No one's judging if you really want another magnet for your fridge. But souvenirs should be one-of-a-kind, something you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in the world. The best Estonian souvenirs will remind you of your trip for years to come— or at least bring a smile to your face while you nibble away. From tasty local treats to sustainable fashion and high-quality handicrafts, you'll find something for everyone on your list when you shop for gifts in Estonia.
Shop for delicious local foods to take home at the corner grocery or farm stores around the country. Check the counters at local bakeries for goods wrapped to travel. Specialized stores, like Kalev chocolate stores, Nopri's dairy shop, and the Moe Distillery, are worth checking out for a tasty treat to take home to your loved ones.
Locals swear by Estonian cosmetics brands as they are known for natural ingredients and high-quality products. JOIK is probably the most famous Estonian cosmetics brand, producing a line of natural cosmetics and scented candles. TurBliss is an Estonian cosmetics brand known for products made from peat. Nurme makes 100% natural and organic cosmetic products for women, men, and even babies. Lumi cosmetics contain plant extracts and biologically active substances, including many from Estonian forests, that act like magic on the skin. You can find them on cosmetics shelves in shopping centers and supermarkets.
Did your trip include a visit to a spa? Many spas sell soaps, shampoos, oils, and lotions made right here in Estonia. Besides the brands mentioned above, look out for Hoia, Aesti, Luuv, and more. Add a luxurious linen robe and a sachet of lavender from Hiiumaa, and you can make your home spa just as relaxing as the one you visited in Estonia.
Here are a few ideas for souvenirs from Estonia to help you recreate the spa experience at home:
Tallinn Design House from TallinnDesignHouse on Vimeo.
There are plenty of places in Estonia where you can find quality designer items, buy a vintage dress, or select the perfect minimalist jewelry to complete the outfit. Shopping for clothes in Estonia is a real journey, as it takes you from retro Soviet-era designs to modern Scandinavian simplicity.
One popular Estonian fashion brand, Ivo Nikkolo, can be found at several large shopping centers in Tallinn, including Ülemiste Keskus. Estonia also has many independent fashion designers whose boutiques are located in the center of Tallinn: Diana Arno, Iris Janvier, Pohjanheimo, Piret Ilves, Tiina Talumees, Oksana Tandit, Lilli Jahilo, Marimo, Kristiina Viirpalu and Embassy of Fashion. Since Estonian designers sew collections in small batches, your outfit will be 100% exclusive.
Get acquainted with the work of almost 80 different artists in A-Gallery, a store for designer jewelry from Estonia in Tallinn's Old Town. The store also has a historical corner that has been used as an exhibition hall since 2005. Hyrv is an Estonian jewelry brand, whose representative office is located in the center of Tallinn, in the Rotermann quarter. Most of the products offered here can only be found in this store.
Estonian Design House, located in the Solaris shopping center or the Rotermann quarter, presents a rich display of local creativity. Income from sales is invested in various projects that introduce Estonian design to international audiences. In Tartu, you can visit the LEVI Design Store.
Photo by: Krõõt Tarkmeel, Visit Tallinn
Thanks to its geographical location, Estonia serves as an inexhaustible source of everything from handicrafts, such as high-quality linen, to Soviet-era oddities. If you are lucky, you can buy very high-quality items at surprisingly affordable prices at antique stores and flea markets here.
The most famous flea markets are the Saturday morning market in Telliskivi and the second floor of Balti Jaam Market. The creative area of Aparaaditehas, located in Tartu, has a similar spirit to Telliskivi and also features a selection of eccentric and stylish second-hand treasures.
In search of high-quality linen products and handicrafts? Then head to Tallinn's Old Town and visit the medieval Masters' Courtyard and the romantic St Catherine's Passage. Along the wall of the Old Town, you will come across numerous shops selling scarves, sweaters, mittens, hats, and socks made of pure wool, even in the middle of summer.
Handicrafts can be found all over Estonia. These skills were once essential to life in a rural society, so you'll find many beautiful home goods at these stores, such as baskets, rugs, wooden utensils, and embroidered linens. If you have the time, you can even make your own souvenirs to take home and learn a new skill in the process.