When people think about travel tattoos, the first things that come to mind are maps and airplanes. Itโs 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 peopleโs beautiful ink for inspiration and then start working on a fun tattoo idea of your own.


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playground_tat2
1. Thinking Globally
Lots of people get a map or country outline tattooed somewhere on their body, but how about a full globe? Thatโs what this traveler did. The image wraps around the entire half of her back.


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strangeris
2. Spinning Around
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. Itโs super creative.


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pa.tina.tattoos
3. On Top Of The World
This one has it all โ 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?


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evakrbdk
4. Travel Pulse
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, itโs very cool.


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zahotel_sdelal
5. From Paper To Metal
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.


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pt78tattoo
6. Time To Set Sail
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.


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satanpouetpouet
7. Plane Window
Weโre not sure if this one is super cool or super freaky. It appears as though the personโs arm has a window in it. Although, instead of looking inside the body, it looks out into the world.


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evakrbdk
8. Directions Home
This woman chose to get a simple longitude and latitude tattoo. Itโs not fancy, but it has a lot of personal meaning. Itโs obvious that the coordinates represent somewhere really special to her.


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wittybutton_tattoo
9. Floral Map
Yes, itโs a map of the word, but itโs unlike any that weโve ever seen. All of the continents are filled in with a beautiful floral pattern. Itโs very stylish.


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luiza.blackbird
10. Mini Sailboat
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.


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stardusthang
11. Human Passport
Every time this person goes to a new place, they get the countryโs 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.


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hayleyartist
12. Air Travel
This neat tattoo features a paper airplane and a map. The little lines show all of the planeโs various trajectories. Our favorite part though is the coloring.


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valentina.sacchan
13. Destination Unknown
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 anyoneโs guess.


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equilattera
14. Around The World In 80 Days
Itโs actually not a globe, itโs a hot air balloon painted like a globe! Itโs such an awesome idea. The basket of the hot air balloon is a suitcase with stickers on it from different locations.


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Bored Panda
15. Splash Of Color
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.


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yelizozcan_tattooer
16. Simplicity
Compasses donโt 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.


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indiapia.tats
17. NYC Life
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.


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jayshintattoo
18. Future Plans
Just go. Itโs 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.


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natinemoto
19. White Ink Planes
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.


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Bored Panda
20. Painted Shell
This one combines the animal world with the real world. On the turtleโs shell is a map and a sailing ship. Itโs a travel tattoo that is completely unique while still sticking to common themes.


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equilattera
21. Paper Plane
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.


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luiza.blackbird
22. Starry Night
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.


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piatrixtattoo
23. Mountain Scenery
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.


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marioart_tattoo
24. Two Arm Tattoos
Each arm has a different travel tattoo on it. They sort of work together. Itโs as though the plane is flying across the empty space to arrive at a new country.


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inkstattoopune
25. Paint Trails
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.


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_tattoo_obsession_
26. Suitcase Squeeze
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. Thatโs why many people are opting to pack light these days, fitting all of their possessions into a single backpack.


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equilattera
27. Balloon Explorers
Here we have a traveler going to new heights to achieve her dreams โ 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.


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Jamie Luna
28. Intergalactic Travel
For some travelers, no destination is off-limits. Thatโs what this tiny ankle tattoo represents. It shows a spaceship blasting off to another planet somewhere far, far away.


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wittybutton_tattoo
29. All Packed
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. Itโs a true work of art.


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evakrbdk
30. Adventure Awaits
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.


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primitivetattoo
31. Seeking Experiences
This image is of a small single-propeller plane landing on a grid on a map. Itโs a perfect tattoo for a global traveler who loves visiting new places and experiencing different cultures. Every flight is a promise of adventure.


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cassiecrimson
32. Keep It Simple
The simple things in life are the best โ clean air, nature, campfires, and sleeping out under the starsโฆ or in a tricked out camper van! What more could a traveler ask for?


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nelemalt._
33. Dreaming Of Adventure
Donโt 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.


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bodycanvastattooart
34. Keys To Happiness
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.


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blackwood_tattoo
35. Backpacking Memories
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.


