What have been your favorite purchases while in Europe?

Greetings Adrienne,

I have purchased bottles of wine in Paris, France and leather goods in Milan, Italy.

By the way when you are in Bruges, take a trip to this wonderful chocolate shop. The chocolates are top quality.

DAYA Chocolates

Chocolate shop

Address: Katelijnestraat 27, 8000 Brugge, Belgium

Phone: +32 478 33 37 31

Leather in Montalcino, grappa in Alba (shipped home 6 bottles of hubby’s favorite), wine all over (also shipped), scarves, Murano glass jewelry, Christmas ornaments, and table linens for the Sudtirol.

I bought a beautiful ceramic pitcher and matching tiny pitcher at San Giamangio (sp) Italy , so I bought another ceramic piece in Lourdes, France and a painted pitcher in Seville, Spain. Those pieces are visible in my glass kitchen cupboard.

A table runner and Murano glass necklace drop from Venice.

I love special soaps: a cube of olive oil soap from Cinque Terre (wish I had purchased more), Fraginard soap 4-pack with pretty box from Paris, and wonderful Savon de Marseille rose soap that I purchased at Annecy, France.

For me, my "favorites" are the prosaic items I use often, rather than designated "souvenirs." For instance, when my day bag broke in Switzerland, I bought a backpack in Migros (kind of like Target in the US) for 20 CHF. It now goes on every trip, and every time I use it, it brings back good memories and warm feelings of what a good purchase it was.

I also buy CD's and DVD's that are either not available in the US or are much cheaper in Europe (often because I find them as used copies). Again, every time I play one of these, I think of the trip, even when they're not connected to where I bought them (like my Billie Holiday CD box set, bought in Paris for a fraction of the US price).

Whenever I am back in Barcelona visiting my family I always make sure to pick up:

1. Dried Canelones sheets
2. Fuet de Can Duran 😉
3. Carabinero Bouillon cubes
4. Cuban Cigars (for a friend)
5. Valor hot chocolate "a la Taza"
6. Tarta de Santiago

Christmas tree ornaments: we buy one almost everywhere we travel (in the U.S. and non-European countries too).

Softcover books from the museums and select attractions: we use them as guides when we're there and for reference after we get home.

We love to buy artwork ... usually inexpensive, although an occasional splurge. Mostly unframed. We especially like buying from street artists -- we have found some tiny etchings that fit inside our Rick Steves book for transport, and small watercolors that we've carried flat. A couple of signed prints have been rolled into mailing tubes. We bring these to our favorite framing shop and spend many multiples of the original price to turn them into treasures that bring back memories everywhere we look.

I tend to buy things that make me happy by reminding me of my trips. Here's a start:

• placemats from restaurants (once home, I get them laminated - if you ask the waiter for a couple of extras, they're usually happy to oblige, and I leave an extra tip)

• little cow bells from specific areas in Switzerland that I tie onto the bottom of light pulls

• clothing from Paris, especially scarves (not necessarily expensive but chic)

• "red fruit" tea bags (delicious, and I can't get them online)

• posters (for my entryway at home)

• patches that I sew on my backpack once I get home - usually starts a conversation with tourists from that country who are visiting NY and that's always nice

Jewelry. I especially get compliments on the Celtic Warrior Shield set I bought in Ireland, and the Book of Kells design set I got at Skye Silver. Plus it is light to carry back!

Purses. They always fit! Though I can never justify an expensive bag at home, I seem to have no problem abroad.

Sometimes shoes. I just got a terrific pair of leather sandals in Spain, and another pair in Rome. Yes, they will wear out, but I will always remember buying them every time I wear them.

We used to get some art to frame, but we are behind in our framing so have abstained the last few trips. Plus I've been canvassing some of the photos I've taken.

We've stopped buying souvenirs when we travel and now only buy things that will be useful when we return home. It could be food, or kitchen gadgets, or clothing, or books. We're going to Ireland and London this fall. I have tea and some kind of woolen garment on my list. Oh yes.... and maybe a Christmas ornament!

I have to agree with several posters- jewelry, scarves, Christmas ornaments, 'art'- usually elephant carvings as hubby collects these, but also small prints or paintings, etc. For awhile we would buy a cloth wall calendar- often in Austria. Tea or bar towels, coasters, and similar items. Calendars with great photos were often gifts for family. We now have so many Christmas ornaments that we can't put all on the tree and have to select only some each year! I love wearing my scarves and/or jewelry- they bring back such wonderful memories.

