The 10 Best Souvenirs To Buy in Italy

The 10 Best Souvenirs To Buy in Italy

Memories and experiences are more important than things, though when you travel it can be fun to shop around and see what the local specialties are. If you're looking for what souvenirs to buy in Italy, here's what you should get - these are much better than your average refrigerator magnet or key chain.

1. Limoncello

Made in Southern Italy on the Amalfi Coast, this Italian liqueur is a sweet ending to a meal. I've seen it cost much more in the US, so bring a bottle back if you fancy it.

2. Wine

Like pasta, wine in Italy is seriously the best. If you take a bottle home make sure to have it wrapped up in some type of padded wine bag to avoid breakage.

A sip of Italian wine will transport you back to your trip while allowing friends and family to have a taste.

3. Dry pasta

Even the local bagged pasta from grocery stores is amazing. You'll be having the best pasta while in Italy - and when you get home and compare it to your average grocery store pasta, you'll truly taste how much better the real thing is.

4. Italian or European brand name items

Taxes will be cheaper since they have to ship the items shorter distances, so if you're contemplating buying an Italian or European designer item, it tends to be cheaper than back in your home country. –

For example, my black Longchamp bag (a French brand) from Florence turned out to be less expensive in Italy than it would’ve been if I had bought it in the states.

5. Leather

One product Italy is known for is leather - you can find markets, shops, and department stores carrying different types of leather clothing and shoes, such as leather jackets or boots, and even accessories like luggage tags or handbags.

It's always high quality and will last a long time - just make sure to take good care of it!

6. Shoes

Italians truly know what quality, comfortable shoes are. My custom-made sandals from Capri and short leather motorcycle boots are not only some of my favorite pairs, they are also far more durable than other shoes on the cobblestone streets.

7. Porcelain

You'll see porcelain ceramics, especially dishes, at shops or markets around Italy. Whether it's a coffee mug or a wine bottle stopper you'll have a piece of Italy back home with you in your kitchen.

8. Glass

Venice is known for its handmade Murano glass and you'll find many shops and stalls selling it - everything from jewelry to decorative figurines.

9. Olive Oil

Why is there yet another food item on this list? Because the food in Italy is just that fantastic! I've always said that Italy is the food capital of Europe, and even if you can find these foods at home it is likely they won't even compare to the real stuff.

So yes, a bottle of silky, smooth olive oil from Italy is definitely worth bringing back.

10. Postcards

Postcards make for light souvenir that take up hardly any space. You can send them to your loved ones from abroad or keep them to frame or display at home.

Tuck them inside something like a book or magazine (I usually put paper products in my laptop case) to prevent bending.

Quick tip: Make sure to review your government's website for information on bringing back food items. You wouldn't want to bring back a large quantity of a certain item  only to have it taken away at the airport!

Going to Europe Soon?

Book a place to stay - my all-time favorite booking website is the well-known Booking.com - I’ve used it for years all over the world.

It is the easiest way to search and find the best hotels (hostels too!), especially based on reviews. I always check the reviews on Booking, even if it’s a name-brand hotel. You never know!

Check out these posts:

What To Pack For Europe: Fall & Winter

What To Pack For Europe: Spring & Summer

How To Travel Europe: Tips & Advice! (VIDEO)

Four Amazing Day Trips from Florence, Italy

16 Italian Experience You Need to Have in Italy

Digital Nomad Tips:

The Ultimate List of Jobs That Pay You To Travel

How To Travel as a Digital Nomad: 3 Quick Tips

Traveling to Italy as a digital nomad and working remotely? Check out Citrix vdi and Hosted QuickBooks, two remote technologies that let you access your work anywhere on any device.

They have all day, year-round technical support with Apps4Rent which powers O365cloudexperts. Personally, I use QuickBooks Self-Employed to keep the finance side of my online business running and highly recommend it - I use it through the mobile app so I can do updates from anywhere in the world.

This post may contain affiliate links, which help the support the site at no extra cost to you!

20 Quotes For Every 20-Something Traveler

20 Quotes For Every 20-Something Traveler

1. "This is the time for small paychecks and big memories." - Jessy Tapper

2. "Travel. As much as you can. As far as you can. As long as you can. Life's not meant to be lived in one place."

