Shopping · Anchorage · United States
Shopping in Anchorage
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Craig Talbert, CC BY 2.0
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Quick answer
Shopping in Anchorage is strongest for Alaska Native art, outdoor gear and Alaskan food products. Downtown 4th and 5th Avenues have galleries and gift shops; Midtown has malls and big outdoor-equipment stores. Best souvenirs: Alaska Native art, Qiviut and Smoked salmon.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 3
- Markets
- 1
- Top souvenir
- Alaska Native art
Where to shop
Downtown 4th Avenue
Galleries with Alaska Native art, fur and qiviut shops, and gift stores.
Midtown
Malls and large outdoor-gear retailers for camping, fishing and cold-weather clothing.
Anchorage Museum shop
Books, prints and work by Alaska Native artists.
Markets
Downtown weekend summer market
Crafts, art and food stalls downtown on summer weekends.
What to buy
Alaska Native art
Carvings, baskets, beadwork and masks; look for the Silver Hand label for authentic Native-made work.
Qiviut
Very soft, warm yarn and scarves knitted from musk-ox underwool, some by cooperatives of Alaska Native knitters.
Smoked salmon
Vacuum-packed or canned wild salmon that keeps for travel.
Ulu knife
The traditional curved knife used by Alaska Native women, sold with a wooden stand.
Birch syrup
Alaskan birch syrup in small bottles, lighter to carry than smoked fish.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Street · Downtown
4th Avenue and the Log Cabin Visitor Center
Downtown's main street has the sod-roofed Log Cabin Visitor Information Center, Alaska Native art galleries, outfitters and gift shops.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- History
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Birch syrup, Wild berry desserts, Alaskan craft beer and Smoked salmon spread and jerky. Specialty food shops and gift stores downtown. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown | $$$ | Grid of hotels, museums and restaurants above Ship Creek and the Coastal Trail |
| Midtown | $$ | Commercial heart with chain hotels, malls and easy road access |
| Spenard | $$ | Funky old roadhouse district of bars, food trucks and local cafés |
| Airport and Lake Hood | $$ | Hotels by the airport and the world's busiest floatplane lake |
| Girdwood | $$$ | Ski-resort village in a rainforest valley off Turnagain Arm |
| Eagle River | $$ | Valley suburb north of the city with Chugach trailheads |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in USD. Tip 18–20% at restaurants, $1–$2 per drink, 15–20% for taxis, and 10–20% for fishing guides, cruise crews and tour drivers depending on the length of the trip.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January, April and October–November; the busiest months are June–July.
- February: Fur Rendezvous winter festival (usually late February to early March)
- August: Alaska State Fair in Palmer (usually late August to early September)
- December: Anchorage International Film Festival (usually early December)
Staying near the shops
$$ · Best for budget, families and shopping
Midtown
Commercial heart with chain hotels, malls and easy road access
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Anchorage?
Alaska Native art, Qiviut, Smoked salmon and Ulu knife.
+Where is the best shopping in Anchorage?
Downtown 4th Avenue: Galleries with Alaska Native art, fur and qiviut shops, and gift stores.
+What are the best markets in Anchorage?
Downtown weekend summer market.