Looking for a great travel book for yourself or a gift for someone who loves exploring? You’re in the right place. We’ve gathered inspiring travel books, practical guides, bucket-list reads, road-trip books, photography guides, and fun travel gifts for different interests and ages.
Browse by category below and find the one that belongs on the bookshelf — or in someone’s suitcase.
For those moments when you simply want to dream about where you might go next.
Dreaming of all the places you still want to see?
1,000 Places to See Before You Die by Patricia Schultz is packed with inspiration for building that ever-growing wish list. Dip into it when you need a new idea, discover somewhere you hadn’t considered, or simply enjoy a little armchair travel from home.
Love discovering extraordinary places?
Keep the inspiration going with Destinations of a Lifetime: 225 of the World’s Most Amazing Places by National Geographic. It’s a beautiful book to browse when you’re dreaming about where to go next — and a lovely addition to any travel lover’s coffee table.
Want to see just how much of the world there is still to discover?
A Journey Through Every Country in the World by Lonely Planet takes you on an inspiring trip across the globe, one country at a time. Browse it for your next destination, discover places you may never have considered, or simply travel the world from your favorite chair at home.
Not sure where to go — or when to go?
Where To Go When by Lonely Planet and Sarah Baxter helps match destinations with the best time of year to experience them. It’s a wonderful book to reach for when you have a month in mind but haven’t yet decided where in the world it should take you.
How many experiences are still waiting on your bucket list?
The Bucket List: 1000 Adventures Big & Small by Kath Stathers is packed with inspiration for experiences around the world, from once-in-a-lifetime adventures to smaller pleasures worth seeking out. Keep it nearby whenever you need a little inspiration for that all-important question: “Where to next?”
Beautiful books for planning a trip together, celebrating an anniversary, or simply dreaming of somewhere special.
Planning a romantic escape for two?
50 Dreamy Getaways, Private Retreats, and Enchanting Places to Celebrate Love by National Geographic is filled with beautiful ideas for romantic trips, secluded hideaways, and unforgettable places to share with someone special. Perfect for dreaming together — or perhaps planning a surprise.
For readers who love discovering a destination through what it grows, produces, serves, and celebrates.
Love discovering a destination through its wine?
1,000 Amazing Adventures in Pursuit of Wine by Simon J. Woolf takes you beyond the bottle to vineyards, wine regions, local traditions, and memorable experiences around the world. A wonderful choice if good wine and discovering new places are both part of your idea of a perfect trip.
Practical inspiration for exploring independently and proving that there is certainly no expiration date on seeing the world.
Ready to discover just how rewarding solo travel can be later in life?
The Solo Travel Guide for Seniors: Travel the World Solo in Your 50’s, 60’s and Beyond by Irma Villanueva is for anyone who wants to keep exploring on their own terms. With practical guidance for traveling independently and confidently, it’s an encouraging companion for turning “maybe one day” into “where shall I go next?”
For readers who would rather watch the landscape unfold through the windshield than rush from airport to airport.
Planning an epic road trip through America’s national parks?
The World Almanac Road Trippers’ Guide to National Parks: 5,001 Things to Do, Learn, and See for Yourself is packed with ideas for turning a national park visit into a real adventure. Use it to discover scenic drives, fascinating facts, things to see and do, and those easily missed experiences that can make a road trip unforgettable.
Want to make life on the road a whole lot easier?
RV Hacks: 400+ Ways to Make Life on the Road Easier, Safer, and More Fun! by Marc Bennett is packed with clever, practical ideas for everyday RV travel. From organizing small spaces and simplifying campsite life to making journeys more comfortable, it’s the kind of book you’ll want within easy reach on your next road trip.
Dreaming of driving through carpets of Namaqualand wildflowers?
Namaqua Self-Drive is a lovely companion for nature lovers who want to explore this extraordinary corner of South Africa at their own pace. Keep it close while planning your route, then take it along for the journey when the Namaqualand flower season finally arrives.
Because sometimes the best souvenir is the photograph that transports you straight back to the moment.
Want to come home with travel photos that truly capture the experience?
Guide to Travel Photography by Lonely Planet and Richard I’Anson shares practical advice for photographing landscapes, cities, people, food, and those fleeting moments that make a trip unforgettable. A useful companion for anyone who wants their photos to do more than record where they went — they should bring the memories home.
A little travel inspiration for the next generation.
A little adventure for your littlest explorer!
Ty’s Travels: Zip, Zoom! by Kelly Starling Lyons brings the excitement of going places into a fun, easy-to-read story created for beginning readers. A lovely choice for encouraging both a love of books and that wonderful childhood curiosity about the world around them.
Perfect for flights, train journeys, rainy vacation days, or a little armchair travel at home.
Love travel and a good challenge?
Ultimate Travel Crosswords by Lonely Planet turns your passion for exploring the world into hours of puzzle-solving fun. It’s perfect for flights, train journeys, lazy afternoons by the pool, or simply testing how much you really know about the world from home.
A great travel book is more than something beautiful to unwrap. It can inspire a first solo trip, help plan a long-awaited road trip, introduce a child to the wider world, improve someone’s travel photography, or simply provide a little armchair travel from home.
That’s why travel books make excellent gifts for almost any occasion — birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, retirement, graduation, bon voyage celebrations, or simply as a thoughtful surprise for someone who loves exploring.
Our collection includes travel inspiration and bucket-list books, destination guides, solo travel books, road-trip and RV guides, travel photography books, children’s travel books, and travel games. So, instead of choosing a generic gift, you can match the book to the person and the way they love to travel.
And perhaps that’s the best thing about giving a travel book: you’re not simply giving someone a book. You may be giving them the idea for their next adventure.
Found one you’d love to receive yourself? Save this page or share it with someone who might need a little gift inspiration.
>> Looking for something other than a book? Browse our best gifts for people who love travel, with practical and thoughtful ideas for birthdays, Christmas, retirement, or simply surprising someone who’s always dreaming about their next trip.
>> Prefer listening to your stories on the road? Discover why audiobooks make such great road-trip companions, plus our tips for choosing something that will keep everyone entertained between one destination and the next.