Fantasy Books That Inspire Real Travel Destinations
Fantasy books are often our first taste of travel.
Long before we book flights, they teach us to imagine distant worlds — filled with mountains, forests, ancient cities, and landscapes that feel bigger than everyday life.
The best part? Many of those “imaginary” places exist in real life.
This week, we’re starting Booked & Boarded with fantasy — a genre that turns scenery into magic and destinations into dreams.
A Quick Note Before We Begin
This is the first genre in a weekly series exploring travel inspired by books.
Each post focuses on one genre, three books, and three destinations you can actually visit.
Next week, we’ll trade magic for emotion with romance novels and love stories around the world.
Let’s begin.
🧙♂️ Harry Potter
→ Scotland
Hogwarts may be fictional, but its spirit is unmistakably Scottish.
From mist-covered highlands to gothic city streets, Scotland feels like a place where magic could still exist.
Why this book inspires travel here:
The landscapes are dramatic and steeped in history, making everyday places feel enchanted.
Perfect for travelers who:
Love moody scenery, old cities, and destinations that feel timeless.
🧝♂️ The Hobbit
→ New Zealand
Middle-earth found its real-world home in New Zealand — and it’s easy to see why.
Rolling hills, vast valleys, and untouched wilderness make the country feel mythic by nature.
Why this book inspires travel here:
The story celebrates the journey itself, and New Zealand rewards slow, scenic exploration.
Perfect for travelers who:
Crave epic landscapes, road trips, and wide-open spaces.
🌿 A Court of Thorns and Roses
→ Slovenia & the European Alps
This series blends danger, romance, and wild beauty — much like the alpine landscapes of Slovenia.
Quiet lakes, forests, and mountains feel alive with possibility.
Why this book inspires travel here:
These places feel magical without being flashy, letting nature do the storytelling.
Perfect for travelers who:
Love fairytale vibes, peaceful nature, and hidden-gem destinations.
Why Fantasy Makes Us Want to Travel
Fantasy reminds us that places shape stories.
Mountains feel braver. Forests feel deeper. Cities feel ancient and meaningful.
When we travel to destinations inspired by fantasy novels, we’re not chasing fiction — we’re chasing the feeling those stories gave us.
Wonder. Escape. Possibility.
Coming Up Next ✨
Next week, we step away from magic and into emotion with romance books that inspire real travel destinations — places defined by connection, memory, and atmosphere.
Because some journeys aren’t about adventure… they’re about how a place makes you feel.
