Los Angeles travel tips

Best Los Angeles Souvenirs: safe picks + where to buy

Choose the right souvenirs by purpose (bulk / family / for yourself), then shop efficiently based on your route. We also show how to add shopping stops to filming-location sightseeing.

What you’ll get on this page

  • Safe picks for coworkers / family / yourself
  • Where to shop quickly (one-stop spots)
  • How to add shopping to your filming-location route

If unsure: Top 5 safe picks

Each item links to the official site and Google Maps for fast planning.

Individually wrapped snacks (supermarket/drugstore)

$5–15

Individually wrapped + lightweight + not fragile is the best combo.

Where to buy

Trader Joe’s reusable bag / tote

$3–10

Light, easy to pack, and useful after the trip—great “LA memory” item.

Where to buy

See’s Candies (boxed chocolates)

$15–35

Easy to gift. Also strong as a last-minute airport option.

Where to buy

Official Dodgers cap (adjustable is safest)

$25–60

Instant “LA.” Official merch tends to be more reliable in quality.

Where to buy

Spices/seasonings (travel-friendly)

$4–12

Safer than liquids and very packable.

Where to buy

Choose by interest (sports / movies / food / culture)

After filtering by purpose, refine by the receiver’s interests to avoid regret.

Sports fans

Official items with strong LA vibes—reliable gifts.

1 items

Click to expand

Official Dodgers cap (adjustable is safest)

$25–60

Best for

Sports fansIconic LA vibeGifts / yourself

Where to buy

  • Dodger Stadium Team Store
  • Reputable sports retailers

Instant “LA.” Official merch tends to be more reliable in quality.

Movie fans

Best for filming-location lovers and movie fans.

3 items

Click to expand

In-N-Out official merch (T-shirts, etc.)

$20–45

Best for

West Coast culture fansMovie loversUnique classics

Where to buy

  • In-N-Out Company Store (official)

Very “California.” Great for people who love American pop culture.

Hollywood souvenirs (keychains/mugs, etc.)

$10–30

Best for

Movie loversEasy sightseeing add-onLight gifts

Where to buy

  • Hollywood area
  • Tourist gift shops

Quality varies. Avoid shops that feel too cheap to be true.

Local culture goods (art/stickers/posters)

$5–40

Best for

For yourselfCulture fansUnique finds

Where to buy

  • Markets
  • Select shops
  • Art/music stores

Best for “only-in-LA” vibes and higher satisfaction.

Food lovers

Safe, packable food gifts that work for many people.

5 items

Click to expand

Trader Joe’s reusable bag / tote

$3–10

Best for

Bulk giftsFor yourselfLightweight

Where to buy

  • Trader Joe’s (in-store)

Light, easy to pack, and useful after the trip—great “LA memory” item.

Individually wrapped snacks (supermarket/drugstore)

$5–15

Best for

CoworkersLarge groupsSafe choice

Where to buy

  • Supermarkets
  • Drugstores
  • Trader Joe’s

Individually wrapped + lightweight + not fragile is the best combo.

See’s Candies (boxed chocolates)

$15–35

Best for

FamilyBossChocolate lovers

Where to buy

  • See’s in the city
  • LAX (backup option)

Easy to gift. Also strong as a last-minute airport option.

Spices/seasonings (travel-friendly)

$4–12

Best for

Food loversBulk giftsLightweight

Where to buy

  • Trader Joe’s
  • Supermarkets

Safer than liquids and very packable.

Hot sauce (bottles need padding)

$6–20

Best for

Food loversFamilyFor yourself

Where to buy

  • Supermarkets
  • Farmers markets

Pack with padding and place in the center of your suitcase.

Mind liquid limits for carry-on; checked baggage is safer.

Culture lovers

For people who want unique, local finds.

3 items

Click to expand

In-N-Out official merch (T-shirts, etc.)

$20–45

Best for

West Coast culture fansMovie loversUnique classics

Where to buy

  • In-N-Out Company Store (official)

Very “California.” Great for people who love American pop culture.

Hollywood souvenirs (keychains/mugs, etc.)

