The best travel books (2026): 15 inspiring travel books for your next adventure

For travellers looking for special destinations close to home Insta Travel is an inspiring travel book full of beautiful places that are popular with Dutch and Belgian travellers and photographers. The book is packed with destinations that are perfect for a city break, a weekend away or a longer holiday, without having to fly halfway around the world to get there. Not only will you see stunning photographs, but you’ll also find plenty of ideas for places you might not have thought to include on your list yet.
Extra fun: you'll also find our trip to Cologne in this book!

For anyone who dreams of the trips they’d like to have taken at some point in their lives.
As the title suggests, this book is all about destinations that belong on your bucket list. What this travel book What makes it so powerful is that it not only shows you where you want to go, but also why. It helps you to dream bigger and take a fresh look at destinations that may have been on your list for some time. A lovely book, then, for travellers looking for their next big dream trip.

For walkers, outdoor enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys active travel.
Wanderlust In our view, this is one of the finest travel books for lovers of hiking and nature. This book is packed with brilliant walking routes from all over the world and immediately shows just how special a destination can be when you explore it on foot.

What we particularly like about this book is that it is much more than just a collection of walks. It also provides background information, maps, practical tips and, above all, plenty of pictures. This makes it not only a handy book for people who really want to go hiking, but also a wonderful book simply to draw inspiration from. There’s now also a European edition, which makes it even more interesting if you prefer to stay closer to home.

For backpackers and travellers who love freedom, routes and adventure.
Backpacking Destinations is a book that really brings home why the backpacken is still such a popular way to travel. The book takes you on a journey through countries and routes that are perfect for a backpacken trip, from tropical destinations to more rugged road-trip destinations. It is precisely because of this wide variety that the book appeals to a broad range of travellers.

For travellers who love adventure, personal stories and slow travel.
A Year on a Bike This is not your typical travel book, but an inspiring story about a cycling trip lasting over a year. In this book, Martijn Doolaard and his partner take you along on their adventure from Europe to Asia, entirely by bike.

What makes this book so special is that it isn’t just about the destinations, but above all about the journey itself. You’ll read about encounters along the way, challenges, simple moments and the sense of freedom that comes with such a long journey. That’s precisely why this book feels so personal and realistic.

For travellers who continue to dream of new destinations around the world.
In Love with the World is an inspiring travel book that takes you on a journey to the most beautiful places around the world. From well-known highlights to lesser-known gems: this book shows just how much there is still to discover.

What makes this book so enjoyable is the combination of personal stories, beautiful photography and practical inspiration. It’s ideal for travellers who aren’t quite sure where they want to go yet and simply want to let their minds wander with new ideas.

For anyone with a bucket list full of dreams.
100 Travel Dreams is the ultimate guide for travellers who want to expand their bucket list or rediscover it. The book takes you on a journey through a hundred extraordinary trips and experiences from all over the world. Think of iconic places, unique activities and destinations you’ll want to see at least once in your life.

For travellers who love road trips and freedom.
Who doesn’t love a good road trip? 500 World Roadtrips is an impressive book for anyone who loves exploring the world by car. In this book, you’ll find a vast collection of the world’s most beautiful road trips, ranging from short routes to epic journeys across entire countries.

What makes this book special is its enormous variety. It features both well-known routes and hidden gems, making it suitable for both novice road-trippers and experienced travellers. The book immediately gives you a sense of freedom and adventure, and is ideal if you’re dreaming of a road trip for your next holiday.

For travellers who dream of a trip through Asia.

Anyone who knows us a bit will know that we’re mad about Asia and In love with Asia is the travel guide that takes you on a journey through Asia’s most beautiful destinations. From tropical islands and bustling cities to stunning natural landscapes and cultural highlights: this book showcases just how diverse this continent is.

What makes this book so great is that it not only inspires you, but also helps you come up with ideas for your own journey. You’ll discover well-known destinations such as Thailand and Indonesia, but also less obvious places that you might not have had on your radar yet. The combination of personal tips, itineraries and stunning photography will immediately make you want to plan your next trip to Asia.

