What to buy in Ukraine: 10 unique souvenir ideas

1. Traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt

Traditional Ukrainian embroidery, called Vyshyvanka, is integral to Ukraine's cultural heritage. Ukraine is known to have 250 types of embroidery stitches and to use over 100 different techniques. Each region has its own distinct embroidery style and intricate pattern, which locals use to decorate ceremonial and celebratory clothing and textiles. 

Vyshyvanka perfectly represents Ukraine's traditional sacred art and craftsmanship, so we recommend it as a unique Ukrainian souvenir you can bring home. You can buy an embroidered shirt or dress for special occasions from Ukrainian brands like Entnodim, Gaptuvalnya, Svarga, 2Kolyory, and Vytvory.

2. Ukrainian ceramics

Ukraine has some of the world's most unique ceramic styles, with age-old techniques — milk glazing, smoking, carving, and more — dating back to the 14th century. The most renowned Ukrainian ceramics come from the town of Kosiv, where artisans have perfected their exceptional hand-painted design style, which was included in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Ukrainian ceramics — plates, bowls, mugs, vases, and more — are traditional, functional, and artistic, making excellent souvenirs from Ukraine. We recommend buying from local artists and brands, like Chichka, Mrii Marii, Gunia, Zgarda, Spadok Ceramics, Hatka Ceramics, and Narodnyi Dim Ukraina. For modern pottery, go to Studio Garin and Lebet Project.

3. Ukrainian carpets

Carpet weaving is another cherished traditional folk art in Ukraine. Local artisans create carpets or rugs using natural dyes and fibers, like wool, flax, and hemp and designs that reflect Ukrainian beliefs and culture. Depending on the region, traditional Ukrainian carpets, like embroidered shirts, have their original styles and distinctive combinations of colors. The central region of Poltava is known for the Reshetylivka plant carpet weaving and its vibrant floral patterns, and the western Hutsul area is famous for its lizhnyk, a rug or blanket with geometric prints.

We suggest buying a rug, carpet, or blanket from Ukrainian brands that use traditional techniques and designs, like Gushka, Fully Wooly, Kilim Art Studio, Solomia, and Mapico.

4. Petrykivka painting

Petrykivka painting, a traditional Ukrainian art form named after its home village, was first used to embellish the exteriors of houses, but modern artists now paint this ornament on wood, paper, or ceramics. The Petrykivka painting, added to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2013, is characterized by floral ornaments, often combined with images of plants, people, birds, and animals. 

A nice plate, box, or vase adorned with a Petrykivka painting can be an eye-catching Ukrainian souvenir you can use to decorate your home. You can buy these traditional Ukrainian items in any gift shop, but if you want to support smaller Ukrainian artists and brands, we recommend Petrykivka Creative, Narodnyi Dim, and Petrykivochka.

5. Pysanka — Ukrainian Easter egg 

Pysankarstvo is a Ukrainian art of decorating Easter eggs, known as pysanky, with intricate patterns, symbols, and colors. The ornaments are often geometric or floral and carry symbolic meanings related to Ukrainian folklore and religion. Artists traditionally use a natural or wooden egg to create a Pysanka and decorate it with a wax-resist method.

A beautiful piece of Pysanka art can serve as a traditional Ukrainian souvenir with deep cultural roots. Some Ukrainian brands offer individual eggs or entire Pysanka collections. We recommend visiting Narodnyi Dim and Ukrainian Traditions stores to purchase ready-made items. If you'd like to try to make a Pysanka, Pan Pysachok and Ukrainian Traditions offer sets for decorating Ukrainian Easter eggs.

6. Traditional Ukrainian jewelry 

Traditional Ukrainian jewelry is extraordinary in its diversity and craftsmanship and is made of different types of metal, precious stones, and materials. Beaded necklaces are often created with coral, amber, mother of pearl, glass, and more, each with its district name based on the material used. Necklaces with metal pendants  — zgardas, dukaty, and duckach — are popular in Ukraine and often feature crosses, medals, and bows. Chokers made of tiny beads, called gerdans and syliankas, are hand-woven into detailed geometric, plant, or animalistic patterns. Earrings, often shaped like crescents, are also decorated with floral motifs.

