Our 43 Favorite Travel Books to Give and Get
Books are a fantastic way to inspire future travel or reminisce about past trips. We love all sorts of travel books, from coffee-table books to slowly explore with a cup of coffee, to novels that take us deep into a new culture.
After three years of full-time travel, these are the books that we love to give and get- some are inspirational, some are beautiful, and some are both!
We’ll cover large-format books about the world (from trains to hidden gems), books specific to the USA, and we even have a separate book list dedicated to the US National Parks.
We’ll finish up with our recommendations for small-format memoirs, true stories, and novels that make great books to take with you on the plane or train.
Whether you’re learning about food, art, or a specific park, you can never have too many beautiful books to inspire more travel!
This article may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. All our recommendations are our own and are in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.
At the bottom of this post, download free Mobile Wallpaper images to satisfy your wanderlust!
Favorite World Travel Books
These are the most interesting and intriguing books we’ve come across related to world travel. These are beautiful coffee table books to browse and enjoy.
Don’t miss the kids’ book section in our gift guide for traveling kids!
Don’t miss our other gift guides for travelers- we’ve got the best travel-themed stocking stuffers, and gifts for people who love National Parks.
We also have practical (and fun) gifts for families, including gear, games, and home goods.
1. Brilliant Maps for Curious Minds: 100 New Ways to See the World
Brilliant Maps is the perfect gift for the traveler who loves maps and data. This book, full of map infographics, is sure to be a hit!
Buy Now: Brilliant Maps for Curious Minds
2. 100 Train Journeys of a Lifetime
This book features 100 amazing train journeys, including Switzerland, Italy, Napa Valley, and Sri Lanka.
This is part of a “100” series that includes dives, hikes, beaches, hotels, bike rides, and more. There are 12 books in the series.
Buy Now: 100 Train Journeys of a Lifetime
3. The Bucket List: 1000 Adventures Big & Small
The Bucket List is the perfect holiday gift for the armchair traveler or the avid planner. Full of ideas and images from around the world.
Making your own bucket list? Check out our ever-growing list of family travel bucket list locations!
4. Food Journeys of a Lifetime
This is the ultimate book for foodie travelers! From finding the best tea in China to cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, this book will have you drooling and booking plane tickets at the same time.
Buy Now: Food Journeys of a Lifetime
5. Let’s Get Lost
This stunning book takes you to remote locations through the work of some of the world’s best landscape photographers. You’re going to want to take your time with this one!
Buy Now: Let’s Get Lost
6. Destinations of a Lifetime: 225 of the World’s Most Amazing Places
This book tackles the idea of a bucket list by placing destinations into five different categories, from “Mountain Majesty” to “Hand of Man,” so you can choose your next adventure!
Buy Now: Destinations of a Lifetime
7. Subpar Planet
A fun best-selling book for anyone who’s traveled the world and been less than amazed! These are funny reviews from disappointed travelers who may have had the wrong set of expectations…
Buy Now: Subpar Planet
8. Women Travel Solo
This Lonely Planet book makes a great inspiration gift for the brave solo travelers in your life! Includes 30 first-person stories of courage and self-discovery.
Buy Now: Women Travel Solo
9. Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders
The second edition of this popular book covers even more curious and unusual destinations. It includes more than 100 new places, as well as guides to twelve different cities. You’ll be amazed and inspired!
Buy Now: Atlas Obscura, 2nd Edition
10. Where to Go When
Full of month-by-month travel inspiration, this book includes offbeat and well-known adventures around the world. Great for planning a trip for a specific time of year!
Buy Now: Where to Go When
Favorite USA Travel Books
These are some of our favorite books about traveling around the USA- whether it’s a road trip or just a beautiful destination.
11. Wanderlust USA
With beautiful photography, Wanderlust USA charts 30 hikes across the USA- the perfect gift for a hiker or outdoorsy person on your holiday list!
Buy Now: Wanderlust USA
12. Epic Road Trips of the Americas
This beautiful hardcover travel book by Lonely Planet is not one to pack for your next trip, but rather to keep in your home and inspire your next adventure.
This book has fantastic travel ideas from North, South, Central America, and the Caribbean! We love to road trip, and this book has endless ideas to choose from.
Buy Now: Epic Road Trips of the Americas
13. 50 Great City Walks: USA
This book helps you walk around US cities from coast to coast. Discover history, architecture, memorials, museums, state capitol buildings, and more on foot, from Honolulu to New York City.
Buy Now: 50 Great City Walks: USA
14. Scenic Drives in America
This beautiful book has 120 different road trips around the United States. Perfect for inspiring more travel around the country.
