15 Awesome Ideas for Souvenirs [2022 Best Souvenir Ideas!]

awesomeideasforsouvenirs-1565501 — Searching for some awesome ideas for souvenirs? I hope this post helps!

After two years of lockdowns and border closures due to COVID-19, we’re all itching to get on the road and start travelling again.

In fact, there’s so much pent up demand for travel that experts predict 2022 will be the year many of us finally take that “bucket list” trip we’ve been dreaming about for so long!

Are you, like me, ready to take your travel plans off the backburner and fly off into the sunset?

If so, you might be be eager to buy some travel souvenirs to commemorate your journey and/or gift to family members upon your return.

The question is: what should you buy?

To help, I’ve put together this list of the best souvenir ideas I could think up.

There are ideas for souvenirs to fit every taste, budget, and travel style, so keep reading to find the perfect souvenir items for you!

Heads up, this post contains affiliate links.

bestsouvenirideas-7362060 — Here we go, then: 15 of the best souvenir ideas to bring home from your travels!

Looking for different types of souvenirs? You might also like these…

Low-Budget Ideas for Souvenirs

Let’s start our list with some tried-and-true favourites.

While these items aren’t especially unique, they’re cheap, easy to find, and small enough to fit in your carry-on bag — in other words, a perfect trifecta in the world of souvenir items.

1. Magnets

Admit it, we’ve all bought magnets from those touristy shops outside a major landmark, right?

It’s a bit of a cliche, but they’re popular for a reason.

After all, don’t you want to be reminded of your awesome adventures every time you open your fridge?

For example, you could snag some vintage Eiffel Tower magnets to celebrate your trip to Paris.

Or you could pick up some colourful palm tree magnets to transport you back to that tropical island from your summer getaway.

2. Postcards

If you’re short on space, it doesn’t get much lighter or more compact than the humble postcard. They’re an especially great souvenir idea in places where you’re not allowed to take your own photos (i.e., the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican or the Geishas of Kyoto in Japan).

Look for some cool retro-style postcards that capture the look and feel of the city from decades ago. Or you can collect a whole ensemble of colourful postcards that represent the best sights from your trip.

Bonus tip: Mail your postcards home to yourself from your destination. That way, you get two more unique souvenirs: a local stamp and a postcard!

3. Home Decor

They say our homes are a reflection of ourselves.

So why not make your home a reflection of your past travels?

While you’re strolling through your destination, keep an eye out for decorative items such as vases, plates, paintings, statues, and other knick-knacks.

For example, you could pick up an authentic stein mug to commemorate your Oktoberfest exploits in Germany.

Relive your African safari with a hand-carved animal mask for your wall.

Or display a traditional geisha doll from your trip to Kyoto.

Not only will you love admiring these collectible items, but they’re sure to make great conversation pieces when you have visitors too.

4. Kitchen Items

Speaking of conversation pieces, why not liven up your IKEA collection with some traditional kitchenware from other lands?

Recreate your favourite Moroccan meals with a handcrafted tagine pot.

Treat your guests (or yourself) to a traditional tea ceremony with a Japanese tea set.

Or pick up an elegant decanter to open all the flavours and aromas of your favourite wine.

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with old-fashioned shot glasses, coffee mugs, or collectable spoons either.

Starbucks, for example, has its own “Been There” series featuring location-specific mugs for different cities, US states, and countries.

Pro tip: Just be sure to buy something you’ll actually use so it doesn’t collect dust in the back of your cabinets!

ideasforsouvenirgifts-7841906 — Next up: a few *cute* ideas for souvenir gifts!

Cute Souvenir Ideas

Do you love the idea of small, affordable gifts but you want to venture away from the “usual” souvenir items?

See if any of these cute souvenir ideas are perfect for your next trip.

5. Charms for a Bracelet

Jewellery trends come and go, but charm bracelets always seem to be in fashion – even among the elite.

One of the best ideas for souvenirs is to collect a charm in each city, region, or country you visit.

Another idea is to collect charms by travel themes, such as aeroplanes, globes, boats, or famous landmarks.

A silver passport charm is the finishing touch to any collection of travel charms.

String your charms together on a sterling silver bracelet and you’ll have a souvenir you’ll cherish (and add to) for a lifetime!

6. Local Beauty Products

Wherever you travel, you’re sure to find bath, body, and beauty products you simply can’t get at home.

Often they’re made with locally-sourced ingredients, fragrances, and oils, making them a unique and lovely gift-to-self.

Why not get some authentic Burmese thanaka or Dead Sea salts right from the source?

Here are some ideas for souvenirs that fall into this category:

One whiff of that exotic fragrance and you’re sure to be transported right back to your vacation destination.

Better yet, your skin, hair, and body will look and feel amazing!

Bonus: Beauty products also make a terrific gift, so be sure to stock up so you can share them with your friends and family back home.

7. Vintage Travel Posters

Feeling nostalgic?

Why not fill your walls with some decorative vintage travel posters from bygone eras?

Go back in time to the golden age of travel, when every airline was “first-class.”

Even if you never personally had the experience, one glance at those posters will transport you to a luxury lounge where you’re sipping champagne and enjoying freshly carved meat (yes, that was the norm back then).

Vintage posters of destinations in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia harken back to those glory days of travel.

You could also start a themed collection — for example, famous cities, world fairs, or national parks.

Hang them in your office to provide added incentive to work hard and save money for your next holiday!

besttravelsouvenirs-2411192 — I think local produce (whether it’s food, drink, or clothing) makes for some of the best travel souvenirs you can buy!

