Shopping · Washington, D.C. · United States
Shopping in Washington, D.C.
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Duane Lempke, CC0
Quick answer
Shopping in Washington ranges from Georgetown's boutiques and flagship stores to the luxury brands of CityCenterDC, museum shops on the Mall and weekend markets on Capitol Hill. Best souvenirs: Smithsonian museum shop finds, Old Bay seasoning and Mumbo sauce.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Smithsonian museum shop finds
Where to shop
Georgetown
M Street and Wisconsin Avenue have flagship and independent stores in historic rowhouses.
CityCenterDC
A pedestrian complex near Penn Quarter with luxury fashion houses and restaurants.
14th Street NW
Design and homeware boutiques mixed in with the restaurants and bars.
Union Market district
Food stalls, independent shops and a weekend crowd in a former wholesale market area.
Markets
Eastern Market
Capitol Hill's market hall and weekend outdoor stalls of food, crafts and antiques.
Dupont Circle FreshFarm Market
A year-round Sunday farmers' market just off the circle.
Downtown Holiday Market
Seasonal craft and gift stalls in Penn Quarter from late November to late December.
What to buy
Smithsonian museum shop finds
Space, dinosaur and gem-themed gifts that support the museums, sold in each museum's shop.
Old Bay seasoning
The Chesapeake region's celery-salt spice mix, sold in supermarkets everywhere.
Mumbo sauce
A bottle of DC's sweet-and-tangy carry-out sauce, available in some local shops and markets.
Cherry-blossom designs
Prints, scarves and ceramics featuring the Tidal Basin blossoms, especially during the spring festival.
National Archives and Library of Congress replicas
Facsimile documents, maps and posters sold in the institutions' gift shops.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Neighbourhood · Georgetown
Georgetown and the C&O Canal
Georgetown's brick rowhouses, the shops of M Street and the towpath of the 19th-century Chesapeake and Ohio Canal make for the city's best neighbourhood walk.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Couples
- History
- Outdoors
Market · Capitol Hill
Eastern Market
A red-brick market hall that has traded since 1873, with butchers, bakers, cheesemongers and a lunch counter inside.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Off the beaten path
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Mumbo sauce, Jumbo slice and Rickey. Neighbourhood carry-outs and wing shops, especially in Northeast and Southeast DC; bottles are sold in some local shops. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Georgetown | $$$$ | Federal-era rowhouses, M Street shopping and the C&O Canal |
| Logan Circle and 14th Street | $$$ | The city's busiest restaurant and bar strip along 14th Street NW |
| U Street and Shaw | $$ | Historic 'Black Broadway', live-music venues and Ben's Chili Bowl |
| Foggy Bottom and West End | $$$ | George Washington University, the State Department and quick walks to the Lincoln Memorial |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in USD. Tip 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, $1–$2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis and ride-hailing, and a few dollars per bag for hotel porters and per night for housekeeping.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–February; the busiest months are April.
- March: National Cherry Blossom Festival (usually late March to mid-April)
- April: National Cherry Blossom Festival parade (usually a Saturday in early-to-mid April)
- June: Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the Mall (usually late June to early July)
- September: Library of Congress National Book Festival (usually late summer or early autumn)
- September: H Street Festival (usually September)
- November: Downtown Holiday Market opens in Penn Quarter (usually late November)
Staying near the shops
$$$$ · Best for couples, shopping and luxury
Georgetown
Federal-era rowhouses, M Street shopping and the C&O Canal
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Washington, D.C.?
Smithsonian museum shop finds, Old Bay seasoning, Mumbo sauce and Cherry-blossom designs.
+Where is the best shopping in Washington, D.C.?
Georgetown: M Street and Wisconsin Avenue have flagship and independent stores in historic rowhouses.
+What are the best markets in Washington, D.C.?
Eastern Market, Dupont Circle FreshFarm Market and Downtown Holiday Market.