Best Travel Reads by Country…….I don’t know about you, but sometimes I want to “travel” without dealing with TSA, layovers, or the weird judgmental looks when I forget to take my laptop out of the backpack. That’s where the best travel reads by country & culture come in. You grab a book, curl up on your couch, and suddenly—you’re in Morocco haggling in a bazaar, or sipping tea in Tokyo, or sweating through the jungles of South America. All without leaving your pajamas.
And honestly? I kinda love that. Because some days I want adventure, but other days I just want my own bed and snacks. Books are the ultimate loophole.
So here’s my messy little list of the best travel reads that make you feel like you’ve lived in different countries—even if you’re actually just hiding from laundry day.
📖 Italy: Pasta, Passion & Probably Too Much Wine
Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
Classic. She buys a villa in Italy and suddenly you’re smelling olive oil through the pages. Warning: you will want to move to Tuscany and immediately regret your mortgage.
My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
Okay, technically fiction. But Ferrante captures Naples so vividly that you can practically hear scooters whizzing past and feel the sun beating down while family drama explodes all around.
Side note: I tried reading this at an Olive Garden once. Wrong move. Breadsticks don’t compare to Italy. Tragic.
🇯🇵 Japan: Quiet Beauty & Quirky Chaos
Lost Japan by Alex Kerr
This book feels like sitting with someone who knows all the secrets of Japan, from ancient temples to neon-lit Tokyo karaoke bars.
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata
Not a “travel book” exactly, but it’s so Japanese in tone and humor that you get a taste of modern culture without hopping on a flight. Also, it’ll make you weirdly emotional about 7-Eleven.
🇲🇦 Morocco: Spices, Stories & Sun-Soaked Streets
The Caliph’s House by Tahir Shah
Imagine moving to Casablanca and buying a crumbling mansion full of djinn (yes, literal spirits). It’s funny, chaotic, and makes you crave mint tea instantly.
Dreams of Trespass: Tales of a Harem Girlhood by Fatema Mernissi
A gorgeous memoir about growing up in a Moroccan harem in the 1940s. It’s not just about place, but also culture, history, and identity. Rich and fascinating.
🇮🇳 India: Noise, Color & Heart
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
Yes, it’s long. Yes, it’s dramatic. But once you’re in, you’re in. Mumbai comes alive in all its chaotic, heartbreaking, and beautiful glory.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
This one’s fiction, but the way Roy writes about Kerala—the lush landscapes, the tangled family lives—it’s like the air itself is heavy with mangoes and secrets.
🇫🇷 France: Pastries & Existential Crises
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway
Hemingway being broke in 1920s Paris somehow makes me want to drink too much coffee in a cramped café while pretending to write a novel.
Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik
Modern, funny, reflective. It’s all about life in Paris as an expat, with plenty of croissants and cultural quirks along the way.
🇧🇷 Brazil: Samba & Surreal Adventures
Dancing with the Devil in the City of God by Juliana Barbassa
This memoir dives into Rio de Janeiro—the joy, the violence, the politics, and the beauty. It’s messy, just like the city itself.
The War of the End of the World by Mario Vargas Llosa
Okay, technically Peruvian author. But this epic about rebellion in Brazil will make you sweat and gasp and maybe rethink history class.
🇹🇭 Thailand: Beaches & Backpacker Dreams
The Beach by Alex Garland
Leo DiCaprio made it famous (thanks, 2000s). But the book is darker, stranger, and way more addicting. It’s about paradise… and how it can eat you alive.
🇺🇸 USA: The Road Trip Capital
Travels with Charley by John Steinbeck
He literally drove around America with his poodle. What more do you want? Wholesome, witty, and oddly inspiring.
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Hiking the Appalachian Trail without actually sweating? Thank you, Bill. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and you’ll maybe buy hiking boots you’ll never wear.
🇬🇷 Greece: Gods, Islands & Way Too Much Feta
Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis
This novel makes you want to throw your phone in the sea and dance barefoot on a beach while eating olives straight from the jar.
Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières
Set on a Greek island during WWII. It’s romantic, tragic, and a little over-the-top—just like Greek life itself.
🌍 Bonus: The Around-the-World Reads
- The Geography of Bliss by Eric Weiner (he literally travels the globe to figure out what makes people happy—spoiler: it’s not Twitter).
- Vagabonding by Rolf Potts (part handbook, part dream-fuel for anyone who ever wanted to just, like, quit everything and live on buses).
Random Tangent Time: Best Travel Reads by Country
Back in 8th grade, I wore two different shoes to school (not ironically). One was Adidas, the other was Payless. I tell you this because that’s the same chaotic energy I bring to reading travel books. I don’t always finish them. Sometimes I just flip through random chapters, like “Oh, look, now I’m in Greece, oh wait no, now I’m sweating in Brazil.” That’s the beauty. Books don’t yell at you for being inconsistent. They just sit there waiting, like a loyal friend—or a dog that still loves you even after you forgot their dinner once (sorry, Max).
Final Thought (messy but true): Best Travel Reads by Country
Traveling through books is kinda like ordering takeout—you get the flavor, the excitement, and none of the cleanup. These best travel reads by country & culture are like passports for your brain. You’ll wander from Morocco’s spice markets to Japan’s convenience stores to Italy’s sun-drenched vineyards—all without unpacking your carry-on.
And honestly? That’s sometimes better than the real thing. Because real travel = delayed flights, lost luggage, and someone kicking your seat on the plane. Book travel = snacks, sweatpants, and zero jet lag.
So grab one. Or five. Or stack them so high your nightstand looks like it’s auditioning for an episode of Hoarders.
Suggested Outbound Links:
- A fun piece on travel-inspired movies to pair with these books
- A quirky personal blog about [accidentally booking the wrong flight](https://www.the Everywhereist.com/)