I agree, purchasing items that remind you of your travels brings lasting memories.

Copper wine ice bucket- Montepulciano.
Favorite earrings- Taormina
Table linens- Arles
Artwork unframmed- various locations- to add to wall of places visited.
0live Oil- Tuscany
Pumpkin Seed Oil- Ljubljana
Lemoncello- Amalfi
Soaps, lotions- France & Italy
Chocolate- @ Antica Dolceria Bonajuto- Modica
Leather- Italy, Sicily

I bought a couple of small items at Harrods in 1998. They were packaged in a coated canvas Harrods shopping bag. 20 years later, I still have the velvet scarf and the pen, and I use the shopping bag weekly for my son’s swimming lessons.

A woolen scarf from Ireland. My favorite scarf to wear with my non-barn, non-smelly coat 😊.

Dinner plates and coffee mugs from Sevilla. Used daily; the colors make me happy in our long Vermont winter.

The cuckoo clock I bought in Zurich. On the wall next to our kitchen table. My son loves to watch for the cuckoo at every meal.

I like taking home things I can use often — the vacation reminders as I go about my daily routine are great reminders of how lucky I am to be able to go places.

P.S.— Harold — I have one of Billie Holiday’s Christmas CDs. It’s one of my favorites.

An Aran knit sweater jacket from Spiddal Ireland.
Ceramics from San Gimignano, Sciacca Sicily, Hydra Island Greece.
Murano glass jewelry from Venice.
Christmas ornaments from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Bratislava and Budapest.
A bedspread and a leather journal from Florence.
A denim shirt from Zermatt Switzerland.
An original batik print from the artist on Hydra Island Greece.
A floor length sundress from Greece.
A small area rug and some glass worry beads from Turkey.
A tartan wool scarf from Scotland.
Gold charm bracelet from Florence and gold charms from every country I've visited.

If I had all the money back from my purchases I could probably afford another trip to Europe. But then I wouldn't have these things around me bringing back the memories of my visits. :)

Speaking of Belgium I bought 6 bottles of this beer not sold in the USA in my checked bag

https://www.ratebeer.com/beer/westvleteren-12-xii/4934/

Scarves! Not expensive ones, just ones I like and will wear. I picked up one for about 10E recently at the Delft Tourist Information Center. It's the color of Delft pottery and has a tulip design. Win-win! Goes great with jeans!

My most favourite were soft red leather gloves lined with rabbit fur in Florence. Our Ottawa winters are cold. I have repaired them as far as I can but can't bear to throw them out yet.
Now, the odd consumable or bookmark. I rarely buy anything anymore.

• Antique maps in Edinburgh. My family name is Scottish, so when I spotted an antique maps/books shop while on a walking tour in the evening, I made it a point to swing by the next day when it was open to see what kind of neat stuff was inside. I found a couple old maps (one early 18th century, one early 19th century) that each showed the village our family and surname originally came from, giving one as a gift to my parents and keeping the other for myself.
• Booze. I don't drink myself, so don't partake in that part of travel. But I do have friends and family who like wine or whisky, so it's nice to bring back something unique and special for them when possible. It's neat to have given my father or brothers a bottle of whisky after a trip to Scotland, and hearing from them each time they treat themselves to a glass. It's an "interactive" souvenir that lasts awhile, I guess you could say - you get a phone call or text weeks after the trip, as they happily want to point out they're enjoying the whisky you gave them, or have opened that wine you brought them at dinner.
• Various craft pieces from Bulgaria. There are a lot of really cool artisan and craft stores around the Samovodska Charshia in Veliko Tarnovo, and something I found particularly fun about buying them was meeting and chatting with the artist/craftperson making them and watching them actually making other pieces in the shop.
  
• Venetian masks. I'm sure we've all seen them and plenty of us have purchased one. Similar to the craft shops in Bulgaria, we each bought ourselves a mask from a store, while getting to chat with the maker and see his process in building other masks. There are so many different types and styles that you can really find a unique one that speaks to you.
• Cheese. All cheese! Cheese in Britain, cheese in France, cheese in Italy and the Netherlands and anywhere else. Admittedly, most doesn't make it back with us to the US as it's promptly consumed while still in Europe :)

I tend to buy Christmas ornaments (my tree is filled with travel ornaments and I love them!), magnets because I use them for kids’ art work, and useable souvenirs like......

