There’s something far special beyond having an exciting vacation in your dream country. The beaches, food and landmarks are great experiences, but nothing beats the joy you feel when carrying a piece of your travels back with you.

Keychains and fridge magnets are cute, for sure, but why not turn things up a bit? Customise your travel memories, through stories and curated experiences long after the trip is over. If you’re planning your next getaway, here are some cool and unique ideas to bring home.

Here are eleven (11) Unique souvenirs you can get on your next travel

1. Photobook Travel Magazine

Why not make a travel photobook to keep hundreds of digital photos buried in your phone, print your adventure into a stylish magazine, categorize by country, food or anything you decide. If this is too much work, seek local print shops in cities you visit, to help you design one on the spot. Own your travel adventures. Create your own magazine. 

2. A National Symbol

Going back home with a flag is no more the way to go. Visiting countries known for an item. Why not take some authentic maple syrup with you from Canada, if you love those, buy some wine in South Africa, chocolate from the Swiss and Ghana, or collect quality perfumes from Arabia. Each country has one special item that carries the country’s soul in them, so find them and make your travel souvenirs feel a lot more personal than generic keepsakes.

3. Miniature Landmarks

Always go for miniature versions of iconic landmarks when you are unsure about what souvenirs to get on your trip. Owning tiny pieces of landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, the African renaissance monument, Egyptian pyramid or mini Colosseum makes for a good travel hobby and does look classy on a desk or collectibles shelves. 

4. Something Cultural

Music, textiles, masks, ceramics, or even locally made board games are cultural souvenirs that might not be a national symbol but tell the story of the people you are visiting. They aren’t just things, owning them lets you understand and experience the country, outside the purview of a tourist. When next you visit Asia, bring back branded chopsticks to try at home, add the Hongbao red envelope culture to your everyday life or get a full spice cabin that goes beyond everyday spices when in India. The goal is to take the country with you and experience all of humanity if you must.

5. Find Collectibles—Even Virtual Ones

Some souvenirs are tangible items and others aren’t. Turning a fun trip into an adventure packed holiday is a great way to curate the best collectibles for you. Skip the rides, restaurants or even hikes the next time and try geocaching and win some amazing virtual gifts. Otherwise get on to tracking down anime figureheads, manga or Pokemon cards when you’re in Japan. The US is the hub of comic books so get some or find carved adinkra symbols in Ghana. Whichever you decide, go for it and build special travel souvenir to remember.

Geocaching is a real world, outdoor treaure hunting game that uses GPS enabled devices to find hidden containers called caches, at specific locations marked by coordinates.

6. Custom City Map

Get a custom design of the city you love right in your home. On your map, make a trail of where you stayed, ate, and explored. You can find many artists and online shops who create personalized maps in print, painting or on fabrics or clothing. This is a lovely memorabilia to have with you.

7. Make a Vinyl or Playlist

Every city has a sound, one that you might miss when you leave. Like the night market in Seoul, church bells from Roma, trotro mates calling out in Accra or cafe chatter in Paris. Create a playlist of songs you discovered while traveling, recorded sounds from the cafes you visit, roads you walk or conversations you had. In this era of video taping everything, take it further by sticking to just audio playlists. If you’re looking to have more fun with this then, find a local vinyl shop and get memorable souvenirs to keep forever.

8. Postcards from different destinations

Postcards might be old school but they’re timeless travel souvenirs to explore with a twist. Instead of sending postcards home to your friends and family, get an international postage address, mail postcards from every city to the next, for when you visit eventually. If it takes a year or more two to visit other destinations, you’ll have a stack of handwritten memories, waiting for you to reminisce and relive the experience all over again. Then it’s onto the next.

9. Nature’s Special Treasures

This one is tricky but fun to experience. Many tourists, after visiting a country, gather a part of the soil, water, pressed flower, or even a smooth pebble to capture the essence of a destination. You must make sure you’re not breaking any local rules because it’s an offense to take some of these items and can get you jailed. But when done right, these tiny keepsakes are the most authentic souvenirs of all.

10. Collect Coins from each Country

Some countries have gotten rid of the coin currency but many still do. And you’d be surprised how much personality a country’s currency carries. Coins are fun collectibles to indulge in. They are lightweight, easy to store, and always unique to the place. You can build a little treasure box of the world’s pocket change or rather seek out rusted coins so you can enjoy polishing them later. 

11. A Local Cookbook

Food is memory. Roaming through fancy restaurants or local shops is a great way to enjoy your vacation. What makes it worth a memory is picking up a local cookbook, to try out whenever you miss the taste of your travels. A cookbook with great recipes lets you recreate those amazing flavors in your own kitchen, a delicious reminder of your journey.

Souvenirs aren’t just about buying things; they’re about preserving moments. Whether it’s music, food, art, or even a handful of sand, the best ones you are able to find, keeps the travel spirit alive. 

So on your next trip, skip the cliche snow globe or keychain and bring home something that makes you smile every time you see it.