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ONE CHEL OF AN ADVENTURE

41 Best Travel Movies: Films That Inspire Wanderlust

Looking for some awesome travel films to fuel your wanderlust? Check out this list of 41 of my favorite and best travel movies to add to your watch list:

41+ Wanderlust Travel Movies

Eat, Pray, Love

One of my favorite books and movie, Eat, Pray, Love is the ultimate wanderlust/travel to find yourself kind of movie!

Watch on: Amazon , Apple TV , Google Play

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

“When his job along with that of his co-worker are threatened, Walter takes action in the real world embarking on a global journey that turns into an adventure more extraordinary than anything he could have ever imagined.” – IMBd

Into the Wild

“After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.” – IMDb

Photo from IMBd

Midnight in Paris

“This is a romantic comedy set in Paris about a family that goes there because of business, and two young people who are engaged to be married in the fall have experiences there that change their lives. It’s about a young man’s great love for a city, Paris, and the illusion people have that a life different from theirs would be much better.” – Apple TV

“ With the dissolution of her marriage and the death of her mother, Cheryl Strayed has lost all hope. After years of reckless, destructive behavior, she makes a rash decision. With absolutely no experience, driven only by sheer determination, Cheryl hikes more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, alone. WILD powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddens, strengthens, and ultimately heals her.” – Google Play

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“Richard (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a young American backpacker, willing to risk his life for just one thing: the mind-blowing rush he can only get from braving the ultimate adventure. After hearing the improbable tale of a secret island – the perfect beach, unsullied by tourists – Richard sets off on a journey to find paradise on Earth. But Richard soon discovers that what seems like paradise can hide a deadly secret. Now desperate to escape, Richard explores the hidden perils and dark places that lurk just beyond the shores of paradise” – Apple TV

Photo from IMDb

The Darjeeling Limited

“A year after their father’s death, three American brothers who haven’t spoken since the funeral embark on a soul-searching journey across India. Their “spiritual quest”, however, veers rapidly off-course and a new, unplanned journey suddenly begins.” – Google Play

“180° South: Conquerors of the Useless follows Jeff Johnson as he retraces the epic 1968 journey of his heroes Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins to Patagonia. Along the way he gets shipwrecked off Easter Island, surfs the longest wave of his life – and prepares himself for a rare ascent of Cerro Corcovado. Jeff’s life turns when he meets up in a rainy hut with Chouinard and Tompkins who, once driven purely by a love of climbing and surfing, now value above all the experience of raw nature – and have come to Patagonia to spend their fortunes to protect it.” – Google Play

“Embark on the adventure of a lifetime in this visual masterpiece from Oscar winner Ang Lee*, based on the best-selling novel. After a cataclysmic shipwreck, an Indian boy named Pi finds himself stranded on a lifeboat with a ferocious Bengal tiger. Together, they face nature’s majestic grandeur and fury on an epic journey of discovery.” – Google Play

Life in a Day

“Life In A Day is a historic film capturing for future generations what it was like to be alive on the 24th of July, 2010. Executive produced by Ridley Scott and directed by Kevin Macdonald.” – on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Lost in Translation

“Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson star in this flat-out hilarious film about two Americans who develop a surprising friendship while venturing through Tokyo.” – Google Play

Maybe not a movie you’d normally find on a list of best travel movies, but I love Up! “Carl Fredrickson, a retired balloon salesman, is part rascal, part dreamer who is ready for his last chance at high-flying excitement. Tying thousands of balloons to his house, Carl sets off to the lost world of his childhood dreams. Unbeknownst to Carl, Russell, an overeager 8-year old Wildnerness Explorer who has never ventured beyond his backyard, is in the wrong place at the wrong time — Carl’s front porch! The world’s most unlikely duo reach new heights and meets fantastic friends like Dug, a dog with a special collar that allows him to speak, and Kevin, the rare 13-foot tall flightless bird. Stuck together in the wilds of the jungle, Carl realizes that sometimes life’s biggest adventures aren’t the ones you set out for.” – Google Play

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Up in the Air

“Ryan Bingham (Academy Award® winner, George Clooney) is truly living the high life. Flying all over the world on business, he never stops moving…until he meets Alex, a fellow passenger and learns that life isn’t about the journey, but the connections we make along the way.” – iTunes

Out of Africa

“Hoping to forge a better life, Denmark native Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) enters into a marriage of convenience with a womanizing baron. But when the couple moves to Nairobi, Karen falls in love with a free-spirited hunter (Robert Redford) who can’t be tied down. Director Sydney Pollack’s lush period drama earned seven Academy Awards, including statues for Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography.” – Google Play

Roman Holiday

“Roman Holiday was nominated for ten Academy Awards®, and Audrey Hepburn captured an Oscar® for her portrayal of a modern-day princess rebelling against her royal obligations who explores Rome on her own. She meets Gregory Peck, an American newspaperman who, seeking an exclusive story, pretends ignorance of her true identity. But his plan falters as they fall in love. Eddie Albert contributes to the fun as Peck’s carefree cameraman pal.” – Google Play

Watch on: Sony Crackle (free) , Apple TV , Google Play

“From the producers of THE KING’S SPEECH comes this remarkable true story of Robyn Davidson, a young woman who leaves her urban life to trek through almost 2,000 miles of sprawling Australian desert . Along her journey of self-discovery, she meets National Geographic photographer Rick Smolan, who begins to photograph her life-changing voyage.” – Apple TV

Under the Tuscan Sun

“UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN follows San Francisco writer Frances Mayes (Diane Lane) to Italy as a good friend offers her a special gift — 10 days in Tuscany. Once there, she is captivated by its beauty and warmth, and impulsively buys an aging, but very charming, villa. Fully embracing new friends and local color, she finds herself immersed in a life-changing adventure filled with enough unexpected surprises, laughter, friendship, and romance to restore her new home — and her belief in second chances.” – Google Play

Before Sunrise

“Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy star as two young people who meet–and whose lives are forever changed–on a train from Budapest to Paris. They may have only one night, but when soul mates find each other, anything can happen Before Sunrise.” – iTunes

The Endless Summer

“They call it The Endless Summer, the ultimate surfing adventure, crossing the globe in search of the perfect wave. From the uncharted waters of West Africa, to the shark-filled seas of Australia , to the tropical paradise of Tahiti and beyond, two California surfers, Robert August and Mike Hynson, accomplish in a few months what most people never get to do in a lifetime – they live their dream.” – iTunes

Watch on: Amazon , Apple TV

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

“Two young American women, Vicky and Cristina come to Barcelona for a summer holiday. Vicky is sensible and engaged to be married; Cristina is emotionally and sexually adventurous.  In Barcelona, they’re drawn into a series of unconventional romantic entanglements with Juan Antonio, a charismatic painter, who is still involved with his tempestuous ex-wife Maria Elena. Set against the luscious Mediterranean sensuality of Barcelona, VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA is Woody Allen’s funny and open-minded celebration of love in all its configurations.” – Google Play

Two For the Road

“ On their third identical voyage from London to the French Riviera , Joanna Wallace (Audrey Hepburn) and husband Mark (Albert Finney) explore their 12-year marriage in a series of wry and illuminating flashbacks. They reminisce about the glorious beginning of their love affair, the early years of marriage and the events that led to their subsequent infidelities. As they try to understand their relationship, they must accept how they have changed if they are to rekindle their original love… The film is arguably one of the most stylistically influential movies from the ’60s.”

“From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes “Moana,” a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. During her journey, Moana (voice of Auli’i Cravalho) meets the once-mighty demigod Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), who guides her in her quest to become a master wayfinder. Together, they sail across the open ocean on an action-packed voyage, encountering enormous monsters and impossible odds, and along the way, Moana fulfills the ancient quest of her ancestors and discovers the one thing she’s always sought: her own identity.” – Disney

Watch on: Amazon , Apple TV , Google Play , or on Disney+

“John Krasinski (The Office) and Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live) star in the heartfelt film that explores the comedic twists and turns in one couple’s journey across contemporary America. Anticipating the birth of their first child, longtime couple Burt and Verona embark on an ambitious itinerary to visit friends and family in order to find their perfect home.” – Universal Studios

The Bucket List

 Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman star in the comedic drama The Bucket List, a touching, no- holds-barred adventure that shows it’s never too late to live life to its fullest. “Two terminally ill men escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die.” – IMDb

“A five-year-old Indian boy is adopted by an Australian couple after getting lost hundreds of kilometers from home. 25 years later, he sets out to find his lost family.” – IMDb

Crazy Rich Asians

“This contemporary romantic comedy, based on a global bestseller, follows native New Yorker Rachel Chu to Singapore to meet her boyfriend’s family.” – IMDb

This is another movie that is not necessarily about travel, but after watching it, Singapore jumped to the top of my bucket list so I had to add it to this Best Travel Movie list!

