What is your MUST BUY to bring home from Europe?

Usually some kind of artisan product, such as jewelry. I like supporting the local economy and look for items made in the state/country. Also, I ask myself if I'm going to regret not making the purchase. AND it depends on how much room I have in my luggage, which is why I choose jewelry and my husband buys t-shirts (so he doesn't have to pack many).

Sometimes a piece of art is purchased to remember the trip. Too often I've found some items are cheaper here than there.

Well, specifically London, Paris, Rome, Florence and Switzerland. But I was really just looking for general answers. I would think there are items from various EU countries that can be purchased at, for example, the London airport....that can't be purchased in the States or cost WAY more. Those are things I am curious about. I remember as a teenager bringing home a bunch of Toblerone from Switzerland and then realizing I could buy it anywhere for similar cost here. :)

When I first started travelling to Europe, I'd bring home all kinds of stuff. Nutcrackers from Germany. Perfume from Paris. Leather goods or jewellery from Florence. Later, I started buying prints and watercolours from the areas I visited, and most still grace the walls in our home.

I've now reached an age where I have no need for more STUFF. In fact I'm trying to pare down all the stuff I've already got. Lol. What I value most, now, are the photos I take, and all the memories associated with them. And they don't take up space - either in my suitcase or at home.

We always enjoyed getting a nice Christmas Ornament (or something we could use as one). Each year when we put up the tree, we remember the trip and country, etc. I also liked getting scarves and jewelry. Small enough to fit into my 'individual item' and wearing it always brings back sweet memories. Hubby fell in love with McVittes Shortbread cookies, so when we found that they were not available here (nor could we get them online), we would bring back all that would fit in his bag. And usually at the airport we'd pick up some chocolate or other candy that you didn't usually find in the USA, to share with our co-workers and friends and family. A few times I did get perfume.

We buy useful things. Things like tablecloths, kitchen gadgets, spice mixes - things you're going to use and remember your trip by. Markets are good places to buy specialty artisan products. One of the benefits of global trade is that many food items can be bought back home.

I like to bring back magnets (only the ones with photos on them) from my travels. They weigh next to nothing and I enjoy displaying them on the side of my refrigerator and remembering my trip.

I'm really enjoying these responses. Thanks so much. And I'm guessing those shortbread cookies don't cost $24 a package in Europe. :) Sounds like my Blue Mountain coffee and exactly the ideas I was looking for!

I recently visited Italy, and good buys for me included Murano glass necklaces and Italian pottery (got it in the factory for lower prices) - Italy is heaven for shoppers looking for gifts to bring home - I had to buy an extra bag to transport everything back to the U.S.!

Like Toni, I like to find a Christmas ornament, Table linens are also high on my list. I particularly like to buy them in the Trentino-Alto Adige. They pack flat and I can usually squeeze in a few items. Always a piece of jewelry from my favorite artist on Murano when we get there.

Always bring a magnet home. From Italy I brought back various Pinnochio items including magnets. Gouda cheese from the Netherlands and Cheddar cheese ( even the store brand is very good) from the UK. Also from the UK some chutneys, mustards, sauces that I can't buy at home such as Linghams. And usually a scarf if it is a special one I would never find at home. And tote bags are an addiction.

Publicity magnets cost about €2 at the Bastille market, so you can buy a bunch - simpler than buying the same posters.

If you like strong coffee that will stand up to milk, go to a supermarket and buy Carte Noire - about €3.85 a bag, but also sold unground and in 3-packs.
"Moulu" is already ground.
"Graines" is whole bean coffee.

Haribo has different flavors...but will rip out your crowns!!

I don't do much shopping for souvenirs or goodies much anymore due to packing so light these days. So, when it comes to food type items from other countries I have found that a trip to the nearest Cost Plus World Market will satisfy most of my favorites. I do believe I have even seen McVities there from time to time. The only problem is that the same things are not always available, products are always shifting so you can't rely on them having a particular favorite. And, depending on where you live you may not have a convenient location.

As for other items, I used to collect charms for my charm bracelet from every country I visited, but I don't wear the bracelet anymore so I no longer have to have one each time. Nice thing about jewelry is that it doesn't take up any room in the suitcase.

There's almost nothing you can't get at home anymore. Even importation of raw milk cheeses has been eased in the U.S. . So I might bring a cheese I could prove was 90 days or more old. But I don't have any interest in knicknacks. The last one I bought was an "Ampelmann" kitchen towel, from an Ostalgie store in Germany. But I think I've seen them now at Fishn' Eddie in NYC.

