Some of the best gifts aren't particularly extravagant. They're the ones that show you've been paying attention.
A beautiful book about Italy for someone who still talks about their trip to Florence. A novel set in Japan for a friend planning a visit to Tokyo. A cookbook filled with the flavors of Mexico for someone who fell in love with the food on their last vacation. That's what makes travel books such wonderful holiday gifts. They're thoughtful, personal, and full of possibility. They can bring back wonderful memories, introduce us to unfamiliar places, and sometimes inspire an adventure we never imagined taking.
And there's something special about giving someone a beautiful book they can enjoy for years to come.
Finding the Perfect Travel Book
The secret is to think about the person first, and the book second. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Celebrate a trip they'll never forget. Did your parents spend their anniversary in Paris? A gorgeous photography book about the city might be perfect. Did a friend just return from hiking in Patagonia? Find a book about the region's spectacular landscapes. A beautiful book about a favorite destination can be a wonderful souvenir, even years after the trip.
Inspire their next great adventure. For someone dreaming of an African safari, consider a photography book celebrating the wildlife of the Serengeti. For an adventurous traveler, Atlas Obscura is packed with remarkable places they've probably never heard of. And for someone planning a trip, don't overlook a great guidebook. Our advice: choose one focused on the specific destination. A guide to Barcelona is often more useful, and more personal, than a general guide to Spain.
Give them something beautiful. Few gifts make quite the impression of a gorgeous coffee table book. Assouline's luxurious destination books are among our favorites. For someone who loves exploring the world, Lonely Planet's The Travel Book: A Journey Through Every Country in the World is a photographic celebration of countries across the globe, while National Geographic's World's Best Travel Experiences: 400 Extraordinary Places is packed with spectacular destinations and inspiration for future adventures. They're the kind of books you'll want to leave out and return to again and again.
Give them a great story. Some of the best travel books take you along for the ride. Join Anthony Bourdain as he eats his way around the world in A Cook's Tour, experience the romance of overnight trains in Monisha Rajesh's Moonlight Express, or explore Australia with Bill Bryson's wonderfully funny In a Sunburned Country. A great travel story can make you laugh, introduce you to unforgettable people, and leave you dreaming about your own next adventure.
Travel through the pages of a novel. Fiction can transport us just as powerfully as any travel memoir. Shantaram immerses readers in the chaotic streets and hidden worlds of Mumbai, while Where the Crawdads Sing brings the beautiful, mysterious marshlands of North Carolina to life. For historical fiction lovers, Robert Harris's Pompeii takes readers back to ancient Rome and the terrifying eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Sometimes a great novel is all it takes to fall in love with a place.
Bring the flavors of the world home. A beautiful cookbook is one of our favorite gifts, especially when there's a personal connection. Think handmade pasta for someone who loved Bologna, Mexican cooking for a friend who visited Oaxaca, or a collection of Thai recipes for someone still reminiscing about Bangkok's street food. The best cookbooks offer more than recipes. They tell stories about places, traditions, and the people who keep them alive.
Don't forget the kids! Books are one of the very best ways to introduce children to the wider world. An illustrated atlas can inspire hours of discovery, while a story set in another country can make unfamiliar places feel wonderfully exciting. We especially love Aaron Becker's wordless picture book Journey for younger readers. For older children, look for adventure stories, geography books, and fascinating accounts of real explorers. Who knows where that curiosity might lead?
A Little Something Extra
One final suggestion: write a personal note inside the cover. Tell the recipient why you chose the book, what you remember about a trip you shared, or why you hope they'll visit a particular place someday. It's a small gesture that can turn a lovely present into a treasured keepsake.
This holiday season, give someone a good book and a little inspiration to explore. Whether it takes them back to somewhere they love or introduces them to a place they've never considered, it's a gift that can keep giving long after the decorations come down.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our favorite travel books to give as gifts.
