21 FUNNY TRAVEL BOOKS WITH (SERIOUS) LOL POTENTIAL

Funny Travel Books Everyone Should Read

Traveling is one of the best ways to get out and explore the world. It doesn’t matter if you have company or are heading out solo – travel offers a unique experience that can’t be replicated at home. But while traveling is great, it isn’t always easy. There are long flights, sleepless nights in a new bed and trying food for the first time (to name just a few).

Luckily there’s also laughter!

In this article I’ve compiled 21 outrageously funny travel books about places from around the world. Whether you’re:

•  looking to gift these to someone to make them laugh their head off, or
• want some fun, light reads for yourself during your next vacation

These books will have you laughing until your stomach hurts.

BEST FUNNY TRAVEL BOOKS TO CRACK YOU UP AND INSPIRE YOU

For me, books provide a mental getaway. They give me a chance to venture out and experience stunning, new places vicariously through the stories of others.

And it’s even better when these books tie a solid dose of humor into the story.

I promise, these 21 best funny travel books will 100% crack you up!

1. Neither Here Nor There: Travels in Europe (1991) – Bill Bryson

 

Bill Bryson is the funniest travel writer there has ever existed, far and away!

In the 1970s, as a college student, Bryson backpacked Europe with a friend. A decade later, he traveled through the continent again to revisit his experiences. Except that he was now craving the comfort of hotel beds, hearty breakfasts, and slower travel, rather than zipping through countries on the cheap.

Neither Here Nor There is one hilarious travelogue about the changes he saw, how he reflected on cultures, people, food, accents, and his personal growth through the years. And he’s remodeled all of this information into a ridiculously funny travel book.

While some of the jokes might feel a bit dated, this is such a great book to get a headstart on your Europe trip.

Get your copy here.

[Related: 15 No BS Ways to Save Money Traveling in Europe]

2. Turn Right at Machu Pichu (2011) – Mark Adams

I love this book and it makes me want to travel to Machu Pichu RIGHT AWAY.

Adams built a career out of writing for travel and adventure magazines, so it was no surprise that he undertook a hike through the Andes mountains to arrive at Machu Pichu, on the 100th year anniversary of the citadel.

Except that Adams was not quite an adventure traveler himself. The book gets exceedingly funny and real as the writer navigates through the highs and lows of the journey, makes choices he’d never have made otherwise, and after a grueling excursion, he makes pretty interesting discoveries.

The icing on the cake is Adams’s cheery and funny writing style; he’ll put a smile on your face and it’ll stay till the end of the book!

Get your copy here.

3. A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again (1997) – David Foster Wallace

This is a collection of essays by the late American author, David Foster Wallace, recounting his seven days on a Caribbean cruise ship. The book is filled with details of the extravagant but off-putting lifestyle of the staff and passengers, as well as his own attempts at enjoying himself despite them.

In the book, Wallace writes about his time on the luxury liner, describing it as “an extended moment of expressing through clenched teeth how badly something could be managed”.

His writing is social awkwardness mixed with a sort of desperate need to be polite and patient. It’s weird, funny and at times even a little bit heartwarming.

Get your copy here.

4. The Innocents Abroad  (1869) – Mark Twain

Twain’s journal of his travels through Europe and the middle-east in 1867 is a well-known classic. It’s the first book he ever wrote, and with it he demonstrated so much promise as a humorist.

This is the trip that made Twain into a world-renowned author, and for good reason. He was only in his early twenties when he wrote it, so the book has an innocence about it. But this also makes for great stories of adventures and all kinds of comical mishaps throughout his journey.

One of the interesting things about this book is its perspective; it was not written at a time when people were so mobile. This might make it a tad obsolete, but Twain’s writing captures the opinion of someone who had never before seen or experienced other cultures.

The travel book is not just funny; it’s especially worth a read for anyone who wants to know what traveling was like back in the day.

Get your copy here.

5. The Lost Continent: Travels in Small-Town America (1989) – Bill Bryson

Quirky, insightful, and laugh-out-loud funny, The Lost Continent is an unconventional travelogue of small-town USA by bestselling author Bill Bryson. It’s the perfect companion for anyone planning a trip across the pond or around their own neighborhood.

In the book, Bryson talks about some places on American soil he had never visited before. He takes the reader through small American towns in the middle of nowhere, unknown places, hidden gems if you will.

Full of charming observations about American life from one of the world’s most beloved comic minds, The Lost Continent is Bill Bryson at his best.

Get your copy here.

