These are my recommended books to read when traveling. It’s a mix of books I’ve enjoyed reading and those I’m eager to explore. My selections are inspired by the places I’ve visited and stories that have piqued my interest.
It’s also not an exhaustive travel reading list, but it’s a good starting point for exploring stories worldwide. If you’re jetting off to another country or just want to travel vicariously, there should be a book here. I’ve listed the books under the countries we’ve traveled to—or want to travel to!
Table Of Contents
- 50 Recommended Books to Read When Traveling
- Albania
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Austria
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Cambodia
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia
- Czech Republic, Slovakia
- Cuba
- England
- Ethiopia
- France
- Georgia
- Ghana (United States)
- Guatemala
- Greece
- Honduras
- Hungary
- India (United States)
- Indonesia
- Italy
- Kosovo
- (North) Macedonia
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- Peru
- Philippines
- Scotland
- South Korea
- Spain
- Spain and Portugal
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Vietnam
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50 Recommended Books to Read When Traveling
By reading books about the countries we travel to, we can better understand the places we visit. We may be able to glean more from the historical sites, museums, and other cultural elements we encounter during our trip.
Books might also introduce us to the local language, traditional cuisine, and culturally appropriate etiquette, helping us avoid potential embarrassment and better immerse ourselves in the destination.
Beyond the practical benefits, reading while traveling provides a pleasurable, vicarious experience. We can be transported to another time and place while feeling more informed about our journey.
For convenience, I’ve provided links to purchase these books on Amazon. You can also support independent bookstores by buying through a platform like Bookshop.org, but they have more limited inventory.
You might prefer the cost-saving option of using e-readers like a Kindle or Kobo. But many readers, like my wife, still enjoy the experience of reading a physical book.
It’s worth noting that while subscription services like Kindle Unlimited or Kobo Plus can offer significant cost savings, their selection may be more limited compared to other purchasing options. But it can be a smart and financially savvy choice for many travelers.
Albania
1. Free: Coming of Age at the End of History (A Child and a Country at the End of History)
Albania is our next travel stop, so I’ve earmarked this book to read.
| Author: | Lea Ypi |
| Genre: | Memoir |
It leads her to grapple with newfound truths about her family’s past and the complex realities of “freedom” as her country undergoes a tumultuous transition to a market economy.
Argentina
We enjoyed walking around Buenos Aires, watching salsa dancers dance in the streets, going on wine tours, and exploring Patagonia. If and when we return, it would be interesting to see gauchos perform.
2. A Simple Story: In Search of Argentina’s Gaucho Dancers (The Last Malambo)
| Author: | Leila Guerriero |
| Genre: | Nonfiction |
It requires them never to compete again if they win, as journalist Leila Guerriero discovered through her year-long immersion in the lives of these dancers.
Armenia
During the pandemic, we had a short stay of less than three months in Yerevan. It wasn’t the most ideal situation, and we didn’t have a chance to explore any of the mountainous regions.
3. Family of Shadows
| Author: | Garin K. Hovannisian |
| Genre: | Memoir |
4. Three Apples Fell from the Sky
| Author: | Narine Abgaryan |
| Genre: | Fiction, Folklore |
This begins a tale of unforeseen twists, unlikely romance, and the irresistible joy of everyday friendship that breathes new life into the forgotten village.
Austria
We hiked in Austria and explored its cities, filled with so much history. This is a good companion book if you’re traveling to Vienna.
5. The World of Yesterday
| Author: | Stefan Zweig |
| Genre: | Memoir |
Bosnia and Herzegovina
6. Goodbye Sarajevo: A True Story of Courage, Love and Survival
We visited many museums in Sarajevo dedicated to the Bosnian war, and there are many excellent books on the subject. This is one I’d like to read.
| Author: | Atka Reid |
| Genre: | Biography, Memoir |
This leads to the sisters making a promise to be brave as they are separated for months and forced to cope with the escalating conflict in vastly different circumstances until an unexpected turn of events changes their lives forever.
Cambodia
We had a very enjoyable time volunteering in Siem Reap and exploring the country. Despite their difficult history, we experience wonderful community, hospitality, and connections there.
