Whether you’ve strolled through the colorful streets of Lisbon, explored the historic wonders of Porto, or simply have a deep appreciation for all Portuguese gifts, this blog post is your treasure trove of gift-giving inspiration. We’ve scoured every nook and cranny, from sunny beaches to quaint little cafés, to bring you the ultimate list of the 25 best Portugal gift ideas that will make any Portugal lover jump for joy.
So, sit back, grab a cup of galão and a Pastéis de nata, and prepare to be whisked away to a world of sardines, cork, and port. We’ve got something for everyone on your gift list, whether they’re a proud Portuguese or just have a soft spot for this sun-kissed paradise. From quirky Portuguese souvenirs to stylish keepsakes, we’ve curated a collection that will make you shout “viva Portugal!” louder than Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a winning goal.
Are you short on time? Check out the editor’s top three Portugal gift ideas by budget.
- Large budget: Azulejos ceramics (#1)
- Mid budget: Lisbon jigsaw puzzle (#9)
- Small budget: Portuguese slang book (#18)
Save these Portuguese gifts
Don’t forget to save the Portuguese gifts ideas to Pinterest, so you will know where to look next time you need gift inspiration!
Portuguese gifts for large budgets
#1 Azulejos gifts
Alright, first things first.
What is azulejos?
It’s a type of painted tile that is very popular in Spain and Portugal. You will find many Portuguese buildings decorated with these styles of tiles.
So if you are looking for traditional Portuguese gifts, anything with azulejos will work. For example the three kitchen canisters. But you can check out Amazon for more ceramic ideas.
#2 Historical map of Portugal
If you are looking for the best gifts for a Portuguese friend who loves his home country and history this map of Portugal from the 16th century is the perfect gift.
It’s also a great gift for someone who loves maps (and pretty much all travelers do). Though for a more modern version, head over to Etsy for a gorgeous wooden map of Portugal.
#3 Portuguese-themed board games
If you are looking for unique Portuguese gifts for people who love board games, Coimbra or Azul are two awesome ideas for you.
Both games are strategy games.
In Coimbra, all players represent an old Portuguese house and the aim of the game is to earn prestige for your family.
Side note for those who are not familiar with Portuguese topography, Coimbra is an actual city in Portugal.
The aim of Azul is to create the most beautiful mosaic by using the tiles you win. In case you are wondering why Azul is a typical Portuguese gift, check out the previous gift.
#4 Filigree earrings
Filigree is a traditional Portuguese form of jewelry. It’s a very delicate art form, where they use tiny threads or beads of metal to make lace-like shapes. So if you are looking for traditional Portuguese gifts for her, these beautiful filigree earrings are what you need!
#5 Traditional cork gifts
If you are looking for unique gifts from Portugal, items made from Portuguese cork are an awesome gift idea.
Did you know that Portugal is the world’s largest cork producer?
Yep, they produce over 50% of the global supply!
If you’ve ever been to Portugal, you may have noticed that cork trees are everywhere. If not, now you know 😉
So now that we know these interesting statistics, we also know why cork items are the best traditional Portuguese gifts. I really loved this floral print wallet, but you can find all sorts of cork gift ideas on Etsy, from jewelry to bags and notebooks.
#6 A bottle of port wine
Alright, I know I said forget the Port. But it’s one of the most famous gifts from Portugal, so I couldn’t actually leave it out.
Port wine is a traditional Portuguese sweet wine that’s produced around Porto. Check out this complete guide about Portuguese wine (including port) for more information about the process and the region.
But in short, Port is made by mixing wine from the Douro Valley with a strong distilled grape spirit. This stops the fermentation and creates a sweet liquor with a high percentage of alcohol. Making Port a very delicious, but dangerous beverage. (Yes, I’m speaking from experience here).
Sandeman is a popular port brand, so you will surely make a port-lover happy with this bottle.
#7 Portuguese language course
Even though you can easily survive as a traveler if you only speak English, the Portuguese really appreciate visitors who try to speak their language. Plus it makes interacting with locals a lot easier and more fun.
There are two options for a Portuguese language course. A book version on Amazon, or online courses on Udemy.
#8 Soccer jersey
Soccer (or football) is the number one sport in Portugal, and they are crazy about it!
So if you are looking for Portugal gift ideas for a sports lover, check out the jersey of Portugal’s national team.
Portuguese gifts for mid-budgets
#9 Portugal-themed jigsaw puzzle
This jigsaw puzzle of Lisbon is a great gift for a Portuguese friend abroad who misses home. They can keep themselves busy at home with a puzzle of their favorite country.
#10 Portuguese-inspired gifts: passport cover
Passport covers are great practical gifts for someone in Portugal who loves to travel. You can find 69 different Portugal-themed designs on Zazzle. Or go for the one with the iconic Portuguese rooster.
By the way, this rooster is actually called the rooster of Barcelos. Check out Portugal.com for more information about why this is the national symbol of Portugal.
#11 Portuguese tile jewelry
For those who love Portuguese tiles and who need gifts from Portugal for a friend who loves jewelry, this is by far your best option!
Check out Etsy to find all sorts of jewelry inspired by the Portuguese tile style, or go for this cute bracelet.
