Here are some of the best things to buy duty-free!
It’s a familiar ritual for the modern globetrotter: that almost irresistible journey through a brightly lit consumer paradise just moments before you board your flight. If you’ve ever flown internationally, or even just transited through an international terminal, you know the scene well. The duty-free shop, a dazzling maze of gleaming bottles, fragrant air, and luxury brands, is strategically placed to be one of your last experiences in a country and your first temptation.
But what exactly makes these stores so special? At their core, they are retail businesses that operate under a special jurisdiction, allowing them to sell all kinds of products without the burden of a “duty.” This duty is essentially a tax levied by a government on imported goods. By shopping duty-free, you are effectively avoiding several layers of local taxes, which can include Value-Added Tax (VAT), excise duties (common on alcohol and tobacco), and other import fees. This is why you’ll often find that popular items like fine fragrances, premium tobacco, top-shelf liquor, high-end luxury items, sought-after cosmetics, and specialty candies are mainstays of their inventory.
The direct benefit to you, the traveler, is the potential for significant savings. When you buy items without these added taxes, the prices are often more affordable than what you’d find in a standard domestic retail store. However, it’s a savvy traveler who remembers that “duty-free” doesn’t automatically mean “cheaper.” Airport retail spaces have high overheads, and some prices may be inflated to begin with, so a keen eye and a bit of pre-trip research are your best tools for sniffing out a true bargain.
There are, of course, a few rules to this game. It’s crucial to know that when flying internationally, the cashier will always ask to see your boarding pass. This isn’t just a formality; it’s a legal requirement to verify that you are indeed leaving the country and are therefore eligible for the tax exemption. In many places, like the US, there’s a requirement that travelers must be leaving the country for at least 48 hours to qualify. Furthermore, and this is very important, you must be aware of the duty-free allowances of your destination country. Every nation has limits on the amount of goods (especially alcohol and tobacco) you can bring in without paying taxes on arrival. Exceeding these limits can result in hefty fines, instantly negating any savings you might have made.
Now that we’ve covered these important details and set the stage for smart shopping, let’s dive into the specifics. We’ve consulted travel experts and flight attendants to pinpoint which are some of the absolute best things to buy duty-free on your next trip!
1. Coffee
Sometimes, the very best things to buy duty-free are directly tied to the region you’re departing from. For instance, if your travels take you to renowned coffee-growing regions like Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, or Vietnam, grabbing a bag of local beans is an absolute must. The coffee you’ll find in these locations is often exceptionally fresh, wonderfully aromatic, and significantly less expensive than imported specialty beans back home.
If you’re a true coffee lover, this is your chance to explore unique flavor profiles you won’t find at your local supermarket. Look for single-origin beans to truly taste the terroir of the region. A pro tip from seasoned travelers is to always buy whole beans rather than pre-ground coffee. This preserves the delicate aromatic oils until you’re ready to brew, ensuring a much more flavorful cup. Moreover, a beautifully packaged bag of local coffee makes an excellent and thoughtful gift for a friend, family member, or even your boss, offering them a literal taste of your travels.
2. Longchamp bags
You shouldn’t line up at the duty-free checkout just for coffee, especially if you find yourself in a major European hub. According to many flight attendants, if you’re traveling home from Paris, you absolutely must take a look at the Longchamp bag selection the Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG) offers. Famous for their durable, stylish, and incredibly practical ‘Le Pliage’ tote, these bags are a travel staple. Flight attendants point out that, with a bit of luck, you can spot a sweet deal on them, making them one of the best things to buy duty-free.
The savings come from two factors: the bags are generally cheaper at the source in France, and the duty-free status shaves off the VAT. Beyond the price, airports like CDG often carry an abundance of buying options, including special colors or limited-edition designs that you might not find elsewhere. It’s the perfect combination of a practical purchase and a chic Parisian souvenir.
3. Country-specific beauty products
If you’re interested in skincare and cosmetics, you should know that this category holds some of the best things to buy duty-free. Buying foreign beauty products from airport shops can be surprisingly affordable and open up a world of new formulas. Instead of just buying the same international brands you can get at home, look for products that are iconic to the country you’re in.
