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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Alexandria Bay
Half a day for Boldt Castle and a stroll; one night if you want a sunset cruise or dinner on the water. Not a base — use it as a stop between the Adirondacks and the Thousand Islands.
Alexandria Bay is a small village on the St. Lawrence River, the main US gateway to the Thousand Islands. Its single big draw is Boldt Castle on Heart Island, reachable by tour boat. The village itself is a short strip of shops, restaurants and marinas. Most visitors come for the castle and leave the same day, but an overnight lets you add a sunset cruise or a meal with a river view.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Nov–Apr (most attractions closed or limited hours)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $80–120 excl. bed · Mid $120–200 excl. bed · High $200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police, fire, ambulance 911 · Alexandria Bay Police (non-emergency) 315-482-6211
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Boldt Castle boat tour + entry (adult) | $30 (check) |
| Coffee | $2–4 |
| Burger or sandwich | $10–15 |
| Dinner entrée (steak or seafood) | $20–35 |
| Beer (pint) | $5–7 |
| Motel room (double) | $80–200 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ART · Watertown International Airport
- About 30 min drive; limited flights (check).
- YOW · Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International
- About 1.5 h drive; more connections.
Typical fares
- Boldt Castle boat tour + entry
- about $30 adult (check)
- Taxi from Watertown Airport to Alexandria Bay
- about $50–70 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk the village. For Boldt Castle you need a boat tour (depart from the village dock). A car is needed for nearby towns like Clayton or Ogdensburg.
See and do
Known for
- Boldt Castle
- Thousand Islands boat tours
- St. Lawrence River scenery
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Clayton, New York | Drive south on NY 12, about 15 min | 15 min |
| Thousand Islands (Canadian side) | Drive to the Thousand Islands Bridge (about 10 min), cross into Canada (need passport) | 20 min + border |
| Watertown, New York | Drive south on I-81, about 30 min | 30 min |
| Ogdensburg | Drive west on NY 12, about 40 min | 40 min |
Sleep
- Village centre
- Walk to the castle dock, restaurants and shops. Most hotels and B&Bs are here.
- Along NY 12
- Motels and chain hotels a short drive from the village; quieter.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hello |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much? | How much? |
| Where is the boat dock? | Where is the boat dock? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Boldt Castle hours vary by season; check the official site before going.
- Boat tours to the castle run only when the castle is open (mid-May to mid-October).
- No public transit; you need a car to reach Alexandria Bay.
Very safe village. Standard precautions: lock your car, watch for traffic on NY 12.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Alexandria Bay yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Boldt Castle
- Thousand Islands boat tours
- St. Lawrence River scenery
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Alexandria Bay, revision 3784424 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=3784424
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Alexandria Bay
Take me to this address, please
Take me to this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
- Alexandria Bay Police (non-emergency)315-482-6211
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/alexandria-bay). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.