Travel patches are a simple way to personalise a backpack, jacket, fabric suitcase, blanket or travel bag. Some people collect a patch from every country they visit, while others choose designs featuring favourite landmarks, national parks, aircraft or travel-themed slogans.
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They can also have a practical purpose. A distinctive patch may help a child recognise their own bag, make similar luggage easier to tell apart or turn packing into a familiar travel routine. This guide explains where to buy travel patches, what types are available and what to check before attaching one.
Where to Buy Travel Patches Online
Online shops usually offer the widest choice, particularly when you’re searching for a specific city, country or attraction. Search using the destination name followed by terms such as “embroidered patch”, “travel badge”, “iron-on patch” or “sew-on patch”.
Buy Travel Patches on Etsy
Etsy is one of the best places to look for unusual or handmade travel patches. Sellers offer embroidered destination patches, national flags, retro-style badges, landmark designs and personalised options.
It’s particularly useful when you want a patch for a less commonly visited destination. Many shops sell coordinated collections, so you may be able to build a matching set as your travels continue.
Check the seller’s location, estimated delivery date and postage cost before ordering. A low-priced patch can become expensive when international delivery is added.
Some of my favourite patch shopts on Etsy are:
- The Patch Map
- Karma Patch
- Nomadic Oddities GB
- Make My Embroidery
- Travel Patches
- Thread Needles Patch
- The Patch Shop Ltd
Buy Travel Patches on eBay
eBay has a large selection of new and second-hand travel patches. It can be especially useful for vintage souvenir badges, discontinued attraction patches and designs from previous trips.
Try several versions of your search. A seller may describe the same item as a patch, cloth badge, embroidered badge, applique or souvenir emblem.
Buy Travel Patches on Amazon
Amazon often has multipacks of flag patches, outdoor adventure designs and general travel-themed badges. Delivery may be quicker than ordering from an independent international seller, but the selection of specific cities can be more limited.
Read the product description carefully. Some multipacks include repeated designs, while others are decorative rather than linked to real destinations.
Buy Travel Patches on Temu
Temu has become a popular place to buy affordable travel patches, with thousands of designs available for destinations around the world. You’ll find everything from country flags and city landmarks to embroidered adventure-themed patches, often sold individually or in multipacks. Prices are usually very low, making Temu a good option if you’re starting a collection or want to decorate a backpack or jacket without spending a fortune.
Before ordering, it’s worth checking the seller’s reviews, customer photos and estimated delivery times, as quality can vary between listings. If you’re looking for a specific destination, using search terms such as “Japan travel patch” or “London embroidered patch” can help you narrow down the results more quickly.
Buy Travel Patches on SHEIN
Although SHEIN is best known for clothing and accessories, it also sells a growing range of embroidered patches, including travel-inspired and country-themed designs. Many of the patches are intended for customising jackets, bags, hats and luggage, and they are often available at budget-friendly prices.
As with other online marketplaces, the range changes regularly, so it’s worth searching before every trip if you’re hoping to find a patch for a particular destination. Reading customer reviews and looking through buyer photos can also help you judge the size, colours and overall quality before placing an order.
Independent Patch Shops
Specialist patch retailers may organise their designs by country, city, national park or theme. These shops can be easier to browse than a large marketplace, and some allow you to order patches in a consistent size and style.
Search for “destination patch shop UK” or add the name of the country where you live. Buying domestically may reduce delivery time, customs charges and complicated returns.
Where to Buy Travel Patches in Person
Buying a patch during a trip can make it feel more meaningful. However, not every destination sells them, so it helps to know where to look.
Buy Travel Patches at Tourist Information Centres
Official tourist information centres sometimes sell patches alongside maps, postcards, magnets and local gifts. Their products are often linked closely to the city, region or local emblem.
Buy Travel Patches at Museum and Attraction Gift Shops
Museums, theme parks, zoos, heritage sites and visitor attractions may sell exclusive embroidered badges. These are a good choice when you want a patch connected to a particular experience rather than the wider destination.
