The Most Instagrammable Spots in Old Town Alexandria, VA

Hello, fellow travelers! Every once in a while, it’s fun to visit a place that’s just plain picture-perfect, and Alexandria, VA, is definitely one of those spots!

I was able to visit this gorgeous historic town last weekend, and I am in love with it! I will definitely be back for more adventures, unique restaurants, and fun historical tours. And don’t worry, I’ll be sharing plenty of the neat opportunities Alexandria has to offer in some upcoming posts.

But today’s post is one that I did not remotely have in mind until I actually visited Old Town: Instagram spots! Old Town Alexandria is a photographer’s wonderland and absolutely brimming with cute spots for capturing fun memories.

While I knew that the town was picturesque and offered lovely old-world vibes, I did not realize how many spots we would come across that were made for fun photoshoots!

So today, I’m sharing all of my favorite spots with you so you can enjoy a piece of the fun, too! I created the map below to help you find your way around, so you don’t miss anything!

The Most Instagrammable Spots in Old Town Alexandria, VA

Bloomers–The Butterfly Effect

If you’re looking for a place to “spread your wings,” be sure to stop by Bloomers at the corner of King Street and Patrick Street.

This butterfly mural was put in place by the Vice Mayor to encourage change. From what I found, this was actually meant to be a temporary 2019 art installment. For the first several months, you could take your picture with the wings and tag a charity that you wanted the city to donate to.

blue and purple butterfly mural in Alexandria, VA — *The Butterfly Effect Mural*

I don’t believe that program is still in place, but wings are such a fun Instagram trend right now, so why not snap a shot? #inclusiveALX

Periwinkle

Periwinkle Boutique and Consignment Shop definitely knew how to catch our attention! On the brick wall outside the shop, you can enjoy a full photo wall set up with periwinkle blue flowers and large stone urns.

This particular setup caught our eye from down the street because it was so vibrant and colorful. Be sure to stop by and use #shopperiwinkle.

Donna Lewis Courtyard

Another spot we happened to stumble into was at Donna Lewis Boutique. What initially piqued our interest was the short brick tunnel leading into the boutique’s courtyard. It looked so inviting that we popped in to check it out.

We had no idea how cute it would be on the other side! Be sure to take a selfie in the perfectly-placed mirror and snap a few shots at the fancy table in the back.

Carlyle House Historic Park

The Carlyle House itself is an adorable building. However, if you’re looking for fun photo ops, be sure to follow the path to the back of the house to enjoy the gardens and fancy balcony on the upper patio.

There was an actual couples’ photoshoot going on when we arrived here, so we didn’t stay long. But if we had, I know there were a few more shots we would have liked to take.

The Torpedo Factory- Beaded Curtain Mural

One of the most iconic Instagram points in Old Town is the Beaded Curtain mural on The Torpedo Factory Art Center. This bright orange garage door is where many of the artists bring their pieces into the showrooms. It’s also the perfect frame for a few fun celebration-style pics!

You can find it on the city-side of The Torpedo Factory on Union Street. It’s right on the corner. If you stop by while the door is up, don’t worry! Just circle back in a few minutes, and it will most likely be back down again.

Captains Row

Captains Row has the oldest cobblestone street in Alexandria, VA. It’s such a peaceful spot lined with gorgeous row houses in all different colors. I know many people use this particular spot for wedding or engagement shoots, and there’s a good reason: it just looks so good on camera!

I highly recommend stopping by this spot in the middle of a workday so you don’t have all the cars in your shot. We actually stopped by twice over the weekend, and it looked gorgeous both days, but the cars were still there. You’ll find this spot at the bottom of Prince Street, close to the waterfront.

Wilkes Tunnel

Wilkes Tunnel may actually be my favorite spot on this list. Rain or shine, you can have a cute photoshoot at both ends of this tunnel! It looks a little scary at first, but it’s a well-traversed pedestrian path. This is one I’d love to go back to in spring when it’s covered in green ivy.

We visited on a rather dreary day, but our umbrellas made fun props! And the row houses at the east end are absolutely picturesque!

Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge

If you like architecture shots, you’ll really enjoy the underside of the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge. This awesome bridge has some eye-catching pillars that create a cool line of perspective into the distance. You can easily get to this spot by parking at Jones Point Park under the bridge.

We took photos from both directions, but I personally think the one toward the waterfront is a little cooler because you can see the pillars curving into the distance. This was also on our dreary day, so the sky wasn’t great. But I can only imagine how gorgeous it would be on a sunny day with shafts of sunlight coming down.

Closing Thoughts on Alexandria, VA

Which spot is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below! Or be sure to tell me if I missed a good spot! I’ll be sure to visit the next time I’m in Alexandria and add it!

One of my favorite things about these spots is that we could get to all of them even during the pandemic. Obviously, I had a mask on in all of these, but I guess that’s just part of the “new normal” for now. Either way, my friend and I had a fantastic time discovering these Insta-gems around the city!

Thanks for checking out this week’s post, and be sure to check out the rest of my posts on Alexandria! I’ll make planning your trip super easy with my best recommendations on things to do, where to stay, and where to eat! Check out my Alexandria mini-series for more information!

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