City Trip Photo Book: 5 tips to capture your adventure

From a chaotic camera roll to the perfect city trip story

A city break is a special kind of travel. It’s a fast-paced blur of new sights, sounds, and flavors. One minute you're sipping a morning espresso, the next you're staring up at a world-famous landmark. 

That’s why a city trip Photo Book is so essential. It helps you pause and relive every moment.

But making one can feel overwhelming. A typical city trip means:

• Hundreds (or thousands!) of photos taken in just a few days.
• A chaotic timeline of events: museums, meals, markets, and more.
• Duplicate shots and blurry pictures that need to be filtered out.

Luckily, Journi’s smart AI technology makes designing your Photo Book both fun and fast.

5 tips for the perfect city trip Photo Book

Creating an amazing adventure album is easy when you know where to focus. 

Here are our 5 essential tips to turn your travel photos into a masterpiece.

1. Capture the city's unique vibe 🗺

Your book should feel like the city itself. Go beyond the main tourist spots and add photos that tell the real story: the steam rising from a street food stall, the colorful tiles of a hidden alleyway, a close-up of a local craft, or the reflection of the skyline in a puddle.

It's these small, authentic details that truly bring the city to life on the page.

2. Let AI be your personal designer 📲

The biggest time-saver is letting technology do the heavy lifting. Instead of manually sorting, Journi's AI instantly arranges up to 1,200 images into a perfect chronological layout and gives you a stunning draft in seconds.

This is your secret weapon to bypass the most tedious part of the process.

3. Tell the story with smart maps & timelines 📍

A city trip is a story of movement. Use Journi's automatic maps and date stamps as chapter breaks in your book. A map showing your first day's route, followed by the photos from that day, creates a beautiful, professional-feeling narrative that's incredibly easy for anyone to follow.

4. Add your personal finishing touches 🎨

Your photos show what you saw, but your words tell the story behind the moment. Dive into our editor and add captions. Don't just write "Eiffel Tower." Try adding vacation photo book caption ideas like:

• An inside joke: "The 45-minute search for the 'perfect' croissant."
• A specific detail: "The best gelato we had all trip, right by the Trevi Fountain."
• A feeling: "Feeling so small (in the best way) under the Colosseum."

5. Choose a finish that lasts a lifetime 📖

Your book is a keepsake, so the final format matters. For a big, once-in-a-lifetime trip to a city like Tokyo or New York, a sturdy Hardcover or premium Layflat book creates a timeless coffee table piece. For a quick weekend getaway, a lightweight Softcover has a modern, magazine-like feel that's perfect for building a collection of your adventures.

Your city trip photo checklist: Don't miss a moment

Feeling overwhelmed by what to capture? Use this checklist as your guide to capturing a well-rounded story of your trip.

• The big landmarks: Get the classic shots, but try unique angles. Shoot them at sunrise, at night, or from a different perspective.
• The local life: Capture the details that define the city's character—a bustling market, people reading in a park, street performers, or unique local fashion.
• The food story: Take photos of your most memorable meals, the colorful produce at a market, your morning coffee, or a local street food vendor in action.
• The "You were there" shots: Don't forget to include yourself! Take selfies, use a mini tripod for portraits, or ask a stranger to snap a photo. Also capture your hotel room view, your train tickets, or your feet on an interesting tile floor.
• The details & textures: Zoom in on architectural details, interesting signs, colorful doors, cobblestone streets, or the texture of a famous statue. These shots add a rich, sensory layer to your book.

See your adventure come to life with smart maps and timelines

What makes a city trip Photo Book truly special is its ability to tell a story. 

Journi's AI doesn't just place pictures on a page; it intelligently maps out your journey to create a real narrative. It’s the ultimate personalised travel photo album.

• See your route: Journi automatically detects where your photos were taken and plots your movements on beautifully designed maps. See your journey from the Colosseum to the Trevi Fountain laid out on the page!
• Create a perfect timeline: All your photos are instantly arranged chronologically, so your book flows from day one to the final farewell.
• Enhance your photos: Journi AI will intuitively adapt the exposure and colors of your images. No need to worry about pictures taken against the sun or red eyes caused by flash. We take care of your photos so that you can enjoy your memories in the best way possible! 

Customize your Photo Book to match the city's vibe

Our AI gives you the perfect head start, but you're always the creative director. 

Your Photo Book should reflect your unique experience, and our easy customization tools make it happen.

• Themes & colors: Choose a modern theme for your New York pictures or a rustic one for your French road trip photo album.
• Add your stories: Write captions to remember the name of that amazing pasta dish or the funny story behind that selfie.
• Edit your maps: Adjust the maps to highlight your favorite spots or trace your walking route.
• Choose your finish: Opt for a premium hardcover to grace your bookshelf or a lightweight softcover to share with friends. Our premium layflat option also makes the perfect coffee table book. 

From your phone to your home, with quality you can feel

Your memories are precious, and they deserve to be preserved in a book that’s built to last.

When you create your personalized Photo Book online with Journi, you’re not just getting a fast, easy experience; you’re getting a premium-quality product you’ll be proud to display.

There’s a reason over 8 million people trust us with their memories:

• Made to last: We use high-quality, vibrant inks and durable paper to ensure your photos look incredible.
• Eco-friendly: All our Photo Books are printed on FSC-certified paper from sustainably managed forests.
• Printed with care: We produce everything locally to ensure the highest standards of quality control.

Your city trip Photo Book questions, answered

Do I have to sort through hundreds of photos myself?

That's the best part, you don't! You can select all your photos at once and let Journi's AI do the heavy lifting. It automatically sorts your photos chronologically and creates a beautiful first draft for you in seconds. No more manual sorting.

My friends have great photos from the trip, too. Can I include them?

Absolutely! A city trip is a shared experience, and your Photo Book can be too. Simply invite your friends or travel partners to a shared album in the Journi app. Everyone can upload their favorite shots to one central place, making it easy to create the complete story of your adventure.

What kind of photos should I include besides the famous landmarks?

The best city trip albums capture the vibe of the place. Mix in your photos of:

• Incredible street food or that amazing coffee you had.
• Colorful street art and unique architectural details.
• Candid moments, funny selfies, and photos of the locals.
• The view from your hotel room or that charming little side street you found.

What if my phone photos aren't professionally shot?

Your phone photos are perfect! Authenticity is what makes a travel album special. Plus, Journi's AI automatically enhances your images, improving colors and exposure to make them look their best. Your real, in-the-moment pictures will tell a much better story than a professional photo ever could.