There’s something quietly magical about travelling with a book in your bag, not just any book, but the right book. The kind that seeps into your experience, shapes your perspective, and colours the way you see a place.
At Passport to Literature, we believe that reading before, or during, a trip can transform it. It can slow you down, sharpen your senses, and open your mind to the culture around you. Whether you’re heading across the world or daydreaming from your favourite reading chair, here are a few ways to deepen your journey by choosing the right story.
✈️ Match the Tone of the Book to the Destination
Books are more than settings – they’re moods. A slow, contemplative novel can guide your steps through a quiet town, while a fast-paced thriller might echo the energy of a bustling city.
- Heading to Tokyo? Try something introspective like Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami.
- Visiting Cornwall? Let the gothic tension of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier set the scene.
- Dreaming of Paris? Float through its streets with The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery.
Reading with the vibe of a place in mind helps you tune into its rhythm.
🚂 Read in Transit to Set the Mood
Long flights, train rides, or ferry crossings are the perfect time to slip into a novel and start seeing your destination through a different lens, before you even arrive.
Reading en route:
- Gets you into the emotional and cultural texture of a place
- Provides context and contrast with your own expectations
- Offers a gentler, more imaginative transition than scrolling through airport Wi-Fi
Bonus: You’ll arrive already full of questions, images, and ideas.
📚 Let Local Literature Guide Your Itinerary
Sometimes, a book isn’t just company, it’s a compass. Fiction and memoir can point you toward:
- Neighbourhoods or landmarks featured in a story
- Bookshops or libraries worth visiting
- Hidden aspects of history, politics, or daily life you might otherwise miss
Reading local voices can challenge assumptions, surface under-told stories, and help you avoid the well-worn tourist paths. It’s a way to see with fresh eyes. A way to travel to places that truly interest you, not just what the TikTok crowd is promoting this month…
🌍 Travel Through Story—Wherever You Are
Even if you’re not packing a suitcase right now, reading a novel set in another country can transport you. It’s the ultimate form of armchair travel: rich, immersive, and accessible to anyone with a library card or a Kindle.
At Passport to Literature, our guides are made for this kind of reader-traveller. Each one is a one-page portal into a place – through fiction, local authors, indie bookshops, and story-led exploration.
🧳 New to the project? Start with our free guides below!
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