Best Travel Destinations to Capture Beautiful Photos for Your Travel Photobook

Have you ever been on holiday and wished you had captured more photos of the sights and surroundings? It happens. Some places just seem made for the camera. And when you leave at the end of your adventure, you wish that you could simply cement those images in your mind to enjoy for the years to come.

Thankfully, a custom photo album can help you do just that. It’s like taking all of those travel destinations and wrapping them up with a bow so that you can reminisce whenever the mood strikes. 

Yet this all creates a happy conundrum. Once you’ve been to one amazing place, you want to travel more. That’s why our team at Print Chapters has put together some thoughts on the most photogenic locations to visit and why they should take up space in your next photo album.

What are the Best Destinations for Travel Photography?

If the world were really your oyster, where would you go next? We’re betting you’d pick something scenic. You want someplace that captivates all of your senses. You want to engage your senses of sight, smell, sound, taste, and even touch.

If that appeals to you, here are some of the best places to visit that you’ll want to add to your travel bucket list.

• Norway for dramatic fjords, mountain views, colourful fishing villages, and the Northern Lights.

• Paris, France for the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, café scenes, river views, and historic architecture.

• Rome, Italy for ancient ruins, piazzas, fountains, churches, and cobbled streets.

• Tokyo, Japan for neon lights, temples, gardens, busy crossings, and incredible food photography.

• Prague, Czech Republic for castle views, bridges, church spires, and charming old streets.

• The Swiss Alps, Switzerland for snow-covered peaks, alpine lakes, mountain railways, and postcard-worthy villages.

• Slovenia for Lake Bled, Ljubljana, waterfalls, forests, and the Julian Alps.

• Copenhagen, Denmark for colourful Nyhavn, canals, bicycles, castles, and the magic of Tivoli Gardens.

Norway Offers Some of Europe’s Most Photographic Scenery

If you love photography and want to capture some memorable shots to include in your next travel photo album, then Norway is where it's at. And the best thing is that you don’t have to travel far and wide to get what you want on film.

That said, here are some of the most photogenic locations that we love best. 

• Geirangerfjord for steep cliffs, waterfalls, and dramatic water views.

• Nærøyfjord for narrow fjord scenery surrounded by towering mountains.

• Lofoten Islands for fishing villages, rugged peaks, and beautiful coastal shots.

• Tromsø for a chance to photograph the Northern Lights during the darker months.

• Bergen for colourful waterfront buildings, harbour scenes, and mountain views.

• Flåm for scenic rail journeys, waterfalls, and postcard-worthy valley landscapes.

Paris Gives You More Than the Eiffel Tower 

As they might say in France, Paris a tout à offrir (for non-French speakers, Paris has everything to offer). And we think that’s so true, because Paris is about so much more than the Eiffel Tower.

We would absolutely place Paris at the top of the list of best travel destinations, and not just for photography. It’s because there are so many things to do, so many foods to taste, and so much more.

Start by heading to Montmartre for winding lanes and breathtaking views from Sacré-Cœur. Wander along the Seine for bridges, bookstalls, and riverside scenes. Stop by the Louvre courtyard for striking architecture, or photograph the colourful café fronts and flower shops you pass along the way.

Don’t forget the little things, either. Delight in a delicious pastry, snap a pic of a Metro sign, or look up and imagine relaxing on one of the quiet balconies you’ll see throughout the city. Before you know it, you’ll have likely captured images fit for a postcard.

What are the Best Holiday Destinations for City Photography?

We all need to get away now and again for rest and relaxation. But that doesn’t mean you need to head to the beach. Europe and Asia are packed with delightful cities that you’ll want to visit at least once during your lifetime.

Here are some of our favorite city getaways. 

Rome, Italy

Rome is one of those cities where history seems to appear around every corner. Photograph the Colosseum in the early morning, toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain, and capture the Spanish Steps before the crowds arrive. Piazza Navona, St Peter’s Basilica, cobbled streets, fountains, and tiny cafés also give you plenty to work with.