Watch on: Amazon ,   Google Play , Hulu

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The Motorcycle Diaries

“Based on a true life story, The Motorcycle Diaries is an inspiring and thrilling adventure that traces the youthful origins of a revolutionary spirit. The film follows two daring friends, Ernesto “Che” Guevara (Gael Garcia Bernal, Y Tu Mama Tambien) and Alberto Granado (Rodrigo de la Serna), who hop on the back of a beat-up motorcycle for a breathtaking and exciting road trip across Latin America.” – Google Play

Letters to Juliet

“In Verona, Italy – the beautiful city where Romeo first met Juliet – there is a place where the heartbroken leave notes asking Juliet for her help. It’s there that aspiring writer Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) finds a 50-year-old letter that will change her life forever. As she sets off on a romantic journey of the heart with the letter’s author, Claire (Vanessa Redgrave), now a grandmother, and her handsome grandson (Christopher Egan), all three will discover that sometimes the greatest love story ever told is your own.” – Google Play

The Art of Travel

“Conner Layne  is about to embark on an adventure – just not the one he had planned. After discovering his fiance is having an affair with his best friend, he leaves her at the altar and heads off on his honeymoon alone. 

While experiencing the wonders that South America offers, he meets a friendly couple – Darlene and her husband, Christopher, who are planning a dangerous trip across the Darien Gap. Along with a ragtag group of foreigners, they venture on a 100-mile long journey through the undeveloped jungle that separates Panama and Columbia. Ready to leave his past behind, Conner joins the unknown for the quest of a lifetime.” – Apple TV

Rio + Rio 2

Laugh if you want, but after seeing this movie in theaters, I have been dying to go to Rio adn explore South America! 

Hector and The Search for Happiness

“Hector is a quirky psychiatrist who has become tired of his humdrum life, yet he’s offering advice to patients who are just not getting happier. So he embarks on a global quest in hopes of uncovering the elusive secret formula for true happiness.”

Couples Retreat

Couples Retreat is another romantic comedy movie that’s set in such a beautiful place, I just had to include it!

A Map for Saturday

“On a trip around the world, every day feels like Saturday. A MAP FOR SATURDAY reveals a world of long-term, solo travel through the stories of trekkers on four continents. The documentary finds backpackers helping neglected Thai tsunami victims. It explains why Nepal’s guesthouses are empty and Brazil’s stoplights are ignored. But at its core, SATURDAY tracks the emotional arc of extreme long-term travelers; teenagers and senior citizens who wondered, “What would it be like to travel the world?” Then did it.”

Watch on: Amazon

“Through the open country and desert lands, two bikers head from L.A to New Orleans , and along the way, meet a man who bridges a counter-culture gap they are unaware of.” – IMDb

“ONE WEEK tells the story of 20-something Ben Tyler (Joshua Jackson), who flees from an impending marriage, a ho-hum job, and a recent diagnosis in an attempt to live life to the fullest. His misguided road trip on a vintage motorcycle becomes an adventure of self-discovery set against the great Canadian landscape.”

Encounters at the End of the World

“Welcome to Antarctica – like you’ve never experienced it. You’ve seen the extraordinary marine life, the retreating glaciers and, of course, the penguins, but leave it to award-winning, iconoclastic filmmaker Werner Herzog (Grizzly Man, Rescue Dawn) to be the first to explore the South Pole’s most fascinating inhabitants…humans. In this one-of-kind documentary, Herzog turns his camera on a group of remarkable individuals, “professional dreamers” who work, play and struggle to survive in a harsh landscape of mesmerizing, otherworldly beauty – perhaps the last frontier on earth.”

“A powerful and inspirational story about family, friends, and the challenges we face. Martin Sheen plays Tom, an irascible American doctor who comes to France to collect the remains of his adult son (played by Emilio Estevez), killed in the Pyrenees while walking The Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of Saint James. Rather than return home, Tom decides to embark on the historical pilgrimage to honor his son’s desire to finish the journey. What Tom doesn’t plan on, is the profound impact the journey will have on him. Inexperienced as a trekker, Tom soon discovers that he will not be alone on this journey.”

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

“An award-winning, all-star cast, led by Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith and Tom Wilkinson, lights up this “buoyant comedy laced with genuine emotion”. When seven cash-strapped seniors decide to “outsource” their retirement to a resort in far-off India, friendship and romance blossom in the most unexpected ways. Smart, life-affirming and genuinely charming, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a “true classic that reminds us that it’s never too late to find love and a fresh beginning at any age”.”

The Tourist

“Frank (Johnny Depp), a mild-mannered American on vacation in Venice, Italy, is befriended by Elise (Angelina Jolie), a breathtakingly beautiful woman with a mysterious secret. Soon, their playful romantic dalliance turns into a complicated web of dangerous deceit as they are chased by Interpol, the Italian police, and Russian hit men in this suspense-filled, international action thriller.”

The Grand Budapest Hotel

“THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL recounts the adventures of legendary concierge Gustave H. and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. The story involves the theft of a priceless painting; a raging battle for an enormous family fortune; and a desperate chase on motorcycles, trains, sleds, and skis – all against the back-drop of a suddenly and dramatically changing continent.”

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert

“Resplendent in flamboyant ballgowns, looking down over the vast red Australian desert : for three showgirls it was the dream of a lifetime, a four week cabaret engagement in Alice Springs. The problem is simply getting there intact, along with their bus Priscilla.”

Phew! There ya go, my list of the 41 best travel movies to fuel your wanderlust! Any ones I missed?  Drop a comment below or  DM me on Instagram !

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21 Best Travel Movies That Will Inspire Your Wanderlust

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: September 8, 2023

Are you looking for some good movies about travel to kindle your wanderlust? This article has some great suggestions and some of the best travel films of all time . Find out!

Have you ever found yourself inspired to travel to one or the other location just because you saw it in a movie? It happens to me all the time! So in this article, I share some of my favorite travel movies , the ones that got me googling the filming location and planning a trip before the movie was even over.

If you are looking for a good story or some travel inspiration, then you’ll definitely find it in these films. These are one by one great travel movies and stories that will get you out of the couch and booking a trip to discover new destinations.

Below is my personal selection of some of the best travel movies of all time. Take a look!

Click on the title of the movie to see reviews, get a DVD, or watch it on Amazon Prime . Some of these movies are also available on Netflix.

These are the best travel films:

Into The Wild

Into The Wild is an unbelievable true story of a top student and athlete who abandons everything he has and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. This movie will probably stay with you forever.

It’s an inspiring story taking place in the most incredible landscapes of Alaska. If you choose just a few movies to watch from this list, definitely include this one in your selection!

The Way is a heart-warming story of a father who heads overseas to retrace the last days of his son’s life who passed away while traveling the Camino de Santiago trail in the Pyrenees (France – Spain). Once he gets there, he decides to take the pilgrimage himself.

This movie is about family, friendships, and life choices. And of course, the beautiful places along Camino de Santiago. It’s a powerful story that will make you think deeper about the difference of the life we live and the life we choose.

Under The Tuscan Sun

Under The Tuscan Sun is a romantic story that takes place in rural Tuscany . Lovely landscapes, an Italian lifestyle, and a heart-warming life story make it a perfect choice for a relaxing evening.

This beautiful light-hearted movie will get you planning a trip to Tuscany in Italy sooner than you think.

The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty

The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty   is a light-hearted story for a movie night with friends. The movie features some of the most incredible travel destinations all over the world.

A lot of the scenes (even the ones from the Himalayas and Afghanistan) are filmed in Iceland and some in Greenland . The unbelievable adventures of Walter Mitty will leave you longing for an extraordinary adventure of your own.

This film is so good that it has inspired thousands and thousands of people to travel more and discover new places. If you watch just one movie from this list of the best travel films, make it ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’. You’ll love it!

A Walk in the Woods

A Walk in the Woods movie is based on a true story and a book by Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail .

The famous writer who never hiked much sets on the Appalachian Trail. With a total length of about 2,200 miles (3,500 km), this famous American hiking trail stretches through 14 states along the east coast of the United States, from Georgia to Maine.

I haven’t read the book and the reviews are somewhat mixed (it seems that people either love or hate Bryson and his writing style). But I find that the movie is really funny, entertaining, and the scenery will definitely inspire you to get outdoors and take a hike of your own.

Out of Africa

Ok, I know it’s an old one, but Out of Africa definitely deserves a place in the all-time favorite travel movies list.

Filmed in Kenya and the UK, this classic that has won 7 Oscars and countless other prizes will definitely get you dreaming of Africa. It’s one of those movies that you can watch again and again.

The Motorcycle Diaries

The Motorcycle Diaries is an awe-inspiring film that is based on the memoirs of Che Guevara.

It will take you to the most beautiful places in South America. A beautiful story in an incredible setting.

In Bruges  is very different from all the rest of the travel movies on this list. But I just had to include this movie in the top-20 of the best travel films because it’s filmed in Belgium, where we live.

It’s a hilarious dark comedy and a great performance by all three main characters in the most fantastic setting in Belgium’s most beautiful fairytale town.

If you haven’t been to Bruges, you’ll definitely want to visit it after watching this movie! Here you can find some inspiration with our insider tips for the best things to do in Bruges .

Before Sunrise – Before Sunset – Before Midnight

If you like Europe and deep meaningful dialogues with a good dose of humor, you’ll love this trilogy called Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight . We only discovered these films recently when we accidentally saw the first one, Before Sunrise, on TV. 

Regarded as one of the most significant films of the ’90s, Before Sunrise, was followed by two more sequels. We watched all three films and loved every second of it.

The first movie takes you to Vienna, Austria, the second one – to Paris, and the third – to the Greek Islands.

These travel films are probably not for everyone, but if you can appreciate this style, you’ll love them all!

Amélie

If you haven’t been to Paris yet, you will definitely want to plan a trip after watching this movie. If you have, you’ll want to return.

