Best Travel Photography Books of 2025

Wilson Cook Avatar
Wilson Cook
Last Updated: May 9, 2023

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Travel photography books offer a great way to vicariously experience the world through stunning visuals and captivating stories. These books are perfect for armchair travelers or those seeking inspiration for their next adventure. They feature breathtaking landscapes, vibrant cultures, and fascinating people from all corners of the globe. Whether you're interested in wildlife photography, street photography, or landscape photography, there's a travel photography book out there for you. These books also make great gifts for any photography or travel enthusiast. So, grab a cup of coffee, curl up with a travel photography book, and let your imagination take you on a journey around the world.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Gray Malin: Coastal Cover#TOP 1
Gray Malin: Coastal
ftb score rating icon9.9
Accidentally Wes Anderson Cover#TOP 2
Accidentally Wes Anderson
ftb score rating icon9.8
Lei Aloha: Celebrating the Vibrant Flowers and Lei of Hawai'i Cover#TOP 3
Lei Aloha: Celebrating the Vibrant Flowers and Lei of Hawai'i
ftb score rating icon9.6

Top 10 Travel Photography Books

Gray Malin: Coastal

Malin, Gray
May 9, 2023
Gray Malin: Coastal Cover
Gray Malin: Coastal
ftb score rating icon9.9
FTB Score

Gray Malin's Coastal is a breathtaking collection of aerial beach photography, featuring coastal locations from around the world. This book showcases never-before-published photographs of beaches in the United States, Hawaii, and international destinations such as Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand. Malin takes readers on a journey to the secluded, celebrated, and enchanting beaches of the world. Fans of Malin's previous book, Beaches, will love this new installment. The book is a must-have for travel photography enthusiasts and anyone who loves the beauty of beaches.

Koval, Wally
Anderson, Wes
Voracious
Oct 20, 2020
Accidentally Wes Anderson Cover
Accidentally Wes Anderson
ftb score rating icon9.8
FTB Score

The book "Accidentally Wes Anderson" is a visual journey of more than 200 stunning and unique destinations from around the world that capture the imagined worlds of the legendary filmmaker Wes Anderson. Fueled by distinctive design, stunning photography, and unexpected narratives, this book is a passport to inspiration and adventure. The author, Wally Koval, presents each location with fascinating human stories behind each façade. The book is authorized by Wes Anderson himself, making it a must-have for modern travelers and fans of Anderson's distinctive aesthetic. Overall, "Accidentally Wes Anderson" is a delightful and unique book that offers a fresh perspective on the world around us.

#TOP 3

Lei Aloha: Celebrating the Vibrant Flowers and Lei of Hawai'i

Estes, Meleana
Fiedler, Jennifer
Apr 25, 2023
Lei Aloha: Celebrating the Vibrant Flowers and Lei of Hawai'i Cover
Lei Aloha: Celebrating the Vibrant Flowers and Lei of Hawai'i
ftb score rating icon9.6
FTB Score

Lei Aloha takes readers on a colorful journey into the world of lei-making and Hawaiian culture. With vibrant photography and flower inspirations, the book shares the history of lei and the community behind it. Author Meleana Estes, a stylist and lei expert, continues her grandmother's legacy by creating intricate and stunning lei. Each chapter features a grouping of flowers and lei, along with anecdotes about their history and uses. The book also showcases vintage mu’umu’us, lush tropical gardens, and graceful hula dancers. Lei Aloha is a beautiful celebration of Hawaiian traditions and the art of lei-making.

Kaufman, Susan
May 24, 2022
Walk With Me: New York Cover
Walk With Me: New York
ftb score rating icon9.6
FTB Score

"Walk With Me: New York" by Susan Kaufman is a stunning collection of over 200 photographs that capture the beauty and charm of New York City. The author, a longtime fashion editor and photographer, invites the reader to see the city from a different perspective: from the sidewalk. Kaufman showcases the often-overlooked spots that make NYC so beautiful, from its parks and cafes to building facades. This coffee table pick is perfect for both denizens and strangers to the Big Apple's streets. "Walk With Me" is a lovely reminder to slow down, be reflective, and appreciate the small discoveries that offer us balance in a fast-paced world.

Malin, Gray
Abrams
May 14, 2019
Gray Malin: Italy Cover
Gray Malin: Italy
ftb score rating icon9.5
FTB Score

Gray Malin: Italy is a stunning portrayal of the Italian coastline through the lens of fine-art photographer Gray Malin. The book features never-before-seen images of the country’s famous destinations, highlighting the Riviera's luxurious lifestyle and the beauty of the beaches, coasts, and landscapes. Malin captures the essence of the Italian Dolce Vita, showcasing retro beach umbrellas, luxury motorboats, and happy beachgoers. The book is a perfect addition to any coffee table and a must-have for travel photography enthusiasts. Overall, Gray Malin: Italy is a beautiful and unique book that transports the reader to the picturesque Italian coastline.

