Gift ideas Romania

An initiative aimed at promoting and recognizing the handicrafts of the Roma, a still marginalized minority. The store aims to promote, develop and market their know-how. Here, everything is handmade: clothes, jewelry, bags, scarves, home decor, basketry, wooden or copper tableware... The collections are designed by major international designers, then made by traditional Roma craftsmen. A beautiful project and authentic souvenirs to take home.

Religious articles.

This little store, located just down the stairs from the strada Turnului, in the beautiful Wankel house, offers all kinds of objects and furniture painted in the Saxon tradition, with beautiful floral and colorful motifs. While it may be difficult to pack a wardrobe or chairs in your luggage, you'll find more portable items such as stools, chests, dishes and boxes. This is the gallery of a workshop established in the village of Cisnădioara, some ten kilometers further south.

This large store, part of the Astra Museum, is a great place to shop for quality souvenirs. You'll find ceramics, beautifully crafted blouses, icons on glass, painted eggs, carved wooden spoons, wooden chests, traditional toys and much more. The Folk Art Gallery occupies the former house of the Butchers' Brotherhood, a long white building with arcades dating back to the ^14th century.

In the historic center, there are countless kitschy souvenir stores bearing the image of Dracula, as well as antique dealers who display their finds even on the doors of old houses. That's why "The Man with the Spoon" stands out. Half store, half gallery, everything here is handcrafted and local: ceramics, wooden objects, icons... If you'd like to know more about the importance of wooden spoons in Romanian culture, Mark Tudose, the man behind this project, will be delighted to answer your questions.

Cărturești has a number of outlets, the most famous of which is in Bucharest's old center, but its little sister in the Piața Romană district is just as worth a visit. It has taken up residence in a tastefully restored early ^19th-century bourgeois mansion, revealing here and there the traces of the past, as evidenced by the exposed roof frame on the top floor. Much more than just a bookshop, you'll also find music, games and a selection of gifts featuring local artists and craftsmen.