25 Of The Wackiest Souvenirs From Around The World

Posted by , Updated on March 22, 2024

What’s the most unusual memento you’ve ever purchased? One of the key aspects of travelling is the collection of keepsakes that serve as a reminder of the journey. Standard souvenirs might include a t-shirt, magnet or small sculpture. Yet, there are also souvenirs that defy the ordinary, providing the traveler with an unforgettable token that might be even more memorable than the trip itself. Ranging from Troll dolls to Kangaroo Scrotum bottle openers (yes, really), here are 25 of the Strangest Souvenirs From Around The World.

25

Stuffed Cane Toad

Stuffed Cane Toad

A full-size stuffed cane toad can be used as a “Good Luck Toad” or “Money Frog” which is rumored to bring good fortune. You can find these in Australia.

24

Voodoo Dolls

Voodoo Dolls

In most Western countries these creepy-looking dolls usually scare children and adults alike, but in Haiti you see them everywhere since they are one of the country’s most popular souvenirs.

23

Used Race Horseshoes

Used Race Horseshoes

Where can you find muddied and used race horseshoes as souvenirs? At the Louisville airport in Kentucky of course, where the most famous horse race (The Kentucky Derby) takes place every May.

22

Tuttuki Bako

Tuttuki Bako

Straight from Japan, Tuttuki Bako is the perfect toy souvenir for people of all ages. All you have to do is stick your index finger into the device’s hole which will enable you to poke the little creature inside, virtually.

21

Troll Dolls

Troll Dolls

Coming from beautiful Scandinavian countries these guys are the perfect mementos…if you enjoy nightmares.

20

Old-school Communist Gas Mask (Soviet model)

Communist Gas Mask

Since the late 1960s a factory in Bulgaria has been producing these gas masks and currently sells them as souvenirs to visiting tourists. Who doesn’t want a set of Soviet model BSS-MO-4u gas masks in their house, right?

19

Old Testament Harp

Biblical Harp

In Israel you can have a piece of old testament history with these beautiful biblical harps. Fashioned in the likeness of the same harp used by King David while playing for the ailing king Saul. Don’t get too excited though because they are kinda pricey.

18

Communist-Era Posters

Communist Poster

You have to give credit to the Russians for finding a way to make money from these classic, unusual posters that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. Well, maybe in Cuba and North Korea a few decades from now.

17

Pink Ushanka Hat

Pink Ushanka Hat

The authentic Russian fur hat with ear flaps, known as Ushanka, has been widely used in Russia from times past to today. It is very practical and utilitarian in that the hat protects you well from the cold climate. You will definitely not wear it if you’re from a warm country, but it will serve you as a unique souvenir that will always remind you of Mother Russia.

16

Merino Possum

Merino Possum

Merino Possum clothing is a New Zealand souvenir that friends and family will be grateful you brought back for them. Possum fur is known for being extremely soft and eco-friendly.

15

Llama Fetuses

Llama Fetuses

On Bolivian streets the tourists amble up and down buying woven bags, hammocks, and alpaca sweaters at extremely cheap prices. But if you look closely you’ll find something more than the usual tourist fare: llama fetuses. Llama fetuses are one of the most important parts of an offering to Pachamama, Mother Earth, who has a tremendous following in Bolivia. It is also believed they bring good fortune to everyone who buys one.

14

Handcrafted Devil Puppet

Handcrafted Devil Puppet

The art of Czech marionette and puppet making goes back to the eighteenth century. They are traditionally hand-carved from wood or made from plaster. They usually represent all kinds of characters from devils, witches, and wizards to clowns, kings, and princesses.

13

Green Tea Kit Kats

Green Tea Kit Kats

Green Tea Kit Kats have quickly become the most sought-after snack from Japan. These epic treats have a sweet matcha flavor mixed with creamy white chocolate on a crispy wafer that Nestle has perfected. Next time you’re in Japan, you know what to buy.

12

Gold Bars

Gold Bars

If you’re rich enough and happen to vacation in the United Arab Emirates pretty often then you’re probably aware of this super-rich souvenir that you can find in the Dubai airport. So, if you can afford it then you should spoil yourself and spend a few thousand dollars on twenty-four carats of pure gold as a souvenir.

11

Elephant poop

Elephant1

You read that right. Good ol’ 100% natural elephant poop is available for a most memorable keepsake of your trip to the Natural History Museum in London. It even comes with ten sunflower seeds!

10

Elephant Dung Coffee

Elephant Dung Coffee

But wait! There’s more! In the beautiful hills of northern Thailand, a herd of twenty elephants is excreting some of the world’s most expensive coffee. Trumpeted as earthy in flavor and smooth on the palate, the exotic new brew is made from beans eaten by Thai elephants and plucked a day later from their dung. Such an exquisite souvenir.

9

Elephant Dung Beer

dungbeer

And you thought we were done with elephants…we’re not. Straight from Japan (shocker) Japanese brewery Sankt Gallen has gifted the world with Un, Kono Kuro, an expensive (and surprisingly popular) brew made from coffee beans that have passed through an elephant. Yes, just like the ones we just talked about. OK, now we’re done with elephants…moving on.

8

Deep Sea Water

Deep Sea Water

MaHaLo Hawaii Deep Sea drinking water comes to you from the island paradise of Hawaii; three thousand feet below the ocean surface, where the water is naturally clean, pure, cold, and filled with healthy minerals and nutrients. They say it has magical effects on the human body.

7

Scorpion Lollipops

Scorpion Lollipops

These sugar-free lollipops, which you can find all over Arizona, feature a 100% real scorpion. Don’t worry though; it won’t bite back.

6

Scorpion Chocolate

Scorpion Chocolate

If a scorpion-featuring lollipop is not thrilling enough for you, visit Thailand and try this “delicious” chocolate candy that includes oven-roasted scorpions covered in delicious dark chocolate. Mmmmm, no thanks!

5

Snake Wine

Snake Wine

Do we really need to explain why Vietnamese bottles of wine are weird and strange? These bottles include pickled snakes (often a cobra) inside!

4

Canned NYC Air

Canned NYC Air

The idea of paying ten bucks for some of the free stuff that keeps us alive may seem like a ludicrous waste of money (and it probably is). But we’re talking about New York air here. If you’ve been to this marvelous city you know there’s just nothing quite like it.

3

Male memorabilia

David1

This whole penis fascination thing in Greece goes back to ancient times when the Greeks honored the phallus and celebrated phallic festivals. Nowadays most souvenir shops in Athens follow the tradition and sell wooden penises for various uses such as bottle openers, little statues, and more. Satyrs with boners are considered the best-selling pieces, but you can also find penis-shaped glass bottles that “pee” ouzo.

2

Alligator Head

Alligator Head

Savannah, Georgia, is known for its swamps and vicious alligators. A large number of tourists have a crush on these wildlife creatures for some odd reason and so the locals came up with a boutique that sells various items shoppers can take home, such as the jaw-clenching reptile itself (its head at least).

1

Kangaroo Scrotum Bottle Opener

Kangaroo Bottle Opener

This is a great gift for a friend who has pretty much everything or just likes to drink beer. This genuine product is harvested and processed in accordance with Australian National Parks & Wildlife Service rules and regulations so don’t worry, they don’t kill kangaroos just to make bottle openers.