The short answer
The best travel books for most readers are Paul Theroux’s The Great Railway Bazaar for classic travel writing, Cheryl Strayed’s Wild for a memoir, and Andrew Sean Greer’s Pulitzer-winning Less for a novel. However, the right pick depends on the trip, so we sorted 25 books by when you will read them.
- Best travel memoir: Wild by Cheryl Strayed (2012)
- Best travel literature classic: The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux (1975)
- Best beach read: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry (2021)
- Best book for a plane: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2021)
- Best audiobook for a road trip: Born a Crime, read by Trevor Noah
25
Books on this list
1975
Year The Great Railway Bazaar came out
1,100
Miles Cheryl Strayed hiked in Wild
2018
Year Less won the Pulitzer for fiction
In this article
Travel books are any books that put you on the move, either through real journeys (travel memoirs and travel literature) or through stories set on trains, beaches and roads. In short, they are the books that make an airport gate or a hotel balcony feel like part of the adventure.
This guide picks the best travel books for four situations: armchair inspiration before a trip, lazy days by the water, long flights, and road trips with an audiobook. For each pick, we checked the author and first publication year against publisher pages, award sites or library records, so you can trust the basics. Also, every book listed here is easy to find in print, ebook and audio editions.
How Did We Pick the Best Books to Read While Traveling?
We chose books that are easy to start, hard to put down and tied to a sense of place. First, we looked at long-standing travel literature that critics still treat as the core of the genre. Next, we added recent bestsellers that readers actually pack for vacation. Finally, we checked every title, author and year before it made the list.
- Portability: the plot or voice should survive interruptions such as boarding calls and layovers.
- Sense of place: the setting matters as much as the plot.
- Track record: awards, long bestseller runs or decades in print.
- Variety: memoirs, novels, thrillers and romances, so every traveler finds a match.
The 25 Best Travel Books at a Glance
Here is the full list in one table, so you can scan by category and year before you pack. After that, each section explains why a book earns its spot.
| Book | Author | First published | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Great Railway Bazaar | Paul Theroux | 1975 | Travel literature |
| In Patagonia | Bruce Chatwin | 1977 | Travel literature |
| Travels with Charley | John Steinbeck | 1962 | Travel memoir |
| A Walk in the Woods | Bill Bryson | 1998 | Travel memoir |
| Wild | Cheryl Strayed | 2012 | Travel memoir |
| Into the Wild | Jon Krakauer | 1996 | Adventure nonfiction |
| Eat, Pray, Love | Elizabeth Gilbert | 2006 | Travel memoir |
| A Year in Provence | Peter Mayle | 1989 | Expat memoir |
| Under the Tuscan Sun | Frances Mayes | 1996 | Expat memoir |
| The Lost City of Z | David Grann | 2009 | Adventure nonfiction |
| On the Road | Jack Kerouac | 1957 | Road novel |
| The Alchemist | Paulo Coelho | 1988 | Journey novel |
| Around the World in Eighty Days | Jules Verne | 1873 (book) | Classic adventure |
| Less | Andrew Sean Greer | 2017 | Journey novel |
| People We Meet on Vacation | Emily Henry | 2021 | Beach read |
| Beach Read | Emily Henry | 2020 | Beach read |
| Funny Story | Emily Henry | 2024 | Beach read |
| The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo | Taylor Jenkins Reid | 2017 | Beach read |
| Malibu Rising | Taylor Jenkins Reid | 2021 | Beach read |
| Project Hail Mary | Andy Weir | 2021 | Plane read |
| The Silent Patient | Alex Michaelides | 2019 | Plane read |
| Murder on the Orient Express | Agatha Christie | 1934 | Plane read |
| The Thursday Murder Club | Richard Osman | 2020 | Plane read |
| Born a Crime | Trevor Noah | 2016 | Audiobook |
| Becoming | Michelle Obama | 2018 | Audiobook |
What Are the Best Travel Memoirs and Travel Literature?
The best travel memoirs are true stories of real journeys, and the strongest of them double as great literature. In fact, these ten books are among the best travel books ever written, and they are the ones most often cited when readers ask where travel writing begins. They suit the weeks before a trip, when you want inspiration rather than a guidebook.
Best travel books for armchair inspiration
1. The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux (1975)
Theroux rides trains from London across Europe, the Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia, then comes home on the Trans-Siberian Railway. As a result, the book reads like a moving gallery of strangers, and it remains a benchmark for modern travel literature.
