The best souvenirs to bring home from a trip is obviously the memories you make. But sometimes, it’s nice to have something physical to remind you of your travels. After having visited 25+ countries and having moved a dozen times in my life, I’ve come to learn what travel souvenirs are worth purchasing and which ones are worth skipping. Sure they keychains are fun for a little while, but those souvenirs don’t stand the test of time. These are the best travel souvenirs you can purchase!
- Photographs :: In my opinion, photos are the BEST souvenir you can possibly get. While I love a good iPhone shot, some of my favorite memories are from mornings where we woke up early, got dressed up and met with a proper photographer. Not only do you get to enjoy the city all to yourselves, but you also get to feel a bit fancier than normal {hello matching outfits & paparazzi!} and photographers always know the best local places for photos! Sure, strangers on the street MIGHT get a couple good photos of you, but with a photographer you are guaranteed to get a handful of print worthy photos. We have photos of our travels all over our apartment and I love it! Anytime guests come over to our place, they always end up looking at our photo wall and it is so fun to relive our memories with them! And we always end up exchanging fun memories & hearing fun stories about our friends we hadn’t heard before. And photographers are usually great at making EVERYONE in the family feel comfortable- so don’t worry. It’s a fun experience for all- even those who might not be super thrilled at the idea of a photo shoot ;) Plus, you are much more inclined to actually print pictures you’ve paid for. If you want to get really crazy- you could even have a photo book printed of all of your travel photos from the trip! {Shutterfly actually has a great app that creates the books for you- straight from your iphone photos & any photos you download from your photographer. This is not sponsored- I’ve just done it a handful of times and love it!} See a handful of the photos we’ve take with photographers in Paris here and here.
- Art :: We also keep art all over our home. I have a couple small oil paintings by my desk, one in our bedroom, a couple in our kitchen and multiple in our bathroom. And I’m still searching for ones for Cayson’s room. Photographs are stunning, but I love the texture of a beautiful oil painting and the gorgeous colors of a one-of-a-kind watercolor. If we see an artist on the street that I like while traveling, I always stop for a moment to watch him/her work. And if their work speaks to me, I take a mental picture of the moment, purchase the piece and am forever reminded of that moment at home!
- Clothing/Hats :: We all wear clothing, so why not purchase a souvenir you can wear! From hats to sweaters! I have hats from 5+ countries and some of my favorite sweaters are from our trip to Ireland. And each time I wear one of these souvenirs I’m reminded of the memories associated with each item.
- Candles :: When we stayed at Hotel Napoleon they sent us home with one of the candles they have burning at their hotel at all times. Every time I lit it I was immediately transported back to Paris and our babymoon. When traveling, I love finding a scent that reminds me of the location so when I get home I can have a sweet little reminder of our trip! And I use the empty candle votives to hold bathroom items like q-tips, bobby pins and cotton balls!
- Cups :: I drink a cup of coffee and/or a pot of tea almost every single day. And we have cups from around the world- from espresso cups from Cafe de Flore in Paris to tea cups from Russia! I love knowing there is a story behind my morning brews. Some family & friends know of our tradition & have picked up tea cups for us along their travels as well!
- Something for your table :: I love buying serving bowls, trays, table runners or something for our kitchen when we travel. Not only do they sit on my table and remind me of fun trips, but they almost always spark a conversation when someone comes over.
- Recipes :: I’m not a huge meat eater, but when traveling I love trying {almost} whatever the chef recommends- especially when it comes to dessert! I love coming home with a new meal or dessert to make at home. Bonus points if I learned this new dish at a cooking class like we did here!
- Christmas Ornaments :: Cliché, but a good one. We personally don’t collect Christmas ornaments, but I’ve thought about starting this tradition a few dozen times. Although, I prefer souvenirs that we can enjoy year round- not just one month a year.
What are your favorite travel souvenirs?
black dress photos by The Parisian Photographers
black coat photos by The Parisian Photographers
red dress photos by Katie Donnelly Photography
We always buy Christmas ornaments, but I love the idea of hiring a photographer. We haven’t worked with a photographer since our wedding and quite honestly, the idea never even crossed my mind! Love this idea!
Those maternity photos!!! SO so pretty!! What a beautiful way to commemorate such a special season!
Any tips on how to get your husband on board with a photo shoot? I want to do one so badly, but he just doesn’t see the point
LOVE this idea!! We do Christmas ornaments and post cards. Might have to start picking up art too!
I purchased a beret in Paris, but hadn’t thought to buy anything more universal to wear later. Definitely picking up a cute hat or something on our next trip!
I have to agree with you that photographs are my favorite travel souvenir. Every time I look at them, it reminds me of what an incredible time we had, or even if the place wasn’t that great! I’ve not thought of taking hats as souvenirs, but I’d like to try! I’m also a hat person, so really would think about this! x
I love collecting souvenirs. My favorites are fridge magnets. They keep my travel memories fresh. BTW your photos are amazing. Loved the idea of hiring a photographer. I will do that on my next holiday.
The best travel souvenirs for me would either be hats or keychains. I also collect ref magnets from each city or place I visit. I also ensure I have a lot of photos. I usually arrange them by folders (by country then date) so that I can keep the memories with me.
Whenever I travel, I try to not collect so many cheesy souvenirs and collect more useful and meaningful items, as you suggested. My go-to items are clothing and jewelry. Even if the name isn’t stitched or someone on the piece, you’ll remember exactly where you bought it and how special it is to you. I also love your suggestion about booking a professional photo shoot at your destination. A great way to ensure that all the travelers in your posse are in the shots! I do always buy a mandatory magnet though because I’ve been doing that since a child. Great suggestions!
These are such wonderful ideas for souvenirs! My favorites are the artwork and something to wear home. I definitely feel more justified buying those over an overpriced tchotchke to remind me of my travels. I love the professional photography idea, too, although I prefer to capture memories from behind the lens. By the way, your photoshoots are stunning! I can see why they are such treasured memories. :D
First, I must say that you look fabulous in these pregnancy photos! I’ve often thought of collecting ornaments but haven’t done so yet. I like the idea of collecting art but most I have found have been too big. My newest thing is collecting jewelry from my trips, like pearls from China. Photos and memories are of course a standard. Clothes are a great reminder too.
So lovely photos of you, the hubby and the little one. Its true about the souvenirs , when I first started travelling I collected fridge magnets because they were cheaper but now all grown up I have to say that I lean towards your list especially when it comes to getting something that brings back memories of the trip and scents and christmas ornaments are great ideas.
I have been thinking of writing an article on travel souvenirs too. You have mentioned almost all of the sorts. Photographs are my favorite too and I have decorated my house with it. Your photographs are extremely beautiful. Along with fridge magnets, I love collecting earrings from different parts of the world. I also bring masks and colorful decorative pieces for my house.
I agree that photos are the best souvenirs. It is a great idea to hire local photographers. They surely know some really interesting places for print worthy photographs. However, I liked all types of souvenirs that you have listed here.