6. The Sex Lives of Cannibals (2004) – J. Maarten Troost

Troost, the author, more than compensates for the strange title by throwing in punchlines after punchlines in this laugh riot of a book.

Outline: Troost moved to a remote small island in the Pacific with his girlfriend, and he takes the reader through his journey, the people he meets and the way of life he gets used to.

Is the title what the book is truly about? Is there an investigation into sex lives, cannibals or not? I’ll leave that to your imagination(or as little bait to make you read this book). I’m not a fan of spoilers so I’m definitely not giving away the plot!

Of course there are some parts that are disturbing, but the world abounds with bewildering things that are done in the name of culture. The book draws an interesting contrast between our privileged Western lifestyle and the reclusive, virgin life on a far-out remote island.

What I can tell you is that, while reading this book, I laughed out loud (in public and otherwise) on many occasions and it takes a really good writer to elicit that kind of emotion, ESPECIALLY in public places – I’ve gotten quite a few stares on the bus. This one’s truly one of the funniest travel books to read!

Get your copy here.

7. Jerusalem: Chronicles from the Holy City (2011) – Guy de Lisle

First of all, this is no ordinary travel chronicle.

It doesn’t drag on for pages upon pages of monologue, beefed up with the hardest words in a thesaurus. It’s actually a simple, breezy comic-strip illustration of life in a mysterious city.

Lisle moved to Jerusalem with his wife and kids, as an Expat spouse. As it happens, Lisle finds himself witnessing curious customs and strange dispositions in the city.

The book is written from the lens of a North American but the writer sure managed to keep the tone light and humorous. It consists of a series of essays, each piece being very different from the next, some about the history of places, others about daily life in Jerusalem. I think that works to its benefit because it allows for an unparalleled perspective on one of the most complex cities in the world.

Lisle writes about an assortment of people he meets—an Arab man selling falafel on Jaffa Street who takes his food very seriously, a controversial rabbi with antiquated views on women, a family of Armenian immigrants who run the best bakery in town.

Guy’s style of writing is insightful, wry, witty and iconic. And thanks to colorful illustrations, you’ll keep turning pages through this one, I’m telling you!

Get your copy here.

8. The Great Railway Bazaar (1975) – Paul Theroux

What happens when you give a famous travel writer four months, a rail pass, and the key to a small car? The result is this classic book that has made countless readers fall in love with train travel. Theroux packs his pages with colorful descriptions of the characters he meets on his journey across Asia by rail.

His writing is open and honest, and his observations can be both touching and hilarious. The book is filled with legendary train routes like the Orient Express, the Khyber Pass Local, the Delhi Mail from Jaipur, and the Trans-Siberian Express.

Along the way, Theroux describes his interactions with fellow train passengers—the woman from California who takes forever to tell him her life story, the Cambodian who tries to steal his shoes, and the old Russian peasant man he befriends after sacrificing a chicken in his honor. The Great Railway Bazaar is a classic funny travel book that will make you want to pack your bags and start planning your next train journey.

Get your copy here.

9. Into the Heart of Borneo (1984) – Redmond O’Hanlon

Some of the scariest, funniest and bizarre things happen on this journey into the exotic jungles of Borneo, an Asian island. Naturalist O’Hanlon, accompanied by a friend and three native guides, sets out into the wild to learn about some of the world’s most primitive tribes.

O’Hanlon’s account is filled with funny observations about cultural clashes between modernity and primal nature. It’s written in a clever, fast-paced, and witty tone. It’s also filled with some very surreal, scary, and bizarre events, making this ridiculously funny travel book a hugely rewarding read.

Get your copy here.

10. Westward Ha! (1948) – by S.J. Perelman

This book is a collection of S. J. Perelman’s humorous travel writing, mostly from his time as a foreign correspondent in pre-war Paris and post-war Italy for “The New Yorker.” In this work, Perelman humorously reports on the absurd nature of certain cultural customs he encounters while traveling to places such as France and Italy.

What makes this book so funny is Perelman’s witty tone of voice while telling his tales. The way he describes the people and customs he encounters often has a satirical edge to it, but there are moments when you can feel S. J.’s genuine love for these European locations. Part travelogue, part comic – and all funny – Westward Ha! is one of the top funny travel books everyone should read.

Get your copy here.

11. Vroom with a View (2003) – Peter Moore

This book is about Peter Moore’s experiences on the road, riding through the streets of Italy on a classic Vespa. What’s amazing is that he sets out on this trip to mark a milestone: his 40th birthday. All of us could stand to learn a little something from him, couldn’t we?