Gray Malin: The Essential Collection

Malin, Gray
Harry N. Abrams
May 4, 2021
Gray Malin: The Essential Collection Cover
Gray Malin: The Essential Collection
ftb score rating icon9.4
FTB Score

The Gray Malin: The Essential Collection is a stunning volume that showcases the first decade of work from the renowned photographer. It features his most iconic shoots and never-before-seen material, taking readers on a colorful journey across all seven continents. From Manhattan's skyline to Positano's sunny beaches, Malin's work is unforgettable. The book also includes stories of how each collection was made, offering a glimpse into the artist's creative process. Overall, this travel photography book is a must-have for anyone who loves art, travel, and adventure.

Malin, Gray
Malin, Gray
Abrams
Oct 3, 2017
Escape Cover
Escape
ftb score rating icon9.4
FTB Score

Escape by Gray Malin is a collection of stunning photographs that take readers beyond the beaches and into exotic locations around the world. With over 22 destinations across 11 countries, Malin's sharp eye captures the exuberant colors and striking forms that make each location so unique. The book also includes highlights from Malin's conceptual photography, offering a comprehensive look at the photographer's desire to showcase the beauty he sees in the world. Escape is a celebration of light, shadow, and absolute bliss, inspiring every lover of travel and exploration to plan an escape of their own.

1,000 Places to See Before You Die (Deluxe Edition): The World as You've Never Seen It Before

Schultz, Patricia
Artisan
Oct 29, 2019
1,000 Places to See Before You Die (Deluxe Edition): The World as You've Never Seen It Before Cover
1,000 Places to See Before You Die (Deluxe Edition): The World as You've Never Seen It Before
ftb score rating icon9.3
FTB Score

The Deluxe Edition of "1,000 Places to See Before You Die" is a stunning visual journey through the world's most beautiful destinations. With over 1,000 new photographs and 544 pages, this book is a feast for the eyes. Patricia Schultz takes readers on a journey filled with joy, curiosity, awe, and inspiration. The book showcases mesmerizing photographs of spectacular places and holds just enough of Schultz's lively text to keep readers engaged. This book is perfect for every traveler, dreamer, and anyone who wants to be inspired to see the world's wonders.

Malin, Gray
Abrams
May 10, 2016
Beaches Cover
Beaches
ftb score rating icon9.2
FTB Score

Beaches by Gray Malin is a New York Times bestseller that features awe-inspiring aerial photographs of beaches from around the world. Shot from doorless helicopters, Malin's photographs capture playful and stunning celebrations of light, shape, and perspective, as well as summer bliss. The book features over twenty cities across six continents, including Sydney, Miami, Rio de Janeiro, and Capri. Malin's work is a perfect combination of travel, adventure, luxury, and artistry, creating the ultimate visual escape. Beaches is a must-have for anyone who loves landscape photography books and is looking for a unique way to experience the world's most beautiful beaches.

Starr, Kevin
Ulin, David L
Heimann, Jim
Taschen
Oct 23, 2009
Los Angeles. Portrait of a City Cover
Los Angeles. Portrait of a City
ftb score rating icon9.0
FTB Score

Los Angeles. Portrait of a City is a stunning photographic tribute to the City of Angels, tracing its history from the 1880s real estate boom to the present day. With over 500 images, the book showcases the city's development and its many dimensions, including Hollywood celebrities, pop cultural movements, and notorious crimes. The essays by renowned California historian Kevin Starr and Los Angeles literature expert David L. Ulin provide context and resonance to the images. Overall, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in the cultural, political, and sociological history of Los Angeles.

Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do travel photographers make money?

Travel photography jobs are not easy to come by, but anyone can get paid to travel and take photos. There are many ways to get paid to take pictures. Social media and stock photography are two of the most popular means.

2. Is there a demand for travel photographers?

The travel industry is worth trillions each year, which means the demand for anything tourism-related is massive. That includes photography and travel photography jobs.

Editor's Notes

During our travel photography book research, we found 1,200+ travel photography book products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 68,624 customer reviews through our big data system to write the travel photography books list. We found that most customers choose travel photography books with an average price of $28.37.

Written by
Wilson Cook Avatar

Wilson Cook is a talented writer who has an MFA in creative writing from Williams College and has published more than 50 books acquired by hundreds of thousands of people from various countries by now. He is an inveterate reading lover as he has read a vast amount of books since childhood.