$10–30

Best for

Movie loversEasy sightseeing add-onLight gifts

Where to buy

  • Hollywood area
  • Tourist gift shops

Quality varies. Avoid shops that feel too cheap to be true.

Local culture goods (art/stickers/posters)

$5–40

Best for

For yourselfCulture fansUnique finds

Where to buy

  • Markets
  • Select shops
  • Art/music stores

Best for “only-in-LA” vibes and higher satisfaction.

Recommended souvenirs (browse by categories)

If unsure, start with the Top 5. Then filter by purpose, and finally by interests.

Best for bulk gifts (light + individually wrapped + safe)

Start here for coworkers and large groups—the least regret category.

3 items

Click to expand

Trader Joe’s reusable bag / tote

$3–10

Best for

Bulk giftsFor yourselfLightweight

Where to buy

  • Trader Joe’s (in-store)

Light, easy to pack, and useful after the trip—great “LA memory” item.

Individually wrapped snacks (supermarket/drugstore)

$5–15

Best for

CoworkersLarge groupsSafe choice

Where to buy

  • Supermarkets
  • Drugstores
  • Trader Joe’s

Individually wrapped + lightweight + not fragile is the best combo.

Spices/seasonings (travel-friendly)

$4–12

Best for

Food loversBulk giftsLightweight

Where to buy

  • Trader Joe’s
  • Supermarkets

Safer than liquids and very packable.

Family / premium feel (reliability first)

For “proper gifts” where presentation matters.

3 items

Click to expand

See’s Candies (boxed chocolates)

$15–35

Best for

FamilyBossChocolate lovers

Where to buy

  • See’s in the city
  • LAX (backup option)

Easy to gift. Also strong as a last-minute airport option.

Official Dodgers cap (adjustable is safest)

$25–60

Best for

Sports fansIconic LA vibeGifts / yourself

Where to buy

  • Dodger Stadium Team Store
  • Reputable sports retailers

Instant “LA.” Official merch tends to be more reliable in quality.

Hot sauce (bottles need padding)

$6–20

Best for

Food loversFamilyFor yourself

Where to buy

  • Supermarkets
  • Farmers markets

Pack with padding and place in the center of your suitcase.

Mind liquid limits for carry-on; checked baggage is safer.

Movies & culture (high satisfaction for the right person)

Best when the receiver cares about LA pop culture.

3 items

Click to expand

In-N-Out official merch (T-shirts, etc.)

$20–45

Best for

West Coast culture fansMovie loversUnique classics

Where to buy

  • In-N-Out Company Store (official)

Very “California.” Great for people who love American pop culture.

Hollywood souvenirs (keychains/mugs, etc.)

$10–30

Best for

Movie loversEasy sightseeing add-onLight gifts

Where to buy

  • Hollywood area
  • Tourist gift shops

Quality varies. Avoid shops that feel too cheap to be true.

Local culture goods (art/stickers/posters)

$5–40

Best for

For yourselfCulture fansUnique finds

Where to buy

  • Markets
  • Select shops
  • Art/music stores

Best for “only-in-LA” vibes and higher satisfaction.

Fallback options (when you’re unsure)

When taste is unknown or time is short—safe exits.

5 items

Click to expand

Individually wrapped snacks (supermarket/drugstore)

$5–15

Best for

CoworkersLarge groupsSafe choice

Where to buy

  • Supermarkets
  • Drugstores
  • Trader Joe’s

Individually wrapped + lightweight + not fragile is the best combo.

See’s Candies (boxed chocolates)

$15–35

Best for

FamilyBossChocolate lovers

Where to buy

  • See’s in the city
  • LAX (backup option)

Easy to gift. Also strong as a last-minute airport option.

Spices/seasonings (travel-friendly)

$4–12

Best for

Food loversBulk giftsLightweight

Where to buy

  • Trader Joe’s
  • Supermarkets

Safer than liquids and very packable.

Hot sauce (bottles need padding)

$6–20

Best for

Food loversFamilyFor yourself

Where to buy

  • Supermarkets
  • Farmers markets

Pack with padding and place in the center of your suitcase.

