What’s a Good Gift to Bring Back from Venice? 27 Authentic Souvenirs You’ll Actually Want to Keep (or Give)

Venice is a city like no other—elegant, enchanting, and steeped in history. But when your gondola rides and wine-fueled dinners come to an end, one big question remains:
What’s a good gift to bring back from Venice?

Whether you’re looking for meaningful souvenirs, luxury keepsakes, or something small and thoughtful, the lagoon city offers more than just postcards and plastic gondolas.

In this complete guide, we explore the best authentic Venetian souvenirs—with local tips on where to buy them, what to avoid, and how to tell the real from the fake. From handcrafted Murano glass to edible delights, handmade paper to wearable art, we’ll help you choose the perfect gift that reflects the soul of Venice.

🎯 Table of Contents

Why Venice Is a Paradise for Unique Gifts
#1 Gift from Venice: Authentic Murano Glass
Handmade Venetian Masks (But Only the Real Ones)
Gourmet Gifts: Food & Wine to Bring Home
Fashion & Jewelry with a Venetian Twist
Stationery, Books & Artisan Paper Goods
Art & Prints from Local Creatives
Vintage Venice: Antiques, Vinyl & Retro Finds
Perfume, Soap, and the Scents of Venice
Musical Souvenirs: For Classical & Opera Lovers
Eco-Sustainable & Zero Waste Gifts
The Best Kid-Friendly Souvenirs from Venice
Affordable But Thoughtful Gifts Under €20
What NOT to Buy in Venice (Avoid These)
How to Pack and Ship Venetian Gifts
Final Thoughts: Gifts That Carry a Piece of the Lagoon

1. Why Venice Is a Paradise for Unique Gifts

Venice has always been a city of craftsmen, artists, and traders. Long before Amazon and mass production, Venice was the hub where glassblowers, mask-makers, paper artisans, spice merchants, and textile weavers created luxury goods for kings and merchants.

Today, those traditions live on—if you know where to look.

Avoid the souvenir stands with fridge magnets and cheap gondola figurines. The real Venice is filled with workshops, family-owned boutiques, and artist studios making heirloom-quality treasures.

2. 💎 #1 Gift from Venice: Authentic Murano Glass

Keywords: Murano glass gift, authentic Murano glass, best souvenirs from Venice

When people ask what Venice is famous for, Murano glass always tops the list. Handmade on the island of Murano using techniques passed down for over 1,000 years, this glass is both beautiful and collectible.

What to Buy:

💍 Glass jewelry (necklaces, earrings)
🕯️ Glass candle holders or vases
🖼️ Decorative pieces (animals, sculptures, bowls)
🍷 Murano glass wine glasses or shot glasses

How to Tell It’s Real:

It should be made on Murano island
Ask for a certificate of authenticity
Check if it’s hand-blown, not molded or imported
Look for labels like Vetro Artistico Murano

Where to Buy:

Venini, Barovier & Toso, or Seguso for luxury collectors
Original Murano Glass OMG and Arti Veneziane alla Giudecca for mid-range, authentic works
Or book a private Murano tour through Tour Leader Venice and meet the artisans in person

3. 🎭 Handmade Venetian Masks

Keywords: Venetian masks, handmade masks Venice, traditional masks, Carnival souvenir

Once used during Carnival and even political intrigue, Venetian masks are now beautiful art pieces—when they’re authentic.

Types of Masks:

Bauta – Full-face, traditional, sometimes gilded
Volto (Larva) – Ghostlike white face mask
Colombina – Half-face, often jeweled or feathered
Plague Doctor (Medico della Peste) – Long beak, symbol of Venice

What to Look For:

Hand-painted, papier-mâché (not plastic!)
Artisans who sign their work
Workshops with real tools and materials

📍 Buy from:

Ca’ Macana (Dorsoduro) – Makes masks for Hollywood movies
Tragicomica (San Polo) – Traditional designs & workshops
Carta Alta (Cannaregio) – Offers painting classes too

4. 🍝 Gourmet Gifts: Bring Venice to Your Table

Keywords: Venetian food gifts, Venice wine, edible souvenirs from Venice

The taste of Venice doesn’t have to stay in the lagoon. Bring it home!

Best Gourmet Gifts:

🍷 Prosecco DOCG from Valdobbiadene
🍬 Torrone (nougat) or Zaleti (raisin cookies)
🍝 Bigoli pasta or polenta flour
🧂 Venetian spice mixes or saffron
🥃 Grappa or Sgroppino kits

Where to Shop:

Drogheria Mascari – Historic spice & liquor shop near Rialto
La Bottega del Gusto – Wines, oils, jams, pasta
Casa del Parmigiano – Incredible cheeses (ask if they vacuum-seal)

5. 👗 Fashion & Jewelry: Venice Style

Keywords: Venetian jewelry, silk scarves, handmade bags Venice

While Milan might be Italy’s fashion capital, Venice has quiet luxury—think silk, leather, glass, and gold.

