10 Best Places to Go Shopping in Sacramento

Old Sacramento Waterfront is a 28-acre district boasting over 125 attractions. Located in city centre Sacramento on the east side of the Sacramento River, it is notable because it is a National Historic Landmark and State Historic Park due to its connections to the Gold Rush. Shoppers will notice the historic atmosphere that has stayed intact over time.

The range of shopping options is vast, including chic clothing boutiques; gift shops; western-themed general stores and trading posts; jewellers; and speciality imported goods from Mexico, Africa, Italy, and Peru. Salons and restaurants in the district offer shoppers a respite after perusing all Old Sacramento Waterfront has to offer.

As the name states, Folsom Boulevard Flea Market is located on Folsom Boulevard in East Sacramento. This weekend flea market is an assembly of the eclectic. Since 1963, vendors and shoppers have congregated here to exchange all kinds of treasures imaginable.

The space is big enough to hold 450 vendors, and there is never a guarantee what you will find–perhaps a beloved antique, hand-crafted furniture, or homemade preserve. The mystery is what makes Folsom Boulevard Flea Market fun. There is no admission fee, so it’s even more worth it to stop by and peruse.

Sacramento Central Farmers Market is a large, open-air Sunday market offering California’s finest in fresh food. Talking to the farmers who grew the food is a major perk of shopping at a market like this one. The majority of the vendors sell California-grown fruits and vegetables, but some sell snacks, pastries, or homemade crafts. Locals recommend arriving early to get the best pick of produce or stay late and snag the end-of-day deals.

The market is conveniently located off the I-80 business loop–known locally as the Capital City Motorway or Cap City Motorway–with plenty of street parking nearby.

Shoppers looking for a trendy, upscale experience will be delighted by the stores at Ice Blocks–a new-comer to the area that opened in 2019. The shopping centre consists of three blocks of indoor stores split up between buildings dubbed “Ice Shops,” “Ice House,” and “Ice Shed.” Located in the Warehouse District in Midtown on historic R Street, visitors can expect to find familiar department brands alongside artisanal goods and boutiques.

Come for the shopping, stay for the gourmet food and drinks and modern art installations, including murals, statues, and pop-up art shows.

Sacramento is known as the nation’s Farm-to-Fork capital, so it’s no surprise that farmers markets are a popular weekend outing. The Asian Farmers Market is one that is easy to get to– conveniently located city centre off of Broadway Street.

It’s a smaller market, only open on Sunday mornings, but packs in plenty of vendors selling vegetables, fruit, and fish that are traditional in Asian cuisine at reasonable prices. This is the place to load up on Napa cabbage, bok choy, long beans, Thai basil, sugar cane, nigauri (a variety of melon), and other hard-to-find produce.

Arden Fair is not the shopping centre you remember strolling with friends as a teenager. Instead, Arden Fair, located in northern Sacramento has a lively atmosphere.

It contains a lot of what you’d expect: dependable department stores, the smell of warm cinnamon rolls to guide your way, and speciality stores selling calendars and the like. It also plays host to the unexpected: art exhibits, Instagrammable installations, live entertainment, and free kid-friendly events every month.

Located on K Street in City centre Sacramento, City centre Commons affords visitors a trendy open-air shopping experience with convenience you can only get in a bigger city. Though the selection of stores is smaller, it feels more curated with only a couple of department stores, clothing boutiques (including stores that cater to men and to children), and a luxury salon.

Beyond shopping, visitors of DOCO can easily enjoy Sacramento nightlife without leaving the area. The district has bars in prime locations, a cinema, and is flanked by Golden 1 Centre where local NBA team, Sacramento Kings, play.

Located in south Sacramento, Delta Shores is a large shopping centre outside of the city centre. The easiest way to get there is by car (parking is a cinch), but it is also possible to get there by bus or by light rail combined with a 20-minute walk.

Delta Shores is relatively new, opening in 2018, and yet still expanding. Shoppers will find all their familiar favourites here (department stores, speciality brands, fast food, a cinema) and then some in a clean, well-maintained space that is easy to manoeuvre.

Only a short drive northeast of Sacramento is Westfield Galleria in Roseville, California. This shopping centre is well-organized and bursting with top brands selling clothes, jewellery, home goods, kids toys, and more. If you’re searching for the best designer items, Westfield Galleria at Roseville is home to many luxury, name-brand shopfronts, as well.

Beyond shopping: the shopping centre hosts themed events year-round and special art exhibits from time to time. Families with young kids can also enjoy the Westfield Playspace. The on-site cinema is another popular attraction.

Bargain hunters looking for the latest styles won’t want to miss a trip to the Folsom Premium Outlets, 20 miles northeast of Sacramento. From athletic apparel to brand name accessories and shoes, these shopfronts offer the same items you love, but often at a deeply discounted price and usually a season behind.

Folsom Premium Outlets is a self-contained outdoor mall that is big enough to keep you entertained for most of the day, but not so big that you must drive to reach all the shops. Unlike other outlet malls, this one is out of the way of high-traffic areas and tends to be less crowded, making it a more enjoyable and less chaotic shopping experience for travellers passing through.