Even in our modern age of instant communication, there is still something special about postcards.
Choosing a card from a local corner shop when you’re on vacation and sending it by traditional post is a nostalgic experience for many people.
You can flood your “close friends” Instagram story with selfies of your suntanned (or burned) face to humble brag about the great time you’re having on the beach.
But sending a physical picture of the international town or city you’re relaxing in will always be more meaningful than a few quick social media snaps.
Of course, a postcard doesn’t have much space on it. And, whatever you manage to fit on it can be read by anyone who comes across it on its journey to its final destination.
If you want to send a postcard but have no idea what to write on it, don’t let that stop you.
This article will give you a wide variety of suggestions for the best messages to write on a postcard, whether you’re sending it to your best friend, your boyfriend, or a family member.
31 perfect messages to write on a postcard
- Wish you were here! I’m having a great time, but it would be much more fun with you by my side.
- Soaking up the Italian sun…but missing my partner in crime. Can’t wait to plan a girls’ trip to come back here sometime soon.
- Sending lots of Italian kisses and hugs to a friend who brings so much happiness to my life.
- I’m having a great time in the Algarve and it’s bringing back so many memories of the time we went to Barcelona last year. Do you remember how much fun we had that evening when we slept on the beach and had ice cream for dinner?
- Writing this postcard from the balcony of my hotel room with a view of the Eiffel Tower (can you believe it?)
- Saudações from Sao Paolo!
- Spent the day walking along the canals of Amsterdam, eating waffles and pickled herring, and going ice skating! Can’t wait to show you pictures when I’m back.
- Grüezi from Switzerland! We’re having a great time skiing, eating Pommes, and learning all about the local language and culture.
- They say there’s no place like home…but they’re wrong…there’s no place like Berlin!
- My dearest bridesmaid, we’re having the time of our lives on our honeymoon here in the Maldives. The picture on the postcard is of the hotel we’re staying in! Thanks again for all your help over the last few months.
- How are things back home? You would have loved the hike we went on yesterday! At some point in the future, we’ll come back and do it together.
- I’m having a great time in the Scottish Highlands! My favorite thing about the trip so far is learning all about the Celtic legends. I can’t wait to tell you some of the stories I’ve heard.
- You’re going to have to move down to Aruba because I don’t think I’m ever coming home.
- G’day from Sydney! The weather has been terrible and rainy, but we’re making the best of it. This sunny postcard of Bondi is what we thought our vacation would look like.
- Hello from Melbourne, where the most bizarre local customs are: 1…
- The most embarrassing thing that has happened to me on this vacation so far is…
- Not all those who wander are lost…but I often am. I spent about three hours walking around the streets of Rome trying to find my way back to my hotel last night. I’m hopeless without you!
- No great story ever started with someone eating a salad…which is why I’ve been on an exclusive diet of tacos and cerveza ever since I touched down in Cabo.
- It’s all fun and games until you accidentally order the most expensive bottle of wine at the restaurant because you didn’t understand what you were being asked.
- The only good thing about being on vacation without you is that you aren’t stealing the pizza off my plate.
- Hallå from Stockholm. This postcard is from the Drottningholm Palace, where I almost fell down the stairs in front our entire tour group!
- Can’t wait to come back here with you!
- The only thing that would make this vacation better is if you were here enjoying it with me.
- I didn’t think I’d miss you this much…I’m seeing some of the most beautiful places in the world, but all I want is to be looking at you again.
- I’m having so many wonderful experiences here in Austria, and you’re always the first person I want to talk about them with.
- I’ve always heard that absence makes the heart grow fonder…but I never really understood what that meant until now.
- Being away on vacation has given me time to reflect on my life at home, and I just wanted to tell you how much I love you and how grateful I am that we met.
- I can’t wait to go on vacation together this summer. I’m loving all the sights over here in Oslo, but all I can think about is how much more fun I would be having if we were doing it together.
- Being in Cornwall is reminding me of the magical time we spent together in Galway last year. Missing you and looking forward to going away together again soon.
- Sending you all my love from Livingstone!
- Realizations I’ve had on this trip: 1. France has the best food of any country I’ve ever been to, 2. I never want us to have a long-distance relationship…this week has been hard enough!
Excellent messages to write on a postcard for a friend
When you’re on vacation and are writing a postcard to a friend back home, there are a few easy topics you can focus on.
First, give them a run-through of where you are and what you’ve been doing. Buying a postcard of a place you’ve recently visited gives you an easy way to talk about how you’ve spent your time.
If you go to a museum, hike up a mountain, or visit a famous park, get a postcard that depicts that thing and tell your friend about your experience there.
In many ways, writing a postcard is like writing a message on a polaroid picture.
