Everyone loves buying souvenirs when traveling

Souvenirs we all love collecting them. There are many things to consider when traveling. How much money will you need? What should you pack? How will you get around once you’re there? One question that often gets overlooked is what to do with all the mementos and souvenirs you’ll inevitably collect along the way.

Traveling is a great way to experience new cultures, learn about different societies, and even feel like you’re learning about yourself. But if you’re anything like me, you like to collect souvenirs to remind you of the amazing places you have visited, the problem is these can take up much need space in your luggage.

So, to save you space in your luggage, here are 28 awesome souvenir ideas that require next to no space at all – no matter how big or small your suitcase is, these ideas are perfect for travelers on any budget

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1. Maps as Souvenirs  

Maps are a great way to remember the places you have visited and take you on a trip down memory lane by marking out your route and circling the destinations on the map that you visited.

2. Airline Tickets & Ticket Stubs Souvenirs  

Hold onto your airline tickets and ticket stubs to any attractions you visit. Not only do they remind you of how you got there and when, but it shows the dates and prices during that time, and better yet take no space at all in your luggage, when you are back home you can put them together in a framed collage or even a scrapbook as a way to commemorate your journey.

3. Material World Flag patches as Souvenirs 

World Flag material patches can be attached to a backpack, jacket, a blanket, or get creative and make a material map, this way you can show off the places you have been to. Not only do they look pretty, but they can also act as a conversation starter with others who have visited the same places.

4. Local liquor, wine, or beer labels as Souvenirs 

Traveling to a new destination, one of the best ways to experience the culture is by tasting their local alcohol. And what better way to remember your trip than by collecting the labels of the wine, beer, or liquor that you sampled. Not only are they a fun and interesting conversation starter, but they also provide a snapshot into the type of alcohol that is popular in the country or region you visited.

A pro tip for collecting the labels is to dampen them before peeling them off, this will help keep the adhesive intact and make it easier to stick them in a book or album. You could also get creative and make a wine or liquor map of the places you have visited.

Whatever you do, just make sure to drink responsibly and enjoy the local flavors!

5. Magnet Souvenirs 

Magnets are a great idea and they take up little space and are not too heavy, display them on your refrigerator or any metal surface. Most magnets come in a variety of shapes and sizes, making it easy to find one that commemorates the place you visited.

Get creative and make your own magnets. All you need is a few pictures/items from the places you have visited, some magnets, and some glue. Simply attach the magnets to the back of the pictures and you have a custom souvenir that will last a lifetime.

6. Postcards & Stamps  Souvenirs 

Many people like to collect postcards and stamps. Postcards can be sent home to friends and family, or even used as scrapbooking material, and stamps can be mounted in an album or used as part of a collage.

Not only are postcards and stamps a fun way to remember your trip, but they can also be a great way to learn about the culture and history of the places you visit. Postcards often have images of local landmarks or attractions, and stamps can feature designs that are specific to the country or region you are visiting.

So whether you’re traveling for leisure or for work, make sure to collect postcards and stamps as a way to remember your journey!

7. Pressed Pennies Souvenirs 

One of the cheapest and easiest forms of souvenirs to collect is pressed pennies. All you need is a coin, a coin press (which can be found at most tourist destinations), and some imagination.

The best part about collecting pressed pennies is that there are no limits to what you can create. You can press pennies with the image of the landmark or attraction you visited, the date, your name, or any other design that comes to mind depending on where you find the press penny machine.

Not only are pressed pennies a great way to remember your trip but they can also be used as decorations or even gifts for friends and family or to create a photo album. So the next time you’re on vacation, be sure to stop by the nearest coin press and start collecting!

8. Thumb Pins / Pins Souvenirs 

The easiest things to collect when traveling is pins and thumb pins. They’re small, lightweight, and can be easily stored in a suitcase or backpack. You can purchase pins at local tourist destinations.

10.  Pens/ Notebooks/ Bookmarks/ Stickers for Souvenirs 

 If you’re looking for something a little more unique, why not try collecting pens, notebooks, bookmarks, or stickers from the places you visit? All of these items can be easily stored in a bag or suitcase and don’t take up much space. Plus, they’re perfect for scrapbooking or using as decorations in your home.

11.  Travel Purse / Coin Purse

When you’re traveling, the last thing you want to worry about is your money. That’s why a great way to keep your cash organized and handy is to use a purse or coin purse specifically designed with the destination you have visited. Not only will this help you stay organized, but it can also be a fun way to remember your trip.

There are a number of different types of purses and coin purses available on the market, so you’re sure to find one that fits your style and personality. Plus, many of them are made from lightweight materials which makes them easy to carry around.

12.  Miniature Souvenirs

Miniature souvenirs are the perfect option for travelers looking to collect a few mementos without taking up too much space. Miniature souvenirs can be found at most tourist destinations and range in sizes. They can be made from a variety of materials such as wood, metal, or plastic and often depict famous landmarks or attractions.

One of the great things about miniature souvenirs is that they are affordable and easy to store. Plus, they make perfect decorations for your home or office.

13.  Shot Glasses 

Shot glasses with an image or the name of the place you visited are a nice souvenir to collect and very popular, show them off at home in a wall case or even use them when you are at home, just be sure to wrap them when packing the shot glasses in your luggage to avoid them breaking.

14.  Clothing

There are a number of different types of souvenir clothing available, so you’re sure to find something that fits your style and personality. Popular items include t-shirts, hats, jumpers, scarves, and shorts. All of these items are lightweight and easy to pack, making them perfect for travelers.

I started buying t-shirts from “Hard Rock Cafe” in every city I visited, saving loads of space in my bags, just keep in mind with clothing if you are wearing it, in time it may deteriorate, so clothing maybe a souvenir that might not last you a lifetime, but then there are always photos of you wearing the clothing also.

