Souvenirs From Paris - Local Mementos To Take Home

Searching for souvenirs in Paris can feel intimidating. You have the regular souvenir shops and stall that sell you the typical models of the Eiffel tower, magnets and a few other knicks and knacks. It does seem to fall short when you think about it. Which is why I decided that after a number of times of passing through France and visiting the city, I should really make a list of the local souvenirs from Paris.

Let's take a look at all the local delicacies, the art and the culture while we are it. Our first experience in Paris felt like a blur because we were so young and we were backpacking through the city. On our subsequent trips, we've paused a bit more. We looked in the small little shops. Watched the artists at work. And that's how we found the best souvenirs in Paris.

As usual, I'm going to divide the souvenirs into different segments so that you can easily jump to what you want.

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Food

When it comes to souvenirs from Paris, my mind immediately goes to the food. I love the food in France and Paris is the heart of all things French. You can get cuisines from all across the country here. It is not surprising. The price tag however depends on what you buy.

Not everything works as a souvenir. Somethings are harder to take home than others. I've drawn up a couple of cool food souvenirs from Paris that every foodie will love.

1. Macaroons

Macaroons are one of the French delicacies that people with a sweet tooth enjoy. There are numerous shops in Paris that you can try these in. Taking them home however is a bit challenging. Macaroons taste the best when they are fresh so I recommend buying them the day before or on the day you are flying out.

If you can't travel with them, make sure that you indulge in them while you are in the city. They are the perfect small snack to keep you going while you walk admiring the ornate architecture around you.

2. Chocolate

Chocolate in Paris is treated as an artform. There are loads of different artisans around the city where you can buy yourself some excellent chocolate. My recommendations is to mark the ones that you would like to visit and stop by on a day that you are moving through the area. Have a coffee and sample the chocolates. Then buy the ones you liked the most.

Note that on hot days, the chocolate could melt while you walk through the city so either head back and leave it in the hotel or just buy it at the end of the day.

If you are like me and you've indulged yourself to the max, carried home chocolates but finished those too. The craving still hasn't faded. Then you can also replenish your stock online. Which may not be the same as buying them in Paris but it does satiate the cravings.

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3. Wine

The French really know their wine. There are so many regions in France that grow wine. Champagne, Bordeaux, Saint-Émilion, Reims etc. Paris is one of the locations in which you can walk into shops that supply wine from all these regions. One of the coolest ways to know which wines you like is by going for a wine tasting. Les Caves du Louvre is particularly cool because you get to see a wine cellar in Paris which is an experience in itself before actually tasting the wine. Its a well rounded experience. Pun intended.

The tour is popular so its one of the things in Paris that is better booked in advance. You can always buy your wine as a souvenir on site

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4. Cheese

You can't talk about souvenirs from Paris without talking about cheese. Cheese is such a core part of French cuisine. So many different types that come from all the regions of the country. Paris has some of the best restaurants in the world and many of them will serve up regional cheese. These are the best places to try them out and to learn what to pair them with. At least that's what we do whenever we are in the area.

You could also go on a wine and cheese tasting tour which will help you learn how the different types of cheese are made and which parts of the country they come from.

Generally if you are carrying cheese home make sure that is sealed well. This ensures that it is easy to transport and doesn't spoil. Remember that you can't keep the cheese out if the temperature is very high. It will spoil quickly. Hard cheese lasts longer than soft cheese so these are better souvenirs from Paris to take back home.

Note: Make sure to check the custom rules of the country that you are flying to!

Fashion

Paris is also one of the fashion capitals of the world. It therefore makes sense that it is also one of the best places to buy clothes and accessories. You can find all the big brands here. You can also search for smaller designers, vintage finds, etc. We found a lot of budget stores that had some amazing accessories. You do have to hunt for them though and they generally are not in the touristy spots.

There are some things that you should keep an eye for though if you are in the city shopping for fashion souvenirs from Paris.

5. Makeup, Cosmetics & Perfumes

There are so many brands to choose from and if like me, you don't really know what you want or need, then Paris is the place you can learn. There are consultants in the shop and they'll recommend different types of makeup and shades. I had so much fun and had a very interesting chat with the lady who was guiding me.