7. In the Shadow of the Banyan: A Novel
| Author: | Vaddey Ratner |
| Genre: | Fiction |
She clings to the mythical legends and poems taught to her by her father as she fights for her improbable survival amidst the atrocities of the Cambodian genocide.
8. The Road of Lost Innocence
| Author: | Somaly Mam |
| Genre: | Memoir |
According to the publisher, a portion of the proceeds from this book are donated to the Somaly Mam Foundation.
Canada
As Canadians, it’s important for us to lift up the stories of First Nations people. This is just one book of many. You can also visit a friend’s publishing house to find more books by Indigenous writers.
9. Indian Horse
| Author: | Richard Wagamese |
| Genre: | Fiction |
There, he finds salvation and remarkable talent in hockey despite facing violence, cruelty, racism, and the harshness of a world that will never welcome him. This spare yet rich coming-of-age tale is a heartbreaking account of a dark chapter in history.
Chile
I’m a huge Pablo Neruda fan, and we visited his many eclectic homes in Chile. His poetry brings the mundane and ordinary to life. I encourage you to read his Nobel Prize Lecture.
10. The Poetry of Pablo Neruda
| Author: | Pablo Neruda |
| Genre: | Poetry |
This selection presents nearly 600 of Neruda’s poems, including new and multiple translations and the original Spanish versions, providing a comprehensive English-language introduction to this influential and celebrated poet.
China
The diversity of China’s regions impressed us when we traveled there. This looks to be a well-researched look at the food and history of China.
11. Invitation to a Banquet: The Story of Chinese Food
| Author: | Fuchsia Dunlop |
| Genre: | Nonfiction |
Award-winning writer Fuchsia Dunlop explores Chinese gastronomy’s history, philosophy, and techniques, examining classic dishes to reveal distinctive aspects of Chinese food culture. She shares her firsthand experiences and research conducted over three decades in China.
Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia
Traveling through many Balkan countries (Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and Macedonia) we’ve learned that the history of the area is complex and intertwined. I think that’s why I’m drawn o this book.
12. Mother Tongue: A Saga of Three Generations of Balkan Women
| Author: | Tania Romanov |
| Genre: | Memoir, Travelogue |
Tania, who has successfully integrated into American life, eventually returns to her fractured homeland with her mother, Zora, to uncover the secrets of their shared family history.
Czech Republic, Slovakia
13. The Twelve Little Cakes
| Author: | Dominika Dery |
| Genre: | Autobiography, Memoir |
Despite her family’s challenges, their love, pride, and resourcefulness allow them to persevere and find happiness through the best and worst times.
Cuba
14. Before Night Falls: A Memoir
| Author: | Reinaldo Arenas |
| Genre: | Memoir |
Arenas’ memoir is a testament to his resilience, vitality, and commitment to revealing his personal truth in the face of unimaginable adversity.
England
My wife, Tammy, has read the whole series, and it’s one that’s earmarked for me to read.
15. The Pillars of the Earth
| Author: | Ken Follet |
| Genre: | Historical Fiction (Part 1 in a Series) |
The novel tells the story of a devout monk, his ambitious architect, and a woman haunted by a secret shame, set against the backdrop of 12th-century England and a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state.
Ethiopia
We haven’t traveled to Ethiopia and it’s not currently advised to do so, but this is one of my favorite fiction books.
16. Cutting for Stone
| Author: | Abraham Verghese |
| Genre: | Fiction |
This emotionally riveting novel is an unforgettable story of how history, place, and the circumstances of one’s birth can shape the course of a life.
France
I’ve only traveled to Paris, but I’d love to go back and explore the south of France.
17. The Nightingale: A Novel
| Author: | Kristin Hannah |
| Genre: | Historical Fiction |
It’s a heartbreakingly beautiful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the strength of women. This novel, lauded as a modern classic, is a sweeping, powerful work that will resonate with readers for a lifetime.
Georgia
We spent a year working and traveling in Georgia at the beginning of the pandemic.