• a wool sweater in Norway, as well as a cute Santa ornament
  • a Kosta Boda bowl in Sweden
• Port in Portugal -crosses at the Vatican -T-shirt’s from local area (sometimes, Hard Rock Cafe if interesting, or some touristy shirt that I like)
• a ceramic olive platter in Portugal
• a really nice port wine glass set in Sweden
• Christmas ornament in Sweden and Norway
• an Amber charm in Copenhagen, as well as a few other misc ornaments
• a British flag Christmas ornament in Bath
• a set of 3 Harrods Christmas ornaments
• Starbucks mug in Bern, as well as another misc Swiss mugs
• a necklace in Switzerland, as well as chocolates, various magnets, and a cow shaped glass butter dish
• Swiss baby onesie (several years before baby showed up😂)...in my defense, my husband has 4 Swiss grandparents
• Murano glass necklace
• Positano linen scarf
• Ceramic platter in Positano

I like to buy things abroad but I try to only buy things that make me happy or I would use or wear...when I get home.

It has to be something truly unique or that I wouldn't be able to get online or back in the States. So usually it's an art piece of some sort, or a book or some unusual food that's easy to transport (and I usually consume fairly quickly upon return). My favorite art pieces are hanging on my walls and not taking up much space.

Linen or cotton kitchen towels, spices, earrings, buttons&beads to make jewelry with, random things - love flea markets & charity shops - that called my name & make me smile years later. Good chocolate! Mantra is small, lightweight, & unbreakable (mostly). Extra points for cheap and/or things I actually bargained for. I'm bargaining-challenged, but managed in China & Hong Kong; in HK the nextdoor-stuff-on-sidewalk seller actually winked & gave me a thumbs-up, whoo.

In Britain at shops at National Trust stately homes: linen tea towels and note cards with photos of National Trust gardens/coastline.

Glühwein mugs from Christmas markets -- after we drink the wine, of course.

Am I the only person who goes to Europe and doesn't buy a single thing to bring home?

I'm trying to declutter our house as it is and already give away as many things as possible. Buying more stuff is the last thing I want from a vacation!

All I want to bring home is good memories.

My most recent favorite is a wooden spoon that I bought at Lake Bled. It has a happy smiley face cut out in the spoon. Every time I use it (or just see it sitting happily among my plain spoons) I think of that day.

Necklaces are another favorite. I found a beautiful handmade glass pendant at a street market in Ljubljana that has eidelweis embedded in it. I get compliments all the time and people ask where I got it. It’s a great conversation starter!

I’ve really tried to gravitate toward purchases that are things I will really use (like an apron from Guatemala). But I do like kitschy figurines, and I have a little collection on my windowsill at work. Again, great conversation starter!

Coffee spoons! I buy a few everywhere I go and use them every day at home. They make me happy and get me started off on the right foot each morning with a travel memory.

My favorite is the little silver scallop shell that I bought in Santiago de Compostela after finishing my 1st Camino. It is part of my permanent jewelry. After my Portuguese Camino last year, purchased a wooden fan decorated with lace being made by these ancient ladies on the shores of Muxia. Don't use it very often, but it is unique and pretty. Lovely tartan scarf from Edinburgh, perfect for cold winters in Frankfurt. Will often buy books that describe in detail and with fabulous photos, a landmark or cathedral or city - Bayoux, Rome, Mainz, Santiago, Worms, Speyer, Idstein, Büdingen, Limburg, Gelnhausen, Würzburg, Aschaffenburg.

Ekelund table runners and Orrefors wine glasses. I use both regularly and they remind me of Sweden.

I love my cuckoo clock I bought in Rothenburg. It brings me joy every day!

I love to shop, so I always buy things to take home and my apartment is full of (mostly) useful items. The biggest and most expensive was a Turkish carpet (technically not from Europe). It was a bargain (on an RS tour) and I love it, the centerpiece of my living room.

On my last trip, a few weeks ago, I brought back about a kilo of Marseille soap (much of which will probably end up as gifts) and a kilo of Spanish cheese (shared with friends).