Amélie is a beautiful example of French cinema. It will also take you to the most inspiring locations in Paris. The film is set in the Montmartre neighborhood in Paris and shows you the more local side of living in this fascinating city.

This travel movie is based on a true story of a young woman who sets on a journey of over 1,000 miles hoping to recover after the passing of her mother.

Wild  is full of beautiful scenes throughout the Pacific Northwest in the U.S. This is one of those travel films that remind you that often the journey is more important than the destination.

Lost In Translation

A beautiful film that shows the fun and unexpected side of traveling in a new country. Lost In Translation is about the many little random travel experiences that stay with you long after you return back home.

The sights and the energy of Tokyo will get you planning a trip to Japan.

‘Lost in Translation’ is considered a real classic and one of the best travel films ever.

Midnight in Paris

Midnight in Paris is a bit different travel film than all the rest in this selection. And it’s probably not for everyone…

But if you like Woody Allen, Paris, and the artist lifestyle, then you’ll love this surreal story that takes you back to Paris of the 1920s.

A Good Year

A Good Year is a light-hearted romantic story that takes place in the most beautiful setting in the Provence region in the South of France.

This movie will not only inspire you to visit France but might also make you reconsider your life choices. It’s a story about leaving the rat race, getting back to your roots, and enjoying the simple things in life.

A truly great film!

The Way Back

The Way Back is inspired by an incredible true story of seven prisoners from very different backgrounds who try to escape from a Siberian prison in winter.

This movie is filmed in some amazing locations in India, Morocco, and Bulgaria and features some great actors.

The Beach is a great film from the ’90s that has a little bit of everything: good story, beautiful music, and amazing scenery from Thailand. Oh, and the young Leonardo DiCaprio, who once again proves that he deserves the Oscar he finally got recently.

For a while, Thailand even had to close Maya Beach on Koh Phi-Phi due to its increasing popularity which has been attributed mainly to this film. So if you feel inspired to visit Thailand after watching ‘The Beach’, you may want to look for some alternative beaches and beautiful islands.

You can find some inspiration in our Thailand island hopping itinerary .

Tracks is a beautiful adventure film of a young woman who crossed 1,700-miles over the deserts of West Australia with four camels and her faithful dog.

It’s based on a true story and featuring some amazing Australian landscapes. A beautiful film that will inspire you to visit the Australian Outback !

Encounters At The End Of The World

Encounters At The End Of The World is an incredibly beautiful and funny travel film about the people and animals who live in Antarctica.

If Antarctica was not on your travel list yet, it will be after watching this great documentary!

The Bucket List

The Bucket List is sentimental, predictable, and yet a very heart-warming story that will inspire you to tick off your bucket list sooner rather than later.

Filmed in various locations in India, China, Egypt, Tanzania, France, and the U.S., this movie will definitely give you some new ideas for the next trips.

Photos: IMDb

So, this is a list of some of my top travel films and favorite movies about travel. Have you seen any of these films? Which one is your favorite travel movie of all time?

If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends. Are you on Pinterest? Pin this image!

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Monday 18th of September 2023

When I’m always about to go on an adventure I keep coming back to this page to get inspired to travel to somewhere new

Thursday 21st of September 2023

What a great way to find some trip inspiration, Joshua. Happy travels!

Sunday 5th of March 2023

They aren’t travel movies, but The Lord of the Rings trilogy inspired me to go to New Zealand! How could those scenes in the mountains not inspire everyone?

Monday 6th of March 2023

Agree! (and New Zealand is absolutely stunning ;))

Thursday 2nd of March 2023

Thank you for sharing! This list is awesome!

Saturday 22nd of October 2022

If you wanna know one more... U can watch "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara". It means "U won't have a second Life again". It's soo good and so inspiring...thank me later.

Sunday 23rd of October 2022

Thanks for the recommendation, Asif! Will see if we can find this movie.

Sunday 10th of April 2022

Thank you for the awesome movie recommendations

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

20 of the best travel films

From Rome to the Amazon, in these 20 films stunning locations play a starring role – and they’re all on now at a laptop or TV near you

REAL-LIFE ADVENTURES

Wild (2014).

Cheryl Strayed decided to walk the Pacific Crest Trail to face her demons, and her memoirs were turned into this uplifting film starring Reese Witherspoon as the inexperienced hiker who turns her life around. Director Jean-Marc Vallée was adamant that the movie be shot entirely on location: the journey starts in the Mojave Desert, heads up to Mount Hood – the highest point in Oregon – and the magnificent Crater Lake, before culminating in the iconic Bridge of the Gods in Cascade Locks on the Oregon/Washington border. Netflix , Google Play , Sky Store . Read the Guardian review

Tracks (2013)

Another memoir adaptation, Tracks stars a young Mia Wasikowska as Robyn Davidson, who spent nine months trekking across the Australian desert on camels. Her journey begins in Alice Springs and takes her across scorching outback to the Indian Ocean, via sights such as Uluru and Coffin Bay. It’s an inspiration for would-be solo travellers, given that Robyn was only accompanied by her dog and, at some points, a photographer (Adam Driver). Amazon , Google Play , Sky Store Guardian review

Into The Wild (2007)

Graduate Christopher McCandless gave away all his possessions and money to charity and hitchhiked across Northern America to Alaska, where he attempted to live in the wild. This poignant account of his journey is directed by Sean Penn and stars Emile Hirsch in many of the real locations visited by Christopher, aka “Alexander Supertramp”. Feast your eyes on peaceful Lake Tahoe, camping at Beard’s Hollow, kayaking down the Colorado River and run with wild horses … There’s plenty to envy until things take a darker turn. Sky Cinema , NOW TV , Amazon Guardian review

Lion (2016)

If you fancy a good cry as well as a virtual trip to India, then Lion is for you. Based on a true story, it tells of a young Indian boy, Saroo (Sunny Pawar) who accidentally boards a train to Kolkata and becomes homeless. After being adopted by an Australian couple, the older Saroo (Dev Patel) searches his memory – and the evolving internet – in an attempt to locate his childhood home and find his family. This is a film with plenty of compassion as well as armchair travel, with locations including Tasmania as well as India. Netflix , YouTube , Google Play Guardian review

Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)

A cheerful comedy-drama about a divorcee rediscovering herself, this memoir adaptation features scenery as charming as the central performance from Diane Lane. Frances Mayes’ pals send her on a tour of Tuscany, where she ends up falling in love with a ramshackle house and buys it on a whim. She meets a plethora of interesting people, including Polish builders and an eccentric old British actor, and becomes a major fixer-upper. The film was shot in and around the town of Cortona, near Arezzo: think gorgeous little houses cut into the hillside overlooking glistening waters. Amazon , YouTube , Google Play , Sky Store Frances Mayes on writing Under the Tuscan Sun

HIKING TALES

Hunt for the wilderpeople (2016).

Go tramping in the New Zealand bush with this adorable comedy-drama directed by Oscar-winner Taika Waititi. A winning family adventure, it sees grumpy foster uncle Hec (Sam Neill) following his cheeky young charge Ricky (Julian Dennison) into the wilderness for a trek that turns into a gripping adventure – and an opportunity for the pair to try out their survival skills. Most of it was filmed around the Auckland area, and includes jaw-dropping scenery that Hec describes as “majestical”. BFI Player , Amazon , Google Play , Sky Store The landscapes behind Hunt for the Wilderpeople

The Way (2010)

Follow in the pilgrims’ footsteps with this touching, meditative drama starring Martin Sheen as a grieving father who decides to walk the ancient spiritual trail after the death of his son (played by Sheen’s son, Emilio Estevez, who also directs). The route to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia takes in sensational landscapes as well as a variety of entertaining characters, including James Nesbitt as an Irish travel writer. Amazon Prime Video , YouTube / Google Play , Sky Store Guardian review

On the Road (2012)

Based on Jack Kerouac’s novel set in the late 1940s/early 50s, literature’s most famous road trip did not make it onto the big screen until 55 years after the book was published. Sam Riley is the writer who heads to Denver, North Carolina, San Francisco and Mexico by car and occasionally bus. Head here to vicariously experience a hedonistic road trip with sexually fluid bohemians played by an array of Hollywood’s hottest, including Garrett Hedlund, Kristen Stewart, Amy Adams, Tom Sturridge and Kirsten Dunst. Amazon Prime Video , Sky Store Guardian review

Captain Fantastic (2016)

This film immediately plunges the viewer into the forests of the Pacific Northwest: you’re greeted by lush green trees, the sound of birdsong and the sight of a deer munching its way through the bush. Said deer is short-lived, however, as a pack of children led by Bodevan (George MacKay) slaughter it and take it home for tea with their father (Viggo Mortensen – who’s also in On the Road). It’s a chance to live out your off-grid fantasies, before the family are plunged back into society on a road trip with entertaining consequences. Netflix / Amazon , Sky Store Guardian review

TRAIN TRIPS

The darjeeling limited (2007).

Three brothers have madcap adventures on a train in this quirky, colourful film that could only have been made by Wes Anderson. Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman are the warring trio who bicker and bond their way through a scenic rail journey in India. Though the film was shot mainly in Rajasthan, the fictional route also convincingly takes in the Himalayas – and reminds you of the wonders of train travel abroad. Amazon , YouTube / Google Play , Sky Store Guardian review

Before Sunrise (1995)

A train to Vienna is the romantic setting for this cult drama starring Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke. After meeting on the journey, they spend the night walking around the city together. Their frank, naturalistic exchanges are involving and funny, and it’s easy to fall in love with the Austrian capital as the pair jump on trams and ferris wheels along the banks of the Danube. Director Richard Linklater followed this with Before Sunset and Before Midnight, but this remains by far the most romantic in the series. Amazon , YouTube , Google Play , Sky Store Guardian review

LIFE-CHANGING ADVENTURES

The secret life of walter mitty (2013).