For example, when flying from South Korea’s Incheon airport, stock up on innovative K-beauty brands known for their sheet masks and serums. If you’re in France, their airport pharmacies and duty-free sections are treasure troves for brands like La Roche-Posay, Nuxe, and Caudalie, especially their famous micellar waters and rich moisturizers. In Japan, seek out their technologically advanced sunscreens. Travel & Leisure’s Maya Kachroo-Levine says she likes to spend the last of her foreign currency on such country-specific products, like Fijian coconut oil or a unique local perfume not available at home. It’s a fantastic way to bring a piece of a country’s beauty culture home with you.
4. Last-minute gifts
Let’s be honest: it happens to the best of us. You’re at the airport, ready to head home, when you have that sudden moment of panic—you forgot to buy gifts for people back home! According to flight attendants, this is where duty-free shops truly shine, making last-minute presents one of the best things to buy. Scooping up thoughtful presents at the airport is a fantastic and convenient idea.
Forget the generic keychains. Look for higher-quality local goods. This could mean a bottle of locally distilled gin from London, a set of artisanal jams from a French airport, or beautifully crafted leather goods from Italy. Whether you’re buying a fancy new wallet for your partner, a fine silk scarf for your mother, or ornate snow globes for kids, the souvenirs and trinkets at a duty-free shop allow you to ensure you show your loved ones back home that you were thinking of them while you were away—even if the thought only struck you while you were waiting to board!
5. Cadbury chocolates
If you know, you know. For American travelers, in particular, genuine Cadbury chocolates from the UK or Europe are hands-down one of the best things to buy duty-free. Flight attendants and savvy travel editors unanimously agree that the iconic purple-wrapped chocolate is a prime shopping target when traveling internationally and walking through duty-free shops.
Here’s why: the original UK-made Cadbury chocolate has not been readily available in the United States since 2015, as Hershey holds the license to manufacture it domestically and uses a different recipe. Many connoisseurs argue that the original version is far more delicious, with a creamier texture and richer cocoa flavor. Passing up the chance to buy a few bars (or the giant multi-packs often sold at airports) to bring home would qualify as a serious travel mistake you should definitely avoid. It’s a small, inexpensive luxury that tastes like a true European treat.
6. Swiss chocolate
On the topic of superior chocolate, shopping duty-free while returning home from a European vacation offers you the unique opportunity to get a much higher quality of confection than what you usually devour. Thanks to prices that may be lower than at home, picking up genuine Swiss chocolate in a Geneva or Zurich airport is one of the best things to buy duty-free, say flight attendants and travelers alike. Look for iconic brands like Lindt or Toblerone, which often come in gigantic, novelty-sized packaging perfect for gifting.
The reason for this is simple: buying Swiss chocolate directly from duty-free shops in Switzerland is almost always a sweeter deal price-wise. The product is at its source, and when bought anywhere outside this country, it is typically taxed as a luxury import. The quality, derived from exceptional Swiss milk and strict production standards, is undeniable, making it a purchase you won’t regret.
7. Local honey and sea salt
Sometimes the most memorable souvenirs are edible ones that elevate your home cooking. According to flight attendants who make frequent international trips, some of the best things to buy duty-free are hyper-local pantry staples. For instance, when in one of Slovenia’s airports, they recommend seeking out local honey and Piran sea salt. The quality is consistently top-notch, the prices are fair, and you’re bringing home something truly unique.
This principle applies globally. Think Manuka honey from New Zealand, known for its medicinal properties, or fleur de sel from the coast of Brittany in France. These items are often packaged beautifully for travelers and represent a genuine taste of the place you visited, far more than a mass-produced souvenir ever could.
8. Things not available at home
Just as the European version of Cadbury chocolates can’t be found in the US, many other products sold in airport duty-free shops are exclusive to the region or the travel retail market. This is where the real fun of duty-free shopping begins, as you can discover items that are simply not available to buy back at home.
A classic example is the wild variety of Kit Kat flavors available in Japanese airports, ranging from matcha to sake. The foreign candy aisle can also reveal strange flavor varieties of familiar candy, crunchie bars, or interesting shapes and packaging sizes, like the huge Tic Tac container filled with dozens of miniature Tic Tac boxes. This also applies to liquor, where distilleries often release “travel retail exclusive” bottlings that are a must-buy for collectors and connoisseurs.
We’re only halfway to our list of the best things to buy duty-free! Keep reading for more expert tips.
9. Liquor
If you’re a connoisseur of fine spirits, head directly for the many shelves filled with duty-free liquor when flying internationally. For those who have a taste for a premium single malt scotch, aged rum, or artisanal gin, you will likely be able to bring home a bottle or two at far cheaper prices than in the US or other highly taxed countries. The savings on alcohol excise tax alone can be substantial.
