7 Spectacuar Spain Souvenirs & Gifts You Need to Make Room For!

Last Updated on: 13th January 2023, 12:44 am

Spain is an amazing country to explore, full of diverse cities, fabulous cuisine, one of the most famous pilgrimages in the world, and, of course, amazing shopping opportunities.

Here are the best Spain souvenirs and gifts from Spain that you should make sure to bring back with you after your trip is done!

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The Best Spain Souvenirs

Spain is an old country, and many different cultures have settled here. From the Celts to the Romans to the Moors, Spanish culture and history is a mix of beautiful world traditions. During your trip, you will learn about the best of Spanish culture, architecture, and art, and how these different cultures shaped the country you see today.

And what better way to remember all of these amazing stories and places than by picking up fabulous souvenirs from Spain that will always keep you remembering your trip! Here are my pics for the best souvenirs from Spain, including food, fashion, knick-knacks, and the best Spain mementos to keep your memories alive.

Castanuelas

When visiting Spain, you’re sure to see Flamenco dancing: extravagant, flowy, bright-colored dresses accompanied by lutes, guitars, and trumpets. Flamenco is a folkloric dance form developed in the Andalusian region of Spain and performed almost exclusively by the Spanish culture today.

It’s hard to miss, and this style of dancing has influenced much of South American dance culture as well, such as cumbia and bachata.

 A key sound in the Flamenco style is the popular “click-click” of the Castanuela. Known in the U.S. and other countries as castanets, these were actually developed from seashells tied together with a bit of string. They provide a crisp, percussive sound to the string band, but they gained most of their popularity from their small size and easy playability. 

It’s simple; you cup the pair in your palm with the string around your thumb and the flexing motion of your hand will make a clicking sound that can be done at different tempos.

Many people are given cheap wooden castanets to click along to when watching a Flamenco performance, but Spain takes much pride in the instrument itself and sells it in most local shops as a sought after souvenir. You can find these at most tourist shops for as cheap as ten euros, or if you want to splurge on handcrafted designer castanets, upwards of five hundred euros.

Bota Bags

Bota bags, although less commonly used today, are small bags that serve as wineskins. These bags, among other wineskins and liquid vessels of the past, were developed by Basque shepherds from goatskin or goat bladders. They were often used while the shepherds were working in the fields and supplied them with water.

Bota bags are now a favorite of tourists. Many Spanish artisans take much pride in their bota bags and craft intricate designs on the outside of them (as they know that most souvenir sold bota bags are not going to be used for liquid). They have become something of an iconic art piece in Spain and represent the history of Spain’s working-class and the beautiful landscape.

Espadrilles

If you visit Spain in the summer, you’re sure to see many of these fashionable shoes worn by Spanish women, though you will probably see them on some men, too. Espadrilles have garnered popularity in the fashion world as well, so chances are, if you’re a woman, you know what espadrilles are.       

This traditional Spanish casual shoe is identified by its rope-bottom sole and canvas top. They are extremely lightweight and often come in many different styles and colors. Beach espadrilles are commonly a striped yellow and white or red and white color, and formal espadrilles are usually more of a regal dark red or green.

Espadrilles, since they are more of a luxury item, can tend to be one of the pricier Spanish souvenirs; however, you will also see them for sale by street merchants, and many of these shops are willing to bargain with you. You may get a lot further if you speak Spanish, and more so if you speak Catalonian.

Beware of tourist trap locations as oftentimes these sellers will try to overcharge unsuspecting naive travelers. However, if you’re able to strike a good deal with a vender, you can grab a beautiful pair of authentic Spanish shoes for relatively cheap.

Wines and Spirits

Spain, like many other European countries, produces excellent local wines and spirits. Spanish culture in South America has drawn much of their alcoholic inspiration from the motherland of Spain; and it’s no surprise why. You can even visit the La Rioja and Rioja Alavesa Vine and Wine Cultural Landscape while here, which is an entire UNESCO site dedicated to Spain’s wine history!

While several popular wines are known abroad, Sangria is obviously one of the most famous. This ancient recipe actually dates back to Roman times. Because there was no system to purify water or fruity beverages, oftentimes every drink was alcoholic. Sangria is a mix of red wine mixed with spices and sugar.

Sangria (Spanish for blood) today has many variations. Bubbly sangria, rose sangria, and white sangria are some of the most popular varieties. Your standard run-of-the-mill sangria is a cocktail blend, usually a blend of red wine with peaches and other citrus fruits. However, Sangria is also sold at restaurants as a non-alcoholic soda that everyone can enjoy.