I collect fridge magnets - my fridge door is full so it's always a challenge when I get home to fit in new ones. Some older ones get relegated to a secondary location. I used to collect bookmarks (cheap, nearly weightless, no dusting necessary) but when I realized I had nearly as many bookmarks as books, I stopped it. . . . well, I still get tempted once in a while.

I have scarves from France, Italy and Turkey that I love, really good Italian leather gloves, and coffee mugs from a dozen places.

Am I the only person who goes to Europe and doesn't buy a single thing to bring home?

No. In fact, it's often the reverse for me. I have a couple of really useful bags that contain little plastic containers almost like test tubes with screw on lids which I fill with various herbs and spices that I know that I'll use on holiday (we're almost always self catering when going on holiday in Europe, excluding city breaks) plus I'll take along a small bottle of olive oil as I've never seen a bottle of non virgin olive oil that is less than a litre and I'll never get through a whole litre bottle in two weeks likewise if I were to buy whole jars of herbs and spices. I also have a compact utensil kit containing a number of utensils that you rarely find in self catering kitchens such as a mini whisk for making dressings, a decent corkscrew, vegetable peeler etc plus a travel set of Wüsthof kinves as you can guarantee that the knives supplied will be as blunt as anything. Of course, these can only go in checked luggage but with a week or two holiday we always have checked luggage anyway.

I don't bring wine back, I subscribe to several wine clubs at home and invariably I can buy better wine from those than I can in a supermarket in Spain, France, Italy etc. I've bought wine from dedicated wine retailers abroad but I've always drunk it there rather than bring it home. I can easily buy excellent oils, vinegars, spices etc online so no need to worry about exceeding the baggage limit when returning home.

I think the most we've ever brought back are fridge magnets oh and chocolate from the US for friends of our kids just to show them how lucky they are with the chocolate they have here ; )

Dorothy, I didn't know what you meant by "red fruit" tea bags, so I searched on amazon and found some items, but I don't know if what I found are what you said tasted delicious:
https://www.amazon.com/Twinings-Four-Fruits-Bags-1-8oz/dp/B003V59K3Y/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=%22red+fruit%22+tea+bags&qid=1556622529&s=gateway&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=%22red+fruit%22+tea+bags&ref=nb_sb_noss

I am going to the Twinings shop in London, and I will definitely try some. Maybe I'll buy some! :o)

1885BD, I absolutely love old maps as well. Could this be the shop in Edinburgh you mentioned? Carson Clark Gallery?

https://www.google.com/search?q=carson+clark+gallery&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiy6ZnK2PfhAhVNQ6wKHY-PCRUQuzEICigA&biw=1920&bih=937&dpr=1

JC, most of this trip will be self-catering for us too, and I didn't really want to purchase olive oil in Europe because I couldn't figure out how to travel with it. Even if it's a plastic container of olive oil, it could leak and ruin everything. What do you use to keep it spill-proof?

Every time I've been to Venice, I buy a little blown glass bird - I'm up to 4 now, and will add another in Sept.

I was buying prints - gotten them in Rome and Burano and Brussels and Venice and Provence - but I have some I bought 5-6 yrs ago that still are tucked away since I don't quite know where to put them, so I try not to buy those now.

I seem to buy coffee mugs on every trip - I can't resist!

We always come home with fudge/sweets from England. Hotel Chocolat in London is always a stop before we come home and I end up with a half dozen packs of chocolates. And have purchased other sweets (usually for friends) as well - small cookies, hard candies.

Oh - and if I see a nice Xmas tree ornament, I'll get one of those - nice to remember the trips when decorating the tree.

I typically buy a small piece of art or jewelry that reminds me of the place I've been, but I am not a shopper and more often than not I don't buy anything.

My favorite purchases have been cooking/food/wine classes and spices/ingredients purchased to bring home. Learning how to make a new cuisine, interspersed with lessons about a culture, stays with you long afterwords. I am for sure a more eclectic (and fearless) cook and eater.

My visits to Europe have been few and years between. But I still have, use and smile at
•The stainless silverware I bought in Copenhagen and use daily
•The Waterford Christmas sock ornament that wasn’t imported to the US
•The Ambassador Crystal candlestick holder, small company no longer in business but the biker-looking owners were so nice and former Waterford employees.

We’re leaving tomorrow for Italy. On my souvenir list are a cameo ring from Sorrento and Christmas ornament from Murano.