3. “To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” - Aldous Huxley

4. “For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” - Robert Louis Stevenson

5. “A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.” - Lao Tzu

6. "You don't have to be rich to travel well." - Eugene Fodor

7. “When overseas you learn more about your own country, than you do the place you’re visiting.” - Clint Borgen

8. “Not I - not anyone else, can travel that road for you, You must travel it for yourself.” - Walt Whitman

9. “If you’re twenty-two, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel – as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them – wherever you go.” - Anthony Bourdain

10. “I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” - Mary Anne Radmacher

11. "One's journey is never a place, but rather a new way of looking at things." - Henry Miller

12. “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” - Neale Donald Walsch

13. “Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” - Maya Angelou

14. “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” - Scott Cameron

15. “Once a year go somewhere you have never been before.” - Dalai Lama

16. "Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

17. “Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.”

18. “Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life.” - Michael Palin

19. "Figure out what your purpose is in life, what you really and truly want to do with your time and your life; then be willing to sacrifice everything and then some to achieve it. If you are not willing to make the sacrifice then keep searching" - Quintina Ragnacci

20. “I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” - Susan Sontag

5 Things To Do In Pacific Beach, San Diego

This isn't just any beach town. With its own flair and attitude, Pacific Beach has a different feel compared to others in Southern California, and this neighborhood is a must during any visit to San Diego. I had been to SD (La Jolla and Coronado) previously when I was younger with family, though it was nice to re-visit the city in my 20s - I have some friends that live there that could show me around, as well as get some beach time in!

5 Things To Do In Pacific Beach, San Diego

San Diego Pacific Beach

1. Beach

Because, obviously. :)

(This was taken on Fourth of July, my friends said it was much more crowded than nomal!)

2. Walk along the pier

Pier San Diego Pacific Beach

Beautiful homes, beautiful views, and people watching (or surfer watching).

3. Grab some fish tacos or an acai bowl

Acai bowl copy

A Southern California classic - quality Mexican food. It is close to the border, after all! Head to Oscar's or, well, pretty much anywhere for a bite. There is no shortage of good Mexican food in San Diego.

You'll also find acai bowls everywhere, from coffee shops to cafes to Mexican restaurants. My favorite was from PB Beach Cafe on Garnet - the agave nectar, coconut flakes, and blackberries set this one far ahead of the rest. I'd even go as much to say it's the best acai bowl I've ever had!

4. Rooftop and beach bars

Spend your Saturday (or any day, we won't judge) having a cold one outdoors. There's an abundance of rooftop lounges and outdoor patios by or near the beach, so you can't go wrong here.

5. Nightlife

Take the casual daytime buzz from the beach bar and head into the night. You'll definitely see people of all ages, especially in their 20s-30s, out and about.

While these things to do could be done in many places, experiencing it in Pacific Beach is simply different - it's cool, relaxed, and unique, in my opinion! 

Headed to San Diego?

Book a place to stay - my all-time favorite booking website is the well-known Booking.com - I’ve used it for years all over the world.

It is the easiest way to search and find the best hotels (hostels too!), especially based on reviews. I always check the reviews on Booking, even if it’s a name-brand hotel. You never know!

10 Photos That Will Make You Want To Visit Ireland

10 Photos That Will Make You Want To Visit Ireland

Green on green on green, Guinness, and the friendliest people you will ever meet all come to mind when I think of Ireland. My visit to Ireland back when I studied abroad was unexpected and spontaneous, and I couldn't be happier that I ended up visiting this beautiful country.

It had never topped my travel list originally, though now that I've been - and loved it - I know I'll need to re-visit one day! This beautiful European island country has been on my mind lately as I've been going through my Ireland photos, reminiscing about visiting the Blarney Castle and other beautiful parts of the country!

After taking a look, these photos just might make you want to visit Ireland too!

Irish countryside view outside bus window traveling to Dublin from Limerick

Cork, Ireland

Blarney Castle, Cork, Ireland

English Market

Cork, Ireland

Blarney Castle Grounds, Cork, Ireland

Cork, Ireland

A traditional Irish Pub

Guinness Storehouse Tour in Dublin, Ireland

View from the Blarney Castle in Cork, Ireland

You may also like:

14 Europe Experiences You Need To Have In Your Lifetime

Studying Abroad in Europe: Instagram vs. Reality

Studying Abroad in Europe Instagram vs. Reality

Taking photos when you study abroad is a given. If you didn't post it online, did it actually happen? (Kidding). Sharing our lives through Instagram while abroad is a fun way to document the experience, albeit an edited, sometimes filtered, version of our lives.