What’s great is that this selection of alcoholic drinks is often on sale, and there’s always a wide range of choices, from global bestsellers to local spirits you’ve never heard of. Look for those “travel retail exclusive” bottles, which are special editions created specifically for airport shops. Just keep two critical things in mind: first, you must check the duty-free alcohol allowance for your destination country to avoid taxes on arrival. Second, TSA regulations are strict; you are not allowed to open and consume your duty-free drinks while on the plane.
10. Grey Goose
Diving deeper into the spirits category, some flight attendants specifically highlight Grey Goose vodka as one of the best things to buy duty-free, but with a caveat: the price can vary wildly. People who appreciate this premium French vodka will want to do a little comparison shopping. For instance, a bottle is often significantly cheaper in airports in Japan or its home country of France compared to the duty-free shops at Singapore’s Changi Airport or even Dubai Airport.
This illustrates a key aspect of duty-free shopping. Prices are influenced not just by taxes, but by local distribution agreements and airport operating costs. If you’re a frequent traveler, it pays to take note of prices on your favorite brands at different airports to learn where the best deals are truly found.
11. Perfumes
Scents have a powerful ability to spark memories, and a new fragrance can be the perfect memento of an amazing trip. If you’ve been wanting to get a new signature scent, or perhaps you just need to rebuy your favorite one, you should definitely head for the wide selection you can find in duty-free shops.
The markdowns on perfumes in these stores can be quite tempting, so it’s a great time to stock up on the scent you already know and love. However, if you’re exploring new ones, be patient. Spritz a sample on your wrist and walk around the terminal for at least 20-30 minutes. This allows the alcohol to evaporate and the scent’s top, middle, and base notes to develop on your skin. You probably know that perfume chemistry is unique and subjective to the wearer, so you wouldn’t want to waste your money on an impulsive purchase that leaves you with an unpleasant dry-down or a weak silage. Also, look out for travel-exclusive gift sets, which often bundle a large bottle with a travel spray and lotion for excellent value.
12. Sunglasses
Michael Kors, Ray-Ban, and Versace are just a few of the famous luxury brands you can expect to find while shopping for sunglasses in a duty-free transit hall. If you’ve forgotten your pair at home, or you’re just looking to splurge on a stylish upgrade, there’s typically a wide and current selection in most major airports where you can find something that you like.
Sunglasses are definitely some of the best things to buy duty-free, but *only if* you’re getting a genuinely great deal. This requires a little bit of homework. The most important thing you should do is have your phone handy. Check a currency converter to ensure you’re calculating the true price in your home currency. Then, do a quick Google search for that specific model to see if you can find it at a better price from a reputable online retailer at your final destination. A good deal is a good deal, but an informed purchase is even better.
By the way, Amazon has a great selection of sunglasses!
13. Watches
Whether you’re browsing on a cruise ship or passing through a brightly lit duty-free shop in transit, the shiny metal and intricate faces of designer watches may tempt you to get closer for a better look. Brands from Tissot and Seiko to Omega and Tag Heuer are common sights, and the allure of a tax-free price can be strong.
However, this is a category where you must proceed with caution. Before you make a significant purchase, do your due diligence. Check the prices of online discount retailers, compare them to the prices at authorized online stores back home, and consult a currency converter to double-check the duty-free “deal”. Crucially, ask about the warranty—ensure it’s an international warranty that will be honored in your home country. While you might not always get the absolute lowest price compared to the grey market, buying at an airport duty-free offers guaranteed authenticity and the pleasure of immediate ownership.
14. Jewelry
It isn’t just the watches at duty-free that might catch your eye and make it glint. There’s generally a wide selection of fashion and fine jewelry, with brands like Swarovski and Pandora often there to tempt passengers before they board their flights. With the right promotion or price advantage, you can certainly scoop up a great deal on these items.
According to flight attendants, branded jewelry is among the best things to buy duty-free, so it’s worth taking a look at some of the collections next time you’re in an airport. That sparkling necklace or charm bracelet may look lovely during a fancy dinner on your trip. However, as with watches and sunglasses, keep in mind that better deals may be available from an online retailer. It’s best to stick to well-known fashion jewelry brands where the value is clear, rather than making a hasty decision on uncertified precious stones or metals.
If you liked our article on the best things to buy duty-free, you may also want to read Save $1000 by Purchasing These 8 Off-Brand Items.
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