I like this topic!
I have a charm bracelet with a charm from almost every country I have visited.
I have 4 pairs of earrings that I have acquired in Europe over the years which I wear frequently.
I finally replaced some Provencal cloth napkins that I bought in 1999 when I was in Nice last November.
And I like to bring back tea towels (really, just kitchen towels) which I use all the time and bring a smile to my face.
All of these are easy to pack and add very little weight to my bag.
I wished I had bought a cell phone cover at the Van Gogh museum but I knew I would be replacing my old phone and hadn't yet decided what I would be getting.

I love anything vintage as a souvenir, so each trip includes a visit to a flea market or antique/collectible market to find something for my collection, usually a small piece of pottery from the 1920s-1940s. I'm also drawn to artisan jewelry and sometimes add a nice piece---found two wonderfully unique pieces in Tallinn, a ring from Budapest and a butterscotch amber cuff bracelet in Gdansk.

I do buy an interesting refrigerator magnet at each city and a small snow globe that joins the collection on my desk at work.

I have but one regret--I didn't buy a vintage Stalin alarm clock when in Tallinn. I mentioned it on facebook and a dear friend was quite excited about it, but of course by then the shop was closed and I was going home the next day.

If we're talking food, I usually bring home candy that is unique to that location. Paprikakrem in a tube from Hungary. I first visited Vienna in 2014 and fell hard for these little seedy sesame honey cookies from Spar--managed to bring home a couple of bags and rationed them for a couple of months, thought about them longingly ever since and was thrilled to find them when I visited Vienna again this April. I bought all they had out, maybe 8 bags, and they survived the train to Budapest and flight home. I am just a wee bit obsessed with them, I'm visiting Budapest again next spring and think a day trip to Vienna (for cookies, yes!) might have to happen.

Wife will inevitably buy a scarf. Magnets are good. I will bring back small producer food products that are difficult to get at home, like alcoholic beverages, vinegars, and the like. I've gotten ties and glass cuff links in Italy, I have some fun museum cubes, post cards, and the like. We bring back photos (1900+ on our last two week vacation... probably gonna beat it on the next one), and things to fit in a photo-scrapbook for the trip... museum tickets of interest, the wrappers of odd snack items, beer coasters, wine labels, etc. As long as it can go relatively flat in a book, it's fair game.

It depends on where and when I am travelling. This coming December, I am hoping to pack quite a few Dallmayr Christmas chocolate bars into my suitcase. They are only made seasonally and are not available online. Cute wrapper and special yummy taste.

Last summer in Luzerne, I bought the best little packable hat in one of the department stores - crushable, washable, next to no weight, and very inexpensive. I wear it all summer long. I should have bought 15.

In Italy, I am inclined to admire ceramic dishware, but like another responder to this post said, I am trying to downsize, so it has to be small and useful. I got a very handy ceramic oil spout for olive oil bottles, and a wonderful cork stopper with the Basilica of St. Anthony on it. That travels with me!

Fragonard perfume in Paris - Violette. Arche shoes in Paris if it is sale time, and the prices are good. Liberty of London or House of Hackney in London - just to see what is on offer. I always try to shop at Hatchard's bookshop in London for a paperback or two to take along for the trip. I usually gift these to hotel collections when done. I would be willing to pay quite a lot for a Duomo-shaped umbrella in Florence, but they seem to have been a short trend that has died out. In Rome, I got a friend a gladiator figurine. I pick up pencils along the way, Christmas ornaments (swan at Hohenschwangau), almost always a scarf somewhere. I think leather gloves might be on the list for this upcoming winter trip, too.

Clearly, I have not stopped at just 1 thing :-)

I have a hat with pins from every place I have visited. At this point, I probably have 300 pins. Not on one hat, of course. It requires 3 hats - 1 for national parks, 1 for European locations, and one for pins from a long time ago. The pins are inexpensive, small, and colorful. The hat looks great. I get complements from all the vendors of other tourist trinkets, plus others touring. I think that a concentration on small souvenirs works best - magnets, pins, charms on a charm bracelet. Charms tend to cost a bit more than pins. Some people collect snowglobes, but that's a major pain on the return trip. T-shirts - too many already. We occasionally buy tea towels, and those can be nice as well. Small and not breakable - that's what is needed. Some years ago, I brought back wine. This was entirely idiotic, and I had to pack it and a bottle broke - don't bring back wine or olive oil.