Kalimotxo, also known as Calimocho, does not date nearly as far back as the ancient roots of Sangria, however don’t ovelook it! In fact, it’s beginnings are quite accidental. During the St. Nicholas festival in 1972, in Algorta, Spain, event organizers bought 2000 liters of red wine that reportedly was bad.

In a hurried effort to figure out how to sell it, they mixed it with coca-cola. After some experimenting, the 1:1 ratio of red wine to coke was settled on, and the drink instantly became a hit. The name, Kalimotxo, has little to no meaning; it was mostly just an amalgamation of weird terms the makers came up with. Yet, the drink is now very popular in Spain, and you’ll find it on many restaurant menus.

These are just a few of the many alcoholic beverages Spain has to offer. Seville and several other wine cities in Spain offer a wine tasting experience, where you can travel and try all the different craft wines at the winery. Sangria, Kali, and Cava (which we’ll touch on later) are just a few of the elegant selections of wines Spain offers.

Flamenco Dress

The Flamenco Dress is just one of the key elements in Flamenco dance. Along with the castanets, guitars, and trumpets, the dress is truly the focal point of the show. It has marvelous extravagant colors and incredibly beautiful fabrics that are truly memorable in every way.

While they are not a cheap Spain souvenir, many people while visiting Spain choose to buy a Flamenco Dress to remember the experience. And as far as souvenirs go, these are definitely on the pricier end.

Versions bought by tourists range from 2000-15000 euros, and sometimes even more! This will come as no surprise to anyone who has seen them up close since these dresses take many hours to make and have very intricate patterns and lacings. If you’re really into Flamenco, though, they are a must-have!

Cava

We didn’t want to talk about Cava in the wines and spirits section because Cava deserves a whole section of its own! Made in Catalonia by Josep Raventos in 1972, this unique luxury wine is really unlike any other. Almost one hundred percent of all the Cava made in the whole world is made in the Catalonian region of Spain.

Cava is a light grape wine with a nutty brioche flavor, produced by the Macabeo and Parellada grape. It is sparkling wine and usually served at expensive Spanish restaurants accompanying delicious food.

Cava is also a great souvenir from Spain, or you can bring it back as a Spanish gift for the wine lover in your life. It is widely celebrated as one of the more unique, elegant wines in the world. Rest assured, if you bring some home and share it with your friends, they’ll soon book a trip to Spain just for the Cava!

Coffee

Coffee comes in all different types all over the world, and while most people think the best coffee comes from South America (they aren’t totally wrong) there are small pockets all around the world that produce delicious regional coffee. Spain is one of those countries.

Coffee in Spain is usually brewed as espresso. It is less rich and rooty than how some other European countries take their coffee. Spanish coffee is brewed torrefacto, which means that the coffee beans contain a small amount of sugar before brewing. This produces a naturally sweeter coffee. There is also carajillo, which is Spanish version of an Irish coffee.

Spain, like most countries, serves coffee for the morning and usually a stronger brew at lunch. The most interesting part about Spanish coffee culture is that it is purely regional; Andalusian coffee is noticeably different from Catalonia coffee. Wherever you are in Spain, you can rest assured that the coffee you are purchasing is unique to that region of Spain.

Tips for Finding Great Spain Gifts and Souvenirs

Overall, Spain has much to offer to tourists and many souvenir shops to find whatever you are looking for. If you’re traveling around Spain, you’re sure to find one of their outdoor Mercado, flea markets that many local vendors and artisans come to sell their products.

There are many options to choose from, and speaking a bit of Spanish will go a long way in bartering for different items. Spanish culture, like most European cultures, thrives off of small markets like these. They are designed with tourists in mind and many of the vendors will speak English. It might be helpful to practice bartering before you go; it can be a scary thing to do for the first time!

Enjoy your trip to Spain, and we hope you feel inspired to pick up souvenirs as part of the experience. Souvenirs are a unique part of travel in that they often help you remember a trip by the things you tasted, saw, or felt, rather than photos or videos.

Whether it be coffee, alcohol, instruments, clothes, or even small Spanish trinkets like medallions, you can always bring back a part of your trip with you when you invest in souvenirs. Be prepared; there is something for everyone!

Pin these Spain Souvenirs & Gifts for Your Trip!