A daydreamer finally lives out his travel fantasies in this whimsical adventure based on James Thurber’s short story. Walter (Ben Stiller) works a dull desk job at Life magazine, and goes on a globe-trotting treasure hunt in search of a missing negative by legendary photojournalist Sean O’Connell (Sean Penn). Walter’s travels take him to Greenland, Iceland and the Himalayas, and although some of the locations are stand-ins, the film captures the wonder of globe-trotting in a cosy, feelgood format. Amazon , YouTube , Google Play , Sky Store Guardian review

Patagonia (2010)

The psychological benefits of travel are at the heart of this tender drama that explores the links between Wales and Argentina. A Cardiff couple travel to Patagonia where they are guided by a Welsh-Argentine guide (Matthew Rhys). Meanwhile, an older woman journeys from Argentina to Wales to discover her roots. It’s a moving watch with a fun backstory: Rhys found out about the production when travelling through Patagonia on horseback , where he bumped into the director, Marc Evans, who was scouting for locations. Amazon , iTunes , Google Play Guardian review

Black Mountain Poets (2015)

Rural south Wales provides a handsome setting for this con artist comedy from writer-director Jamie Adams. Alice Lowe and Dolly Wells star as sisters on the run who resort to posing as a pair of famous beat poets at a retreat in the Black Mountains – what could possibly go wrong? As they camp out in nature, the remote location forms a backdrop for their potential redemption, as well as plenty of improvised humour. YouTube , Google Play , BFI Player Guardian review

HISTORICAL TRAVELS

Meek’s cutoff (2010).

You wouldn’t want to re-live the journey these characters make, but the landscape looks remarkable from the safety of your sofa. Loosely inspired by an infamous incident in 1845, it sees a small group of settlers travelling across the Oregon High Desert and becoming increasingly less confident in their guide, Stephen Meek (Bruce Greenwood). Kelly Reichardt’s western shows the gender dynamic slowly shifting as the stakes get higher, and she’s assembled an excellent cast lead by Michelle Williams, Shirley Henderson and Zoe Kazan. Amazon Prime Guardian review

The Lost City of Z (2017)

Explorer Percy Fawcett had a compulsion to travel, undertaking hugely risky journeys in the Amazon in to prove his theories about a disappeared civilisation – theories that were ridiculed by his contemporaries in the early 20th century. James Gray’s film stars Charlie Hunnam as Fawcett, Sienna Miller as his wife, and Robert Pattinson as his right hand man, who helps him navigate the rainforest, which looks tantalisingly beautiful despite the dangers that unfold. Amazon , YouTube , Google Play , Sky Store . Also showing on BBC2 Friday 27 March at 11.05pm Guardian review

Fitzcarraldo (1982)

An ambitious adventurer makes an eventful jungle voyage in Werner Herzog’s German-language classic inspired by the life of Peruvian rubber baron Carlos Fitzcarrald. Notoriously volatile actor Klaus Kinski’s wild eyes glint with lunatic abandon as he dreams of building an opera house in Iquitos, in the Peruvian Amazon, and navigating the Pachitea river in a huge steamboat. The shoot (famously as troubled as the events it depicts) took place in the wilds of Brazil and Peru, where Herzog and cinematographer Thomas Mauch vividly captured the cast’s period costumes against the sights and sounds of the jungle. BFI Player , iTunes Guardian review

CITY BREAKS

2 days in paris (2007).

Julie Delpy writes, directs and stars in this whipsmart dramedy that puts a humorous spin on the notion of a romantic city break. She plays Marion, a photographer who lives in New York and decides to spend two days in the French capital with her neurotic boyfriend Jack (Adam Goldberg). It takes in plenty of famous spots, including the Père Lachaise cemetery, the Pasteur metro station and – should you be missing the Eurostar – the Gare du Nord. Amazon Prime Guardian review

In Bruges (2008)

Who knew a film about a couple of hitmen could showcase a city’s charms so beautifully? The Irish contract killers hiding out in Belgium have very different goals: while Ray (Colin Farrell) just wants to get drunk, Ken (Brendan Gleeson) would prefer to see the cultural sights. And so Martin McDonagh’s bitterly funny black comedy takes in architectural delights such as the Belfry of Bruges as well as canal trips through the medieval city. Amazon , YouTube , Google Play Sky Store Guardian review

Roman Holiday (1953)

Take a trip back in time to Rome, circa 1953, where a princess (Audrey Hepburn) is trying to stay incognito. After she’s befriended by an American reporter (Gregory Peck), he realises her identity, but keeps his a secret in an attempt to get a scoop. Romance follows, along with iconic black and white shots of the Eternal City. Look out for a meeting on the Spanish Steps, a tour of Colosseum and Vespa ride through the city traffic. Sky Cinema , YouTube , Google Play Guardian review

Rental prices generally between £1.99 and £3.49 depending on household subscription status. Netflix and BFI Player films are included in a monthly subscription and are subject to change. Most films also available on DVD/Blu-Ray

Anna Smith is a film critic and host of the podcast, Girls On Film

• Film-inspired holidays

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60 Best Travel Movies to Inspire Wanderlust

Written By: The Planet D

Travel Movies

Updated On: February 14, 2024

What makes for great travel movies? We feel it is when the destination becomes the star. A movie that showcases beautiful cities , landscapes, and culture is a movie that inspires us to visit a destination or relive our time there when we get home. Dave and I love movies. We worked in the film business in our previous careers and lived for the cinema. So when we chose our list of the best travel movies, we took it seriously. 

Table of Contents

The Best Travel Movies

Our choices for the best travel movies are probably very different than yours, so leave a comment and let us know what you think the best travel movies are. We are always looking for new travel films to ignite our wanderlust. To rent or buy one of these travel films to inspire wanderlust right now, check out Amazon Instant Video

The Best Travel Movies to Inspire Wanderlust

1. in bruges.

This is by far the best travel movie. One of the characters actually carries around a guidebook! If you love a good caper set in an exotic location, you’ll love In Bruges. Collin Farrel and Brendan Gleeson star as two hit men who are sent to Bruges, Belgium to hide out after a job goes bad.

The more Colin Farrell’s character complained of hating Bruges (in Belgium), the more you took in the surroundings of Bruges and noticed just how picturesque the city is. While the film is primarily a crime drama and dark comedy it intertwines the city’s picturesque locations and cultural aspects with the narrative seamlessly.

Rent or Buy In Bruges on Amazon

2. banshees of inisherin trailer

I was so excited to see Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson reunite and this time, they share screen time in one of the newest travel films on our list, the Banshees of Inisherin. The movie takes place on the Aran Islands of Ireland and showcases the beauty of that destination as two friends go through some very dark times.

Gleessan’s character Colm decides he has wasted his life and cuts ties with his lifelong best friend Pádraic (Farrell) and all kinds of darkness begins. It had some of the best acting I’ve seen in years, and every one of the four main cast was nominated for Acadamy Awards.

3. One Week

One of our favorite travel movies of all time. And not because it is set in Canada. One Week follows a young man driving a motorcycle on a cross-country road trip across Canada after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. No movie has made me want to explore a country more than One Week. It showcases Canada beautifully.

I didn’t want to see this movie because of its morbid subject, but it ended up being an uplifting and enlightening film of self-discovery. It truly is the ultimate Canadian road trip movie. Rent One Week Here on Amazon

4. Secret Life of Walter Mitty

I had to watch this most popular of all travel films twice before deciding I liked The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and I can understand why it is at the top of most lists of best travel movies. This movie takes you from New York, to Iceland, Greenland and the Himalayas.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty shows how taking a risk and getting out of your comfort zone can lead to great things. The ending was my favorite, but I won’t spoil it for you. Rent it now .

5. Before Sunrise Trilogy

We have three of our favorite travel movies in one package! And each showcases the destination they are in. The Before Sunrise movies are about love but they are also very much travel films. They were filmed 10 years apart and they take place in three different locations around Europe – Vienna , Paris , and Greece .

The Before Sunrise trilogies capture the essence of each destination. And here’s a cool fact – Dave and I stayed at  Costa Navarino  in Greece where After Midnight took place!

It is probably the best of all romantic travel movies out there that literally spans three decades. (They film a movie every 10 years). Watch Before Sunrise and Sunset on Amazon Prime

6. Planes Trains and Automobiles

John Candy and Steve Martin take an unexpected cross country road trip from New York City to Chicago. This is Dave’s pick for the best travel movie.

This is considered one of the great comedy travel movies, but I look at it as a drama. John Candy’s character breaks my heart. You may think of it as a holiday film but it is also one of the funniest travel films out there. If you’re in the mood for a good heartfelt comedy,  rent it today.

7. Julie & Julia

Not only does Julie and Julia star the great Meryl Streep but this travel movie is based on blogging. It’s like it was made for us! I was surprised by how much I loved this movie based on the true story of Julia Child and I didn’t go in expecting much.

