travel books display

15 Library Book Display Ideas for Your Next Read

Last updated on May 28, 2024

This article provides creative and effective display ideas to transform a library space and catch the reader’s attention immediately.

World Literature Tour

Showcase a diverse range of books from around the globe, grouped by their country of origin or cultural background. Incorporate maps and travel-themed decorations to enhance the visual appeal and educational value.

Rotate selections monthly to feature different regions, exposing readers to the vast array of world literature.

Books Into Movies

Capture the excitement of seeing favorite stories come to life with a display featuring novels that have been adapted into movies. Highlight current box office hits alongside their literary counterparts to encourage movie-goers to delve into the source material.

Use movie posters, DVDs, and book covers to create a visually appealing exhibit that draws a connection between literature and film.

Mystery Mayhem

Engage patrons with a curated selection of spine-tingling suspense novels , true crime tales , and whodunits .

Dramatically arrange titles with magnifying glasses , false mustaches , and other detective-themed props to intrigue and inspire .

Feature both classic sleuths and contemporary crime solvers to cater to a wide audience of mystery enthusiasts .

The Art of the Biography

Curate a display featuring the lives of historical figures, artists, and modern influencers through biographies and memoirs. Utilize timelines or thematic props to contextualize the eras and lives detailed within these narratives.

Highlight the diversity of experiences by including a range of subjects from various cultures and professions.

Dystopian Destinations

Explore a future where society has taken a stark turn with an array of classic and contemporary dystopian novels. This display unites tales of caution and adventure, drawing in readers with a penchant for speculative fiction .

Immerse patrons in imagined worlds where heroes face oppressive regimes and the human spirit is put to the test.

Cookbook Cornucopia

A Cookbook Cornucopia display showcases a diverse spread of culinary literature, inviting patrons to explore global cuisines and cooking techniques. This vibrant array incorporates both time-honored classics and modern, fusion kitchen trends, catering to food enthusiasts and home chefs alike.

Visual props like utensils and ingredients can accentuate the theme, stimulating the senses and encouraging culinary experimentation.

Green Reads (Eco and Sustainability)

Showcase a collection of books that explore environmental themes, ranging from personal sustainability practices to global eco-activism.

Highlight titles that offer practical tips for green living , detailed analyses of climate change , and narratives of environmental pioneers .

Use natural elements like plants or recycled materials to decorate the display, underscoring the section’s focus on conservation and ecological awareness .

Graphic Novel Galaxy

Showcase the expansive universe of graphic novels by grouping together heroes, villains, and epic narratives. Highlight a mix of classic tales and new-age graphics to appeal to both long-time aficionados and new readers.

Incorporate visually engaging props such as action figures or thematic backdrops to complement the vibrant artwork of the displayed titles.

Mindful Reading (Wellness and Meditation)

Curate a selection of titles focused on mental health , self-care , and meditation practices to foster a tranquil atmosphere.

Highlight bestsellers and hidden gems that provide readers with tools and techniques for mindfulness .

Arrange calming decor and soft lighting to enhance the peaceful experience of browsing this thoughtful collection.

Sea of Sequels

Dive into continuing sagas where tales stretch across multiple volumes, beckoning readers to follow their beloved characters on further adventures. Spotlight series that have captured the hearts of readers, fostering a sense of community and anticipation for each new release.

Encourage patrons to embark on lengthy literary voyages with displays that accentuate the depth and evolution present in serial storytelling.

Science and Tech Titans

Highlight groundbreaking works and cutting-edge advancements with a curated selection of science and technology-themed books. Feature biographies of renowned scientists alongside the latest publications discussing artificial intelligence , robotics , and space exploration .

Engage patron interest with interactive elements, such as QR codes linking to related TED Talks or science podcasts.

Spine-Chilling Thrillers

Evoke suspense and curiosity by arranging thrillers that shock and entertain, with covers showcasing shadowy figures or ominous landscapes .

Highlight critically acclaimed authors and bestsellers , enticing patrons to explore complex characters and twisted plots.

Accent the display with faux caution tape and magnifying glasses to underscore the intrigue these novels possess.

Books From the Last Decade

Highlight recently published gems by arranging titles released in the past ten years. This display showcases the evolution of literature and ongoing trends in various genres. Encourage readers to explore modern narratives and authors who are defining the current literary scene.

Poetic Places

Celebrate poetry from around the globe by grouping collections based on their geographical origins. Highlight celebrated poets and place related travelogues or cultural guides beside their works. Enrich the display with maps or photographs that bring the verses’ settings to life.

Genre Journeys

Travel through the landscapes of fiction with a display that takes readers from romance to science fiction , fantasy to historical novels .

Highlight a different genre each month, inviting patrons to discover new authors and classic tales.

Enhance the experience with themed decorations, reading lists, and matching bookmarks for a complete literary adventure.

Ideas Elsewhere

• https://whatareyoureadingblog.wordpress.com/2017/06/07/20-year-round-library-display-ideas/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/LibraryDisplays/
• https://www.stayingcoolinthelibrary.us/library-book-display-ideas-for-every-month-of-the-year/
• https://ontarianlibrarian.com/library-display-ideas/

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Home > Interior Design > Decorating With Books: 13 Stylish Ways To Display Books

• Interior Design

Decorating With Books: 13 Stylish Ways To Display Books

Modified: May 6, 2024

Written by: Daniel Carter

Discover 13 stunning interior design ideas for showcasing your book collection. Explore stylish ways to incorporate books into your home decor.

• Furniture & Design

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• Introduction

Books are not just a source of knowledge and entertainment; they can also be a stylish and sophisticated addition to your home decor. Decorating with books is a popular trend that adds personality, character, and a touch of intellectual charm to any space. Whether you have a large collection or just a few favorites, there are numerous creative ways to display books that can transform your home into a literary haven.

In this article, we will explore thirteen stylish ways to showcase books in your home, from traditional bookshelves to innovative book towers and art-inspired displays. By incorporating these ideas into your interior design, you can elevate your space and create a visually appealing environment that reflects your love for literature.

So, grab a cup of coffee, settle into your favorite reading nook, and let’s dive into the world of book-inspired interior design!

Key Takeaways:

• Elevate your home decor with 13 stylish ways to display books, from color-coordinated bookshelves to cozy book nooks, infusing your space with literary charm and personal style.
• Transform overlooked spaces into captivating book displays, utilizing staircase shelving and typography art to create cozy reading nooks and eclectic book piles that reflect your unique personality and love for literature.

Read more : 13 Ways To Decorate With Chinoiserie

• Bookshelves as a Decorative Element

Bookshelves are a classic and practical way to display books while also adding visual interest to a room. They come in a variety of styles, from traditional wooden bookcases to modern metal shelving units. When arranging your books on a bookshelf, consider using a mix of vertical and horizontal orientations to create a visually appealing composition.

One popular technique for arranging books on a bookshelf is the color coordination method. By grouping books together based on their spine color, you can create a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing look. This approach works well in rooms with a minimalist or monochromatic color scheme, as it adds a pop of color and visual interest.

Another creative idea is to intersperse decorative objects, such as vases, figurines, or plants, among the books on your shelves. This breaks up the monotony of rows of books and adds dimension to the display. Make sure to select objects that complement the overall style and theme of your room.

If you have a large collection of books, you can create a feature wall by filling an entire wall with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. This creates a dramatic and impressive focal point in the room and showcases your passion for reading. To enhance the visual appeal, mix books with other decorative items like framed artwork or small sculptures.

When arranging books on a bookshelf, don’t feel limited to the traditional upright position. You can experiment with different angles and perspectives to add a playful and artistic touch to your display. For example, try creating a diagonal stack of books or incorporating leaning books for a dynamic and unconventional look.

Remember, bookshelves don’t have to be limited to living rooms or home offices. They can be incorporated into any room in your home, such as the bedroom, hallway, or even the kitchen. Utilize unused wall space to install smaller bookshelves, providing storage and a decorative element in unexpected areas.

By using bookshelves as a decorative element, you not only showcase your book collection but also elevate the overall design of your space. Bookshelves are versatile and can be customized to fit any style or theme, making them a timeless and practical addition to any home.

• Color Coordination: Creating a cohesive look with books

If you want to create a visually pleasing and cohesive look with your book display, consider organizing your books by color. Color coordination is a popular technique that adds a pop of visual interest and brings a sense of harmony to your book collection.

Begin by sorting your books into color groups, such as reds, blues, yellows, and neutrals. This can be a fun and creative process, as you uncover hidden gems and rediscover forgotten favorites. Once you have sorted your books, arrange them on your bookshelf in a way that creates a gradual transition of colors.

If you prefer a more subtle and blended look, you can also arrange your books in a gradient pattern. Start with one color at the beginning of the shelf and gradually transition into another color as you move along. This creates a visually pleasing flow and adds a touch of whimsy to your book display.

Color coordination works particularly well in rooms with a minimalist or monochromatic color scheme, as it adds a vibrant and eye-catching element to the decor. It can also be used to create a focal point in a room by arranging books of a bold or contrasting color in a prominent position on the shelf.

To enhance the overall aesthetic, consider accessorizing your color-coordinated book display with decorative objects that complement the color scheme. For example, if you have a shelf dedicated to your blue book collection, you can place a vase with blue flowers or a piece of artwork featuring blue hues nearby.

While color coordination adds visual appeal to your book display, it does not limit your ability to find specific books when you need them. You can arrange books within each color group alphabetically, by author, or by genre to ensure easy accessibility.

Remember, the goal of color coordination is to create a visually pleasing and cohesive look, but it’s essential to strike a balance. Don’t be afraid to break the color pattern with a few strategically placed books or decorative items of a different color to add visual interest and prevent monotony.

Whether you choose to arrange your books in a rainbow-like spectrum or a more blended gradient, color coordination is a simple yet impactful way to transform your book display into a work of art. It adds a touch of creativity and charm to your space, making it a conversation starter and a reflection of your personal style.

• Vertical Stacking: Displaying books in a neat and organized manner

Vertical stacking is a popular and timeless way to display books that not only keeps them organized but also adds a sense of structure and elegance to your bookshelf. This method involves arranging books in a neat stack, either vertically or at a slight angle, creating a visually pleasing and organized look.

One of the benefits of vertical stacking is that it maximizes the use of space on your bookshelf. By aligning books vertically, you can fit more books on each shelf compared to traditional upright positioning. This is particularly useful for those with limited shelf space or a large book collection.

When stacking books vertically, it’s important to maintain a uniform size or height. Group books of similar sizes together to create a cohesive and streamlined look. This not only adds visual appeal but also makes it easier to locate specific books.

For added variety and visual interest, you can also stack books at a slight angle. This creates a cascading effect, where the top of each book is slightly higher than the one before it. This method works particularly well if you have books of varying heights or want to create a more dynamic and playful book display.

In addition to creating a neat and organized look, vertical stacking allows you to showcase the spine designs or titles of your books. This can be especially aesthetically pleasing for books with intricate or visually appealing covers. It also makes it easier to browse through your collection and select a book to read.

Vertical stacking is not limited to bookshelves; it can also be used on coffee tables, side tables, or mantelpieces. By stacking a few carefully selected books on these surfaces, you can create a stylish and functional decor element.

If you want to take vertical stacking to the next level, consider adding decorative bookends to your bookshelf display. Bookends not only provide stability to the stack but also add a touch of personality and style. Choose bookends that complement the overall theme or color scheme of your room to create a cohesive look.

Whether you prefer a uniform and symmetrical book display or a more eclectic and playful arrangement, vertical stacking is a versatile and practical method that adds a sense of order to your book collection. With a little creativity and attention to detail, you can transform your bookshelf into a visually appealing and organized focal point in your home.

• Floating Shelves: Showcasing books in a minimalistic and modern way

Floating shelves are a popular choice for those who want to showcase their books in a minimalistic and modern way. These shelves, as the name suggests, appear to “float” on the wall without visible brackets or supports, creating a sleek and streamlined look.

One of the advantages of floating shelves is their versatility in terms of placement. They can be installed in any room, from the living room to the bedroom or even the bathroom, adding both storage and style. You can also choose to install them in a single, straight line or arrange them in a creative and geometric pattern for a more unique and dramatic effect.

When it comes to displaying books on floating shelves, less is often more. Opt for a curated selection of books, showcasing your most treasured reads or books with visually appealing covers. This creates a visually striking display that draws the eye without overwhelming the space.

A tip for arranging books on floating shelves is to vary the orientation. Instead of lining up books exclusively in a vertical position, mix in some horizontal stacks or lean books at an angle for added visual interest. This creates a dynamic and curated look that breaks the monotony.

Another creative approach is to intersperse the books with decorative objects and artwork. By combining books with objects like vases, sculptures, or framed photographs, you can create a visually layered display that adds depth and personality to the shelves.

Consider also incorporating lighting into your floating shelves to highlight your books and create a warm and inviting ambiance. Strategically placed LED lights or small spotlights can enhance the visual appeal and make your book collection a focal point in the room. This is particularly effective for shelves installed in dimly lit areas or rooms with limited natural light.

Additionally, floating shelves are not limited to just one level. You can install multiple floating shelves, one above the other, to create a vertical book display. This allows for more books to be showcased while still maintaining the sleek and modern aesthetic.

Remember, the beauty of floating shelves lies in their simplicity. Avoid overcrowding the shelves and opt for a minimalist approach. This allows the books and other displayed items to take center stage and creates a visually clean and uncluttered look.