Contemporary Georgian Fiction (Fiction From Georgia)
| Author: | Elizabeth Heighway (Editor) |
| Genre: | Fiction |
Covering a wide array of subjects from blood feuds and betrayal to sex and drugs, the stories in this collection aim to challenge preconceptions. It make available a rich, multifaceted literary legacy that has been unfairly overshadowed by other ex-Soviet republics.
Ghana (United States)
19. Homegoing
| Author: | Yaa Gyasi |
| Genre: | Historical Fiction |
Spanning eight generations, from the Gold Coast to Mississippi and Harlem, the novel illuminates the troubled legacy of slavery for both those taken and those who remained.
Guatemala
20. I, Rigoberta Menchú: An Indian Woman in Guatemal
| Author: | Rigoberta Menchú |
| Genre: | Memoir |
The book vividly conveys Menchú’s extraordinary courage, sense of justice, and personal response to feminist and socialist ideas as she turns to catechistic work as an expression of both political revolt and religious commitment.
Greece
21. The Song of Achilles
| Author: | Madeline Miller |
| Genre: | Fiction, Folklore |
It has earned widespread critical praise for Miller’s profound and dazzling interpretation of this enduring classical narrativ
Honduras
22. Catrachos: Poems
| Author: | Roy G. Guzmán |
| Genre: | Poetry |
With exceptional energy, humor, and inventiveness. Guzmán’s debut showcases a devastatingly complex lyrical voice while introducing an immediately captivating and urgently needed new poetic perspective.
Hungary
We spent about five or six days walking around the storied city of Budapest and could easily go back to see more.
23. Budapest: (Portrait of a City) Between East and West
| Author: | Victor Sebestyen |
| Genre: | History, Nonfiction |
Sebestyen skillfully weaves together colorful details, anecdotes, and profiles of the city’s many influential rulers, artists, and historical figures. He creates a compelling, revelatory, and authoritative account of one of Europe’s most important metropolitan centers.
India (United States)
There are many books about India out there, but Jhumpa Lhairi is one of my favorite authors.
24. The Namesake
| Author: | Jhumpa Lahiri |
| Genre: | Fiction |
Lahiri’s intimate family saga has been praised as a dazzling, exquisitely detailed portrait that resonates with universal truths and the specific complexities of the immigrant experience.
25. Spring, Heat, Rains: A South Indian Diary
| Author: | David Shulman |
| Genre: | Memoir, Travelogue |
An evocative personal diary chronicling a seven-month sojourn in the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. His unabashedly personal account offers an unforgettable, joy-filled gift for anyone who has dreamed of experiencing the sights, sounds, and sensations of India.
Indonesia
26. The Rainbow Troops: A Novel
| Author: | Andrea Hirata |
| Genre: | Fiction |
They face constant threats to their education but find hope through two extraordinary teachers. It’s an uplifting and intimate portrayal of the world’s largest Muslim society, reminiscent of the work of Khaled Hosseini.
Italy
The vastness and variety of landscapes and history continues to surprise us whenever we explore a different region of Italy.
27. A Girl Returned
| Author: | Donatella Di Pietrantonio |
| Genre: | Fiction |
Set against the backdrop of Abruzzo, Italy’s stark, beautiful landscape, this compelling narrative offers a raw and expressive depiction of the young protagonist’s journey.
28. Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel
| Author: | Andrew Graham-Dixon |
| Genre: | Biography |
Featuring rich illustrations, this book is an indispensable piece of art criticism that humanizes this iconic masterpiece in a way that will be appreciated by art enthusiasts, students, and professionals alike.
Kosovo
29. Bolla: A Novel
| Author: | Pajtim Statovci |
| Genre: | Fiction |
Centered on the life of Arsim, a recently married student whose secret affair with a Serb man named Milos is derailed by the conflict, the novel offers an emotionally powerful and reflective examination of the endurance and forgiveness required in the face of life-altering upheaval. The characters’ emotional journey is a key aspect of the narrative.
(North) Macedonia
30. To the Lake: A Balkan Journey of War and Peace
| Author: | Kapka Kassabova |
| Genre: | Memoir |
Kassabova embarks on a personal journey to uncover the region’s turbulent history and enduring allure, interweaving stories of the diverse people, both past and present, who have been shaped by the lakes’ geography and the politics of this historic crossroads.
