Greatest Souvenirs to Bring Home from Paris

Forget the plastic Eiffel Towers. Travelers say the best Paris souvenirs are the ones they use every day – Duralex glasses, Monoprix totes, Diptyque candles, or a flea‑market brooch.

Here’s the full list of what’s actually worth packing.

1. Food & Drink

• Macarons from Ladurée or Pierre Hermé, with decorative boxes you’ll keep long after.
• Marrons d’Ardèche chestnut spread in small 100g packs, perfect for carry-on.
• Wine – cheap supermarket bottles for picnics or small producers’ vintages to ship home. Mid-range (€50–100) can be exceptional, especially Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc.
• Bordier butter, vacuum-sealed at Le Bon Marché or Lafayette Gourmet. Other prized butters include Isigny and D’Echiré.
• French cheeses like Camembert, Brie de Melun, Neufchâtel, Pont-l’Evêque, Livarot, Tomme, Cantal, Mimolette, Chaource, and Mojette.
• Jams and spreads, including Christine Ferber jams, pistachios near the Pompidou, and pistachio & feuilletine spreads from Maison Bremond.
• Foie gras in cans from Franprix.
• Salted caramels from Jacques Genin.
• Spices and salts such as fleur de sel, Piment d’Espelette, or blends from Epices Roellinger.
• Mustard from Maille’s flagship with refillable crocks, or Bourgogne mustard from Edmond Fallot.
• Tea from Mariage Frères, especially the Marco Polo blend. Their Art Deco teapots are collector pieces.
• Chocolates – mousse from Chapon, Nestlé Dessert bars for baking, Cote d’Or bars, and fine selections from La Maison du Chocolat.
• Chartreuse and liqueurs, often cheaper in France.
• Eugénies from Ladurée, similar to macarons but with longer shelf life.
• French candies from supermarkets like Carrefour.
• Dried mushrooms, such as morels, which pack easily.
• Gourmet snacks like truffle potato chips, croissants, and baguettes stuffed with ham and salted butter.
• Chocolates from Jean-Paul Hévin and sweets from La Chambre aux Confitures.

2. Fashion & Accessories

• Repetto ballet flats, a Paris icon.
• Raffia or straw tote bags with leather handles, chic and durable.
• Silk and satin scarves from Montmartre fabric streets, Diwali, or museum gift shops. Seek out French makers like Petitjean, Cinabre, Petrusse, or Hermès.
• Berets from Laulhère, beautifully made even if locals rarely wear them.
• Hats from Monet Garden shops or vintage finds at Les Puces flea market.
• Jewelry – Les Néréides floral pieces, Chance rings, Notre Dame rosace pendants, or vintage brooches and earrings from flea markets.
• Handbags – Fauré Le Page clutches, Fleuron handbags, Louis Vuitton (with VAT refund), and Courreges ensembles.
• Coats and trench coats from Paris boutiques, including Balzac Paris sweaters.
• Armorlux marinière sweaters for a classic French look.
• Leather gloves from ACABA Gantier.
• PSG gear – jerseys, sacoches, or bags.
• Eyeglass frames from independent Paris opticians.
• Paris-themed gym bags from Galeries Lafayette.
• Reusable Franprix grocery bags, a quirky but useful souvenir.

3. Art & Decor

• Original and antique art – engravings, lithographs, watercolors, oils.
• Paintings from Montmartre, often bought while watching the artist at work.
• Framed prints from Seine-side bookstalls.
• Picasso show posters from kiosks near the Louvre.
• Figurines from museum shops like The Thinker at the Rodin Museum.
• Antiques from Vanves flea market – mirrors, snuff boxes, plates, brooches, tapestries, vintage scarves, and military pins.
• Porcelain by Marie Daâge, hand-produced in Limoges.
• City silhouette cutouts from La Mouette Rieuse.
• Ceramic dachshunds from Montmartre or glass figurines from Tuileries markets.
• Ceramic trays inspired by Paris metro tiles.
• Christmas ornaments from Marin Montagut, the Louvre, Versailles, Palais Garnier, or flea markets.
• Antique newspapers and books, e.g. a 1947 Queen Elizabeth wedding edition.
• Art books and guides – Louvre guidebooks under €10, Musée d’Orsay collections.
• Tarot card decks from Paris bookstores.
• Rosary beads from Notre Dame.