It allows us to keep friends and family back home updated on the goings-on of being abroad while providing us with like-worthy #TBTs after we return home, full of nostalgia.

Whether you're currently abroad or have already returned, you may be able to relate to these Insta-worthy moments.

Studying Abroad in Europe: Instagram vs. Reality

1. The passport photo

Paris passport

Caption: #itshappening #europe2015 #letsgo #travel

Reality: For every decent passport pic, there are 14 failed ones.

2. Luggage

Caption: Bags are all packed! Can't wait to start this next chapter of my life in [insert study abroad city here].

Reality: I had jump on the case and try multiple contortionist-worthy moves just to get this thing to close.

3. Airplane selfie

airplane selfie

Caption: Here we go...!

Reality: 1/5 takes to not have the rando in the background staring into the camera. Also, major judgement from the rando throughout the 10-hour flight.

4. In front of famous monuments

Caption: #blessed

Reality: This is cool, but you also can't see the hordes of other tourists with selfie sticks trying to get  the same shot.

5. Food

Andiamo Bellevue Food

Caption: Authentic food from its own country is 10000x better than back home. #PastaAllaBolognese #YesPlease

Reality: Can't argue much there, just please don't be that pretentious "everything is better in [study abroad country], *scoff*" person when you return.

6. Oktoberfest

6tag_190913-183502

Caption: The best f***ing weekend of my entire life.

Reality: The best f***ing weekend of my entire life, and now I'm broke. #worthit

7. Party pics

Naima

Caption: Cheers to nights we won't remember, with friends we won't forget.

Reality: The awesomeness of being under 21 and being able to legally drink at bars.

8. Christmas markets

Caption: Happy holidays *emojis* sending my love from Europe :)

Reality: It's all about the hot, spiced wine in special Christmas-market-mugs.

Speaking of wine...

9. Wine

crop

Caption: Every occasion calls for a glass of red.

Reality: I have a love/hate relationship with unlimited wine, depending on the time of night or the next morning.

10. Train station

Caption: So excited to be in MILAN in just a few hours!!

Reality: It's 8:00 am, and yeah last night's wine was a horrible idea.

11. Souvenir shopping

Caption: Can't resist some local shopping... #wheninrome #travel

Reality: I really want all this crap I don't need. I'm buying it anyways.

12. Water activities

budapest crop

Caption: Had a fun, relaxing time at the baths in Budapest. Cool experience. #hungary

Reality: Totally fun, relaxing, and cool. However, I forgot my swimsuit on this trip and had to rent one from the spa. Showering immediately when I get back to my hostel.

13. Textbooks

texbook

Caption: When you realize you actually have to study for your finals abroad...

Reality: LOL

14. The group photo

1 crop group

Caption: Abroad friends are friends for life.

Reality: Abroad friends are friends for life.

You may also like...

The ABCs of Studying Abroad in Florence

8 Tips For First-Timers at Oktoberfest

11 Excuses For Not Traveling Abroad (And Why They're Weak)

How To Stay In Shape While Traveling

Blue Water in Amalfi Coast

When you're not at home in your regular routine, it can be tough to find time to hit the gym. There are so many things to do when you're on a trip - things that are much more enticing than exercise.

And that's how it should be - you didn't get away from your regular routine just to bring it back with you. You decided to travel to experience something different and more exciting (or relaxing) than your day-to-day life.

However, if you're going on an extended trip or just want to keep any extra pounds away during your time away from home, you'd be surprised at how many tricks you can use to keep in shape.

How To Stay In Shape While Traveling: 7 Tricks

1. Get outside

At top of Camelback Mountain, Phoenix AZ

People are more likely to be active outdoors when they travel than when they're at home. Try your hand at rock climbing, white water rafting, hiking, or skiing, just to name a few ideas.

You'll be able to see a whole other side of where you're at, and it's most likely off the tourist track.