Julie & Julia follows the life of Julia Child during her time in Paris and cuts throughout to the present day in New York . It makes you crave French cuisine and a life of decadence in France. When it comes to choosing a  favorite travel movie this one is right up there. Rent it now

8. The Big Year

The Big Year follows Jack Black (who doesn’t love Jack Black?), Owen Wilson, and Steve Martin traveling around the United States with hopes of becoming the number 1 bird watcher in the world. It ended up being one of the most surprising travel films I’ve seen.

They are obsessed with spotting more species of birds than any other person in 365 days. I related to this movie because it is more about the journey and how having a great adventure can change a life. Rent it Now

Best Travel Movies for Adventure Lovers

9. into the wild.

The real-life true story chronicles the journey of  Christopher McCandless who went on a cross country road trip through the US and ended up in Alaska .

I read Into the Wild years ago and was mesmerized trying to figure out how someone could give up everything to go and live off the grid. John Krakauer dug into the psyche of McCandless and what motivates people to take risks.

Things don’t turn out as he hoped, and it is a lesson learned for would-be adventurers. Enjoy it now !

Wild is an adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s travel memoir, From Lost To Found On The Pacific Crest Trail. Based on a true story, it follows her journey about putting a life back together after it all falls apart.

Pushing the limits physically on the Pacific Crest Trail and stepping out of her comfort zone take her on a journey of self-discovery. A struggle and journey can change a life and Reese Witherspoon is excellant as usual. Check it out on Amazon

11. Everest

Everest by John Krakauer is the true story of the catastrophe that happened on Everest in 1996. It’s a first-hand account by Krakauer who was on Everest at the time. While the movie focuses on the events, it does showcase the psyche of why people climb mountains and it shows the culture and beauty of the Everest Region.

As far as travel movies go, even though it is based on a dark subject, it does make me want to go to Everest. So we did! Plus, it stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Josh Brolin, so how can you go wrong?

• You can rent this movie made in Hollywood
• You can also check out the documentary.

Tracks is another travel movie base on a true story and I really enjoyed it. It’s a film about a young woman who walks across Australia from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean with four camels and her pet dog.

What I really liked is how the lead character Robyn Davidson learns the skills needed to survive. She is visited by a photographer from National Geographic who shared her story and was led through the sacred lands of the Outback by an Aboriginal elder. Watch this Amazing true story on Amazon ! 

13. World’s Fastest Indian 

From New Zealand to America, Anthony Hopkins takes his Indian Motorcycle to the salt flats to see how far he can go. The World’s Fastest Indian is one of my favorite performances by Hopkins and it is one of the great underrated travel movies.

He is vulnerable, lovable, and inspiring. This true story takes you on a fun road trip along the way until he reaches the Salt Flats of California and that is when you really start rooting for him to win! Rent it on Amazon Prime

14. Adventures of Pricilla Queen of the Desert

Adventures of Pricilla Queen of the Desert follows a group of drag queens taking a cross country road trip in a van named “Pricilla” from Sydney to Alice Springs where they are going to perform their drag show.

They meet a lot of characters along the way and this film introduced us to superstars Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce who joined the already-established Terrence Stamp.

15. Motorcycle Diaries

Ever since watching one of the best travel movies about South America, (you guessed it, the Motorcycle Diaries) wanted to do a road trip through South America. (PS. I’m still dreaming of that road trip through South America one day)

Gael García Bernal stars as Che Guevera and it follows his journey on a motorcycle trip through South America before he became a part of the revolution. This movie is based on a true story where Che traveled through the continent and I believe it was traveling through South America that Che saw what people were going through and that is what sparked him to take action in his own way.

• Check it out for yourself
• Rent it on Amazon

16. The Way

Dave and I have always wanted to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain. This movie is a bittersweet tribute to the epic hike. Acting legend Martin Sheen walks the trail to honor his son Emilio Estevez (also director) who died on the walk. This movie explores themes of grief, regret, and understanding.

Sheen’s character finishes what his son started helping him connect and understand his son while examining his own life and is one of the most moving travel movies on our list. You can watch it on Amazon

Best Classic Travel Movies

17. lawrence of arabia.

Lawrence of Arabia made us dream of the Arabian Desert and that is what travel films are meant to do. I would say that this is often considered one of the best travel movies of all time. It’s the original travel movie for sure and it really does capture the majesty of the Arabian Desert.

When we got the chance to visit Jordan and walk in the footsteps of the real Lawrence of Arabia, we couldn’t believe we were living our own travel movie. This will make you want to go on an adventure and spend the night in a Bedouin tent. Rent it on Amazon Prime Now

18. Out of Africa

If you want another Meryl Streep vehicle that is often considered one of the best travel movies, you should try  Out of Africa. Out of Africa takes place in a different time, but it captures the heart of Africa beautifully.

Based on a true story, Meryl Streep stars as a married baroness in love with big game hunter Robert Redford. Their chemistry is unmistakable. She falls in love with Africa and you will fall in love with it too.

The cinematography is outstanding. It won 7 Oscars including Best Picture and Best Cinematography. Rent Out of Africa

19. Romancing the Stone

Who didn’t fantasize about an adventure in Colombia after watching Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas in Romancing the Stone? As a kid I always thought about the line “ I need to get to Cartagena ” and while I had no idea where Cartagena was,(It’s in South America by the way) I knew it was exciting.

In the most romanticly fun of travel movies, Kathleen Turner transformed from a scared writer who merely writes about adventure, to a woman encountering an adventure and meeting a rugged mysterious man in exotic Columbia. Watch Romancing the Stone today

20. The Bucket List

With two of my favorite actors and a message to live life to the fullest, the Bucket List is one amazing movie and one of the best travel movies. I think it actually invented the term, The Bucket List. The phrase has been overused in recent years, but the message never gets old. The Bucket List is the original “live your dreams now” travel movie.

It’s beautifully acted, heartfelt, and showcases how life should be lived to the fullest. Rent or buy it here!

Most people say that Amelie is one of the best travel movies of all time. So this list wouldn’t be complete without it. I did love the views of Paris and the everyday life showcased in Montmartre.

I also enjoyed the uplifting message of a quiet young woman named, Amelie helping the people around her in the lovely district of Montmartre in Paris. If you want to watch sweeping scenes through Paris streets and if you love Paris, you can’t help but like Amelie. So check it out !

22. Roman Holiday

This did not age well in our opinion. We watched it recently and it is just downright bad. Many people will probably disagree. But as far as travel movies go, it is fun to see a princess posing as a regular young Woman zipping around Rome.

They should remake Roman Holiday, it would be fun. Rent it on Prime

23. Sideways

I admit it. After this movie came out, I didn’t drink Merlot for years! Sideways takes us on a road trip through California wine country and it really is filled with amazing performances by Paul Giamatti, Sandra Oh, Virginia Madsen, and Thomas Hayden Church.

We have been to Santa Maria, California, and this movie captures the feel of wine country perfectly. Rent or buy on Amazon Prime 

24. Up in the Air

Up in the Air makes you love the idea of travel but it shows the emptiness that the life of a vagabond can lead to if you don’t stay grounded with your family and friends. It’s not in the genre of typical travel films out there, but travel is the main theme.

I cannot go through airport security anymore without thinking of George Clooney as his character has the art of travel down to a science.

This movie also has a great message that Dave and I can relate to. We all become so consumed with our careers and our lives that we forget about what is important. Get it on Amazon Instant Video

Best Travel Movies Highlighting Destinations

25. ticket to paradise.

Our newest addition to our travel movies is from two legends, George Clooney and Julia Roberts who take us to Bali for their daughter’s wedding. The two divorced years ago, but agree that their daughter is too young to get married and decide to sabotage the wedding.

This movie showcases the culture and beauty of Bali while showing us once again how travel can be transformational and can change your life.

I love these two together, George and Julia, and great friends in real life and have amazing on-screen chemistry.

26. The Beach – Thailand

The Beach is the original backpacker slacker travel film. The Beach captures what Thailand was like before tourists started flocking to it en-masse. At one time, it was an off-the-beaten-path backpacker destination. We enjoyed the book more, but you can never go wrong with Leo.

If you want to get a sense of what it was like to travel to Thailand before mass tourism, this is a good movie for you. Plus it is beautiful and as far as travel movies go, it will make you want to go to Thailand. Not only are the people beautiful, but the scenery of southern Thailand is also out of this world.

Take in the journey as they search for a hidden beach that is pure perfection.

27. Lost in Translation – Tokyo

Tokyo is a bit strange. It is unlike anywhere else on earth, and Lost in Translation showcases the culture shock that one feels when staying in a different city.

There are different customs in Japan and the culture is much different than anywhere else and this movie captures that odd feeling you get when traveling there. Lost in Translation highlights some of the best spots in Tokyo.

The hotel where the movie takes place still has one of the best views in the city! And who doesn’t love Bill Murray? He is priceless and it’s one of Scarlett Johanson’s best performances. Check it Out

28. Slumdog Millionaire – India

We traveled to India in 2010 and Slumdog Millionaire seemed to capture the true slums of India while showcasing the heart of the people. Many of the rich cities are modern, but when traveling through rural India and the poorer areas, this is what it’s like.

Dev Patel stars as a young Indian boy who gets on a game show that could change his life. It’s heartbreaking, raw, and sometimes uncomfortable which is exactly what travel can be too hence why it made the list of our favorite travel movies. Download it here on Amazon

If you are a fan of Dev Patel (as we are) you will love him in another of our favorite travel films, Lion. Lion is based on a true story and is an emotional journey that takes audiences across India and Australia spanning cultures, and decades.

