Acapulco's profusion of shopping malls, boutiques and market places, make it almost impossible to leave without buying several gifts, souvenirs and some fashionable resort wear as well. A myriad of handicrafts, ranging from hand-woven cotton shawls or "sarapes", a treasure of silver pieces, brightly hand-painted ceramic work, to exquisite hand-made leather items can be found in shops up and down Acapulco's main strip.

Sanborn is a good department store and drugstore chain, offers an array of staples, including cosmetics, music, clothing, books, and magazines. It has a number of locations in Acapulco including downtown at Costera Miguel Alemán 209, across from the boat docks (tel. 744/484-4413); Costera Miguel Alemán 1226 at the Condo Estrella Tower, close to the convention center (tel. 744/484-2025), and also on Costera Miguel Alemán 163, at the Hotel Calinda (tel. 744/481-2426 or 744/484-4465).

Acapulco also has a Sam's Club and a Wal-Mart located on the inland side of the main highway just prior to its ascent to Las Brisas.
Boutiques selling vacation clothing crowd the Costera Alemán. These stores carry attractive summer clothing at prices lower than you generally pay in the United States. If there's a sale, you can find incredible bargains. One of the nicest air-conditioned shopping centers on the Costera is Plaza Bahía, Costera Alemán 125 (tel. 744/485-6939 or 744/485-6992), which has four stories of shops, movie theaters, a bowling alley, and small fast-food restaurants. The bowling alley, Aca Bol in Plaza Bahía (tel. 744/485-0970 or 744/485-7464), is open Monday through Sunday from noon to 1:30am. Another popular shopping strip is the Plaza Condesa, adjacent to the Fiesta Americana Condesa, with shops that include Guess, Izod, and Bronce Swimwear. Olvida Plaza, near the restaurant of the same name, has Tommy Hilfiger and Aca Joe.
Acapulco has a few notable fine-art galleries. A favorite, Galería Espacio Pal Kepenyes, Costera Guitarrón 140,  (tel. 744/484-3738), carries the work of Pal Kepenyes, whose stunning bronzes are among Acapulco's most notable public sculptures. The gallery shows smaller versions, as well as signature pieces of jewelry in brass, copper, and silver, by appointment only.