The 23 Best Retirement Gifts

The New Masters Academy Gift Subscription is not for the faint of heart. But for the retiree who has long harbored a serious interest in creative endeavors, this online art school could be just right. The highly skilled instructors offer incredible expertise, and there’s a vast expanse of rich content, broken down into 15- to 20-minute videos. Lectures can occasionally be dry or meander (just like real-world college classes!), and coursework is built in a linear fashion, so it can be difficult to skip around. For example, color theory and paint mixing are covered in oil painting but not in the watercolor class, which assumes oil painting as a prerequisite. Supervising editor Marilyn Ong found that the high-value content upped her skill set, and she found Steve Hudson’s figure-drawing class to be “perspective-shifting.”

With balls flying into ponds, wooded thickets, and god knows where else, golfers can always use more of ’em. Here’s hoping that retirement ushers in even more time on the back nine. A fixture in PGA and LPGA tournaments, the reliable and balanced Titleist Pro V1 Golf Balls are made with a soft cast urethane elastomer cover, providing a smoother feel. Staff writer Samantha Schoech’s golf-nut stepfather is among the Pro V1’s many dedicated fans. You can also customize the balls by uploading a short congratulatory message or logo.

For many, retirement means more time to travel. Lonely Planet’s Where to Go When is organized to do just that. Arranged by month, the book maps out which destinations are best during each time of the year—for example, the Japanese Alps in January, after the holiday crowds thin, or the Galápagos Islands in July, to witness the unique courtship of blue-footed boobies. The book also uses handy infographics and icons to denote a trip’s relative value. For instance, a summer jaunt to Italy’s Alta Badia region is affordable (money-bag icon), another destination offers nature experiences (elephant icon), and still another is known for its excellent food and drink (Champagne flutes toasting).

With high-quality videos and archival audio from the Metropolitan Opera, Met Opera on Demand Gift Subscriptions feature highly rated renditions of classics, like the 2023 rendition of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, as well as all-new productions, including Anthony Davis’s X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. There are more than 850 full-length performances on offer, and they are streamable on free apps for a range of smart TVs, tablets, and phones. Although the subscription does not include live-streaming for Live in HD performances, those broadcasts are typically made available three to six months after their cinema dates.

Enno Vatti’s 16-by-20-inch National Parks Scratch-Off Poster reveals 63 vintage-style illustrations of the most epic natural wonders: the pink-tinged cliffs of the Grand Canyon, the verdant palms of American Samoa, and shadowy cacti in Saguaro, among them. (The National Park Service covers 425 sites—including monuments and memorials—as well as parks like Yosemite and the Grand Teton, which are contained in this poster.) For a winning pairing, give the poster alongside a National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass.

If your loved one has always dreamed of peering into the Grand Canyon or watching a geyser erupt at Yellowstone (or even if they’ve already checked it off their list), give them a National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. With it, they can freely enter the 109 federal recreational sites that charge a daily entrance fee—usually between $10 and $35—and they can bring up to three guests with them. Most parks have accessibility considerations in place, too, so your loved one can find an experience that’s just right for them. When you present your retiree with their pass, take things a step further and help them download the free National Park Service app, one of our favorite apps for getting the most out of a park trip. This way, they’ll be ready for their trip with interactive maps, self-guided tours, lists of amenities, and more.

With age comes wisdom—and lived-in knees. Sturdy, steadying hiking poles are a wise choice for retirees who have a penchant for hiking (and for everyone else, too, frankly), and they’re especially useful on pebbly, leafy descents. The Montem Ultra Strong Trekking Poles—our top pick in the category—are made of lightweight aluminum (which can handle plenty of dings), and the EVA foam grips won’t chafe hands (as rubber ones do). Most trekking poles don’t come with rubber baskets and tips, but these poles do (so the recipient won’t have to do any additional shopping). They will be able to immediately hit the trails, with more balance and stability—and less wear and tear on their joints.

Although there may be more time to mix up cocktails in retirement, some retirees may prefer to just drink them instead. Our testers tried 50 pre-made cocktails, and the boozy, bitter St. Agrestis Negroni was one of their favorites. The slightly herbaceous and earthy cocktail balances the company’s Campari-like Inferno Bitter Aperitivo with a Torino-style vermouth (a regional style of the sweet fortified wine), along with Greenhook Gin. All the recipient has to do is pop and pour, and if they’re feeling fancy they can drop in an orange twist. After all, retirement is about doing less work, not more.