By incorporating floating shelves in your home, you can showcase your books in a stylish and modern way while maintaining a sense of minimalism. Whether you choose to display a few select titles or your entire book collection, floating shelves provide a versatile and eye-catching solution for showcasing your love for literature.

Read more : Home Decor: How To Decorate With Books

• Coffee Table Books: Incorporating oversized books into your decor

Coffee table books are large, visually stunning books that are designed to be displayed on coffee tables, side tables, or other prominent surfaces in your home. These oversized books not only serve as a source of inspiration and knowledge but also add a touch of sophistication and style to your decor.

One of the key benefits of coffee table books is their versatility. They cover a wide range of topics, from art and photography to fashion, design, and travel. This provides an opportunity to curate a collection that reflects your interests and aesthetics, making a statement about your personality and taste.

When incorporating coffee table books into your decor, placement is key. They can be stacked or arranged in a neat row on your coffee table, with the larger books at the bottom and smaller ones on top. You can also create a layered effect by using a combination of books, decorative objects, and a tray or small sculpture.

Choosing the right coffee table books is essential to achieve a visually appealing display. Look for books with beautiful covers, captivating imagery, and high-quality printing. These books should be visually striking and engaging, encouraging guests to flip through their pages and discover the captivating content within.

Consider selecting coffee table books in colors that complement the overall color scheme of your room. This helps create a cohesive look and ties the books seamlessly into your decor. You can also mix and match books with different covers, sizes, and subjects to add contrast and visual interest.

Don’t be afraid to use coffee table books as conversation starters and display books that reflect your unique interests and passions. Whether it’s a book on modern architecture, a collection of vintage fashion photography, or an exploration of wildlife, these books offer an opportunity to showcase your individuality and spark meaningful discussions.

In addition to styling them on your coffee table, consider using coffee table books as decorative elements on shelves, mantels, or even as a centerpiece for a dining table. Their large size and visually appealing covers make them ideal for creating impactful focal points in any room.

If you have a collection of coffee table books that you love but don’t have enough surface space to display them all, consider rotating them throughout the year. Swap out books seasonally or whenever you feel like refreshing the look of your space. This allows you to appreciate your entire collection and keep your decor dynamic and evolving.

Coffee table books are not just for reading; they are an opportunity to integrate art, culture, and inspiration into your everyday living space. With their oversized presence and beautiful visuals, they add a touch of sophistication and personal style to any home environment.

• Bookends: Using decorative bookends to add flair to your book display

Bookends are not just functional accessories; they can also be used to add flair and personality to your book display. These decorative objects come in a variety of styles, materials, and shapes, allowing you to choose ones that complement your overall decor and showcase your unique style.

When selecting bookends, consider the theme or style of your space. For example, if you have a modern and minimalist decor , opt for sleek and metallic bookends. On the other hand, if your style is more eclectic and whimsical, choose bookends with interesting shapes or quirky designs.

One popular choice for bookends is using sculptural pieces. These can range from animal-shaped bookends to abstract or geometric designs. Sculptural bookends add an artistic touch and can act as statement pieces in your book display. They not only hold your books in place but also become conversational pieces that spark interest and admiration.

If you prefer a more natural and earthy look, wooden bookends are a great option. They bring warmth and a touch of nature to your bookshelf, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Wooden bookends can have intricate carvings, be made from a single piece of wood, or feature a rustic and distressed finish, adding character to your book display.

Metal bookends can exude elegance and sophistication. They can be sleek and contemporary, featuring clean lines and a polished finish. Alternatively, they can have ornate designs or intricate detailing, bringing a touch of luxury and opulence to your bookshelf.

For a personal touch, consider DIY bookends. You can repurpose everyday objects such as vintage cameras, globes, or even small pieces of art as bookends. This allows you to create unique and personalized bookends that reflect your interests and hobbies.

Bookends not only add visual interest but also provide stability to your book display. Larger or taller books can be supported by bookends, ensuring that they remain upright and don’t topple over. This is particularly useful when displaying books in high-traffic areas or on open shelves where they are more likely to be bumped or knocked over.

When it comes to arranging your books with bookends, you have multiple options. You can place bookends on both ends of a row of books, creating a symmetrical and balanced look. Alternatively, you can separate books into smaller groups and use bookends to divide them, creating mini vignettes within your bookshelf .

Bookends also allow for creative styling opportunities. For example, you can arrange a stack of books with a decorative object placed between them, creating a visually interesting composition. This can be a small plant, a framed photo, or a small sculpture that complements the overall theme or color scheme of your bookshelf.

Whether you choose bookends with striking designs or opt for a more subtle and understated look, integrating them into your book display adds flair and personality to your space. Bookends are not only practical but also offer an opportunity to express your style and create a cohesive and visually pleasing book arrangement.

• Book Towers: Creating visually appealing towers of books

Book towers are a creative and visually appealing way to display your books, adding height and drama to your bookshelf or any other surface in your home. This method involves stacking books vertically to create a tower-like structure, showcasing your book collection in a unique and eye-catching way.

One advantage of book towers is that they make a bold statement in any room. They instantly draw attention and create a focal point, adding visual interest and a sense of grandeur to your space. Book towers can be placed on a shelf, a table, or even directly on the floor.

When creating a book tower, you can select books of similar sizes or mix various sizes for added visual appeal. You can create towers using just one color or alternate colors for a more vibrant and eclectic look. Experiment with different book orientations, such as stacking them vertically or at a slight angle, to add a touch of creativity and playfulness to your display.

For a clean and streamlined look, ensure that the books in your tower have straight spines, as this creates a visually pleasing and organized structure. However, if you prefer a more eclectic and relaxed style, feel free to mix and match books of different thicknesses and orientations for a more organic and artistic tower.

Book towers can also be used strategically to divide or define spaces within a room. For example, placing a tall book tower between different seating areas in an open-concept space visually separates the areas while still maintaining an open and airy feel.

If you want to enhance the visual impact of your book towers, consider incorporating decorative objects or plants within the stack of books. This adds dimension and breaks the monotony of a straightforward tower. Objects like small sculptures, picture frames, or candles can be placed in strategic positions, providing an extra layer of visual interest.

Book towers are not limited to just one stack. You can create multiple towers of different heights and widths, arranging them in a symmetrical or asymmetrical manner for a more dynamic and visually striking arrangement.

Another fun idea is to incorporate bookends or decorative book weights to add stability and additional design elements to your towers. Bookends with unique shapes or intricate designs can further elevate the visual impact and create a cohesive and stylish look.

Whether you want to showcase your favorite books, create a unique centerpiece, or add height and drama to your bookshelf, book towers offer a visually appealing and creative solution. They not only provide an innovative way to display your books but also become a design feature that sparks conversation and adds personality to your space.

Consider organizing your books by color to create a visually appealing display. Group books of similar hues together to add a pop of color to your space.

• Bookcases with Glass Doors: Balancing visibility and aesthetics

Bookcases with glass doors are a practical and stylish solution for displaying your book collection while also balancing visibility and aesthetics. These bookcases offer the advantage of protecting your books from dust and moisture while allowing you to showcase them with a touch of sophistication.

One of the key benefits of bookcases with glass doors is that they provide a level of protection for your books. The glass doors act as a barrier, shielding your books from dust, dirt, and potential damage. This is especially beneficial if you live in an area with a high amount of dust or have fragile or valuable books in your collection.

At the same time, bookcases with glass doors offer the advantage of visibility. The transparent glass allows you to see your books and enjoy their covers and spines without needing to open the doors. This adds a sense of accessibility, making it easier to choose a book to read or show off your collection to guests.

To create an aesthetically pleasing display, organize your books within the bookcase in a visually appealing manner. You can arrange books by color, size, author, or genre. This creates a cohesive and visually pleasing look that allows you to showcase your books in an organized and stylish way.

Bookcases with glass doors also offer an opportunity to complement your overall decor and style. You can choose bookcases with frames made of different materials such as wood, metal, or even acrylic, depending on the look you want to achieve. Match the style of your bookcase to the rest of your furniture or use it as an opportunity to add a unique accent piece to your space.

Consider adding additional decorative elements within your bookcase to enhance its visual appeal. This can include decorative objects, such as sculptures, vases, or picture frames, strategically placed among the books. These elements help break up the rows of books and add dimension and personality to your display.

Bookcases with glass doors are not limited to books alone. You can also use them to showcase other items like collectibles, artwork, or personal mementos. This adds versatility to the bookcase, allowing it to serve as a display cabinet for treasured items while still maintaining its functionality as a book storage unit.

If you’re concerned about privacy or want to create a cleaner and more streamlined look, choose bookcases with frosted or etched glass doors. These allow light to pass through while providing a level of opacity, ensuring that the contents of the bookcase are not completely visible from the outside.

Whether you want to protect your books from dust or simply add a touch of elegance to your space, bookcases with glass doors are a versatile and stylish option. They offer a balance between visibility and aesthetics while providing a functional and visually appealing way to display and organize your book collection.

Read more : Living Room Shelving Ideas: 16 Beautiful Ways To Display Books And Trinkets

• Staircase Display: Utilizing staircases to showcase your favorite books

Staircases are often overlooked as potential display areas, but they provide a unique opportunity to showcase your favorite books and add visual interest to an otherwise unused space. By utilizing the verticality of your staircase, you can create a captivating and personalized book display that becomes a focal point in your home.

One popular way to utilize a staircase for book display is by installing shelves along the wall next to the stairs. These shelves can be built-in or freestanding, depending on your preference and the layout of your staircase. The books can be arranged horizontally or vertically, and you can mix in decorative objects or plants to enhance the visual appeal.

When arranging books on a staircase bookshelf, you can follow a particular theme or create a curated collection of books that reflect your interests and passions. For example, if you love travel, you can showcase books on different countries or cultures. If you’re a fan of literature, you can display your favorite novels or poetry collections.

In addition to the bookshelves, you can also use the steps themselves as display platforms. Place decorative objects or smaller stacks of books on each step to create a visually dynamic display. This approach allows for a more interactive and three-dimensional book arrangement that engages both the eye and the sense of touch.

Consider incorporating lighting into your staircase display to highlight your books and add ambiance. Install LED strip lights along the edge of each step or install spotlights on the wall above the staircase to create a warm and inviting glow. This not only enhances the visibility of your books but also adds a touch of drama and sophistication to the overall display.

If you have a spiral or floating staircase, you can use the central pole or railing as a book display. Wrap the pole with books or use bookends to create a vertical stack of books, adding an artistic and visually striking element to your staircase.

Remember to balance the visual appeal with practicality. Ensure that the book display does not obstruct the safety or functionality of the staircase. Leave enough space for people to navigate the stairs comfortably and make sure the books are secure to prevent accidents.

Utilizing your staircase as a book display not only adds beauty to your home but also encourages you and your guests to engage with the books on a daily basis. It transforms a simple staircase into a unique and personalized space that reflects your love for literature and design.

So, embrace the verticality of your staircase and transform it into a stunning book display that adds personality, interest, and functionality to your home.

• Wall-mounted Book Racks: Optimal space-saving solutions

For those who are short on space or want a practical and efficient way to display their books, wall-mounted book racks are the perfect solution. These racks provide a space-saving alternative to traditional bookshelves, allowing you to utilize empty wall space while keeping your books easily accessible and visually appealing.

One of the key advantages of wall-mounted book racks is their ability to maximize vertical space. By mounting the racks on the wall, you free up valuable floor space that can be used for other furniture or activities. This is particularly beneficial for smaller homes or rooms where space is limited.

Wall-mounted book racks come in various designs and materials, giving you the flexibility to choose a style that fits your decor. You can opt for sleek and minimalist designs for a modern look or go for ornate and decorative racks for a more classic or vintage aesthetic. This allows you to integrate the book racks seamlessly into your overall design scheme.

When installing wall-mounted book racks, consider the height and spacing between the racks to ensure easy access to the books. You can arrange the racks in a uniform line or in a staggered pattern for a more dynamic look. Experiment with different heights and distances to create an interesting and visually appealing display.

One creative approach is to mix books with decorative objects or artwork on the wall-mounted racks. This breaks up the monotony of rows of books and adds a personalized touch to your display. You can intersperse small plants, framed photographs, or small sculptures among the books to create a visually layered and aesthetically pleasing arrangement.

If you have a large collection of books, consider organizing them by genre, author, or color on the wall-mounted racks. This creates a sense of order and allows for easy navigation and selection when you’re looking for a specific book. You can also use labels or tags to further enhance organization and make it visually appealing.

Wall-mounted book racks are not limited to just the living room or home office. They can be installed in various areas of your home, such as the bedroom, kitchen, or even the hallway. This allows you to enjoy your favorite books and showcase your collection throughout your home, adding a personal touch to every corner.

In addition to being practical and visually appealing, wall-mounted book racks also encourage you to keep your book collection organized and tidy. With limited space on the racks, you are motivated to regularly assess your collection and donate or pass on books that you no longer need or enjoy, ensuring that your collection remains curated and meaningful.

Whether you have a small apartment or want to make the most of your wall space, wall-mounted book racks provide optimal space-saving solutions. They not only showcase your books in a stylish and efficient way but also help to declutter your living space and create a functional and visually pleasing environment.

• Book Nooks: Cozy reading corners with built-in book storage

Book nooks are the perfect cozy retreats for book lovers, offering a dedicated space for reading, relaxation, and introspection. These intimate corners can be created in various areas of your home, from under the staircase to an alcove in the living room or even a window seat. What sets book nooks apart is their built-in book storage, allowing you to surround yourself with your favorite reads and create a peaceful sanctuary.

