From the rumble of dugout canoes on the Sepik River to the cool mist along the Highlands’ Goroka ridges, Papua New Guinea is an orchestra of textures, smells and colors.

Salt spray and pandanus mingles at coastal markets while the smoke and earth of kava and mumu cooking waft through mountain bazaars; you can almost feel the slow abrasion of carved wood and the soft give of hand-knotted bilum between your fingers.

The scent of freshly roasted Goroka coffee and the metallic tang of shell money echo the country’s patchwork of islands and valleys.

Markets like Port Moresby’s Gordons Market, the Mt Hagen morning stalls, and Ambunti’s riverfront trading posts are where tradition and trade meet.  Tapa beaten thin as paper, sepik spirit boards drying in the sun, and pandanus mats still scented with salt.

If you’re deciding what to take home, one practical reminder: Papua New Guinea souvenirs capture both place and story, so choose pieces with provenance and the hands that made them. Here’s what to buy in Papua New Guinea to bring a piece of its spirit back home.

1. Bilum Bag

Why pick this up:
Bilum are the Highlands’ signature string bags — supple, endlessly knotted, and used for everything from carrying babies to market goods. They’re wearable artworks that tell personal and regional stories through color and pattern.

What to look for:
Seek tight, even knotting and natural-dyed yarns; larger, hand-knotted shoulder bilums are more valuable than machine-made imitations. Ask which region the pattern comes from — Goroka and Mount Hagen styles differ noticeably.

Price bracket (2025):
K30–K250

Where to find it:
Mt Hagen Market, Goroka markets, Gordons Market in Port Moresby, and artisan stalls at the Goroka Show.

2. Sepik Carved Masks & Spirit Figures

Why pick this up:
Sepik carvings are deeply evocative, with bold anthropomorphic faces and textural woodwork reflecting riverine cosmologies and ancestor worship. They make striking display pieces that connect directly to the Ambunti–Wewak communities.

What to look for:
Genuine pieces show hand-tool marks, natural pigments (reds, ochres, charcoal), and provenance—ask which village or carver made it. Beware of resin-coated mass-produced “tourist” versions.

Price bracket (2025):
K150–K2,000

Where to find it:
Ambunti and Wewak villages along the Sepik, Goroka Show, and the National Museum & Art Gallery in Port Moresby.

3. Malagan Masks and Carvings (New Ireland)

Why pick this up:
Malagan carvings are intricate ceremonial works from New Ireland, traditionally created for mortuary rites and rich in symbolic motifs. They’re prized for their complexity and cultural depth.

What to look for:
Look for authentic carved wood with layered paint and documented origin; many legitimate dealers provide information about the Malagan ritual they were part of. Avoid flat, printed reproductions.

Price bracket (2025):
K200–K2,500

Where to find it:
New Ireland communities, Kokopo markets, cultural centers, and festival markets.

4. Shell Money (Tabu)

Why pick this up:
Shell money — strings of small polished shell disks — is both currency and ceremonial adornment in Manus and New Ireland. It’s uniquely Pacific and carries strong cultural significance.

What to look for:
Authentic shell money has a warm patina and hand-drilled holes; the strand length and shell type indicate value. Confirm the origin (Manus or New Ireland) and avoid plastic imitations.

Price bracket (2025):
K50–K800

Where to find it:
Village markets in Manus and New Ireland, Madang, and specialty stalls at provincial shows.

5. Kundu Drum

Why pick this up:
The kundu is a carved hourglass drum central to music, dance and storytelling. Its carved body and hand-painted head make it both an instrument and a sculpture.

What to look for:
Check for solid hollowing, natural hide or quality synthetic heads, and traditional motifs painted with natural pigments. Small tabletop versions are travel-friendly; full-size drums are heavier and pricier.

Price bracket (2025):
K120–K1,800

Where to find it:
Central Province villages, Port Moresby craft markets, and cultural festivals.

6. Tapa (Barkcloth)

Why pick this up:
Tapa — beaten tree bark painted with natural dyes — carries island motifs and is used for clothing, ceremonial wrap, and wall art. Each sheet is a tactile record of a maker’s hand.

What to look for:
Genuine tapa has fibrous texture, slight irregularities and natural pigments; ask about the plant species used and the village of origin, often Milne Bay or New Britain. Watch for printed fabric imitations.

Price bracket (2025):
K80–K600

Where to find it:
Alotau and Milne Bay markets, museum shops, and island craft co-ops.

7. Papua New Guinea Coffee (Single-Origin)

Why pick this up:
PNG’s highland coffees — especially from Goroka, Tari and Eastern Highlands — are prized for their bright acidity, floral notes and clean finish. Roasted beans make an accessible, fragrant souvenir.

What to look for:
Buy freshly roasted, single-estate or cooperative-labeled beans with a roast date; look for names like Goroka, Tari or Yaundo. Avoid unlabelled bulk coffee that lacks origin information.

Price bracket (2025):
K15–K60 per 250–500g

Where to find it:
Goroka and Mt Hagen markets, specialty roaster stalls in Port Moresby, and airport shops.

8. Cacao & Single-Origin Chocolate

Why pick this up:
PNG is developing a strong bean-to-bar scene with bold-flavored single-origin chocolates from Madang and East Sepik cacao. These bars capture terroir in a compact gift.

