Travel Books That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust
Travel has been on my mind lately, but not the kind that involves juggling layovers and a suitcase with a broken wheel. More the kind that begins in your imagination… long before you’ve even opened a suitcase. We’ve been talking about going on a safari, which, for someone who doesn’t exactly consider herself adventurous, feels like a bit of a leap.
That little daydream led me back to books…the kind that spark wanderlust, shifts your perspective, or simply lets you explore the world from a cozy armchair. So today, I’m sharing a few great reads that capture the spirit of travel. No passport is required.
While we’re still in the dreaming phase, I’ve found myself drawn to stories that capture that same spirit of discovery. Not just guidebooks but novels, memoirs, and essays that transport you to far-off landscapes, unfamiliar cultures, and unexpected moments of connection.
Today I’m sharing a handful of books that do exactly that. Some might inspire your next trip. Others are perfect for armchair travel, with a strong cup of tea and a cozy corner. Either way, they’re a beautiful reminder that travel isn’t always about movement…it’s about mindset.
Looking for more books to add to your list? Check out:
Travel Books to Read this Summer
If you’ve ever dreamed of escaping to the Amalfi Coast, One Italian Summer will whisk you away. This novel follows a woman who heads to Positano after the unexpected loss of her mother. As she grieves, she experiences a surreal journey that blends memory, magic, and Mediterranean views. The coastal setting is lush and dreamy, and you may find yourself googling flights to Italy before you’re done.
The Jetsetters is the kind of book that’s both lighthearted and unexpectedly touching. It follows a dysfunctional family on a Mediterranean cruise—think glittering ports, buried secrets, and some very messy relationships. It’s a smart reminder that travel doesn’t always change us, but it sure has a way of revealing who we are. It was named one of the best books of the year by Esquire.
No one captures a sense of place quite like Elin Hilderbrand, and The Hotel Nantucket is pure summer escapism. The story centers on a newly restored hotel and the people working to bring it back to life. There’s a little mystery, a bit of romance, and that classic Nantucket charm that makes you want to check in and stay awhile. It’s a great beach read—or a cozy one to tide you over until your next seaside escape.
If you enjoy a witty love story, People We Meet on Vacation is just the thing. Poppy and Alex, total opposites and best friends have taken vacations together every year—until one trip goes awry. Now, they’re taking one more trip together, and it’s their chance to finally face what went wrong. Readers find this beach read funny, heartfelt, and surprisingly reflective.
Jean Perdu believes every book has a soul and the power to heal, and he’s made it his life’s work to prescribe just the right story for each customer. But it’s not until he confronts his own past that he embarks on a journey through southern France to begin healing himself. The Little Paris Bookshop feels like a warm cup of tea—perfect for anyone who believes in the quiet magic of books.
Practical, witty, and surprisingly empowering, How to Win at Travel by Brian Kelly (founder of The Points Guy) is full of tips to help you travel smarter. Whether you’re new to points and perks or already savvy with miles and upgrades, this book offers an inside look at how to stretch your travel budget, survive jet lag, and tons of other helpful tricks. It’s a helpful resource for anyone looking to make travel easier, more enjoyable, and yes—even a little more luxurious.
World Travel: An Irreverent Guide
With his signature wit and unfiltered honesty, Anthony Bourdain takes us on a global tour in World Travel: An Irreverent Guide. It’s a collection of insights, anecdotes, and travel tips from cities he loved (and a few he didn’t), stitched together with commentary from his longtime collaborator. This isn’t your typical guidebook—it’s more like sitting down with a well-traveled friend who tells it like it is.
With Love from London is a charming story about new beginnings, second chances, and, of course, books. When Valentina inherits a dusty old bookstore from the mother she barely knew, she heads to London to sort through the past—and ends up discovering so much more. If you love stories set in cozy bookshops and hidden corners of cities, this one’s a lovely, comforting read.
Sometimes a journey is less about the destination and more about finding yourself along the way. Wild is Cheryl Strayed’s raw and moving memoir of hiking over a thousand miles on the Pacific Crest Trail—alone, grieving, and deeply unsure of what comes next. It’s not an easy read, but it’s an incredibly powerful one. The rugged landscapes and emotional honesty make it hard to put down, and it might just stir your own craving for the trail.
From Scratch is a heartfelt memoir about love, loss, and healing through food and family. Tembi Locke writes about falling in love with an Italian chef, building a life together, and later returning to his hometown with their daughter after his passing. It’s deeply personal, beautifully written, and rich with sensory detail—especially the scenes in the Sicilian countryside.