Patel plays Saroo Brierley, a young Indian boy who gets lost on a train in India at the age of five. After surviving several challenges on the streets of Kolkata and eventually being adopted by an Australian family, Saroo, as an adult, uses Google Earth to find his birth mother and the journey begins. The movie also stars Nicol Kidman.

30. Vicky, Cristina Barcelona – Spain

Admit it, we all want to go to Spain and run into beautiful people like Penelope Cruz and Javier Barden. I think this movie did so well because it inspired everyone to go to Barcelona. (That’s our criteria for choosing the best travel movies, how they inspired travel)

Vicky Cristina Barcelona makes us dream of the cities in Spain , the passion of the Spanish people and getting away for a summer in Spain.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona definitely is an inspiring travel movie and one of the best travel films out there. It really captures the energy and passion of Spain in Barcelona . Rent Vicky Christina Barcelona on Amazon

31. Under the Tuscan Sun – Italy

For the romantics out there, Under the Tuscan Sun is one of the best travel movies. Wouldn’t you just love to buy a villa in Tuscany and fall in love with a stranger?

This is one of my favorite romantic travel films and Under the Tuscan Sun based on a true story. After a bad divorce, her character takes a trip to Italy courtesy of her best friend, (The incredible Sandra Oh!) and buys a house!

This travel movie is based on a true story where our star shares the trials and tribulations of renovating a Tuscan villa. You can rent Under the Tuscan Sun on Amazon

32. Best Exotic Marigold Hotel – India

We always preach that you are never too old to try something new and you are never too old to travel and that is the premise of one of the most beloved travel movies, Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. It’s chock full of great legendary actors including Dame Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, and Maggie Smith.

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel follows a group of retirees who travel to India to live out their days at a crumbling retirement hotel. All mayhem and madness ensue as things can only in India. There’s romance, tragedy, and hope. Rent it now

33. A Good Year – Provence France

A Good Year made me want to go to Provence and live a simple life…on a multi-million dollar vineyard estate. That’s reasonable, right? And that’s what travel movies make you want to do…Pick up and go somewhere.

A Good Year makes life in Provence look like the Garden of Eden and I want a piece of it. Everyone is beautiful, everyone is a wine connoisseur, and everyone is pure and good. Who wouldn’t want to go to the south of France after seeing A Good Year? Rent it now.

34. Midnight in Paris – Paris

Looking for travel movies that combine time travel this movie night? Midnight in Paris captures the golden years of Paris as Owen Wilson walks through the streets at night in search of that romantic nostalgia of the city.

Blending time travel with traditional travel, this film showcases Paris’s rich history and examines how different eras appeal to different people.

He ends up meeting the famous patrons of the 1920s including Cole Porter, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and more! This travel movie makes me want to hop on a flight to Paris every time! Watch it on Amazon Prime or get it on DVD

35. Australia – Australia

This movie was crucified by the critics, but I loved it and its one of the best travel movies showcasing the beauty of Australia’s landscape. Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman take her cattle across the Outback.

It also touches on the injustices of how Australia treated the Aboriginal People, reminding me of what Canada did with residential schools to our own indigenous communities.

It’s beautifully shot and is a love letter to Australia while highlighting the true story of the Aboriginal struggles. I think it deserved more love than it got. Check it out on Amazon

36. The Impossible

It took me forever to finally watch the impossible because it is based on the true story of surviving the devastating Tsunami in Southeast Asia. It follows a family from England who are vacationing in Thailand and are impacted by the Tsunami.

It showcases the huge hearts that the Thai people have. Even while going through their own trauma, they play a huge role in helping this family get back together and survive.

The movie stars Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor and Tom Holland and it is one of the best performances I think Naomi Watts has ever done.

Lighthearted Travel Movies

37. eurovision.

This is one of the funniest travel movies out there. The movie kicks off (after a brief flashback) in Iceland showcasing its beautiful landscapes and waterfalls with sweeping drone shots of the stars performing.

It has all the stereotypes and cliches of Iceland, but it is done with heart and fun. It really is a love letter to Iceland. Follow Lars and Sigrit as they try to fulfill their dream of competing in Eurovision in Edinburgh. The movie gives a nice showcase of that city too making it two travel movies in one. Rent it on Amazon

38. Darjeeling Limited

This quirkiest of travel movies takes Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, and Adrian Brody across India one year after their father’s death starting on the Darjeeling Express train. It’s strange, heartbreaking, hilarious, and pure Wes Anderson.

When they visit their mother in an Ashram, it makes me think of the strange people that run away to India to find themselves. Oh yeah, he gets it. Check it out on Amazon Prime

39. Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Set in the very real Turtle Bay Resort in Oahu this pick on our travel movies list stars Jason Seigel as a Hollywood Writer who goes to Hawaii to heal his wounds after getting dumped by his girlfriend Kristen Bell. It turns out, she is there on vacation with her new boyfriend and shenanigans ensue.

This movie makes you want to book a plane to Hawaii and have your own stay at Turtle Bay which has now become very popular. Rent it on Prime

40. Last Holiday

If you are searching for comedy travel movies, this should be at the top of your list. This is the ultimate fairytale on how travel can change a life. And how we should all strive to live a better life. It’s too short to wait.

Queen Latifa is priceless as a woman who is diagnosed with a terminal disease, so she takes her life savings to enjoy her final holiday at a luxurious resort. She does everything from base jumping to snowboarding and indulging in decadent French cuisine.

If everyone took a holiday like this, we’d all live happier lives. Rent, Buy or Watch on Amazon Prime

41. The Holiday

It may be a Christmas movie, but The Holiday is one of the best travel movies out there. We watch it every year and it shows how travel is transformational. Starring Kate Winslett, Jack Black, Jude Law and Cameron Diaz, The Holiday flips back and forth between Los Angeles and England.

The two female stars have very different vacations as they house swap, but both have their lives changed through travel.

42. French Kiss

Meg Ryan plays a woman named Kate who is afraid to travel. When her fiance falls for another woman in France, she vows to win him back and travels there despite being terrified. Hilarity ensues when she meets con man Kevin Kline and they venture across the country together following the formula of travel movies galore.

My favorite scene is when she is indulging in cheese on the train. It’s that French moment that made me daydream about traveling by train across the French countryside. Watch French Kiss for yourself

43. My Life in Ruins

While not as good as My Big Fat Greek Wedding, My Life in Ruins is a nice comeback for Nia Vardalos in a fun-loving travel film.

She plays a tour leader taking stereotypical tourists through the sites of Greece. It’s fun, it’s romantic and the setting is beautiful. It’s not going to win any Academy Awards, but for a fun Saturday afternoon movie, this will transport you to Greece. Rent it or buy it on Amazon

44. The Hangover 2

The First Hangover was far better and it too is a travel movie taking you to Vegas. But when choosing travel movies from this trilogy, I had to choose the setting of Bangkok. It captures the crazy energy of the city.

My favorite scene is when Bradly Cooper has to go to the hospital and comes out with an absurdly low hospital bill. Dave and I have been to the hospital in Thailand and can attest, it is cheap. Rent it now! 

Blockbuster Travel Movies

45. star wars: the rise of skywalker & the last jedi.

One wouldn’t think of a movie based in outer space to be a travel movie that inspires wanderlust, but the last Star Wars Trilogy featured one of our favorite destinations on Earth, Skellig M ichael

This 6th-century monastery was a star unto itself as Luke trained Rey in the ways of the Force. It has now inspired many travelers and film buffs to take the hair-raising boat ride out to these rocky islands 12 km off the coast of Ireland. Check it out

46. Mama Mia

We actually learned where Mama Mia takes place while visiting the location where it was filmed, Pelion, Greece. The Greek islands are paradise, and Mama Mia follows the story of Meryl Streep who runs a hotel on the coast. We thought it was filmed somewhere like Santorini or Mykonos.

When her daughter becomes engaged, she invites three men who might be her father. It’s a rip-roaring good time of music, fun and beautiful scenery.

The Santorini blue and white houses, the crystal clear blue sea, and the music of Abba become those who watch to travel to Greece! Watch it on Prime today

47. Once Upon a Time in Mexico Trilogy

How sexy are Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayak together? You must watch the entire trilogy to really appreciate this series by Robert Rodrigues. Once Upon A Time In Mexico ends the trilogy with Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, and Cheech Marin. El Mariachi started it all starring Carlos Gallardo. My favorite of the 3 is Desperado , but they are all entertaining.

Once Upon A Time In Mexico is a fantasy and it is a stereotype of Mexico, but it makes you want to go to Mexico and have a great adventure. The scenery is gorgeous, the film is filled with cool style, and the music is fabulous. Watch the Trilogy today!

48. The Legend of Tarzan

The $180 million dollar budget makes sure to showcase the beauty of the African Savannah, the dense jungles, and the majestic wildlife. You feel as if you have entered the heart of Africa. Seriously, rent it, you’re going to like it a lot more than you think! Rent it on Amazon

49. The Tourist

It’s a little indulgent, and Angelina Jolie is a bit annoying to watch with how amazing she thinks she is in this, but it does capture taking an international trip to Europe beautifully.

It makes you want to have a romantic tryst in Venice . It makes you want to ride a train and have a mysterious encounter. It gives you a glimpse into how the rich live and travel the world.