Like Chani and Nicole P, I usually buy a coffee mug (rarely anything else) and rotate mugs for my morning coffee. Today is Copenhagen. Each one has a story. :)

Jewelry - A necklace I bought at Teotihuacan makes me smile every time I see it or wear it.

Books - Even if I can't read the language, I love going into bookstores wherever I am. Some of the covers are gorgeous.

Small artwork or decorative pieces.

Chocolate.

There were some places I went where I didn't buy anything and regretted it. I was going to come back later, or pick it up before leaving, or didn't want to carry something around so I'll come back at the end of the day. Didn't happen. I currently am battling with competing thoughts: wanting to buy souvenirs vs. wanting to try carry on only next time.

chocolate from the US for friends of our kids just to show them how lucky they are with the chocolate they have here ; )

Yes! :)

Scarves - every time I wear one in the States that I got overseas, I get a compliment
Purse - it was an I need a bigger bag to return home with my goodies :) Everyone compliments it here
Egg Cups - we had been binge watching the Great British Bake Off so we ducked into a Kitchen Store in Lübeck (Yes I know we were in Germany) for the search of cool kitchen things we had seen on the show. We came home with Egg Cups, Eggs Spoons to go with the cups, Bread bags for homemade bread.
Pottery - We got some beautiful pottery in Soffelnheim France, cant wait to go back there in 3 weeks to get some more pottery :)
Jewelry - I almost always get a necklace
Ornaments for the tree - always. They make me so happy when I am decorating for Christmas
Photos. I love photography so, this is the majority of what I bring back is in a nice little SD card ;)

This time the hubby wants some table decorations, and I want a few table runners. So back to the home goods store for us. I would love a Dirndl, but I may wait a trip or two for that.

We buy small watercolors purchased from the artists that fit in our suitcase on our international travels. I have them framed and hung on a wall in my living room. They are a constant reminder of the places we have enjoyed while traveling.

I also collect Starbucks mugs from the European cities I visit.. I use one every day for my tea. Today I'm drinking from my Dublin mug.

Hi Adrienne, I don't buy many souvenirs but one of my favorite things is a small wall hanging that says "cuisine". I bought it in Arles, France. It was the only one they had so the clerk unscrewed it from the wall and I brought it home and hung it in my kitchen. I love it. I also like mugs, placemats and silverware that I use everyday to remember my great vacations!

Paintings done by locals-but I'm completely out of wall space now.

I recently told my husband we need to take a trip to Italy because he needs some new ties. Doesn't that sound like a good reason to go?

I typically buy things we use almost daily like kitchen tools, table linens/napkins and all of our down comforters, duvet covers, 80x80cm pillows and pillow covers.

I go to the grocery store and buy local spices. They're lightweight, not bulky, inexpensive and you can get a lot of things you would never find in the US.

They're fine for my carry on bag. Since they're commercially packaged, customs is fine bringing them into the country (which may or may not be true of bulk spices from an open air market).

I like bringing back cardboard coasters from different restaurants/pubs/lounges. I have some from most of the countries I've visited. I enjoy looking at them and they can be conversation starters.

Brad - what spices can't you get in the States? Also, what do you use these spices in? What I mean is, I would like to know what spices to be on the lookout for, and I am curious what dishes you use them with.

I literally just browse the spice rack, like I would a magazine rack, and pick what looks interesting. The best were a bunch of spices I picked up in Spain. Many were saffron or mixes for Paella. My favorites are usually different kinds of paprika. I use it a lot and always run out.

I prefer spices, even grocery store bought, in Europe. It may be my imagination but I find them more flavorful. Items in U.S. grocery stores are generally limited to mass produced brands (thus more diluted/lower quality) and cater to what I consider to be a dumbed-down American palate. It's probably mean to say but IMO Americans are taught that food coloring, sugar and/or salt are the same thing as flavor.

Edit: What dishes? Literally everything. Chicken paprika comes to mind because I make it regularly but it's really not limited to that. I really liked dill I found in Copenhagen for fish (but I ran out of that quite awhile ago).

@Brad. Thanks for mentioning spices. I too have picked up spices in my travels, but over the years I have been purchasing all my spices from Penzey's. These are the best spices I've ever used. They offer free samples or discounted with a purchase. They rival the European spices. They offer a wide variety of no sodium spices that are amazingly flavorful. We are fortunate to have a Penzey's close by. The advantage of visiting the store is the ability to "sniff" the spices. Speaking of Paprika they have a variety. Your Chicken Paprika sounds wonderful. We are headed to Budapest this year and look forward to trying this dish!