As a rule I don't buy souvenirs. Still, I send/bring back postcards, a least. In France and Germany I have brought back coffee, much cheaper buying 500 grams of German coffee in Germany than to buy it here.

Magnets for me and candy/sweets for mom. Will occasionally buy t-shirt, hat or small art work. I have carefully planned and still have a bit of room for decorations. On my last trip to Africa, added to my mask collection. I like buying things in the country which they represent to me, even if I can get them here.

Loving this! Thanks so much!

Chocolate from Italy and France. Not Lindt brand though , as it's only Can$3 at my local drugstore!
Glass earrings from Italy.
Leather wallets and bags from Italy.
Scarves.
Fragonard perfume from France.
Kitchen bits and pieces.
Cheese, cheese and more cheese!
Spices.
Love the shops in Europe.

Can't bring cheese into the states because Europe rarely uses pasteurized dairy.

My favorite thing that I've brought home yet was spices from a grocery store in Spain. Spices from an open market may or may not be allowed in, but various packaged spices (in my case particularly paprikas and safron) from a grocery store are fine. They don't take up a lot of room or weight either.

I used to bring home art because it was easy to roll up in a mail tube. Too many of my pieces, however, have never even been framed or displayed (and I'm also trying to downsize).

On our last trip to Spain, my daughter (who lives in Barcelona) purchased for me several spices from an open market, and we had no trouble bringing them back to Boston. Other than that, I bought a couple of Gaudi calendars and prints. I also made a purchase of hand-crafted knives from Toledo (which is famous for its steel) while we were in that city, and I thought it was a unique gift and potentially useful to chef friends. After purchasing the knives, I realized they may not be allowed on the high speed train which we had taken from Madrid to Toledo and planned to take back to Barcelona. So in a panic, we found a post office and shipped them back to my daughter's address. We found out afterwards that the train would have taken those specific tourist items from Toledo, but we're still not sure they would have made the rail leg to Barcelona. They were fine in our checked luggage back to the states. So the moral is, think about transportation before buying any goodies in Europe!

I like to bring back coffee, jams and honeys - the local-er the better. Maybe you can find the same stuff at home or via Amazon, but I like to discover things like homemade sweet melissa (a flower) jelly in the Berner Oberland, raspberry honey in Poland, and chuckleberry jam in England. In other words, consumables. A piece of framable art or photograph that shows a scene from where we've been is also something we look for.

I once brought home a bottle of cloudberry preserves from Sweden that I had bought in a supermarket. Now you can get the same thing for $16.95 from Amazon. Not as much fun though!

Brad is wrong about cheese. This has been thoroughly discussed before. My must buy is a large selection of premium cheese from wherever I am the day before the flight.

Can't bring cheese into the states because Europe rarely uses pasteurized dairy.

This isn't true, recently brought back Brie (not because we wanted to, just couldn't bring ourselves to throw it away) and the customs people were as dismissive as possible about concerns for importing any type of cheese. The apples were confiscated, however.

A bottle of good wine is one thing I will bring back, but must say though that I resist bringing back anything knick-knacky. My wife insisted on bringing back expensive handmade French chocolates ($50 worth) and they were quite strange and not enjoyable.

A p.s. to the cloudberry preserves... because it was commercially sealed in a glass bottle, I did not think to declare it when I arrived back in Boston. And a security beagle sniffed it out in my luggage!! I was given a very stern warning from the agent. So whatever food you do bring back, even if it is sealed, make sure to declare it.

We used to buy paintings of local scenes by street artists(in US and Europe), but our living room now has a wall of windows which doesn't leave us much space for paintings. Last year, I did our Christmas tree only in ornaments purchased on trips-here and in Europe-didn't have enough to cover all sides of tree-will have to find more!

Bouillon cubes because they have flavors we don't have: Moroccan spice, fines herbes, court bouillon for cooking fish, porcini mushroom.... Avoid those with a meat flavor due to USDA rules. Use for flavoring grains and enriching sauces.

Carte Noir as chexbres said, and Carte Noir Instant coffee packed as sticks for traveling or camping. It's much better and cheaper than the Starbucks sticks for traveling and camping. I can find it on Amazon now, though for much more $.