15.  Tea/Dish Towels

Tea towels are not only a practical item, but they can also be used as a souvenir to remember your trip. Many tea towels feature beautiful and colorful designs that depict the culture or landscape of the destination you visited.

Tea towels are also lightweight and easy to store, If you’re looking for a unique souvenir to remember your trip, tea towels are a great option. Tip: You can iron them and put them in a frame.

16.  Sports memorabilia

When traveling to different parts of the world, it’s always a great idea to experience the local sports. Not only is it a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening, but it’s also a great way to learn about the culture and society. As you attend different sporting events, be sure to collect memorabilia such as tickets, programs, and souvenir cups and hats, buy yourself a sports jersey, if you are lucky enough you may even be able to get it signed.

The very first souvenir I got for dad was an original Liverpool FC jersey from the FC sports store in Liverpool, although not the cheapest option, you can get knock-offs to just have as a souvenir or to wear, or even frame it if you’re a sports fan!

17.  Snow Globes

Snow globes are perfect for travelers because they capture the essence of the place you visited in a small, easy-to-carry package. They’re also great for recalling memories from your trip.

I always enjoy looking at the different snow globes my family and friends have collected from their travels. It’s fun to see the different landmarks and landscapes that have been captured in these tiny replicas. If you’re looking for a unique souvenir, snow globes are a great option. Be sure to pack them carefully in your luggage, though, as they can easily break if not treated with care.

18.  Local Art Prints

Every place I travel to I like to collect a piece of artwork from a market or art store to capture the essence of the place I visited, sometimes this can also be an artwork piece made of wood, metal, or canvas, just be sure you keep it safe when in transit, ensure it is rolled or in a tube or laid flat properly to avoid the art being damaged. Once home you can find a beautiful frame to show your travel destinations and memories.

19. Taking pictures with friends and family

When traveling, it’s always great to capture memories with friends and family. One easy way to do this is by taking pictures at various locations or interesting objects.

Be sure to take plenty of pictures and capture all the special moments you experience while traveling. This is a great way to look back on your trip and recall the amazing memories you made.

20.  Coins & Currency

If you can avoid spending every penny in the country you are visiting, it’s a great idea to hold onto some local currency and coins. This can be a fun way to relive your experiences each time you look at your currency, place a coin and note for each Country into a photo album along with your plane tickets and other collectibles and photos as a great reminder or make a travel box with all your travel memories.

21.  Charms for bracelet

Do you have a charm bracelet? if not, you may think about getting one to start collecting charms for a charm bracelet.

Be sure to select charms that are unique to each destination and reflect the culture and landscape of the place you visited. This will help you to remember all the amazing places you’ve been to.

You can also find charms that represent different activities you enjoyed while on your trips, such as a tennis racket for a tennis vacation or a dolphin for a beach vacation. The best part about collecting charms is that you can add and remove them as you please.

22.  Jewelry

Jewelry serves as a physical reminder of your experiences. It’s important to choose pieces that are unique and reflect the culture and landscape of the place you visited. For example, you may want to select a pair of earrings inspired by the architecture of ancient Greece or a necklace with a pendant in the shape of the Eiffel Tower.

Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something you’ll be proud to wear and that will remind you of your amazing travels every time you look at it.

23.  Key Chains

Key Chains are found everywhere, are lightweight, and generally, an inexpensive option as a souvenir, a great way to show all your travel key chains are to put them on a string and run them across a room or make a map and stitch/glue them on to represent the country visited or a map corkboard and pin the chains on, get creative to show off all the amazing places you have been.

24.  Pack of Cards

If you’re a fan of card games, one fun way to collect memories from your travels is by collecting packs of cards from different countries that have images related to that city or country you visited. A pack of cards is also a great gift idea, my son loves learning new card tricks and is always going through decks of cards (AKA: mainly losing cards ) and now we buy a deck of cards in each country we visit, its a great memory when we see the pictures from the destination on the cards and a great conversation starter.

25.  Flags

Collecting flags from different countries is an awesome idea and takes up no space at all in your bag, you can make for a really cool decorative item in my home by hanging them up around a room or in your shed, or you can even sew them all together to make a really cool blanket or quilt.

26.  Guide Books/ Language dictionaries

One way to make sure you never forget your amazing travel experiences is by collecting guide books and/or language dictionaries and a great way to learn about the culture and society of the destination you visited. Not only do they serve as a physical reminder of where you’ve been, but they can also be really handy tools to help you plan your next trip.

27.  Art- Tattoos

If you’re someone who loves getting tattoos, then consider using your next trip as an opportunity to get inked with a design that commemorates your travels. You could choose something as simple as the outline of a map or as intricate as a replica of the Eiffel Tower. Whatever you decide, make sure it’s something you’ll be proud to show off and that will always remind you of the amazing places you’ve visited. Be sure to check the safety and health of the place you choose to get inked, make sure it is clean.

I have 2 tattoos from my travels abroad, one in England and one in Portugal, although they are not tattoos related to travel, every time I look at them they are a reminder of where I got them from.

28.  Collapsible Items

Collapsible souvenirs are a great way to save on space, some ideas are collapsible water bottles, collapsible binoculars, collapsible wooden fruit bowls, tourist stores or markets often have great collapsible souvenirs, make sure if you collect things made out of wood that they are treated to avoid customs giving you any hassle.

On a recent trip to the local market, I found these cool collapsible fruit bowls or a bowl you can use for anything you choose, and the best thing is they don’t take up any space in your luggage. How cool are they?!!

No matter what type of souvenir you decide to collect, make sure to take your time and enjoy the process. After all, the best part of traveling is the journey, not the destination.

What are your favorite souvenirs to collect? Let us know in the comments below