Croatia Souvenirs: 10 Things to Buy

Are you looking for Croatia souvenirs? There are lots of fun and unique products to buy or bring home as gifts to friends and family.

Souvenirs are one of the best ways to tell your friends and family that you are thinking about them while traveling. And it’s also something that’s fun to buy to yourself as a memory from your trip.

So, do you want to know what to buy in Croatia for your loved ones? Then continue reading below, because here’s a list of the top 10 Croatian gifts:

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Cheese

If you’re like me and love cheese, then you’re in for a treat! The island of Pag produces the most delicious cheese in Croatia, so you might want to visit and buy some during your trip.

But if you don’t have time to visit Pag, you can also find the cheeses in both supermarkets and cheese shops around the country.

Some cheeses I recommend tasting/buying are; paška skuta, trapist, figurica, dinarski, paski sir.

Licitar Heart

When you’re in Croatia, you are going to see these pretty hearts everywhere. They’re called Licitar Hearts and are sweet pastries made out of gingerbread.

They date back to the 16th century. Back then, they didn’t give roses to show their love, instead, they gave these hearts. They’re still used for the same purpose today – and some locals even hang them in their Christmas trees as decoration.

NOTE: The real Licitar Hearts are edible. Some shops sell the plastic Licitar Hearts as souvenirs.

Rakija

If you’re looking for a local alcoholic beverage, that’s not wine, then you should go looking for a bottle of Rakija. Rakija is a strong alcoholic drink (around 40% alcohol) that are produced by distillation of fermented fruits.

To make this drink they use fruit like apples, grapes, figs, apricots, pears, and quinces.

The locals drink Rakija as an aperitif and is popular to have together with Dalmatian cheese and prosciutto. In the souvenir shops and markets in Croatia, you’ll find a big selection of Rakija.

Plavac Mali Wine – One of the most delicious Croatia souvenirs!

One of the most popular red wine in the country is Plavac Mali. It’s a rich wine with full flavors and aromas of pepper, dark cherries, blackberries, and different kinds of spices.

Some of the best Plavac Mali wine comes from the districts of Dingač and Postup at the peninsula Pelješac.

Samobor’s Crystal

If you’re looking to buy something nice for your home, then I can recommend checking out Samobor Crystal. Samobor is located west of Zagreb, and here you’ll find Croatia’s crystal glass factories.

They use traditional methods that date back to 1839 to create these beautiful and unique pieces of crystal glass. It’s definitely one of the most beautiful Croatian gifts!

Olive Oil

Do you wonder what to buy in Croatia for someone who loves to cook? A bottle of local olive oil!

Olive oil is delicious, not so expensive, and is always an appreciated souvenir to get for someone who loves to eat and spend time in the kitchen.

Istria and Dalmatia have a long tradition in olive oil production. They make olive oil from olives that have grown in centuries-old olive trees.

Some olive oils worth buying are; Bembo Lupić, Nonno Bruno Uljara, Ol Istra Ascolana Agrolguna, and Buža Buršić Marija.

PS: Istrian olive oils are said to be one of the best in the world.

Chocolate

In the cities of Croatia, you’ll stumble upon chocolate shops selling both interesting and delicious chocolates.

If you happen to be in Zadar during your stay in Croatia, I can recommend you to visit Vitlov Chocolate. At this chocolate shop, you can buy some really good chocolates that reflect Croatia and its flavors.

Lavender Products – One of my favorite Croatia souvenirs

Around the country, you’ll find both markets and shops selling different kinds of lavender products. You can shop everything from lavender oil, lavender wardrobe bags, soaps, pillows, etc.

Lavender products are not so expensive, so it’s worth checking out if you’re looking for some useful Croatia souvenirs.

Gusle – Local Instrument

Gusle is a local folk instrument from the Dinaric region of southern Balkans. It’s a single-stringed instrument usually made from maple, walnut, or ash.

You’ll see people using these instruments mostly in the Dalmatian hinterland. You can buy them in fairs and from artisans, but be prepared, these are not cheap.

Christmas Ornaments

One of my favorite Croatia souvenirs to buy are local Christmas ornaments. It’s something magical about collecting Christmas ornaments from different kinds of countries – because when you put up your Christmas tree, you’ll be reminded of all the trips you’ve made in the past.

The most popular Christmas ornaments to buy in Croatia are the ones featuring the famous Licitar Hearts.

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Do you have any further questions about Croatia souvenirs? Leave a comment below!