2. Walk everywhere

Ireland

As tempting as it may be to hop in a taxi for a few blocks, opt to walk instead. It's easy to get around most cities on foot. Plus, you see more on foot than you do through a car window.

3. Take the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator

Of course, don't do this in creepy stairwells with no one around. This is more of an example for when you're at a public place (ex: a mall) and you have the option.

Also, if you using subways as public transportation, you sometimes don't have a choice if the escalator stops moving! Those stairs are STEEP. #EveryDayIsLegDay

4. Go to a fitness class

If you're staying at a hotel or resort, it's very likely they will offer fitness classes. Elsewhere, you're likely to find free classes in the city - search "free fitness classes in (insert city here)" online to see if there are any on offer.

The great thing about going to fitness classes is that you can go with the people you're traveling with or walk in solo, and either way it's a social experience. Sunrise Pilates on the beach, anyone?

5. Go horseback riding

Denver Horses

If you're at a place where you can find horseback riding, you'll be surprised at the core/leg workout you get while riding. This is a memorable mode of transportation for, say, vineyard and/or countryside tours.

6. Play sports

If you're living in a foreign country, look for sports leagues in your city. This is a fun way to be active while also meeting other locals/expats in the area. If you're studying abroad, your school or program may offer intramural sports.

7. Join a Fitness/Wellness retreat

Is fitness your priority when traveling? If so, then you should consider a group tour that is centered around fitness - Active Escapes comes to mind. There are also other types of retreats for yoga, etc.

While the hotel gym is always a nice backup, it's more fun to exercise in a way that will enhance your trip (and sometimes get you out of your comfort zone). Try these tricks on your next vacation!

When I Got Bit (By The Travel Bug)

Four years ago today I left my study abroad program in Florence, Italy. My first time overseas was six weeks in Italy with a weekend in Ireland and another in England. Traveling abroad had intrigued me beforehand, but once I finally did it, I realized the truth to former study abroad students saying, "It's an amazing experience, and I can't really describe it...you just have to do it for yourself."

None of us were ready to leave our temporary European homes on our last day. The night prior, we had a dinner with our whole program.

At dinner as we were taking photos with everyone and having our last sips of wine, we made sure that whatever we were doing after graduation, we would attend the 50-year anniversary celebration in Florence. (I went back to work in Florence for six months after graduation, but unfortunately left a couple of months before the celebration. Very few actually ended up going to the reunion, though).

The dean gave a speech during our meal. He described the past few weeks as an "opalescent dream state."

It was so true. It went by extremely fast - and when I stepped foot back in Seattle, looking around my house through jet-lagged eyes, it was hard to believe it actually happened.

I unzipped my backpack and pulled out a smushed chocolate croissant from the secret bakery the night before.

That weird feeling of Was I really just in Italy less than 24 hours ago? was very present. I had a similar feeling my freshman year of college when I went home for the first time.

However, the croissant was proof that yes, I was halfway around the world a day ago. It actually happened. I did it! I went to Italy! After years of wanting to make it happen, I made it happen.

...Though while I thought the desire to travel would stop there, it definitely did not.

As cliche as it is, studying abroad changed me. My life away from home seemed so different from my life at home, and I knew I'd never approach anything the same way again.

"Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I shall be happily infected until the end of my life." - Michael Palin

Study abroad shaped my life, but my career path as well. If there are any students out there trying to convince their parents to let them go abroad, show them this: every job I've applied for since graduation was influenced by my studying abroad. Every employer for every job I've been offered since graduating college was thoroughly impressed by my international experience, setting me apart from the other candidates.

Without studying abroad, I have no idea where my life would be and for sure know I would never have had a chance at any of those career opportunities. I'm not saying I would not have had career options, but traveling abroad heavily increased my odds at getting jobs where I was lacking in age and "years" of experience.

I have been forever bit by the travel bug. Anyone who has tried to squash their wanderlust with traveling knows that traveling just makes it all the more worse.

The more you travel, the more you crack the surface of complicated intercultural communication.

The more you see, the more you realize that this planet is amazing and needs to be explored firsthand.

Are you aching to see the world? Go abroad. You should absolutely do it. Just know that you'll be forever bit by the travel bug, which is not a bad thing at all.