Your favorite souvenirs from Spain?

In Sevilla, table cloths, runners, lace and embroidered items used to be popular. Ceramic items like vases, plates, and tiles were too. For children, flamenco dolls and fans were popular. There are also the Don Quixote and Sancho Panza wood carvings, boda bags, and castanets. A higher end item would be a Nao or Lladro porcelain figurine. They are not as popular as they used to be.

We haven’t bought souvenirs in years since they tend to sit around and collect dust. What I buy now are the spice mixes for making paella.

I bought my 8 year old granddaughter a souvenir flamenco outfit in Seville. She loved it and wore it for Halloween that year. It was very inexpensive and weighed next to nothing to carry home in our luggage. You see the dresses and little accessories for sale everywhere in Seville. I don’t purchase wine/alcohol in Europe or elsewhere abroad to bring home as you can get most of that here. If it is something that you feel you can’t buy here in the US, buy it and enjoy it while you are there. Transporting alcohol in my checked luggage and having to declare it at customs is (for me) too much of a hassle. Not to mention if the bottle breaks in transit but I know there are ways to get a bottle home in one piece.

Love wine and love Spanish wine. But after traveling many weeks in Spain, I don't think I've ever been tempted to say "let's bring a bottle of this home." Enjoy the wines there, but I suspect you'll find the hassles of transport too high to bother.

In Lisbon, look for their famous blue tiles (azulejo) that could be used as coasters or framed for wall decor. They also have a ton of "souvenir" sardine shops with decorative tins - you can find the same sardines in the grocery store for less but the tins in the shops are cool (you can get them with years on them for birthdays, etc).

We are going to Spain later in the month, and the only souvenir plan I have right now is buying saffron...

There are some excellent Spanish wines and many are a great value, but I wouldn't hassle with bringing them home. Enjoy them in situ. In Spain I bought a lot of packaged saffron and pimentón (paprika) which were inexpensive at the local grocery store. Don't bother with jamon (not allowed by USDA) or cheese (possible, but could be confiscated). Make sure you declare the food items, even if they're allowed if you fail to do so they can fine you.

I think you can get pretty decent Spanish wine/spices/olive oil in the USA already. The same can't be said for Jamon Iberico or a good Salchichon, but maybe you are not allowed to bring that in the USA, though they are vacuum sealed. In the Plaza de España in Sevilla you usually find many talented local artists drawing landscapes of local sights to sell, maybe a small painting would be a good souvenir.

I love the smoked paprika, which you can easily find in tins at a Spanish supermarket. I would stick to sealed supermarket containers rather than buying bulk spices; US Customs personnel told me (many years ago) spices in little ad-hoc plastic bags were iffy.

Saffron is a great deal more expensive than paprika, but I think Spanish prices are considerably lower than US prices.

Ubeda in northern Andalucia is known for ceramics. Prices are very reasonable, but ceramics are not so easy to carry; they are rather heavy and must be very well padded inside a suitcase.

Cordoba is known for leather products.

I purchased some fragrance at the Patio de los Perfumes in Granada. Their shop is fascinating, as it incorporates a sort of museum of perfumery. The sheer array of scents they have is astounding, and they have arranged it by types: musky, woody, citrusy, etc. I spray some on and I'm immediately taken back in my mind to Spain.

I also purchased a silk scarf for my wife at the Alhambra gift shop. The scarf incorporates design motifs from the various ceramic decorative tiles made by the palace's Moorish designers. More pleasant reminders.

Interesting that Granada is where I chose to purchase souvenirs.

As for Spanish wines, honestly I find a better selection of special Spanish wines at my local Total Wine than I did when I was overseas. I think maybe Spanish vintners find a more receptive market for wines above, say, $50 a bottle in the USA. And I wouldn't be packing $15 bottles in my luggage.

I suggest you go to a grocery store and be wowed by their non-perishable selections. Be sure that you are allowed to bring those items to the US, however. I think their canned seafood is famous, but so are tons of other things!!!!!

My wife and two daughters each bought Burel blankets in Lisbon eventhough they had to basically wear them on the plane.

https://burelfactory.com/en-us

When I was in Spain last year, I bought a few leather belts from marketplace vendors. They customized the fit as I waited. Leather shops are abundant, if that suits you.

I bought myself a souvenir tee shirt in Seville, a ceramic mug that came with a metal filter and ceramic cover, in Granada, and some kind of herb tea at a grocery store. I was able to use the mug in my hotel rooms before I left Spain. I have jogged in the tee shirt since I returned.

I buy nothing.
I travel light.
My goal is always carryon and to return with a lighter bag.
Try it.

I am an extreme shopper--I love to peruse stores and buy wonderful souvenirs from around the world, whenever and wherever I travel.

