There are near-limitless fun things to dream about and budget for when gearing up for a trip to Italy, and planning what to buy in Italy is definitely one of them!
Souvenirs from Italy are a fantastic way to bring a piece of your trip home with you, and you can find a souvenir for every taste when shopping in Italy.
No matter how many times we visit Italy (which is a lot), we always seem to find some new treasure to bring home, whether it’s a ceramic jar from the Amalfi Coast, a magnet from Taormina, an antique map of Italy from an outdoor market in Lucca, or even simply a bag of taralli (one of our favorite snacks from Puglia)… just to name a few examples.
Not sure what to buy on your upcoming Italy trip?
Here are the best souvenirs from Italy to look for!
Table of Contents
- Best Foodie Souvenirs from Italy
- Decor + Collectibles to Buy in Italy
- Best Italy Souvenirs to Wear
- Miscellaneous Things to Buy in Italy
- Inexpensive (But Fun) Souvenirs from Italy
-
Tips for Shopping in Italy
- When shopping for food items, check for their certifications.
- Shop your region.
- Have a plan for which souvenirs from Italy you want before starting your trip.
- Consider quality over quantity.
- Note the trip and date of purchase on your Italy souvenirs.
- Check on transportation regulations.
- Check on shipping costs if necessary.
- … and leave extra space in your bag!
- Read More About Visiting Italy
Best Foodie Souvenirs from Italy
Of all the best Italy souvenirs out there, we have to admit we’re partial to those with a foodie bent.
Not only is Italy’s gastronomy practically synonymous with its culture, but centering your shopping in Italy around food will allow your trip to continue in spirit once you return home, and eliminate the risk of waste or clutter accumulating over time.
If you’re traveling outside the EU, you’ll need to avoid a few of these treasures, like cheese–though if you ask us, souvenirs still count if you eat them before leaving the country!
Wine
The most classic of all Italian souvenirs is definitely wine!
Virtually all vineyards in Italy will ship bottles home for you, so if you’re a wine fan, consider picking up several of your favorites and enjoying them slowly over time.
Alternatively, for a budget souvenir option, hit the grocery store for a fun experience and a chance to experience just how delicious “cheap” wine in Italy can get.
Go ahead–try the 5 Euro bottle! It might surprise you!
Olive Oil
Like wine, olive oil is a classic Italian souvenir that is easy to ship home.
And while it’s a popular souvenir year-round, if you’re lucky enough to visit during the olive harvest in the fall, you should absolutely, without a doubt, be sure to pick up some fresh olive oil!
For the best quality, avoid anything in a glass jar and instead look for olive oil stored in metal cans.
Spices
Spices are one of the cheapest and easiest to transport of these foodie souvenirs from Italy, and they can transform any dish.
Truffle Oil
Drizzle a few drops of truffle oil over your pasta at home, and you’ll almost swear you’re back in Italy when you taste it.
We love having it on hand for dressing up a standard night at home.
Truffle oil also makes a fantastic gift from Italy for foodies at home!
Italian Cookbook
Want to recreate some of your favorite Italian dishes once you return home?
Pick up a cookbook when shopping in Italy!
Cured Meats
From prosciutto to parma ham to plenty of sausages, cured meats travel well and make great souvenirs from Italy.
If you’re heading back to the US, you’ll need to eat this treat before heading home… but no Italy trip is complete without at least one meal that consists of cured meat, cheese, fruit, and wine picked up at local markets.
Peppers
Dried or jarred–either option is a great way to bring a taste of Italy home!
Limoncello
Arguably Italy’s best-known liqueur, limoncello comes primarily from the Amalfi Coast and the surrounding area in Campania, including Sorrento.
If you’re not headed south, though, don’t worry: you’ll find limoncello served and sold all over the country.
If you pick some up as a souvenir, you can make an incredible limoncello spritz at home and bring a taste of the Amalfi Coast back from Italy with you.
Grappa
This grape-based hard liquor is easy to find in Italy–you’ll undoubtedly be served a shot on the house at a restaurant at some point during your trip!
It definitely has quite the kick, and if you find yourself partial to it, grappa makes a wonderful Italian souvenir.
Pasta
While dried pasta isn’t quite the same as the fresh stuff, it’s still a delicious option that makes for a wonderful souvenir (and easy to transport) souvenir from Italy!
You might also be surprised to learn that some famous Italian dishes are traditionally made with dried pasta–it’s not all about fresh pasta, even when exploring the boot.
Carbonara, for example, is made with dried pasta in Italy (personally, rigatoni is my favorite shape for this dish, though you’ll see many interpretations).
Traditional Balsamic Vinegar
Forget the cheap stuff–traditional balsamic vinegar from Modena takes 12-25 years to make, and the cost matches the commitment!
