9 Coffee Table Books to Whisk You Away to Far-Off Destinations

ITALY is Gray Malin’s newest coffee table book and is perhaps the most vibrant and colorful thanks to the stunning coastlines of Italy. From Cinque Terre to Amalfi, Malin takes readers on an aerial-view vacation; his work is primarily shot out of doorless helicopters. This coffee table book authentically captures luxury on the Italian Riviera and its aesthetics can elevate the decor in your den or home office.

To buy: $28, target.com

As you’ve likely already surmised, there are few things we love more in this world than beautiful, over-the-top luxurious hotels. Fortunately, Polly Brown, the photographer behind The World's Sexiest Bedrooms, shares that line of thinking. This coffee table book shows avid luxury hotel fans the 35 of the world’s most exquisite hotel rooms. It’s not just meant for the armchair travelers curious to see the five-star hotels abroad but for the interior design inclined traveler who wants to see the detailing of these palatial accommodations firsthand.

To buy: $32, target.com

Conservationist Paul Nicklen is best known as a National Geographic photographer, and his book Born to Ice is an exploration of the polar expanse. Nicklen reveals the breathtaking polar landscapes from his arctic and Antarctic travels, weaving a story through his incandescent imagery. Nicklen’s photographic interest lies not only in the scenery, but in the wildlife of these glacial destinations, so you’ll find an arctic safari element in this book as well.

To buy: $66, target.com

It’s downright impossible not to love Gray Malin’s artful depictions of travel in coffee table book form. BEACHES is Malin’s 2016 bestseller of aerial beach shots across 20 destinations on six continents. From the beaches of Rio de Janeiro to St. Tropez to Santa Monica, Malin captures the vibrant colors lining the shore, the crest of blue-and-white water coming ashore, and the soft sand any armchair traveler would dearly love to sink their feet into.

To buy: $125, graymalin.com

Travelers yearning for a taste of the Grecian islands, Mykonos Muse brings the delightful sparkle of the Mediterranean and the island’s blue-and-white homes to life. In addition to capture the idyllic Mykonos scenery, the coffee table book of full-page photos delves into Greek history, capturing the ruins of civilizations past juxtaposed against the alluring colors of the Med.

To buy: $95, Crate and Barrel

An artistic birds’ eye view, Overview: A New Perspective of Earth is a collection of 200 satellite captures of the planet from on high. The “Overview” title is a nod to the “Overview Effect,” a document feeling astronauts encounter when seeing the Earth from space. These depictions of earth are all about creating a new perspective in documenting the colors and shapes of our planet from a vantage point most of us will never see with our naked eye. 

To buy: $27, target.com

Journalist and photographer Oliver Wainwright of The Guardian brings readers on an insightful tour through a country shrouded in mystery. This isn’t your typical travel coffee table book—it won’t inspire nostalgia in the way images of the Mediterranean coast might, because of course, most travelers have never seen North Korea. But that’s part of the intrigue this book offers. And what’s more, Wainwright specifically explores this unknown country’s artistry, considering their vibrant design work, including mosaics, tiled facades, and intricate stone work.

To buy: $60, taschen.com

"Carefully manicured gardens, sliding screens, and warm natural materials: Japanese homes are refuges of tranquility," reads the Neiman Marcus description of Alex Kerr and Kathy Arlynsokol's Living in Japan. We're only on the first sentence of the coffee table book's description and already we're feeling the our muscle tension ease. The sweet serenity of these photos, with shots of elevated Japanese living celebrating "Eastern minimalism" is a perfect addition to your den, living room, reading nook, or wherever you seek relaxation and comfort in your home.

To buy: $20, Neiman Marcus

Founder of the iconic travel community Dame Traveler Nastasia Yakoub finally brought her photographic talents to print with the new release of her coffee table book Dame Traveler: Live the Spirit of Adventure. Yakoub, a Chaldean-Middle Eastern woman who was inspired to start traveling the world after a solo service trip to Cape Town more than a decade ago, has now dedicated her career to connecting female travelers and instilling in them a desire to wander in a safe, culturally respectful, and fulfilling way. Her new book features more than 200 stunning original images, alongside travel tips and messages of female empowerment.

To buy: $19, target.com