Of course, having been to Spain multiple times, I have purchased many items including:

Lladro ceramics
Full scale Toledo sword (I carried it on the plane--no issues in those days) as well as lots of Damascene jewelry (I always want more!)
Spanish wine (I would no longer bother to do this--as others have said, a bit of a hassle)
Fans, fans, and more fans--expensive (hand painted/wood) and cheap plastic as souvenir gifts
Doll with flamenco dress
Majorica pearls
T-shirts
Leather boots
Ceramic plates with bird designs
Prints of beautiful places to frame, like Aranjuez Palace
Post cards with woven Spanish outfits
Moroccan style embroidered blouse
Large antique key

Own already-Antique Spanish lace mantilla, fancy hair combs
On my list was always the Sevilla riding hat, but I never purchased it.

In Portugal I purchased hand-painted tiles as well as hand-made lace.

What I wish I could bring back: special sherries, olives, orange blossom perfume, a Spanish horse, the sound of the fountains from the Generalife....

Enjoy!!

Tinned conservas and quality paprika that I shared with my friends. They pack small and can’t break

Art glass from an artist cooperative in Cordoba

A nice, not made in China, fan

Wine is cheap and good, but it’s heavy to carry and you can get Spanish wine here by paying a slight premium. I might bring back vermut if you like it. Good Spanish vermouth is near impossible to find back home. Admittedly it’s an acquired taste, though.

We had friends bring us back a broadsword from their trip to Spain--this was like 1999. From our trip in 2011 (Barcelona and Madrid) we brought back a multicolored ceramic bull (actually should have been a donkey since that is the Catalan symbol), a multicolored ceramic mug (what do you call the ceramics that is all little multicolored pieces--mosaic?), Catalan independence flag and a Spanish flag (for my classroom), and a Christmas ornament.

A very good bottle of Port isn't too much to pack in your clothing bag, and also a quality wine opener is always a good souvenir to bring back for your friends. And of course, many, many photos to bore the hell out of non-travelers!

I usually buy paprika and saffron and I usually look for leather items. One year I bought leather sandals. This year I have my eye on a bag I saw online at Taller Puntera in Madrid. Hubby is still wearing a leather belt that we bought in Toledo years ago.

The excellent debut CD by the band Radio Tarifa titled 'Rumba Argelina'. One of world music's finest moments.
In Lisbon, any CD by 'Madredeus' (exquisite folk fronted by female singer) or 'Dead Combo'.
The latter play noir, spaghetti-western guitar instrumentals.
As well, there is a new doc about the late great Camaron de la Isla. Assumedly available on DVD.

I am done. the end.

Let me add more ideas:

As mentioned, leather goods are a good choice. I love their leather and cork sandals. So much more fashionable and affordable than Birkenstocks.

If you like cooking, how about a paella pan for pan frying and even sauteing?

Do you like Spanish hot chocolate???? If so, go to a chocolate shop and buy tons of their drinking chocolate. They usually aren't powder mixes, but blocks of chocolate that you shave before adding to warmed milk.

If you have a sweet tooth, buy snacks made out of almonds. They are usually very sweet.

Happy travels!

I think Portugese ceramics are very attractive, especially those from Coimbra. I have bought various useful pieces, like platters and serving pieces. They were available in Lisbon.

Pottery, beautiful plates that I use every day.

Oh my gosh! You guys are AMAZING!!

Thanks so much for sharing your favorite souvenirs and tips.
I have so much on my list that I should strategize how to fit them into my suitcase… or get another bag to fit in more stuffs;)
Happy travel!

Mousepad with Madrid Metro on it. REALLY easy to carry home, use it every day.

I bought the smoked paprika as well….tastes amazing.
And I agree about going to the big grocery stores…all sorts of goodies in those!
I wanted some leather boots, but I have big feet and couldn’t find a single thing in my size.
Saleswomen threw up their hands in horror….
There is also damascene jewellery.
It’s kind of an inlaid patterned effect, not expensive.

For me, it's turrón and tins of seafood (selection is much bigger than in France where it's mostly sardines, mackerel and tuna). The latter might not work on carry-on luggage.

After several trips to Spain , we enjoy using all the beautiful ceramics we have brought home.
Plus we always bring saffron home!

Fyi, I mainly buy food products, accessories and artsy stuff as souvenirs.
I have not been to Sevilla but Madrid in 2023. Nougat (turrón), as mentioned, is great as they're vacuum sealed and don't expire for a while. I loved the variety of flavors they come in. My favorite was a pistachio lemon one from Vicens. https://www.vicens.com/en/storelocator

I also bought 2 inexpensive scarfs in beautiful colors that remind me of Spain when I wear them.

Thanks again! Loving this thread!
I just got back to USA today and wanted to share I got the following from Spain and loved them!
- My staples(though they could be touristy for some people) : magnets from each city and eco bags
- Barcelona: Zara clothes
- Seville: Fans and an apron with flamenco dancer prints, cups and cup coasters with ceramic designs, mouse pads from Alcazar
- Granada: scarves for mom(silk scarves were inexpensive <=50 euros)
- Didn’t bring wines but tasted many variety of white wines and sangrias!

- Not from Spain but also got the canned fish from Lisbon as recommended.

I love Spain and would love to go back ❤️