Wine from Italy such as Brunello and Vin Santo. It's so much cheaper over there. We pack in well in our checked luggage for the flight home.

A good thread for travelers! We have traveled so much and bought many things. Our house is almost like a museum. A couple things not mentioned would be mugs from different countries and useful kitchen items. in addition to tablecloths and napkins we have some laminated placemats, with scenes from different places, that are practical. One of our favorite things is a beautiful Muslim Prayer Rug from Turkey. In Egypt we bought some scenes on Papyrus paper that we framed. In Australia we bought a painting from an Aboriginal lady who let us take her photo with it. I treasure all these things.

Do a little research on what is special from each area. I like to bring items that either make me smile or are made by local artists. I also like area spices, foods and teas. I understand you can bring hard cheeses back, but not soft cheeses. Definitely no raw fruit or veggies.
I purchased a table cover in Provence at one of the markets and and wish I would have purchased more.
I also love unique shops... We purchased a print of a comical drawing of 1914 Europe. I absolutely love it.

Scarves are another good thing.
Do not buy sweets from the guys on the ferries in Greece and carry them all over the islands then decide when you get home that they taste awful. Hahaha.

You can bring raw milk, or even soft cheeses or butter to the US.
Don't buy too much, because Customs might think you will resell it.
Ask the fromager to vacuum pack it and make sure to pack it in your checked luggage where it will stay cold.
The only cheese I'm aware of that is illegal is very old Mimolette, because it has mites living in the rind to help it ripen.

We just got back from our nearly three months in Brugge and brought back six kilograms of Depla chocolates. Some to give to family and friends; the rest are for us to enjoy.

Ugly, tacky souvenir magnets. The uglier and tackier, the better. I have these metal panels I purchased from IKEA and have hung on a wall in my home office which holds my collection of magnets I have found around the world.

I also am big on looking for really unique costume jewelry that's not mass produced and would be impossible to find in the states - necklaces, earrings, bracelets.

Other things I also look for might be purses, shoes, barrettes, and European cosmetics, hair and skincare products that I either can't get, or that cost much more here in the U.S.

Just got back last Wednesday. Flew to Brussels from Bordeaux expressly to buy this highly rated ale brewed by monks in Westvleteren, Belgium, that you can not buy in the states except on the black market at a ridiculous mark up:
https://www.ratebeer.com/beer/westvleteren-12-xii/4934/

Drank one before I left and manage to get 5 bottles back home unscathed in checked baggage

Jazz, you're doing it right.

One thing I remember seeing (but not buying) in Switzerland was various inexpensive items with the Victorinox logo, such as a vegetable peeler. At 5 CHF, it's definitely one of the cheapest Swiss souvenirs you'll find!

The other thing people often bring back from Switzerland is chocolate. The Coop (supermarket chain) sells their house brand of chocolate really cheap, and it's quite good.

I buy a lot of CD's and DVD's on vacation. But that's because I know what movies and music I like, and what's available in the US and what it costs. When I see it cheaper in Europe (often the case in a used CD store, or if it's a box set), or if it's an item I can't get here (like a foreign cast album of a Broadway show), I pounce. Know that while CD's are universal and play worldwide, DVD's and BluRay's can be restricted by regions, and some will not play in the US without a region-free machine. It's easy to get free all-region software to play DVD's on your computer, however.

Six kilo of chocolate! JustTravel, you are my hero! I once carried back seven bottles of Strega liqueur. Don't remember how I got it through customs, but it was in the days before scanners.

I also bring back mostly consumables, or scarves. Leather goods are my big weakness, but I am cutting back. If I bring back wine, I usually have it shipped rather than pack it. Olive oill can be bought in metal cans, so no spilling issues.

For gifts, I like consumables as well. A couple of kilo of Belgian or Italian chocolates, either in gift boxes or I ask the seller for small plastic bags with ties and make my own little gift bags.

Spices. I love to cook with spices at home that I purchased overseas. It's like bringing home a taste of the country and extending the fun.

Wine. While I do think it's cheaper to buy wine in Italy than here, the wine I buy is the type that's not exported outside of that country. For example, we were in the Tyrol region and found a wine that's only sold locally which also had my grandmother's name. So I was thrilled and bought a bottle just for that very reason. (FYI - It was quite tasty.)

Those are about the only things I look for now when we travel to Europe. In the past I've purchased tea towels (used often), soap (used up by now) and maybe a scarf (which I still can't tie right, despite the links to tutorials.)

