Shopping · Philadelphia · United States
Shopping in Philadelphia
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Derek Ramsey, CC BY-SA 2.5
Quick answer
Philadelphia has no sales tax on most clothing and shoes, which makes it popular for shopping. Center City has the main stores, while Old City, Fishtown and Antique Row are better for independent shops and vintage. Best souvenirs: Liberty Bell replicas, Tastykakes and Eagles gear.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Liberty Bell replicas
Where to shop
Walnut Street
The main high-street and designer strip running west from Broad Street to Rittenhouse Square.
Antique Row (Pine Street)
Antique dealers, vintage jewellery and furniture shops along Pine Street between about 9th and 12th Streets.
Old City
Independent boutiques, galleries and design shops, with galleries opening late on the first Friday of the month.
Fabric Row (4th Street)
A long-running street of fabric and notions shops south of South Street, now mixed with independent boutiques.
Markets
Reading Terminal Market
Food hall and market with Pennsylvania Dutch goods, spices, cookbooks and local souvenirs.
9th Street Italian Market
Open-air produce, cheese, butchers and cookware shops in South Philly.
Headhouse Square Farmers Market
Seasonal farmers' market under the colonial shed in Society Hill, usually on Sundays.
What to buy
Liberty Bell replicas
Small bells and prints from the Independence Visitor Center and museum shops.
Tastykakes
Butterscotch Krimpets and Kandy Kakes from any supermarket, a very local taste of home.
Eagles gear
Midnight-green jerseys and caps are sold all over the city and especially near the stadiums.
Pennsylvania Dutch crafts
Quilts, jams and wooden toys from the Amish stalls at Reading Terminal Market.
Museum prints
Prints and books from the art museum, the Barnes and the Magic Gardens shops.
Streets and markets worth a wander
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Market · Center City
Reading Terminal Market
Opened in 1893 beneath the Reading Railroad's train shed at 12th and Arch Streets, the market has dozens of vendors selling roast pork sandwiches, Pennsylvania Dutch baked goods, scrapple, cheesesteaks and Bassetts ice cream.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- Shopping
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Street · Old City
Elfreth's Alley
A narrow cobbled lane off 2nd Street lined with about 30 small brick houses built between the 1720s and 1830s, often described as the country's oldest continuously inhabited residential street.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Photo spot
- Architecture
Market · South Philly
9th Street Italian Market
Awning-covered stalls of produce, butchers, cheese shops and bakeries run along 9th Street in South Philadelphia, in what is often called the oldest open-air market in the country.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Shopping
- History
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Soft pretzel, Water ice, Tomato pie and Shoofly pie. Street vendors on Center City corners, pretzel bakeries and the Pennsylvania Dutch stalls in Reading Terminal Market. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Rittenhouse Square | $$$$ | Leafy square, Walnut Street shops and the city's most polished restaurant strip |
| Washington Square West and Midtown Village | $$$ | The Gayborhood's rainbow street signs, 13th Street bars and Antique Row |
| Fishtown | $$ | Former industrial river ward turned brewery, music venue and restaurant district |
| East Passyunk and South Philly | $$ | Rowhouse blocks, the Italian Market and a diagonal avenue of neighbourhood restaurants |
| University City | $$ | Penn and Drexel campuses, 30th Street Station and the Penn Museum |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in USD. Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, $1–$2 per drink at a counter, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing, and a few dollars per bag for hotel porters.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–February; the busiest months are July.
- June: Odunde Festival — African American street festival on South Street (usually second Sunday of June)
- September: Philadelphia Fringe Festival — experimental theatre and performance (usually September)
- November: Christmas Village at City Hall and LOVE Park (usually from late November)
- December: Christmas Village at City Hall (through December)
Staying near the shops
$$$$ · Best for couples, luxury, food lovers and shopping
Rittenhouse Square
Leafy square, Walnut Street shops and the city's most polished restaurant strip
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Philadelphia?
Liberty Bell replicas, Tastykakes, Eagles gear and Pennsylvania Dutch crafts.
+Where is the best shopping in Philadelphia?
Walnut Street: The main high-street and designer strip running west from Broad Street to Rittenhouse Square.
+What are the best markets in Philadelphia?
Reading Terminal Market, 9th Street Italian Market and Headhouse Square Farmers Market.