I try to bring back small items, so I've collected hat pins from about 30 locations in Germany. Then I collected patches for my backpack, but now have run out of room to attach any more. I always buy Marzipan in Germany. I know I can get it here, but it's so much cheaper in Germany than here and for some reason it tastes better. Christmas ornaments and kitchen gadgets are always in my bag to go home. I love curry ketchup and bring a big bottle home. Again it's so much less expensive in Germany than here in Washington State.
Many of the items that others have listed, I too purchased. I love this topic, because now I have some ideas of new things to buy.

I think one of my favs was a linen tablecloth we bought in the south of France. I would never pay that much for one at home, so when I first spotted it in Vence, I passed on it...partly because hubby had just put a big scrape on our rental as well, so I was in a cranky mood.

But after we left Vence I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It’s white and beige with burgundy flowers embroidered around the edge. So when we got to Gourdon, a shop there had the same one and I said...the heck wth it. It’s been on my dining room table ever since (4 yrs), albeit under a plastic cover, since my hubby is a messy eater.

In Florence bought a leather clutch purse with wonderful texture that I just couldn't put down. I wasn't planning to, but kept my eyes open for items that "spoke to me". Paid more than I would have at home, but, oh, the memories every time I touch it!

Eiffel Tower salt and pepper shaker. Kidding.

Practical things we can actually use, like a sweater from Ireland. Mary still wears that, and with red hair she looks good with the green sweater.

Christine, excellent choice!

What have been your favorite purchases while in Europe?

My house.

OK, JC, you win. :o) That's probably the best purchase one could make.

Small pieces of glass and masks from Venice, inexpensive pieces of jewelry from various countries, leather gloves from Florence, and as a teacher, always a miniature of something I’ve seen to add to my classroom display- This past April, it was a tiny Edinburgh Castle, a little Nessie from Loch Ness and a picture book about Grayfriar’s Bobby. My students look forward to seeing what I bring back from each trip and hearing the stories around all the different things and I love sharing my adventures with them!!

My souvenir has been, since childhood, the hatpin. I have at least 400 at thsi point, possibly more. One hat has old European pins, another has new European pins, a third has national park and US state pins.

I don't bring much back but

An evil eye keychain from Turkey

Pimenton de la Vera Paprika from Barcelona grocery store. $1.50 in Spain compared to $8.99 here in US.

Sagrada Familia coin.

My Spanish fan-probably from China LOL and small bottles of olive oil from El Cortes Ingles Madrid.

Like some others, I have shipped or brought wine and chocolate home from just about everywhere in Europe-taste comparison tests, you know. When my husband and I were traveling, we often bought small tiles with a picture or drawing or symbol on them the would remind us of where we were when we bought them. When we had collected enough, he glued them onto pieces of plywood and attached each panel to each side of the planter we have in our living room. It has always been fun to see them and revisit the places we traveled together.

Mostly chocolate and candies that can’t be found (or cost far more) at home. The hardest part is not eating them all at once! I like giving them as gifts too, since they don’t add to anyone’s clutter (for very long).

• a table runner made by a nun in Greece
• pieces of clothing, have tops from Carcasonne, Arles, Positano, Rome (okay, maybe not made there, but memories of the place)
• olive pit worry beads from Greece
• little folk figurines, Nativity figures
• yes, I buy wine stoppers!
• an embroidered bedspread from a vendor in Buda (the heaviest thing I ever bought!) -tiny ceramic bowls, there are so many styles from different countries -small watercolors from street vendors (Krakow, Neuschwanstein, Prague, Positano, Amboise, St. Remy)

On our first trip to London I brought home a Hamper(suitcase like picnic basket) from Fortnum and Masons as my carry on! I bought a second smaller one for our daughter and packed it inside. Packed it with clothing to make room for jam, lemon curd and honey from the Royal Bees in my checked bag! I bought those items at the farm store located in Windsor Park! Now I only buy one small kitchen tool and a reusable shopping bag. I get asked questions about my shopping bags at the grocery store! Occasionally I splurge on a pair of nice earrings for myself. The earrings must be handmade in that country. My favorite kitchen tools are a cheese knife from the Wensleydale Cheese Factory in the Yorkshire Dales, a hard carved wooden spoon made from holly wood bought from the carver at a craft fair in Ireland, stainless steel gelato spoons from Italy, small Henckels scissors from Germany. In France I bought a beautiful pillow cover with a stags head on it at Chambord, because it was flat it took up little room in my luggage and looks good in my mountain home. If I am in England I might buy myself a bar of Kendall Mint Cake to take home.