50. The Thing

Recently we had someone write to us with a list of their favorite movies about travel. He mentioned the first Alien vs. Predator took place in Antarctica and I remember that being a pretty entertaining film. Then I thought about the classic Kurt Russel movie, The Thing .

This thriller takes place at a scientific base camp in the Antarctic and really lets you feel how claustrophobic and isolated researchers must feel when spending the winter at the bottom of the world. Watch it now!

51. Thelma and Louise

Who would have thought that Thelma and Louise would be heralded as one of the best travel films of all time, but it has. When researching this article, I saw that everyone had it on their list, so I had to include it. Besides, I love this film. I saw it at the theatre when it came out and it blew me away.

Brad Pitt makes his debut in this dark road trip adventure. Susan Sarandon and Geena Dave about female empowerment, friendship, and the transformative power of travel.

52. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Yes, this was a blockbuster film for teenagers. I remember working at YTV and this movie was going mad in the teen realm so I had to add it to my best travel movies list. The premise of the story revolves around four friends—Lena, Tibby, Bridget, and Carmen—who find a pair of jeans that, despite their differing body types, fits each of them perfectly. They decide to share these “magical” pants as they embark on their separate summer adventures, thus maintaining their connection with each other.

Where does the traveling come in? Well, Lena travels to Greece , Bridget goes to Mexico , Carmen visits her father in South Carolina, and Tibby stays in Maryland.

While not a “travel movie” in the traditional sense—where the main characters are often journeying together or the narrative revolves solely around their travel experiences—”Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” embodies elements of travel movies by incorporating different cultures, locations, and the concept of journeying (both physical and emotional) into its narrative.

53. Bourne Movies, James Bonds, Mission Impossible & Indiana Jones Movies

The Bourne movies, James Bond, Indian Jones, and Mission Impossible take us around the world with each movie and really are the best travel films to showcase the globe. These epic travel movies take audiences to a whole new level of taking an international trip with decadence, wealth, espionage, and romance.

I wanted to include them because if you are looking for some beautiful scenes from Europe and the Middle East, these travel films fit the bill. They are so good at taking you away to exotic places .

Our Favorites of These Epic Travel Movies are

54. the bourne identity.

The original takes us on an international trip from Switzerland through Paris. It’s the car scene in Paris that really captures the city but the entire movie is one big travel movie.

55. Casino Royal – James Bond

This makes us dream of living with the high rollers in Montenegro the beautiful people in the Bahamas. It’s as epic as epic travel movies get riding on trains, planes and yachts and it’s the best James Bond with Daniel Craig.

56. Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol

It’s not often that sequels are better than the original, but when it comes to the Mission Impossible series, each one out does the other. Tom Cruise loves to travel and push the limits creating the most epic travel movies on the planet. I chose Ghost Protocol because of its setting in Dubai and Cruise scaling the walls of the Burj Khalifa. (The tallest structure in the world)

Best Travel Movies in Fictional Settings

57. grand budapest hotel.

I can’t help it, I love Wes Anderson movies. He is offbeat and quirky. Grand Budapest Hotel is one of the best travel movies that isn’t set in any real place. This is all in a fictional setting.

I like this for a travel movie because it reminds me of the grand old hotels from another era. Well, it should because it is set in another era. The hotel is fictional, but it does take you away to another world. Rent it on Prime

58. Black Panther

Wakanda may be a fictional place in Africa, but this movie captures the spirit of East and South Africa. It embraces the African culture and many of the movie’s scenes were filmed in Africa.

We have been to Africa numerous times and this movie transported us there again. It may be fictional, but Black Panther is one fo the best travel movies to make you want to discover the culture and beauty of Africa. watch it now!

59. Lord of the Rings and Hobbit

They may be set in Middle Earth, but the Lord of the Rings movies are a love letter to New Zealand. As far as setting go, the trilogy makes for epic travel movies! Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit Movies make us want to go to New Zealand and these films capture its beauty perfectly.

Rent the trilogy on Amazon today

60. Eat Pray Love

And let us end with the mother of all travel movies, Eat Pray Love. Who doesn’t love Julia Roberts? However, Eat Pray Love wasn’t my favorite travel movie at all. But The book was okay but the movie starring Julia Roberts is dreadful. If you liked it, let me know. Maybe I’ll give it another watch in case I missed something. Rent it on Amazon

We’ll be updating this list regularly and we love finding new travel movies to watch. So, if you have suggestions for your favorite travel movies, leave them in the comments below and we’ll be sure to give them a watch!

Tell me what you think are the best travel movies and we will compare notes.

You May Enjoy these other inspiring posts:

• 44 of the Best Road Trip Songs
• Best Travel Songs Playlist
• Best Travel Books to Inspire Travel
• 60 of the Best Road Trip Songs to Rock the Long Drive
• 101 Best Travel Quotes in the World with Pictures

Disclosure:  The links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. We receive affiliate commissions, but it’s no extra cost to you!

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Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil are the owners and founders of The Planet D. After traveling to 115 countries, on all 7 continents over the past 13 years they have become one of the foremost experts in travel. Being recognized as top travel bloggers and influencers by the likes of Forbes Magazine , the Society of American Travel Writers and USA Today has allowed them to become leaders in their field.

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107 thoughts on “60 Best Travel Movies to Inspire Wanderlust”

Very interesting and thought-provoking list. Another film I think belongs in this company is “A Month by the Lake,” a 1995 work starring Vanessa Redgrave, Edward Fox, and Uma Thurman. Its setting, at the Villa del Balbianello on a peninsula in Lake Como, was used in scenes from a number of other movies, but here it gets starring role.

one of my favorite travel movies is “If it is Tuesday it must be Belgium”. it captures the travels and travails of some very uninformed American tourists on a guided tour. One of the wives, tired of the endless strings of cheese shops they visit heads back to their tour bus. The problem is it is the wrong tour bus. Hilarity ensues …

Thanks for the thoughtful list. Might I add a few more wanderlust-inducing movie recommendations/destinations that I have a hunch you will love?

Enchanted April (Italy) Shirley Valentine (Greece/Mykonos) Everything is Illuminated (Russia/Ukraine) Summer Lovers (Gene Siskel’s ‘guilty pleasure) (Greek Islands/Santorini) The Hundred Foot Journey (India/France) Local Hero (Scotland — and perfectly depicts how an enchanting location can change your view of what’s important in life) Anne of Green Gables — Kevin Sullivan version (Price Edward Island) Outsourced (India) Jean de Florette/Manon of the Spring (Provence France) The Quiet Man (Ireland) A Passage to India (India)

These are fantastic suggestions, thank sfor sharing! I’ve been wanting to see The Hundred Foot Journey. I think that will be my weekend watching!

Hi , thanks for sharing the best travel movies.

I love to watch 72 hours is my best travel movie all time.

Brilliant! Some of my teal favourites and now a list to watch. …many, many thanks. Allison

Great movies list all movies are best and all movies have a good rating on IMDb actually my favorite movie is LORD OF THE RINGS AND HOBBIT. and next, I would like to watch Star wars series.

Great choices of movies you have given a big list a great work

Great article! I will definitely choose a few movies that I haven’t seen yet. I could add a movie called “The Hundred-Foot Journey”. This film is about a Hindu family who moves to France, where they open a restaurant.

I’ve been meaning to watch that one. I think I will have to check it out this weekend and add it to the list! Thanks for the reminder.

Very comprehensive list! lots of great movies, and some of my favourites such as Seven Years inTibet and Walter Mitty.

I have to disagree with you about The Darjeeling Limited though: “When they visit their mother in an Ashram, it makes me think of the strange people that run away to India to find themselves. Oh yeah, he gets it.”

I felt the most important scene in the movie is when the guys rescue the boys in the river, and one doesn’t make it. They take part ion the family grieving and funeral, and have a very life-changing, profound experience. I felt the movie actually validates people “running away to India.”

In these difficult times especially, finding a sense of purpose, or meaning, or spirituality, or whatever you want to call it, is more important than ever. I think we will see a lot more people “running away to find themselves” and in fact, I am working on offering spiritual itineraries.

How about Red Eye and Flight Plan? I think they both portrait (fear of) commercial flying experience pretty good!

We have already watched quite a few of these ? gotta love a great movie night! Thanks for a great list, that we will start to work our way through ?

Great choices for movies! Others that come to mind are “Before Sunrise” and “Into the Wild.”

LORD OF THE RINGS AND HOBBIT is my favourite. i had watch so many times but always loved

This list couldn’t have come at a better time as we currently shelter in place and travel only through our TVs! Thank you.

All movies are great and my fav <3

great films..i watched some movie

OOH Julie and Julia is one of my all time favorites! And Eat Pray Love…It’s a good time for movies at home for sure!

Love the list. Thank you for sharing. As a classic movie buff, however, you are so wrong about Roman Holiday. This movie is a classic. I recently saw it on the big screen for the millionth time and it was amazing. How can you not love Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn?! His voice alone is worth a listen! And the old scenes of Rome are wonderful. Have to truly disagree about this one. LOVE this movie.

Anyway, thanks again!

SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY movie motivates people to dare to make a decision.

I love this list!! You hit some of my favorite movies. I’ve watched a lot of these but I have a feeling I’ll be rewatching some of them in the coming weeks. Thanks for remind me!

GREAT list, thank you! I’ve seen some Bollywood films and loved them, and would love a best of list of them!

