Hey, I am headed to Europe for two weeks in about a week and a half. Towns I will be stopping in include Paris, Geneva, Interlaken, Zurich, Munich, Innsbruck, Como, Florence, and Rome, and I was wondering about good souvenir themes that I could do on this trip? I went to many of these places a couple of years ago, but I regrettably did not really come up with any ideas like my friends did for souvenirs to get from each city. For instance, they got postcards from each city. I was thinking maybe about badges to sew on to my backpack from each city, but that is about it. Anyone have any ideas. Please bear in mind if you think it matters that I am 25 years old. Thanks.

Hi Europhile, what are your interest and are you a female or a male? I think a male perhaps?

I like getting magnets on my travels. You can find intersting magnets most everyhwere in the world that represent a monument or specialty of the locale, they are small, inexpensive, pack nicely and look great on your fridge at home. Great for conversation and memories of your travels.

I always bring back a regional cookbook and recreate trips (at least food-wise) at home. I also bring home menus from fine restaurants we go to (and great ingredients, of course).

As a voracious reader, I collect bookmarks as I travel. I find especially nice ones in museums, often with photos of my favorite artwork. They of course weigh practically nothing and take up practically no space. It always brings back fond memories when I come across one in one of my books.

We like really nice maps, especially the ones with small pictures of the buildings and monuments. When my girls were young, we got silver or gold charms of monuments, etc. for their charm bracelets. One daughter collects puzzles from art museums. My DH collects small gargoyles that are replicas from various cathedrals. Small local crafts are also nice: soaps in Spain, stationery in Florence, etc. We also go to flea markets in big cities and often find interesting local things.

We collect xmas ornaments for our xmas tree...makes decorating fun every year!

I collect special Christmas decorations for my tree, then each year I enjoy bringing them out along with the memories of each place.

I am into scrap booking so as I throw out my notes along the way that I have taken with me I replace them with all the maps, brochures, beer coasters, etc - anything that I find interesting then add these to my photo album. Makes for a more interesting read and all my souvenirs are in one place.

Why bother? The only souvenirs I value are in my head. I have purchased a few items on my travels, but only because I found them intrinsically appealing rather than because I wanted to associate them with a particular place.

I usually keep things like maps and brochures, but that is mainly for planning future trips or helping others with their plans. Two shelves of my study are filled with travel "stuff".

I usually get magnets to put on the fridge and Xmas ornaments. I also try to find patches for my kids. THen I try to get something unique from each place.

If you're a girl, buy a few small silver bars from the various banks. You can buy the 10 gram bar, which isn't too expensive and when you get back home, you can get a small ring soldered to the bar. This makes a lovely remembrance.

I've bought these bars when I was in Switzerland, since the banks have various engraving on the front. Get a few and give them as gifts.

Blackduff