For golfers looking to crush fellow retirees on the links—or just to improve their stats—this Indoor Putting Green makes practicing between golf-course visits a breeze, especially for those living in cooler climes. The 9-foot-long green has a continuous, automatic ball return, so the golf-loving retiree can endlessly work on their putt while also honing accuracy, alignment, and form. If the recipient doesn't have the space (or an amenable spouse) to leave it out between sessions, the green itself can be rolled up and stored in a closet, which is exactly what senior staff writer Rachel Cericola’s family does. Her husband and son have had a lot of fun with a similar version for three years and counting.

Lushly photographed and expertly researched, The Most Scenic Drives in America is ideal for new retirees who are ready to cruise into the non-proverbial sunset. The one drawback to the book is that it was last updated in 2012. We found the routes and primary attractions to be unchanged, however, and as a source of inspiration for amazing drives, this guide is best in class. (The recipient should of course do their own research for specifics like park and museum hours.) For each suggested destination, the book provides a predicted mileage, historical context, and un-touristy pit stops. This is an indispensable guide for almost anyone who hopes to see more of all 50 states, including Hawaii and Alaska. Don’t be discouraged if it initially lands on your favorite retiree’s coffee table—it will soon be dog-eared and sun-bleached in their passenger seat.

For a latent photo buff who is yearning to reawaken this creative pursuit in retirement, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV—our top-pick mirrorless camera—would be an excellent motivator. A quick primer for non-photographers: Mirrorless cameras yield better images and provide more functionality than smartphone cameras, but they aren’t quite as complex as DSLRs. This Olympus model offers excellent autofocus and stellar stabilization, and due to its handy size, it isn’t too clunky to lug around on scenic hikes. If the recipient is relatively tech-savvy, they’ll also appreciate using the Wi-Fi functionality to transfer images to a phone, for easy and instant sharing. Because this Olympus camera is a substantial investment, it’s a great option for siblings or grandchildren looking to go in on a big group gift.

Yes, this hat is unassuming. And yes, it’s also essential, especially for an outdoor enthusiast (kayaker, beachgoer, forager) whose profession kept them indoors for the better part of the past few decades. The Columbia Bora Bora Booney II Hat is the also-great pick in our guide to sun hats for hikers, thanks to its inoffensive silhouette and supreme functionality. Due to the particularly generous band of mesh, this hat is pleasantly breathable, and its wide, firm brim stands up to powerful rays. There are two size toggles—along the crown and at the chin—so you needn’t know the recipient’s head size to nail a great fit. Intrepid travelers will also appreciate its excellent packability.

Painting requires patience and perspective, so it’s a wonderful pursuit to take up in one’s later years. And for artists of all skill levels, the 36-color Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors set is one of the best we’ve tested. Made by a 115-year-old sumi-ink manufacturer in Nara, Japan, the paints are neither as sheer as traditional watercolors nor as thick as gouache. As a result, they’re easy and satisfying to work with. The opacity, pigment, and gloss are so impressive that these paints work well even on dark paper. Complete the gift with Strathmore Watercolor Postcards and some Pentel Aquash Brush pens.

A nice fountain pen might be less practical than a ballpoint, but it’s far more enjoyable to wield. Wirecutter director of photography Michael Hession has been building a fountain pen collection for about five years, and he recommends the handsome Pelikan Classic M205 for journaling, sketching, and note-taking. “The feel is perfect,” he said. “It’s smooth with a hint of scratchy feedback—a good thing in my book.” Remember to include a bottle of ink because the pen uses a piston filling system and arrives empty.

By now, your retiree probably has a handle on their decor style, but the MoMA Design Store Irregular Crystal Vase brings a celebratory shine to any space, and it’s sure to become an unexpected conversation piece your loved one will treasure. This prismatic piece is made with lead-crystal glass that reflects and refracts light, so it picks up the colors around it—the recipient can experiment with placing it near colorful books or plants. Though the vase fits in the palm of one’s hand (it’s merely 3 inches tall), it’s sturdy and just the right size to liven up a desk, an end table, or a windowsill with a single bloom.

