The ultimate list for travel journal inspiration!

*Don’t forget to pin this for later!*

Travel journaling makes the adventure feel way more engaging, intentional and creative. Plus, it can be so much more than just writing. So this is my shortlist of the absolute best travel journal ideas.

Even if you’ve been journaling for years, you might be hitting some writer’s block (or you just want to shake things up). So use this list for inspiration about what to write about and in what style.

Use this post for creative guidance and brainstorming for your journal style and theme.

If you’re completely new to journaling, check out my guide on how to start a kick-ass travel journal here.

Otherwise, let’s do this!

1. Make It A Photo Journal

Who says you need to write to journal? You don’t (not completely at least). Make your travel journal more of a photo journal (with writing and text overlays).

Unless you have a portable photo developer or you’re using Polaroids, this’ll be easier using a digital travel journal.

You can just upload your photos into Canva (or whatever design software you like best) and journal your thoughts directly in the app before adding them to a final location.

2. Travel Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking is an awesome travel journal style. It’s a little messy and cluttered, but also nostalgic and little bit punk. It’s a solid style choice.

You can fill your scrapbook with just about anything, like collages of:

Stamps
Stickers
Doodles
Postcards
Foreign money
Travel receipts
Photo printouts
Magazines cutouts
Pressed flowers or leaves
Trinkets or small flat souvenirs
Handwritten notes in between spaces
Tickets (trains, busses, planes, concerts, museums…)

3. Make It Minimalist

Minimalist journaling——the antidote to scrapbooking maximalism.

Think short sentences, impactful words and lots of blank space. Even if you’re sketching, it’s subtle and minimalist.

Simple color schemes (like black and white journaling), single themes and lots of blank space…

Good minimalism is choosing your words or designs with more intention. Because there’s a spotlight and only a few things to look at or read.

This can make minimalism more difficult (but still super creative).

Explore more:
➤ How to Be a Minimalist Traveler

4. Typographic Journaling

I love typography. Fonts and editorial design just look amazing. Naturally, my preferred style of travel journaling is font-focused.

I used to do this in high school a lot too. I’d draw my favorite bands and phrases in custom fonts (big block script or bubble letters). This is solid travel journal idea. And fun.

5. Make It A Travel Art Journal

This is my preferred journaling style: half journal, half sketchbook.

Besides this travel blog, I also make art and music. So I guess it makes sense that doodling is a big part of my journaling style.

Plus, sketches (even “bad” ones) make your travel journal look so much cooler and aesthetic. It’s a vibe.

Throw in some color or markers and seriously take your pages up a notch.

Your travel journal to double as an art practice——two birds, one stone (practice journaling AND drawing).

6. Use It to Brainstorm Blog/Content Ideas

If you want to start a travel blog (or already have one), then journaling is a unique way to brainstorm ideas.

Sometimes my best ideas come NOT when I’m at my computer, but when I’m sipping coffee at a cafe outside Tokyo. A wandering brain is creative and full of ideas.

If you’re serious about being a travel creator or starting a blog (even if it isn’t a travel blog), try leveraging your journaling practice for new ideas and rough drafts.

7. Use a Bullet Journal Layout

A bullet journal is a simple way to organize ideas using bullet points instead of long paragraphs (yea, it’s in the name). You don’t write big diary entries, you jot things down quickly using lists, symbols, and checkboxes. Bullet journals live somewhere between a to-do list, a planner and a notebook…all in one.

For travel journaling, a bullet journal is perfect if you like things flexible and easy to scan. You can use it to plan your trip (think packing lists, flight details, budgets), map out an itinerary day by day or track places you want to visit (or have visited).

While you’re traveling, you can log what you did each day with quick notes, ratings or highlights (and no pressure to write a lot!). This is great if you want your travel journal to feel more like a tool than a traditional diary.

8. Keep It Text-based

Why complicate things? There’s nothing wrong with an all-text journal writing journal. A total classic!

Just write about what you did, saw or learned each day. Reflect on your mood or talk about mistakes and problems you experienced during your trip. It’s like a travel diary.

You can cover highlights and positives, annoying things, happy things…talk about it all!

Doodle or add stickers if you want, but text alone shall suffice (ahh, indeed).

9. Have a Travel Project or Goal to Journal About

I always have at least one or two creative travel projects going on. And I usually use these projects as the backdrop for my travel journal theme.

A travel journal is perfect for project reflection, planning and experimenting with new ideas (whether that’s for travel blogging, songwriting, art projects or whatever I’m working on).

You could also journal about learning the local language, documenting your path to becoming a digital nomad or even planning potential projects if you don’t have one yet.

Explore more:
➤ How to Create a Travel Project

10. Write A Travel Fiction Book

What if you treated your journal more like a mini novel? Write a legit travel story as your journal’s theme. You could even use the people you come across each day as characters that drive the plot forward.

Imagine what they’re doing and add some drama and rising action.

I’m talking story arc, character development and a clear plot. Make yourself the main character and give your story a title.

Pshh, you could even turn it into an ebook and sell it online!

11. Journal Like An Anthropologist

I studied anthropology in college. So travel journaling sometimes feels like I’m doing an in-the-field ethnography.

I’m taking notes on culture, language and humanity. Travel journaling is sort of anthropological and this is a cool theme to lean into.

Try writing about what’s different from back home, pay attention to cultural nuances and think like an archaeologist. Visit historic sites and see everything with an open mind.

Jot it all down in your travel journal.

12. Make It Food-focused

If you’re a foodie, then writing a food-focused travel journal totally makes sense.

You can jot down recipe ideas, write up personal reviews, add photos for your favorite spots and just write about how freaking awesome food is.

Sketch a few food doodles (foodles?) and you’ve got an epic theme for a travel journal.

13. Fashion + Style Journaling

I love shopping and fashion, especially the unique finds I find in artsy neighborhood thrift shops (like Shimokitaza or Kichijoji in Tokyo).

And journaling about the local fashion sense, cool stores and new finds is an awesome and creative theme to focus on.

Take note of your favorite shopping experiences, the inspiring fashion styles you find and plan some outfits for your trips abroad AND back home. Maybe throw in some fashion sketches for good measure.

(I know I know, I’m just recommending you add a doodle everywhere…I’m biased)

14. Try Automatic Journaling

Automatic journaling is leaning into flow state. Not worrying so much about prompts or themes and just writing whatever comes to mind.

No judgement. And questionable grammar or spelling errors are warmly welcomed.

You can learn more about automatic writing in this Medium article by Leonid Hass.

15. Make It A Music Travel Journal

Imagine your travel journal with a soundtrack——or more like a curated playlist. This is a freaking cool theme!

You could lean into lyrics, songwriting (if you’re a musician) or make this whole thing audio-driven (that would be easier using a digital journal).

Or you can simply journal about the music in whatever town or culture you’re visiting. Look for new bands, inspiration and inspiring styles.

However your vision looks, lean into the music theme and see where it takes you.

16. Make A Mixed Media Travel Journal

Did more than one of these ideas strike a chord? Great! Make a mixed media travel journal.

This could be part sketchbook, part bullet journal and part fictional travel short stories written each morning from the cafe next to your hotel.

There are no rules to travel journaling. Show up how you want and lean into what makes you excited. The best travel journal idea is the one you like the best.

Alright, that’s all I’ve got.

Later ✌️

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