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Parks, Piers, Water Taxi, Dining
From our perch at 515 King Street, we’re just a few blocks from the Potomac river – a presence felt throughout Old Town.
Live from 515 King Street in Old Town Alexandria
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Quick Facts
- Alexandria City Marina sits at the foot of Cameron Street with restrooms, dockage and tour-boat berths (0 Cameron St; 703-746-5487). Hours are 9 a.m.–9 p.m. in summer, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. in winter.
- Waterfront Park is the big lawn and art space at the end of King Street (1A Prince St & 1 King St). Open sunrise to sunset.
- Water taxi connects Old Town with The Wharf (DC), Georgetown, and National Harbor. Schedules and tickets are handled by City Cruises (aka Potomac Water Taxi).
- Waterfront Parking at Market Square Garage, 108 N Fairfax St (703-549-3237), and Courthouse Square Garage, 111 S Pitt St (202-265-0010). City rates at Courthouse Square are often reduced evenings/weekends.S
- Slow Zones on parts of the waterfront, like Robinson Landing (8 mph; city limit 15 mph).
Live Views of the Waterfront
ALXcam’s two cameras at 515 King Street point to the Courthouse courtyard at 520 King and down King toward the river. See more in our webcam guide.
Water taxi and boat tours
City Cruises’ Potomac Water Taxi runs in-season connections to The Wharf, Georgetown, and National Harbor. Check schedules and buy tickets on the operator’s site. Note: Georgetown’s dock is not ADA compliant, even though the boats are.
In addition to taxi routes, City Cruises offers narrated Washington Monuments trips and seasonal cruises departing from Old Town.
Tip: Check the water taxi’s evening runs for golden-hour views from the water.
Where to board
To board your cruise, head to the Alexandria City Marina at the base of Cameron Street, beside the Torpedo Factory Art Center. Look for City Cruises signage on the marina piers at 0 Cameron Street.
Contact
City Cruises: 105 N Union St, Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 684-0580 cityexperiences.com.
Top Riverfront Photo Angles
Great spots along the waterfront for taking photos and selfies:
- Waterfront Park & King Street Pier – Big sky, public art backdrop, and direct river views (1A Prince St & 1 King St).
- Torpedo Factory & City Marina – Working marina plus boats arriving/departing (105 N Union St entrance; marina at 0 Cameron St).
- Robinson Landing Public Pier – Sleek lines and open water perspective (near 7 Pioneer Mill Way).
- Founders Park – Lawn vistas with marina in frame (351 N Union St).
- Windmill Hill Park – South-end boardwalk and natural shoreline (501 S Union St).
- Oronoco Bay Park – Northern views and the rail bridge (100 Madison St).
Public art on the Potomac
Each spring–fall, Alexandria’s Waterfront Park hosts a new temporary art installation from the City’s Site/See: New Views in Old Town series (on view through November 2025; returns March 2026). It’s a great foreground for photos. The 2025 installation is Break Water by Nekisha Durrett.
Public Art Installations
2025: Break Water by Nekisha Durrett
2024: Interstellar Influencer (Make an Impact) by StudioKCA
2023: Two Boxes of Oranges and Admonia Jackson by Nina Cooke John
Below are photos from the 2023 and 2024 public art installations in Waterfront Park.
Dining on the Water
All of these are a short riverfront walk from the end of King Street:
- Chart House – Classic seafood with wide Potomac views, 1 Cameron St; (703) 684-5080; charthouse.com. (Chart House)
- Vola’s Dockside Grill & Hi-Tide Lounge – Patio right on the marina, 101 N Union St; (703) 935-8890; volasdockside.com. (Vola’s Dockside Grill & Hi-Tide Lounge)
- Ada’s on the River – Wood-fired menu at Robinson Landing, 3 Pioneer Mill Way; (703) 638-1400; adasontheriver.com. (Ada’s on the River)
- BARCA Pier & Wine Bar – Tapas on a floating pier, 2 Pioneer Mill Way; (703) 638-1100; barcaalx.com. (Barca Pier & Wine Bar)
- Hummingbird Bar + Kitchen – River views by Hotel Indigo, 220 S Union St; (703) 566-1355; hummingbirdva.net. (Hummingbird Bar and Kitchen)
Events by the River
- June: Portside in Old Town Summer Festival – Free music, art, and local beer at Waterfront Park (June). Program by Visit Alexandria & City of Alexandria.
- December: Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights – Dozens of decorated boats parade along the shoreline in early December; viewing at Waterfront Park.
- December: First Night Alexandria – Family-friendly New Year’s Eve with waterfront fireworks.
See our monthly roundups: August 2025 Events, September 2025 Events, October 2025 Events (coming October 1, 2025) in Old Town.
Parking and Accessibility
- Market Square Garage (near City Hall): 108 N Fairfax St; (703) 549-3237. $2 per hour; maximum: $10. Evening and holiday maximum: $5.
- Courthouse Square Garage: 111 S Pitt St; (202) 265-0010.
- Coming in on a bus tour? Check out the City of Alexandria’s Motorcoach parking page.
- Handicapped Parking: Parking for the handicapped for up to four (4) hours is free at single- and multi-space meters. Handicapped license plate or hangtag holders are allowed 2x+ the amount of time posted on signs in parking zones with time-restrictions.
Mobility & Micro-mobility
Alexandria permits shared e-scooters/e-bikes under a permanent program. Sidewalk riding is restricted in commercial Old Town commercial areas, indicated by signage, including King Street (West St to the river) and sections of Union Street. Cyclists, scooters and others must yield to pedestrians on the promenade.
Trail connections
The Mount Vernon Trail passes through Old Town along the river, linking to DC and Mount Vernon for walkers, cyclists and runners to enjoy. Bicycle fixit stations are available along the waterfront.
FAQs about Alexandria’s Waterfront
At the Alexandria City Marina, 0 Cameron St, beside the Torpedo Factory. Follow City Cruises signage on the docks.
Yes, but ride slowly and yield. Alexandria runs a permanent shared micromobility program and uses slow zones on parts of the waterfront such as Robinson Landing.
The Alexandria shoreline faces the Potomac to the east, so sunrise often paints the sky over the water. For sunsets, look for warm light on Old Town’s brick facades and reflections on the river—especially after passing clouds.
Old Town Alexandria’s Premiere Webcam Site
