The Best Places to Buy Souvenirs in New York City

Memories For Sale
Memories For Sale | © frankieleon/Flickr

Avoid Times Square at all costs and head to one of these other eight spots in the city for a souvenir from your time in New York.

Loved by over 40s

Chinatown

Market

Chinatown | bjaglin/Flickr
bjaglin/Flickr
For those looking to pick up bargain, standard NYC souvenirs, head directly to Canal Street. The vendors set up along Chinatown have plenty of “I <3 NY” shirts alongside funny posters, cheap jewelry and kitschy shot glasses. Anybody looking for the stereotypical souvenirs to bring back home will find exactly what they’re looking for here. Be sure to browse the stalls before making a purchase to make sure you’re getting the best price.

St Mark’s Place

Market, Park

Head to the funky St Mark’s Place for downtown souvenirs like cool jewelry, shot glasses or even a glass pipe. There are, of course, plenty of t-shirts and in some of the smaller shops, travelers can even pick up old school vintage NYC clothing. For those who want a more permanent souvenir, there are tons of tattoo and piercing shops that line the street.

New York Transit Museum

Museum, Store

New York Transit Museum
Courtesy of Black Paw Photo/New York Transit Museum
New York City is inseparable from its subway. Head to the Transit Museum Store for clothing and merch featuring everybody’s favorite subway map. Those shopping for children (or for those young at heart) can also pick up a motorized mini subway set and pretend they’ve taken over the MTA.

MoMA Design Store

Museum, Store

New York, USA. 22nd Oct, 2019. People walk past the MoMA Design Store in Manhattan of New York, the United States, Oct. 22, 2019. MoMA was reopened to the public on Monday after being closed since June 15 for renovation and reorganization of its galleries
© Xinhua / Alamy Stock Photo
Shoppers looking for unique NYC pieces that they can actually incorporate into their lives back home should head to the MoMA Design Store. The store’s inventory includes unique furniture and NYC-themed books that will remind you of your trip to the Big Apple. whenever you’re just lounging around home.

Artists & Fleas

Market

Artists & Fleas
Shinya Suzuki/Flickr
Part of what makes NYC so great is the never-ending network of creatives. Support the people making some of New York’s coolest crafts by stopping by Artists & Fleas market to pick up anything and everything from hand-printed t-shirts to steam punk jewelry to whimsical cards to send everybody back home. Afterwards, venture through the Chelsea Market for some of the city’s most delectable food to refuel.

CityStore

Bridge, Park, Store, Theater, Shop

CityStore
Courtesy of CityStore NYC
This is the official store for all things New York City. Tourists looking for merch that’s stamped and approved by the city itself should mosey over to this downtown outpost for home goods, t-shirts and even presents for newlyweds. But the best part of the store is its collection of items ‘from the archives’, which means plates painted with the old Central Park tile patterns and mugs emblazoned with imagery from the Brooklyn Bridge.

Fishs Eddy

Store

Fishs Eddy, New York
Courtesy of Fishs Eddy
This shop of curiosities may go missed by those who visit Union Square. But those tourists who venture through the magical aisles of Fishs Eddy will discover fun tchotchkes, whimsical home goods and NYC-loving merch. There’s even a whole section dedicated to all things Hamilton.

Brooklyn Brewery

Brewery, Park

Brooklyn Brewery
Courtesy of Brooklyn Brewery
Rep the other side of the river with merch emblazoned with ‘Brooklyn’. Even when you’re at home drinking normal beers from the grocery store, they’ll somehow taste better if you’re wearing a Brooklyn Brewery shirt and sipping from a chilled Brooklyn Brewery mug.
culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.