Shopping · Palm Springs · United States
Shopping in Palm Springs
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Pictured: Moorten Botanical Garden, Palm Springs · Photo: YuriVict, Public domain
Quick answer
Shopping in the valley centres on vintage and mid-century design in Palm Springs, boutiques on El Paseo in Palm Desert and outlet malls at Cabazon on the way in. Best souvenirs: Medjool dates, Mid-century design pieces and Architecture books and posters.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 2
- Top souvenir
- Medjool dates
Plan a trip to Palm Springs
Compare flights, places to stay and rental cars, then book with the provider you choose.
Where to shop
Uptown Design District
North Palm Canyon Drive's furniture dealers, lighting shops and galleries specialise in mid-century modern pieces and reproductions.
Downtown Palm Canyon Drive
Vintage clothing, resort wear, galleries and souvenir shops around the Walk of Stars.
El Paseo, Palm Desert
A palm-lined boulevard of fashion boutiques, jewellers and art galleries about 25 km down-valley.
Desert Hills Premium Outlets
A large outlet mall in Cabazon on Interstate 10, about 25 minutes west of Palm Springs.
Markets
VillageFest
The Thursday-evening street fair on Palm Canyon Drive with crafts, art, food and produce stalls.
Palm Springs Vintage Market
A monthly outdoor vintage market with furniture, clothing and collectibles, usually on the first Sunday of the month in season.
What to buy
Medjool dates
Boxed dates and date crystals from the Indio date gardens travel well; check import rules if flying abroad.
Mid-century design pieces
Ceramics, lamps and prints in the modernist style from Uptown Design District shops.
Architecture books and posters
Guides to Palm Springs modernism from the Architecture and Design Center and Modernism Week shops.
Cahuilla-made crafts
Baskets, jewellery and books from the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum shop, which supports tribal programmes.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Street · Downtown Palm Springs
Palm Canyon Drive and VillageFest
Downtown's main street mixes galleries, vintage clothing, restaurants with misted patios and the Palm Springs Walk of Stars set into the pavement.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- After dark
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Date shake, Medjool and Deglet Noor dates, Margaritas and poolside cocktails and Desert citrus. Shields Date Garden in Indio has served them since the 1920s; Hadley Fruit Orchards in Cabazon is a classic stop on the drive in from Los Angeles. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Downtown Palm Springs | $$$ | Palm Canyon Drive shops, museums and restaurants within walking distance of most hotels |
| Uptown Design District | $$$ | Vintage furniture showrooms, restored motels and brunch spots on North Palm Canyon Drive |
| Movie Colony and Old Las Palmas | $$$$ | Quiet streets of walled 1930s–1960s estates where Hollywood stars once wintered |
| South Palm Springs | $$ | Deepwell, Canyon Corridor and golf-course condos on the road to the Indian Canyons |
| Rancho Mirage | $$$$ | Large spa resorts, golf clubs and the Annenberg estate at Sunnylands |
| Palm Desert | $$ | El Paseo boutiques, the Living Desert zoo and family-friendly mid-range hotels |
| La Quinta and Indio | $$$ | Historic resort, PGA West golf and the Empire Polo Club festival grounds |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in USD. Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, a few dollars a day for housekeeping and 15–20% for taxis and rideshares. Check whether a hotel resort fee or restaurant service charge is already added.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in July–September; the busiest months are February–April.
- January: Palm Springs International Film Festival (usually early to mid-January)
- February: Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival in Indio (usually February)
- April: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio (usually two weekends in April)
- April: Stagecoach country music festival in Indio (usually late April)
- December: Festival of Lights Parade on Palm Canyon Drive (usually early December)
- December: Indio International Tamale Festival (usually early December)
Staying near the shops
$$$ · Best for couples, shopping and food lovers
Uptown Design District
Vintage furniture showrooms, restored motels and brunch spots on North Palm Canyon Drive
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Palm Springs?
Medjool dates, Mid-century design pieces, Architecture books and posters and Cahuilla-made crafts.
+Where is the best shopping in Palm Springs?
Uptown Design District: North Palm Canyon Drive's furniture dealers, lighting shops and galleries specialise in mid-century modern pieces and reproductions.
+What are the best markets in Palm Springs?
VillageFest and Palm Springs Vintage Market.