When designing a book nook, consider the location and the size of the space. Look for a quiet corner that provides privacy and a peaceful ambiance. If possible, utilize natural light by positioning your book nook near a window, as this enhances the reading experience and creates a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The key feature of a book nook is the built-in book storage, commonly in the form of shelves or cubbies. This allows you to house your books within arm’s reach, eliminating the need to get up and search for a new read. Arrange the books in a visually appealing manner, incorporating a mix of genres, sizes, and orientations to add visual interest.

Consider incorporating seating options such as a cozy armchair, a plush cushion, or a built-in bench with comfortable cushions. Place a soft blanket or throw nearby for added coziness. The goal is to create a comfortable and inviting spot where you can curl up with a good book and immerse yourself in the story.

Enhance the ambiance of your book nook with proper lighting. Install a reading lamp or position a floor lamp nearby for focused lighting. Soft, warm lighting creates a soothing and intimate atmosphere that is conducive to relaxation and reading. Consider using adjustable lighting options to cater to different reading preferences and moods.

Personalize your book nook with decorative elements that reflect your style and add charm to the space. Display personal mementos, artwork, or small indoor plants to create a personal touch. Don’t forget a small side table or shelf for holding a cup of tea or coffee, a bookmark, and other essentials.

If space allows, create additional storage options within your book nook. Add baskets, bins, or magazine holders to keep newspapers, magazines, or smaller books organized. This declutters the space and ensures that your immediate reading materials are organized and accessible.

To make your book nook truly cozy, focus on comfort. Add soft cushions or pillows to the seating area and a plush rug underfoot. The soft textures and cozy elements will invite you to spend more time in your book nook, creating a sanctuary that you’ll never want to leave.

Book nooks are not limited to just reading; they can also serve as a quiet place for reflection, journaling, or creative pursuits. Let your book nook become a space that inspires you and rejuvenates your mind and spirit.

Whether you have a small corner or a dedicated alcove, book nooks with built-in book storage offer a perfect haven for book lovers. They create a cozy and inviting space where you can get lost in the pages of your favorite books, embrace solitude, and find solace in the world of literature.

• Typography Art: Displaying book quotes or titles as art pieces

If you’re a book lover looking to combine your love for literature with your passion for art, typography art offers a creative and visually captivating way to display book quotes or titles as art pieces in your home. Typography art uses fonts, layouts, and design elements to transform words into visual masterpieces, adding a touch of literary charm to your decor.

One popular way to incorporate typography art into your home is by showcasing your favorite book quotes. Select meaningful quotes from literature that resonate with you or have special significance. Opt for quotes that inspire, motivate, or evoke emotions. These quotes can be taken from classic novels, poetry collections, or even contemporary literature.

When selecting quotes, consider not only the content but also the design aspect. Experiment with different fonts, sizes, and layouts to create a visually appealing composition. Play with contrasting styles, such as combining a bold, serif font with a delicate, script font, to add depth and visual interest to your typography art.

Typography art can be displayed in various forms. You can print and frame your favorite book quotes to create wall art that becomes a focal point in a room. Consider using different sizes and arrangements to create a dynamic gallery wall filled with literary inspiration.

Another creative option is to display typography art on a chalkboard or a large canvas. This allows for more flexibility in terms of changing the quotes or adding illustrations or decorative elements to complement the text. Chalkboards offer a rustic and interactive touch, allowing you to write or customize the quotes whenever you feel inspired.

If you’re feeling crafty, you can create your own typography art by hand lettering the quotes or using stencils or vinyl lettering. This adds a personal touch to the artwork and allows you to fully immerse yourself in the creative process. Experiment with different writing styles and techniques to develop your unique typography art aesthetic.

Typography art doesn’t have to be limited to wall displays. You can also incorporate it into other design elements in your home, such as throw pillows, decorative signs, or even engraved wooden bookmarks. These small touches infuse literary charm into your everyday life and create a cohesive and stylish atmosphere.

When incorporating typography art into your decor, consider the overall style and theme of your space. Choose fonts, colors, and layouts that complement the existing design elements. For a minimalist or modern decor, opt for clean and simple typography with ample white space. Alternatively, for a more whimsical or vintage style, embrace ornate and decorative fonts.

Typography art allows you to celebrate your love for literature while also adding an artistic and visually captivating element to your home decor. It enables you to surround yourself with words that inspire and ignite your imagination, creating an environment that celebrates the written word and fosters a deeper connection with literature.

Read more : Book Storage Ideas: 12 Ways To Stow Your Books Neatly

• Book Piles: Embracing an eclectic and relaxed style with stacked books

If you prefer a more eclectic and relaxed style of displaying your books, embracing book piles is a creative and visually appealing option. Book piles involve stacking books in an intentionally haphazard manner, creating a casual and organic arrangement that adds character and charm to your space.

One of the advantages of book piles is their versatility and ease of styling. You can create book piles on various surfaces, such as coffee tables, side tables, or even on the floor. Mixing different sizes, colors, and genres of books adds visual interest and gives your space a lived-in and collected look.

When creating book piles, don’t be afraid to mix in other decorative objects or sentimental items. Incorporate small sculptures, vases, or personal mementos among the books. This creates a visually layered and curated display that reflects your unique personality and interests.

Book piles offer an opportunity to create vignettes within your space. Arrange books and objects in a way that tells a story or evokes a particular theme or mood. For example, you can create a stack of travel books with a small globe and a vintage postcard as a nod to wanderlust.

Embrace the imperfection of book piles by allowing the books to lean and tilt naturally. This creates a sense of movement and adds a relaxed and effortless vibe to the display. You can also experiment with stacking books in different orientations, such as diagonally or with varying angles, for added visual interest.

Book piles aren’t limited to just one area of your home; they can be used throughout your space to create a cohesive and stylish look. Place a small pile of books on a windowsill, a stack on a nightstand, or even on a floating shelf to add a touch of literary charm to any room.

Consider incorporating other elements, such as small plants, candles, or framed artwork, to complement the book piles. These additions add texture and color, creating an inviting and eclectic atmosphere that showcases your personal style.

While book piles may seem random and effortless, they still require a level of intention and curation. Take the time to select books that hold significance or resonance for you. Mix genres, cover types, and sizes to create an engaging mix of visual textures.

Book piles are not just aesthetically pleasing; they also encourage exploration and discovery. They allow you to easily reach for a book and dive into a new adventure or revisit an old favorite. The tactile nature of the piles invites you to interact with your collection and embark on a literary journey.

Embracing book piles is an opportunity to express your personal style and create a cozy and inviting atmosphere in your home. Through these casual stacks of books, you showcase your love for reading while adding a touch of eclecticism and relaxation to your space.

Decorating with books is a wonderful way to infuse your home with style, personality, and a love for literature. By implementing these thirteen stylish ways to display books, you can transform your space into a captivating and inviting environment that reflects your unique taste and passion for interior design.

From utilizing bookshelves as decorative elements to creating visually appealing book towers, each method offers its own charm and functionality. By experimenting with color coordination, vertical stacking, or floating shelves, you can create visually striking displays that showcase your book collection in an organized and visually pleasing manner.

Incorporating coffee table books and utilizing bookends or bookcases with glass doors adds flair and elegance to your book displays while providing protection and balance. Staircase displays and wall-mounted book racks allow you to optimize space and transform overlooked areas into literary showcases.

Book nooks and typography art provide cozy reading corners and artistic expressions that celebrate the written word, while embracing book piles adds an eclectic and relaxed style that exudes charm and character .

Ultimately, the key to creating a captivating and engaging book display is to infuse your unique personality and style. Select books that you love and quotes that resonate with you, mix and match decorative objects, and incorporate elements that reflect your interests and passions.

Whether you have a large book collection or just a few treasured volumes, these ideas offer you a spectrum of options to bring your books to life in an artful and aesthetically pleasing way. By combining your love for literature with interior design, you can create a space that not only showcases your book collection but also becomes a sanctuary for relaxation, inspiration, and creativity.

So, grab your favorite book, find the perfect corner, and let your imagination and creativity flourish as you craft a book display that truly embodies your unique style, passion, and love for the written word.

Now that you've got the scoop on stylishly displaying books, why not tackle the next challenge? Keeping your bookshelves tidy and appealing can be as creative as it is functional. Our next guide offers fifteen smart strategies for bookshelf organization . From simple sorting tips to ingenious arrangement ideas, you'll find plenty of inspiration to keep your literary collection both accessible and attractive. Get ready to transform your cluttered shelves into captivating displays that not only store but also show off your favorite reads.

• Frequently Asked Questions about Decorating With Books: 13 Stylish Ways To Display Books

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20 Travel Classroom Theme Ideas

Show them the world from your classroom.

There’s nothing like a travel classroom theme to help inspire curiosity, foster an explorer’s mindset, and give your kids a little global perspective—even if many of your students aren’t yet travelers themselves. (Emphasis on the  yet .)

1. Use your classroom door to let students know they’re taking an adventure. 

SOURCE: https://savedyouaspot.com

You can show students your travel theme first thing with artful door décor. The Now Boarding message will let students know they are taking an adventure when they enter your classroom. 

2. Make map art. 

SOURCE: https://designertrapped.com

An old map can get new life as travel-themed art. Add inspiring words or one of these cool quotes curated from EF Tours about travel, using die-cut letters or permanent markers. 

3. Call your homework assignment boards road maps. 

SOURCE: https://juliefaulknersblog.com

On your designated whiteboard, chalkboard, or bulletin board areas that show the week’s assignments, a Weekly Roadmap sign cleverly continues your travel theme.

4. Put up an interactive postcard display. 

SOURCE: Pinterest

Postcards from your own travels can do double duty as art and provide teaching moments about international destinations. Invite your students to bring in their own family postcards to add to the display.

5. Use vintage luggage for book displays. 

SOURCE: https://tumblr.libraryjournal.com

Old luggage from your parents, grandparents, or a thrift store makes for clever and cute storage for paperbacks. It’s a travel-themed take on the book bin and allows titles to be easily seen by students. 

6.  Frame geography-themed board games. 

History and social studies teachers are known for sharing their love of Risk! and other world affairs-themed board games with their students. If you have old games that are missing pieces, or pick them up cheaply at thrift stores, display the boards’ cool artwork of the  seven continents on your walls. By the way, our friends at EF Educational Tours lead groups of teachers and students to  destinations on six out of seven of these continents   (someday, Antarctica!) as well as many different types of tours for various areas of study .

7. Drive home travel with a road trip themed display table. 

SOURCE: https://tvahlsing.wordpress.com

Grab some black paper and all the books you can find about road trips, domestic travel and transportation. Add an iconic green and white road sign, and your students will be transported during their library or classroom visits.

8.  Give travel books an aspirational display. 

SOURCE: http://thebeak.edublogs.org

Another awesome book display idea. This one places books about travel or set in far off lands front and center for reading ideas, easy borrowing and decoration, too. Be sure to subscribe (for free!) to the EF Journal and feature in your travel section.  

9. Brand your lost and found area the baggage claim. 

SOURCE: http://www.joyinthejourneyteaching.com

All it takes is simple signage and suitcase clip art printed on labels to brand your coat closet or bag hook area baggage claim. 

10. Turn a bulletin board into a flight information display “screen.” 

SOURCE: http://www.bungalow327.com

This is a super idea for that random bulletin board you never know how to fill. Transform it into a flight- or train-information screen with black paper and white or green lettering. Feature cities you’re covering in your curriculum. Your creativity is sure to bump you to first class in the classroom-theme department.

11. Adopt a favorite country as your overall theme …  

Rather that focusing on general travel, or international or domestic locations, why not choose a particular country? We love this Spanish teacher’s homage to Mexico! 

12. … or a particular historic period. 

Art teacher Cassie Stephens adopts a different destination classroom theme each year. For her ancient Egypt theme, she sponge-stamped dollar store straw mats and painted her windows. During the year she incorporated ancient Egyptian techniques and history into her students’ art lessons.

13. Jazz up a neutral palette with colorful flags. 

SOURCE: https://schoolgirlstyle.com

If in years past you stuck to a neutral theme, such as black and white or beige and brown, just add colorful international or U.S. state flags for some pops of color. 

14. Study world flags and then invite students to design their own flags. 

SOURCE: http://www.mystoryismyflag.com/

You can also offer a lesson on the flags of different countries by inviting students to research flag designs. After they learn about what the colors and symbols represent, invite them to create their own flags that symbolize their own lives and origins. Then all you have to do is display the students’ work. Don’t you love it when assignments become classroom art?

15. Add an international skyline display to a frame for a “window” into another land. 

A large picture frame or unused window can reveal a skyline to another land. Crafty teacher Gennai Henning of Bungalow 327 asked her art teacher colleague to draw the Paris skyline so her students would feel like they were really there. Wow! You could also create a group project with your students to recreate or create a skyline, or you could hang a panoramic photograph poster. 

16. Use a map to showcase the settings of books your students will read in the coming year.

SOURCE: http://schoollibrarydisplays.blogspot.com

This school library decoration links the books on display to their international settings. A map, yarn, and color copies of book covers come together to provide beautiful reading inspiration. Another piece of inspiring reading material is the free EF Tours Journal . Every issue includes inspiration for your classroom, interviews, and unique perspectives on travel. The journal is a celebration of globally minded educators. 