I don't buy anything! But, I wish I had bought shoes I saw in Italy!

We always fly home (so far) from London and we always stock up on Thornton's fudge (and when my mom goes to visit my sister we always get her to bring us home a half dozen bags). And I usually make a visit to a chocolate shop (hotel chocolat) and bring home some of their yummy confections.

We also seem to always pick up a mug (or 3) when we are away.

My new favourite mug is one I got at Starbucks in Rotterdam with the Netherlands on it. And same trip I got two of the sweetest tin mugs with birds on them. I also like picking up art prints by locals.

2 months ago, 18 varieties, 31 lbs. of cheese from CH.

So, stupid question, but cheese in a carry on or must it be checked? I'm liking the cheese. And coffee. Obviously, no wine in carry on. :)

First. About the cheese. It has to be hard cheese and you should always declare it. As soon as they find it is hard cheese, no one cares. Soft cheese raises eyebrows and may be rejected.
I don't think it matters whether it is in carry on or checked as long as you declare.

Now, for what I bring home from a trip..... I really enjoy finding something that is representative of a place I've been on the trip or something I have done that would work for a Christmas tree ornament. I don't go for a "traditional" ornament, but something that could hang on the tree. This means it is usually fairly small and not too expensive. Each year I get a little walk down memory lane as I decorate my Christmas tree with momentos of places I've been or experiences I have had. It is like visiting with old friends.

This year a lambs wool heart from a fun sewing shop I found on a farm lane walk on Iona will join the collection.

I usually bring back a pair of earrings, refrigerator magnet and usually a sweatshirt. On my last trip I bought a cute key chain and a pair of socks. In Switzerland I bought Callier (sp) and Ladecher chocolate. Very good. I am also a knitter and quilter so I try to find some yarn or fabric. That way when I wear what I made I can remember where I got it.

I am going to go to Paris in December and want to get an iPad cover if I can find a fun one. Also Angelina hot chocolat.

The absolute best souvenir you can buy, both for yourself and others, are "Popeners" in Rome. The are basically bottle openers with the Pope's likeness on them, I've been buying them since 2003 or 4 and I've found that people back home go crazy for them (especially my Catholic friends). Whenever I go to Rome I have to buy at least 15-20 of them because everybody wants one. Best place to find them are in the little tacky tourist vendors and shop outside the Vatican although they can sometimes be difficult to find. These days you can probably find them online but there really is no substitute for an authentic Popener bought in Rome.

Google 'Popener' and you'll see what they look like.

I used to buy bookmarks, until I realized I had over 300. And yet, in February I bought a couple more . . . of paintings I especially wanted to remember. Sometimes I even match the bookmark to the book I'm currently reading. My fridge is covered with souvenir magnets and I always bring back new ones from new destinations. I often bring back a bottle of liqueur or maybe wine if it's special. I'll be coming home from Budapest next month and expect to have a couple bottles of excellent Hungarian wine in my bag. My latest "fad" is to buy postcards of artworks or vistas that strike me. I have a couple on my desk, and change them every couple of weeks.

I've brought back accent scarves . . . not so much now because half the year it's too hot to wear them. Shearling gloves from Florence for my cold weather trips abroad. Manchego cheese from Spain - I've tried the local imitations, they don't even come close. Hand-made olive oil soap from my recent visit to Greece. Sometimes I pick up something that I "need" and happen to run across . . . a couple of blouses in France, a carpet in Turkey.

Years ago, I stopped buying anything that requires dusting.

'mcvities shortbread cookies'

To me shortbread means Walkers. They have a wide range of prices for sale in US.

I like to purchase coffee mugs from different countries.

Also, I usually buy a nice picture guide book from each place (not like Rick Steves), like one that says the name of the city on the cover.

Are the authentic Popeners made in China (PRC)?

I'm definitely in the earrings camp. Usually inexpensive, locally crafted. They're my souvenir of choice.

Although, during our first trip to Italy, we were enthralled with using the (new-to-us) Bialetti Moka coffee maker in our agriturismo that we bought one and schlepped it home with us, in our valuable carry-on space, thinking how unique it was. When we got home we discovered they could be found in our local hardware stores!

It still makes us smile when we use it, though. :-)

Cheers,
Vivian

Another earrings and fridge magnets fan here. I have the best luck finding locally made jewelry in national park gift shops, and museum and public garden shops that go beyond the usual 'Made in China' stuff.

