When it comes to souvenirs from France, there are plenty of unique and memorable items to choose from. From iconic Eiffel Tower keychains and snow globes to delicious gourmet food items and beautifully crafted home décor, there is something for everyone on your list.
No matter what you choose, a French souvenir is sure to please anyone on your list. Bonne chance!
16 Souvenirs From France
There are a lot of things from France that you will want to bring home with you but here is a list of the things that you need to keep an eye out for while traveling in France.
1. Eiffel Tower Keychain, Snow Globe, or Figurine
A classic French souvenir that’s perfect for anyone who loves Parisian landmarks and architecture. The Eiffel Tower is the symbol of France and the main reason why a lot of people go to France.
This iconic tower is the symbol of romance, Paris, and so much more!
2. Macarons
Macaroons are delicious gourmet cookies that come in a variety of flavors and colors. Macaroons are a great souvenir because they are hard cookies which makes them travel-friendly.
3. Bottle of Wine
France is the most popular place on the planet for wine. If you are a wine lover then traveling to France (especially Bordeaux) should be on your bucket list.
If you are interested in wine then make sure to book the Saint Emilion Day Trip with Sightseeing Tour & Wine Tastings from Bordeaux and buy a bottle for a souvenir!
4. Handmade Jewelry or Pottery From a Local Artist
When it comes to little jewelry or pottery stores, France has a lot of them. Jewelry is a great way to carry a little piece of your trip around with you wherever you go!
If you are looking for a good place to find pottery then the South of France is where you will want to go.
I wrote about the best villages in the South of France in this post.
5. A Classic Bottle of French Perfume From a French Luxury Brand Like Chanel or Dior
Most people are traveling to France to shop! France is one of the most famous places in the world for designer clothing and perfume.
If you would like to make your own CHANEL N°5 perfume then head to Grasse, France, and take this perfume tour.
Another way to get a great deal on French luxury perfumes is to buy them in the duty-free section at the airport.
6. French Pastries
If you are thinking about France then you are probably thinking about French bakeries and the cutest pastry shops. France is the birthplace of bread so getting some bread in France as a souvenir is a great idea.
However, French bread and pastries are a lot different than American bread so transporting them can be hard. The pastries that I have found that travel the best are Pain au chocolate and little Éclairs.
If you want to learn more about French pastries then check out this Paris Bakery Behind the Scenes Tour.
7. French Chocolate From a World-Renowned Perisian Chocolatier
France is not only known for its amazing pastries it also has some of the world’s best chocolates! In Paris, there are lots of world-famous chocolatiers to choose from like Pierre Hermé, La Maison du Chocolate, Maison Bonnat, and so many more!
If you are looking for a chocolate tour of Paris then check out this Paris French Sweet Gourmet Specialties Tasting Tour with Pastry & Chocolate.
8. Chanel or Louis Vuitton Handbag
When it comes to French handbags there are many famous brands like Louis Vuitton, Coco Chanel, Hermès, Christian Dior, and Givenchy just to name a few. This is a very practical souvenir because it is something that you can actually use daily (and get lots of compliments on!).
If you love high-end fashion then you will love this Private Tour of Fashion History in the Heart of Paris!
9. A copy of a classic French novel like Les Misérables or Le Comte de Monte-Cristo
Used book shopping in France is one of my favorite things to do ever. There are so many used book shops in Paris that have old antique books and even some English bookstores, the most famous being Shakespeare and Company.
A book from France is a perfect souvenir for you or someone who loves books!
10. Soap- Savon de Marseille
If you are looking for the world’s best soap then France is the place for you. Marseille, France is famous around the world for its soap because it is the purest soap and does not use chemicals which makes it safe for all skin types.
11. Dijon Mustard
If you are a foodie then France will not let you down. Head on over to Dijon, France, and try some Dijon Mustard!
This Private Full Day Tour Burgundy Gourmet lets you try this world-famous mustard. Make sure you pick up a bottle for your souvenir as well.
12. French Cheese
When you are in France you need to try the cheese. It is truly life-changing.
Make sure that if you do want to bring some home as a souvenir you check your airline’s rules on bringing cheeses back into your home country. The best French cheese is unpasteurized which is illegal in the US.
13. Herbs, Spices, and Fragrances: Salt, Lavender, Fleur de Sel, Herbes de Provence
When it comes to herbs, spices, and fragrances you will want to head down to Provence, France. They have all of the basil, thyme, garlic, salts, and anything else you can think of.
One of the best tours that you can do is the Luberon Market & Villages Day Trip from Aix-en-Provence. On this tour you will be able to find all of the herbs and spices you could ever dream of!
14. A vintage map of France or a beautiful antique mirror from a local flea market or antique shop
When people think of Paris they usually don’t think about the flea markets and the antique shops. Paris has been around since 259 BC so if you want something old then this is the place to get it.
Also, if you think that getting to and finding flea markets in Paris is too difficult then book this Private shopping tour at the Paris Antique Flea Market.
15. Champagne from Champagne
Champagne was literally invented here in France so if you are looking to bring something special home with you then you should think about heading over to Champagne, France. This is the birthplace of champagne and you will be able to find all of the best and most famous champagne in the world.
Here is a tour of Champagne Moet et Chandon & Taittinger Small-Group Tour with Taste Testing from Reims if you are really looking to find that perfect gift for a champagne lover.
16. A copy of an iconic work of art like The Mona Lisa or Liberty Leading the People at the Louvre Gift Shop
The Mona Lisa and Liberty Leading the People paintings are some of the most famous paintings in the world. Make sure that you pick up a copy of them at the Louvre gift shop on your way out for a beautiful souvenir that will look great in your home!
Make your trip to the Louvre truly memorable by booking this Louvre Museum Skip-the-Line Guided Tour with Venus de Milo & Mona Lisa tour.
Helpful French Words and Phrases to Know When Shopping in France:
- Parlez-vous anglais? (Do you speak English?)
- Je cherche… (I’m looking for…)
- Ou est…? (Where is…?)
- Combien ca coute? (How much does it cost?)
- Pouvez-vous me le montrer? (Can you show me?)
- J’aime beaucoup. Je le prends! (I really like it. I’ll take it!)
- Merci beaucoup! (Thank you very much!)
- Au revoir! (Goodbye!)
If you found these phrases helpful then check out this post about the Duolingo French vocabulary list.
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- Can You Find Starbucks in France?
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Dayna Brockbank is a travel and language-learning blogger who has lived around the world but has now settled in Nice, France. She speaks 3 languages at varying levels of fluency: Spanish, Italian, and French, and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Spanish Education. She and her husband focus on making travel part of life by living cheaply and traveling on a budget.