French food, wine, and artisanal goods – fill your suitcase with these souvenirs
The best of French souvenirs to take home
From Parisian boutiques to village markets in the Luberon, you won't struggle to find beautiful, artisanal goods. Here are some ideas of things to bring home that will always remind you of your trip to France.
Popular French souvenirs
Every region does things its own way. Provence smells like lavender, the Camargue tastes of salt and rice, the Riviera bottles its flower fields as perfume. Here's what to look for:
Food and drink:
Heads up: check your home country's customs rules before packing food or drink for the journey home. Herbes de Provence and lavender honey
Olive oil from the Alpilles
Regional wines and Champagne
Camargue Fleur de Sel salt
Dijon mustard
Macarons (feather-light, and they travel surprisingly well)
Soft cheeses like Brie or chèvre (freeze first, and check your airline's rules)
Pastis, the Provençal aperitif
Goods: Santons, the small hand-painted clay figures traditionally made in Provence
Savon de Marseille, the region's traditional olive-oil soap
Provençal fabrics and ceramics, patterned with sunflowers and olives
Perfume from Grasse, the perfume capital on your route to the Riviera
An Opinel pocket knife, a rustic classic since 1890
Espadrilles, light enough for a Riviera afternoon
Football shirts from PSG or Olympique de Marseille, straight from the club shop
Tax-free shopping
A refund on French VAT (known locally as TVA) is available to visitors who live outside the EU and are taking their purchases home with them.
Look for the shop's tax-free logo, usually near the till or the entrance, to confirm they offer the service. You'll need to spend at least €100.01 in a single shop to qualify. Smaller items add up too – three purchases in one visit, on one receipt, count towards the total.
Bring your passport when you shop: the retailer needs it to issue your tax-free form. Before you check in your luggage, find the PABLO kiosk at the airport, scan your form, and keep your goods handy in case customs wants to see them. You have three months from the date of purchase to complete this step.
Fuel, services, and anything you've already used don't qualify for a refund. Neither do restaurant meals or hotel stays.
When are shops open?
Most shops in cities and larger towns open Monday to Saturday, roughly 10 AM to 7 PM. Many close for an hour or two at lunch, particularly in smaller towns and villages – and almost everything closes on Sundays, cafés and bakeries aside.
In rural Provence or the Luberon, hours shrink further. Local and regional holidays can catch you out too, so it's worth checking ahead if there's something specific you're hoping to buy.
If you forget something
Paris and Nice are never short of pharmacies, supermarkets, and clothing shops. Left your sunscreen at home, or lost a jumper somewhere between Arles and Avignon? You'll find what you need within a few minutes' walk.
View Information