Teenagers are notoriously known as difficult people to shop for. But when it comes to teenage travelers, I think that’s not the case. Travel gifts for teenagers are actually really easy, which is why you find no less than 40 gift ideas in this post!
From practical travel gifts for teens, such as backpacks to gadgets they will absolutely love, such as the Nintendo Switch Lite. There is a gift for any type of teenage traveler on this list.
And if you’re looking for travel gift ideas for younger kids, check out these posts:
Are you short on time? Check out the editor’s top three gifts for teenage travelers by budget.
- Large budget: GoPro action camera (#2)
- Mid budget: International snack box subscription (#24)
- Small budget: Travel-sized games (#38)
Table of Contents
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Large budget travel gifts for teens
#1 e-Reader
Does the teenager who you are buying this gift for love reading? Then an eReader is by far the best gift you can get.
With this device, they no longer have to carry around tons of books for their trips. All they need is their eReader and eBooks or a subscription (check out #26 for more about that). Not only will they love your gift, but it will also save them a hernia later in life.
(Alright, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the point).
#2 GoPro camera
Are you looking for travel gifts for teenagers who love adventures and risky activities? (And which teen doesn’t?)
Then an action camera to capture all these adventures is a perfect gift! They can take it when they go skiing, surfing, jumping off cliffs, bungee jumping, and all those other crazy activities which teenagers love to do.
Oh and if the receiver already has an action camera, you can simply buy useful GoPro accessories, such as tripods.
#3 Pocket projector
This is one of the best travel gifts for teens who love movies. This mini projector allows them to watch movies in high quality and on a big screen regardless of where they are.
#4 DIY boba tea
Bubble tea or boba tea is a popular drink among teenagers, that’s originally from Taiwan.
So for teens who love cooking or experimenting in the kitchen, this DIY boba tea kit is perfect.
#5 Backpacks for teens
As grown up as teens think they might be, they usually don’t fit adult sizes yet. And when it comes to backpacks, having the right size is essential. (As someone with a broken back I know all about that).
Luckily, The North Face offers a youth line with a smaller back panel than adult backpacks, yet it still fits 55L. The only thing to keep in mind is that the waistband is rather large, so it works best for older teens (14+) or those who have a larger waist.
#6 Polaroid camera
Most teenagers hardly ever hold a real picture in their hands, as all photos are only digital nowadays. And that’s exactly what makes Polaroid cameras such a fun gift for teenagers. It allows them to have instant pictures which they can hang in their rooms or hand over to their friends right away.
#7 Scrunchies with hidden pockets
This is one of my favorite travel gift ideas for teenage girls; scrunchies with hidden pockets.
They are both cute and practical!
#8 Hammock
Whether this is a travel gift for teens who love being outdoors or not, a hammock can be used everywhere. For outdoorsy teenagers, it’s a fun accessory to bring when they go camping, and for not-so-outdoorsy teens, it’s a fun exotic addition to their rooms.
#9 Gift an experience
Experience gifts are by far the best travel gifts for teenagers and adults. And that’s not just my opinion, it has actually been proven by science too!
If you have no idea what kind of experiences you can gift teenage travelers, check out these 25 travel experience gifts.
Or head over to Tinggly to find all sorts of experience gift boxes so the receiver can pick something him or herself. Or check out Viator for tours and activities around the world, such as waterparks, rafting, ziplining, or surf lessons.
#10 Travel-themed board games
Are you looking for travel gifts for teenagers that their parents will enjoy as well?
Then a travel-themed board game is a great gift idea.
Check out these 25 board games for travelers for more inspiration. Though if you want the advice of a very enthusiastic game lover (me), go for Ticket to Ride!
#11 Nintendo Switch Lite
This is not only one of the best travel gifts for teens, but for younger kids and adults as well. The Nintendo Switch Lite is a handheld gaming console for any age and its size makes it perfect for travelers.
So whether they need to keep themselves occupied on a long flight or a car ride, with the Nintendo Siwtch that’s not an issue at all.