17. Add a world map rug. 

SOURCE: Amazon.com

If it’s time for you to order a new classroom rug, search for a world map design. You can also pick up a world map welcome map, so that when students cross your classroom threshold they subtly enter a new world of learning.

18. Repurpose thrift store clocks for a time zone display.

SOURCE: https://twitter.com/bitelyb8

Make your classroom feel like a cosmopolitan hotel and teach your students about time zones with a display of multiple clocks. Set each clock to a different local time in the world or within your country and label the time zones. 

19. Add an oversized wall map to an empty wall. 

SOURCE: https://twitter.com/bitelyb8 

Oversized sticky murals make wall art and map displays a cinch and offer lots of possibilities for travel learning and dreams.

20. Inspire your students with examples of global good.

Add images of historical or current global activists to a bulletin board map display. You will inspire your own students to become good global citizens and make the world a better place. 

EF Tours is committed to helping teachers easily organize travel that helps them challenge their students’ assumptions, spark connections, and inspire curiosity. Interested in a leading a tour? Get started today.

Want to learn more about incorporating travel learning into your classroom? Check out the EF Tours Travel Channel here on WeAreTeachers.

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The 12 Best Travel Photo Book Makers of 2024

Create a forever keepsake and preserve your precious vacation memories with a photo book.

In This Article

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Travel + Leisure / Alli Waataja

The old cliché dictates that a picture is worth a thousand words, and certainly photos are one of the best souvenirs you can bring home when you travel. But, let’s be honest: how often do you really scroll back through your phone reel or revisit those online albums? A photo book is a much more tangible, attractive way to keep those memories safe and accessible forever. 

There are many photo book makers out there, all with slightly different offerings. Some specialize in simple, budget-friendly books that you can make for every trip while others excel at luxurious coffee table art books meant to commemorate once-in-a-lifetime adventures . We’ve researched the best options to help you choose the right photo book maker for your next vacation — and beyond.

Best Overall

Artifact uprising.

The gorgeous, high-quality products come in a range of styles and materials to suit all tastes and budgets. 

You won’t find themed layouts or same-day production here. 

Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly softcover photo book to add to your travel collection or a premium layflat coffee table book to commemorate your destination wedding, Artifact Uprising has you covered. The company offers a full range of photo book sizes, shapes, and layouts including some more unusual options (board books for babies, for example, or Insta-friendly books designed especially for square images). Each book promises exceptional print quality and durable construction. 

You can customize every aspect of your photo book, although options vary depending on the product you choose. Examples include cover color and material (with possibilities including softcover, hardcover, linen, and leather), foil stamping, paper finish, the layout of your photos and text, and the page count. Most templates include 20 pages with an additional fee for each page thereafter. You won’t find colorful themes here; all products print on white paper for a clean, uncluttered look that puts your images front and center. 

For the most professional result possible, consider paying extra to collaborate with one of the company’s in-house design specialists. Production times vary from three to eight days depending on the complexity of your project. There are also four shipping options that range from standard to rush.

Best Budget

Their full range of customizable templates and colored backgrounds makes it easy to get the look you want. 

Expect additional fees for any project over 20 pages, upgraded paper, and finish choices. 

Although Snapfish also offers costlier products, their classic photo books are some of the most affordable out there. If you opt for a 7x5 or 6x8 softcover or hardcover book and stick to the included 20-page limit, you can easily spend under $20. Affordable upgrades include premium gloss pages and/or a matte cover; but bear in mind that extra pages can quickly add up. Making your photo book is simple. Choose the size and orientation, then design your own from scratch or use one of many premade templates.

Travel-themed templates include roadtrip, destination stamps, and tropical beach escape . After personalizing them with your photos and text. you can change the background color and add embellishments to each page. Optional layflat binding is worth the extra cost for seamless double-page spreads. If you find yourself with extra room in the budget, you can upgrade to a linen or leather cover. Production times vary, with the quickest delivery taking around three days with rushed shipping, but there are four total shipping options to cater to every budget.

Easiest to Use

Shutterfly’s in-house designers can create a photo book for you in 24 hours; all you have to do is provide your images. 

If you’re in a hurry, bear in mind that rush production and delivery is only available for certain products.

Most photo book makers require you to upload your images and then manually build each page or use an auto-uploader to add the pictures to a premade template. The first option is time consuming and the second often results in images being cropped or grouped in strange ways. Shutterfly offers a third option: upload your photos, then let an in-house designer create your book for you in 24 hours. Upon reviewing their design, you can order as-is or tweak it to suit your specifications. 

Best of all? This design service is offered free of charge. You can even use the Shutterfly app to upload photos directly from your phone. If you don’t want to use this service, no problem. You can still create photo books manually or use the faster autofill option. There are plenty of templates to choose from, with six square and rectangular size options and four cover types (softcover, matte or glossy hardcover, or premium leather). Production and delivery can take between one and 10 business days depending on the product and shipping option selected.

Best Themed Templates

Mixbook photo book.

With more than 700 themed templates to choose from, there’s an option for every kind of vacation. 

Not all templates offer the same number of free pages, so be sure to check before deciding. 

Mixbook photo books are divided into three main types: hardcover, softcover, and layflat for those seamless double-page spreads. Whichever you go for, there are more than 700 templates to choose from. These can be browsed by category with categories like year in review, seasonal, and, of course, templates for every major life event from weddings to baby’s first year. Travel-specific templates include options for photos only, or photos and text in a dizzying array of different layouts. 

Some are customizable to any trip while others are specific to certain adventures with themed graphics, text, and embellishments. There’s one for Disney trips , another for Royal Caribbean cruises, and another for national park adventures. You can also start with a completely blank canvas. Books can be landscape, portrait, or square and there are different paper and cover finishes to choose from. Production typically takes one to two business days with four shipping options available.

Best for Complex Designs

Canva photo books.

More than just a photo book maker, Canva lets you edit your photos and share your design with a team of collaborators. 

Some templates and features are only available with a paid Canva Pro account. 

For full creative freedom, choose Canva. Decide on a landscape or square book, then choose a hard or softcover. Next, browse thousands of templates (including a category dedicated to travel) and upload images from your phone, tablet, or desktop. All templates are fully customizable, which means you can change the font, the colors, and add icons and graphics. You can also edit your photos as you go with options to crop and rotate, adjust brightness, contrast, and saturation, and enhance with different filters and frames. 

All layouts can be adjusted to suit the number of photos you want on each page. If you upgrade to Canva Pro, you can remove backgrounds with a single click (kind of like cutting and pasting elements of real photos for a traditional scrapbook.) Canva autosaves as you go and creates an editing link that you can share to ask for input from friends and family. Recycled packaging and free standard shipping round out this company’s benefits.

Best for Simple Designs

Chatbooks is affordable and easy to use with the option to subscribe for repeat orders. 

Customization options are limited.  

If your photo book goals are a little less ambitious, opt for stackable, collectible designs from Chatbooks. The company’s classic photo books offer high quality printing at a price tag that’s reasonable enough to justify regular creations (if you like, you can even sign up for a monthly subscription.) How do they do this? By keeping things simple. You won’t find fancy templates or colored backgrounds, or an endless array of customizable graphics and fonts.

Instead, upload photos from your desktop or phone. Then, decide how many you want to appear on each page. If the answer is just one, choose whether you want it to cover the full page or have a white border around it. You can leave the layout text-free or add a simple location tag and/or caption. Other design choices include the book’s size, whether it has a hard or softcover, the color of the spine, and the cover. Books are made in the U.S. and include a generous 30 pages, with the option to buy more up to a total of 366. Standard shipping is free.

Best for Fast Printing

Walmart photo.

Walmart lets you design, order, and collect your photo book in-store, all on the same day. 

Most photo books must be no more than 40 pages to be eligible for same-day pickup. 

Walmart offers a solution for anyone who’s designing a photo book on a deadline, with more than 80 layouts that can be created online and then picked up in-store on the same day. You can choose from a variety of square and rectangular sizes in several different styles including softcover, matte and glossy hardcover; layflat; and premium layflat (with extra thick pages and a matte finish). Alternatively, upgrade to a linen or leather cover, or opt for a die-cut style that showcases your favorite image through a window. 

There are many themed templates to choose from, though most of them are fairly basic (don’t expect Canva-level creative flair.) Most templates include 20 pages with the option to buy more, but be aware that there’s usually a 40-page limit if you want to pick your book up the same day. If you have a little more time to work with and want extra pages, you can also opt for home delivery with free shipping on orders over $35.

Best Coffee Table Books

Once upon photo books.

Once Upon focuses on simple layouts that can be shared with and edited by multiple people. 

Designs may be a little too basic for fans of complex templates and embellishments. 

Once Upon offers three options for simple yet visually striking coffee table books. These include large and medium hardcover photo books with a sturdy build and a title of your choice printed on the spine, and medium softcover books for a flexible, lightweight feel that’s reminiscent of a luxury magazine. Choose whether you want silk matte or glossy pages, then create your book by uploading pictures directly from your phone, tablet, or desktop. 

Layouts are simple, with no themed templates, background colors, or fancy fonts. Instead, choose the number of photos you want featured on each page and let Once Upon create a collage automatically on the white background. You can edit the order in which they appear and add simple captions or separate text pages. Want to collaborate with your co-travelers? Share the editing link or QR code to get their input. The first 20 pages are included with a maximum of 200 available. Expect delivery in six to 12 business days.

Best Board Books

Pinhole press.

From their wipeable pages to their easy-turn binding, board books from Pinhole Press are designed especially with little kids in mind. 

The number of included pages varies from one template to the next, and not all templates allow you to add more. 

If you love the idea of making a photo book for the baby or toddler in your life but want it to last more than a few hours, check out Pinhole Press. Their board books are made especially for little people with rigid, high-gloss pages that can be wiped clean of errant crumbs or juice drops. A spiral binding makes for seamless page turning, while the 5.25 x 5.25 inch size is ideal for tiny hands. We love the clear, bright photos and just-right text size. 

There are lots of different templates to choose from, including a story board book that’s perfect for commemorating baby’s first vacation. The company also offers educational templates (think ABCs, colors, emotions, count with me, and my first cookbook options). Some have space for a fixed number of pages and photos while others let you pay to add more. For slightly older kids, consider Pinhole’s Itty Bitty books (miniature sized for long journeys) or their All About books with space for 10 photos alongside fill-in prompts your child can write on.

Best Mini Books

Nations photo lab albums.

Buzz Books are cost-effective and require minimal storage space, making them the perfect collector’s item.

Beyond choosing which photo appears on each page, customization options are very limited. 

Nations Photo Lab offers a full range of photo book products including templates for everything from travel to weddings and boudoir photography. Depending which one you choose, you can customize the binding, cover material, page thickness, and more. We particularly like their Buzz Books for those in search of something simple. At 6 x 6 inches, they’re both small enough and affordable enough to justify purchasing one for every trip. 

There are more than 120 pre-designed, soft-touch covers to choose from (you can also create your own) but the inside of each Buzz Book is the same: 40 pages, with one photo per page. The photos are printed on professional-quality Mohawk Matte paper against a white background for full visual effect. There are multiple shipping options available, including USPS First Class which delivers in two to six business days.

Best Sustainable

Paper culture.

Paper Culture photo books are made with recycled paper and every order placed equals a tree planted.  

Shipping rates are relatively expensive. 

Paper Culture is a certified Green Business that offsets its carbon footprint and has been recognized by the EPA as a Top 10 climate leader. All photo books use 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper and with a tree planted for every order, you can feel good about your purchase on multiple levels. Books are 8 x 8 or 8 x 10 inches and you can choose a hardcover, a layflat hardcover, or a layflat with a foil-embossed Kraft cover and personalized dust jacket. 

There are multiple templates divided into categories such as travel, holiday, or wedding. Whichever you go for, you’ll be able to create an end result that’s entirely unique since all elements are customizable. Choose the layout and order of your photos, add text in different fonts and colors, and change the background color of each page. Templates include 20 pages with the possibility of purchasing more. Shipping options range from standard to next-day express.

Best Video Books

Heirloom lets you add up to one hour of video to a physical book that plays original audio with crystal clear quality. 

Video books can show vertical or horizontal footage, but not both. 

For a slightly different approach to preserving your travel memories, consider Heirloom which adds your videos to a physical book so that they can be looked at and enjoyed over and over again. Each book includes a five-inch HD screen. You can choose for yours to be oriented horizontally or vertically (more appropriate for those that typically shoot footage on their phone.) There are three options: up to 10 minutes, 20 minutes, or one hour. 

Here’s how it works: purchase your video book online, then receive an email with instructions on how to add video using the online builder. Your book will then be created and mailed to you. You don’t have to limit yourself to video. The books can also display photos as a slideshow and even mix photos and videos together. Add a personal message. Then, choose from 16 premade covers or pay extra for a custom cover printed with your own design. All video books include a charger and expedited delivery is a possibility.

If you're looking for creative ways to display and share your travel photos, you aren't limited to photo books. There are a few other options when it comes to memorializing your trip.

Aura Carver Digital Picture Frame : A digital picture frame is a great way to display a lot of pictures without spending a fortune on paper. Simply upload photos from your phone or computer directly to the frame and watch your snapshots cycle through on the high-resolution screen.

Fujifilm Instax Mini Link 2 Smartphone Printer : Print individual photos on the go with this smartphone printer that's travel-sized and easy to use. After connecting to your phone via Bluetooth, it only takes about 15 seconds to print out a 2-by-3-inch photo.

Tips for Choosing a Photo Book Website

Consider turnaround time.

