These 18 Travel-Inspired Tattoos Will Make You Desperate To Get Inked

Getting something inked into your skin forever is a commitment – but once you’ve got the travel bug, it doesn’t let you go. Showcase your love of experiencing new places through a beautiful design you can take with you always, no extra baggage allowance required. These elegant tattoos are sure to inspire you to take the plunge, or add to your collection if you’ve already got the tattoo bug.

World map

Classic and oh-so customisable.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYbk4_rgLz_/?taken-by=luiza.blackbird

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbpNEWuhU33/?hl=en&tagged=maptattoo

Co-ordinates

These could be of your favourite place, the location of a meaningful connection or of spots you want to visit.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZeue5Gh1jl/?hl=en&tagged=coordinatestattoo

Skylines

A cool reminder of your favourite city.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbxXlh0Hz6c/?hl=en&taken-by=evantattoo

Compass

To show you where you need to go.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bbr378wAk-6/?tagged=maptattoo

Planes

You’ve got to get there somehow!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYZkH1YnPsk/?hl=en&taken-by=evantattoo

Paper planes

Sometimes an aeroplane can be too big.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bbvgw_1hOGF/?tagged=airplanetattoo

Boats

Planes don’t have the monopoly on transport.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BZD5feRnZj1/?taken-by=luiza.blackbird

Passport stamps

You’ll never lose these, unlike your actual passport.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWjhnYNBRV2/?tagged=stamptattoo

Globe

To get a better perspective on things.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbCjUs7n6-k/?taken-by=luiza.blackbird

Your favourite food

Memorialise the dishes you ate on your travels – if you love ramen, show the world!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUjWCEwlRJv/?taken-by=claramcmurphy

Your home

To remember where you came from, when you’re far away. This could be a state, country or city.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXT_t4BH6aP/?hl=en&taken-by=evantattoo

Words

To remind you of your philosophy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBTIaUNu6Dx/?taken-by=traveltattoos

https://www.instagram.com/p/32Wj6mvF1b/

Luggage

A romantic reminder of where you’re headed.

https://www.instagram.com/p/4sh9AeKbN2/

A reminder of where you’ve been

This stunning list of destinations will only get bigger.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTSOq7SFHGf/?taken-by=traveltattoos

Your raison d’etre

So you won’t ever stop travelling.

https://www.instagram.com/p/1eRqgkO6O_/?taken-by=traveltattoos

Arrows

To remind you which way you need to go.

https://www.instagram.com/p/1MStmBu6Je/?taken-by=traveltattoos

Your favourite place

So you won’t ever forget it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYimA24ALkz/?taken-by=mariloillustration

A description of what you are

As if you needed reminding.

https://www.instagram.com/p/2mR8yeu6P0/?taken-by=traveltattoos

Want to know more? Step inside the world’s oldest tattoo shop, discover the history of Japanese tattoos and get inspired by a new tattoo culture burgeoning in South Korea.

About the author

Alice Johnston

Food Editor

Alice is always planning her next meal. She studied English at the University of Bristol before getting her Master’s in newspaper journalism from City University London. She worked on Femail at Mail Online for 18 months writing about lifestyle and food and has also worked at Metro.co.uk, The Guardian, Mumsnet and The Sun. After starting at Culture Trip as a Social Content Producer writing travel and lifestyle stories, she was promoted to the role of Food Editor and now specialises in culinary culture, trends and social issues around food. When she’s not writing, eating or travelling, she can be found cooking overly elaborate dinners, reading cookbooks in bed or playing with her cat, Orlando. Her favourite foods include fishfinger sandwiches, burnt caramel panna cotta, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and oysters.