#12 Travel-themed phone case
Teenagers spend most of their time on their phones (from their parents’ perspectives at least). So if you are looking for a gift that they will use regularly, anything related to their phones is a good gift idea.
For example phone cases. Not only do these cases protect their phones from bumps, but they also look beautiful. Especially if you go for travel-themed phone cases, such as this wanderlust one.
#13 Inflatable lounger
The inflatable lounger is perfect for traveling teens. It’s super lightweight, but once it’s filled with air it’s a comfy lounger (hence the name).
#14 Portable bluetooth speaker
Music and teenagers go hand-in-hand. And that’s no different for traveling teens.
So allow them to have their music anywhere they go with a JBL portable speaker.
The reason why I would recommend JBL is that they are waterproof, dustproof, produce high sound quality, and the JBL Go is so incredibly small and lightweight that it fits in any backpack.
#15 Beats earbuds
Remember what I said about teens and music going hand-in-hand?
Well, you only have to ask their parents what they think about their kid’s music to know that these earbuds are the best travel gifts for teens and their parents ;). The teens can listen to whatever they want, and their parents will finally have some quiet time.
Just like the JBL speakers, these earbuds are perfect for travel because of their small size.
#16 Inflatable paddle board
Are you looking for the best travel gifts for teenagers who love water sports?
How about an inflatable paddle board?
It’s perfect for teens whose parents own a boat or have a lake house.
#17 Ukelele
A ukelele is a really cool gift idea for teenagers who love making music, but this ukelele has something that makes it even better. It comes completely blank and without the strings attached so that the receiver can decorate it in any way they want. They can design a completely personalized ukulele!
#18 Bodyboards
This is another really fun gift for active teens; a bodyboard.
They can ride waves wherever they go and keep themselves entertained for hours. Obviously, it works best for teenagers who spend a lot of time near the beach.
#19 Portable charger
Teens love their phones and other electronic gadgets. So the worst thing that could happen to them is to run out of batteries. How are they going to take photos? Watch videos? Talk to their friends? Or check social media?
Luckily, your practical gift will save them from this horror because the Anker power bank can charge phones up to five times.
#20 Outdoor ninja warrior equipment
Ninja warrior is a popular TV show where top athletes try to go through obstacles as fast as possible.
If the teen who this gift is for loves this show or loves sports, this training set is perfect.
It includes things like a slack line, rings and monkey holds so they can practice to become America’s (or wherever they’re from) next Ninja Warrior.
For more outdoor training equipment, check out the next gift.
#21 Rock climbing practice board
Are you looking for travel gifts for teenagers who love rock climbing?
Then this fingerboard to help them practice their grip at home is an awesome gift idea!
#22 Passport stamps scratch poster
This is a unique variation of the scratch map (check out #28), a poster with all the passport stamps in the world!
So instead of scratching off the countries they visit, they can scratch off the passport stamp.
Mid-budget travel gifts for teens
#23 Travel inspiration book
To inspire their wanderlust even more, the Lonely Planet’s 500 best places book is a great gift idea.
#24 International snack box
This is one of the coolest gifts for traveling teenagers; an international snack box subscription!
Each month they will receive snacks from a different country. That could be chocolate from Belgium or pineapple candy from Thailand.
For addresses in the US, shipping is free. For other countries, check out Universal Yums’ website.
#25 Gift card
Even though I firmly believe that teenagers will absolutely love the gifts on this list, I can imagine that you just want to play it safe. Because we’re talking about teenagers after all, and buying gifts for them can be darn difficult.
In that case, a gift card is always a good idea. You can check out these 25 travel-themed gift cards to pick one that’s perfect for your receiver.
Or you can go for an Amazon gift card, that way you are 100% certain that it will actually be used.
Oh, and if you’re worried about the fact that gift cards can be perceived as a boring or thoughtless gift, try one of these creative ways to give gift cards and I guarantee no one will consider your gift boring!