JC, most of this trip will be self-catering for us too, and I didn't really want to purchase olive oil in Europe because I couldn't figure out how to travel with it. Even if it's a plastic container of olive oil, it could leak and ruin everything. What do you use to keep it spill-proof?

In the UK you can buy small 250ml bottles of olive oil (or other oils) that are the perfect size and amount to last a week or two, unless you're going to be doing a serious amount of deep frying. Whatever's left at the end of the holiday we leave at the villa/apartment as there's little point in bringing it home. As it's sealed there's no chance of it leaking whilst transporting it out there however once that seal is broken then yes, the chance of leakage is high which is another reason not to bring it home.

For the mug collectors . . . last time I had a "dinner party" (put in quotes because dinner party sounds so formal and though we were a good sized group, we were anything but formal), everyone got to choose their "destination mug" for coffee/tea.

My usual souvenir items are inexpensive ball point pens which I use daily. I've also bought magnets, but am running out of space on the door leading to the garage (refrigerator does not support magnets).
I am always on the lookout for earrings in museum gift shops made by local artists. In fact I'm wearing a pair now that I bought at the Victoria and Albert museum in London.
My big splurge was an anniversary gift to myself of a medallion necklace I bought on the Ponte Vecchio. I wear it often and it brings back wonderful memories of Italy.

My favorite item is a French military mess kit with-apparently-the soldiers name scratched into the aluminum top:

Jean Suplisson

It's pretty well used. I cannot imagine what it went through, much less my friend Jean.

We tend to buy some watercolor or poster. We never pay too much but something that reminds of where we were. We get it home and then spend 3 to 4 times the price we paid for the matte and frame even with Michael's 50% off sales. I always laugh and vow I will never do it again but always come home with another one. We go to Scotland and Iceland in 2 weeks...I wonder what type of picture will land in my suitcase. Should be fun to find out!

My parents started the tradition of bringing back a linen or cotton tea towel, which I use for drying dishes so there’s always one on display in my kitchen. I have one showing breeds of sheep, another with Scottish castles, and several that I’ve bought showing herbs, flowers, or birds of various countries. I also look for placemats with images of the places I’ve been - right now my favorite is Pont du Gard but I also have various castles in France and Germany, and a gorgeous one showing Dutch tulips. Lots of nice memories!

Dried porcini from Italy. Olive wood kitchen utensils from Spain. And a great pair of hiking shoes from a small French Village in the Alps, because I needed them to complete our hiking trip.

My butter dish from Italy and my table cloth from Provence

Love the boullion cubes I buy in Paris - always stock up - they have flavours we simply don’t have here ( like bouquet garni , Mediterranean vegetable, and court boullion etc )

Mediterranean vegetable sounds perfect because both of my daughters are vegetarian. I'll be on the lookout for those. Thanks!

Have only been to Germany so far but headed to Italy next week. I had no intention on buying souvenirs but stumbled on some favorites by accident.

I am not a drinker but after dropping my toothbrush in the commode after a night of indulgence in a beer hall I had to get a new toothbrush.
In Berlin I needed bandaids thanks to walking too much. I have very sensitive skin & find most bandaids give me a rash but not the ones from Germany.
Also in Berlin I didn't know I needed my own shopping bag so bought one there. Is one of my favorite purchases.
So on my list for Italy is a toothbrush, bandaids & a grocery bag!

I like to buy prints that I can hang in the house to remind me of where I have been. The prints can be kept in a tube or laid flat in a suitcase between two pieces of cardboard. The good thing is that it really doesn’t take of any space or weight. I also like to buy Christmas ornaments. On our last trip to Italy, I picked up a number of hand painted ceramic bottle stoppers (not sure what the correct name is) to give to our friends. They also took up little room or weight.

Janis, thank you for mentioning Penzeys shop for purchasing spices. I just looked it up, and the Lynnwood, WA store is 15 minutes from my home!