Along the way, Moore soaks in the beauty that is Italy. From Florence to Pisa, he gains a deeper appreciation for the country’s culture and history.

The book paints quite a picture of the Italian back roads and bucolic countryside. In addition to being candid, Moore’s narrative is peppered with humorous anecdotes. This is a very funny travel book that will leave you hankering for a road trip of your own.

Get your copy here.

12. Queenan Country (2004) – Joe Queenan

Joe Queenan pulls off a Bill Bryson and takes a trip around Great Britain to get a peek into the English way of life. Some of the things he shares his views on include football, pubs, class structure, popular slang, and architecture. Married to an English woman for 26 years, Queenan is a self-proclaimed “reluctant Anglophile”, and thus, he sets out on a journey of discovery to find out what exactly makes the uniquely English idiosyncrasies and oddities so fascinating.

Filled with some very interesting and humorous descriptions, anecdotes, and comments, Queenan’s book is an excellent read for anyone who is even mildly intrigued by the UK. Especially if you’re traveling to the island soon, don’t forget to pick this one up!

Get your copy here.

13. Notes from a Small Island (1995) – Bill Bryson

Yet another Bill Bryson book makes it to this list. Don’t tell me you’re surprised, though? He’s the undisputed king of the travel humor genre!

After living in Britain for 20 years, Bryson makes a farewell journey across the length and breadth of the country. He visits the smallest towns and the busiest cities. The entire book is packaged with umpteen jokes which are very “Bill Bryson”. He’ll make you burst into peels of laughter, sometimes snicker a tad, and he’ll often make you think really hard about how culturally diverse people can be even within the same coordinates.

Especially having spent time in London and having noticed some typical English habits that stand out, the book had tons of little nuggets that made me go, “Oh this is too accurate!”

So if you’re from Britain, or if the island holds a special place in your heart, make sure you read this awesome, side-splitting travelogue!

Get your copy here.

[You Might Like: What is London Famous for?]

14. Holidays in Hell (1988) – P.J. O’Rourke

Holidays in Hell is a humorous take on the various countries that P.J. O’Rourke visited as a foreign correspondent, all of which were underdeveloped or had suffered through some sort of crisis (mainly war). The book follows his journey along with two other journalists as they explore these countries, interviewing locals and getting themselves into various sorts of fiascos.

This book is great for travel lovers and people who like both comedy and history, as it provides a lot of interesting facts about several countries that readers may not know at first glance. Holidays in Hell gives you the chance to step into someone else’s shoes (or sandals) while they explore these other cultures – and then laugh at their misfortunes.

Get your copy here.

15. Killing Yourself to Live (2005) – Chuck Klosterman

Chuck Klosterman’s book is not just about dying. It’s also about living. And sex, of course. And The Doors.

Looking to find an answer to the question, “Why are we living?”, Klosterman sets out on the road In a rented Ford Taurus, to visit the death sites of several of his musical heroes, including Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain. Along the way, he meets various people who help shape his thoughts about death, like a mortician, a pilot who crashed his plane, and a woman who lost her husband in the September 11 attacks. Klosterman also visits Graceland and spends time with an Elvis impersonator.

The writing is straightforward, witty, and bold. While this was never marketed as a travel book, Klosterman’s travelogue offers a fresh and unexpected perspective to anyone seeking to fuel their wanderlust. Not to mention, it has funny anecdotes aplenty.

Get your copy here.

16. A Walk In The Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail (1998) – Bill Bryson

Bill Bryson’s A Walk in the Woods is an extremely funny book about his hiking trip along the Appalachian Trail. After spending 20 years abroad, he attempts to reconnect with his homeland by hiking the famous trail.

There are wild encounters with everything from bears to blisters. A Walk in the Woods is a book about staying alive, but it is also about friendship. It’s also about heroes and their follies. It’s a story of Bryson taking on a challenge most people wouldn’t dare attempt. And it ends up being more than that: it’s an epic journey into the heart of America.

The best part about the book is the way Bill Bryson tells a story. His dry humor and attention to detail make this book hard to put down.

A Walk in the Woods has been a New York Times Best Seller book and has sold millions of copies worldwide. It’s one of those travel books that deserve every accolade they get.

Get your copy here.

17. Out of Sheer Rage: Wrestling with D. H. Lawrence (1997) – Geoff Dyer

Here is a book about a writer who wants to write about another writer. Dyer is trying to write a biography on D.H. Lawrence. However, the book is really about Dyer’s struggles with writing. He is a master procrastinator, and so he embarks on (not very well planned) travels to “research” on Lawrence. But he’s really just postponing work.

