Best Accessories for Travel Photography | 2025

With the best accessories for travel photography, you want to be selective. You’re likely not to need everything on our list, and it’s important not to overpack and end up carrying around tons of stuff you don’t need, particularly if you’re on a walking holiday. However, there are lots of small, lightweight and inexpensive items that can make your life much easier — and safer — when you’re travelling, and can make your photography that much better.

This list comprises our favourite travel photography accessories. Since travel itself is already an expensive business, we’ve kept the items on this list in the affordable range, with no single item costing more than £140, and have tried to think realistically about what a travel photographer is likely to need. 

So, let’s take a look at the list — and for more travel-focused guides, check out the best travel tripods and the best cameras for travel photography. 

Our top picks

A cross-body camera strap for active photographers, the Black Rapid Sport Breathe boasts a large shoulder pad with moisture-wicking nylon mono mesh, curved TPE foam, and poly air mesh for optimal comfort. With the integrated underarm Brad Stabilising Strap ensuring that things don't get twisted, you can rest assured that your hold on your camera is secure throughout your adventures.

Taking a full-size tripod is very often either inconvenient or unnecessary. That said, there will be times when you want to set your camera up to ensure crisp, blur-free pictures – such as low-light scenes and, once again, self-portraits.

Thankfully, there are now plenty of options available, from simple table-top mini-tripods right through to sophisticated professional models designed to offer the ultimate flexibility (both figuratively and literally). However, we’d particularly recommend the flexibility offered by a JOBY GorillaPod, which allows you to set up your camera in all manner of places where a traditional tripod would struggle – in trees, around fence posts and on top of chair backs, to name a few.

Circular polarisers are one of the best travel accessories you can buy, given how useful they are compared to their light weight and small size. They help to deepen blue skies and make clouds stand out, and also cut down reflections when shooting water.

They’re also great for shooting through windows. At skyscraper landmarks, the viewing decks are typically indoors, meaning you’ll often need to photograph through glass rather than unobstructed. Having a polariser to hand will mean you’ll be able to bring reflections under control for better results — something that is tricky to achieve in post-production

Ideally, you want to get one with a thin profile, like Tiffen’s Circular Polariser. This will reduce the likelihood of issues with vignetting. Be sure to check your lens filter thread size before purchasing.

If you want a portable support without the bulk of a tripod, a monopod is the way to go. They can often be attached easily to the side of a camera bag, giving you a convenient way to access camera support at a moment’s notice. For a travel-friendly solution that won’t break the bank, we’d recommend Manfrotto’s PRO Photo Aluminium 4 Section Monopod, which is quick to set up, and packs down to a travel-friendly 56cm in length.

A good camera bag is a must for travel. Not only do you need a way to transport your camera and lenses, but you also need storage that will keep them safe from knocks and bumps. A lightweight photographer’s backpack like the Think Tank BackLight Sprint is just the thing; its adjustable internal dividers can be fitted around the specific contours of your kit, and are padded for protection. Designed for smaller travel setups, the backpack is lightweight and slim, but also comfortable enough for long hikes thanks to its padded straps, lumbar support and waist belt.

An air blower like the Giottos AA1900 is an easy and inexpensive way to clear dust, dirt and other detritus from the front element of your lens without compromising the sensitive coatings with which it has been treated. It can also be used to clean filters if you have brought them, or to remove dust from the inside of your camera (though proper sensor cleaning should be handled by professionals and experts). The design of this rocket air blower features an air valve, ensuring that it doesn’t suck in dust and expels only air.

A powerbank is a vital thing to have on your travels, especially now that more and more cameras are able to take advantage of USB-C charging. The Ansmann Powerbank 10.8 Mini is a relatively small and compact charger, but with its capacity of 10,000 mAh, it should be able to give your camera a good few charges (for context, the Sony NP-FZ100 battery holds 2280 mAh). There’s really no reason not to take along a slim, lightweight and inexpensive power bank like this one.

Ideal for those capturing high-resolution images and 4K or HD-quality videos, this 1TB drive from Lacie boasts resistance against rain, shock, pressure and droppage to ensure your images and videos remain safe while you’re on the road. While the USB 3.0 interface ensures speedy transfer rates, backwards compatibility with the USB 2.0 protocol means it can be used with older computers too, and you can even set your own password to prevent any unauthorised access to your files. It is important to back-up your files and if you’re on the move or travelling, a portable hard drive is a sensible option.

A word of advice when travelling — or when taking pictures anywhere, for that matter — don’t put all of your eggs in one basket! While it may be very tempting to buy a large-capacity memory card which you think will last you for the whole of your trip, doing so is asking for trouble. What happens if your camera is lost, stolen or dropped in the sea? All of those memories will be lost forever.

It’s a good idea to spread your images from a trip across multiple cards. Store them separately where possible, and back up your images nightly if you can — using a portable hard drive, or a cloud service if your destination has a reliable internet connection. 

FAQs

What are the best camera settings for travel photography?

For travel photography, we’d suggest using aperture priority mode with an f8 to f11 aperture for landscapes, a lower aperture for portraits to get those blurred backgrounds, and an ISO of 100-400 in daylight. You can also adjust shutter speed to avoid motion blur (above 1/60 sec.)

How can I keep my camera gear safe while traveling?

You should use a padded, weather-resistant camera bag. Always keep your gear in sight or securely packed, use anti-theft straps, and think about insurance for expensive equipment. Finally, regularly backup your photos to avoid data loss.

What lenses are best for travel photography?

We’d advise using a versatile zoom lens like a 24-70mm or 18-135mm; these will cover most situations

How can I take better travel photos with my smartphone?

Turning on the gridelines in your settings so you can follow the rule of thirds, think about lighting, clean your lens, experiment with angles, and if your phone has it, use HDR mode for balanced exposures. And then, edit photos with apps like Lightroom.

What are some tips for capturing the essence of a destination?

Research the place you’re traveling to to find unique spots, shoot during golden hours (early morning and late afternoon), include local people and culture, use leading lines to draw attention, and tell a story through a series of photos.