What to look for:
Choose bars labeled single-origin or producer cooperative, and check for bean-to-bar claims and minimal added sugar. Beware factory-made “PNG-flavored” bars with no origin listing.

Price bracket (2025):
K10–K40

Where to find it:
Madang and Lae markets, artisan stalls, and specialty food shops in Port Moresby.

9. Pandanus Woven Mats & Hats

Why pick this up:
Pandanus weaving is a coastal craft — tightly plaited mats and decorated hats are both functional and decorative, often finished with dyed edges or cowrie trims. They’re lightweight, durable and full of island character.

What to look for:
Check for even weaving, secure edging, and natural dye variations; handmade pandanus will have slight size irregularities. Smaller, rolled mats travel well.

Price bracket (2025):
K30–K300

Where to find it:
Madang, Alotau and coastal village markets; craft cooperatives on island provinces.

10. Shell & Bone Jewelry

Why pick this up:
Necklaces, earrings and bracelets made from local shells, shark tooth, and bone connect directly to coastal traditions and are wearable mementos of the islands. They’re often made with traditional knotting or shell-strand techniques.

What to look for:
Seek patina on shells and cleanly drilled holes; ask whether components are sustainably sourced and handmade. Avoid overly glossy, machine-drilled items that signal mass production.

Price bracket (2025):
K20–K250

Where to find it:
Gordons Market, Kokopo market, island craft stalls and tourist markets at Alotau.

11. Gope (Spirit) Boards & Flat Sepik Art Panels

Why pick this up:
Gope boards are carved and painted commission pieces from the Sepik, used in sacred displays and bearing powerful, stylized imagery. They make dramatic wall hangings with deep cultural resonance.

What to look for:
Authentic gope have provenance, hand-applied pigments and visible tool marks; ensure sellers can speak to the maker or village origin. Reproductions are common, so ask for craft-cooperative backing.

Price bracket (2025):
K80–K1,500

Where to find it:
Sepik river villages (Ambunti), cultural festivals, and the National Museum & Art Gallery in Port Moresby.

Tip: Take small notes (K5 and K10) for market purchases and carry a cloth bag to protect woven and painted pieces when travelling home 🧭

Local Shopping Culture & Traditions

Market life in Papua New Guinea is intensely local and seasonal; many communities still trade using a mix of cash, shell money and barter, and provincial shows like the Goroka and Mount Hagen festivals turn trading into a showcase of costume, music and carving.

Markets such as Gordons Market in Port Moresby and the Mt Hagen morning market are lively hubs where produce, spices, bilum and craft sit side by side, while river communities along the Sepik and coastal villages hold more ritualised exchanges tied to clan life.

Artisan villages and craft cooperatives are often family-run, with skills passed down generations, carving, tapa-making, pandanus weaving and bilum knotting all show regional variations.

Weekend maker markets and festival stalls are excellent times to meet makers, learn a piece’s story, and support community-led craft economies rather than anonymous import sellers.

How to Spot Genuine Local Souvenirs

Look for provenance: honest sellers will name a village, carver or cooperative. Handcrafted work reveals tool marks, slight asymmetry, and natural dyes (indigo blues, ochres, charcoal) — these are signs of authenticity.

For bilum, check knot tightness and yarn irregularities; for tapa, feel for fibrous texture and subtle imperfection; for carved Sepik pieces, seek unpolished backs and natural pigments rather than shiny synthetic coatings.

For consumables, choose labeled single-origin coffee or chocolate with roast/production dates and cooperative names; for shell items, check for natural wear and hand-drilled holes rather than perfect, machine-made uniformity.

If a price seems too low for a complex handmade object, it’s likely imported or a cheap reproduction.

Where to Shop in Papua New Guinea

• Gordons Market, Port Moresby — largest urban market for crafts and fresh produce.
• Mt Hagen Market and Goroka morning markets — Highlands hubs for bilum, carvings and coffee.
• Ambunti and Sepik river villages — for authentic Sepik carvings and gope boards.
• Madang and Alotau markets — coastal weaving and shell crafts.
• National Museum & Art Gallery, Port Moresby — trusted museum shop and provenance-backed pieces.
• Jacksons International Airport (Port Moresby) gift shops — last-minute, curated local goods.
• Provincial festivals and the Goroka & Mount Hagen Shows — seasonal showcases where artisans sell directly.

FAQs

Q: Are souvenirs in Papua New Guinea expensive?
A: Prices vary widely — small woven items and jewelry are affordable, while authentic Sepik carvings, tapa and large kundu drums can be costly due to labor and provenance.

Q: Is bargaining common in Papua New Guinea markets?
A: Yes, polite bargaining is normal in open-air markets, but always remain respectful and start with small counteroffers; festival and museum prices are usually fixed.

Q: How do I know if a food or coffee product is truly local?
A: Look for origin labels (Goroka, Tari, Madang), roast or harvest dates, producer/cooperative names, and minimal packaging that lists the bean or cacao source.

Papua New Guinea souvenirs are best discovered with time and curiosity — explore the markets and meet the makers to truly understand each piece.

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!