Stylish Gift Ideas:

🎨 Murano glass earrings or pendants
🧣 Hand-printed silk or velvet scarves
👜 Leather handbags from local designers
💎 Gold leaf accessories from artisanal goldsmiths

📍 Shop at:

Giovanni Raspini – Designer jewelry with local flair
Fortuny showroom – Iconic Venetian silk
Piedàterre – Handmade velvet slippers (furlane)

6. 📚 Handmade Paper & Stationery

Keywords: Venetian paper, marbled paper, writing gifts Venice

Venice was once Europe’s printing capital. Today, it still boasts some of the best handmade paper and bookbinding crafts.

Ideal Gifts:

📖 Journals made with Florentine or Venetian paper
🖋️ Calligraphy pens or ink sets
🖼️ Art prints, bookmarks, or maps

📍 Best Shops:

Il Papiro (San Marco) – Marbled notebooks
Plum Plum Creations – Art prints by a local artist
Lineadacqua – Handmade books & travel diaries

7. 🎨 Local Art & Prints

Keywords: Venice art souvenir, watercolors Venice, handmade prints

A hand-painted scene of Venice or an original woodblock print is more memorable than any mass-produced photo.

🖼️ Watercolor by a local artist
🎨 Limited edition etchings
🖌️ Mini canvases or plein-air paintings

📍 Where to Find:

Artisans along Zattere or near Campo Santo Stefano
Giudecca 795 Art Gallery
Street artists with good reputations (watch them paint!)

8. 🕰️ Vintage Venice: Antiques, Vinyl & Curiosities

Want something truly one-of-a-kind? Venice has hidden shops full of vintage books, opera records, and antique maps.

🎶 La Serra dei Libri – Vinyl and rare music
🗺️ Libreria Studium – Maps, etchings, rare books
🧭 Mercatini and flea markets in Castello or Dorsoduro

9. 🌸 Perfume & Soap: Scented Gifts

Venice was an early perfume capital thanks to its spice trade.

💐 Handmade soaps (rose, lavender, lagoon herbs)
👃 Niche perfumes made with traditional methods
🌿 Herb sachets from Murano or Burano

📍 Try:

The Merchant of Venice – Niche perfumes inspired by trade routes
Mavive – Family-run perfume house
Naya Venice – Eco skincare and artisan soaps

10. 🎻 Music & Opera Gifts

🎼 La Fenice Opera House gift shop
🎻 Mini violins, sheet music prints, Vivaldi souvenirs
📀 Classical music CDs or vinyl from Venetian composers

Perfect for music lovers and romantics.

11. 🌍 Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Gifts

Looking for zero-waste or plastic-free souvenirs?

🍃 Bamboo travel toothbrush sets from artisan shops
🎁 Recycled Murano glass jewelry
🧵 Upcycled accessories made from gondola covers or sails

📍 Check out Venice Original or Gondola for Future projects

12. 🎒 Best Gifts for Kids

🎭 Mini masks or paint-your-own kits
🧩 Venice-themed puzzles or memory cards
📚 Children’s books in Italian or bilingual editions

13. 🎁 Gifts Under €20

Ombra wine glass or espresso cup
Handmade bookmarks
Mini Murano pendants
Pocket-size art prints
Artisan soaps or spice packets

14. ❌ What NOT to Buy in Venice

🧳 Mass-produced Murano “style” glass made in China
🥽 Carnival masks made of plastic or foam
🗺️ Outdated maps or paper prints from big-box stores
🚫 Anything with “3 for €10” labels
🏺 Fake antiques—always ask for documentation!

15. 📦 How to Pack or Ship Gifts Safely

Ask for bubble wrap or hard packaging (especially for glass)
Consider shipping directly from shops that offer insured delivery
Don’t put liquids or alcohol in carry-on bags
Declare food items if flying internationally (e.g., U.S. has restrictions)

16. 🛍️ Final Thoughts: The Best Gifts Carry Stories

The best gifts from Venice don’t come from a shelf—they come from a story. Whether it’s glass passed down from a Murano master, a bite of torrone from the Rialto market, or a poem handwritten in marbled paper, these treasures hold memories.

They say “Venice stays with you.” But if you want something you can carry, these gifts make it possible.

Want to experience real artisan workshops and shop off-the-beaten-path?

At Tour Leader Venice, we offer tailored artisan tours, Murano experiences, and even gift shopping routes with local guides—so you can avoid tourist traps and shop like a true insider.