Wolpertinger – a hare with antlers
The surest sign that you have been to Germany will be a stuffed Bavarian wolpertinger brought home. This animal was invented by jovial Germans for entertaining tourists. According to legend, the hare with antlers is a very rare species found only in the Bavarian Alps.
Another specific souvenir could be a piece of the Berlin Wall. However, if vandalism does not appeal to you even in such a harmless form, you can choose a beer mug as a gift for a friend or relative. Germans are famous worldwide for their unearthly love of high-quality beer, so such a souvenir would be very symbolic.
A beer mug made of glass, ceramics, porcelain, or metal is the most commonly found product in German cities. Ideally, it would be good to also grab a bottle of real German beer along with the mug. If you do not want to bother with small items and consider beer too easy a catch, take something stronger. For example, the traditional hunting liqueur 'Jägermeister' made from fruits and tree bark would be the best strong alcoholic souvenir in these parts.
No less desirable gifts are the legendary knives 'Solingen'. And although nowadays there are plenty of brand stores outside Germany, buying a knife in its homeland is considered prestigious.
Speaking of exquisite souvenirs, I would like to focus on porcelain figurines of the 'Meissen' brand. The company was founded in 1710 and became the first representative of a porcelain manufactory in Europe. Now Meissen figurines are freely available at brand outlets in shopping centers.
If you would like to find specific niche souvenirs in each of the major German cities, here is a short list of such purchases. Do not leave Munich without buying men's leather shorts. In Düsseldorf, you must buy the iconic 'tilted' mug with depictions of Gehry buildings. The symbol of Berlin is bears, so in the capital souvenir shops are filled with fluffy teddy bears and intricate wooden figurines.
If soulless souvenirs do not interest you, feel free to head to flea markets for purchases that convey the spirit of the country and the character of its people. Only there will you find priceless pre-war postcards, rare books, touching Christmas tree ornaments that were destined to outlive their owners, and all sorts of badges and emblems with GDR symbols.
Finally, sweet gifts remain a win-win option for a souvenir. Delicious gingerbread and real German chocolate will not delight you for years, but will bring no less pleasure than any inedible purchase.
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