I Collect Postcards When I Travel. Here’s Why You Should, Too.

Article Summary:

• I started collecting postcards back in 2017. 
• I think postcards are one of the best travel souvenirs to collect because they’re cheap, small, non-breakable, and come in tons of options.
• Postcards can be personalized with handwritten notes on the back and displayed in cool ways, allowing you to showcase your travels. 

I first started collecting postcards during a month-long trip through Europe. I traveled through three countries: the Netherlands, Denmark, and Hungary. 

On that trip, I was struggling with what souvenirs to buy. I wanted something special, personal, and unique, but I didn’t want to spend a ton of money. There was also an issue with packing. Whatever souvenirs I bought had to be small and non-breakable. 

Then, at an art store in Aarhus, Denmark, I found my solution: postcards. 

This store had a variety of beautiful postcards that featured unique artwork and images—something different from the standard stock photos I’d seen on so many other postcards. 

And so, my postcard collection began. 

Postcards Are Accessible, Affordable, and Easy to Pack 

Postcards are cheap, and easy to pack because they take up practically no space, and they can be found just about anywhere. You can keep them for yourself or double up and send some home to your friends and family.

Collecting postcards also simplifies the whole souvenir process. When you know what you’re looking for, you don’t have to spend time frantically deciding on the “perfect” souvenir instead of actually enjoying your trip. 

My favorite reason for collecting postcards, though, is that the options are endless. 

I love that picking a postcard can be personal, like picking out clothing or jewelry. Just because it’s a souvenir, it doesn’t mean it has to be generic. 

Postcards range from images of places and attractions to original artwork and even obscure, less obvious designs. And because postcards are so cheap and easy to travel with, you can quickly create a fairly large collection. 

My postcard collection is made up of a variety of designs. There are classic stock photos, as well as reprints of artwork I’ve seen at museums, like Botticelli’s Birth of Venus at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy; and The Kiss by Gustav Klimt at the Belvedere Palace in Vienna, Austria.

I’ve even picked up vintage postcards at markets and antique stores like the ones in the photos above. Most markets and antique shops carry them and they’re cheap, even though they’re old. 

Pick some up to add something special to your collection, especially if there’s handwritten text on the back. Vintage postcards become a souvenir of your trip, but they’re also a way to hold onto the memories of someone else’s. 

The sheer variety of postcards you can collect is just plain cool.

You Can Add a Personal Note, Like Your Favorite Memory from the Destination

Aside from the artwork and photos on the front, the other reason I love collecting postcards is because I can give them a personal touch. 

I’ve always loved papery things: journals, scrapbooking, cards—you get the idea. Postcards are no different. 

I leave handwritten notes on the back of each of my postcards—a simple line or two about my favorite memory or something notable from that day, trip, or destination. It’s a way to pour a little meaning and love into each one. 

Handwriting these quick notes is a great way to practice travel journaling, too, if you don’t have the time or energy for long, written-out entries. All you do is whip out your pen, jot something down, and move on. It’s always fun to look back at your postcards years later.  

Recall and Share Your Travel Memories By Displaying Your Postcards

My favorite way to store my postcards is by compiling them into a framed collage. It’s a fun way to display them all together, and it’s a cheap and easy way of getting artwork on your walls. 

I have a framed collage of some of my favorite postcards hanging above my desk. I love being able to look up at it every day and remember the places and memories behind each one. It’s a point of conversation, too. New friends love to look at it and ask questions. 

There are tons of ways to display your postcards, though. You can put them on the fridge, place them under a glass-covered table, or simply hang them up with string and little clips. 

Pick Up a Postcard on Your Next Trip

I’m happy to report that I’ve influenced several of my friends to start collecting postcards on their travels. I hope I’ve convinced you to do the same!

No matter where you go—whether it’s a day trip or an ocean away—postcards can help capture pieces of your travels. 

They’re the perfect memento to look back on, and they’re so traveler and budget-friendly that practically no other souvenir compares.