Shop for jewelry in Florence. It is truly unique. Look for shops with the best ratings on Trip Advisor. Oh and leather in Italy is very special- nothing like the states!

I never declare any kind of cheese if I'm going to the US. Pack in checked luggage to stay cold. Customs officials are only concerned if you are bringing tonnes of the stuff for resale - then, you would have to declare value and pay duty.
Honey and jams might be confiscated as "paste". I packed honey in my checked bag and found a polite note explaining that they had investigated it.

I brought 6 enormous round Poilane loaves to friends who wanted it desperately. It was rather stale when I gave it to them. Since then, it can be delivered from the bakery in New York.

I am in the jewelry camp - mostly charms - but am an equal opportunity jewelry buyer. I have a charm ankle bracelet I wear and add a charm from everywhere we go.

We live in a 40' motor home so anything much larger than jewelry we really have no room for.

chexbres its not the Customs people worried about cheese. Its the Department of Agriculture inspectors trying to prevent bugs and diseases from coming in. The Customs people refer you to the Ag inspectors at the airport if they have a concern. They track health information overseas so they know, for example, that there's been a listeria outbreak in a certain region of France, and what cheese might be affected.

I posted a question a few months back about declaring foodstuffs on your landing card (I've never declared before because we've only brought home packaged foods). Well, some people were quite adamant that I should declare any and all foodstuffs. I was under the impression that it was more just milk/cheese/meat/fruit. The passport checker told me I should declare even things like packaged cookies and whatnot. (And my mom coming home from the UK the following week wasn't asked at all)

Here was one reply..."I fail to see the confusion or why it is a problem to check yes. Do you have anything with you that you can eat? If yes, then check the box that you have food. It is safer to check the box than not and you could be in major trouble if you don't check the box and they find something."

The correct answer is ...
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
But if something takes your eye ...

I might be wrong about this, but Listeria normally occurs in raw, leafy greens and other vegetables and fruit.
I have never even seen anyone from the Dept of Agriculture.
The only cheese that's currently banned in the US is aged "Mimolette" which has tiny mites living in the rind.

chexbres, there have been several listeria outbreaks in dairy products including cheese and ice cream. But that was only an example. Yes there are Department of Agriculture inspectors at the airports ( I have a friend who is one). Since you weren't declaring any food, and the Customs people didn't flag you, of course you haven't seen them. My friend says they take meat and cheese and fruits, etc., away from people all the time. Its the soft cheeses that they will take.

chexbres, there have been several listeria outbreaks in dairy products including cheese and ice cream. You can find examples by googling. But that was only an example I used. Here's an old report on French brie and E. coli brie gastro recall. So it does happen.

Yes there are Department of Agriculture inspectors at the airports ( I have a friend who is one). Since you weren't declaring any food, and the CBP people didn't flag you, of course you haven't seen them. My friend says they take meat and cheese and fruits, etc., away from people all the time. Its the soft cheeses that they will take. Their primary concern is not letting people import diseases and bugs that will impact US agriculture, like mad cow disease.

Here is what it says in their pamphlet:

Blockquote
You may be able to bring in food such as fruits, meats or other agricultural products depending on the region or country from which you are traveling. Restrictions are placed on these products to protect community health, preserve the environment and prevent the introduction of devastating diseases to domestic plants and animals.
You must declare all food products. Failure to declare food products can result in up to $10,000 in fines and penalties.
The following are generally admissible:
-Condiments such as ketchup (catsup), mustard, mayonnaise, Marmite and Vegemite and prepared sauces that do not contain meat products
-Olive oil and other vegetable oils
-Bread, cookies, crackers, cakes, granola bars, cereal and
*other baked and processed products -Candy and chocolate
-Cheese- Solid cheese (hard or semi-soft, that does not contain meat); butter, butter oil, and cultured milk products such as yogurt and sour cream are not restricted. Feta cheese, Brie, Camembert, cheese in brine, Mozzarella and Buffalo Mozzarella are permissible (USDA Animal Product Manual, Table 3-14-6). Cheese in liquid (such as cottage cheese or ricotta cheese) and cheese that pours like heavy cream are not admissible from countries affected by foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Cheese containing meat is not admissible depending on the country of origin.
-Canned goods and goods in vacuum packed jars (other than those containing meat or poultry products) for your personal use
-Fish- personal amounts of fish, shrimp, abalone and other*
...............it goes on from there.