For retirees who are eager to master a new skill, a subscription to MasterClass gives them access to nearly 200 virtual courses taught by experts in their fields—everything from Indian cooking with Madhur Jaffrey to ballet with Misty Copeland. Billy Collins’s poetry course is a favorite of associate staff writer Ellen Airhart; other staffers have enjoyed Yotam Ottolenghi’s Middle Eastern cooking class. MasterClass offers only one subscription plan (an annual plan), setting a rather high bar for entry; this gift lowers that bar for curious learners.

The Challenger Bread Pan is one of our favorite tools for baking enthusiasts. Unlike a Dutch oven (a multipurpose tool that bakers often use), the Challenger pan was designed specifically with baking in mind, and it’s sure to be a hit with any bread baker who wants to up their game. This pan is made of thicker iron than you find with most Dutch ovens, so it’s better at absorbing and retaining heat. And the rectangular (rather than circular) cavity can accommodate complexly shaped loaves, such as batards, demi baguettes, and boules. As Wirecutter supervising editor Ben Keough said, “If you’re hunting for a gift that will impress a bread-obsessed friend, the Challenger delivers.”

Whether they’re feeling lost without the office Keurig or they just have more time to contemplate the complex flavors of their brew, a subscription to a coffee delivery service makes a fine treat. One of our favorites, Atlas Coffee Club, can expose them to beans they’re unlikely to encounter at the grocery store, since it sources from farms across the globe. Each delivery also comes with a postcard featuring interesting tidbits about that country’s coffee industry, so the recipient can learn as they brew.

The cinephile on your list deserves to be watching titles worthy of their newfound free time. A subscription to The Criterion Channel provides access to many of the most highly lauded films ever made. The streaming service’s collection spans over 100 years of filmmaking history, and it offers far more variety than a film aficionado could ever find on Netflix or Hulu. Criterion curates its content with flair, with groupings of films organized by guests—such as Guillermo del Toro and Mira Nair—as well as by creative themes, like “bad vacations” and “glorious food.”

If your recently retired loved one has a green thumb, give them a pretty vessel for watering. The Qilebi Watering Can is one of our favorite watering cans from testing. With a half-gallon capacity and a removable pouring spout, it works both for indoor plants and outdoor gardens. The watering can has a simple design that’s cute yet unfussy, should the recipient choose to put it on display. And it comes in five cool colors, including mint and pastel pink.

When your favorite retiree doesn’t have early-morning meetings to rush off to, they might relish a more-relaxing wake-up device. The Philips SmartSleep Wake-Up Light HF3520 is our favorite sunrise alarm clock, and it mimics the real thing: To gently wake someone, the light gradually grows in intensity, from a muted red glow to the bright white brilliance of a summer day. If they need a little more commotion, they can also select an FM radio station or any of five mellow sounds, such as tweeting birds or lapping waves.

There’s nothing quite like freshly churned ice cream. Of the seven ice cream makers we’ve tested, the Cuisinart ICE-21 is our favorite. It makes consistently smooth and delicious ice cream, and the process is simple and straightforward: Just attach the frozen insert into the base, pour in the ingredients, and press the start button. In about 20 minutes, this machine makes a smooth, soft-serve-consistency ice cream (pop that in the freezer to get a more-traditional scoop). Soon your leisure-time-loving recipient will be enjoying their frozen treat (and, hopefully, sharing it with you).

For plodding around in the morning, with no rush to put on real clothes, nothing says “I am my own boss” better than a cozy robe. Of the 39 models we tried during testing, the Restoration Hardware Luxury Plush Long Robe stood out as the most sumptuous of all. Its thick, smooth pile is similar in texture to a stuffed animal. And for us, it has stayed warm and soft, even after 10 years of wear. To make this an extra-special gift, consider adding an embroidered monogram (currently an additional $15).

We love finding gifts that are unusual, thoughtful, and well vetted. See even more gift ideas we recommend.

Dorie Chevlen contributed reporting. This article was edited by Hannah Morrill and Jennifer Hunter.