Heading off on a big trip? Then a good camera for travel photography should be on your essential kit list. After all, capturing images of the incredible experiences and meaningful moments is all part of the fun of being on the road.

In an era where even your elderly nan has an Instagram account, you may think it would be hard to make your travel photos stand out.

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But this is where a good camera for travelling can help – not only will it make your shots more memorable than the average grainy iPhone snap, it will make the process of shooting them way more fun.

Who knows, if you get good at using you camera while travelling it could even help you launch a career – these Scandinavian travel photographers built a huge Instagram following which is now landing them all sorts of photography gigs.

So what sort of camera is best for travelling? Well we’ve selected 10 of the best cameras for budding travel snappers here, which fall into three categories.

Compact Travel Cameras

As the name would suggest, compact cameras are small and easy to carry around. Increasingly they also offer a lot of bang for your buck.

They tend to have a wide range of automatic modes, making it easy to shoot epic landscapes, portraits, action shots and nighttime photos without having to know about ISOs, f-stops and shutter speeds.

Compact cameras may lack the versatility and precision controls of the more expensive mirrorless cameras or DSLRs but their easy controls and small size make them great cameras for travelling, especially if you’re just starting out as a photographer.

Mirrorless Travel Cameras

Mirrorless cameras only came onto the market fairly recently as an attempt to bridge the gap between compacts and full-blown DSLRs.

Originally known as “electronic viewfinder, interchangeable lens” or EVIL cameras, they tend to have a larger sensor than compact cameras but do away with the bulky mirror mechanism that characterises DSLRs.

And unlike compact cameras, mirrorless models give you the ability to change lenses adding a whole new variable to your photographic arsenal.

They’re usually bigger than compacts and tend to be more expensive. But their increased versatility means more advanced photographers will find these halfway house models can make ideal cameras for travelling.

Entry-Level DSLR Travel Cameras

Full-blown DSLR cameras (standing for Digital Single Lens Reflex) are what the pros use. In terms of performance, they’re the best cameras for travelling.

Even entry-level DSLRs like the ones we’ve included here will offer better image quality than either compacts or mirrorless cameras as a rule and the sheer range of interchangeable lenses available makes them ridiculously versatile.

They tend to be more expensive than the other types, especially as to take advantage of what they can offer you’ll want a splash out on a few different lenses. They’re also bulkier, which can make them more awkward to travel with.

But if you know what you’re doing – or you’re prepared to put in the time to learn – a DSLR can make your travel photography look properly professional.