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Bosnia and HerzegovinaThe Bridge on the Drina by Ivo Andric: An amazing book that made me want to visit Bosnia, and understand why Andric loved his country so much. —Catarina Santos

Photograph by LOLA AKINMADE AKERSTROM, Nat Geo Image Collection

8 Great Reads to Inspire Your Next Trip

Books new and old inspire our readers to visit far-flung destinations for themselves.

ByKelly Barrett

September 17, 2018

2 min read

It’s a wonderful feeling when a story is so well-told, you feel as if you’ve been transported to a whole new place. It gives us the chance to travel through our imagination, between the real-life travels we may be taking. Best case scenario? You fall so in love with a good book that you just have to visit its setting to pen your own travel tale.

Our social community recently shared some of their favorite books—from contemporary fiction to classics—that have inspired exactly that experience. So, book lovers, get comfortable: It’s time to dive into that next fall reading project, and perhaps start planning that next big trip.

Check out Nat Geo's travel books for more inspiration.

Related: 14 Epic Libraries

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Ninth-century illuminated manuscripts and the earliest known architectural plan drawn on parchment are just some of the literary treasures at the resplendent 1,200-year-old Baroque-style Convent of St Gall in Switzerland.

Photograph by Heeb/laif/Redux

Kelly Barrett is the senior producer of social media at National Geographic Travel. Follow her adventures on Twitter and Instagram @kellyalysia.