Souvenirs from Slovenia can be a nice gift for your friends and family. For you maybe it is quite hard to recognize from the first hand what’s local and what’s not. Top-quality Slovenian handmade crafts are labelled with a sign Rokodelstvo-Art&Craft-Slovenija. Slovenia has many great gift options to offer. Here is a list of souvenirs and gifts typical for Slovenia.

My top 16 souvenirs from Slovenia

1. Idrija lace

Idrija town, only 63 kilometers away from Herbal Rooms Homestay, is famous for beauty created with a needle, bobbin and thread. There is a large variety of lace goods (towels, handkerchiefs, gloves, necklaces, earrings, underwear, etc.) and I am sure you will find something to give to your friend. Without a doubt almost every Slovenian house has a piece or two of this 300-years old lace-making tradition from Idrija.

2. Rogaška Crystal

High quality Rogaška crystal represents more than 350-year-old glass making tradition. Have you ever taste a wine from Rogaška crystal? Believe me, it tastes much better.

3. Slovenian Wines

Slovenia is a home to the oldest vine in the world and produces between 80-90 million liters of wine per year in 3 main wine growing regions. The region of Primorska is famous for ruby red Teran, and the whites (Rebula, Zelen, Pinela). In Podravje wine region search for Laški Rizling and Renski Rizling while the Posavje region offers Cviček, Modra Frankinja, and Metliška Črnina. Na zdravje and join my Wine Tasting Experience!

4. Salt flower from Piranske soline

In more than 700 years old Sečovlje salt-pans at the Slovenian coastline salt and salt flowers, considered to be one of the best salts in the world, are hand harvested. This “white gold” is well known among foodies and gourmands worldwide so it would be a pity if you don’t take at least a kilo back home to spice up your meals.

5. Painted Beehives Panels

Wooden painted hive front boards with traditional folklore images are for sure the most original souvenir from Slovenia. Choose the panel according to the story behind. Always welcome to join my Bee Happy Experience!

6. Slovenian Honey

Slovenia is a cradle of beekeeping and home of excellent beekeepers. To be Slovene, means to be a beekeeper. High-quality Slovenian honey with geographical designation of origin is Slovenia’s N°1 natural delicacy. HONEYstly 100 % best sweet treat!

7. Felt slippers

Soft felt slippers are handmade out of wool from indigenous Jezersko-Solčava sheep breed. Did you know that everyone who enters Slovenian home need to change shoes for slippers? Keep this tradition back home to remember your holidays in Slovenia.

8. Schnapps

In Slovenia we mostly consume homemade schnapps in the wintertime to prevent the illness. We believe that a schnapps or spirits are the best remedy for any health issue. But really any!!! The most popular schnapps flavors are blueberries (borovničke) and honey (medica).

9. Wooden ware products from Ribnica

Ribnica and surrounding villages have over 500 years old tradition of wooden ware making products. If wooden spoons don’t attract you, what about wooden toys for kids?

10. Pisanice Easter Eggs

Nicely decorated Easter eggs from Bela Krajina are truly folk craft. The knowledge is passed from one generation to another in order to keep old local tradition alive.

11. Prešeren Figs

Slovenian greatest poet Dr. France Prešeren supposed to carry dried figs in his coat pocket and children, craving for sweet treat, called him ‘Doctor, figs, figs!’ Relive the story and taste dried figs covered with dark chocolate. Tradition adapted to modern needs in the gastronomy.

12. Wishing bell from Bled

Everyone who plans his holidays in Slovenia, puts Bled on a bucket list. Wishing bell from Bled is a miniature copy of the bell that hangs in the church tower on the island of Lake Bled. Ring a bell and your wish will come true.

13. Bovec or Tolmin cheese

For these 2 cheeses with EU geographical designation of origin you need to drive to the dairy farms in Soca valley. Need a help with finding a cheese-maker? Send me an email to vesna@slocally.com and I will guide you.

14. Heart-shaped honey bread

The decorated honey bread making is an old traditional handcraft of Slovenia. Colorful heart-shaped honey bread has always been a graceful symbol of love and affection. What differs Slovenian heart-shaped honey bread from honey breads in other countries, is a mirror in the middle of the heart for young women to admire themselves.

15. Pumpkin seed oil

Styrian-Prekmurje Pumpkin seed oil has EU Protected Designation of Origin. This green gold is a culinary specialty must to have in every kitchen.

16. Potica cake

Potica, spiral rolled cake, is a Slovenian traditional festive dessert and a real gastronomic treat.  There are many potica bread varieties following the seasons.