#26 Subscription gift
Another safe gift option for teenagers include subscriptions to platforms they are likely to use.
Some subscriptions you can think off include:
#27 Tripod selfie stick
This is one of the best travel gifts for teens who love taking photos. And pretty much any teenager loves that, especially when traveling because they can share their experiences with friends.
It’s a selfie stick that can also be used as a tripod!
#28 Scratch map
Scratch maps are super popular among all types of travelers, including teens.
There is something about scratching and maps that seems to attract travelers. So in case you are looking for fun travel gifts for teens at home, I can highly recommend scratch maps.
For more inspiration, you can check out these 25 world map posters.
#29 Boho photo display
Alright, technically this is not a gift for teenage travelers specifically. But I can just totally picture teenagers using this photo frame to display their favorite travel photos, which I why I think it’s still one of the best travel gifts for teens.
#30 The not-for-parents-travel guide
This is one of the best travel gifts for teens and children as well. It’s a book filled with fun facts about every country in the world.
Small budget travel gifts for teens
#31 Jewelry organizer
Are you looking for travel gift ideas for teenage girls?
Then this cute jewelry organizer is perfect. It’s small enough for her to take on trips, yet big enough to fit her favorite pieces of jewelry.
#32 Waterproof phone pouch
I think I’ve said it a few times already, but teens and phones go hand-in-hand. Literally, because teenagers always have their phones in their hands.
And thanks to this waterproof pouch, they can even keep their phones in their hands when they’re going into the water, something they will highly appreciate.
#33 Travel journal
This is one of the best travel gifts for teenagers who are leaving for a trip soon. A journal in which they can keep track of all their travel adventures.
The reason why I think this one is great for teens is that it comes with prompts, which can really help them to start writing and get their creativity going. Though if you prefer travel journals with blank spaces, check out these 25 journals.
#34 Activity book for teens
Activity books are another example of great travel gifts for teenagers who are leaving on a trip soon. Whether they need something to do on the plane or at the beach, this travel activity book will keep them busy for an hour or two.
#35 Fanny packs
Fanny packs are awesome travel gifts for teens in two ways. Not only are they fun accessories, but they will also help teens to keep their valuables safe.
It’s a win-win.
#36 Short stories in other languages
Teenagers who travel a lot will also come across different languages a lot. And if that has sparked their interest in learning a new language, short story books are perfect.
They contain easy and short (no shit) stories that make learning a new language fun and very low-key, which is perfect for teens. The books are available in many different languages, just check out Amazon to find the right one.
#37 Travel manicure set
For small and practical gifts for teenage travelers, this manicure set is a good option. It includes everything they need to attend to their nails, but in a small and practical travel case.
#38 Travel-sized games
Travel-sized games are great travel gifts for teenagers and their parents (if they love games of course). You can check out my 40 favorite travel-sized games here, or go for Bananagrams which is a fun scrabble-like game for travelers.
#39 World map necklace
For teenage girls, jewelry is a pretty safe gift option. And for teenage girls who love to travel, a travel-themed necklace is perfect.
One example is this cute necklace with a compass and globe pendant.
#40 Travel-themed coloring book
I know what you’re thinking.
This is supposed to be a list of travel gifts for teenagers not kids, but hear me out.
Coloring books are no longer just for kids. In fact, studies have shown they can actually have a stress-reducing effect on adults, and teens as well.
So for creative teenagers who need to keep themselves busy, The Lonely Planet’s coloring book for adults is actually perfect!
Save these travel gifts for teenagers
Did you save these gifts for teenage travelers on Pinterest yet?
Final note on gifts for teenage travelers
I know teenagers can be difficult to shop for, but trust me when I say that for teenage travelers, any of these 40 gifts will work perfectly. Though if you are not sure which gift to buy, have a look at the top three by budget.
- Large budget: GoPro action camera (#2)
- Mid budget: International snack box subscription (#24)
- Small budget: Travel-sized games (#38)
