Small groups | Family-friendly | Runs nightly at 8 PM | Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Gas lanterns and cobblestone streets make Old Town Alexandria one of the prettiest evening walks in the DC area, and this pre-Revolutionary town has been collecting ghost stories for more than 275 years. Join a local guide who lives in Alexandria and has seen the ghosts for themselves.
Along the way you’ll meet a colonial guard still watching out for George Washington, soldiers who don’t know the wars are over, and murdered ladies of the night looking for revenge down dark alleys.
We’re historians, so we don’t dress up or tell slapstick stories. We have the research and the receipts to tell the darker side of Alexandria’s history, and the real record is far scarier than anything scripted.
Darker and scarier than Ghosts of Georgetown, and still family friendly.
This tour is led by professional historians and local Alexandrians who know these streets after dark.
Check Dates & Book Your Spot
This tour runs nightly at 8 PM and spots fill up fast, especially on weekends and around Halloween. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, so there’s no risk in reserving your spot now.
⏱ Duration: Approximately 90 minutes
📍 Meets at: Outside the Alexandrian Hotel at 480 King Street, at the corner of King and Pitt Streets. Tour ends at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House at 323 South Fairfax Street. (map)
🚇 Getting here: Metro Blue or Yellow Line to King St-Old Town Station, then hop on the free King Street Trolley down to the meeting point. Better yet, come early and have dinner on King Street.
👟 Physical level: Easy. Flat route, stroller and wheelchair friendly.
We don’t just show you the sites.
We tell you the stories.
Every stop on this tour has a story most visitors never hear. Our guides bring them to life.
The Alexandrian Hotel
The tour begins outside the hotel that stands on the site of the old Marshall House. In May 1861, Colonel Elmer Ellsworth, a close friend of Abraham Lincoln, climbed to its roof to tear down a Confederate flag and never made it back down the stairs. Two men were dead within minutes, and our guides start here for a reason.
The Colonial Guard
George Washington called Alexandria his hometown, and not everyone who served him seems ready to stop. More than two centuries after Washington’s death, a colonial guard is still keeping watch, and your guide will show you where he’s been seen.
The Soldiers Who Never Went Home
Alexandria spent the entire Civil War under Union occupation, with its homes and public buildings turned into hospitals and prisons. Soldiers have been passing through Old Town since before the Revolution, and a few of them don’t seem to have gotten word that the wars are over.
The Ladies of the Night
Old Town has always had a rougher side hiding behind its pretty front doors. Hear the stories of the working women who were murdered here and why some believe they’re still looking for revenge down Alexandria’s darkest alleys. You may want to stay close to your guide for this one.
The Old Presbyterian Meeting House
The tour ends at one of Old Town’s oldest congregations, where Alexandria gathered to mourn George Washington in December 1799. Its churchyard holds some of the town’s earliest residents, and after dark it’s a fitting place to decide how much of tonight’s stories you actually believe.
Why tour with a guide?
Old Town is charming by day. After dark, it has a lot more to say.
You can stroll Old Town’s gas-lit streets on your own any evening, but without a guide you’re just admiring pretty rowhouses. Our guides are historians who live in Alexandria, and they’ve spent years uncovering the documented stories behind these doors.
- Historians, not costumed actors. We don’t dress up and we don’t do slapstick. We bring the research and the receipts, which is how we get to the darker side of Alexandria’s history.
- Led by locals who have seen the ghosts. Your guide lives in Alexandria and has a few personal encounters to add to the historical record.
- Our scarier ghost tour. Still family friendly, but darker than Ghosts of Georgetown. If your crew already loved that one, this is the next step up.
- Easy for everyone. The route is flat and stroller and wheelchair friendly, and it starts right on King Street, so dinner beforehand is only a few steps away.
Everything before you book.
Meeting point
Outside the Alexandrian Hotel at 480 King Street, at the corner of King and Pitt Streets. Look for your guide in DC by Foot attire outside the hotel. (map)
End point
The tour ends at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House at 323 South Fairfax Street, just a few blocks from King Street. (map)
Getting there
Metro Blue or Yellow Line to King St-Old Town Station. From the station, take the free King Street Trolley down King Street to the meeting point. Our favorite option is to come early and have dinner at one of the restaurants on King Street, since the tour starts right in the middle of it all. Rideshare is also a convenient option.
What to bring
- Comfortable walking shoes for Old Town’s historic brick sidewalks
- Water bottle
- Weather-appropriate clothing, since tours run rain or shine
- Camera, because Old Town under gas lanterns is one of the most photogenic evenings in the DC area
Accessibility
This route is flat and stroller and wheelchair friendly. Some of Old Town’s historic brick sidewalks can be a little bumpy in spots, so please contact us in advance if you have specific accessibility needs. Restrooms are available near the start of the tour.
What’s included
- Professional historian and local Alexandria guide
- Old Town restaurant, bar, and dessert recommendations from your guide
- The darker side of Alexandria’s history, backed by real research
Make a night (or a weekend) of it.
- Old Town Alexandria covers the same streets by daylight, with the history and architecture of one of America’s best-preserved colonial port towns.
- Ghosts of Georgetown is our original ghost tour through DC’s most historic neighborhood, ending at the Exorcist Steps.
- Capitol Hill Scandals trades ghosts for the secrets and scandals of Washington’s power players after dark.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this tour actually scary?
This is the darker and scarier of our two ghost tours. Nobody jumps out at you and there are no costumed actors, but Alexandria’s documented history is unsettling all on its own, and your guide has some personal encounters to share. If Ghosts of Georgetown felt just right, this one turns things up a notch.
Is this tour family-friendly?
Yes. The stories are darker than on Ghosts of Georgetown, and our guides tell them with care so they work for curious kids and adults alike. You know your family best, so if you have a younger child who scares easily, Ghosts of Georgetown may be the better place to start.
Do you actually believe in ghosts?
Our guides are historians first, and we stick to the documented record. That said, our guides live in Alexandria, and some of them have seen things on these streets they can’t explain. What you choose to believe is entirely up to you.
How is this different from Ghosts of Georgetown?
Both tours are led by historians and built on real research. Ghosts of Georgetown winds through DC’s oldest neighborhood and ends at the Exorcist Steps, while Ghosts of Alexandria stays on the flat, gas-lit streets of Old Town and goes darker. Plenty of guests do both.
How do I get to Old Town Alexandria?
Take the Metro Blue or Yellow Line to King St-Old Town Station, then ride the free King Street Trolley down King Street to the Alexandrian Hotel. Rideshare is also an easy option from DC.
Where should we eat before the tour?
The meeting point is right on King Street, which is lined with restaurants, so dinner nearby is the easiest way to start your evening. Your guide is also happy to share favorite spots for a drink or dessert after the tour.
What happens if it rains?
Tours run rain or shine. Bring an umbrella and weather-appropriate clothing. In the event of severe weather, we will contact all guests by email and text with alternative options or a full refund.
How do I cancel or reschedule?
Reply to your confirmation email to cancel or reschedule. Full refunds are available up to 24 hours before the tour. We offer flexible rescheduling and can often accommodate you on another date with short notice. Guests who booked via a third-party platform must cancel through that platform.
Are there restrooms on the tour?
Restrooms are available near the start of the tour, so we recommend using them before your guide sets off. If you’re having dinner on King Street first, that works too.
Is there a daytime tour of Old Town Alexandria?
Yes. Our Old Town Alexandria tour covers the history and architecture of the same streets during the day, and it makes a great first half to an Alexandria day that ends with this one.