You’re essentially coming up with a caption for the image on the front of the card.
Another nice thing to say when you’re writing a postcard is that you miss your friend and wish they were there on holiday with you.
You can also always reference a time that the two of you went on vacation together and tell them that where you are now reminds you of something the two of you did together in the past.
Can’t think of exactly what to write?
Here are a few suggestions that can be adapted depending on the vacation destination you’re in.
1. Wish you were here! I’m having a great time, but it would be much more fun with you by my side.
If you’re enjoying your time away but wish that you were sipping beachfront cocktails with your bestie beside you, you can send them this message on a postcard.
As an aside, postcards make lovely mementos, so make sure you always keep the ones you receive.
They are a great thing to include if you ever decide to make a scrapbook for your best friend.
2. Soaking up the Italian sun…but missing my partner in crime. Can’t wait to plan a girls’ trip to come back here sometime soon.
Want to send a postcard but aren’t sure what to say? You can always talk about taking a future trip to the place you’re in with the friend you’re writing to.
If you know one of your friends is having a hard time and you’ve spent part of your holiday trying to cheer someone up over text, go the extra mile and send them a postcard too.
People love receiving mail. A heartfelt, handwritten postcard can make a world of difference to anyone who is feeling lonely or down.
3. Sending lots of Italian kisses and hugs to a friend who brings so much happiness to my life.
The kind of message you write on a postcard is usually different to what you write on an anniversary card or in a sympathy letter.
Both these kinds of correspondence have a clear purpose and often include meaningful reflection about an important event in a person’s life.
Postcards, by contrast, tend to be less personal and less formal. Partly because of their open format, and partly because there isn’t much space on them, postcards often carry very brief messages.
That said, there’s no reason why you can’t include a more personal or deep message on a postcard.
If you’re writing to a friend and have been reflecting about how important your relationship is, you can use a postcard to tell them how much you appreciate them.
4. I’m having a great time in the Algarve in Portugal and it’s bringing back so many memories of our time in Barcelona last year. Do you remember how much fun we had that evening when we slept on the beach and had ice cream for dinner?
Postcards are a great place to reference holidays you’ve been on in the past. Reminiscing on happy times makes everyone feel good.
Plus, to be honest, when it comes to postcards, it’s the thought that counts more than the actual text on the back.
Writing on a postcard is more about filling up space than about conveying a moving sentiment.
Recalling vacations that you’ve enjoyed with the person you’re writing to is a great way to do just that.
This kind of reminiscing makes postcards a great thing to write when you’re bored…maybe during a lull in the vacation excitement or on a long train ride.
5. Writing this postcard from the balcony of my hotel room with a view of the Eiffel Tower (can you believe it?)
Another perfect thing to write about on the back of a postcard is what you are doing as you are writing it.
Are you taking in a spectacular view of the Grand Canyon, enjoying a perfect Italian cappuccino, or soaking up the Californian sun?
Wherever you might be as you put pen to postcard, describe your setting to your friend at home.
6. Saudações from Sao Paolo!
This is a simple, cute message to write on a postcard to any friend, whether they are close to you or more of an acquaintance.
You can of course adjust this message to whatever country or city you are currently in.
You can use this message as the greeting on your postcard and then follow it up with a description of your holiday so far.
7. Spent the day walking along the canals of Amsterdam, eating waffles and pickled herring, and going ice skating! Can’t wait to show you pictures when I’m back.
When we go on vacation without someone, we often want to try to find a way to include them in the experiences we are having.
One way to do this is to use a postcard to tell them what the highlights of your trip so far have been.
Another is to tell them you can’t wait to show them your pictures as soon as you’re back home.
8. Grüezi from Switzerland! We’re having a great time skiing, eating Pommes, and learning all about the local language and culture.
When you are writing a postcard to a friend, you can include specific anecdotes about what you’re doing.
Tell them you are learning about the local culture. Or use slightly smaller handwriting to give a more detailed account of what kinds of traditions and historical information you are taking in.
9. They say there’s no place like home…but they’re wrong…there’s no place like Berlin!
Some cities make us feel uneasy, while others make us feel right at home.
If you’re somewhere that makes you feel immediately welcome, this is a fitting text to write on the back of a postcard for a friend.
This message is best followed by an explanation of why the place you’re in is so unique.
10. To my dearest bridesmaid, we’re having the time of our lives on our honeymoon here in the Maldives. The picture on the postcard is of the hotel we’re staying in! Thanks again for all your help over the last few months.
If you’re on your honeymoon, you can use a postcard to write a thank you for a bridesmaid.
Because a honeymoon is part of the wedding process, writing a postcard to the members of your wedding party is a nice way to show them that you haven’t forgotten their support.