Through her immersive exploration of the lakes and the human destinies connected to them, she confronts universal questions about the impact of geography, politics, and legacy on families and nations.
Malaysia
31. The House of Doors
| Author: | Tan Twan Eng |
| Genre: | Historical Fiction |
It’s a mesmerizing exploration of the complex dynamics of race, gender, sexuality, and power under the shadow of colonial rule.
Mexico
32. The Hummingbird’s Daughter: A Novel
| Author: | Luis Alberto Urrea |
| Genre: | Historical Fiction |
This novel offers a richly detailed and deeply personal exploration of his great-aunt’s remarkable life and the complex legacy of her acclaimed status as a saint.
33. On The Plain of Snakes: A Mexican Journey
| Author: | Paul Theroux |
| Genre: | Travelogue |
Drawing on his trademark humanizing sensibility, he offers an immersive, nuanced portrait that delves into the lived experiences of residents on both sides of the border, from border patrol agents to Zapotec mill workers. He provides a penetrating perspective on the current immigration debates.
Morocco
34. A House in Fez: Building a Life in the Ancient Heart of Morocco
| Author: | Suzanna Clarke |
| Genre: | Nonfiction, Travle |
This ultimately leads to a profound personal transformation as she not only revives the old house, but also her own sense of purpose. Set within the captivating backdrop of Fez’s medieval walled city, where ancient and modern coexist, the book offers readers a window into the rich cultural tapestry of Morocco.
Netherlands
35. The Diary of a Young Girl
| Author: | Anne Frank |
| Genre: | Memoir |
Through Anne’s intimate journal entries, readers are afforded a deeply compelling self-portrait of a sensitive and thoughtful young woman who matures amid the terrors of war. It offers an unparalleled glimpse into her close relationships, inner thoughts, and profound understanding of the human condition.
36. The Letters of Van Gogh
| Author: | Vincent Van Gogh |
| Genre: | Memoir |
It instead reveals his profound emotional and spiritual depths as he candidly grapples with his religious struggles, ill-fated search for love, and battles with mental illness.
Linked by biographical passages and accompanied by Van Gogh’s own drawings, these letters stand as a unique and invaluable account of the creative process, shedding light on every facet of this iconic figure’s life and work.
Nicaragua
37. The Country Under My Skin: A Memoir of Love and War
| Author: | Gioconda Belli |
| Genre: | Memoir |
It’s a vivid personal narrative and provides both a revelatory insider’s perspective on the revolutionary movement and a candid exploration of the dichotomies between her privileged birth and the life she chose, her poetry and political passions, and her divided existence between California and Nicaragua.
Belli’s memoir is a passionate and tough-minded work that sheds light on a remarkable life in art, revolution, and love.
Peru
38. Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time
| Author: | Mark Adams |
| Genre: | History, Travelogue |
Blending humor, history, and first-hand account, Adams’ bestselling travel memoir offers a captivating exploration of one of the world’s most iconic destinations while questioning the nature of exploration and the role of the adventurer.
Philippines
Besides the book below, there’s also an excellent podcast by Caterina Fake with Maria Ressa (From Nobel Peace Prize to Professor of Practice).
39. How to Stand Up to a Dictator: The Fight for Our Future
| Author: | Maria Ressa |
| Genre: | Nonfiction, Politics |
This encompasses transforming news coverage in the region to creating the innovative online news organization Rappler, which subsequently faced relentless persecution from the government under President Duterte.
Ressa’s gripping personal narrative illuminates the broader global threats to democracy. It exposes how social media companies have enabled the spread of disinformation that fuels the rise of authoritarians while underscoring the personal sacrifices required to uphold the truth.
Scotland
40. Bothy Tales: Footsteps in the Scottish Hills
| Author: | John D. Burn |
| Genre: | Nonfiction, Hiking |
He shares a new volume of dramatic, moving, and humorous tales featuring a vivid cast of characters, from confident climbers to novices, who find themselves drawn to these isolated wilderness refuges. Through these intimate glimpses into the bothy experience, Burns conveys his deep passion for the beautiful wilderness of the uplands.