If you need your photo book in a hurry, make sure to take production and delivery times into consideration when choosing which company to use. A handful — usually more budget-friendly ones — offer same-day production and the option to collect in-store, which is ideal for last-minute gifts . Others take several days to produce your book, but then offer expedited or rushed shipping to cut delivery time down to a minimum. Others can take two or more weeks to deliver. Check product descriptions carefully, since turnaround times can differ within the same company depending on the size and complexity of the photo book you choose. 

Look closely at the templates offered

Think about your desired photo book aesthetic and then look for a company with templates to match. These can vary from the simplistic (your photos and perhaps some text on a plain white background) to the complex (different background colors and designs, optional filters and frames, the ability to create collages and add text bubbles or other graphics.) Some companies offer templates that have been pre-designed to suit a specific theme, whether that’s travel in general or a Disney trip, tropical cruise, or camping adventure . 

Prioritize ease of use

If you have a background in design or count scrapbooking among your hobbies, you may relish in the challenge of building a photo book from scratch. But if you’re pressed for time or simply don’t want to spend hours choosing which photos go where and how to make them look their best, look for a photo book maker that does the hard work for you. This can either be through an autofill service that arranges your photos on the page (usually, you can tweak this afterwards) or through a collaboration over email or live chat with one of the company’s in-house designers. The latter service often costs extra but sometimes, as with Shutterfly, is offered free of charge. 

Image quality is key

The most important thing when making a photo book is ensuring that the photos look as good as possible. This means choosing a professional, well-reviewed company that uses quality paper and printing methods. It also means submitting photos that are good quality . Most photo book companies will have guidelines for optimum image size and resolution, and others will come up with a warning message if the image you’ve selected is not of a sufficiently high quality. You can usually choose to use it anyway, but be prepared for it to look a little grainy or pixelated. Top tip: use your lowest resolution photos for the smallest spaces on collage pages. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, most photo book makers can be used on your tablet or smartphone, either via a mobile-friendly website or with a special app. Just bear in mind that complicated layouts or photo books with lots of collage pages are often much easier to view and organize on a larger screen. 

The cost of a photo book varies hugely from under $20 to over $200. The price depends on which company you use but also on the size of the photo book, how many pages you want, and the materials you choose. Most templates include some pages in their starting price (20-25 on average), with a per-page fee for longer books. Softcover books are typically the cheapest, followed by hardcover and then linen and leather options. Traditional binding is cheaper than layflat, but layflat looks much better if you’re planning on having photos extend across a double page spread. Other factors that could increase cost include custom covers, premium paper finishes, design assistance, and expedited shipping. 

You want to find a company that prints photos that look as close as possible to the original, whether it was taken on a professional DSLR camera or downloaded from Facebook or Instagram. Images shouldn’t look grainy, blurry, or over- or undersaturated. Choose a photo book maker that uses professional printers and high-quality paper, and be sure to check customer reviews for the best insight into the kind of results you can expect. Don’t forget, though, pictures can only ever look as good as they were to begin with. So choose the crispest, best resolution images you have and use a light hand when editing them for a natural look. 

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Jessica Macdonald is a published photographer with a passion for finding new ways to preserve and display her travel photos. For this article, she drew on her own experience with photo book makers and also spent several hours researching the best options online. She compared services, prices, and reviews before choosing her category winners.

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7 Creative (& Affordable) Ways To Display Travel Photos

Posted on Published: May 19, 2023  - Last updated: March 25, 2024

Categories Photography , Travel , Travel Tips

I don’t know about you, but when I come back from vacation I have thousands of new pictures. The only question is, what to do with them !

Now that photos live in a digital world, and aren’t automatically printed, they can be easily forgotten which is such a shame.

So, here are 7 creative ways to display travel photos . Whether in a physical travel photo album, a no-frame gallery wall , or a high tech changing photo frame, you can make sure those memories are never lost.

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

1. Back To The Basics: Make A Travel Photo Album

Making a travel photo album from your digital photos can be done in one of two ways …

The Old School Method: Print & Add Photos Yourself!

Print up all your favourite travel photos the same as when they were taken on physical film. The only difference now is that you can choose to only print the good ones (and eve do some editing before!).

I use Shutterfly to print my photos on standard size prints ( 4×6, 5×7, and 8×10 ), but they also offer square and even large format prints.

You’ll also need to buy a physical photo album to place your photos in once they arrive. And yes, they still sell those!

You can pick up a simple one , like this one on Amazon , to add your photos!

Or, make it more of a scrapbooking project , and buy this album kit to make a truly one of a kind album!

The New School Method: Travel Photo Book

Instead of spending time printing individual photos and adding them to an album, you can do that all digitally. Again, I like to use Shutterfly to make my travel photo books.

It’s more like making a digital scrapbook that you print all at once on one page. You can add different sized images, borders, even stickers, and of course comments!

I make one for every each trip I like making mine 8×8 hardcover books. The lay flat option looks incredible too, but it will add cost of course!

Shutterfly gives you the option for full control over designing your travel photo album. I’ll admit, it’s a big time commitment, but it’s really interesting to see how my editing style has changed over the years!

But if you don’t have time to spend editing, they also give you the option to have them design it for you in 24 hours … free of charge.

Once your travel photo album arrives, leave it on display so you can pick up anytime you want to relive your trip. Or for guests to peruse at their leisure, just like an old school travel photo album!

P.S. Shutterfly often has discounts on their books as well, and now they’ve even partnered with Costco giving members 51%.

2. Display Travel Photos By Printing Them On Something Fun!

On Shutterfly, you can also make your photos into so many other fun creations !

So why not print your photos on a pillow, mug, a calendar for the following year, or even a customized luggage tag for your next trip .

I’ve printed my travel photos on a mousepad and fridge magnets, and it’s such a fun way to subtly display your favourite photos from your latest trip!

Check out all the creative options on Shutterfly !

Ideas To Display Photos On Wall

A very common way to display your favourite travel photos is to print them and hang them somewhere in your home.

But the question is, how do you display them on your wall once they’re printed!? Well there are a few options, with pictures frames and without !

3. Creative Ways To Display Photos Without A Picture Frame

There’s no denying, the most expensive part about hanging your photos on a wall is framing them!

So I came up with a creatives ways to display a lot of photos without the need for any frames at all: a growing travel photo wall!

I chose the biggest emptiest wall in my house and printed as many photos as I wanted in a square template. I simply tape as many photos that could fit on the wall.

Don’t worry, I have a full how to make a growing travel photo wall post here .

It’s an inexpensive way to display A LOT of travel photos all at once for everyone to see. I’m also able to easily add to it after every trip – the only real limit is the size of the wall! Plus, it’s a no brainer to mount the photos and even remove them, it doesn’t damage the wall at all!

I’ve added to, and even moved my photo wall now several times! It’s a real show stopper as well when ever anyone comes over. It’s a fun game to see what locations people can recognize.

Step It Up A Notch

If you aren’t sold on the no-frame idea, you can easily step up your photo wall by buying an extra large frame to add all your photos to.

This way, your photos are protected, and it looks a tad more professional! But, it will definitely cost you!

You might also be interested in reading…

• How To Make A Removable Photo Wall (Perfect For Travel Photos)

4. Make A Gallery Wall Or Photo Grid With Travel Photos

For a more traditional way to display your travel photos on your wall, you can also frame them.

For a fun look, create a travel gallery wall with different sized prints and frames. It’s easy to add new photos, and they don’t have to be measured perfectly, or even match!

For a more uniform look , print the same size photo and place them in the exact same frame. It’s a more serious way to display your photos but I find it works really well for themed photos.

For example I printed up all my lighthouse photos from Prince Edward Island and displayed them in my long – and otherwise empty -hallway.

You can also change the photos in the frames after every trip!

5. Make A Canvas Print (DIY Option)

One of the most creative ways to display photos without frames is to print them on a canvas.

Canvas prints are beautiful and really make a statement on your wall – without the need for any frame at all!

I love the look of photos printed on canvas, but I’ll admit they can definitely add up to a hefty bill (especially for the larger sizes). Several places offer photos prints on canvas, like Shutterfly , or you can attempt to make it yourself…

You can actually transfer a photo print to a canvas yourself. It will cut costs in half, and it makes a really neat rustic look too! Read the full DIY project here.

Non Print Ideas To Display Photos

You might not want to spend time, money, or even paper to print and display travel photos from your latest trip, so here are two no print ideas to display photos !

6. Invest In A Moving Picture Frame

A moving picture frame is a hassle free, no printing, way to display travel photos.

It’s a bit on the pricey side at the start, but you’ll save a lot of time, money, and paper in the long run .

It’s so easy to change the photos it displays, and add more after every trip! You have a constantly changing loop of photos.

I have a Google Nest Hub , and honestly I don’t use it for much else other than displaying my travel photos from my most recent trip.

7. Make A Personal Blog For A Non Print Option!

A blog is your own personal website where you can add your favourite travel photos.

It’s your own online space that’s easily accessible and you can even share the URL with friends and family to see (don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be a public blog).

Sign up for WordPress.com , it’s completely free to start adding your photos! You can even add comments to share your favourite stories from your trip with each photo!

The ultimate digital travel bundle: travel planner & daily travel journal

My digital travel planner template  has everything you need to plan your vacation. And keep track of your travels every day with my digital and printable travel journal .

See the bundle on Esty , and use my code ATRLOVE for an extra discount!

P.S. Learn How To Take Better Group Travel Photos

Stop taking selfies or asking someone to take a photo of you while you’re away. I have a few handy travel photo gear I always bring with me to take the best photos of myself and my travel partners – every time!

Although, if you learn how to take better photos, you might just have a harder time deciding which ones to display when you get back…

Anyway, it’s all about a remote shutter, a mini tripod, and a phone adapter… read more about how to take the best travel photos .

Travel Photo Gear

Read More Related Posts

• How To Take Group Travel Photos By Yourself: My Secret Hack

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Last update on 2024-07-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Liveshare Moment

Wednesday 30th of August 2023

These 7 tips you mentioned will be very helpful to travelers to create and display their travel albums. Nice information Thanks for sharing...

Friday 22nd of September 2023

Thanks! I hope so :D

2,600+ US flights canceled: United, American Airlines resume service after global outage

• A global IT outage caused delays and cancellations for air passengers around the world.
• Several U.S. carriers, including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, issued ground stops for all their flights early on Friday due to communication problems.
• The aviation sector is hit particularly hard due to its sensitivity to timings.

Get more news like this delivered to your inbox by signing up for our Travel newsletter here .

William Sikora III was supposed to fly from Philadelphia to Detroit on Friday morning.

“We are stuck at this airport,” he posted in a video on X at 6 a.m., zooming in on blue airport screens showing system errors. “United, Delta, America, all this stuff is down. People are just sitting here. The apps still say our flight’s on time because they can’t update information in the apps.”

Air passengers around the world faced delays, cancellations and problems checking in as airports and airlines were caught up in a  massive IT outage  that also affected industries ranging from banks to media companies.

Several U.S. carriers, including American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, issued ground stops for all their flights early on Friday due to communication problems, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

There were over 2,600 flights canceled and nearly 9,200 delays as of 5 p.m. ET, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware . Most airlines were able to resume operations as the morning progressed, but many said they expected disruptions to continue throughout the day.

More on the outage: Global tech outage grounds flights, hits banks and media businesses

Megan Brown said Washington Dulles Airport was surprisingly calm, even as the airline industry was in turmoil. She said the airport was less crowded than usual, making for a quicker-than-expected security screening, and passengers seemed understanding about the disruptions.

"We just took the gamble and came here, and hopefully we’ll leave today,” Brown told USA TODAY by phone from Dulles. “There’s nothing you can do.”

Her family's 8:25 a.m. ET flight to San Francisco was delayed, but they were able to take off within a couple of hours. "A cheer just erupted as the gate agent said we are going to start boarding," she said.

Around the world, airports and airlines advised customers to arrive earlier than normal for flights.

Around 9 a.m. Sikora posted another video showing fellow travelers sitting on the floor and standing in the middle of a crowded Philadelphia International Airport terminal. 

“Everyone is in the same boat. Just wandering and sitting,” he told USA TODAY.

Issues online: Instagram may be the best social app to get your flight issues fixed. Here's why.

The cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike blamed the global tech outage on a defect in an update for Microsoft Windows hosts.

“Today was not a security or cyber incident. Our customers remain fully protected," Crowdstrike CEO George Kurtz posted on X . "We understand the gravity of the situation and are deeply sorry for the inconvenience and disruption. We are working with all impacted customers to ensure that systems are back up and they can deliver the services their customers are counting on. As noted earlier , the issue has been identified and a fix has been deployed. There was an issue with a Falcon content update for Windows Hosts."

The aviation sector was hit particularly hard due to its sensitivity to timings. Airlines rely on a closely coordinated schedule often run by air traffic control. Just one delay of a few minutes can throw off a flight schedule for take-offs and landings for an airport and airline for the rest of the day.

"The issue affected many separate systems, such as those used for calculating aircraft weight, checking in customers, and phone systems in our call centers," United Airlines said in a statement. "After pausing all departures overnight, flights resumed on Friday morning and we are working diligently to get our customers to their destinations."

Story continues below.

Are flights still grounded? How long will flight delays last?

"Ground stops and delays will be intermittent at various airports as the airlines work through residual technology issues," the FAA said, adding that it's working closely with airlines to resume normal operations.

Travelers are advised to contact their airlines and monitor the FAA's website for the latest information.

