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Where to Shop at CityCenterDC
Fashionistas rejoice! CityCenterDC—an expansive, mixed-use development boasting boutique after boutique beckoning shoppers— has made Downtown DC the place to be when it comes to haute couture. Whether you want to go on a shopping spree Pretty Woman-style or simply browse the latest looks, CityCenterDC welcomes locals and out-of-town fashion fans alike. A luxury shopping experience The retail destination takes up several city blocks and features shops like Jo Malone London, Chanel, Hermes, Dior, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Salvatore Ferragamo, Tiffany, Bulgari, Arc'Teryx and more. CityCenterDC's network of breezeways makes it easy to go from shop to shop on foot (and stop in for a sweet retail refuel at places like Piccolina or Dolcezza Gelato & Coffee). In addition to women’s and men’s clothing boutiques, CityCenterDC also features sleek jewelry at David Yurman and other accessories for the luxury globetrotter at brands like Longchamp and Tumi. Refuel on your shopping route CityCenterDC's dining options provide plenty of perfect ways to cap any kind of shopping day, from a happy hour stop at Fig & Olive or Centrolina to a celebratory dinner at Seven Reasons or Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse. Throughout the year, but especially in the warmer months, you’ll find DC locals and convention-goers catching up with friends in the courtyard or dining al fresco. Fashion forward events CityCenterDC’s breezeways and open courtyard make it a great place for fun (and free!) events. The destination sponsors a number of free events throughout the year, including outdoor exercise classes, evening concerts, dance shows and a tree lighting during the holiday season. For the most up-to-date events, check CityCenterDC’s online calendar. FRESHFARM at CityCenter Located in the Park at CityCenter, this lunchtime market is open on Tuesdays through October. Several of the local businesses feature fresh, local produce, but many also offer an excellent lunch on the go. Whether you’re dipping out of a convention or looking for a snack while you shop, this FRESHFARM favorite features delicious and fresh prepared food, from wood-fired pizza to falafel wraps. Finding the fashion Located near the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and the Conrad and Marriott Marquis, CityCenterDC is easy to find. The sleek white exterior is accessible by two nearby Metro stops, Mount Vernon Square/7th St-Convention Center (Yellow and Green lines) and Gallery Place-Chinatown (Yellow, Green and Red lines). The DC Circulator’s Georgetown-Union Station route also stops in front of the development at New York Avenue and 9th Street. There is a parking garage directly underneath CityCenterDC and most restaurants offer valet. CityCenterDC’s boundaries are New York Avenue NW, 9th Street NW, H Street NW and 11th Street NW. Shop 'til you drop at other locations in the District.
Where to Shop In & Around Washington, DC
Georgetown Serious shoppers are all-too familiar with this established shopping hub, which features a little bit of everything, from indie specialty shops, home design and high-end boutiques to national and international retail. Scout out new accessories from Kendra Scott and Little Words Project, or splurge on a bona fide new look from fashionista-approved brands like Everlane, rag & bone and Reformation. Check out the latest loungewear and shapewear from SKIMS at the first brick-and-mortar for Kim Kardashian's brand. For more casual shopping, consider Ella Rue for consignment scores, plus a stable of national retailers like J. Crew, Urban Outfitters and T.J. Maxx. Stay up-to-date on the trends at Abercrombie & Fitch, Aritzia and Madewell, or browse athleisure at lululemon, Alo Yoga and Vuori. Discoveries abound in the area known as Book Hill, located along Wisconsin Avenue at P Street headed north; here, find antique shops, funky boutiques and specialty stores, and a large concentration of art galleries. Cady’s Alley serves as the city’s unofficial home design shopping capital, with more than 20 boutiques. And the area's dining outposts should not be missed. Downtown DC Head to the heart of Downtown for its shopping sensation, CityCenterDC, bustling with 10-acres of shops, cafes, restaurants and public space. Satisfy designer tastes at Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Christian Louboutin. Specialty stores include Jo Malone London for high-end fragrances, Tumi and Longchamp for quality tote bags, Tiffany & Co. and David Yurman for fine jewelry and Arc'teryx for outdoor gear. After a day spent shopping, retire to one of the nearby dining outposts, such as Centrolina or Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse. On and around F Street, stop by Macy’s department store and then check out noted retailers like Ann Taylor, H&M and Nordstrom Rack. U Street/14th Street Spruce up your space after a trip along U Street and 14th Street. Discover home goods from local fave Salt & Sundry (also at Union Market), funky furniture at GoodWood and plants galore at Rewild. You can and scout out modern home design at Room & Board. Break from shopping madness with a hometown half-smoke from Ben's Chili Bowl and then continue to shop on at Lou Lou, a regional chain of boutiques founded in Middleburg, Va. that specializes in unique, affordable accessories (think: jewelry, clutches and sunglasses). Dupont Circle A variety of shops complement the Connecticut Avenue strip. Women can shop consignment steals at Secondi. South of the Circle, men can hone their look with classic fashions from Brooks Brothers and pick out the perfect pair of Oxfords to complement that new look by stopping by Allen Edmonds, just a block away. For accessories, Tiny Jewel Box is your Dupont go-to for vintage jewelry. Bookworms can browse Kramers, while comic fans should stop by Fantom Comics. As the only boutique duty-free store in the DC area servicing the diplomatic community, Diplomatic Duty-Free Shop is a prime shopping destination for cosmetics, fragrances, jewelry, watches and more. Adams Morgan Adams Morgan is much more than a neighborhood with a crowded nightlife scene. You’ll find historic row houses around 18th Street, as well as a variety of independently owned stores. DC's longest-running vintage store Mercedes Bien Vintage showcases funky, party pieces. Peruse antique houseware at Miss Pixie’s Furnishings & Whatnot, which offers a hodgepodge of creative accoutrements to style any abode or apartment. Urban Dwell’s DC-themed gifts and accessories are sure to