The book is divided into three parts, each about one of the places Dyer visits while trying to write the Lawrence biography. Through all this dilly-dallying, Dyer ends up spending time in Cornwall, then heading off to Australia, and then ending up in Mexico – still trying to work on the D.H. Lawrence assignment but walking away from it.

Again, not marketed as a travel book but Dyer’s writing makes it one. He has an excellent way of describing landscapes and people so they come alive.

Dyer is a gifted writer and Out of Sheer Rage is one of the funniest travel books ever. A total “genre bender”, you won’t be able to cast the book into a category, but you sure as hell will be snickering the whole time you’re reading it.

Get your copy here.

18. Are You Experienced? (1997) – William Sutcliffe

This is a novel with one of those done-to-death plots.. you know, your archetypal British private school educated prick who takes a gap year and goes on a trip to India to “find himself”. Except that this one is actually quite different.

Dave joins his friend’s girlfriend, Liz, on a visit to India, only, he is secretly in love with her. All’s well until the trip begins, and Dave ends up spending three harrowing months in the country. While Liz seeks spiritual enlightenment, Dave is more preoccupied with catching dysentery, bickering about the unfamiliarity, and breaking his scruples by cheating on his best friend.

There are times when this book is so ridiculous that you can’t stop laughing out loud. It’s also a great insight into the Indian culture – especially from a 90s lens.

Dry humor, a bit of a love story, a first-world sense of entitlement that plays out in hilarious ways, and an insider’s view on one of the most captivating countries in the world – This is a must-read for any travel lover!

Get your copy here.

19. Last Chance to See (1990) – Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine

Last Chance to See is a book by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine about their travels through various countries to spot endangered species for the last time before they go extinct (as the title suggests).

As the author of the best-selling series “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”, Douglas Adams has already established that he can write humorously about anything, and his wit is still stronger when writing about technology and science. Mark Carwardine, on the other hand, has traveled to over 100 countries for various zoological documentaries.

The two perfectly complement each other while writing this book, with Douglas Adams’ satirical narration intertwining with Carwardine’s serious personal experience.

The book reads like a memoir (and there is actually an additional chapter at the end, explaining what has happened to the animals since). It is packed with hysterical humor but also deep insight into the human influence on the planet and other life on it.

Get your copy here.

20. Round Ireland with a Fridge (1998) – Tony Hawks

Funny travel stories are a dime a dozen. But you don’t often chance upon a travelogue where the writer is also transporting a fridge with them. This is exactly what Tony Hawks did when he set out to circumnavigate the island of Ireland. Hawks wanted to prove a point (based on a drunken bet) that you can do anything if you put your mind to it, and honestly, he does make a solid case.

The fridge seems like a character in the book, as Hawks writes about it as if it was a person. Case in point: he is often joined by his sidekick, “Fridge”, at pubs, bars, in the streets, at parties, even while hitchhiking. Wherever he goes, the fridge always seems to turn heads and spawn conversation topics.

I think the novelty (and wackadoodle-ness) of the plot redounds to the wild popularity of this book. But it’s also Hawk’s witty, frank storytelling and his self-deprecating sense of humor that makes this such a great travel read. He paints a very vivid picture of Irish life and culture, which helps the reader get a good feel of what it’s like there.

The book is a laugh riot from start to finish – a mandatory read in any funny travel books list.

Get your copy here.

21. The Wrong Way Home (1999) – Peter Moore

In 1994, Peter Moore decided to travel from London to his homeland, Sydney, overland. It didn’t work out like that. The route he chose was one riddled with all kinds of terrifying adventures.

Moore wanted to take the ol’ hippy trail and travel on a shoestring budget. Of course he doesn’t do enough research and so his journey takes him to such places as Albania, Iran, Afghanistan, and China, instead.

Result: An uproariously funny travel book about things going wrong (as they often do).

Along the way, Moore almost runs out of funds, gets beaten up by a gang of Chinese thugs, befriends a man in Afghanistan who claims to have shot a Russian soldier, and finds himself at the center of a hostage situation in Albania.

Moore’s misadventures and his way of describing them will have readers in stitches. The Wrong Way Home has all the right things that go into making a brilliant travel humor read.

Get your copy here.

 

Have you read any of the recommendations above? Which funny travel books have you read that cracked you up? Any you’d like to recommend?