Stuck at home with nowhere to go? Travel the world in 500, nay, 24,000 pieces! Jigsaw puzzles can retrain our brains to be more patient and determined, as well as provide a much needed rest from incessant screen time.
Scratch the travel itch with these 7 great jigsaw puzzles for travelers.
Personalized Custom Jigsaw Puzzles
6 different sizes ranging from 12 - 1,014 pieces
Relive your own #TBT as you assemble the pieces from a personalized jigsaw puzzle from Shutterfly. Customizable jigsaw puzzles come in half a dozen piece denominations from 12 through 1,014. Personalized puzzles for toddlers come in 12 large pieces, and are recommended for tykes ages 3 and up.
Make a puzzle from one picture or several to create a collage. Prices start at around $20.
Jigsaw Puzzles for Pros
24,000-piece puzzle
Do you scoff at 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzles? Then you may want to look at the mother of all jigsaw puzzle challenges with this 24,000-piece puzzle-- if you have the time, that is! One reviewer claims to have completed the huge jigsaw puzzle in two months; another customer, a high schooler, chipped away daily for two years to build out the 14.5-feet behemoth; another only 760 hours!
The massive puzzle is currently retailing around $300 with free shipping, but provides countless hours of entertainment for the entire family. One reviewer on Amazon says their family collectively worked on it, sealed the finished puzzle (read below for tips on how to do this) so it’d remain intact, and laid it on their home’s entryway. <3
Jigsaw Puzzles of National Landmarks
1,000-piece puzzle
Getting a chance to raft the Grand Canyon has traditionally meant a lengthy wait list of approximately 18 months. Building a jigsaw puzzle of the Grand Canyon--even if you are a puzzle noob--shouldn’t take nearly as long--even at 1,000 pieces.
Other national treasures available include Bryce Canyon, Niagara Falls, and Mount Rushmore. These jigsaw puzzles are made in the U.S.A., and start at around $30.
Also made in the States, this 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle of vintage posters of U.S. national parks is super on-trend and worthy of a place on your wall when complete.
Jigsaw Puzzles of Famous Artwork from Around the World
150-piece puzzle
Watch as masterpieces located in distant places develop right before your eyes with jigsaw puzzles of world-famous artworks. Difficult to fully appreciate at her home in the Louvre anyway, hold the intricacies of Leonardo DaVinci’s detailed work in your fingertips as Mona Lisa reveals herself piece by piece with this 150-piece jigsaw puzzle for around $16. A set of three of Vincent VanGogh’s works of art offer an even greater value for around $24.
These jigsaw puzzles offer great portability because they’re housed in easy-to-pack tube containers. While they offer a quicker puzzle experience, reviewers claim to find the challenge needed because of the diminutive size of the puzzle pieces.
Jigsaw Puzzle of the World Map
1,000, 1,500, 4,000-piece puzzles
Entertain and enlighten with this jigsaw puzzle as you learn the world’s nations, their geographical locations, and their flags. The Political Map of the World by Educa comes in three sizes, and is an ideal learning tool for ages 9 and up.
Puzzle App: Magic Jigsaw Puzzles App
Hundreds of puzzles, plus more with in-app purchases
Travel aficionados will be happy with the available selections in the Magic Jigsaw Puzzles game app. Piece together sweeping landscapes in far-flung destinations, e.g., the waterfalls of Kanchanaburi, Thailand; the Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic; or photos from your own travels.
Manage the jigsaw puzzle’s difficulty a couple of different ways: Select the number of puzzle pieces from as few as 24 to as many as 630 pieces, and opting to have the puzzle piece affixed or that it rotates (much greater challenge with the latter).
The Magic Jigsaw Puzzles app is free from wherever you currently source your apps, plus also available from Amazon. In-app purchases open up a plethora of even more puzzles.
3D Jigsaw Puzzles
Over 1,100-piece puzzle
Who ever said jigsaw puzzles have to lay flat? Enjoy the thrill of putting together a jigsaw puzzle that rises similarly to its inspiring landmarks like this 4D puzzle of Boston. Glue or scissors are not needed, but a desire for the hours of challenge is.
The first dimension in the educational 3D puzzle shows how the city once looked, and it just builds on from there to tell the story of a budding city rising through the ages to display today’s landmarks.
Jigsaw Puzzle Mat
It’s absolutely thrilling when coming upon the end of a jigsaw puzzle. You see the blank pieces laid out before you and the sight of only a few pieces left on the board encourages you to pick up the pace. When away, you’re itching to get back to your puzzle as you see fewer and fewer pieces missing from the board. Then, as you near the end you realize pieces are missing. The thought of losing even one piece means completing the work won’t be possible. These puzzle pieces are mysteriously gone down to wherever missing socks go. A sacrifice to the jigsaw gods!
Jigsaw puzzle mats are a must for any jigsaw endeavor, so see to it you get one, especially if you have cats that want to “help” when you’re putting together the puzzle.
Jigsaw Puzzle Stacking Trays
In case you thought building jigsaw puzzles was a game, just lose the last remaining piece from your jigsaw puzzle and watch as all hell breaks lose in your household. Avoid anarchy, free up the tabletop, and become a more efficient puzzle solver with the help of jigsaw puzzle sorting trays like this one with nearly 2,400 reviews at time of publication. The trays also facilitate the puzzle’s transport and storage, even if midway into the puzzle work.
The jigsaw puzzle sorter is a popular product with 85 percent of satisfied reviewers awarding the product five stars, and claiming it a “worthwhile investment.”
How to Preserve a Puzzle
Finally, you completed the puzzle! It almost seems cruel to box away a jigsaw puzzle after countless hours of thumbing at the puzzle pieces. Appreciate your hard work for a long time with the help old-school glue that dries clear. Here’s a tip from Instructables on how to use Modge Podge to preserve a puzzle.
It goes without saying but households with small children should be cautious with potential choking hazards like the small pieces in jigsaw puzzles.