South Korea
41. Human Acts: A Novel
| Author: | Han Kang |
| Genre: | Fiction |
It’s a timely and essential exploration of the universal struggle for justice in the face of oppression. Praised as both “compulsively readable” and “deeply resonant,” this work traces the harsh realities of state violence while capturing the extraordinary resilience and humanity of those who endure.
42. Pachinko
| Author: | Min Jin Lee |
| Genre: | Fiction |
It’s a richly told and profoundly moving story of love, sacrifice, ambition, and loyalty that spans from bustling street markets to elite universities to the criminal underworld. It’s centered on the resilient, passionate, and complex characters who endure and thrive against the indifferent sweep of history.
Praised as a “New York Times Top Ten Book of the Year” and a National Book Award finalist, Pachinko is a sweeping, masterful work that illuminates the universal human experience through the lens of one family’s extraordinary journey.
Spain
43. The New Spaniards
| Author: | John Hooper |
| Genre: | Nonfiction, Politics |
The country has grappled with the coexistence of traditional attitudes and emerging modern preoccupations across diverse realms of Spanish society, from housing and gambling to sexual mores and crime rates. Hooper’s fascinating study brings to vivid life the evolving identity and complex realities of Spain in the 21st century.
Spain and Portugal
44. The Pilgrimage: A Contemporary Quest for Ancient Wisdom
| Author: | Paulo Coelho |
| Genre: | Fiction, Travelogue |
Offering enchantment and insight, this book follows Coelho’s transformative experiences on the road, providing readers a compelling parable that illuminates the universal human quest for meaning and purpose.
Sri Lanka
45. Anil’s Ghost
| Author: | Michael Ondaatje |
| Genre: | Fiction |
A riveting mystery unfolds against the profoundly evocative backdrop of Sri Lanka’s ancient civilization and landscapes as Ondaatje weaves a powerful story about love, family, identity, and the quest to unlock the hidden past. It blends literary mastery with a propulsive narrative and is one of Ondaatje’s most influential and accomplished novels.
Thailand
46. Fieldwork
| Author: | Mischa Berlinski |
| Genre: | Fiction |
Fieldwork, Berlinski’s acclaimed 2007 National Book Award finalist, is a brilliant, haunting novel that delves into the complex interplay between cultures, ideologies, and the human need to uncover the truth.
United Kingdom
47. Bothy: In Search of Simple Shelter
| Author: | Kat Hill |
| Genre: | Noniction |
Kat Hill weaves together the history and allure of these off-the-grid shelters with her own story of healing and newfound purpose, exploring the complex tensions between preserving nature’s untamed beauty and the human desire to explore and share it.
United States
48. The Girl Who Sang to the Buffalo
| Author: | Kent Nerburn |
| Genre: | Fiction, Nonfiction, History |
He encounters complex and unforgettable characters from his previous works and delves into the profound insights into humanity and indigenous lifeways that have become the hallmark of Nerburn’s writings.
Blending evocative depictions of the American heartland with incisive explorations of the human experience, this stirring narrative imparts a transformative perspective that forever alters the reader’s understanding of the world and its people.
Vietnam
49. The Mountains Sing
| Author: | Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai |
| Genre: | Fiction |
It blends the epic scope of works like Pachinko and Homegoing with the lyrical beauty of In the Shadow of the Banyan. It vividly conveys the human costs and heartbreaking personal impact of the conflict from the Vietnamese perspective while conveying the enduring power of kindness and hope.
Praised as a “moving and riveting” book that, in “more than one sense, remedies history,” it has been celebrated with a New York Times Editors’ Choice selection and the 2020 Lannan Literary Awards Fellowship.
50. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous
| Author: | Ocean Vuong |
| Genre: | Fiction |
Vuong’s stunning prose and compassionate yet unflinching examination of the human experience made the work one of the best-reviewed novels in recent years. At once, a witness to the undeniable love between a mother and son and a brutally honest exploration of identity and survival.
This book has been widely celebrated as a masterful, urgent, and vital addition to contemporary fiction.