Travel writing is a genre that has as its focus accounts of real or imaginary places. The genre encompasses a number of styles that may range from the documentary to the evocative, from literary to journalistic, and from the humorous to the serious.

Travel writing is often associated with tourism, and includes works of an ephemeral nature such as guide books and reviews, with the intent being to educate the reader about the destination, provide helpful advice for those visiting the destination, and inspire readers to travel to the destination. Effective travel writing should allow readers a vivid recollection of the area/areas being described in a way that is useful and entertaining. Travel writing of various degrees of quality may be found on web sites, in magazines and in books.

Travel writing has also been produced by other types of travelers, such as military officers, missionaries, explorers, scientists, pilgrims, and immigrants.

Travel writing which is valued as literature in its own right may be referred to as travel literature.