For travellers who like to be well prepared before setting off.
Lonely Planet is still a classic for many travellers, and with good reason. These travel guides have been a mainstay for years for anyone looking for detailed information about a destination. From transport and accommodation to must-see attractions, restaurants and neighbourhoods: you’ll find an enormous amount of information in them. Especially if you like to plan your own trips, these remain very useful books.

We mainly use Lonely Planet guides as a starting point when we want to gain a better understanding of a new destination. They help you get an initial overview, and often lead you to places or tips you’d otherwise miss. They may not necessarily be the most spectacular travel books in terms of design, but as far as we’re concerned, they remain incredibly useful in terms of practical value.

For travellers who love to dream about the most beautiful places on earth.
Ultimate Destinations is a book that you should see, above all, as a huge dose of travel inspiration. It centres on the question of which places in the world you’d like to see at least once in your life, and this results in an impressive list of both well-known highlights and less obvious destinations. It’s precisely that mix that makes it so enjoyable.

For travellers who prefer not to always go for the most well-known places.
Not everyone is happy with the most popular highlights and the most photographed spots. If, on the other hand, you enjoy discovering destinations that are a little off the beaten track, then Off the Beaten Track A really lovely travel book. It focuses on special places off the beaten track and shows that there is still so much to discover.

For travellers who enjoy going on adventures within Europe.
You don’t have to travel far at all to discover amazing places, and that shows In love with Europe You’ll see that very clearly. In this book, you’ll find a lovely mix of well-known European destinations and less obvious places. From classic countries such as Italy and Portugal From surprising regions in Slovenia and the Balkans to the Faroe Islands: this book shows just how much beauty Europe actually has to offer.

For travellers who enjoy discovering special places close to home.
Sometimes you don’t need to plan a long-haul trip at all to get that holiday feeling. Staycation Guide focuses on fun destinations, hotspots and places to stay in the Netherlands and Belgium, and is perfect for anyone who loves weekend breaks, short getaways and surprisingly lovely spots close to home.

What makes this book so enjoyable is that it shows just how much beauty there actually is to be found close to home. From charming towns to lovely hotels, restaurants and beautiful natural spots: it immediately makes you want to plan a trip.

For travellers who want to set off on their own, or who’ve secretly been thinking about it for a while.
Solo travel is a book you really should read if you feel you’d like more freedom in the way you travel. It focuses on travelling alone, but also, more broadly, on independence, adventure and having the courage to choose your own path. Even if you’re not planning to travel alone straight away, this book can be a great source of inspiration.

For lovers of photography, culture and extraordinary stories from around the world.
Before They Pass Away is an impressive book in which Jimmy Nelson captures indigenous peoples and traditional communities from all over the world. It is not a traditional travel book with itineraries or tips, but it is a book that broadens your perspective on the world. The photography is stunning and the subject matter is truly impressive.

This really is the sort of book you leave lying on the table and find yourself leafing through time and again. Not only because it’s visually striking, but also because it transports you to a world you don’t see every day. For travellers who are also keenly interested in culture, photography and human stories, this is a truly beautiful book.

For those who love stunning photography and books with lasting value.
Homage to Humanity It is the follow-up to *Before They Pass Away* and, once again, a book that centres primarily on imagery, culture and wonder. This, too, is not a practical travel guide, but rather a book that shows just how rich, diverse and extraordinary our world is. Jimmy Nelson’s photography is powerful, and the book’s format really makes it a real eye-catcher.

Has all this inspiration made you want to start planning your next trip straight away? If so, you might also like to think about keeping a travel diary. Whereas we used to keep track of everything in separate notes, screenshots and apps, it was only later that we realised how sad it actually is when your memories aren’t really brought together in one place.

A travel diary isn’t just handy for jotting things down whilst you’re travelling, but it’s also great fun to read back later. It’s precisely the little details – such as that lovely hotel, that nice restaurant or that unexpectedly beautiful viewpoint – that you’re more likely to forget than you might think. If you combine your travel diary with a photo album later on, you’ll have a real, tangible memento of your trip. That way, back home, you can, for example, from the comfort of a Sit and Joy beanbag, to quietly reminisce once more about all those lovely moments.