There is a version of travel planning that starts with a map. There is another that starts with a book. Forbes' latest piece makes the case that the second version is having a real moment in 2026, as travelers increasingly build entire itineraries around the settings, cities, and landscapes that shaped their favorite novels.
- Literary travel has moved from a niche interest among avid readers into a broader trend, with tour operators and destinations actively building experiences around famous books and the places that inspired them
- The appeal lies in intentionality, travelers are choosing destinations because of an emotional or narrative connection rather than simply chasing the most photographed spot
- The trend spans everything from coastal towns that inspired classic novels to cities woven through generations of storytelling, giving travelers a built-in reason to slow down and look closer
- For travelers willing to do a bit of research before they book, the reward is a trip that feels personal in a way a standard itinerary rarely does
I am in the early stages of planning a trip of my own next year, built around a book I have loved for a long time. I am not ready to share the destination yet, but I will say the planning process alone has already been one of the more rewarding parts.
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