- Trip: a four-month rail journey made in 1973
- Why pack it: short chapters that fit between stops
- Buy: Find it on Amazon
2. In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin (1977)
Chatwin spent about six months in southern Argentina and Chile, and this compact book made his name. Still, keep in mind that some locals later disputed parts of his account, so read it as literary travel writing rather than strict reportage.
- Trip: Patagonia, starting in late 1974
- Why pack it: brief, vivid vignettes
- Good pairing: Theroux’s The Old Patagonian Express
3. Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck (1962)
In September 1960, Steinbeck set off across America with his poodle, Charley, in a pickup camper he named Rocinante. Although critics have questioned how much of it is embellished, it remains a warm, funny portrait of the country.
- Trip: a loop around the United States from Long Island
- Why pack it: perfect for a US road trip
- Buy: Find it on Amazon
4. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (1998)
Bryson, back in the US after years in England, tries to hike the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine with his out-of-shape friend Stephen Katz. Consequently, the book mixes trail history and conservation with some of the funniest scenes in travel writing.
- Trip: the roughly 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail
- Why pack it: laugh-out-loud humor
- Buy: Find it on Amazon
5. Wild by Cheryl Strayed (2012)
After her mother’s death, Strayed hiked about 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail alone in 1995, with almost no backpacking experience. The result is a raw, hopeful memoir about grief and grit, and it is our top travel memoir for solo travelers.
- Trip: the Mojave Desert to Washington State
- Why pack it: ideal for traveling solo
- Buy: Find it on Amazon
6. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer (1996)
Krakauer, a journalist and climber, reconstructs the life of Christopher McCandless, who walked into the Alaska wilderness and never came back. It is gripping nonfiction; however, it is more cautionary tale than escapist read.
- Setting: the American West and Alaska
- Why pack it: a fast, haunting read
- Buy: Find it on Amazon
7. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (2006)
After a divorce, Gilbert spends a year in Italy, India and Indonesia looking for pleasure, devotion and balance. Love it or roll your eyes at it, this memoir still sends readers to Rome and Bali.
- Trip: one year, three countries
- Why pack it: easy to read in short sittings
- Buy: Find it on Amazon
8. A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle (1989)
Mayle, a former advertising executive, moves from England to an old stone farmhouse in the Luberon and records a year of meals, markets and builders who never show up. Moreover, its success opened the door for a wave of expat memoirs.
- Setting: Provence, southern France
- Why pack it: month-by-month chapters
- Best for: a slow trip to France
9. Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes (1996)
Mayes, an American poet, buys and restores an abandoned villa in the Tuscan countryside, and the book even includes recipes. It spent more than two years on the New York Times bestseller list, and it later inspired a Hollywood film.
- Setting: Tuscany, Italy
- Why pack it: food, light and lazy afternoons
- Best for: an Italy trip
10. The Lost City of Z by David Grann (2009)
Grann, a staff writer at The New Yorker, follows explorer Percy Fawcett’s doomed search for a lost city in the Amazon, then heads into the jungle himself. Because it reads like a thriller, it is a great bridge between nonfiction and a page-turner.
- Setting: the Amazon basin
- Why pack it: true story with thriller pacing
- Best for: adventure fans
Which Novels Are Best to Read While Traveling?
The best novels for travelers are journey stories, where the trip itself drives the plot. Similarly to the memoirs above, these books capture the restless itch to go, but they do it through fiction. For example, three of them are short enough to finish on a single long-haul flight.
11. On the Road by Jack Kerouac (1957)
Viking published Kerouac’s novel in 1957, and narrator Sal Paradise’s cross-country trips with Dean Moriarty defined the American road novel. Pack it for a highway trip, then read it in big, breathless gulps.
- Setting: highways across the US and into Mexico
- Why pack it: pure road-trip energy
- Buy: Find it on Amazon
12. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (1988)
Coelho’s fable about a shepherd boy who travels from Spain to Egypt in search of treasure first appeared in Portuguese in 1988, and HarperCollins published the English edition in 1993. Since it is short and simple, it is a classic gift for someone heading off on a big trip.
- Setting: Andalusia, Tangier and the Sahara
- Why pack it: readable in one sitting
- Best for: gap years and first solo trips
13. Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne (1873)
Verne serialized the story in 1872 and released it as a book in 1873. Phileas Fogg bets that he can circle the globe in 80 days, and then races by train, steamship and even elephant. It is the original travel adventure, and it still moves fast.
- Setting: London, India, Hong Kong, the US and more
- Why pack it: classic fun for all ages
- Best for: family trips
14. Less by Andrew Sean Greer (2017)
A failed novelist about to turn 50 accepts invitations to literary events around the world, mainly to skip his ex-boyfriend’s wedding. The book won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and it is both very funny and quietly moving.
