A better kind of souvenir
Not every souvenir has to be predictable. In a city as visually memorable as Dubrovnik, it is easy to leave with something generic — a magnet, a postcard, a quick reminder of a place you loved. But some souvenirs manage to do much more than that. They carry a stronger sense of place, a clearer idea and a more personal connection to the city itself.
That is what makes Floaties sunglasses and the Dubrovačka rozeta earrings stand out. Both were recently recognised among the top five Croatian souvenirs, receiving an award for creativity, innovation and contribution to the tourist offer of a destination.
Floaties: sunglasses with a Dubrovnik story behind them
Floaties are not just another stylish accessory. They are one of those Dubrovnik products that feel smart from the very beginning.
Created through Maritimo Recycling, the sunglasses are made from recycled plastic bottle caps, and each pair uses ten caps. That detail alone makes them memorable, but what gives them real character is their connection to the Adriatic and to a local way of thinking about waste, design and reuse.
For visitors, Floaties work especially well as a souvenir because they are practical, distinctive and easy to link to Dubrovnik. They are tied to the sea, to summer and to a contemporary local story rather than a nostalgic cliché. They feel like something you would actually want to wear after the trip is over.
Dubrovačka rozeta: a local motif turned into jewellery
Alongside Floaties, the Dubrovačka rozeta earrings show another side of the modern Dubrovnik souvenir. While Floaties speak more to sustainability and innovation, the rozeta brings local visual heritage into a more refined, wearable form. Together, the two products suggest that Dubrovnik’s best souvenirs do not have to choose between design and identity. They can carry both.
That is part of what makes them such a good fit for a city like Dubrovnik. They do not feel mass-produced or interchangeable. They feel considered.
What makes a souvenir worth buying
The nicest souvenirs are usually the ones that still make sense once you get home. Not just because they look good, but because they hold onto a story.
Floaties and the Dubrovačka rozeta do exactly that. One turns recycled bottle caps into something stylish and unexpectedly elegant. The other takes a recognisable local motif and gives it a new life through jewellery. Neither feels generic. Both feel rooted in Dubrovnik in a way visitors can immediately understand. This last point is an editorial reading based on the award recognition and product framing.
A new generation of Dubrovnik souvenirs
For anyone wondering what to buy in Dubrovnik beyond the obvious, these two are a good place to start. They represent a newer kind of souvenir — one that is more thoughtful, more local and more likely to stay with you long after the trip ends.
And perhaps that is the real test of a good souvenir. Not whether it simply reminds you where you were, but whether it tells you something meaningful about the place you visited. Here, both products seem to do exactly that.
Photo: Maritimo Recycling