How to find the reason for flight delay

Customers can ask airlines why their flight is canceled or delayed, but the Department of Transportation confirmed that it considers the delays and cancellations caused by Friday's IT outage to be "controllable" by the airlines. While airlines may say they didn't cause the computer error, it means that the DOT will hold them responsible for upholding the commitments they've made to customers when it comes to policies like rebooking or hotel and meal vouchers as the mess gets sorted out. Every airline's policy is outlined on the DOT customer service dashboard.  

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics also tracks causes of delays and cancellations.

Airline waivers

Airlines are doing what they can to provide extra flexibility to those affected by the outage.

• American issued a waiver for affected travelers covering all of its U.S. hubs.
• Delta issued a waiver allowing all passengers traveling Friday to rebook their flights.
• Frontier issued a waiver offering rebooking for travelers whose flights were delayed by more than 3 hours. Customers whose flights were canceled may opt for a refund or credit toward future travel.
• United issued a waiver for select airports so passengers can make changes if their flights are affected, though a United spokesperson told USA TODAY that nearly all of the airline's flights depart or arrive in one of the airports covered by the waiver.
• Spirit issued a waiver allowing customers who are booked to fly Friday or Saturday through any airport in its network to change their flights at no additional charge.

What happens if my flight is canceled?

Department of Transportation rules  require all airlines to offer customers a refund if their flights are canceled for any reason, but customers may be entitled to additional compensation if a cancellation is within the airline's control.

What should I do if my flight is delayed?

If your flight is experiencing a long delay, the Transportation Department suggests asking airline staff if they will pay for meals or a hotel room.

The DOT dashboard reflects airlines' official policies, but many carriers handle compensation for delays on a case-by-case basis and may provide vouchers or other benefits in some situations that are not formally covered.

What is considered a significant flight delay?

Each airline defines significant delays differently, but the DOT's dashboard identifies which airlines provide compensation for controllable delays of 3 or more hours.

For instance, all major U.S. carriers are supposed to provide a meal voucher for flights delayed by at least 3 hours for reasons within their control. Additionally, Alaska, JetBlue and Southwest offer credit or a travel voucher when a controllable delay "results in passenger waiting for 3 hours or more from the scheduled departure time," according to the dashboard.

How to file compensation for a delayed flight

Travelers seeking monetary compensation for delayed flights should file a claim with their respective airlines. Passengers seeking other types of compensation, like frequent flyer miles, may be able to request those through the airline's customer service.

Contributing: Andrew Mills, Joanna Plucinska and Lisa Barrington ; Reuters

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .

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Global IT Outage Travel Waiver

A disruption caused by a Global IT Outage on July 19, 2024 affected our operation systemwide. A travel waiver, which offers customers the ability to make a one-time change to their itinerary, is in effect. The fare difference for customers will be waived when rebooked travel occurs on or before July 27, in the same cabin of service as originally booked. Check flight status frequently for up-to-the-minute information about your flight plans, or get updates sent directly to your mobile device or by email with  On-Time Flight Notification .  

Future Travel Rebooking Options:

• A fare difference may apply when the waiver is class to class restrictive and the original booking class is not maintained in the rebooked itinerary.
• When rebooked travel occurs after July 27, 2024, a difference in fare may apply.
• If travel is not able to be rescheduled within these guidelines, customers may cancel their reservation and apply any unused value of the ticket toward the purchase of a new ticket for a period of one year from the original ticket issuance.  Applicable fare difference may apply for new travel dates. Final travel must be completed by end of ticket validity.

Conditions and Restrictions

Eligibility only for customers with an Original Ticket Issue Date on or before July 21, 2024. Changes to origins and destinations may result in an increase in fare. Any difference in fare between your original ticket and the new ticket will be collected at the time of booking.

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• Section 7 - Traveling with Pets & Service Animals
• Section 8 - Perspectives : Responding to Medical Emergencies When Flying

CDC Yellow Book 2024

Author(s): Tai-Ho Chen, Araceli Rey, Clive Brown

Preflight Medical Considerations

Cabin air pressure & chronic disease, thromboembolic disease, in-flight transmission of communicable diseases, in-flight medical emergencies, preparing aircrew.

In 2019, 4.5 billion passengers took nearly 47 million international flights. The following year, annual global passenger air travel volume decreased by nearly two-thirds (1.8 billion passengers took 22 million flights), a consequence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The pandemic reversed a trend of annually increasing air travel volume, attributable at least in part to the implementation of travel restrictions by many countries.

To promote safe travel during the pandemic, in July 2020 the US Department of Transportation and other government agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), collaborated to publish Runway to Recovery: The United States Framework for Airlines and Airports to Mitigate the Public Health Risks of Coronavirus. Runway to Recovery was based in part on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) report and guidance document, Take Off: Guidance for Air Travel through the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis, which includes a section on public health risk mitigation measures countries can use in the travel sector. These measures, among others, helped bolster passenger and aviation worker confidence that air travel could be conducted safely during the pandemic.

Travelers often have concerns about the health risks of flying on airplanes. Although illness might occur as a direct result of air travel, it is not commonly reported. Some main concerns include exacerbations of chronic medical conditions due to changes in air pressure and humidity; relative immobility during flights leading to thromboembolic disease; and risk for infection due to proximity to others on board who could have communicable diseases.

The Aerospace Medical Association recommends evaluating chronic medical conditions and addressing instabilities prior to travel, particularly in people with underlying cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic lung disease, mental illness, seizures, stroke, recent surgery, or a history of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. Travelers should be current on routine vaccinations and receive destination-specific vaccinations before travel.

Pregnant Travelers

For information on contraindications and precautions related to flying during pregnancy, see Sec. 7, Ch. 1, Pregnant Travelers .

Travelers with Disabilities

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has information for travelers with disabilities and medical conditions that might affect their security screening. Travelers with Disabilities (Sec. 3, Ch. 2) includes a table of useful online resources (see  Table 3-05 , Online resources for travelers with disabilities or chronic illnesses). For information on traveling with a service animal, see Sec. 7, Ch. 6, Traveling with Pets & Service Animals .

Travelers Who Require Supplemental Oxygen

Travelers who require supplemental in-flight oxygen should be aware that they must arrange for their own oxygen supplies while on the ground, at departure, during layovers, and upon arrival. Federal regulations prohibit passengers from bringing their own oxygen onboard flights; passengers should notify the airline ≥72 hours before departure if they require in-flight supplemental oxygen. In addition, airlines might not offer in-flight supplemental oxygen on all aircraft or flights, and some airlines permit only Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)–approved portable oxygen concentrators . See information about screening portable oxygen concentrators at US airports .

During normal flight conditions, FAA requires that commercial aircraft maintain a cabin pressure equivalent to a maximum altitude of 8,000 ft (≈2,440 m) above sea level. Cabin pressures are typically maintained at an equivalent of 6,000–8,000 ft (≈1,830–2,440 m) above sea level, but newer aircraft can maintain cabin air pressures equivalent to lower altitudes. Most travelers without preexisting health conditions will not notice any effects from the decreased partial pressure of oxygen at these cabin pressures. By contrast, a traveler with anemia (including sickle cell disease), cardiopulmonary disease (especially people who normally require supplemental oxygen), or cerebrovascular disease can experience an exacerbation of their underlying medical condition. In addition, aircraft cabin air is typically dry, usually 10%–20% humidity, which can cause dryness of the mucous membranes of the upper airway and eyes.

Barotrauma can occur when the pressure inside an air-filled, enclosed body space (e.g., abdomen, middle ear, sinuses) is not the same as the air pressure inside the aircraft cabin. Barotrauma most commonly occurs because of rapid changes in environmental pressure: during ascent, for example, when cabin pressure falls rapidly, and during descent, when cabin pressure quickly rises. Barotrauma most commonly affects the middle ear, and happens when the eustachian tube is blocked and a traveler is unable to equalize the air pressure in the middle ear with the outside cabin pressure.

Middle ear barotrauma is usually not severe or dangerous; rarely, though, it can cause complications (e.g., dizziness, hearing loss, a perforated tympanic membrane, permanent tinnitus). To help reduce the risks of barotrauma associated with cabin air pressure changes, travelers with ear, nose, and sinus infections or severe congestion might choose to postpone flying to prevent pain or injury, or use oral or nasal decongestants to help alleviate symptoms. Travelers with allergies should continue their regular allergy medications.

Travelers who have had recent surgery, particularly intra-abdominal, cardiothoracic, or intraocular procedures, should consult with their physician before flying. Travelers who participate in scuba diving should observe minimum recommended time intervals between diving and air travel to reduce the risk for altitude-induced decompression sickness (see Sec. 4, Ch. 4, Scuba Diving: Decompression Illness & Other Dive-Related Injuries , for details).

Decreased mobility during travel is associated with a small but measurable increased risk for venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, even in otherwise healthy travelers. The overall incidence of symptomatic venous thromboembolism in the month after travel is 1 in 4,600 flights of >4 hours in duration. Risk is increased by longer flight duration and is greater in people with known risk factors (e.g., clotting disorders, estrogen use, severe obesity, pregnancy, recent surgery or trauma, previous thrombosis). The American College of Chest Physicians recommends travelers on longer flights select aisle seats, walk frequently, and perform calf muscle exercises to reduce the risk for thrombosis. People with risk factors might benefit from wearing properly fitted graduated compression stockings (15–30 mmHg at the ankle) during flight. Aspirin has not been shown to decrease risk. See Sec. 8, Ch. 3, Deep Vein Thrombosis & Pulmonary Embolism , for more details).

Communicable diseases can be transmitted during air travel. People who are acutely ill or still within the infectious period for a specific disease should delay their travel until they are no longer contagious. For example, otherwise healthy adults can transmit influenza to others for 5–7 days, and transmission of respiratory viruses (e.g., measles) has been documented on commercial aircraft.

Travelers should wash their hands frequently and thoroughly or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing ≥60% alcohol, especially after using the airplane lavatory and before eating meals. Some diseases spread by contact with infectious droplets (e.g., when an ill person sneezes or coughs and the secretions or droplets land on another person’s face, mouth, nose, or eyes), or when an ill person touches communal surfaces (e.g., door handles, rest room faucets) with contaminated hands. Other people handling the contaminated surfaces can then be inoculated with the contaminant. Practicing good handwashing and respiratory hygiene (covering mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing) can help decrease the risk for infection by direct or indirect contact.

Cabin Ventilation & Air Filtration

Large commercial jet aircraft recirculate 35%–55% of the air in the cabin, mixed with outside air. The recirculated air passes through high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters that capture 99.97% of particles (bacteria, larger viruses or virus clumps, fungi) ≥0.3 µm in diameter. Furthermore, laminar airflow generally circulates in defined areas within the aircraft, thus limiting the radius of distribution of pathogens spread by small-particle aerosols. As a result, the cabin air environment is less conducive to the spread of most infectious diseases than typical environmental systems in buildings.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 & Air Travel

COVID-19 transmission during air travel has been documented. In general, COVID-19 transmission risk on aircraft remains difficult to quantify and is likely to be affected by evolving administrative, engineering, and other controls being widely implemented in the commercial air travel sector. In 2020, as described in the introduction to this chapter, US government agencies and the ICAO each developed guidance for the airline industry to use in response to the pandemic. Recommendations included maximizing total cabin airflow on commercial aircraft during both ground and flight operations; implementing surface decontamination measures aimed at reducing risk for contact with infectious droplets; and modifying passenger movement patterns before, during, and after travel.

Travelers should familiarize themselves with the latest COVID-19–related requirements when planning air travel and, as their departure date approaches, follow the guidance of corresponding health authorities. People with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 should not travel until they are no longer thought to be contagious; similarly, those exposed might need to delay travel based on their history of infection or vaccination, according to current guidance.

Increasing numbers of travelers combined with an ever larger percentage of older passengers make the incidence of onboard medical emergencies likely to increase. Medical emergencies occur in ≈1 in 600 flights, or about 16 medical emergencies per 1 million passengers. The most common in-flight medical events are syncope or presyncope (37%); respiratory symptoms (12%); nausea or vomiting (10%); cardiac symptoms (8%); and seizures (6%).

Although in-flight medical emergencies occur, serious illness or death onboard a commercial aircraft is rare. Death was reported in ≈0.3% of medical emergencies, ≈2/3 were due to cardiac conditions. Most commercial airplanes that fly within the United States are required to carry ≥1 approved automated external defibrillator (AED) and an emergency medical kit.

Flight attendants are trained in basic first aid procedures (e.g., cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR], use of AEDs) but generally are not certified in emergency medical response. Many airlines use ground-based medical consultants to assist aircrew and volunteer passenger responders in managing medical cases. In nearly 50% of in-flight emergencies, physician volunteers have assisted (see the following chapter in this section, . . . perspectives : Responding to Medical Emergencies when Flying ). The Aviation Medical Assistance Act, passed in 1998, provides some protection from liability to health care providers who respond to in-flight medical emergencies.

The goal of managing in-flight medical emergencies is to stabilize the passenger until the flight can safely reach ground-based medical care. When considering diversion to a closer airport, the captain must consider the needs of the ill passenger as well as other safety concerns (e.g., landing conditions, terrain, weather). Certain routes (e.g., transoceanic flights) and availability of definitive medical care might limit diversion options.