- Setting: Mexico, Italy, Germany, Morocco, India and Japan
- Why pack it: a comic novel about travel itself
- Buy: Find it on Amazon
What Are the Best Beach Reads for a Vacation?
The best beach reads are fast, warm and absorbing, so you can drift off and pick them up again without losing the thread. In particular, Emily Henry and Taylor Jenkins Reid dominate vacation reading lists, and the five picks below show why. Most of them are also set on or near the water.
Best books to read on vacation for romance fans
15. People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry (2021)
Best friends Poppy and Alex take one summer trip together every year, until the year everything goes wrong. Netflix released the film adaptation on January 9, 2026, so now is a good time to read the book first.
- Setting: a decade of summer trips
- Why pack it: the ultimate vacation-themed romance
- Buy: Find it on Amazon
16. Beach Read by Emily Henry (2020)
Two writers in a creative slump, one who writes romance and one who writes literary fiction, swap genres for a summer at a lake house she inherited. It is witty and surprisingly emotional, and Berkley published it in May 2020.
- Setting: a lakeside summer community
- Why pack it: the title says it all
- Buy: Find it on Amazon
17. Funny Story by Emily Henry (2024)
Two people who were each dumped by the other’s partner end up roommates in Waning Bay, a small lakeside town in Michigan and fake a relationship. Penguin Random House released it in April 2024, and it is a breezy pick for a long weekend.
- Setting: a Michigan lake town in summer
- Why pack it: light, funny, low-stress
- Best for: a long weekend away
18. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2017)
An aging Old Hollywood star finally tells her life story, and every one of her seven marriages hides a secret. Word of mouth and BookTok made it a phenomenon years after its release.
- Setting: Hollywood from the 1950s onward
- Why pack it: glamorous and twisty
- Best for: poolside binge reading
19. Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2021)
On August 27, 1983, the four Riva siblings host Nina Riva’s annual summer party in Malibu, and it spirals out of control. Since the main story unfolds over a single day, it suits a beach day perfectly.
- Setting: Malibu, California
- Why pack it: surfing, sun and family drama
- Best for: a California trip
Pro tip. Download one backup ebook before you leave home. Beach Wi-Fi is unreliable, and finishing your only book on day two of a week-long vacation is a real risk.
What Are the Best Books to Read on a Plane?
The best books to read on a plane are page-turners with short chapters and a strong hook, because cabin noise and meal service break your focus. For that reason, we lean toward thrillers, mysteries and fast science fiction here.
Best travel books for long-haul flights
20. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2021)
A science teacher wakes up alone on a spacecraft with no memory of how he got there, and he has to save Earth. The film with Ryan Gosling opened in US theaters on March 20, 2026, so it is a timely pick and a good one for a 10-hour flight.
- Length: long, but impossible to put down
- Why pack it: humor plus real science
- Buy: Find it on Amazon
21. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (2019)
A famous painter shoots her husband and never speaks again, and her psychotherapist becomes obsessed with finding out why. It debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list and won the Goodreads Choice Award for mystery and thriller in 2019.
- Length: a quick read
- Why pack it: a famous twist ending
- Best for: a cross-country flight
22. Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (1934)
Hercule Poirot is aboard the luxury train when a passenger is stabbed in his compartment during a snowstorm. As a bonus, it is the ideal novel for a train trip, and it is short enough to finish in one flight.
- Setting: the Orient Express, stuck in a snowdrift
- Why pack it: a perfect locked-room puzzle
- Best for: trains and short flights
23. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman (2020)
Four retirees in an English village meet weekly to study cold cases, until a real murder happens next door. It is cozy, funny and clever; moreover, Netflix released a film version in August 2025.
- Setting: a retirement village in England
- Why pack it: gentle humor and a puzzle
- Best for: nervous flyers who want comfort
What Are the Best Audiobooks for Road Trips?
The best road-trip audiobooks are read by a strong narrator, ideally the author, and they hold the attention of everyone in the car. In addition, a memoir in the author’s own voice feels like a long conversation, which makes the miles go faster.
24. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (2016)
Noah tells the story of growing up mixed-race in apartheid-era South Africa, when his very birth broke the law. He narrates the audiobook himself, switching between accents and languages, and it won the 2018 Audie Award for best male narrator.
- Runtime: about 8 hours and 44 minutes
- Why play it: funny, moving and family-friendly for teens
- Buy: Find it on Amazon
25. Becoming by Michelle Obama (2018)
The former first lady reads her own memoir, from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to the White House. The audio edition won the Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album in 2020, and at about 19 hours, it can fill a cross-country drive.