Mind liquid limits for carry-on; checked baggage is safer.

Gift cards (ultimate safe fallback)

$10+

Best for

Not sure of their tasteNo timeZero-regret option

Where to buy

  • Some shops/markets (varies)

A smart alternative when you can’t decide on physical items.

Last-minute option: souvenirs at the airport

Airports can work as a backup. Selection is smaller, so buy in the city first if you can.

Good airport picks (examples)

  • Boxed sweets (easy to gift, pack-friendly)
  • Individually wrapped snacks (light, easy to share)
  • Top-up items (avoid forgetting gifts)

How not to rely too much on the airport

  • Buy main items in the city; use the airport as backup
  • Secure 80% by the day before
  • Prefer lightweight items; avoid fragile/heavy items

Packing & pitfalls (avoid common mistakes)

These are the classic issues: liquids, fragile items, quality differences, and running out of time.

  • For bulk gifts: individually wrapped + lightweight + not fragile
  • For bottles/liquids: bring padding or wrap with clothes
  • Very cheap shops can have big quality differences
  • Don’t leave shopping until the last day (airport compromise happens)

Quick checklist

Bulk gifts → individually wrapped / lightweight / not fragile. Family → reliability. For yourself → uniqueness.

Common mistakes

  • Leaving shopping to the last day and settling at the airport
  • Buying bottles/liquids without enough padding
  • Choosing the cheapest option and regretting the quality
  • Too many areas in one day—traffic eats your time

Add shopping to your filming route (better time efficiency)

LA traffic is real—cluster filming locations by area and add nearby shopping stops.

Half-day plan: filming locations + bulk gifts

Key idea: stay in one area and add a one-stop shopping stop nearby.

About 4–5 hours
  • Morning: 2–3 filming spots in one area
  • Lunch nearby
  • Afternoon: one-stop shopping (Trader Joe’s, etc.)
Short tripsBulk-gift priorityLess travel fatigue

For sports fans: maximize “LA vibe” with official merch

Official stores are reliable—especially when you have limited time.

About 3–6 hours (depends on locations)
  • Dodgers-related stops
  • Official merch (cap/apparel)
  • Fill gaps with snacks/sweets nearby
Sports fansReliable giftingIconic LA vibe

Final-day strategy: keep an airport backup

Buy most items in the city, then top up at the airport if needed.

Final day
  • Morning: sightseeing/filming spots
  • Afternoon: city shopping
  • Airport: top-up items (See’s, etc.)
Uncertain schedulesAfraid of forgetting gifts

With Dreams Come Tours, we optimize your route end-to-end

We naturally add shopping stops to your filming-location route—so you get more done without rushing.

Area-based route design

Less travel time, more highlights per day.

Shopping fits into the same day

Avoid the “no time to shop” problem.

Customized to your interests

Movies, sports, culture, food—your style, your route.

Want to plan efficiently in LA?

We can design a route that naturally includes souvenir stops—so you get more done without rushing.

Fast inquiry template (copy/paste)

Paste this via LINE or the inquiry form so we can propose quickly.

Trip length: Group size: Where you stay: Transportation (car / no car): Interests (movies / sports / culture / food): Souvenir purpose (bulk / family / for myself): Must-see filming locations:

Next step

Book or message us on LINE. We’ll tailor your route to your preferences.

FAQ

Common questions about souvenirs, packing, and timing.

What’s the safest option for bulk gifts?

Prioritize individually wrapped, lightweight, and non-fragile items. Supermarket snacks and Trader Joe’s picks are usually safest.

Can I bring bottles or liquids home?

Yes, but you’ll need padding and space. Checked baggage is safer; also be mindful of carry-on liquid limits.

What if I want to shop quickly?

Use a one-stop shop as your base. Starting with a nearby Trader Joe’s or large supermarket is the most reliable approach.

Can I do filming locations and shopping on the same day?

Yes. Cluster spots by area and insert nearby shopping stops to keep it efficient (traffic avoidance matters).

Is shopping at the airport good enough?

It works last-minute, but city options are usually better for selection and price. Use the airport as a backup.