Expect to spend in the range of 100 Euro for a traditionally made bottle–but for the right customer (like Jeremy!) the cost is absolutely worth it.
Traditional balsamic vinegar is one of the absolute best souvenirs from Italy, as it is a very specific product that is difficult (and expensive) to source abroad, it is easy to transport, and it lasts a long time.
We’ve been very slowly working through our latest bottle for almost a year now, and it’s not even half gone.
Spreads
From basic olive spreads to more, shall we say, adventurous spreads like cibreo, jarred spreads are easy to carry home.
And, smeared across a piece of crostini, they’re bound to help you feel like you’re back in Italy.
Hard Cookies & Sweets
Hard cookies and sweets (we’re partial to cantucci cookies from Tuscany, personally) are an inexpensive and fun way to bring a taste of la dolce vita home with you.
Chocolate
Artisanal chocolates may be more readily associated with Belgium and France, but Italy also makes some incredible ones!
Look for these especially in the region of Piedmont (arguably one of the most underrated regions in Italy, especially for foodies) and in the Val di Noto town of Modica in Sicily.
Cheese
Hard cheeses, like aged parmigiano-reggiano, transport more easily than soft cheeses, but with a little ingenuity, you can get most cheeses home.
Moka Pot
Want to bring true Italian coffee home with you?
While coffee bars are an enormous part of Italian coffee culture, moka pots–the pots that Italians make their coffee at home in–are also a huge part of the culture.
They’re a great way to bring Italian coffee home with you (assuming you’re not willing to splurge on a very pricey espresso machine, that is).
Decor + Collectibles to Buy in Italy
Home decor is one of our personal favorite things to buy in Italy, and even during our four years of long-term travel, we found ourselves acquiring a couple of pieces along the way.
Now that we have a home base again, seeing our carefully chosen pieces puts a smile on our faces every day!
… which is a very good thing, because we never seem to return to Italy without acquiring another treasure or two.
Ceramics + Pottery
Ceramics are popular across Italy, though you’ll see a lot of beautiful, hand-painted choices along the Amalfi Coast and in Tuscany in particular.
This is one of my personal weaknesses when shopping in Italy: I just can’t get enough of the ceramics!
One of our personal favorite souvenirs from Italy is our hand-painted jar from the Amalfi Coast.
Porcelain
From dishes to tiles, Italy is home to some truly beautiful porcelain.
Murano Glass
Examples of Murano glass, with its distinct colors and patterns, can be found in castles, palaces, and other opulent buildings around the globe–and it can definitely make an incredible souvenir from Italy!
While you can find Murano glass available for purchase across Italy, it’s especially lovely (and you’ll have the best selection) purchasing it on Murano or in nearby Venice.
Perugia Tablecloths
The popularity of beautiful tablecloths from Perugia dates back to the 13th century!
If you’re visiting Umbria, it’s still absolutely worth picking one up today.
Door Knockers
Door knockers may be one of the more eclectic Italy souvenirs on this list, but if you’re in the market for one, you’ll certainly find an incredible selection in Italy!
While you can find them in shops, if you’re lucky enough to visit a flea market or antique fair when looking for things to bring back from Italy, you can have luck there as well.
Christmas Ornaments
The best way to go shopping in Italy for Christmas ornaments is at the annual Christmas markets, of course–but you can find beautiful ones year-round!
Easy to buy and easy to pack, Christmas ornaments also make excellent gifts from Italy for people you love back home.
Burano Lace
Italian lace–and specifically lace from the island of Burano near Venice–is cherished, and like Murano glass, has been popular with the extremely wealthy for centuries.
One of its best-known customers was Leonardo da Vinci himself, who bought a piece for the altar of the Duomo of Milan!
While most of the lace you’ll see for sale in Burano these days is made by machine or a hybrid of machine work and handmade touches (the traditional handmade pieces take months to create and cost thousands of dollars), it is still stunning!
If you’re looking for the best souvenirs from Venice, there’s no doubt that Burano lace ranks among them.
Venetian Masks
What’s a trip to Venice without buying a Venetian mask?
With options raising in price from roughly 3 Euro to thousands, some version of this Italian souvenir is an option for everyone.
Original Art
Of all of the options listed in this guide to what to buy in Italy, a piece of original art definitely ranks as one of the most memorable and unique!
It doesn’t necessarily need to be a prohibitively expensive purchase, either: from small crafts and sketches to enormous oil paintings, statues, and beyond, there are many ways to bring a piece of Italian art home with you.
Best Italy Souvenirs to Wear
Prefer Italian souvenirs that you can wear?
These are some of the best options for shopping in Italy if you have your eye on clothes and accessories!
Perfume
Not just any perfume, though–one purchased from a historic and beautiful location.
Consider purchasing a scent at the 13th-century Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy in Florence or the flagship Merchant of Venice store in Venice when shopping in Italy!