To better prepare aircrew for international travel, refer to Sec. 9, Ch. 2, Advice for Aircrew . The CDC Travelers’ Health website provides current information and travel health notices. Sec. 8, Ch. 8, Airplanes & Cruise Ships: Illness & Death Reporting & Public Health Interventions , provides advice for aircrew who might encounter passengers with potentially infectious diseases. The CDC Quarantine and Isolation webpage, Airline Guidance provides requirements and tools for aircrew dealing with in-flight illness or death among passengers.

The following authors contributed to the previous version of this chapter: Paul J. Edelson, Phyllis E. Kozarsky, Clive Brown

Bibliography

Aerospace Medical Association. Medical considerations for airline travel. Available from:  www.asma.org/publications/medical-publications-for-airline-travel/medical-considerations-for-airline-travel .

Bagshaw M, Illig P. The aircraft cabin environment. In: Keystone JS, Kozarsky PE, Connor BA, Northdurft HD, Mendelson M, Leder K, editors. Travel Medicine, 4th edition. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2019. pp. 429–36. 

Huizer YL, Swaanm CM, Leitmeyer KC, Timen A.Usefulness and applicability of infectious disease control measures in air travel: a review. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2015;13(1):19–30.  International Air Transport Association (IATA). Annual review 2021. Boston: The Association; 2021. Available from:  www.iata.org/contentassets/c81222d96c9a4e0bb4ff6ced0126f0bb/iata-annual-review-2021.pdf . 

International Civil Aviation Organization, Council on Aviation Recovery Taskforce. Aircraft module–air systems operations. Available from:  www.icao.int/covid/cart/Pages/Aircraft-Module---Air-System-Operations.aspx . 

International Civil Aviation Organization, Council on Aviation Recovery Taskforce. Guidance for air travel through the COVID-19 public health crisis. Available from:  www.icao.int/covid/cart/Pages/CART-Take-off.aspx . 

Nable JV, Tupe CL, Gehle BD, Brady WJ. In-flight medical emergencies during commercial travel. N Engl J Med. 2015;375(10):939–45. 

Peterson DC, Martin-Gill C, Guyette FX, Tobias AZ, McCarthy CE, Harrington ST, et al. Outcomes of medical emergencies on commercial airline flights. N Engl J Med. 2013;368(22):2075–83. 

Rosca EC, Heneghan C, Spencer EA, Brassy J, Plüddemann A, Onakpoya IJ, et al. Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 associated with aircraft travel: a systematic review. J Travel Med. 2021;28(7):taab133. 

US Department of Transportation, US Department of Homeland Security, US Department of Health and Human Services. Runway to recovery: the United States framework for airlines and airports to mitigate the public health risks of coronavirus, version 1.1. Washington, DC: The Departments; 2020. Available from:  www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2020-12/Runway_to_Recovery_1.1_DEC2020_Final.pdf .

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Mass IT outage: here's a list of companies and operations affected

• A huge global IT outage is disrupting flights, banks, retailers, and media outlets.
• The widespread disruptions have been linked to an issue with the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike.
• Operations affected include airlines in the US and Europe, supermarkets, and some 911 lines.

A mass IT outage has hit flights, banks, retailers, and media outlets around the world.

The issues appear to be linked to the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike .

Microsoft also acknowledged the issue in an X update early Friday, writing, "Our services are still seeing continuous improvements while we continue to take mitigation actions."

Here are some of the companies and operations affected.

Numerous airlines grounded flights early Friday morning, including the big three US carriers: United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines. In statements, they all cited technology issues.

Delta and American had both canceled their ground stops by 7 a.m. ET.

A United spokesperson told Business Insider that it was holding all aircraft at their departure airports while it works to restore systems. "Flights already airborne are continuing to their destinations," they added.

American has blamed the issues on CrowdStrike, saying they were because of a "technical issue with Crowdstrike that is impacting multiple carriers," according to BBC News.

The budget airlines Frontier, Allegiant, and Spirit also issued ground stops which were later canceled.

Frontier's was issued on Thursday night. "Flight operations are currently being impacted by a major Microsoft technical outage," it said in a statement.

Spirit said it was unable to rebook affected customers because of the outage.

Disruption also extended to Europe. The continent's largest airline, Ryanair, advised passengers to arrive early as the outage caused "disruption across the network."

KLM also said it had to "largely suspend operations" as the outage made "flight handling impossible."

British Airways, Wizz Air, Turkish Airlines, Eurowings, Lufthansa, and Qantas were also among those who said they were affected.

According to a Facebook post from Alaska State Troopers , emergency lines in the state are also affected.

The post said: "Due to a nationwide technology-related outage, many 911 and non-emergency call centers are not working correctly across the State of Alaska."

"We appreciate your patience and will update you when we know more," the statement added.

The major UK airports Heathrow, Gatwick, and Luton have reported issues, with some warning of delays and disruption.

Related stories

An X post from Gatwick Express , a train service for the airport, said the company was unable to access driver diagrams at certain locations, "leading to potential short-notice cancelations, particularly on the Thameslink and Great Northern networks."

A spokesperson for Belfast International Airport confirmed to BI that whiteboards were being used to handwrite flight information before systems were later restored. Whiteboards were also used at Singapore Changi Airport.

Hospitals and doctors' surgeries

Several hospitals and doctors' practices appear to have been affected by the outage.

In the UK, the NHS' EMIS system, which doctors use to book appointments, view patient notes, order prescriptions, and make referrals, appears to be having issues .

A spokesperson for the NHS told BI in a statement: "The NHS is aware of a global IT outage and an issue with EMIS, an appointment and patient record system, which is causing disruption in the majority of GP practices."

They said that long-standing measures were in place to manage disruption and that there was no known impact on 999 or emergency services, so people should use these services as normal.

"Patients should attend appointments unless told otherwise and only contact their GP if it's urgent, and otherwise please use 111 online or call 111," they added.

Two German hospitals canceled elective operations scheduled for Friday, Reuters reported.

NYCT Subway

Commuters in New York City and DC may also face delays Friday morning.

In an X post, the NYCT subway said: "Train arrival information is unavailable for A/B/C/D/E/F/G/J/M/N/Q/R/Z/Rockaway Park Shuttle/Franklin Av Shuttle due to a worldwide technical outage. Train service is unaffected."

The post said the tech outage also impacted Subway officials' ability to see train locations.

Broadcasters

Sky News also appears to have been hit by the outage. The UK news channel has been showing archive footage and briefly displaying an error message.

The news site appears to be up and running at the time of writing.

London Stock Exchange

The London Stock Exchange's website was also experiencing issues.

"RNS news service is currently experiencing a third-party global technical issue, preventing news from being published on www.londonstockexchange.com ," the company said in a statement.

"Technical teams are working to restore the service. Other services across the group, including London Stock Exchange, continue to operate as normal," it continued.

Retailers and fast-food giants

Bloomberg reported that McDonald's Japan suspended about a third of its stores in the country on Friday. The issue was with the stores' cash registers, the report said.

The grocery-store chain Woolworths told BI that some stores had "been impacted as a result of the global IT issue." All but six stores were open for business, but some had fewer functioning checkouts.

Delivery delays

FedEx and UPS are warning of delivery delays because of the outage.

In a statement on the company's website , FedEx said it was experiencing "substantial disruptions throughout our networks due to a global IT outage experienced by a third-party software vendor." The company said parcels due to be delivered on Friday might face delays.

A UPS spokesperson told BI that it continues to operate effectively but there may be some service delays due to third-party outage "impacting some UPS computer systems in the U.S. and Europe."

Some US state driver services are down

Drivers in some states are unable to access services because of the outage.

Georgia's Department of Driver Services posted on X that "due to the global Microsoft/Crowdstrike outage, DDS services are unavailable at this time."

Tennessee's Department of Safety and Homeland Security said some Driver Services Centers may not be able to process transactions, according to a post on X.

North Carolina's Department of Motor Vehicles driver license and plate agencies are also impacted and unable to assist customers, according to a CNN report.

Bloomberg reported that at the Ocean Park Marriott in Hong Kong, staff were using pen and paper to check guests in and said the outage was affecting their systems globally.

Marriott International later told CNN in a statement that "certain hotel systems" have been affected.

"We are actively working with our vendors to resolve issues that have impacted certain hotel systems," the company said in a statement to the publication. "We apologize for any inconvenience that guests may experience."

Watch: Global computer glitch grounds flights, knocks out 911

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Democrats Seek Criminal Investigation of Justice Thomas Over Travel and Gifts

The senators said the Supreme Court justice’s failure to disclose lavish gifts and luxury travel showed a “willful pattern of disregard for ethics laws.”

By Maya C. Miller

Reporting from Washington

Two top Democratic senators have asked the Justice Department to open a criminal investigation of Justice Clarence Thomas for possible violations of federal ethics and tax laws.

Senators Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Ron Wyden of Oregon sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick B. Garland last week asking that he appoint a special counsel to investigate Justice Thomas’s failure to disclose lavish gifts , luxury travel , a loan for a recreational vehicle and other perks given to him by wealthy friends.

The request further intensified efforts by Senate Democrats to scrutinize Justice Thomas’s conduct at a time when they are trying to force Supreme Court justices to comply with stricter ethics and financial disclosure rules.

“We do not make this request lightly,” the senators wrote in a joint statement. “Supreme Court justices are properly expected to obey laws designed to prevent conflicts of interest and the appearance of impropriety and to comply with the federal tax code.”

“No government official should be above the law,” they added.

Specifically, the senators asked that a special counsel investigate whether Justice Thomas violated federal ethics and tax laws by failing to disclose as income the $267,000 he received in forgiven debt for a luxury R.V.

The senators wrote that Justice Thomas had “repeated opportunities” to explain his failure to disclose the gifts to the Senate Finance Committee, of which Mr. Wyden is the chairman, as well as the Judiciary Committee’s panel on federal courts, which Mr. Whitehouse leads.

They also accused Justice Thomas of showing a “willful pattern of disregard for ethics laws,” behavior that they said surpassed that of other government officials who have been investigated by the Justice Department for “similar violations.”

A spokeswoman for the Supreme Court did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Maya C. Miller covers Congress and is a Times Fellow , a program for journalists early in their careers. She is based in Washington. More about Maya C. Miller

Our Coverage of Congress

Here’s the latest news and analysis from capitol hill..

Biden’s Age Concerns: President Biden has yet to do what many Democrats on Capitol Hill said he must to show he is up to remaining in the race. But so far, they are doing nothing to nudge him aside .

The Aging Senate: Senators have had plenty of practice watching colleagues hold stubbornly onto their positions of power as they grow old. None wants to lead a public call  for  Biden to withdraw.

Merrick Garland: The House defeated a Republican measure that would have imposed a $10,000-a-day fine on the attorney general  for refusing to turn over audio recordings of President Biden’s interview with a special counsel.

Justices Alito and Thomas: Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Democrat of New York, introduced articles of impeachment  against the two justices , accusing them of improperly failing to disclose gifts from wealthy benefactors and to recuse themselves from certain cases.

​​McCarthy’s Revenge Tour: Kevin McCarthy, the former House speaker, has spent much of his time, energy and money since leaving Congress trying to defeat the Republicans who cost him his gavel .

Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow: The Best of Moscow!

I just got back from one week in Moscow. And, as you might have already guessed, it was a mind-boggling experience. It was not my first trip to the Russian capital. But I hardly ever got enough time to explore this sprawling city. Visiting places for business rarely leaves enough time for sightseeing. I think that if you’ve got one week in Russia, you can also consider splitting your time between its largest cities (i.e. Saint Petersburg ) to get the most out of your trip. Seven days will let you see the majority of the main sights and go beyond just scratching the surface. In this post, I’m going to share with you my idea of the perfect travel itinerary for one week in Moscow.

Moscow is perhaps both the business and cultural hub of Russia. There is a lot more to see here than just the Kremlin and Saint Basil’s Cathedral. Centuries-old churches with onion-shaped domes dotted around the city are in stark contrast with newly completed impressive skyscrapers of Moscow City dominating the skyline. I spent a lot of time thinking about my Moscow itinerary before I left. And this city lived up to all of my expectations.

Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow

Day 1 – red square and the kremlin.

Metro Station: Okhotny Ryad on Red Line.

No trip to Moscow would be complete without seeing its main attraction. The Red Square is just a stone’s throw away from several metro stations. It is home to some of the most impressive architectural masterpieces in the city. The first thing you’ll probably notice after entering it and passing vendors selling weird fur hats is the fairytale-like looking Saint Basil’s Cathedral. It was built to commemorate one of the major victories of Ivan the Terrible. I once spent 20 minutes gazing at it, trying to find the perfect angle to snap it. It was easier said than done because of the hordes of locals and tourists.

As you continue strolling around Red Square, there’s no way you can miss Gum. It was widely known as the main department store during the Soviet Era. Now this large (yet historic) shopping mall is filled with expensive boutiques, pricey eateries, etc. During my trip to Moscow, I was on a tight budget. So I only took a retro-style stroll in Gum to get a rare glimpse of a place where Soviet leaders used to grocery shop and buy their stuff. In case you want some modern shopping experience, head to the Okhotny Ryad Shopping Center with stores like New Yorker, Zara, and Adidas.

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To continue this Moscow itinerary, next you may want to go inside the Kremlin walls. This is the center of Russian political power and the president’s official residence. If you’re planning to pay Kremlin a visit do your best to visit Ivan the Great Bell Tower as well. Go there as early as possible to avoid crowds and get an incredible bird’s-eye view. There are a couple of museums that are available during designated visiting hours. Make sure to book your ticket online and avoid lines.

