Travel Tips

The best Florida souvenirs: What to buy in Florida from a local expert

Discover the best Florida souvenirs with insights from local expert Manuela Oswald. Find unique gifts from Florida, Miami, and Orlando.

The Sunshine State offers bright beaches, thrilling theme parks, and scenic natural springs. If you’re travelling to sunny Florida soon, try to absorb as much of the experience as you can because once you leave, you’ll definitely feel the blues.

One great way to remember your trip is to get that perfect Florida souvenir. We’re not talking beach postcards and refrigerator magnets. Long-time Florida resident and member of the Holafly team, Manuela Oswald, helped us choose the best Florida souvenirs for tourists.

Her local perspective adds a personal touch, which ensures you get souvenir recommendations that go beyond the basic finds. In this guide, we include the best Florida markets for souvenirs and local tips to ensure you find gifts you’ll be excited to bring home. Grab an unlimited data travel eSIM to research each of these souvenirs and get the best deals.

In this article

1. Classic Florida souvenirs: Food and decor 🍊

Few things scream “Florida” like citrus. Florida is known for its sweet oranges and tangelos, and there are many places where you can grab handpicked fruits, including the Hale Indian River Groves, north of Vero Beach.

Manuela tells us, “Giving a bag of fresh oranges or grapefruits is one of the most traditional gifts between locals”.

Florida’s citrus season runs from November to March, making it the perfect Florida gift for the holidays.

Another iconic Florida flavor is Key lime. No Florida trip is complete without Key lime.

“If I had to pick one authentically local item to gift someone from abroad, it would be something Key lime-related. Key lime pie mix, juice, or cookies. It’s uniquely Florida, especially from the Keys.” – Manuela

Key lime items also travel well and make a unique gift for anyone who wants to experience the zesty and refreshing flavour and taste the state is known for. You can get great options like:

Key lime cookies
Key lime pie mix
Key lime fudge
Key lime candy

Other classic souvenirs from Florida are:

Orange-themed treats (candies, marmalades, juices)
Orange blossom honey
Flamingo decorations and beach-inspired home accents
Saltwater taffy, a nostalgic favorite

These local items are pretty easy to find, especially when you do a “Florida souvenirs near me” search.

Top tip: Looking to try authentic Florida food? The culinary scene is deeply influenced by Spain, Cuba, and Latin America, especially in cities like Miami, Tampa, and St. Augustine. You can find the best Spanish dishes here, like Paella, croquettes, tortilla espanola, Gambas al Ajillo, and tapas platters.

2. What to buy in Florida: Disney clothing and shopping 🏰

If you’re visiting Orlando on your Florida trip for Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, you’ll have to get something Disney-inspired. This will definitely be the perfect Florida souvenir for any Disney-enthusiasts or children.

Top fun picks include:

Disney gift outlet souvenirs
Character-themed apparel (Mickey Mouse ears from Walt Disney World)
Disney mugs
Room decor featuring classic characters
Disney-themed board games for kids

Explore Orlando’s shops along International Drive and Disney Springs for a variety of Disney shopping and perfect keepsakes.

3. Unique Florida gifts: You won’t find these anywhere else! 🌶️

Interested in things you can only buy in Florida? Head north to St. Augustine. The area is famous for Datil pepper hot sauce, an exclusive condiment.

Why is it so special? Manuela explains, “Datil pepper hot sauce is special because the pepper grows almost exclusively in that region, making it unique to Florida. It’s flavorful, not just hot, and it travels perfectly.”

Besides Datil pepper hot sauce, you can find other unique Florida souvenirs like:

Miccosukee Indigenous crafts (woven baskets, jewelry, art)
Cuban-inspired prints and mugs from Miami
Local honey blends, including saw palmetto honey
Alligator jerky
Everglades-inspired decor featuring wildlife and nature motifs

These items are thoughtful gifts for friends and family, especially if you want something with more character and cultural depth.

4. Seasonal Florida gifts loved by locals ☁️

Some of the most authentic things to buy in Florida are seasonal.

“Honeybells in January and February, fresh citrus boxes, Indian River grapefruit, and stone crab claws from October to May are gifts locals get excited about,” Manuela shared.

Fresh fruit won’t always travel internationally; check your airline and your country’s customs regulations before purchasing. Many groves also ship directly, so you’ll be able to shop online and deliver your items to your home address.

Other seasonal items include:

Plant City strawberries
Local jams
Holiday-themed citrus boxes

Where to find the best souvenirs from Florida without the “tourist tax”

Avoiding the tourist mark-up when purchasing souvenirs abroad is a must-do, especially when looking for budget-friendly souvenirs. Manuela recommends the following locations:

Miami

Miccosukee Indian Village: local produce, small-batch preserves, baked goods
Farmers’ markets in Coconut Grove and Coral Gables: handmade jewellery, pottery, textiles, art prints, eco-friendly body products
Side-street artisan boutiques in Little Havana: handcrafted decor, vintage goods, one-of-a-kind pieces

Orlando

Winter Park Farmers Market: fresh produce and breads, local honey, handcrafted soaps
Mount Dora Village Market: Locally produced fudge, baked goods, fresh produce and seafood

These spots are perfect if you want unique gifts from Florida that aren’t mass-produced.

Where to buy the best Miami souvenirs

Miami should definitely be on your list when visiting Florida. The coastal city has its own vibe, artistic, colourful, and lively.

According to Manuela, “Miami Beach, Lincoln Road, Little Havana, and Bayside Marketplace all have plenty of shops for Miami souvenirs.”

Here are some top Miami-specific finds:

Cuban coffee beans
Cigar accessories
Miami-inspired wall art
Art Deco posters
Little Havana crafts
Jewelry from local makers

Where to shop online for Florida gifts

Sometimes, dedicating time to collecting souvenirs can become a bit hectic. In situations like this, you can ship items to your current address and even to your home address.

These online shops offer a variety of perfect gifts:

Amazon’s Florida souvenir selection
Walmart’s dedicated Florida souvenirs page
Florida Gifts for Less
Americaware’s Florida-themed products
Nassau Candy’s Florida novelties

Choose the best Florida souvenirs with Holafly’s travel eSIM

Choosing the right Florida souvenirs means capturing the Sunshine State’s warmth and authentic flavours. Thanks to insights from Manuela, you now know where the locals really shop, what they actually love, and which souvenirs from Florida feel the most meaningful.

Before you start shopping, staying connected throughout your trip makes everything easier. Navigating markets, checking opening hours, and comparing prices is a breeze when you have an unlimited data travel eSIM from Holafly. All you need is an eSIM-compatible phone!

Holafly’s eSIM for Florida lets you connect the moment you land to when you’re browsing for unique gifts. It also saves you the time and stress of hunting for local SIM cards or dealing with surprise roaming charges.

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Mahnoor Bangush

SEO Content Writer

Born and raised in Queens, New York, I'm a Psychology graduate with a passion for writing that I've been nurturing since 2019. Over the years, I've enjoyed creating meaningful content across various niches, including sports, hospitality, and career development. At Holafly, I focus on crafting useful and inspiring pieces to make your adventures more effortless. One of the best perks of this role? Creating travel content always seems to inspire my next vacation destination!

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