Leather Goods
Leather clothing and accessories, including jackets, bags, belts, shoes, and more, are some of the most popular artisanal goods sold in Italy, especially in Tuscany!
Goods can vary wildly in price and quality, but if you’re looking to get beyond the standard tourist offerings, the Scuola del Cuoio in Florence is a great place to look.
(Not that there’s anything wrong with sticking to a budget if that’s what’s in your price range, though–Jeremy’s fairly inexpensive Italian wallet has been with us for many years now).
Gold Jewelry
Italian gold is known for its high quality–most of the gold sold in the country is at least 18 karat–and its enormous number of artisans will make sure you have plenty of pieces to fall in love with.
You’ll certainly pay a bit more there, but if you’re in the market for a gold souvenir from Italy, the most memorable place to purchase it is undoubtedly from one of the (many) shops along the Ponte Vecchio in Florence.
Watches
Italy is known for its high fashion shopping opportunities, and that includes watches.
If you’re looking to splurge on a timepiece anytime soon, Italy is a great place to do it!
Handmade Shoes
One of the most popular souvenirs from the Amalfi Coast (or nearby spots like Capri) is to have a pair of leather sandals handmade for you onsite.
The tradition extends beyond the Amalfi Coast, and you’ll find these souvenir options in Tuscany, as well.
Luxury Clothes and Accessories from Italian Designers
Valentino, Prada, Armani, Versace, Fendi, Dolce & Gabbana… even casual observers of luxury brands can no doubt name off several of the big names from Italy!
If you’re looking to splurge on any designer pieces, Italy is absolutely the place to do it–not only is the selection incredible, but you’ll actually often pay less in Italy than you would for the same luxury goods abroad!
Like luxury, but also like deals?
You can also go souvenir shopping in Italy at a luxury outlet retailer–you can even hop a shuttle bus to one near Florence!
Book your shopping trip today!
Miscellaneous Things to Buy in Italy
Leather Wallet
Jeremy loves his wallet from Tuscany–and wallets also make great gifts to pick up while shopping in Italy!
Stationery
Beautiful stationery is one of the best things to buy in Italy, and Florence and Venice are especially known for it.
This is a particularly wonderful Italian souvenir for honeymooners–what a memorable way to write thank-you notes when you get home!
Rosary
For Catholics, especially those visiting the Vatican, a rosary can be a particularly meaningful reminder of their trip to Italy.
Additional Religious Items
In addition to rosaries, (Catholic) icons and crucifixes are also popular religious souvenirs from Italy.
You’ll find them for sale all over, but the gift shops of famous churches and cathedrals are a very reliable option!
Books
Whether used or new, books are one of the best ways to remember a trip!
English-language books are fairly easy to find when shopping in Italy (in addition to English-language bookstores, the gift shops of museums are a great place to look), and we’ve collected several over the years.
Inexpensive (But Fun) Souvenirs from Italy
Only have a few Euro or a small sliver of space in your luggage to spare?
These Italy souvenirs might be right for you!
Magnets
Magnets are one of the most popular souvenirs to collect from around the world and often run only a few Euro apiece.
It’s worth waiting to find one that really sticks out to you–I spent almost a week looking for the right Sicily magnet, for example, but absolutely adore the one we ended up with!
Mugs
What better way is there to reminisce about your trip to Italy than to be reminded of it every time you go to make a hot drink and pull your mug from Italy out of the cabinet?
Postcards
Postcards are the ultimate combination of inexpensive, easy to pack, and easily personalized, making them one of the best budget souvenirs from Italy!
They tend to run .50 to 1 Euro each, but if you’re up to spending an extra couple Euro on top of that, consider filling a postcard out with your memories of the day right then and there.
Then, send it to yourself so you can relive your Italy memories as you return home (or a few weeks after, really–we’ve found that it takes quite a while to receive postcards from Italy in the USA!).
Tips for Shopping in Italy
When shopping for food items, check for their certifications.
Italy takes its food incredibly seriously–so seriously, in fact, that there are different certifications a product can earn, stating that it was made in a particular place, with particular ingredients, or with a particular technique.
Look for the DOP and/or IGP labels when shopping in Italy for food products, and you’re bound to come away with a great example of Italian gastronomy.
Shop your region.
While you can find beautiful Italy souvenirs all over the country and can find most of the items included in this Italy shopping guide in many places, shopping for products specific to the region you’re visiting can add something special to the memory while helping ensure you have the best possible selection available.
For example, consider shopping for olive oil in Tuscany, glass in Murano, or masks in Venice!
Have a plan for which souvenirs from Italy you want before starting your trip.
You won’t need to stick to your plan exactly, of course–shopping spontaneously can be part of the fun of travel–but having a general idea of what you want to look for when shopping in Italy can help add structure to your browsing, and in some cases, help limit indecisiveness (for me, anyway).