Buy Travel Patches at National Park Visitor Centres
National parks are particularly good places to find travel patches. Visitor centres and official park shops often stock designs featuring wildlife, mountains, trails or park logos.
Buy Travel Patches at Outdoor and Camping Shops
Outdoor retailers sometimes carry adventure-themed patches, hiking badges and country flags. They may not have a patch for a precise destination, but they can be useful for decorating a camping bag or walking rucksack.
Buy Travel Patches at Hard Rock Cafés and Hard Rock Shops
If you enjoy collecting travel souvenirs, it’s worth checking whether your destination has a Hard Rock Café or Hard Rock Shop. While they’re best known for their iconic T-shirts and pins, many locations also sell embroidered patches featuring the city name, country or exclusive local designs. These can make a fun and slightly different addition to your travel patch collection.
Stock varies from one location to another, so not every Hard Rock venue will have patches available. If you’re hoping to buy one, it’s worth visiting the gift shop during your trip or checking online to see what merchandise is currently stocked. As many designs are exclusive to individual locations, they can also become unique keepsakes that are difficult to find once you’ve returned home.
I know for sure that Hard Rock Cafe Dublin stocks travel patches because we got the kids one each for their travel blankets. If you want to learn more about Dublin, I have a guide to visiting Dublin with kids.
Buy Travel Patches at Souvenir Shops and Markets
Look near displays of keyrings, magnets and fabric bags. Patches are small, so they’re sometimes kept in baskets or on rotating stands rather than placed prominently.
If busy souvenir shops are difficult for your child, one adult could look inside while the other waits in a quieter place. Taking a photo of the available designs may also let a child choose without needing to remain in a crowded shop.
We managed to buy a whole range of flag travel patches at a little street market on Khao San Road in Bangkok. We also found an entire shop dedicateed to patches in Chinatown in Bangkok but they were mostly not city or country specific patches. To learn more about both of these places check out my guides: Khao San Road with kids and Chinatown in Bangkok with kids.
In Dublin we managed to get both Dublin and Ireland patches in a souvenir shop inside a mall. The same goes for Naha in Okinawa, Japan and Vallette in Malta. Souvenir shops are a great place to look. If you want to learn more about these places you can look at my guides: Naha with autistic children and Valletta with kids.
Can You Order Custom Travel Patches?
Custom patches are useful when you can’t find the right destination, want to mark a family trip or need a clear identifier for a bag. Many embroidery businesses and online marketplace sellers accept small custom orders.
You might add a family name, a simple illustration, a favourite transport symbol or the dates of a special trip. Avoid putting a child’s full name, home address or other sensitive information on a bag that will be visible in public.
A custom patch can also display a communication message, but think carefully about privacy. Some families prefer a removable card or hidden information tag rather than permanently displaying a diagnosis or medical detail.
Types of Travel Patch You Can Buy
- Iron-on patches: These have a heat-activated adhesive backing. They’re quick to apply but aren’t suitable for every fabric.
- Sew-on patches: Sewing is usually more secure, especially on bags that are handled frequently.
- Hook-and-loop patches: These can be removed or swapped, provided the bag already has a compatible panel.
- Adhesive patches: Peel-and-stick designs may work for temporary decoration, but they can lift at the edges.
- Woven patches: These can show finer details and smaller lettering than traditional embroidery.
- PVC or rubber patches: These are durable and often weather resistant, though they may feel heavier or more textured.
What to Check Before Buying Travel Patches
The Size of the Patch
Check the measurements rather than judging from the product photo. A patch that looks small online may cover a large section of a child’s backpack.
Backing Type of the Travel Patch
Confirm whether the patch is iron-on, sew-on, adhesive or hook-and-loop. Some listings use “iron-on” and “sew-on” together because the patch can be applied either way.
Fabric Compatibility of the Travel Patch
Heat can damage waterproof coatings, plastic-based fabrics, insulated sections and some synthetic bags. Always check the bag manufacturer’s care instructions before using an iron.