And don’t forget the food. A colourful plate of pasta or a scoop of gelato can be just as memorable as another landmark shot.

Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo gives photographers an entirely different experience. Head to Shibuya Crossing for busy street scenes, Sensō-ji for traditional temple architecture, and Tokyo Skytree for city views from above.

After dark, neon signs and illuminated streets can completely change the look of your photos. You can also balance those busy scenes with quieter gardens, shrines, and beautifully presented meals.

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague feels almost made for a camera. Charles Bridge, Prague Castle, Old Town Square, and the Astronomical Clock all deserve a spot in your photo collection.

For something different, look for views across the Vltava River or photograph the city’s red rooftops and church spires from above. Early morning is especially lovely if you want softer light and fewer people in the frame.

What Best Vacation Spots Belong in a Nature-Filled Photobook?

Though photo books are a great way to capture your favorite candids from a trip, nature-inspired photobooks make great coffee table displays. And let’s face it. The earth is filled with some pretty awe-inspiring places that don’t require words or photos with faces in them. The images you capture of the places themselves speak louder than anything we can ever say.

Here are two examples of those places. Why only two? Because we could go on and one about the amazing locations that deserve to take up space in your nature album.

The Swiss Alps

The Swiss Alps give you snow-covered peaks, alpine lakes, scenic railways, and storybook villages. Head to Zermatt for views of the Matterhorn, or capture reflections in the lakes below. Include a person in a few shots to show just how massive the mountains really are.

Slovenia

Slovenia is packed with natural beauty, from Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj to the Julian Alps, waterfalls, and forests. Photograph Bled Island reflected in the water, then head into the countryside for mountain views and peaceful scenes that can fill an entire spread in your photobook.

Copenhagen Adds Colour and Whimsy to Your Photo Collection

As with Norway and the city of Paris, we think that Copenhagen deserves a special call-out. Not only is it a wonderful location to visit on your own or with friends, but this Danish city is also an excellent place for families.

Start with Nyhavn, where colourful buildings line the waterfront and boats fill the canal. Then wander the city for photos of bicycles, cobbled streets, castles, and waterside views.

Of all the places to visit in Copenhagen, though, Tivoli Gardens may be one of the most fun to photograph. Opened in 1843, this historic amusement park offers gardens, rides, architecture, and seasonal decorations. Visit during the day for family candids, then stay after dark to capture the lights and completely change the look of your photo collection.

How Can You Take Photos That Work Better in a Photobook?

We always caution photobook enthusiasts to throw the need for perfection out the window (maybe not literally). The key here is to get a lot of shots and see what you like best. In fact, we think the actual practice of taking photos and trying different angles is part of the fun.

That said, there are a few things you can do that can create the best possible photobook viewing experience. Here are some of our recommendations (and it’s about more than just capturing that picture-perfect shot).

• Take both horizontal and vertical photos. Different orientations give you more choices when arranging pages later.

• Try more than one angle. Step closer, move farther away, crouch down, or photograph the same scene from another viewpoint.

• Leave a little room around your subject. Extra space gives you more flexibility if you decide to crop the photo.

• Mix wide shots with close-ups. Pair a sweeping landscape with details such as flowers, food, signs, doors, or architectural features.

• Capture candid moments too. Not every photo needs everyone smiling at the camera. Walking, laughing, eating, and exploring can tell more of the story.

• Photograph the journey as well as the destination. Train stations, tickets, hotel views, street signs, and meals can help connect the bigger moments throughout your photobook.

Where Will Your Camera Take You Next?

Clearly, there are a lot of great places to visit on this planet. There’s no way we could list them all here. Plus, we have many to explore for the first time ourselves.

Just remember this when you are traveling and whipping out your camera here and there. Travel photography isn’t just about famous landmarks. It’s about the other things you see when you’re there. We’re talking about the people, the meals, the streets, those unexpected moments, and the details that you want to capture so that you’ll never forget.

And with all that, we wish you safe, happy, and beautiful travels. We can’t wait to help you with your next travel photobook creation.