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masa_tattooer
36. Evening Arrival
This colorful tattoo shows a plane landing right at sunset โ 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.


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tattoos4love_
37. Messy Map
This forearm tattoo features a very beautiful watercolor galaxy behind the map. It really looks like it was done with watercolor paint. However, itโs actually permanent tattoo ink!


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yelizozcan_tattooer
38. Love Of Flying
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.


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eccentripstories
39. 3D Map
This guyโs 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. Weโre sure that there is some deeper meaning behind the other diagrams too.


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equilattera
40. Watercolor World Map
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 thatโs it.


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tattoo_grain
41. Night Ballooning
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.


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piotr_mazur_tattoo
42. Wanderlust
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? โFind what you loveโฆ and let this save you,โ the quote reads.


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Bored Panda
43. Important Locations
Itโs 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.


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bluejtattoo
44. Where Next?
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.


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normalima5
45. Geometric Plane
This plane tattoo was made entirely out of geometric shapes. Itโs 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.


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danikajoan
46. Always Cruising
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.


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James Armstrong
47. Little Reminders
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 theyโve had every time they look at it.


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chayadventures
48. Mandala Ballon
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.


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alchemytattoomelbourr
49. Dark Shading
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 โ itโs when you have several parallel lines close together.


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ineepine
50. One Love
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.


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travel_niine
51. Travel Planning
Each arm has its own unique travel image. On the right arm, it simply shows the word โwhereโ with a question mark, as in โwhere to now?โ Itโs a common question among travel enthusiasts. On the left arm is an airplane.


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monica_tricarico92
52. Crazy Plane
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.


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bitchyasiangirl
53. NYC Outline
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 womenโs hearts. They will be reminded of it every time that they look at their wrists.


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rachelroses
54. Plane Charm
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.


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leofernantti
55. Geometric Map
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.


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duocovery
56. Travel Artwork
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, itโs a very beautiful image.


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marikuroyama
57. Tiny Plane
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.


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caffeinatedcompass
58. Happy Days
Everything is in black and white except for the brilliant orange sun. The whole tattoo has a very cartoonish vibe. Itโs pretty fun. The plane is happily gliding through the clouds on a beautiful day.


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ahmet_cambaz
59. Underwater Photography
This watercolor world map looks just as cool underwater as it does above the surface. Itโs an amazing piece of body art and the colors are splendid. They match perfectly with the red bikini.


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yelizozcan_tattooer
60. Travelerโs Heart
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.


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jupaca_tattoo
61. Different Paths
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.


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drag_ink
62. Opening Doors
This open door leads into another dimension โ the dimension of the mind. There is so much to be explored in there. The imagination is a vast place where anything is possible.


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rodferod
63. London Cityscape
Weโre 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.


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jaguara_tatuador
64. Seeking Direction
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.


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_tattoo_fanpage
65. Action Shot
This tattoo artist got really creative. They made the plane flying out of the lens of the camera. Itโs always fun when the artists are able to combine multiple dissimilar objects into one tattoo.


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masa_tattooer
66. Dreaming Of New Places
Travel is always on this individualโs mind. Itโs all they think about. We donโt blame them though. Once you start traveling long term, itโs pretty much impossible to ever go back to a normal life again.


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swink.inc
67. Secret Airplane
This tattoo is pretty much invisible. Not only is it done in white ink, but itโs also hidden in between the fingers. Itโs only for the traveler to see and no one else.


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martahdezh
68. Go Now
Here is another traveler that is a big advocate of adventurous choices. The earth represents the โOโ in the word โGOโ. If you have the money and the time, just book a plane ticket. Everything else will fall into place.


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sonigross.tattoo
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.


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Bored Panda
70. Travel Daydreams
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.


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ilksentattooink
71. Fantasy Trips
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.


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ahmet_cabaz
72. Bootprint Tattoo
These boots were made for walking. Theyโve 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 manโs arm.


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Bored Panda
73. Patterned Backpack
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.


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thedavidcote
74. Compass And Map
Itโs 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.


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Jordan Ashley
75. New Directions
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, youโll never be lost ever again.


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taras_shtanko
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