Washington DC · VIRGINIA TOURS

The 15 Northern Virginia Tours That Earn the Fare

31 tours  ·  from $9 a head

Every Washington trip is a day too short. These 15 northern virginia tours justify the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes.

Escape Room Live Alexandria: 60-Minute Adventures - The briefing, mission, and debrief
Old Town Alexandria Tours, Tour Reviews, Virginia Tours

Escape Room Live Alexandria: 60-Minute Adventures

1.Escape Room Live Alexandria: 60-Minute Adventures

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 237 reviews · 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $40Our pick

At Escape Room Live on King Street in Old Town Alexandria, you and your team get a 60-minute mission in one of four themed escape rooms. A dedicated game guide briefs you, offers help as needed, then leads a short debrief and photo time. Expect about 75 minutes in all, with a chance of sharing your game unless you book every spot.

“Fabulous experience. Challenging but possible. Well lit rooms, super nice, decor and waiting area. Hosts were wonderful!”

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A Guided Walking Tour through Historic Old Town Alexandria - Gadsby’s Tavern and a well for ice
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A Guided Walking Tour through Historic Old Town Alexandria

2.A Guided Walking Tour through Historic Old Town Alexandria

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 229 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $30

This 90-minute Old Town walk starts at Ramsay House and ends on cobbled Captain’s Row. A local guide such as Tim, Wayne, or Eileen connects colonial sites with stories about George Washington, the Revolution, and everyday language. Expect an easy pace, a group of up to 30, and a $30 ticket. Some historic interiors are not included.

“Our guide was Tim, who owns his own company, History Tours of Alexandria. He knows his history extremely well and has chosen places of great historical meaning and many interesting anecdotes to go with them. we definitely give him the highest rating and would recommend his tour to anyone visiting Alexandria.”

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Haunted Alexandria Booze and Boos Ghost Walking Tour - Old Hat Bar gives the evening room to breathe
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Haunted Alexandria Booze and Boos Ghost Walking Tour

3.Haunted Alexandria Booze and Boos Ghost Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 157 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $34

Spend about 2.5 hours walking Old Town with a costumed guide, hearing ghost stories tied to places such as Carlyle House and a gelato shop with a tragic love story. Stop at King & Rye, Old Hat Bar, and Union Street Public House, with time to buy drinks. Guides have included Magic, Katie, Sam, and Liz.

“What a great time I had. The two guides were very professional and informative. Even the guy that was in training did a great job. As a local person here, I can appreciate this kind of experience. I would definitely do this again.”

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Freedom's Fight in Alexandria - Gadsby’s Tavern and the labor behind the landmark
Old Town Alexandria Tours, Tour Reviews, Virginia Tours

Freedom’s Fight in Alexandria

4.Freedom’s Fight in Alexandria

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 152 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)

Walk Old Town Alexandria with an English-speaking guide, starting at the historic Barrett Library and ending at 100 King Street. Hear about enslaved workers at Gadsby’s Tavern, abolitionist Edward Stabler, and slavery at Market Square. John and Pamela have led tours, but guide assignments can vary. Museum admission is not included.

“Wonderful tour! Learned so much and our guide was seriously knowledgeable. I had no idea what is hidden behind the veneer of Old Town Alexandria - such a rich history.”

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Old Town Alexandria Food Tour - Carlyle House and the French and Indian War
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Old Town Alexandria Food Tour

5.Old Town Alexandria Food Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 87 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $82

Spend 3.5 hours walking Old Town Alexandria with a professional guide, stopping at locally owned restaurants for food tastings that add up to a meal. The route includes historic landmarks such as Carlyle House and Gadsby’s Tavern. Tours start at Market Square at 1:00 pm, with a maximum of 12 people.

“This tour was a great combination of the history of old Alexandria along with excellent food stops. Terry, our guide, was very organized and able to share historical stories in between multiple restaurant stops. I highly recommend this tour.”

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Visit Mount Vernon by Bike: Self-guided Ride with Optional Boat Cruise Return - Check the bike before you leave
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Visit Mount Vernon by Bike: Self-guided Ride with Optional Boat Cruise Return

6.Visit Mount Vernon by Bike: Self-guided Ride with Optional Boat Cruise Return

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 65 reviews · 4 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $74

Ride a rental bike about 9 to 10 miles from Alexandria to Mount Vernon on a mostly paved trail beside the Potomac. Explore the estate, museum, gardens, and Washington’s tomb at your own pace. A seasonal, narrated boat ride to Washington, DC is available as an upgrade. Bikes, helmets, and estate admission are included.