11. How are things back home? You would have loved the hike we went on yesterday! At some point in the future, we’ll come back and do it together.
How often are you on a hike or in a museum and think, “Oh, I know who would love this!”
If you have an experience on vacation that you know one of your friends would have really enjoyed, you can write them a postcard to tell them about it.
Make sure you mention your desire to revisit the place with them at some point in the future.
It also doesn’t hurt to ask “what’s up” with them in their life back home.
It will make them happy to know you that you’re thinking about them while you’re away.
12. I’m having a great time in the Scottish Highlands! My favorite thing about the trip so far is learning all about the Celtic legends. I can’t wait to tell you some of the stories I’ve heard.
Another way to include a friend in your vacation is to tell them about something you’ve learned and then say you can’t wait to tell them more about it when you see them.
Introducing a subject for you to talk about when you hangout next is a great way to make the distance between the two of you feel less important.
Funny things to write on a postcard
Postcards are an ideal format for sharing humor. Your message has to be short anyway and it won’t usually be highly personal.
A short, witty one-liner or story that makes your friend or family member laugh makes for the perfect postcard message.
Worried you won’t be able to come up with something good enough? Here are some suggestions.
13. You’re going to have to move down to Aruba because I don’t think I’m ever coming home.
Have you ever been on a vacation where you spend all your time sitting in the sunshine, sampling fantastic food and drinks, and walking to beautiful locations?
If so, you’ll be familiar with the feeling of never wanting to leave.
If you’re lounging on beach chair as you write a postcard for a friend, you might be tempted to joke that you’re never coming back and that they’ll just have to move to where you are.
You can be sure they’ll smile at the thought of pulling up their roots and moving to your sunny resort spot.
14. G’day from Sydney! The weather has been terrible and rainy, but we’re making the best of it. This sunny postcard of Bondi is what we thought our vacation would look like.
If you’ve travelled to a holiday destination that is famous for its sun but have only seen clouds and grey skies, you might feel let down.
On the plus side, your situation makes a funny anecdote for a postcard.
Joking that the postcard’s sunny depiction of the place you’re visiting is what your vacation was supposed to look like will make your friends laugh.
15. Hello from Melbourne, where the most bizarre local customs are: 1…
This is a fool-proof postcard formula. State where you’re greeting your friend from and then list off the three most unusual facts you’ve learned about the place.
This is not only a funny postcard message but also an informative one.
16. The most embarrassing thing that happened to me on this vacation so far is…
We all love people who know how to laugh at themselves.
Telling a funny (and embarrassing) story about your vacation makes a great postcard note. You’ll have your friends chuckling all those many miles away.
17. Not all those who wander are lost…but I often am. I spent about three hours walking around the streets of Rome trying to find my way back to my hotel last night. I’m hopeless without you!
Be honest…you’ve gotten lost on your vacation, haven’t you?
Unless your glued to a maps app or just have a superhuman sense of direction, you’ll have taken at least a few unnecessary detours finding a hotel, restaurant, or other attraction.
Using the funny line “Not all those who wander are lost…but I often am” makes a good introduction for a hilarious postcard anecdote.
Follow it up with the details of your personal story of accidentally going off course.
18. No great story ever started with someone eating a salad…which is why I’ve been on an exclusive diet of tacos and cervezas ever since I touched down in Cabo.
Want to joke about how badly you’ve been eating and how much you’ve been drinking?
This line is a great way to get your friends back home to smile knowingly at your badly behaved antics.
19. It’s all fun and games until you accidentally order the most expensive bottle of wine at the restaurant because you didn’t understand what you were being asked.
You can introduce a funny or embarrassing (or both) anecdote with the line “It’s all fun and games until…”
This familiar one-liner format is an easy way to inject a bit of humor into your postcard message.
Have you accidentally done something because you didn’t understand what you were agreeing to? Then adjust this message to reflect your personal experience.
Your message will definitely be well received.
20. The only good thing about being on vacation without you is that you aren’t stealing the pizza off my plate.
Why do the people closest to us always seem to think our food is theirs?
If you have a sibling, girlfriend, or best friend who is a notorious food thief, you can send them this funny note on a postcard.
They’ll like how personal your message is and, as long as they have a good sense of humor, they’ll like being poked fun at.
21. Hallå from Stockholm. This postcard is from the Drottningholm Palace, where I almost fell down the stairs in front our entire tour group!
Sending a postcard that depicts the location of your almost or actual embarrassment?
Draw a little arrow that points to the front of the card and describe the moment you showed everyone around you just how unrefined you are.
Sweet messages to write on a postcard to a lover
Writing a postcard to a romantic partner is very different than writing one to a friend or family member.