please, while Lost City Books' vast collection of used, rare and out-of-print books is a great spot for a post-dinner browse. The Wharf The District's revitalized waterfront neighborhood is a bursting hub for nightlife, dining and retail. There you'll find local favorites Politics & Prose, an independent bookstore, and Shop Made in DC, which features wearables, wares and more from DC's community of creators. Diament is a jewelry and gift shop chock-full of quirky and trendy selections. Discover upscale home goods, luxury linens and unique furniture at Patrick's Fine Linens and Home Decor. Chevy Chase & Friendship Heights Feast on high-end designer fashions in this quaint neighborhood straddling the line between Upper Northwest and Maryland. The shopping area here straddles the border between DC and Maryland’s Friendship Heights and Chevy Chase neighborhoods. As far as shopping destinations go, this area is reputable for its high-end malls connected by an underground walkway to the Friendship Heights Metro station. Upscale department store Bloomingdale’s takes up residence inside The Shops at Wisconsin Place. The mall’s other highlights include Sephora, Talbots and Eileen Fisher. Extending one block long, The Collection at Chevy Chase features Tiffany and Co. and Saks Fifth Avenue. Dotting Wisconsin Avenue between the malls you’ll find Gap and Marshalls, plus a Whole Foods for when you get hungry. Tysons Corner A favorite for the international shopping set, who are known to pack extra suitcases to load up, Tysons includes not one, but two retail campuses specializing in high-end brands in Northern Virginia. Take Metro’s Silver Line to the retail mecca located in McLean, Va., and browse through goods from more than 300 shops at Tysons Corner Center, including brands like Michael Kors, Nordstrom, Express, Pottery Barn and Uniqlo. Cross the eight-lane street and you’ll find the luxury store-filled Tysons Galleria, which boasts notables like Prada, Chanel, Dior, Neiman Marcus, and Yves St Laurent. National Harbor Close to Washington, DC and Alexandria, Va. this waterfront resort in Maryland offers hotels, restaurants, shopping and unique attractions. Here you’ll find dozens of shops, including boutiques and specialty stores like Faith2Felicity’s Crystal Café, featuring crystal jewelry, and ZAAF, offering a collection of clothing and accessories made in Africa. Nearby, shop the Tanger Outlets at National Harbor for deals at more than 85 premium, brand name stores including Converse, Loft, Nike, Pandora and UGG.
Which Attractions & Museums in Washington, DC Require Tickets?
Many of Washington, DC's major attractions are open to the public and do not require tickets, including the Smithsonian museums, the National Gallery of Art, and the monuments and memorials on the National Mall. Entry to the Smithsonian Zoo is free but requires an entry pass. You can buy tickets for some of Washington, DC's most popular ticketed attractions including Ford's Theatre at the venue or on their website. Some attractions offer discounts to those who buy tickets online ahead of their visit and you can also purchase 24 or 48-hour, hop-on, hop-off bus tour tickets with Big Bus Tours, which will allow you to view the wonders of the National Mall at your own convenience. While some attractions are free, they require timed passes to save visitors from waiting in long lines. Timed passes are available to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and a limited amount of same-day passes are available online the day of your visit. The passes are printed featuring a one-hour time range, within which you may enter the museum. Free timed-entry passes are required to visit the National Air and Space Museum. Entry times are hourly from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The museum releases individual passes for six-week periods at a time and is open every day except December 25 from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm. The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum also requires timed passes to enter the permanent exhibition from March through August. These are distributed daily beginning at 10 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis at the museum or online at ushmm.org several months in advance. There are a limited number of same-day passes available online each day beginning at 6 a.m. A small service charge of $1 per ticket is charged for online bookings. You don’t need passes to visit the non-permanent museum exhibitions year-round or for the permanent exhibitions from September through February. Admission is free for the Washington Monument but a timed ticket is required for entry. Timed tickets are on a first-come, first-serve basis. One person may obtain up to six tickets as well as request their preferred ticket time. All visitors (including children ages 2+) must have a ticket to enter the Washington Monument. Admission is free for the Bureau of Printing and Engraving though tickets are required from March through August. These are distributed on the day of your visit, beginning at 8 a.m. until all tours for the day are full. Lines form early and, during peak season, tickets are often distributed by 9 a.m. Tours of the White House are only available by advance arrangement through your member of Congress. Find your member of Congress and contact information here and submit your request up to three months in advance and no less than 21 days prior to your visit. International visitors who want to visit the White House should contact their embassy in Washington, DC for assistance submitting a tour request. More information is available at whitehouse.gov. Tickets are also required to tour the U.S. Capitol. You can obtain tickets through your member of Congress or via visitthecapitol.gov. Some limited same-day tour passes may be available at the public walk-up line in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. While the Library of Congress, Supreme Court, National Gallery of Art and Smithsonian museums do not require tickets, you may want to check schedules in advance to take advantage of guided interpretive tours, lectures, IMAX movies and other programs. Looking for discounted fun? You can save big on popular things to do with Washington, DC’s best attraction passes. Discover discounted sightseeing tours, museum passes and so much more for one price. You can also get an exclusive discount and save big on your next Big Bus Tour. Just enter the promotional code VISITDC for the best available deal and start exploring the nation's capital. Continue exploring endless activities and things to do in our nation's capital.