The point of declaring everything is that they will figure out if its OK based on what info they have of whats going on where you came from.

I almost always come back from Europe with a scarf. However on my first trip to Germany in 2005 I bought some unique Birkenstocks that I am wearing today! I bought paprika in Budapest that I cherished for the two years it took for me to use it all.

I do tend to return from Italy with a new pair of leather gloves. :-)

I do tend to return from Italy with a new pair of leather gloves. :-)

I've only brought in semi-soft or hard cheeses, no liquid cream or creamy mozzarella or cheese with meat.
You can ask the cheesewhiz to give you slightly unripe cheese, which you can ripen at home.
Never would bring raw, cooked or dried fruit.
Mad cow disease has disappeared - even from Great Britain.
Ill-prepared beef, horsemeat, pork or chicken might have a billion units of E.Coli - but you can't bring raw meat into the US.
Bacteria will always be with us.
Sometimes pamphlets aren't updated.
It's entirely up to whomever decides to check your luggage.

We travel to Europe once a year to visit our son and grandson in Austria. We always travel to a few other countries each trip. Our must bring homes always come from Austria.... Schnapps and senf ( a sweet seeded mustard I can't find in Sydney)

I bring nothing!

When I first started traveling to Europe, I would bring back all kinds of trinkets for friends, family, myself, and coworkers. While they seemed appreciative, I know these items don't mean much to them because it was not a memento of their travels. Even the things I brought back for myself are nothing more than dust catchers. They can spark good memories of my trips, but there is only so much shelf space in my house.

I'm not a shopper anyway. So spending hours looking for the perfect item to bring home does not interest me. I would rather look at the architecture and the people or stop in a pub for a boisterous conversation.

There are lots of foods I find in Europe that I really really like. Unfortunately, most of them don't travel well or are things that get you sent to the special room at the airport on your return to the US. I have chosen to just enjoy those items while I am in Europe, leaving me with even more reasons to return in the future.

We don't always bring home things from our European trips but when we do they are pretty country or region specific. We like bedding from Germany and Austria, towels from Italy and table linens from France. At home we use these items every day. We have a lot of kitchen items from these countries too. When in Germany we always see what the WMF store has that's new and functional. It Italy we might pop into a hardware store to check out their kitchen gadgets. I think at least half of what we use in the kitchen to prepare a meal are tools we bought in Europe.

We rarely bring home food items but sometimes we bring unique chocolate, local mustard tubes from Germany/Austria or fois gras in a tin from France because it is so much less expensive in France than buying it here.

In all of these countries and the U.K. and Ireland we aren't opposed to buying pottery, glass and other textiles too. I bought a silk screened pillow for our bed in Ireland this summer. In the U.K. I like to get my Marks and Spencer underwear and clothing possibilities time in too. Many of our decorative garden glass items are from Germany. I'm not a big shopper but I have my favorite things I like to checkout when we are in Europe. They have to be things I see or use regularly.

No dust catcher souvenirs anymore in this house. Some, but not many, didn't make the cut on our recent move.

You are not going to believe this, but while we were traveling in Stockholm a few years ago, someone was inquiring about purchasing Surstromming (the rotten fish in a can) to take back to the USA. The seller was trying to tell her that the airlines may not allow it on because if the can erupts while in the flight they can not be liable for the cost to other travelers.

That would be AWFUL on a transatlantic flight I imagine.

France - Beauty products. I have a couple of French brands I love and they are half price there. (They are "Drugstore" brand in France, but "Nordstrom" once they cross the ocean LOL!)

Cheese!

Usually a bag of chocolates from duty free for my office

Carol, PLEASE share. What are these brands?

My French beauty "finds"

Anything by Claudie. Seriously, it's half of what I pay here and I love their Premier Cru Elixer which was half of what it is here (it's still not cheap, but...)

NUXE body oil. Not half but still cheaper than in the US

Embryolisse Lait crème Concentre (It's a face cream) I haven't even found it here yet.

Oh I thought of another one. If I can find good lavender honey at a street market I buy it. But it needs to be a 'home made" version not some mass produced thing!

I think she meant "Caudalie".

Opps I did make a spelling error! Spell check missed it :)
Thanks!

I would say something leather from Florence. My wife and I did all of our Christmas shopping that way one year.

