 4-diamond boutique hotel nestled in the heart of the historic district to a convention hotel boasting 55,000 square feet of extraordinary meeting space. Representing most major brands, Alexandria's hotels offer 23 meeting-friendly properties, more than 4,500 guest rooms, and 175,000 square feet of amazing function space, many of which are situated within an easy walk to Alexandria's incredible restaurants, shops, and historic sites. Most offer complimentary airport and Metro shuttle service or are within walking distance of a Metrorail station. Take advantage of state-of-the-art streaming capabilities and hybrid meeting packages for seamless events.

Of these, the largest is the 496-room Hilton Alexandria Mark Center. This 30-story hotel offers 55,000 square feet of meeting space, 33 meeting and breakout rooms, and a 10,200 square-foot ballroom in a retreat-like setting with lakeside dining and jogging paths. Other full-service meeting properties include Hilton Alexandria Old Town and Embassy Suites by Hilton Alexandria Old Town, directly across from the King Street Metro, the Westin Alexandria Old Town, The Alexandrian Old Town Alexandria, Autograph Collection, Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, the newly renovated Sheraton Suites Old Town Alexandria, and the Holiday Inn Alexandria Carlyle. Some of the most sought-after smaller, boutique properties are the Kimpton Lorien Hotel and Spa, Morrison House Old Town Alexandria, Autograph Collection, and Hilton Garden Inn Alexandria National Harbor in the heart of the historic district, and the Hotel Indigo Old Town Alexandria with spectacular waterfront views.

Unique to Alexandria, The Leadership Collection at Alexandria™ offers one-of-kind meeting experiences. The Washington Presidential Library on the grounds of George Washington’s Mount Vernon offers inspiring, state-of-the-art conference rooms. Where else in the country can you hold a leadership development retreat on the estate of one of our nation’s greatest leaders and within minutes from today’s global power leaders? The McChrystal Group, led by retired General Stan McChrystal and best-selling author of Team of Teams, provides a state-of-the-art Executive Training Center featuring over 6,000 square feet of collaborative meeting spaces equipped with cutting-edge technology. If casual and more industrial space is preferred, Building Momentum offers spacious 3,600 square feet of industrial event space for board meetings, strategic retreats, private receptions with access to 21st-century technology such as 3-D printing, laser cutting, robots, drones, and more. Alexandria is also home to the Mary M. Gates Learning Center at United Way Worldwide, a state-of-the-art learning facility with over 8,000 square feet of meeting space and top-rated technology for live streaming and more.

Also, over 30 one-of-a-kind event venues offer a unique blend of authentic history to contemporary Alexandria are available for private rentals.

Exceptional Dining, After-Hours, and Teambuilding Activities: Old Town's stately 18th and 19th-century architecture and scenic waterfront make it the perfect setting for dine-arounds, pub crawls, food tours, and private events. Over 100 restaurants located within a walkable mile offer custom-tailored menus, private rooms, and buyouts.

Affordable and Value Adds: Alexandria offers several opportunities to save on your bottom line. Hotel rates typically are 30% lower than downtown, D.C. rates. ALX Extra Perks, a city-wide program offers perks at 15 of Alexandria’s top meeting hotels, while ALX Insider Perks saves you 15% on Alexandria’s top attractions.

Convenient & Easily Accessible: Located within eyesight of Washington D.C. our waterfront city is just five miles from downtown D.C. and National Harbor and just eight miles from Capitol Hill and the Walter E. Reed Washington Convention Center. Less than three miles to Reagan National Airport and 35-35 miles to Washington Dulles and Baltimore Washington International Airports, Alexandria is easily accessible via Metrorail, AMTRAK, water taxi, bike, bus, or car.