Buy Now: Scenic Drives in America
US National Parks Books
These books are all about the US National Parks- from glossy coffee table books to snarky review books. Don’t miss our US National Parks gift list!
15. The National Parks: America’s Best Idea
The National Parks is a heavy coffee-table book by Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns, from the twelve-hour PBS documentary. Take your time with the beautiful images in this book.
16. Scenic Science of the National Parks Book
This book highlights the geology, botany, and wildlife of each National Park. It’s a fun addition to the bookshelf of any avid National Park visitor!
17. Secrets of the National Parks
This book from National Geographic looks at hidden gems at National Parks, with tips from Rangers and locals.
Buy Now: Secrets of the National Parks
18. The Art of the National Parks
This art book showcases the beauty of each U.S. National Park, as illustrated by the Fifty-Nine Parks Print Series. This was a collaboration with top contemporary artists and designers to create original posters that celebrate the beauty of each park.
Buy Now: The Art of the National Parks
19. Complete National Parks of the United States
This beautiful book from National Geographic covers more than 400 Parks, Monuments, Battlefields, and other National Sites. The ultimate reference for those who love the outdoors!
20. Subpar Parks
The Subpar Parks book by Amber Share combines beautiful illustrations with informative text and funny one-star reviews left by disappointed visitors online.
This is a great book for anyone who loves national parks, has a sense of humor, needs one, or has been to a national park and was completely underwhelmed by what they saw… It’s the perfect travel gift for a teen or tween!
Buy Now: Subpar Parks Book
21. Ansel Adams in the National Parks
A lovely book of photographs by the legendary photographer who explored more than 40 national parks in his lifetime, and was an avid conservationist.
Buy Now: Ansel Adams in the National Parks
22. 50 True Tales from Our Great National Parks
Each of these true stories features a different National Park. Some are stories of humans, some of remarkable animals, some of recent events, and some of history.
Travel Novels for the Plane
Here are some travel novels that are perfect for long plane (and train) rides, and are sure to inspire your next trip!
Memoirs and Novels Around the World
These books take you around the world or to multiple countries in one adventure.
23. The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton
24. How Not to Travel the World: Adventures of a Disaster-Prone Backpacker by Lauren Juliff
25. Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless After Fifty by Lisa Niver
26. All Over the Place: Adventures in Travel, True Love, and Petty Theft by Geraldine De Ruiter
27. The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World by Eric Weiner
28. Around the World in 80 Trains: A 45,000-Mile Adventure by Monisha Rajesh
29. A Cook’s Tour: Global Adventures in Extreme Cuisines by Anthony Bourdain
30. Wander Woman: How to Reclaim Your Space, Find Your Voice, and Travel the World, Solo by Beth Santos
31. The Lost Girls: Three Friends. Four Continents. One Unconventional Detour Around the World by Jennifer Baggett, Holly Corbett, and Amanda Pressner
32. Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel by Rolf Potts
33. Avoiding Prison and Other Noble Vacation Goals: Adventures in Love and Danger by Wendy Dale
34. Call You When I Land: A Memoir by Nikki Vargas
Travel Novels Set in Specific Locations
These novels feature a specific location and can inspire your next destination.
35. Africa: Shadow of the Sun by Ryszard Kapuściński
36. Africa: Around Africa on my Bicycle by Riaan Manser
37. Argentina/Chile: In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin
38. Italy: Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World by Anthony Doerr
39. Japan: Rice, Noodle, Fish: Deep Travels Through Japan’s Food Culture by Matt Goulding
40. USA: Nowhere for Very Long: The Unexpected Road to an Unconventional Life by Brianna Madia
41. USA: A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson
42. USSR: Finding Katya: How I Quit Everything to Backpack the Former Soviet States by Katie Aune
43. Vietnam: Catfish and Mandala: A Two-Wheeled Voyage Through the Landscape and Memory of Vietnam by Andrew X. Pham.
Bonus: Bookstore Gift Card
Not sure which book to buy? How about a Bookshop.org gift card?
Bookshop.org is an online bookstore that helps to support local, independent bookstores financially. You can choose a specific local bookstore to support, or your order will be distributed evenly among all the locally run stores that Bookshop.org supports.
Buy Now: Bookshop.org Gift Card
There You Have It
We hope you found a book or two for everyone on your list! From solo travel to bucket list travel, there’s so much to inspire your next trip.
We’ve got special gifts for those who love National Parks!
Don’t miss our other gift guides for travelers- we’ve got the best travel gifts for kids and the best travel-themed stocking stuffers!
We also have practical (and fun) gifts for families, including gear, games, and things for your home.
