Is Old Town Alexandria a good place to stay in Washington, DC?

Old Town Alexandria is a good base if you want a charming, walkable town with the Metro into Washington. King St–Old Town station on the Blue and Yellow lines runs to Reagan National and across the river to the Mall, and a free trolley runs down King Street to the water. It suits couples, families and anyone who would rather come back to historic streets than to office blocks.

The area feels like a small colonial port. King Street is lined with brick buildings full of shops, bars and restaurants, and the side streets have cobbles and pretty townhouses. Down on the waterfront, the Torpedo Factory Art Center has artists' studios, boats leave for National Harbor, and the George Washington Masonic National Memorial watches over the town from its hill.

The downside is the distance from the monuments. Every day of sightseeing means a Metro ride, and the walk from the station down to the waterfront is long. King Street gets busy at weekends, and the best hotels near the river cost more than the chains near the station.

What makes Old Town Alexandria special is that it feels like a destination in its own right. You can spend the day at the Smithsonian, then come back for dinner on King Street and a walk along the river, and Mount Vernon is close enough for an easy morning trip.