“Our cruise on the way back was cancelled, so they upgraded is to the electric bike! The bikes were great made the ride on the way there in the rain much easier and the ride back super fun. The trail is great and marked well. We had a great time stopped on the way back and took in the views along the water.”

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Tour Reviews, Tours, Virginia Tours, Washington DC Bus Tours, Washington DC Tours, Wine Tours

Vineyard and Winery Bus Tour from Metro DC

7.Vineyard and Winery Bus Tour from Metro DC

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 62 reviews · from $109

Spend about 7 hours and 20 minutes visiting three Loudoun County wineries by air-conditioned bus, with WiFi and a Certified Tourism Ambassador as your guide. Depart at 10 a.m. from West Falls Church Metro, with an 11 a.m. pickup at Leesburg’s Market Station. Choose Connoisseur for included tastings or Explorer to buy tastings separately.

“The excursion was fun, relaxed and enjoyable visiting three wineries (plus one bonus winery). The pickup was easy and the bus was clean and comfortable. Winery choices were good and I appreciated the ability to pre-order lunch from a local market. Christian was friendly and knowledgeable and made the trip interactive. I would book again next time I’m in the area.”

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Phantoms of the Potomac: Old Town Alexandria Ghost Tour - The Shafer Home and a fatal fire
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Phantoms of the Potomac: Old Town Alexandria Ghost Tour

8.Phantoms of the Potomac: Old Town Alexandria Ghost Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 56 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $32

At 8 pm, join an English-speaking guide for a one-hour walk through Old Town Alexandria’s haunted history. Hear stories tied to Carlyle House, the Athenaeum, City Hall, and Wilkes Tunnel. Guides have included Buzz, Jessica, and Janda, though your guide may vary. The walk is capped at 15 people, and the focus is historical storytelling, not staged scares.

“As a “ghost tour” I would not recommend. As a historical walking tour, it was good. I have been on other ghost tours that were interactive and that was my expectation for this one.”

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Private Customized Tour of Washington DC with US Veteran - Military museums, ships, and service stories
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Private Customized Tour of Washington DC with US Veteran

9.Private Customized Tour of Washington DC with US Veteran

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 45 reviews · 12 hours (approx.)

Tom Schultz, a 20-year Navy veteran, plans a private Washington, DC tour for your group of up to six. Choose military sites, memorials, museums, and other stops, with round-trip pickup and private transport. You can shape the day around your interests, from Arlington Cemetery to Mount Vernon, and choose a recommended lunch stop.

“We visited DC just prior to 4th July this year. Having already planned to do the major sites by segway and "golf cart" type tours, we scheduled this tour to get more insight into the major sites a little further afield. Tom did not disappoint. We booked a 4 hour tour and arranged with him prior the sort of things we were interested in seeing more of. Tom recommended Arlington for an extended period and to take in changing of the guard and detail/other memorials, Pentagon 911 memorial and via the embassy row to the Washington Cathedral (as we requested). We were very impressed in his detailed knowledge of all…”

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Walking Tour The American Revolution and Alexandria - Carlyle House and the Braddock Campaign
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Walking Tour The American Revolution and Alexandria

10.Walking Tour The American Revolution and Alexandria

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 44 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $30

Walk Old Town Alexandria with a local guide for 90 minutes of Revolutionary-era history, from Market Square and Carlyle House to George Washington’s pew at Christ Church. Guides including Wayne, John, Tim, and Tom have led the tour. Expect stories about Patriots, historic homes, and the town’s ties to the Revolution. Christ Church entry depends on its opening hours.

“We enjoyed the 90 minute walking tour of Alexandria during the Revolution. John pointed out many homes and their owners who were influential at the time. Many were friends of GeorgecWashington. I highly recommend this tour. I learned so much about the buildings I was walking by each day.”