My only true regret is not buying more Mozartkugel chocolate balls. You can buy them here but they NEVER taste as good. Same for anything Cadbury.

Personally, I shop at the local grocery wherever I am and buy what looks interesting. For example, in Italy, tubes of tomato or anchovy paste. In Hungary, bags of paprika and Vegeta. In Spain, saffron (sooooooo much cheaper buying it there). Many things you can buy here (Cost Plus World Market has a decent selection) but often it's not the same...because you're not eating it in a magical place. So I do my best and accept it will never be the same again :)

tea towels, magnets and dark chocolate (loved the Belgium chocolate I got in brugges. I savored every piece!!! Got some from Tournon France in june and still enjoying it!!

Oh,,, Charms from different places for bracelet. Hard Rock Pins. Christmas ornament if I see one I like, ditito for Crosses from churches.

I always buy kitchen tools - cool Danish-designed cheese slicer in Copenhagen, coffee spoons in France, stovetop espresso maker in Italy, etc. I think of my fabulous trips every time I cook!
The other thing I buy are magnets...the side of my fridge is covered with magnets from all over the place! Makes me happy to look at them and they are small and easy to bring home.

I like to buy things that are useful or consumable. I don't need more random souvenirs, but the kitchen towels, calendar, and purse from Italy are seeing a lot of use.

From Greece, I miss thyme honey, Hygeia chocolate bars, and olive oil. Oh, and some of the odd spoon sweets that are hard to find in the US. I can get them online, but only for a premium, and I usually find something else while I am at the grocery store.

My uncle fell in love with Marvis toothpaste when he ran out of his own while traveling. It costs a fortune online (for toothpaste, anyway), so I am going to buy him some next time I am in Europe.

I sometimes wish I had Paprika Pringles, like the ones I had in Turkey. Or even the ketchup Lays you can get in Canada. But that is because happy memories are associated with them. :-)
On my first trip to Europe as a teenager I bought a purple sweater. Very ordinary, but I wore it until it fell apart, and I can still remember buying it and the exact shade of purple. Happy, happy memory!!

My buys tend to be reuseable grocery bags such a Monoprix or Carrefour. Cheap, handy, easy to pack, and always bring a smile when I use them at home.

Faux Gras.
One or two articles of clothing that can't be found at home (my wife is an expert at this, no really, she does it for a living).
French Macaroons.
After we get home, whatever we needed to buy in a pharmacy along the way becomes a treasured souvenir.

Like pfred, we also buy reusable grocery bags. We have found inexpensive ones at the British Museum, Hampton Court, grocery stores in Switzerland, etc. It is so fun to see these trip reminders as we shop each week. They are small, usually inexpensive, and practical. When buying those I never feel like I have added unnecessary "stuff" to our home. Incidentally, I originally found that suggestion on this forum several years back.

A damn good haircut and sometimes a color if traveling in France. I've heard the Italians are trained just as well. I once had a cut at Clarita that held together for six months.

I always purchase the reusable bags too. I agree a great reminder of the location you've visited.

I buy unique things made in the country I visit.
During a cooking class in Paris, our chef turned us on to Ariake Bouillion from Chef Joel Robuchon, all natural and it comes in a large tea bag that you can reuse. Found it at Bon Marche. That was a treat.
Otherwise, jewelry, scarves, leather goods, kitchen items and Christmas Ornaments that are produced locally.
Shop the farmers markets for handmade jewelry, leather goods etc.

Got the neatest hedgehog toothpick holder, that hangs on your snack bowl while in Dinan. It was Designed and made in Dinan France.

You can't beat Cadbury Dairy Milks made in Ireland or Lion Bars made in the UK. Just the thing when you need a cheap chocolate fix.

Looking for German mustard in tubes my next visit.

For me, cute French clothes for my nieces, and whatever macarons and whatever other cute things I can find for my mother. Mc Vitie's Ginger Nuts for my dad (but now he can get them at World Market, so my bag just became lighter!). Plus he likes the Bonne Maman raspberry tartlets, so I take him a box of those. In addition to "nice" clothes, i always look at Monoprix, BHV, and Galeries Lafayette for cute t-shirts for my nieces with French writing on them. A bit hard sometimes since of course most of the t-shirts have English on them!!!

Also notebooks/jotters with Paris themes on them . . . sticky notes, stickers, etc.

And we always bring Champagne to share with those we're visiting!