Ukraine has many accessories and jewelry brands, where you can buy traditional Ukrainian items to wear daily or for special celebrations. We suggest Ethno.ck, Maryna Klochenko, Vydymo Nevydymo, Oksana Boriychuk, and Korali.

7. Ukrainian books

Books can offer a glimpse into Ukraine's rich culture, history, and traditions and a fantastic way to remind you of Ukraine at home. You can buy books about Ukrainian history, cuisine, and rich culture, like 

• Ukrainer. Ukrainian Insider, 
• Awesome Ukraine. Interesting Things You Need To Know, 
• A History of Ukraine. A Short Course, 
• The Gates of Europe. A History of Ukraine, 
• and Ukrainian Cuisine in 70 Dishes. 

Coffee table books and albums about Ukrainian art and architecture are also great options for what to buy in Ukraine: 

• Ukraine. Art for Architecture, 
• Soviet Modernism. Brutalism. Post-modernism. Buildings and Structures in Ukraine, 
• Treasures of Ukraine: a Nation's Cultural Heritage, 
• The Chips: Ukrainian Naїve Mosaics of the 1950-90s, 
• Contemporary Ukrainian Crafts, 
• In the Eye of the Storm: Modernism in Ukraine, 1900–1930s.

Fiction books by renowned Ukrainian authors, such as Oksana Zabuzhko, Serhiy Zhadan, and Andrey Kurkov, and children's books by Ivan Malkovych will be perfect gifts for literary enthusiasts and young readers. Our article here offers more Ukrainian book recommendations.

8. Ukrainian art

You could purchase a book about Ukrainian art, but what about buying from and supporting Ukrainian artists? Ukraine has a prosperous artistic industry and talented painters, sculptors, and more who work in multiple styles, genres, and techniques, from academic painting to futuristic and avant-garde sculptural pieces. Prominent art centers and smaller independent galleries in Ukraine offer artworks by contemporary Ukrainian artists. We recommend visiting Voitok Artstore and Kyiv Gallery. If you want to learn more about Ukrainian art and find an artist you like to contact, go to Support Your Art.

Prints of works by famous Ukrainian artists are also a lovely budget option for those who want to bring a piece of Ukrainian art home. At UkrainArt, you can find and order printed reproductions of renowned Ukrainian paintings by artists like Kazimir Malevich, Oleksandra Ekster, Mykola Pymonenko, and others — perfect Ukrainian souvenirs.

Read our article about famous artists from Ukraine here.

9. Wooden handicrafts

Over centuries, traditional Ukrainian woodworking has evolved into a beautiful art known for famous masters like Johann Georg Pinsel. Ukrainian artisans work with many techniques, like embossing, relief carvings, three-sided carvings, and round sculptures, which they use to create household items, furniture, icons, shrine decorations, and sculptures. The style from the Hutsul area in the Carpathian Mountains especially stands out for its symmetrical geometric ornaments.

Ukrainian wooden handicrafts — carved boxes, decorative plates, or candleholders — make special and original souvenirs. The Hutsul Authentica and KOKA studios offer a range of authentic handmade Hutsul art pieces.

10. Ukrainian candles

Candle-making has always had a special place in Ukrainian culture, representing light, warmth, and spiritual protection. For centuries, candles were central to the everyday and ritual lives of Ukrainians, appearing at births, weddings, and funerals. Despite factory production, traditional candle-making remained a cherished tradition, often practiced in Ukrainian villages and celebrated as an artisan craft at workshops and festivals. 

Ukrainian candles are a piece of Ukraine's authentic culture that can bring a cozy atmosphere to your home in the approaching autumn season. Many Ukrainian artisans and brands make candles using traditional methods and high-quality natural materials. We recommend Valkovski Candle Craft, Prosto Mykolka, Rekava, Candle Nova, Wood Mood, Lviv Candles Manufactory, and Sabi Candles.