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Jeep Off-Road Day Adventure - George Washington National Forest - A Jeep route beyond the paved roads
Tour Reviews, Virginia Tours, Washington DC Tours

Jeep Off-Road Day Adventure – George Washington National Forest

11.Jeep Off-Road Day Adventure – George Washington National Forest

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 34 reviews · from $420

From McGaheysville, Terra Overland Off-Road Adventures takes your private group into George Washington National Forest in a high-clearance Jeep. Expect a moderate 4 to 6-hour ride toward the Appalachian ridgeline, with views of Shenandoah National Park, Massanutten, and West Virginia. Bring food for a mountain lunch, or upgrade to learn and drive off-road yourself.

“Business did not answer phone calls, return emails or texts. When we showed up at the pickup location, no one was there. This was a huge disappointment.”

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Southern Comfort Food & History Tour of Old Town Alexandria - The Athenaeum and a change of pace on King Street
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Southern Comfort Food & History Tour of Old Town Alexandria

12.Southern Comfort Food & History Tour of Old Town Alexandria

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 26 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $127

Spend about three hours walking Old Town Alexandria with a guide, tasting included local food, and hearing stories about its streets and businesses. The route passes Market Square, the Athenaeum, Waterfront Park, and the Torpedo Factory. Guides who have led the tour include Mary, Stefan, and Emma. Groups are capped at eight.

“It was great we leaned a lot! The food was great and we really enjoyed learning from our guide on this tour.”

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Alexandria Ghosts: Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl - Carlyle House and its Scottish safeguard
Drinking Tours, Nightlife, Old Town Alexandria Tours, Tour Reviews, Virginia Tours, Washington DC Ghost Tours, Washington DC Pub Crawls, Washington DC Tours

Alexandria Ghosts Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl

13.Alexandria Ghosts Spirits & Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26 reviews · 1 hour 45 minutes (approx.) · from $36

Start at 6 pm on a 1-hour-45-minute guided walk through haunted Alexandria. Hear stories at Union Street Public House, a museum, the Bayou Room, City Hall, and Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant & Bar. Guide Ryan has been praised for keeping stories engaging and giving clear directions, though guide assignments can vary. Drinks are not included.

“The weather was great Very Informative Interesting facts Enjoyed the host We hit two pubs There was only four of us My daughter and I and a nice young couple”

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Private History of Old Town Alexandria Walking Tour - Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum: medicine in focus
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Private History of Old Town Alexandria Walking Tour

14.Private History of Old Town Alexandria Walking Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.)

This 90-minute private walk starts and ends at 221 King Street and covers five Old Town stops, from Gadsby’s Tavern to the Torpedo Factory. Guide Tom brings Alexandria’s colonial and Civil War past to life, with stories about hospital work, George Washington, John Carlyle, and the city’s changing buildings.

“Tom is a great guide. Amiable and knowledgeable. We learned a lot. We highly recommend this to anyone looking for a pleasant way to learn local history.”

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Self Guided Walking Tour in Old Town Historic Alexandria - A tiny house and a wider story of Alexandria
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Self Guided Walking Tour in Old Town Historic Alexandria

15.Self Guided Walking Tour in Old Town Historic Alexandria

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 12 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $9Best value

Follow a GPS-guided smartphone tour from the Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum to the waterfront. In about 60 to 90 minutes, hear stories at Christ Church, the Spite House, Captains Row and other Old Town landmarks. There is no human guide or admission to sites, and you can pause and continue whenever you like.

“My family came to visit and I wanted to do something different around Old Town so we tried this tour. This was so interesting and the stops were so great! If you want a nice walk around Old Town to see some nice history on a good day, this is the tour to try.”

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New in Virginia Tours

★ 4.0Old Town Alexandria Tour: A Self-Guided Audio TourFrom $85 reviews
★ 5.0Private United States Army Tour in Washington DC by Luxury Car9 reviews
★ 5.0Walking Tour of Still’s Underground Railroad in AlexandriaFrom $159 reviews
★ 5.0Private Washington to Gettysburg Tour by Luxury Car9 reviews
★ 5.0Private Washington Monuments Tour8 reviews
★ 5.0Private Marine Corps Tour of Washington DC by Luxury Car8 reviews
★ 4.0Awesome Scavenger Hunt: Old Town Made NewFrom $127 reviews
★ 3.5E-bike Rental Along the Potomac RiverFrom $593 reviews
★ 4.5Alexandria Spooktacular Ghost Walking Tour (All Ages)From $263 reviews
★ 5.0Old Town Alexandria to Mount Vernon Bike RentalsFrom $214 reviews

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