What are some typical, 'touristy' Spanish gifts/souvenirs?

Question

I am leaving Spain after living here for the year and with only a week left, I am panicking about gifts to take back for friends and family back home (New Zealand).

Any suggestions for typical Spanish souvenirs/gifts or goods would be much appreciated! I've already bought some Fans, Castañuelas, Violetas and a few letter openers. I am also planning on picking up some bull soft toys (cheesy, I know!) and some Turron but I need some more suggestions as I am quite stuck for ideas. I am heading to El Rastro this sunday so I plan to do abit of shopping there, but I also have all of Monday free to look around for stuff too.

I am really only looking for things that are typically spanish and which maybe have gone over well in your experience?

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

If you want to get a classy gift for a woman/girl in your life, try looking for damasquinado jewelry. The damascene earrings, are the blackened steal, inlaid with gold...they are very beautiful and come in a variety of styles. You can also find necklaces and rings...  Another thought are the completely Spanish soaps and colognes. Get a pkg of La Toja (green), Maja (green) or even better Magno (black) soaps that have a very distinct spanish scent. This is something your friends can use and be reminded of Spain each time. My friends always love this stuff. These soaps also come in perfume/cologne.  Or how about foods?  Take them some of your favorite foods that come in cans. Or some paella spices (think: El Paellero from Carrefour).  Gifts that are useful last longer and are more memorable!

Answer 2

Chess sets or checkers sets taht are really nice, not cheap boards...each country has a nice set that anyone would be lproud to own...and don't forget to go to the bank...people love foreign money sets....something to keep that their friend gave them.

Answer 3

I spent time in Andalucia (Malaga, Nerja, Ronda, Seville) so not right by where you are, but I brought back some really cool handpainted pictures from a street vendor in Ronda. They had scenes of the towns and the houses and in particular, the gorge in Ronda. Everyone I gave them to loved them. It was a way for them to see what I saw, but not a typical photograph.

Hope that helps.

Tenga buen tiempo en Madrid.

Answer 4

I was in Spain (Malaga) last spring and found some cute red aprons (pinafores) with enormous black dots and frills, just like the flamenco dresses. They are cheap and hilarious, and certainly you won't find them in N.Z. You will find them in souvenir shops.

They will be a nice and fun gift for women, specially those who like to cook.

(I also bought small ceramic dishes in the Arabic style and the stuffed bulls too!)

Answer 5

Besides the ususal "El Toro" osbornes black bull silhouette, you have everything you have already said, plus...

If you have any soccer fan friends you could buy Real Madrid or Barça souvenirs, any Corte Inglés has them, everything from keyrings to T-shirts.

If you have friends with a sweet tooth, this time of year is great for Turron and also Mazapan, inexpensive and delicious christmas sweets. (The mazapan... almond paste figures, go over really well).

Two nice things that don't take up much space in a suitcase are: calendars  (there are some great ones with views of Spain, Picasso paintings, etc) You cand find them in most souvenir shops, El Corte Inglés and probably even in Alcampo or Carrefour. The other is placemats, also with views of Spain (monuments or cities). These lie flat in a suitcase and aren't too expensive either...

I've used the calendars for gifts many times, people can think of you all year long while they use 'em. I've also had some as gifts myself, and if they are pretty enough, at the end of the year, I've cut off the months and kept the illustrations.

Answer 6

When I was living in Madrid, I frequented El Rastro many times - I loved it! I could never resist the huge array of scarves they had there. There were so many designs, and they were so inexpensive - I found them as cheap as a euro or two each. Now of course I have a million myself, but they also made good Spanish gifts. They're pretty, useful for anyone (especially women of course), inexpensive, and people love having something that's always in fashion, and from Spain!

Answer 7

Well, a guitar would be nice, but maybe a miniature guitar. T Shirts that are unique to Spain are cool and easy to pack -- wine sacks (whatever they call them)