When people think about travel tattoos, the first things that come to mind are maps and airplanes. It’s what every traveler gets done. However, these people prove that there are all sorts of other creative ways to cover these various travel themes without just doing the same old designs that everyone else does. From outdoor nature scenes to beautiful cityscapes, these are 75 travel tattoo ideas for those who love seeking adventure.
Some people might look down on those of us with wanderlust in our hearts. They think that life is all about working. However, if you are one of the awakened few that believe a life well-lived is more about having new experiences than accumulating possessions, these designs are for you. Use these people’s beautiful ink for inspiration and then start working on a fun tattoo idea of your own.
Lots of people get a map or country outline tattooed somewhere on their body, but how about a full globe? That’s what this traveler did. The image wraps around the entire half of her back.
This woman got a literal representation of a person circling the earth. It shows her flying around over and over in a corkscrew pattern and stopping at various points along the way. It’s super creative.
This one has it all — an earth, tiny airplanes, even a person with a backpack. It covers all of the bases. Our only question is what do the lines with the little dots on the ends represent?
Here we have a classic heartbeat EKG tattoo attached to an airplane. It likely represents something about having travel in the blood or travel being a lifeline. Either way, it’s very cool.
Paper airplanes are a fun small tattoo that a lot of people get. However, this is the first time that we have seen one with a shadow of a real airplane underneath. Eventually, childhood dreams of flying become a reality.
This man got a tattoo of a ship sailing the high seas across his stomach and side. It was a big project for the artist to complete, but it turned out great. The attention to detail is spectacular.
We’re not sure if this one is super cool or super freaky. It appears as though the person’s arm has a window in it. Although, instead of looking inside the body, it looks out into the world.
This woman chose to get a simple longitude and latitude tattoo. It’s not fancy, but it has a lot of personal meaning. It’s obvious that the coordinates represent somewhere really special to her.
Yes, it’s a map of the word, but it’s unlike any that we’ve ever seen. All of the continents are filled in with a beautiful floral pattern. It’s very stylish.
Bigger is not always better. Sometimes, really small tattoos can be a lot of fun too. This one is of a tiny ship drifting in a vast ocean.
Every time this person goes to a new place, they get the country’s passport stamp tattooed on their arm. Passports expire every 10 years or so, but these stamps will last forever and serve as a record of their lifetime travel history.
This neat tattoo features a paper airplane and a map. The little lines show all of the plane’s various trajectories. Our favorite part though is the coloring.
This tattoo is not complex, but it is certainly very elegant. It shows a little boat drifting peacefully through the ocean. Where it will dock next is anyone’s guess.
14. Around The World In 80 Days
It’s actually not a globe, it’s a hot air balloon painted like a globe! It’s such an awesome idea. The basket of the hot air balloon is a suitcase with stickers on it from different locations.
This watercolor tattoo gives the impression that it was painted onto her body. Then the girl stood up before it dried and the ink started dripping down. The blue and purple colors blend together perfectly.
Compasses don’t have to be complicated. This one is simply a couple of crossed lines and each direction labeled. It gets the meaning across without all of the fuss of more detailed compasses.
New York is a beautiful city. This man decided to get it tattooed on his arm. The skyscrapers are visible through three window panes just as they might be seen when riding on the train.
Just go. It’s a motto to live by. Many people spend years dreaming about going on a vacation one day, but never actually pull the trigger. Seasoned travelers know that the best time to go is now. Otherwise, the trip might never happen.
Tattoos that use white ink on white skin show up better than you might expect. No outlines are required. It does give them a more subtle appearance compared to darker ink tattoos though.
This one combines the animal world with the real world. On the turtle’s shell is a map and a sailing ship. It’s a travel tattoo that is completely unique while still sticking to common themes.
We love the floral work. It is done with no defined outline and looks so elegant. The paper airplane sits on top and the flower stems make it appear as though it is flying.
Here we have a watercolor compass tattoo. It has a very mystical look to it. It is a sight that one might see while sailing out in the ocean and looking up at the night sky, eyes full of wonder.
Not all travel is done on planes and ships. For a certain type of adventurer, the open road can be very alluring too. There is nothing quite like driving around the empty backroads out in the wilderness to make a person feel alive.
