Many tourists choose vacation destinations from filming locations seen in movies or TV series. Fans of The Lord of the Rings dream of visiting New Zealand, while the Croatian city of Dubrovnik has gained immense popularity after releasing the series Game of Thrones. However, for many travelers, books have also become an inspiration for future trips. There’s something magical about the way a well-written book can transport you to distant lands and ignite your wanderlust.
According to a survey conducted among 2,000 British respondents, one in four tourists has chosen a destination for their vacation at least once in their life based on books.
Among the reasons for visiting a place they read about in a book, survey participants cited the desire to see what it looks like in real life (46%), learn more about the place (32%), and tick it off their bucket list (15%).
The most popular book that inspired British travelers to journey was the memoir “Under the Tuscan Sun” by American writer Frances Mayes, released in 1996. Interestingly, a 2003 film adaptation further drew attention to Tuscany.
The second and third spots were taken by the Greek island of Corfu, described in the novel “My Family and Other Animals” and the “Corfu Trilogy” by British naturalist writer Gerald Durrell.
The fourth and fifth positions in the survey were claimed by novels written by American author Dan Brown – “The Da Vinci Code” (Paris, France) and “Angels & Demons” (Rome, Italy). Films based on these novels, starring Tom Hanks, were released in 2006 and 2009 respectively.
20 Books That Will Inspire You to Travel:
1. “Under the Tuscan Sun” by Frances Mayes (Tuscany)
2. “My Family and Other Animals” by Gerald Durrell (Corfu)
3. “The Corfu Trilogy” by Gerald Durrell (Corfu)
4. “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown (Paris)
5. “Angels and Demons” by Dan Brown (Rome)
6. “The Merchant of Venice” by William Shakespeare (Venice)
7. “Death in Venice” by Thomas Mann (Venice)
8. “A Year in Provence” by Peter Mayle (Provence)
9. “The Durrells of Corfu” by Michael Haag (Corfu)
10. “Les Misérables” by Victor Hugo (Paris)
11. “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin” by Louis de Bernières (Kefalonia)
12. “Heidi” by Johanna Spyri (Switzerland)
13. “The Birth of Venus” by Sarah Dunant (Florence)
14. “Homage to Catalonia” by George Orwell (Catalonia)
15. “The Shadow of the Wind” by Carlos Ruiz Zafón (Barcelona)
16. “Beautiful Ruins” by Jess Walter (Italy)
17. “The Sound of Music” by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse (Austria)
18. “I, Claudius” by Robert Graves (Rome)
19. “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr (Paris / St Malo)
20. “Prospero’s Cell” by Lawrence Durrell (Corfu)
62% of those who embarked on such a journey were pleasantly surprised to find that the place from the book looked better in real life than they expected.
These books will not only entertain and inspire you but also ignite your passion for travel. So grab a book, pack your bags, and set off on your own unforgettable adventure!