4. Household Items

• Duralex glasses, iconic in French schools.
• Saber cutlery, customizable in Rue des Quatre Vents.
• Opinel bread knives from La Grande Epicerie or BHV.
• Laguiole knives, a French classic.
• Cheese knives from E. Dehillerin, TOC, Mora, or A. Simon.
• House number signs from BHV.
• Jacquard linens – tea towels, napkins, tablecloths from Monoprix or Le Jacquard Français.
• Reusable tote bags from Monoprix, Merci, BHV, Picard surgelé, Shakespeare & Co., or local bakeries.
• Mini whisk brooms and crumb collectors from Marché Alegre shops.
• Louise Carmen journals with embossing.
• Watercolor sets from Charvin, the oldest art school in Paris.
• Purple pillows from Paris shops, doubling as packaging for fragile items.
• Leather wine carriers from Marais boutiques.
• Peugeot pepper mills, a kitchen staple.
• Toile de Jouy fabric, traditional French textile with historic patterns.

5. Perfumes & Beauty

• Perfumes from Fragonard, especially Fleur d’Oranger.
• Diptyque candles, including Rue Duphot exclusives.
• Custom perfume workshops at Molinard or Bienaimé.
• Musée du Parfum near Opéra, linked to Parisian fragrance history.
• Officine Universelle Buly – engraved combs, calligraphy-wrapped gifts, and skincare.
• Roger & Gallet perfumes and bath products.
• Panier des Sens hand creams.
• French sunscreens and skincare – Avène, La Roche-Posay, and La Rosée are top parapharmacie picks.
• Papier d’Arménie incense strips, sold in pharmacies.
• Savon de Marseille soaps, classic and fragrant.

6. Books & Stationery

• Books from Shakespeare & Company with stamped logo.
• Museum pencils, collected one per visit.
• Postcards – new or antique. Send one from La Poste on Rue du Louvre to get a special cancel stamp.
• Scrapbook collages made from tickets, guides, and postcards.
• French stationery – Mélodies Graphiques, Clairefontaine, Rhodia, and Séyès notebooks.
• Board games like the Louvre Monopoly edition.
• Old books from Parisian second-hand stores.
• French comic books and magazines, great to bring back.

7. Quirky & Unique

• Tattoos at Walkin Tattoo or other Paris studios.
• Wooden shields and toys from the Conciergerie or Musée de l’Armée.
• Vintage LIP watches from flea markets.
• Model cars – Renault, Citroën DS, or 2CV.
• Friendship bracelets from Sacré Coeur steps and fabric roses near the Eiffel Tower.
• Le Chat Noir posters, classic Montmartre design.
• Pink dice from Montmartre board game shops.
• Velib bikes turned into art pieces, sometimes spray-painted gold.
• Cobblestones collected from Paris construction sites.
• Merde shop souvenirs – mugs, stickers, notebooks.
• Tonic syrup from Lord de Barbès.
• Pylones umbrellas, colorful and playful.
• Bathrobes from Galeries Lafayette.
• Children’s clothes from Monoprix.
• Incense and fragrances from niche boutiques.
• Library cards for digital collections at Paris libraries.
• Marcel Travel Posters puzzles and Tour de France keychains.
• Vintage trinkets – dice, jewelry, fabrics from flea markets.
• Magnets, cheap and easy to carry.
• Sparkly Eiffel Tower figurines from vendors at the tower.
• Beach babe figurines, quirky flea market finds.