For example, I already know that I want to pick up a couple of ceramic soap dispensers on our next trip to Italy!
Consider quality over quantity.
When deciding what to buy in Italy, think about quality over quantity.
It’s incredibly easy to end up buying more Italy souvenirs than expected, and ending up with more knick-knacks than you really need.
In our experience, it’s much better to buy 1-2 truly memorable souvenirs than a whole slew of less memorable ones!
Note the trip and date of purchase on your Italy souvenirs.
You may find it easy to remember when and where you purchased your beautiful souvenirs from Italy now–but give it a decade or three, and you may be very glad you noted the place and year of purchase with the item!
We tend to write the info on the bottom of home decor pieces or Christmas ornaments and love the tradition of it.
Check on transportation regulations.
For the majority of these souvenirs from Italy, there is absolutely no issue with bringing them back yourself in your checked luggage.
For food items, though, be sure to double-check any necessary regulations before packing up to leave Italy (and for anything not allowed, well–now you have a good excuse to eat them during your trip!).
For Americans like us, check the USDA regulations here.
Check on shipping costs if necessary.
If you’re carrying back something particularly fragile, heavy, or potentially regulated, it’s definitely worth at least inquiring about the cost of shipping.
Many small businesses and artisans in Italy are able and willing to ship their goods abroad, so be sure to ask!
It can definitely make your travels simpler if you don’t have to worry about carrying any particularly heavy or delicate purchases home with you.
… and leave extra space in your bag!
It’s definitely worth leaving an extra outfit or two at home to make sure that you have enough room in your luggage to accommodate a couple of the best souvenirs from Italy for you!
Read More About Visiting Italy
Ready to keep planning your trip to Italy?
We’d love to help!
You can browse our 100+ Italy blog posts here, or check out these guides:
- 7 Days in Italy: 7 Ways to Spend a Week in Italy
- 21 Best Day Trips from Florence (+ Detailed Travel Advice)
- Summer in Italy: How to Plan Your Sun-Soaked Dream Trip!
- How to Take the Perfect Day Trip to Lake Como From Milan (By Train or Tour!)
- What to Buy in Rome: 15+ Best Souvenirs From the Eternal City
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Very helpful! Thanks for writing this and sharing this information!
Nice job! Thanks for the info!
Thank you! I love the idea of a door knocker!
Hi
Thanks for the tips!
Question:
Is it crazy expensive to ship dishes (12 dinner plates) home to US from Positano?
Depends on a lot of factors, but it’s doable and popular! I recommend speaking with the local shop once you find the ones you want–they almost always have shipping programs available and can give more specific information.
Do you recommend aby specific shops for souvenirs, or have a post about that? Thanks!
Hi Yesenia!
I’ll occasionally mention a place or shop in posts about specific destinations, but I don’t have any full guides on where to shop. That’s more of a city-by-city thing, like restaurants.
I usually skim through a some of these guides, however, I read, enjoyed and learned so much from your post.
My husband and I are visiting Tuscany and the Amalie coast in September. Your itineraries and suggestions are practical and have added to the excitement of our upcoming trip. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Elizabeth! Love hearing that travelers find our articles helpful. 🙂
Hope you guys have a fantastic time in Italy!
Thanks for the info,it’s useful and interesting,specially about expenses and budget on souvenirs.
Loved your article! Wanted to point out, however, that the TSA is not the governing authority for items being brought into the US. For that you need to check US Agriculture and Customs. Cured meats such as prosciutto and parma ham are NOT allowed in, sadly! I will have to settle for some great olive and truffle oils.
Happy travels!
Thanks, Kara! I’ll look into getting that link updated. 🙂
The last picture shows a GERMAN (!) market! Germany and Italy is not exactly the same, just saying… 😀
You’re right that there’s German on the signs, but it’s not exactly a German market–I took that photo in Bolzano, in Italy’s South Tyrol region!
The region is definitely part of Italy (since 1918) but has very close ties with Austria and was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire pre-WWI. Many of those traditions, including the German language, survive to this day.
It’s a very interesting place to visit! You can read more about the very cool city of Bolzano (German name Bozen–most towns up there have dual names in each language) in this blog post: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/things-to-do-in-bolzano-italy/
Thankyou for your very interesting articles. They’ve given me lots of ideas. My husband and I will be staying in Sacile (Venezia-Giulia) for some days in September. Do you know anything about this town?
Hi Iva,
We’ve never been there, but it looks beautiful! The only place we’ve had a chance to visit in Friuli Venezia Giulia so far is Trieste.
Although luxury items may be cheaper, you will still have to claim them when going through customs!
You’ll be changed the taxes coming back into the US!
It’s a case-by-case basis (how much did you buy, what is it, etc.) but you generally still come out ahead, especially since you can have the VAT (European tax) refunded at the airport before you leave!