The Best Travel Souvenirs

Let’s keep our list rolling with some travel souvenirs that are sure to become your favourite mementoes.

8. Local Food & Drink Items

The late great Anthony Bourdain famously said that “food, culture, people and landscape are all absolutely inseparable.”

Sampling local cuisine is one of the greatest pleasures of travelling, but why should it end when you return home?

Food items are some of the easiest souvenirs to find – in most shops, they’re already pre-packaged for travel.

(Of course, you’ll want to make sure you can bring them into your home country and/or if you need to declare them when you arrive.)

Pick up some chocolate in Belgium, a curry blend in India, or a bottle of olive oil in Greece.

There are also incredible coffee and tea options in China, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Nicaragua.

Bonus tip: In between trips, you can satisfy your desire for exotic flavours with Eat2Explore subscription boxes that bring unique foods right to your door.

9. Local Alcoholic Beverages

Did you just enjoy an incredible glass of Chianti in Tuscany?

Can you still taste that smooth tequila from the beach bar in Mexico?

Don’t leave those flavours in your memories – bring them home with you!

Booze might not be the longest-lasting souvenir you’ll ever buy, but it’s sure to be one of your favourites.

Take home a bottle of authentic French champagne, Belgian beer, Jamaican rum, or Spanish rioja. Heck, take home a whole case! No judgments here.

Once you’re home, don’t tuck your souvenirs away in a cabinet.

Display them proudly for the world to see with an etched globe decanter or a chateau-style Bordeaux wine rack.

Or, if you want to impress your guests while you regale them with your best travel tales, wheel out some exotic booze on an old-world-style bar cart.

10. Traditional Clothing & Apparel

I’m not talking about those mass-produced T-shirts at the souvenir stand (which all come from China anyway).

I’m talking about those unique handcrafted items that are worn by locals and made by locals.

Ladies, take home a Burmese longyi (a long wraparound skirt) from Myanmar or a gorgeous kimono bathrobe from Japan.

Gentlemen, you’ll smile every time you open your closet and see that cowboy hat from your American road trip or that colourful foreign suit from your visit to Africa.

Important note: Have fun shopping, but do be mindful of where your souvenirs are coming from. The best travellers are responsible travellers who take sustainable tourism into consideration.

11. Local Jewellery & Accessories

As a seasoned traveller, chances are that some of your favourite accessories came from exotic locales.

Keep adding to your collection with wearable souvenirs you’ll enjoy for years to come.

Want to feel like a Bollywood star? Snag a set of traditional Indian wedding jewellery and wear it to make any occasion feel more festive.

Love those decorative scarf wraps that women in Russia and eastern Europe wear? Capture their look by taking home a floral fringed shawl for your own collection.

Gentlemen, pick up an Italian leather toiletry bag to use for long voyages abroad and shorter trips near home.

You’re also sure to love wearing that Irish linen cap from your summer golf getaway.

uniquesouvenirsitems-6532757 — Last but not least, here are some *unique* souvenirs items!

Unique Ideas for Souvenir Gifts

Still looking for something special that isn’t included above? For something truly out-of-the-box, consider one of these unique souvenir items below.

12. Travel Memory Box

What should you do with all those tickets stubs, stickers, local currency, and other tiny mementoes?

Rather than tossing them or letting them get lost in your junk drawer, why not turn them into a lovely memory box from your travels?

Start with a shadow box frame that suits your style, whether it’s vintage, modern, or minimalist. Add your small souvenirs and arrange them into a 3D “collage.”

Now all that’s left to do is hang your box on the wall or display it on a shelf!

13. Natural Souvenir Items

Some of the best things in life are free, and souvenirs are no exception. Rather than spending money at the souvenir shop, consider taking home:

Beach sand
Seashells
River stones
Dried flowers
Dried plants
Dried herbs

Of course, you’ll want to abide by any local laws that may prohibit taking these items.

You’ll also want to make sure anything you bring home isn’t banned or restricted in your home country.

14. Local Spices

Do you love to cook? Are you passionate about bold flavours?

Well, why not collect the unique tastes from every country you visit and build a custom spice rack?

For example, here are some extraordinary spices you don’t see every day:

Český kmín seeds (Czech Republic)
Phú Quốc pepper (Vietnam)
Chinantla vanilla (Mexico)
San Gimignano saffron (Italy)
Pimentón de Murcia (Spain)
Chettinad masala (India)

The possibilities (and the flavour combinations) are endless!

Browse the local markets in your destination and snag a few bags of spices, then store them in decorative glass spice jars when you return home.

15. Wooden World Map

Are you the type who starts planning their next trip before your current one even ends?

If travel is your true passion, celebrate it with a custom wooden world map for your wall.

It’s meaningful, minimalistic, and sure to inspire future travels.

Hang it in your living room, office, or bedroom.

Make it your own by adding planes, sailboats, compasses, and other details. It’s also a fantastic souvenir gift idea for your friends and family!

Which Ideas for Souvenirs Will You Choose?

From classic souvenir items like magnets and postcards to totally unique souvenirs, there’s an item on this list that belongs in your suitcase.

Bookmark this article and take it with you as you set off to your next travel destination.

That way, you’ll have plenty of fresh ideas for souvenirs to choose from!

Looking for more great travel advice and destination guides? How about inspirational quotes to get you psyched for your journey?

This site has all that and much more, so stick around and keep browsing. This post full of gifts for a man who travels could be a good place to start!