- Runtime: about 19 hours
- Why play it: a warm, steady narrator
- Best for: very long drives
Two more audio picks from earlier in this list also work well. For instance, the Project Hail Mary audiobook, read by Ray Porter, won the 2022 Audie Award for Audiobook of the Year. Likewise, Bill Bryson’s dry humor in A Walk in the Woods translates well to audio.
Pro tip. You can borrow many of these audiobooks free with a public library card through the Libby app from OverDrive. Download titles over Wi-Fi before you hit the road, since rural highways often have weak cell coverage.
Which Book Should You Read for Your Destination?
Matching a book to your destination is the easiest way to deepen a trip, and it is how many readers choose the best travel books for a specific journey. Here is a quick guide based on the books above, so you can pick by place rather than by genre.
| If you are going to | Read this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | Under the Tuscan Sun or Eat, Pray, Love | Both capture Italian food and slow living |
| France | A Year in Provence | Month-by-month life in the Luberon |
| A US road trip | Travels with Charley or On the Road | Two classic cross-country journeys |
| A national park hike | A Walk in the Woods or Wild | Long-distance trail memoirs |
| South America | In Patagonia or The Lost City of Z | Exploration and remote landscapes |
| A beach resort | People We Meet on Vacation or Malibu Rising | Sun, water and easy reading |
| A train trip in Europe | Murder on the Orient Express | The classic railway mystery |
| Alaska | Into the Wild | The true story behind the legend |
How Should You Pack Books for a Trip?
The smartest approach is to carry one print book and keep the rest digital, even when you pack several of the best travel books on this list. That way, you have something to read during takeoff and landing, while an e-reader or phone holds the backup library.
- Mix formats: one paperback, one or two ebooks and one audiobook covers every situation.
- Match length to the trip: save long novels for long flights and short books for weekend trips.
- Charge before you go: e-readers last for weeks, but phones do not, so pack a power bank.
- Use your library: borrow ebooks and audiobooks before departure instead of buying them.
- Leave room: local bookstores abroad are often the best souvenir shops.
If you want to read more on the road in general, see our guide on how to read more books. It covers habits that work just as well in an airport lounge as at home.
Watch out. Paperbacks swell and warp quickly in sand, sunscreen and humidity. So bring a zip-top bag for the beach, or leave the expensive hardcover at home.
Our verdict
If you only pack one book, make it Wild for a memoir or Less for a novel; both are moving, funny and built around travel. For beach days, Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation is the easy choice, while Project Hail Mary is the best travel book for a long flight. Finally, for the car, let Trevor Noah read Born a Crime to you.
Overall, the best travel books do two things at once: they make the journey feel bigger, and they make the waiting feel shorter. Pick one from each section, and you are covered from departure to the drive home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best travel books of all time?
The best travel books of all time include The Great Railway Bazaar by Paul Theroux, In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin, Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck and A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. These classics shaped modern travel writing, and they are still in print. For fiction, On the Road and Around the World in Eighty Days remain the go-to journey novels.
What is a good book to read while traveling solo?
Wild by Cheryl Strayed is the classic solo-travel read, because it follows her 1,100-mile hike alone on the Pacific Crest Trail. Eat, Pray, Love works well for a solo trip abroad, too. If you prefer fiction, Less by Andrew Sean Greer follows a man traveling alone around the world, and it won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize.
What are the best books to read on vacation?
The best books to read on vacation are fast and absorbing, such as People We Meet on Vacation, Beach Read and Funny Story by Emily Henry, or Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid. They are easy to pick up after a swim or nap. If you prefer mysteries, The Thursday Murder Club is a cozy, funny alternative.
What books are good to read on a plane?
Good books to read on a plane have short chapters and a strong hook, so noise and interruptions do not break the spell. Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides and Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie are all reliable choices. Download an ebook backup in case you finish early.
What is the best audiobook for a road trip?
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah is one of the best road-trip audiobooks, because Noah narrates it himself and it runs under nine hours. For a longer drive, Becoming by Michelle Obama runs about 19 hours and won a Grammy. You can often borrow both free through the Libby app with a public library card.
What is the difference between a travel memoir and travel literature?
A travel memoir focuses on the author and how a journey changed them, as in Wild or Eat, Pray, Love. Travel literature is the broader genre of writing about places and journeys, and it often focuses more on the people and landscapes encountered, as in The Great Railway Bazaar. In practice, many books fit both labels.