Beautiful Ruins opens in a tiny coastal village in 1960s Italy and weaves through Hollywood, Edinburgh, and present-day America, following characters who are all somehow connected by one pivotal moment. The writing is rich, the pacing is layered, and the setting is nothing short of breathtaking. It’s one of those books that’s both entertaining and unexpectedly moving.
The View from Lake Como is a thoughtful read that explores how Italian culture—especially around Lake Como—values aesthetics, tradition, and the art of making. If you’re drawn to the quieter pleasures of life and the idea of living with intention, you’ll find this little book surprisingly profound. It’s available for pre-order here, but it officially releases on July 8.
More Travel Books to Read this Summer
What’s on your reading list these days? I’d love to know which books have taken you somewhere unforgettable. I’d also love to hear about any adventures you’ve had that you highly recommend.
Love your book list! Traveling vicariously is my only way now due to age and infirmity. I loved Eat, Pray, Love many years ago. I loved Australia, the novel, also many years ago. Books that take me to a far away place are my jam. I never was adventurous but my husband took me along on many in our younger days, all including biking, camping, hiking or in winter skiing. I love that I have those memories. We are both happy to stay home in our little mountain home.
Memories are so precious. Have a great weekend Sydney.
I miss browsing bookstores. We have none left, so sad. I’m an avid reader, a mental traveler. Ready for a new “trip” so….thanks for the recommendations.
I live browsing them too. I could spend all day in one. Libraries too!
Piper and Heath Travel, located in San Diego, specializes in travel to Africa and only Africa. We had a wonderful experience using them, and we have friends who have used them more than once. I highly recommend.
Amazing! Thank you Carol. I’ll check into it.
My husband and I have been fortunate to travel widely, but our very favorite trips have been to Africa – for 3 different safaris. The animals!!! Our first was in Sept. 2014 with Globus Tours (small group) to CapeTown, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. CapeTown was a gorgeous city on the coast with wineries close by and we then flew to a private reserve in the Kapama region for our very first safari experience. Amazing without the crowds you’d find in the National Parks. A brief time in Johannesburg and then on to Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park for more safaris. We added on their extension to Botswana and the Okavango Delta which was magical. Quality accommodations from hotels to “glamps.” Highly recommend for a first safari experience!
Then in Sept. 2018, we traveled with one other couple to Tanzania to experience the Great Migration – awesome!. We arranged this trip through Africa Travel Resources. Had our own driver/guide for the entire time and stayed at 5 “glamps” and hotels in different parts of Tanzania. We saw lots of the country, but if I were to do it again, we would fly between glamps rather than driving. Really bumpy, dusty roads. These flights are a short up and down in very small planes but I felt very safe. Nothing like having a family of warthogs running beside the runway to welcome you.
Our last trip was in September 2021 – as soon as we could begin traveling after COVID. This trip was organized by Africa Adventure Consultants for just the two of us. We returned to the Okavango Delta (Botswana) for 12 days. We flew “puddle jumpers” between 3 different glamps.
Other companies you might like to check out – Yellowzebrasafaris.com and Thomson Safaris. They specialize in safaris but we found Globus provided an excellent introduction. Another important thought – try to go to private reserves, avoid National Parks – just too crowded when an animal is sighted.
We’re trying to decide on our next adventure, but Africa keeps calling!
Your adventures sound amazing!!! Thanks for giving me the details. I’m so excited.
I highly recommend a safari to Kenya. Beyond amazing!!
That’s the way I’m leaning. Thanks for the vote!
Thanks for this list! I’ve been to Italy 4 times and love it!! I’m interested in reading the books here that are set in Italy!
Clearly I didn’t adequately proofread my comment earlier…”thank” s/b “thanks” and delete “too” instead of “two”. Time for more coffee…
Lol, I hear you. It’s a fine line between awake and jittery based on my tea consumption.
This is a great list- thank! Travel and reading are two of my favorite things in life. I always looks for detective stories/mysteries set in the locales we’re to visit for my husband, who loves that genre. There are many (he especially loves books by Donna Leon and Martin Walker).
I’d add “Still Life” by Sarah Winman (set in Tuscany pre and post WWII) to your list, especially for anyone who loved “Beautiful Ruins” like I did. And of course, Peter Mayle for France (Provence).
Oh my goodness! My husband and I went on a photo Safari of Africa for our honeymoon. It was the most unique and amazing experience of our lives. It was just us and a guide. We stayed all kinds of places in Africa, I could write a book on this. If you’re mobile enough and able enough, do it, do it, do it! I can’t explain in this short missive, how incredible it was! Words cannot explain the memories and amazingness of the experience. I haven’t looked at the world the same since.