Each arm has a different travel tattoo on it. They sort of work together. It’s as though the plane is flying across the empty space to arrive at a new country.
This tattoo is bursting with color. The contrails behind the plane are like strokes from a paintbrush. Blues, yellows, greens, and other natural hues are all blended together.
Packing is one of the biggest annoyances associated with traveling. Sometimes, it can feel like you are being held back by all of the baggage. That’s why many people are opting to pack light these days, fitting all of their possessions into a single backpack.
Here we have a traveler going to new heights to achieve her dreams — literally. The tattoo is of a hot air balloon floating high up in the clouds. It has a nostalgic feel to it and reminds us of an older era of travel.
For some travelers, no destination is off-limits. That’s what this tiny ankle tattoo represents. It shows a spaceship blasting off to another planet somewhere far, far away.
The world and person walking on top are done in black ink and the flowers framing the images are done in color. The juxtaposition of the two together creates a beautiful effect. It’s a true work of art.
There is adventure to be found in every direction. From the forests to the mountains, to the oceans, there is a whole entire world out there to see. Just pack up the old Volkswagen bus and go.
This image is of a small single-propeller plane landing on a grid on a map. It’s a perfect tattoo for a global traveler who loves visiting new places and experiencing different cultures. Every flight is a promise of adventure.
The simple things in life are the best — clean air, nature, campfires, and sleeping out under the stars… or in a tricked out camper van! What more could a traveler ask for?
33. Dreaming Of Adventure
Don’t be afraid to dream big. All of those places you imagine going to one day are not just fantasies. With a little careful planning, any destination becomes a possibility.
This creative tattoo has a little bit of everything. The idea is that someone opened the suitcase and inside there was a whole world hiding. The night sky escaped out, as well as a flying plane.
This one is very similar except that the world is hidden in a backpack. So many potential adventures are possible when you pack up your possessions and hit the road. All of the memories that you make, you will carry with you forever.
This colorful tattoo shows a plane landing right at sunset — an actual plane, not a paper one. The tattoo artist made it look as realistic as possible. The detailed design could almost be mistaken for a faded photograph.
This forearm tattoo features a very beautiful watercolor galaxy behind the map. It really looks like it was done with watercolor paint. However, it’s actually permanent tattoo ink!
This plane tattoo is a basic silhouette followed by a dotted line. However, it still has plenty of cute details. Our favorite part is how the trail behind the plane is shaped like a heart.
This guy’s tattoo shows a three-dimensional flight path. He has traveled a lot from his home base of North America to Europe and other parts of the world. We’re sure that there is some deeper meaning behind the other diagrams too.
Here we have a map of the world completed entirely in watercolors. The outlines of the various continents are not very defined. Light black lines are drawn around the edges, and that’s it.
This hot air balloon is flying at night up over the mountains. It seems risky, but that is part of being a traveler. Never let your fears hold you back from pursuing adventure.
Photography is a hobby practiced by many travelers. What better way to represent that than with a camera, a travel quote, and a world map all in one tattoo? “Find what you love… and let this save you,” the quote reads.
It’s not clear what landmark sits on the corner of Lexington and East 37th street. However, it obviously has a very significant meaning to the individual. Something life-changing happened there.
A girl can be seen sitting down with a big backpack on in this tattoo. In her hands, she holds a map that she is studying closely. It is filled with colorful and inspiring information.
This plane tattoo was made entirely out of geometric shapes. It’s a pretty neat way of adding some complexity to the simple tattoo. We also think that the shoulder is a great placement choice for it.
The desert is a magical place for van living. There is no light pollution so the stars and constellations in the sky are very bright. You can cruise around the empty roads endlessly and pull over to camp wherever you want.
We have definitely seen this travel tattoo before. The paper airplane is a very common one, and for good reason. It serves to remind people of their travels and adventures that they’ve had every time they look at it.
This one is a cross between a hot air balloon and a mandala tattoo. Although the woman will only be able to see it when she looks in the mirror, everyone else around her can appreciate its beauty all of the time.
Here we have another paper airplane tattoo. The style is incredibly unique though. It is done in all black ink and the shading was done by a technique called hatching — it’s when you have several parallel lines close together.
