The homewares that are really worth buying on holiday (and how to get them back)

Telegraph

30-07-2025

As glorious and relaxing as a holiday can be, it's always all in the moment – swapping the weather, atmosphere and food for a suitcase full of dirty laundry on arriving back home makes certain of that. But what can transport you back to that charming villa or evoke that magical sunset is a carefully chosen souvenir; perhaps a mug from which to drink your morning coffee, or a platter to serve a salad on.
The Continent spoils us for choice: there are vintage markets for magpies, artist studios, and unique boutiques filled with local wares guaranteed to nudge your luggage into the overweight category.
'I love doing a little research on the surrounding villages before flying,' says Louise Roe, a fashion journalist and founder of homewares brand Sharland England.
'Sometimes the location button on Instagram can lead to some genius finds, like flea markets and tiny antique shops.'
Roe isn't alone in her exploration off the beaten track. Here, designers and tastemakers share where they find the most original homewares, from Provence to Portugal, for the perfect 'Where did you get that?' keepsake.
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Provence
The Algarve
Puglia
Mallorca
Kefalonia
Provence
'If you're into pottery and tableware, Provence is the place to come,' says Sydney Piercey, a Londoner who relocated to the south of France five years ago and recently launched Les Six, an online shop and sourcing service specialising in antique French homewares.
She suggests visiting brocantes (flea markets) in the towns of Aubagne, Biot and Vallauris, while Libs Lewis, founder of the Cotswold homeware shop Domestic Science, has a soft spot for the fair at Barjac (August 13–17) and the Saturday market at Uzès.
Check the websites vide-grenier.org and brocabrac.fr for a definitive guide to what's happening around where you are staying.
Driving? This is the time to look out for cumbersome pieces which are usually much pricier in the UK, such as wrought-iron garden furniture, ornate benches, mortars and baskets.
Piercey used to bring back antique chopping boards and small pots, wrapped in clothes, in her suitcase. Arriving at a market early is key – around 8am is best – and bring cash, as most sellers prefer it and may be more willing to negotiate if you have it.
Lewis loves a rummage: 'The best finds are often half-hidden or stacked underneath something else,' she says.
If you fall in love with a piece of furniture that you can't transport home with you, ask the dealer if they can recommend a shipping service, or help with shipping the piece.
If scouring markets isn't your thing, make a beeline for the supermarkets instead. That's where Lewis picks up Le Petit Marseillais soaps and lemon- or cassis-flavoured syrups; in Monoprix, she rates its men's shirts, pyjamas and linen jackets.
'It's the everyday essentials that the French just seem to do better,' she says.
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The Algarve
The Faro district can be awash with questionable cork shoes, cork handbags, cork hats…you get the idea. But if you know where to look, you can come home with distinctive additions to your kitchen table.
Traditionally glazed terracotta pieces are sturdy yet charming, offering remarkably good value, and as they come in myriad shapes and sizes, they make for perfect dip bowls and baking trays. Don't discount small department stores, as these often boast the most diverse selection.
Charlotte Bird, founder of travel PR agency Passaro, remembers visiting Porches Pottery, which is famed for its hand-painted jugs and salad bowls. 'I grew up going to the shop with my family and always loved seeing the ladies sitting at their stations painting the bits of pottery in front of me,' says Bird.
Content creator Catarina Mira, who is from the Algarve but now lives in London, always receives lots of compliments on her collection of bowls and serving platters bought from the shop Paraiso in Raposeira. These are a snip compared to UK prices, and she rates its wicker pieces too: 'They're light, easy to pack, and feel special without being fussy.'
Local markets tend to be food-centric, so Mira suggests looking up Artists & Fleas Algarve on Facebook for the best selection of vintage ceramics, second-hand furniture and unexpected gems. Then, on the second Monday of the month, the Mercado de Rua de Algoz is a must: 'It's very local, not touristy at all, and leans more toward flea/vintage rather than polished craft stalls – ideal if you're looking for interiors rather than souvenirs,' says Mira.
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Puglia
For ceramics aficionados, a trip to Puglia is not unlike being a child in a sweet shop. Colourful splatterware pieces (also referred to as speckle) line the shelves of many a small boutique. You can't go wrong with bundling a pretty jar of (carefully wrapped) olive oil for your kitchen worktop, and then refilling it.
But for Natalie Sytner, the founder of Bettina Ceramica, whose mother is from the region, it's the one-off finds which she cherishes the most. 'It's always wonderful to come home with pieces that not everyone will have,' she says. Lucky, then, that the region has some of the best antiques markets: in Lecce, the market around the Piazza Libertini is on the last Sunday of every month, while in Ostuni, the Antiquaria fair on the second Sunday of every month delivers with unique treasures.
Louise Roe can't resist hand-embroidered tablecloths and linens which have undoubtedly enjoyed a past life, and looks out for miniature works of art. 'Sometimes there's a little oil painting on a board – the size of a postcard, so perfect for the suitcase home – and I'll then search for the perfect frame separately,' she says. 'These are one-of-a-kind pieces that will always remind you of that beautiful trip.'
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Mallorca
Who doesn't want to bottle the essence of the Balaerics and bring a little back home with them? In her own way, the accessories designer Sandra Barrio Gonzalez does just that, raiding Mallorca's markets for sobrasada (spreadable cured sausage), homemade honey, ensaimadas (traditional pastries) and olives and cheeses. Her hotspots? 'The Sineu Market and Esporles Market, which are much more local than touristy,' says the Barceloni, who now lives in north London.
Nestled among these foodstuffs are often very reasonably priced ceramics, such as painted bowls and a perfect gift for your carry-on: a ceramic grater. Add a flavoured oil and you have the ultimate thank you for whoever has been minding your pets or watering your plants. Spanish markets also have a plentiful supply of woven pieces which make their way over from northern Africa, so you can pick up a basket bag or a rustic lampshade for a song.
Barrio Gonzalez knows her way around the island through its best shops: Manacor has Can Garanya, a century-old business with three boutiques selling everything from espadrilles to rugs. Algaida, just outside of Palma, is home to Gordiola Vidrios, an esteemed glass-blowing company founded 300 years ago. 'Because I'm obsessed with glass, it's always a stop,' she says.
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Kefalonia
Coming home imbued with vitamin D and a newfound appreciation for feta cheese are the usual spoils from the sleepy Greek islands. But for the York-based content creator, Lisa Dawson, it's the streets of Argostoli in Kefalonia where she has discovered some of her most-loved pieces.
'There are many ceramic shops where individual artisans and makers have shelves with pieces that you can buy,' she says. 'Some of these are huge – think big platters and extra-large vessels – but they'll ship them if you ask. Bypass the standard tourist pottery and look for unique pieces from these studios,' she advises.
The Greeks are also onto a winner with small textiles – 11 years on from my honeymoon, my wash bag is still going strong, and is pretty as well as practical. Local shops also specialise in oil-rich skincare which comes beautifully packaged, so add a hand cream or two to elevate your basins back home.
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