#12 Fun books about Portugal
The Tenth Island by Diana Marcum
A beautiful memoir about finding joy, beauty, and unexpected love in the Azores. This is one of the best Portugal-themed gifts for people who love the Azores.
Fado and the place of longing by Richard Elliott
This is the best gift for someone who loves traditional Portuguese music (the Fado music).
A concise history of Portugal by David Birmingham
The Cambridge concise histories series provides excellent books for history buffs, and this one about Portugal is no exception to that.
#13 Portuguese-inspired tote bags
With over 500 different Portuguese-themed tote bags, I am sure you will be able to find one that matches the recipient’s needs.
If you are looking for Portugal gift ideas related to food, but that are not actually food, go for the tote bag with sardines.
#14 Portugal travel guides
Lonely Planet: Portugal
This is one of the best Portuguese gift ideas for a budget traveler who is going to Portugal soon.
Fodor’s Essential Portugal
Fodor’s guidebooks are great for all sorts of travelers (so not just budget travelers).
Walking in Portugal
This is one of the best Portugal-themed gifts for walkers. The book includes 40 different walks in Portugal, from short day hikes to multi-day walks.
#15 Portugal-themed water bottles
Stainless steel water bottles are perfect gifts for sustainable travelers.
Why?
Because by using these bottles instead of plastic bottles they greatly reduce their plastic waste. And this helps the planet.
So if you need sustainable Portuguese gifts, the bottle with the map of Portugal in the colors of the flag is perfect!
But you can also head over to Zazzle to find more Portugal-themed water bottles.
#16 Portuguese cookbooks
Portuguese home cooking
If you are looking for Portugal gift ideas for someone who is obsessed with Portuguese food, cookbooks are great ideas. This is the best overall cookbook with recipes from across the country.
My Lisbon: A cookbook from Portugal’s city of light
This will come as no surprise, but this is one of the best gifts for someone who loves Lisbon and cooking.
Porto: Stories from Portugal’s Historic Bolhao Market
This book does not only include delicious recipes, it also covers the stories and history behind the cuisine of Porto.
#17 Azulejos cutting board
This cutting board is the ultimate Portugal-themed gift for home chefs because it brings a slice of Portuguese culture to their kitchen!
It’s like having a mini azulejo masterpiece every time they chop veggies or prepare a scrumptious (Portuguese) meal. Plus, it adds an extra flair to their culinary adventures, making them feel like a Portuguese master chef (even if they’re just whipping up a simple omelet).
Portuguese gifts for small budgets
#18 Portuguese slang book
This is one of the best Portugal-themed gifts for people who love swearing in different languages. The book covers both swear words and everyday slang words, such as “What’s up?”
#19 Portugal travel journal
If you are looking for gifts for someone in Portugal who’s exploring the country?
Then a travel journal specific to Portugal is the perfect, sweet, and small gift.
They can keep track of all their adventures and when they come back they will always have this memory book of their trip to Portugal.
For more travel journals, check out these 25 cute journals.
#20 Piri Piri hot sauce
If you are looking for traditional gift ideas from Portugal for someone who loves spicy food, traditional Portuguese Piri Piri sauce is what you are looking for.
Piri Piri sauce is also known as bird’s eye, African devil, or African red devil and it’s a popular hot sauce in Portugal and other former Portuguese colonies.
For more spicy food gift ideas, check out the chili gift guide.
#21 Portuguese sardines
Sardines are the best traditional gifts from Portugal for foodies. Seafood has a key role in the Portuguese kitchen and sardines are one of the most iconic fish the Portuguese eat.
If you are interested in learning more about the story behind this, check out Saveur.
For now, it’s enough to know that the Portuguese love their sardines and that they are super proud of them, making tinned sardines perfect traditional Portuguese gifts.
#22 Portuguese-themed luggage tag
This will probably come as no surprise, but the “I love Portugal” luggage tag is one of the best practical Portuguese gifts for people who travel a lot and love Portugal.
For more inspiration, check out the other 190 designs on Zazzle.
#23 Azulejos coloring book
Coloring books for adults have been proven to reduce stress, so if you are looking for gifts for a Portuguese friend who could use a little tension relief, this coloring book with azulejos patterns is perfect.
#24 Traditional wine stopper
This wine stopper is as Portuguese as it can get. It contains the classic Portuguese rooster, the tile pattern, and it can be used to save some of those delicious vinho verde from Portugal for the next day (if they don’t drink it all in one day of course!). And that’s what makes it such an awesome Portuguese souvenir and gift.
#25 Portuguese gifts for her: map necklace
If you are looking for beautiful Portuguese gifts for her, this necklace in the shape of the map of Portugal is a great gift idea.
Final notes note on Portuguese gifts
Alright, so you made it to the end of the Portuguese-themed gift list.
Are you still not sure about which gift to buy? Check out the editor’s top 3.
- Large budget: Azulejos ceramics (#1)
- Mid budget: Lisbon jigsaw puzzle (#9)
- Small budget: Portuguese slang book (#18)
Save these Portuguese gifts
Did you already save these Portugal gift ideas?