Texture and Sensory Comfort of the Patch
Raised embroidery, stiff edges and rough backing may bother someone who is sensitive to texture. Place patches away from shoulder straps, grab handles and any area that rubs against the body.
Letting an autistic child touch the patch before it is attached can help you check whether the texture feels comfortable. A smooth woven patch may be preferable to thick embroidery.
Wash and Weather Resistance of the Patch
A patch used on a frequently washed jacket needs different care from one displayed on a wall hanging. Look for washing instructions and consider sewing around the edge even when a patch has an iron-on backing.
How to Attach a Travel Patch to a Bag
Sewing is generally the safest option for valuable luggage because it doesn’t require high heat. Use strong thread and small stitches around the patch edge. Check the inside of the bag first so you don’t sew through a pocket, zip or padded compartment.
If the manufacturer confirms that ironing is safe, follow the patch instructions exactly. Use a pressing cloth, avoid zips and plastic trim, and never leave a hot iron unattended around children.
For expensive or waterproof luggage, consider attaching patches to a removable luggage strap, fabric organiser or separate patch panel instead. This avoids making holes or affecting the bag’s coating.
Travel Patch Ideas for Families
- Choose one patch together after every family trip.
- Use a different colour or theme for each family member’s bag.
- Collect patches without attaching them immediately, then arrange them at home.
- Create a fabric travel map, blanket or wall hanging for the collection.
- Use transport patches to support a child’s interest in trains, buses or aircraft.
- Add a familiar patch to a new bag to make it easier to recognise.
Patches can become part of a predictable post-trip routine. Choosing a design, talking about the journey and deciding where to place it may provide a calm way to remember the experience.
FAQ About Where to Buy Travel Patches
What Is the Best Website for to Buy Travel Patches?
Etsy usually has the widest range of unusual, handmade and custom destination patches. eBay is useful for vintage or discontinued designs, while Amazon is convenient for multipacks and faster delivery. Availability and delivery costs vary by seller.
Can I Put Iron-on Patches on a Backpack?
Only when the backpack manufacturer says the fabric can tolerate heat. Ironing may damage waterproof coatings, padding or synthetic materials. Sewing the patch on is often safer.
Where Can I Find Patches While Travelling?
Try tourist information centres, museum shops, national park visitor centres, souvenir shops, outdoor retailers and local craft markets. Ask staff if you can’t see them, as patches are sometimes stored behind the counter. You can also get them in Hard Rock Cafes and we found many in market stalls in Bangkok too.
Are Travel Patches Suitable for Children?
Travel patches can be suitable for children when they’re securely attached. Check for loose threads, sharp pins or small removable parts. Consider texture and placement for children with sensory sensitivities.
Where Can I Buy Country-Specific Travel Patches?
Country-specific travel patches are available from specialist travel patch retailers, independent creators on Etsy, marketplaces such as eBay and Vinted, and some souvenir shops in the country you’re visiting. If you’re looking for a specific destination, searching for the country name along with “travel patch” usually helps you find the best options.
Are Travel Patches Good Souvenirs?
Yes, travel patches are one of the most popular travel souvenirs because they’re lightweight, affordable and easy to collect. Many travellers sew or iron them onto backpacks, jackets and blankets, while others keep them in a scrapbook or display them in a collection to remember the places they’ve visited.
Whether you’re just starting your collection or looking for a hard-to-find destination patch, there are plenty of places to buy travel patches online and in person. From specialist travel patch retailers to handmade designs on Etsy and bargains on Vinted or eBay, it’s easy to find patches that help tell the story of your adventures.
If you enjoy collecting travel souvenirs, patches are a fun, affordable and lightweight way to remember every destination you visit. As your collection grows, you can display them on backpacks, jackets, blankets or a dedicated patch board, creating a unique reminder of the places you’ve explored around the world.
Continue Planning Your Trip With Autistic Children
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- Learn step-by-step how to set up the accessibility feature on Google maps
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Continue Planning Your Accessible Trip With My Guides
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