Most couples are in regular contact and message or call each other every day, if only to say “Hi.”
This means that there will be few things about your holiday that you won’t already have told your boyfriend or girlfriend by the time a postcard arrives.
But sending a postcard is about sending much more than just information.
A physical card is a token that says, “I’m thinking about you.”
Because you spend so much time speaking to the person you’re in a relationship with anyway, there’s no need to write too much on a postcard for them.
Even a simple message telling them, “I miss you” will do.
Still not sure what to write? Check out these brief but thoughtful messages that you can write on the back of a postcard to someone you are in love with (or at least “in strong like” with).
22. Can’t wait to come back here with you!
If you’ve headed off on a solo trip or on a week away with your friends, you can send your other half a postcard from the place you’re visiting.
Choose one that depicts a beautiful location and tell your partner that you can’t wait to come back with them.
If you want to, you can include more detailed plans.
You might say, “How would you feel about coming back here with me during the Christmas holidays? There was a lovely little hotel that I thought looked like just our vibe.”
23. The only thing that would make this vacation better is if you were here enjoying it with me.
Want to express that you miss your partner’s company without committing the two of you to a vacation?
You can simply say that even though you’re having a good time, you would be enjoying yourself more if they were there with you.
24. I didn’t think I’d miss you this much…I’m seeing some of the most beautiful places in the world, but all I want is to be looking at you again.
If you are really missing your loved one, you can tell them that even though you’re being treated to some of the best views there are, you’re missing the best view of them all: them.
A lot of people worry when their partner goes off on vacation.
They’re concerned that their other half will have such a good time that they won’t think twice about the person sitting at home.
Some people even become jealous. Understanding jealousy can lead to a better relationship.
Often, all you need to do is reassure your partner that there is no need to be concerned.
If you know your girlfriend or boyfriend tends to worry about your fidelity when you’re away, make them feel better by telling them how much you’re missing them.
25. I’m having so many wonderful experiences here in Austria, and you’re always the first person I want to talk about them with.
They say that the first person you call when something big happens is the person you feel most safe with.
If that person is your romantic partner, then you are lucky and in good hands.
They say loving relationships are good for you and a surefire sign of a loving relationship is that you always feel secure around the person you’re with.
Show your gratitude for what a good relationship you have by telling your partner that even when you’re having the time of your life, they are on your mind.
26. I’ve always heard that absence makes the heart grow fonder…but I never really understood what that meant until now.
This is a cute sentiment to share with your loved one.
They’ll be happy to hear that the relationship that the two of you share has made you feel something you had never experienced before.
27. Being away on vacation has given me time to reflect on my life at home, and I just wanted to tell you how much I love you and how grateful I am that we met.
Normal life is so hectic that we often don’t get much of a chance to think about what our lives really look like.
It is only special occasions like pausing to write thank you cards for a baby shower or considering what to write on a graduation cake, or of course, going on holiday, that give us time to reflect.
If your time away from home has made you feel grateful for everything you have and feel the desire to express your gratitude to your partner, let them know what’s been on your mind.
28. I can’t wait to go on vacation together this summer. I’m loving all the sights over here in Oslo, but all I can think about is how much more fun I would be having if we were doing it together.
If you always go on an annual vacation with your friendship group and then another one with your romantic partner, you’re not alone.
A healthy balance between prioritizing your friendships and your relationship is good.
If you’re away with your besties and are writing a postcard for your partner, you can reference your upcoming vacation. This will remind them of all the fun things you have planned.
Are you away with the girls but have spent your days walking through the streets wishing that it was your partner who was sitting across from you sipping drinks and cracking jokes?
If so, tell them this! Any feelings they were having about being left out will be alleviated once they hear how much you miss them.
29. Being in Cornwall is reminding me of the magical time we spent together in Galway last year. Missing you and looking forward to going away together again soon.
Getting a little nostalgic isn’t just reserved for friends.
Your lover will also appreciate the stroll down memory lane if you remind them about a past holiday the two of you took together.
30. Sending you all my love from Livingstone!
If you’re on Facetime with your boyfriend or girlfriend almost every evening, you don’t have to write a long update on the back of the postcard you send them.
Instead, just tell them you are sending them all your love from whatever beautiful place you’re in.
31. Realizations I’ve had on this trip: 1. France has the best food of any country I’ve ever been to, 2. I never want us to have a long-distance relationship…this week has been hard enough!
Everyone knows long-distance relationships are reportedly hard. But most people have never actually experienced living away from their partners.
If you’ve been on an extended trip, you can jokingly send your other half a postcard that says what you’ve learned is that you aren’t the type for long-distance.