Unique Christmas Shopping In Washington D.C.

Don’t save all your shopping for December 23rd on Amazon Prime! Purchase sentimental gifts at these markets and boutiques to prove you don’t suck at gift giving make a thoughtful statement. Luckily, Washington, D.C. has plenty of festive options for unique Christmas shopping — here are our top picks.

1. Capital Collection Of Holiday Shops - Junior League Of Washington

Market, Bazaar, Market

Capital Collection Of Holiday Shops – Junior League Of Washington

The Junior League of Washington, a female non-profit organization that works towards educating volunteers and general advocacy in the D.C. community, hosts an annual fundraising bazaar. From November 18th through the 20th, Union Market hosts thousands of shoppers perusing through the creations of local artisans and public donations; all proceeds are funneled into the D.C. community. They also host special ticketed events, such as candy cane cocktail night, mimosas and monograms brunch and Santa Paws (have your furry friend photographed with him!).

Union Market, 1309 5th St NE, Washington, D.C, USA +1 301 347 3998

Santa Paws | © James Brooks/Flickr

2. Downtown Holiday Market

Market, Bridge, Market, Museum

Downtown Holiday Market

From November 25th – December 23rd, the annual holiday market will deliver merry creativity to the District each day. The event will feature approximately 150 exhibitors, ranging from local artisans selling crafts to glass making exhibitions and fine art prints. Find unique, intimate gifts for the loved ones in your life this season. The pop-up ‘shopping village,’ as organizers refer to it, will create a cheerful wonderland outside the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

Downtown Holiday Market in Penn Quarter, F St NW & 8th St NW, Washington, D.C., USA +1 202 215 6993

3. White House Visitor Center

Museum, Store

White House Visitor Center

The official visitor center markets a myriad of collectible historic items. This is where to obtain the annual White House Christmas ornament; each year, the White House Historical Association designs one collectible ornament to commemorate a past president, and 2016’s is Herbert Hoover. The store also serves as a museum with model replicas of the White House; if you can’t manage to book a coveted tour, this is the consolation prize.

White House Visitor Center, 1450 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C., USA +1 202 208 1631

5. Politics and Prose Bookstore

Bookstore

This neighborhood bookstore is beloved by District residents. The Obamas have frequented here during the holiday season, seeking out gifts for their teenage daughters. With over 100,000 titles, Politics and Prose is a printing press that helps local authors self-publish and sells a myriad of literary merchandise. During the holidays, the bookstore is decorated spectacularly and sells a variety of festive decor and intimate gifts.

6. Eastern Market

Market

Eastern Market, one of the world’s liveliest and most diverse marketplaces, acts as the glue of a community; it has brought local farmers and artists business for over a century. The inside food vendors operate daily, while an adjacent outdoor arts and farmer’s market occurs every Saturday and Sunday. During the holiday season, local artisans craft spectacular pieces, and DMV farmers sell Christmas trees.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.