Amazing’ that’s why I want to go before we get much older.
Some great reading recs! I’ve already ordered one.
My husband is currently trying to plan a safari in Kenya with our adult kids. We did one in 1991, before they were born, and it was an incredible trip. It’s easy, if probably more expensive, to do a very luxurious tour, which I recommend if you can do it. I’m sure things are easier now, but it’s the kind of place you want everything to go just as planned.
Great point! I’m betting this is not where we want surprises. Thanks for the reminder.
I always enjoy hearing about books. Thanks.
A safari sounds exciting! I would just like a weekend away, lol. I have read every Elin Hildebrand book. I really want to go to Nantucket. I also like Jess Walter books. Right now I’m reading Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister. It takes place in London. Really good mystery. Thanks for the great list 🌼
Those sound fun!
Just finished This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub. It’s about Time Travel. Sweet. Funny. Cried. Loved it.
Thank you for the travel books, we leave for Ireland (6th visit) in about 10 days and I will download several of these.
But my real reason for posting has to do with Africa. GO!!!! And start with travel company AndBeyond, based in Johannesburg S Africa.
I wanted to go as far back as the late 80s when I first saw coworkers photos. Hubby does not like to fly and does not like anything unfamiliar. N America and Europe are OK…….everywhere else is questionable. In 2017 friends who were going on an African safari called me and told me a spot for a single female had opened up (they knew I wanted to go but hubby did not). He blew his stack! I didn’t want to fight that fight, but a few days later I told him that I’d waited 25 years and I was going to go, if not on that tour, on another group tour. For Christmas that year he gave me a card saying we would be going to Africa.
Long story short: After that, any time anyone asks us what our best ever trip was, hubby says “Africa” before I can respond!
We went to Tanzania and Kenya. Glamping and lodges. Saw all “Big 5” animals. Flew from camp to camp, met at each airstrip with a picnic lunch and adult beverages. Guides were excellent they knew where the animals had most recently been sighted and knew a lot about the animal habits. And we liked/admired them as people, learned about their backgrounds/families.
They put the “Glam” in “glamping”. You will not believe the conveniences, including (remarkably) cellphone signals no matter how remote the place we were staying
You have my email address, if you want more info I can give you the name of our travel agent and the camps we stayed, and answer any questions.
Oh wow, that sounds so amazing! I will check their website
Do not wait any longer to go on a safari! I still see the African sunsets and hear the hippos laugh and am overwhelmed all over again with the majesty of the elephants. Make sure you use a company that doesn’t do it in huge groups. There would be such disappointment to be sitting in a line of jeeps with everyone attempting to see the same quickly disappearing animal. We used Natural Habitat Adventures and they were wonderful!! Our group size was small (about 8 of us) and the company took care of all the details including all the flights to/from and within, and the arrival and departure hotels, as well as all of the wonderful lodgings on the safari. Be sure to read Out of Africa and read of Karen Blixen’s awe and adventure. Watching that movie will also spur you on to start digging further into this adventure of a lifetime. Do not wait to go or put it off, it’s a trip never to be forgotten. You won’t regret going.
Thanks Carol. I’m getting very excited at the prospect!
Reading and loving “Heartwood” by Amity Gaige, about a middle aged woman lost while hiking the Appalachian Trail and the people searching for her. A page- turner and absolutely “unputdownable,” as they say.
Thanks!
Since my son-in-law is from Cape Town he wants the whole family to travel to South Africa in 2026, including his 10 year old twins. My daughters family have been there about three years ago and my daughter has traveled there with her husband three times. South Africa has been on our bucket list for a while so we have decided to do it with our son-in-law as tour guide and staying with his father. Although my son-in-law is a US citizen and loves the United States his heart will always be in Cape town.
That sounds like a great trip!
Thank you, I’m ready to start my journey!
Me too
Ed and I have also been tossing around the idea of a safari. Back in 2023, we did a world cruise but didn’t do an “off ship” excursion for a safari when in Africa. We really loved Africa in all its heat and color and uniqueness- and the people were so friendly.
We probably should just “bite the bullet” and do it – while we’re still relatively healthy and mobile. Have just now contacted our travel guru to see what she can rustle up in the way of companies with good reputations.
Let me know what companies you hear of! We do not have a travel agent to ask.
Thank you for this book list! I’m always looking for a good book.