Where You Should Travel Next, Based On Your Favorite Book

Some books pull us into their worlds so deeply that we can almost hear the streets, smell the air thick with history, or feel the landscape stretching out before us.

That’s what I call a great book! But, besides amazing reading escapes, these books can be used as a great inspiration for your next, perfect travel destination!

So why not step beyond the pages and experience these places in real life? From mystery-filled train journeys to windswept islands, these destinations don’t just bring books to life. They make for unforgettable travel experiences!

1. Vienna, Austria – The Night Circus

Erin Morgenstern’s “The Night Circus” is a novel steeped in mystery and enchantment, following the whimsical, otherworldly competition between two young illusionists set against the backdrop of a traveling black-and-white circus.

While the exact locations remain dreamlike and undefined, Vienna captures the novel’s intoxicating, old-world magic like no other city. Lose yourself in the flickering glow of the Prater amusement park, where you can almost hear the echoes of Morgenstern’s fantastical world.

Vienna is a city where time slows, where romance lingers in the air, and where the impossible suddenly feels within reach.

2. Italy, India, And Bali, Indonesia – Eat, Pray, Love

If there was ever a book that could convince you to drop everything and travel, it’s this one. Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat, Pray, Love” is a journey of self-discovery that unfolds across three breathtaking destinations. Each offers its own lesson in indulgence, spirituality, and balance.

Italy feeds the soul with its decadent food and passionate culture, making Rome and Naples the perfect destinations to sip espresso in sun-drenched piazzas and twirl forkfuls of handmade pasta.

If you’ve ever dreamed of traveling to find yourself, these destinations are waiting to welcome you with open arms.

3. Long Island, New York, USA – The Great Gatsby

Glamour, excess, and the elusive pursuit of the American Dream! That is a short plot explanation of “The Great Gatsby”.

Fitzgerald paints Long Island’s Gold Coast as a world of glittering parties, mansions, and whispered secrets. It’s a place where champagne flows as freely as the rumors. To step into this world, visit the North Shore of Long Island, where grand estates like Oheka Castle and the Vanderbilt Mansion mirror Gatsby’s lavish West Egg lifestyle.

Take a ferry across the Sound at sunset and feel the sea breeze whisper of lost dreams.

It’s a place where wealth dazzles, but longing lingers! Just like Fitzgerald intended.

4. New Zealand – The Hobbit

If Middle-earth were real, it would be New Zealand. Because it actually is! The rolling green hills of Hobbiton, the peaks of the Misty Mountains, the deep, forested valleys that whisper tales of adventure… it’s all there, waiting to be explored.

When Peter Jackson brought Tolkien’s legendary world to life, he didn’t have to rely on special effects to capture the magic; New Zealand’s landscapes did the work for him.

Visit Matamata to step inside the Shire, or trek through Fiordland National Park! You choose! For anyone who’s ever dreamed of embarking on an epic quest, there’s no better place to start than here.

5. Kyoto, Japan – Memoirs Of A Geisha

Kyoto is a city that exists in two worlds at once! “Memoirs of a Geisha” brings this delicate balance to life, transporting readers to the world of Gion, where geishas glide through lantern-lit streets and tea houses whisper secrets of a bygone era.

In Kyoto, this world is right at your fingertips!

You can wander through the iconic red gates of Fushimi Inari Shrine, marvel at the golden beauty of Kinkaku-ji Temple, or take part in a traditional tea ceremony that feels like a moment frozen in time. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you’ve stepped into a living, breathing painting, Kyoto is waiting for you.

6. Scottish Highlands, Scotland – Outlander

Some places feel untouched by time, and the Scottish Highlands are one of them. The misty moors, crumbling castles, and rugged landscapes of Diana Gabaldon’s “Outlander” series transport readers straight into a world of forbidden romance, war, and intrigue.

The setting itself is a character. The one that feels wild, breathtaking, and untamed. If you want to walk in Claire and Jamie’s footsteps, start in Inverness, of course. Just in case, try touching those stones, who knows?

Visit the standing stones of Clava Cairns, which are said to have inspired the magical stones of Craigh na Dun, or lose yourself in the haunting beauty of Glen Coe, where the Highland air carries echoes of the past. It’s a place where love and legend intertwine, making it one of the most captivating travel destinations in the world.

7. Istanbul To Paris By Train – Murder On The Orient Express

Whodunit is your favorite read? Then, we would be best friends! Step aboard a train where secrets unravel, identities shift, and every passenger hides a story. Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express is a masterclass in crime fiction.

The Orient Express was once the epitome of luxury and mystery, running from Istanbul to Paris, connecting cultures and histories across Europe. While the original route no longer operates as it once did, you can still recreate the experience on luxury trains like the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, where you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into another era.

If you love the idea of a journey as thrilling as the destination, this train ride is a dream come true.

8. Mumbai, India – Shantaram

Do you agree that some books don’t just tell stories. The great ones pull you into the chaos, beauty, and soul of a place so vividly that you feel like you’ve lived it!

Shantaram is one of those books. Set in Mumbai, this novel is an electrifying mix of crime, love, philosophy, and adventure, all unfolding in the vibrant, sprawling metropolis that never sleeps but always dreams.

Mumbai is the heartbeat of the story. And you’ll want to feel its beat! The energy is intoxicating, the food is unforgettable, and every street feels like it holds a thousand untold stories. If you crave adventure, Mumbai will wrap you up in its wild embrace.

9. Barcelona, Spain – The Shadow Of The Wind

This book blew me away! Long after I finished it, I kept imagining myself sneaking through the most mysterious libraries in Barcelona. This is what this book does to you!

Carlos Ruiz paints Barcelona as a labyrinth of secrets, hidden libraries, and whispered legends that seem to breathe through its Gothic streets. The novel follows young Daniel, who stumbles upon a mysterious book that leads him into a tangled web of mystery, love, and betrayal.

If you love stories wrapped in intrigue, Barcelona will steal your heart… and keep its secrets.

10. Andalusian Spain & Morocco – The Alchemist

Some journeys are about more than just reaching a place. They’re about finding yourself along the way!

The Alchemist is a novel of destiny, discovery, and the call of adventure, and its landscapes are as transformative as its lessons. The rolling hills and olive groves create a dreamlike setting where Santiago first sets off to follow his “Personal Legend.” Wander through Seville, where Moorish architecture and air feel straight out of a fairytale, or visit the villages of Ronda and Granada, where history and magic intertwine.

The novel teaches that adventure is about chasing dreams, and there’s no better way to embrace that than following in Santiago’s footsteps.

11. Greek Islands – Circe

Sail to the Greek Islands, the mystical setting for Madeline Miller’s ‘Circe.’

Circe is a novel that reimagines Greek mythology, bringing to life the tale of a powerful witch exiled to a lonely island. It’s a story of strength, solitude, and transformation, and there’s no better way to experience it than standing on the cliffs of Santorini or Crete, staring out at the endless blue.

Explore Delos, the mythical birthplace of Apollo, or hike through the Samaria Gorge in Crete, where wildflowers bloom between ancient stones. Circe’s world is filled with gods, magic, and the power of nature!

12. Prince Edward Island, Canada – Anne Of Green Gables

Some places feel like home, even if you’ve never been there before. Don’t you agree?

That’s what Prince Edward Island is to anyone who’s read Anne of Green Gables. This novel isn’t just about Anne, it’s about the magic of belonging, of finding beauty in the simple things, of falling in love with a place that feels like it was made just for you.

PEI is a place of quiet beauty, where sunsets glow gold over the water, where the forests are filled with whispers of childhood wonder, and where every corner feels like a page from a book.