Day 2 – Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Tretyakov Gallery, and the Arbat Street

Metro Station: Kropotkinskaya on Red Line

As soon as you start creating a Moscow itinerary for your second day, you’ll discover that there are plenty of metro stations that are much closer to certain sites. Depending on your route, take a closer look at the metro map to pick the closest.

The white marble walls of Christ the Saviour Cathedral are awe-inspiring. As you approach this tallest Orthodox Christian church, you may notice the bronze sculptures, magnificent arches, and cupolas that were created to commemorate Russia’s victory against Napoleon.

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Unfortunately, the current Cathedral is a replica, since original was blown to bits in 1931 by the Soviet government. The new cathedral basically follows the original design, but they have added some new elements such as marble high reliefs.

Home to some precious collection of artworks, in Tretyakov Gallery you can find more than 150,000 of works spanning centuries of artistic endeavor. Originally a privately owned gallery, it now has become one of the largest museums in Russia. The Gallery is often considered essential to visit. But I have encountered a lot of locals who have never been there.

Famous for its souvenirs, musicians, and theaters, Arbat street is among the few in Moscow that were turned into pedestrian zones. Arbat street is usually very busy with tourists and locals alike. My local friend once called it the oldest street in Moscow dating back to 1493. It is a kilometer long walking street filled with fancy gift shops, small cozy restaurants, lots of cute cafes, and street artists. It is closed to any vehicular traffic, so you can easily stroll it with kids.

Day 3 – Moscow River Boat Ride, Poklonnaya Hill Victory Park, the Moscow City

Metro Station: Kievskaya and Park Pobedy on Dark Blue Line / Vystavochnaya on Light Blue Line

Voyaging along the Moscow River is definitely one of the best ways to catch a glimpse of the city and see the attractions from a bit different perspective. Depending on your Moscow itinerary, travel budget and the time of the year, there are various types of boats available. In the summer there is no shortage of boats, and you’ll be spoiled for choice.

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If you find yourself in Moscow during the winter months, I’d recommend going with Radisson boat cruise. These are often more expensive (yet comfy). They offer refreshments like tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and, of course, alcoholic drinks. Prices may vary but mostly depend on your food and drink selection. Find their main pier near the opulent Ukraine hotel . The hotel is one of the “Seven Sisters”, so if you’re into the charm of Stalinist architecture don’t miss a chance to stay there.

The area near Poklonnaya Hill has the closest relation to the country’s recent past. The memorial complex was completed in the mid-1990s to commemorate the Victory and WW2 casualties. Also known as the Great Patriotic War Museum, activities here include indoor attractions while the grounds around host an open-air museum with old tanks and other vehicles used on the battlefield.

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The hallmark of the memorial complex and the first thing you see as you exit metro is the statue of Nike mounted to its column. This is a very impressive Obelisk with a statue of Saint George slaying the dragon at its base.

Maybe not as impressive as Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Tower , the skyscrapers of the Moscow City (otherwise known as Moscow International Business Center) are so drastically different from dull Soviet architecture. With 239 meters and 60 floors, the Empire Tower is the seventh highest building in the business district.

The observation deck occupies 56 floor from where you have some panoramic views of the city. I loved the view in the direction of Moscow State University and Luzhniki stadium as well to the other side with residential quarters. The entrance fee is pricey, but if you’re want to get a bird’s eye view, the skyscraper is one of the best places for doing just that.

Day 4 – VDNKh, Worker and Collective Farm Woman Monument, The Ostankino TV Tower

Metro Station: VDNKh on Orange Line

VDNKh is one of my favorite attractions in Moscow. The weird abbreviation actually stands for Russian vystavka dostizheniy narodnogo khozyaystva (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy). With more than 200 buildings and 30 pavilions on the grounds, VDNKh serves as an open-air museum. You can easily spend a full day here since the park occupies a very large area.

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First, there are pavilions that used to showcase different cultures the USSR was made of. Additionally, there is a number of shopping pavilions, as well as Moskvarium (an Oceanarium) that features a variety of marine species. VDNKh is a popular venue for events and fairs. There is always something going on, so I’d recommend checking their website if you want to see some particular exhibition.

A stone’s throw away from VDNKh there is a very distinctive 25-meters high monument. Originally built in 1937 for the world fair in Paris, the hulking figures of men and women holding a hammer and a sickle represent the Soviet idea of united workers and farmers. It doesn’t take much time to see the monument, but visiting it gives some idea of the Soviet Union’s grandiose aspirations.

I have a thing for tall buildings. So to continue my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow I decided to climb the fourth highest TV tower in the world. This iconic 540m tower is a fixture of the skyline. You can see it virtually from everywhere in Moscow, and this is where you can get the best panoramic views (yep, even better than Empire skyscraper).

Parts of the floor are made of tempered glass, so it can be quite scary to exit the elevator. But trust me, as you start observing buildings and cars below, you won’t want to leave. There is only a limited number of tickets per day, so you may want to book online. Insider tip: the first tour is cheaper, you can save up to $10 if go there early.

Day 5 – A Tour To Moscow Manor Houses

Metro Station: Kolomenskoye, Tsaritsyno on Dark Green Line / Kuskovo on Purple Line

I love visiting the manor houses and palaces in Moscow. These opulent buildings were generally built to house Russian aristocratic families and monarchs. Houses tend to be rather grand affairs with impressive architecture. And, depending on the whims of the owners, some form of a landscaped garden.

During the early part of the 20th century though, many of Russia’s aristocratic families (including the family of the last emperor) ended up being killed or moving abroad . Their manor houses were nationalized. Some time later (after the fall of the USSR) these were open to the public. It means that today a great many of Moscow’s finest manor houses and palaces are open for touring.

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There are 20 manor houses scattered throughout the city and more than 25 in the area around. But not all of them easily accessible and exploring them often takes a lot of time. I’d recommend focusing on three most popular estates in Moscow that are some 30-minute metro ride away from Kremlin.

Sandwiched between the Moscow River and the Andropov Avenue, Kolomenskoye is a UNESCO site that became a public park in the 1920’s. Once a former royal estate, now it is one of the most tranquil parks in the city with gorgeous views. The Ascension Church, The White Column, and the grounds are a truly grand place to visit.

You could easily spend a full day here, exploring a traditional Russian village (that is, in fact, a market), picnicking by the river, enjoying the Eastern Orthodox church architecture, hiking the grounds as well as and wandering the park and gardens with wildflower meadows, apple orchards, and birch and maple groves. The estate museum showcases Russian nature at its finest year-round.

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If my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow was a family tree, Tsaritsyno Park would probably be the crazy uncle that no-one talks about. It’s a large park in the south of the city of mind-boggling proportions, unbelievable in so many ways, and yet most travelers have never heard of it.

The palace was supposed to be a summer home for Empress Catherine the Great. But since the construction didn’t meet with her approval the palace was abandoned. Since the early 1990’s the palace, the pond, and the grounds have been undergoing renovations. The entire complex is now looking brighter and more elaborately decorated than at possibly any other time during its history. Like most parks in Moscow, you can visit Tsaritsyno free of charge, but there is a small fee if you want to visit the palace.

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Last, but by no means least on my Moscow itinerary is Kuskovo Park . This is definitely an off-the-beaten-path place. While it is not easily accessible, you will be rewarded with a lack of crowds. This 18th-century summer country house of the Sheremetev family was one of the first summer country estates of the Russian nobility. And when you visit you’ll quickly realize why locals love this park.

Like many other estates, Kuskovo has just been renovated. So there are lovely French formal garden, a grotto, and the Dutch house to explore. Make sure to plan your itinerary well because the estate is some way from a metro station.

Day 6 – Explore the Golden Ring

Creating the Moscow itinerary may keep you busy for days with the seemingly endless amount of things to do. Visiting the so-called Golden Ring is like stepping back in time. Golden Ring is a “theme route” devised by promotion-minded journalist and writer Yuri Bychkov.

Having started in Moscow the route will take you through a number of historical cities. It now includes Suzdal, Vladimir, Kostroma, Yaroslavl and Sergiev Posad. All these awe-inspiring towns have their own smaller kremlins and feature dramatic churches with onion-shaped domes, tranquil residential areas, and other architectural landmarks.

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I only visited two out of eight cities included on the route. It is a no-brainer that Sergiev Posad is the nearest and the easiest city to see on a day trip from Moscow. That being said, you can explore its main attractions in just one day. Located some 70 km north-east of the Russian capital, this tiny and overlooked town is home to Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, UNESCO Site.

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Sergiev Posad is often described as being at the heart of Russian spiritual life. So it is uncommon to see the crowds of Russian pilgrims showing a deep reverence for their religion. If you’re traveling independently and using public transport, you can reach Sergiev Posad by bus (departs from VDNKh) or by suburban commuter train from Yaroslavskaya Railway Station (Bahnhof). It takes about one and a half hours to reach the town.

Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is a great place to get a glimpse of filling and warming Russian lunch, specifically at the “ Gostevaya Izba ” restaurant. Try the duck breast, hearty potato and vegetables, and the awesome Napoleon cake.

Day 7 – Gorky Park, Izmailovo Kremlin, Patriarch’s Ponds

Metro Station: Park Kultury or Oktyabrskaya on Circle Line / Partizanskaya on Dark Blue Line / Pushkinskaya on Dark Green Line

Gorky Park is in the heart of Moscow. It offers many different types of outdoor activities, such as dancing, cycling, skateboarding, walking, jogging, and anything else you can do in a park. Named after Maxim Gorky, this sprawling and lovely park is where locals go on a picnic, relax and enjoy free yoga classes. It’s a popular place to bike around, and there is a Muzeon Art Park not far from here. A dynamic location with a younger vibe. There is also a pier, so you can take a cruise along the river too.

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The Kremlin in Izmailovo is by no means like the one you can find near the Red Square. Originally built for decorative purposes, it now features the Vernissage flea market and a number of frequent fairs, exhibitions, and conferences. Every weekend, there’s a giant flea market in Izmailovo, where dozens of stalls sell Soviet propaganda crap, Russian nesting dolls, vinyl records, jewelry and just about any object you can imagine. Go early in the morning if you want to beat the crowds.

All the Bulgakov’s fans should pay a visit to Patriarch’s Ponds (yup, that is plural). With a lovely small city park and the only one (!) pond in the middle, the location is where the opening scene of Bulgakov’s novel Master and Margarita was set. The novel is centered around a visit by Devil to the atheistic Soviet Union is considered by many critics to be one of the best novels of the 20th century. I spent great two hours strolling the nearby streets and having lunch in the hipster cafe.

Conclusion and Recommendations

To conclude, Moscow is a safe city to visit. I have never had a problem with getting around and most locals are really friendly once they know you’re a foreigner. Moscow has undergone some serious reconstruction over the last few years. So you can expect some places to be completely different. I hope my one week Moscow itinerary was helpful! If you have less time, say 4 days or 5 days, I would cut out day 6 and day 7. You could save the Golden Ring for a separate trip entirely as there’s lots to see!

What are your thoughts on this one week Moscow itinerary? Are you excited about your first time in the city? Let me know in the comments below!

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24 comments.

Ann Snook-Moreau

Moscow looks so beautiful and historic! Thanks for including public transit information for those of us who don’t like to rent cars.

MindTheTravel

Yup, that is me 🙂 Rarely rent + stick to the metro = Full wallet!

Mariella Blago

Looks like you had loads of fun! Well done. Also great value post for travel lovers.

Thanks, Mariella!

I have always wanted to go to Russia, especially Moscow. These sights look absolutely beautiful to see and there is so much history there!

Agree! Moscow is a thousand-year-old city and there is definitely something for everyone.

Tara Pittman

Those are amazing buildings. Looks like a place that would be amazing to visit.

Adriana Lopez

Never been to Moscow or Russia but my family has. Many great spots and a lot of culture. Your itinerary sounds fantastic and covers a lot despite it is only a short period of time.

What was their favourite thing about Russia?

Gladys Parker

I know very little about Moscow or Russia for the\at matter. I do know I would have to see the Red Square and all of its exquisite architectural masterpieces. Also the CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE SAVIOUR. Thanks for shedding some light on visiting Moscow.

Thanks for swinging by! The Red Square is a great starting point, but there way too many places and things to discover aside from it!

Ruthy @ Percolate Kitchen

You are making me so jealous!! I’ve always wanted to see Russia.

Moscow is in my bucket list, I don’t know when I can visit there, your post is really useful. As a culture rich place we need to spend at least week.

DANA GUTKOWSKI

Looks like you had a great trip! Thanks for all the great info! I’ve never been in to Russia, but this post makes me wanna go now!

Wow this is amazing! Moscow is on my bucket list – such an amazing place to visit I can imagine! I can’t wait to go there one day!

The building on the second picture looks familiar. I keep seeing that on TV.

Reesa Lewandowski

What beautiful moments! I always wish I had the personality to travel more like this!

Perfect itinerary for spending a week in Moscow! So many places to visit and it looks like you had a wonderful time. I would love to climb that tower. The views I am sure must have been amazing!

I was lucky enough to see the skyline of Moscow from this TV Tower and it is definitely mind-blowing.

Chelsea Pearl

Moscow is definitely up there on my travel bucket list. So much history and iconic architecture!

Thumbs up! 🙂

Blair Villanueva

OMG I dream to visit Moscow someday! Hope the visa processing would be okay (and become more affordable) so I could pursue my dream trip!

Yup, visa processing is the major downside! Agree! Time and the money consuming process…

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