All the United States Virginia Alexandria

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Alexandria

37 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Alexandria, Virginia

Updated September 3, 2026
Email

Unusual Attractions in Alexandria

Places

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

See All 37 Things To Do in Alexandria

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Alexandria

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

8 Places in Virginia That Aren’t What They Seem

They say that Virginia is for lovers. If you love a little mystery, then they’re definitely right. With its mountain ranges, deep forests, and proximity to the nation’s capital, the state is filled with unusual corners and overlapping histories. From a Cold War bunker turned recording archive to a Styrofoam Stonehenge, these places in Virginia are more than meets the eye.

View Itinerary

Explore Alexandria, Virginia

History & Culture 11
Architecture 9
Houses 7
Presidents 6
Civil War 6
History 5
Military 5
Homes 5

Alexandria Leaderboard

Recent Alexandria Activity

Stories About Alexandria

Fragmented marble eyes and enormous lips peer over the terraces of Promenade Classique.

The Giant Eyes Watching Alexandria’s Waterfront

Promenade Classique: Alexandria’s Surreal Classical Ruins
by Monica Sanders, Community Contributor
“Native flowers soften a landscape shaped by commerce, engineering, and repeated reinvention.”

Alexandria Tide Lock Park

A reconstructed canal lock marks where coal boats, Civil War armies, and generations of Alexandrians met the Potomac.
by Monica Sanders, Community Contributor
“A glowing handmade creature floats through a factory built for weapons.”

Torpedo Factory Art Center

A former weapons factory keeps reinventing itself as a laboratory for handmade art.
by Monica Sanders, Community Contributor

Lists Featuring Alexandria

The House of the Temple.
Statue of George Washington

Novus Ordo Seclorum: 14 Places to Unearth Masonic Secrets

Your best bets for gaining insight into the real history of Freemasonry.

14

Including Zedekiah's Cave, Masonic Lodge of the Andaz Hotel, and House of the Temple

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member