The light in Israel feels like a texture: limestone suns of Jerusalem, the salty tang off the Dead Sea, citrus-sweet air drifting from Jaffa’s old port. Stroll a Tel Aviv market at dawn and you’ll hear spices rattle, see hand-carved olive wood gleam, and taste honey that carries the hills of the Galilee in every drop.

Whether you’re hunting handcrafts, culinary treasures, or spiritual keepsakes, the markets and ateliers across the country are full of stories. Here’s what to buy in Israel to bring a piece of its layered landscape — and to collect authentic Israeli souvenirs you’ll actually use and remember.

1. Dead Sea Mud & Salt Skincare

Why pick this up: Dead Sea products carry the coast’s mineral-rich promise: silky creams, therapeutic mud masks, and gritty bath salts that leave skin feeling soothed and luminous. They’re a practical luxury that instantly recalls the otherworldly Dead Sea shoreline.
What to look for: Pure black mineral mud, magnesium- and potassium-rich salts, and brands that list a high concentration of Dead Sea minerals rather than cheap fillers. Look for transparent ingredient lists and smaller boutique labels sold at Ein Gedi or Jerusalem shops.
Price bracket (2025): ₪40–₪250 (masks and creams from small jars to spa-sized tubs).
Where to find it: Shops in Ein Gedi, the Dead Sea resorts, and stalls in Mahane Yehuda (Jerusalem) or the Old City gift boutiques.

2. Extra-Virgin Israeli Olive Oil

Why pick this up: Olive oil here is terroir in a bottle — grassy Galilee presses, peppery Judean Hills harvests, or mellow oils from the Sharon plain. It’s a taste of Israel’s millennia-old groves.
What to look for: Cold-pressed, early-harvest or “first cold press,” and bottles labeled with the region (Galilee, Golan, Judean Hills) and harvest date. Dark glass protects the oil.
Price bracket (2025): ₪45–₪150 for 500 ml, depending on region and quality.
Where to find it: Farmers’ stalls at Shuk HaCarmel (Tel Aviv), Mahane Yehuda, boutique producers in the Galilee and Golan winery shops.

3. Za’atar, Spice Blends & Preserved Goods

Why pick this up: The scent of za’atar — thyme, sumac, sesame — is the smell of Israeli breakfasts and local kitchens. Whole spice blends, preserved lemons, and silan (date syrup) are perfect for recreating local flavors at home.
What to look for: Coarse, green za’atar with visible sesame seeds and sumac flakes; silan labeled 100% date with no added sugars; preserved lemons in jars with natural brine.
Price bracket (2025): ₪20–₪70 per jar or tin.
Where to find it: Spice stalls in Shuk HaCarmel, Mahane Yehuda, and specialty shops in Jaffa’s flea market.

4. Olive Wood Carvings & Kitchenware

Why pick this up: Smooth, warm-grained olive wood is both beautiful and functional — spoons, bowls, challah boards and menorah bases fashioned by craftsmen who work the same wood that has fed families for generations.
What to look for: Solid pieces with tight grain and no varnish that masks the wood; artisans’ signatures or shop provenance (often Bethlehem/West Bank craftsmen also sell in Israeli markets).
Price bracket (2025): ₪30–₪600 (small utensils to large carved platters).
Where to find it: Old City bazaars, Jaffa craft shops, and booths in Safed or Acre.

5. Hamsa & Judaica Jewelry

Why pick this up: Hamsas, mezuzah cases, menorahs, and handcrafted kippot are meaningful keepsakes that blend religious symbolism with contemporary Israeli design — wearable reminders of place and faith.
What to look for: Sterling silver or gold-plated pieces, traditional Yemenite filigree or modern minimal designs; check for hallmarks on metalwork.
Price bracket (2025): ₪40–₪1,500 (from simple pendants to artisanal silver sets).
Where to find it: The Jewish Quarter in Jerusalem’s Old City, Jaffa’s galleries, and boutique jewelers in Tel Aviv.

6. Israeli Wine from the Golan, Galilee & Judean Hills

Why pick this up: Over the past decades Israeli winemakers have refined bold, elegant bottles that reflect volcanic Golan soils and shaded Judean slopes. A bottle is a taste of the country’s evolving terroir.
What to look for: Single-vineyard labels, vintage year, and grape varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and local blends; boutique wineries produce small-batch bottles.
Price bracket (2025): ₪40–₪250 per bottle (premium reserve wines at the higher end).
Where to find it: Winery shops in the Golan Heights, Galilee tasting rooms, and wine sections at major markets in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

7. Sabra (Prickly Pear) Leather Goods

Why pick this up: Sabra leather — a byproduct of cactus fiber processing in Israel — yields soft, patina-friendly handbags and accessories that nod to both innovation and Middle Eastern craft.
What to look for: Labels stating cactus-based leather, sturdy stitching, and reputable maker information (some designers use blended materials).
Price bracket (2025): ₪150–₪1,200 depending on size and designer.
Where to find it: Design boutiques in Tel Aviv’s Neve Tzedek and Jaffa’s port area.

8. Safed (Tzfat) Ceramics & Kabbalistic Art

Why pick this up: Safed, a mountain town of mystics and artists, produces luminous ceramics, painted plates, and esoteric prints inspired by Kabbalah — decorative pieces that carry spiritual and artistic heritage.
What to look for: Hand-painted glazes, signatures from Tzfat artists, and motifs like Hebrew letters, stars, and biblical scenes.
Price bracket (2025): ₪60–₪900 (small plates to larger wall pieces).
Where to find it: Artist galleries in Safed, boutique shops in the Old City of Jerusalem, and artisan stalls at regional craft fairs.

9. Yemenite Silver Filigree & Traditional Textiles

Why pick this up: Yemenite-Jewish silversmithing and embroidered textiles bring bold geometry and stitchwork that have traveled with communities for generations — perfect as heirloom jewelry or framed fabric art.
What to look for: Intricate filigree with floral or geometric patterns, authentic embroidered motifs, and provenance that notes Yemenite or Jerusalem origins.
Price bracket (2025): ₪90–₪2,000 (jewelry to large textile pieces).
Where to find it: Mahane Yehuda, the Old City bazaars, and specialized Judaica shops.

10. Jaffa Oranges, Marmalade & Silan (Date Syrup)

Why pick this up: Jaffa’s citrus legacy lives on in fragrant marmalade and preserves; silan — thick, caramel-like date syrup — adds Middle Eastern sweetness to morning toast and glazes.
What to look for: Small-batch, artisanal marmalades with whole peel and minimal sugar; silan labeled 100% dates with single-origin notes.
Price bracket (2025): ₪25–₪120 per jar.
Where to find it: Jaffa’s Old Port markets, Tel Aviv specialty food shops, and island-style stalls at farmers’ markets.

✈️ Tip: Shop the markets early — Mahane Yehuda in Jerusalem and Shuk HaCarmel in Tel Aviv are great places to haggle a little and learn the stories behind Israeli souvenirs before you buy.

Let me know in the comments if you have any other top ‘what to buy’ ideas!

About the Author 

Colin is the founder of SouvenirsIdeas.com and a passionate traveller with a soft spot for ceramics, markets, and food tours. He writes practical, first-hand guides to help you bring home souvenirs that actually mean something — not just more clutter!