The contrails created by this jet are twisted in the shape of a heart. It demonstrates how much this individual loves traveling. It will always be a big part of their life.
Each arm has its own unique travel image. On the right arm, it simply shows the word “where” with a question mark, as in “where to now?” It’s a common question among travel enthusiasts. On the left arm is an airplane.
This plane tattoo is pretty trippy. There is a lot going on. It seems to be some sort of diagram showing the movements of the plane and its various flight angles.
These simple line tattoos show an outline of the New York City skyline. The city will always hold a special place in both of these women’s hearts. They will be reminded of it every time that they look at their wrists.
This plane is wrapped around the arm like a bracelet. Its solid black color makes it look like it could be a jewelry charm. Those who are into simple designs will certainly love it.
Here we have a map made out of shaded geometric shapes. Each pattern is based upon map keys that indicate different terrain features such as deserts, mountains, and bodies of water. Some are dots, others are lines.
This tattoo represents wanderlust at its finest. The globe is a balloon, the basket is a suitcase, and the whole thing is very tastefully done. All in all, it’s a very beautiful image.
The feet are a great place to get a tiny tattoo. It will only be visible when you are barefoot or wearing some type of sandals. In this case, she is showing off her plane tattoo while relaxing in the hot tub.
Everything is in black and white except for the brilliant orange sun. The whole tattoo has a very cartoonish vibe. It’s pretty fun. The plane is happily gliding through the clouds on a beautiful day.
59. Underwater Photography
This watercolor world map looks just as cool underwater as it does above the surface. It’s an amazing piece of body art and the colors are splendid. They match perfectly with the red bikini.
This person has the heart of a true traveler. In fact, they even got it tattooed on their arm. It shows a heart attached to the earth, with a backpack and camera on top. It encompasses everything there is to love about travel.
On one side of the globe, there is a paper boat sailing in the ocean along a path that meanders back and forth. On the other side, there is a paper plane flying overhead that follows a different trajectory.
This open door leads into another dimension — the dimension of the mind. There is so much to be explored in there. The imagination is a vast place where anything is possible.
We’re pretty sure this one is a tattoo of London. The clock tower is Big Ben and the Ferris wheel next to it is called the London Eye. It is a great place to relax and check out the views of the city along the River Thames.
This person got a really detailed compass tattoo. It looks like one of the antique ones that sailors used to use. The measurement lines made around the edges add a very nice touch.
This tattoo artist got really creative. They made the plane flying out of the lens of the camera. It’s always fun when the artists are able to combine multiple dissimilar objects into one tattoo.
66. Dreaming Of New Places
Travel is always on this individual’s mind. It’s all they think about. We don’t blame them though. Once you start traveling long term, it’s pretty much impossible to ever go back to a normal life again.
This tattoo is pretty much invisible. Not only is it done in white ink, but it’s also hidden in between the fingers. It’s only for the traveler to see and no one else.
Here is another traveler that is a big advocate of adventurous choices. The earth represents the “O” in the word “GO”. If you have the money and the time, just book a plane ticket. Everything else will fall into place.
69. The Mountains Are Calling
There are so many places to explore and so little time. Exploration is basically a lifestyle. You have to intentionally choose to make time for adventure. Otherwise, it will never happen.
The design is minimalist and beautiful. It looks like something a daydreaming traveler would draw up in their notebook while on a layover at the airport. We love it.
This is one of the neatest travel tattoos ever. It shows a woman riding a bicycle around the ring of Saturn. The bicyclist is also holding onto a cord attached to a floating astronaut.
These boots were made for walking. They’ve traveled to some pretty incredible places over the years and left a lot of footprints out in the remote wilderness areas. The newest footprint though is on the man’s arm.
This fun backpack tattoo has the pattern of a nature scene on it. It has mountains, water, and beaches all in one. All of the wonders of the earth are covered.
It’s both a watercolor world map and a compass. After the ink settles in and the swelling goes down, it is going to look amazing. The tattoo artist deserves some major props.
This tattoo is of a well-worn map. It has been all around the globe. There is a compass for good measure too. When you have a map and compass tattooed on your arm, you’ll never be lost ever again.
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