Large decorative wall plate shipped home from Sienna.
Every Swiss trip, Frey chocolate, with Japonais being our favorite.
And a WIDE variety of Swiss cheeses for our families as well as for us.

I like small items that can hang out on the ledge in my office so I can day dream at work

In 1972 purchased a cheap small soap dish with the Eiffel Tower imprinted on it. Still have it and use it in the kitchen.

I like visiting museum stores for small gifts. I get one of a kind birthday cards and if there before Christmas Purchase a number of Christmas cards.

I also like mint or chocolate tins which come in various sizes. Interesting designs and can be used for buttons, pens and pencils, pills, paper clips, business cards, camera SD cards, etc., etc.

Such a wonderful thread! Thanks to Adrienne for the urls to buy my Red Fruit tea bags online - only trouble is that they're $18 + shipping for 25 tea bags. I'll just have to go back to France or Belgium!!

My favorite contribution was Dave's about the French military mess kit with Jean Suplisson's name scratched into the aluminum top. I hope that Jean went on to live a good long life.

A lot of my favorites are already mentioned. I love sweaters from Scotland. It has been my go-to souvenir for all my Scotland trips. I too buy CD's but I wouldn't by an American artist. I look for local music. I too buy artwork. Generally, it's small pieces, but one time I popped for a larger painting which was shipped back to me. I love it. It's currently sitting over my piano. One of the funniest things I brought back for my parents was a toothbrush. It was Scottish Guardsman with the bearskin hat as the brush. He has lovely boots and can stand right up in the bathroom. It's never been used and made it to my mother room in the memory unit where she now lives.

On my first trip to Europe we stopped in Northampton to visit British friends. Judy took me to Althorp House to tour it. Charles and Diana were still married and were not there at the time. Her Father, Lord Spencer came bounding in the room and stayed and chatted with us for quite a while. There were no others going on the tour of the home. In the gift shop I bought a coffee table book that Lord Spencer asked me if I would like for him to sign it. Of course I said yes! He was a very gracious man and his home was beautiful.

On later trips I bought salt shaker and pepper grinder in Deruta after watching them being painted. I have bought a few glass pendants in Murano, also.

My very favorite purchases in Europe have been from Mom and Pop restaurants or trattoria's. If hubby and I have a particularly memorable meal (or 2) from a restaurant that becomes a favorite and they have a logo plate, I ask if they will sell one to me. They are usually surprised but flattered. Sometimes the owner comes out to present it to me.
I have never been told no and in some cases they have actually given it to me! These are the places that we go back to on every trip.
I have the plates on plate stands with my photos of our trips! So when dementia sets in, hopefully I won't forget the trips!

@Mimi spit my coffee out chuckling at the brilliant idea of cue card plates when the grey cells stop functioning!
Bravo!

Playing cards & fridge magnets with something emblematic of the country/city, & Christmas ornaments.

My favorite purchase however is an umbrella that I bought in Salzburg with Gustav Klimt prints on it.

an umbrella that I bought in Salzburg with Gustav Klimt prints on it.

Oh, this sounds gorgeous.

LOVE souvenirs. I gravitate towards useful, and I don't usually spend a lot.

Always a Christmas ornament (I love taking them out every winter and reminiscing)
Always a magnet (inexpensive and fun)
Often a piece of jewelry, doesn't have to be expensive, but is nice to wear and be reminded of my trip
Usually T-shirts for myself and my kids
Food (cheese from Amsterdam, sweets from Italy)
Art if it catches my eye

My favorites are both from Forence: a cheap beaded bracelet from a Florence market that I wear every day, makes me happy and I get so many compliments on it (more than the very expensive earrings I got from the Ponte Vecchio lol) and a small watercolor by an artist that helped my daughter do a small watercolor that we got to keep. Such a special memory.

A carpet in Istanbul

An 18k gold crucifix necklace with emeralds in Athens

A leather coat from Tangier, Morocco while on a day trip from Spain.

I bring home fridge magnets but the last couple of trips I decided to buy clothing or accessories so I have PJs from Ireland and London, a scarf from Paris, a cardigan also from London, a scarf and a purse from the Cotswolds. My favorite souvenir is a tiny plastic shampoo bottle I got from the Ibis hotel on my first visit to Paris. I cleaned it out and it’s the perfect size for my face wash. I keep it in my toiletry kit and bring it with me everywhere I go. These things bring a smile to my face everytime I see them.