Where to find the best souvenirs in Estonia

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.

Tasty treasures and Estonian delicacies

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. 

• Marzipan: Marzipan is one of the oldest sweets made in Estonia. Despite its high sugar content, it was once believed to have healing properties. Maiasmokk Cafe on Pikk Street in Tallinn's Old Town is well known for its marzipan painting classes, and you can purchase cute marzipan figurines to take home.
• Honey: If you happen to spend your Christmas with an Estonian family, then there's a high likelihood that you'll be gifted a pot of honey sourced from a local beekeeper. Grocery stores even sell local honey mixed with blueberries or other wild berries. Add a package of Estonian herbal tea and a handmade mug, and you've got the perfect souvenir to remind you of Estonia on a chilly evening back home.
• Black bread:There's only so far you can travel with a fresh loaf of bread before it goes stale, but if you are looking to take back a yummy gift that is uniquely Estonian, then black bread it is. We recommend going for artisanal bread when possible, but you can easily pick up a loaf at your local corner store. Even Tallinn's airport stocks black bread at the souvenir shop next to the gates!
• Chocolates and sweets: The simplest souvenir guaranteed to please most tastebuds is a bar of chocolate from the famous Kalev factory. Kalev brand stores operate in Tartu, Tallinn, Narva, Kuressaare, and Pärnu. In Tartu, look for sweets at the two most romantic cafes in town, Pierre and Werner, and in Haapsalu, head to Müüriääre bakery.
• Estonian distillations: The legendary Vana Tallinn liqueur can be purchased in any supermarket, but sea buckthorn schnapps, rhubarb wine, craft beer, or craft gin make for even more unique souvenirs. Look for craft gin at Junimperium Distillery, which is located in Tallinn's Telliskivi area. 

Luxurious local cosmetics

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:

• Masks and scrubs made with therapeutic mud from Estonia's famous bogs
• Scented soaps made with organic ingredients, such as sea buckthorn, lavender, and peat
• Products made from juniper, such as sauna whisks or hand creams

Estonian fashion design and vintage finds

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.

Discover local designers

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.

Buy a bauble or two... or three!

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.

Go treasure hunting at flea markets

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.

Take home heirloom-quality handicrafts

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.