Some of the popular brands to check out while in Paris are

6. Hats

I love hats. They are my favorites accessory in all seasons. Paris has some of the coolest shops where hats are concerned and they have them in so many colours, shapes, materials etc. You don't even have to shell out big bucks for them if you don't want to because the budget stores have plenty of great options too.

7. Jackets & Winter Coats

A jacket that I bought for my daughter from Petit Bateau which has been exceptional.

If you are tired of just the standard winter jackets or rain jackets that are functional but fail to deliver on the aesthetics, then you will find that Paris has a great number of options available. One of my favorite brands is the Petit Bateau.

While they are geneally known for kids wear, they also have some adult jackets that are amazing. They have these amazing rain jackets that survive well against all weather. They are also warm and loose enough that you can layer in. A big bonus is that they come in so many cool colors.

Art

Art is a part of the French culture. There are so many museums in the city where you can immerse yourself in the different eras of art. You can see paintings from artists from all over the world at museums like the Louvre. The museums are a great place to buy souvenirs.

But if you want to pick up some art from local artists, consider walking through the streets of Montmartre. There are a number of local artists who set up shop here and you can buy their paintings. Alternatively, there are a number of galleries in Paris where you can buy art depending on the specific style that picks your fancy.

7. Art Supplies

If you love to dabble in art, you will find that art supplies are great souvenirs from Paris to take back home. Rougier & Plé, Le Géant des Beaux-Arts, Magasin Sennelier, etc are all great places to check out. They have a wide variety of brands to choose from.

8. Pens And Other Cool Souvenirs from Paris

There are some shops where you can get art on various products and items you use in daily use. I honestly did not know how to classify them so I just added it as a subnote in this section. For example you could head to Pylones where you can get everything from spectacle cases to tissue holders in unique designs. It isn't just the standard stuff that you see everywhere.

9. Postcards

Postcards are great souvenirs from Paris

One of my all time favourite souvenirs from Paris or from any place in general is a postcard. There are so many great varieties when it comes to these. I recommend not heading to a souvenir shop instead just wander into one of the art shops or curio shops.

You can also post them so you don't have to worry about carrying them.

Pet Supplies

During my latest trip to the city, we came across a number of pet supply stores. Not just the regular kind where you get food and litter. I mean the ones with unique toys, cool harnesses, amazing bags, scratch posts for cats in various designs, food etc.

These shops are a pet lovers paradise and honestly it was one of our favorite spots when it came to shopping for souvenirs from Paris. We bought a couple of cool cat toys for our fur babies at home and they were easy to transport too.

Board Games

Board games may not be for everybody but we are avid collectors so we made it a point to head to the board game stores in the city. You can find a lot of rare and popular board games here. They also have board games in English. We travel with a lot of portable board games for our trips so we generally head in to see if we can find something cool to play.

Memories

If you ask me, the best souvenirs from Paris are the memories that you take home. I recommend slowing down. While many people just have a day in Paris, know that rushing through everything is going to feel chaotic. Pause to enjoy the scenery. Stop and enjoy a crepe. Listen to music in the evenings. Immerse yourself in the culture. The city has so much to offer.

Where To Buy Souvenirs From Paris

Let's dig into the best places to buy souvenirs in Paris. I recommend that you should more or less know what kind of souvenirs you want to take especially if its food related. That way you can head straight to the specialty shops.

Souvenir shops - I am not the biggest fan of these shops but you can get the traditional souvenirs here. Think of magnets, coasters and cups. It is important to note that the souvenir shops tend to be pricy.
Champs-Élysées - This is probably the most popular shopping street in Paris. Note that it is also the most expensive one. Here you will get all the famous French and International luxury fashion and make up brands on a single street. Well worth wandering through. Buying souvenirs from here will depend on your shopping budget.
Galeries Lafayette - The Galeries Lafayette is like a mall that is dedicated to all kinds of fashion and accessories. There are three of them in Paris but the most popular one is in Champs-Élysées. It is famous because of its location, the building itself which is beautiful and its large variety.
Vintage Shops - There are a surprising number of vintage shops in the city. These are great if you want something cool and not too expensive. It does however depend on what you choose.

Tip: I loved the Latin Quarter of Paris. There were so many little shops that you can explore. It doesn't take you very far away from your sightseeing route either.