Great site for everything

Great list, guys — you really dug deep. If you love The Sounds of Music, you have to visit Salzburg, where you can see the actual places where they shot many of the scenes, including the palace in the middle of town. You can even stay in the Von Trapps’ house. And I may have missed it in your list, but The Year of Living Dangerously absolutely captures the exotic atmosphere and the beauty of Southeast Asia — the gamelan music stays in your head for days. Also, Gandhi for a virtual trip to India.

Very well collections, Really some of the names are not heard. This type of movies are oxygen for any traveler.

Great list of movie i like slumdog millionaire once upon a time in mexico

Secret Life of Walter Mitty for sure, this movie made me so pumped to travel while ‘into the wild’ made me a little depressed and not wishing to become a mentally ill person who goes eating dead animals and rejecting society

Lovely idea, great movies! Love your blog!

I really love this movies.

Each movie is an exciting adventure, felt from the film, emotions, as well as an impressive moment. Thanks for your collection!

Thank you for your list! Lawrence of Arabia for certain, but almost any film by Werner Herzog, especially Aguirre:The Wrath of God. But I am partial to “art” or “foreign” films over Hollywood.

I loved a movie I watched and I can’t remember the name and I can’t find it. It was about a woman, maybe in her 40’s maybe 50’s that traveled to India to meet up with her husband. Her husband was detained by work and sent his male Indian assistant to meet her. While waiting for her husband to arrive, the assistant showed her the sites of India. A romance developed with the assistant over many days, but never crossed the line. Would love to watch this again….

Maybe you’re thinking of the movie ‘Cairo Time’. It’s set in Egypt, not India, but has the exact plot you’re referring to.

All are attractive and I will watch each movie

I shared the movies I shared. The movie content is very interesting and interesting, I like it very much.

This is also a very good post which I really enjoy reading

For me Motorcycle diaries is best.Thanks for list. I will check other movies too.

Nice list, you got almost all of my favorite travel films! A couple additions I would make are “The Sheltering Sky”, and “Voyager”.

The Painted Veil – gorgeous!

I hope it will be show at CGV

Definitely a great list of movies that gets us thinking about travel. Everest was one that really took our breath away and told an amazing story. In Bruges is still one of my favorite. Thanks for sharing!

Loved the post and the films. I still didn’t see 9 films and already want see. Will try found they for this weekend. But the best is to see Indiana Jones in the list.. it’s my prefer film of life <3

the beauty of this movie list is that this in includes movies in Malayalam, Hindi English and believe me these movies are the very best travel movies I have seen . kudos?

Great Choices !

Always on the lookout for movies to watch on the plane!!! Thanks for the recos!!!!

Great choices for movies

I hate you after watching only 2 of these movies from your list i feel like travelling but unfortunately my my academics. By the way best list of travel movies I have seen on internet. Good going brother. wish to see more content in future.

Mr. Bean’s Holiday. A very ridiculous movie, but the cinematography is amazing, and it’s very inspiring.

Great article and awesome collection of movies. Red balloon is my favorite movie and it’s amazing storey

Film is called Before Midnight. Not after.

Thanks for the correction. I mixed up the Trilogy in my head, thinking “the one after Before Sunset.” – There is Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight.

Great article, many good informations

I love watching movies ahead of travelling and often find them inspirational. For Western Australia I found ‘Rabbitproof Fence’ a very good movie. You’ve chosen some good ones!

Great collection of movies to watch. I absolutely loved The Bucket List. As usual Morgan Freeman was awesome. Great movies about travel and for when traveling.

Can you believe that I never saw Stealing Beauty? Now I am going to have to check it out. I agree with Sideways too. Loved that show. It made me want to drink Pinot Noir.

Wild is a great book and the movie is pretty true to the book. Reece Witherspoon is really good in it. Based on true story of a troubled woman who decides to hike one of Americas longest trails with little money and not enough experience. Humbling and left me feeling the wanderlust pretty hard.

The Bucket List and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty are the best travel movies in my opinion. Iceland is on my travel bucket list, hope I can visit that place.

Best Movie Collection. my favorite movies also include in these. love to see the collection of movies thanks to sharing this information with us.

Nice article! inspiring people for Traveling

Thanks for compiling this list. It’s interesting to know the place where the movie was shot. I absolutely agree on what you said about James Bond movies.

Thanks for the post. Some I have seen and some I haven’t, and looking forward to (Especially ONE WEEK)

I’d like to add LOCAL HERO. There are some melancholic moments in the film accompanied by Mark Knopfler’s beautiful soundtrack. Would make anyone jump off the couch, dump all the COMFORTS OF CITY and visit rural Scotland and walk the beaches and witness the Aurora Borealis. One of my favourites alongwith The Motorcycle Diaries and Into the Wild.

Great choices

Excellent list, but Indiana Jones really is a wonderful trip. Note 1000.

Under a Tuscan sun is my favorite!!!! Been to Tuscany because of that movie!! 🙂 Jotted down a few to watch from your list! Thanks!

thank you guys. Into the wild is my favourite one on the list.

You named quite a few of my favorites but the two I’d like to recommend are Hector and the Pursuit of Happiness starring Simon Pegg, and The Way starring Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez.

The Way inspired me to walk the Camino de Santiago which turned into an incredible trip.

Great list of best all time travel movies. I must admit that there are still so many movies I have not yet seen. I need to work on that sooner rather than later!

Great list but would certainly add :

– The way (with Martin Sheen) , very inspiring movie about Camino de Santiago – Motorcycle diaries, simply a great movie about travel and life

Fantastic films, thanks for making this kind of film! Many people should watch it! Thanks for sharing this list.

Wow! This list is great! I will surely add these in my playlist. Hopefully, I will be able to watch most of these travel movies. I plan to travel soon, I’m juts looking for more inspiration and travel tips. Glad I came by your blog!

Whoa! You gave me a completely new set of movies to add to my list here! Into the Wild is one of my favorites and the Everest is a spine-chilling movie. A great list Dave & Deb!

Check out Maindentrip, the story of the youngest girl to sail around the world, Laura Dekker. I think my wife finally believed we could do it if a 13 year old can.

Thanks for the recommendation!

These ultimate travel tips for when they have a desired of lust.

What about “Blue Hawaii” and any of the Jurassic Park videos for Hawaii?

Thank you for your list – I am constantly looking for good travel movies.

Till the date bucket list is one of my favourite movie 🙂 Thank you for the information about other movies too

Thank you for this great list. I see some old favorites on the list but also a number of movies I need to see. I’ve added them my list. You’re right about movies inspiring travel. After seeing, Under the Tuscan Sun, I’ve always wanted to visit Tuscany. I’m finally making it there soon.

What a fantastic list full of excellent movies! There’s no doubt that these titles can help to light the spark of wanderlust in anyone. I was actually lucky enough to stumble upon the making of Ridley Scott’s upcoming Alien Covenant movie in New Zealand’s Milford Sound. I’m very much looking forward to its release so I can see the spectacular panning shots of that breathtaking landscape. Movies are a great medium to translate the beauty of travel.

No way! That is so cool. I’m such a fan of Alien, it would be amazing to see them filming it. I love seeing landscapes of places I’ve been in movies.

Slumdog Millionaire and Secret Life of Walter Mitty are Good Movies

Nice list – a few of my favourites there: Everest, Into The Wild, Slumdog Millionaire, The Bucket List, Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Nothing like a good movie for inspiring travel.

A few others to consider: The Beach, Midnight Express, Kundun, Seven Years in Tibet…

“Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all of one’s lifetime.” – Mark Twain

Hi, Oh wow I really love this list, seriously is so right! Holidays is another good one that invites you to discover surrey :), I enjoyed so much Amelie, unfortunately I cannot say the same of Paris, Je t’aime, which is other of the “must seen movies”, honestly… overrated… anyways, nice list I really enjoy it.

Great list… something a lot of people leave off the list is Julia and Julia. That movie is HUGE to foodies, chefs, etc… Makes me want to hop on a flight every time I see it! Julia Child was a machine, so glad you guys included that movie on this list!

I am a movie addict person, and I loved to travel. I enjoyed all of these films. Very Inspirational lists. Thank you, Dave, for this excellent Article. Loved it:)

A lots of movies that needed to add here. I watched a few of then not all and find very inspirational and heart touching. Slumdog millionaire is one of my favourite and very heart touching.

I love this list, but I’d add almost any movie filmed in San Francisco, even if they weren’t that good (like “The Wedding Planner” or the “The Rock”). They’d actually have to be filmed there and not just set there, like the last “Godzilla” movie 😉

Thanks for the additions. I loved the wedding planner. Although I just watched it again recently and realized what a schmuck Matthew Macoughnay’s character is. He totally led Jennifer Lopez’s character on and was a jerk to his fiancé. haha. But it’s a good lighthearted romantic comdey. They don’t make enough of those anymore..

I came to this article to ensure you had Romancing the Stone..and you didnt let me down. I used to love that movie growing up. I am totally with you, on thinking about Cartagena as some exotic far away place that I had to visit. I eventually found out the movie wasn’t actually filmed in Cartagena or Colombia because of the dire security situation at that time…but when i finally visited Cartagena, i found it even more magical and exotic than the film…love the film, and love the city even more now.

I am so glad we didn’t let you down! I am also so glad that you felt the same way about Cartagena. I always envision Kathleen Turner saying “come to Cartagena with me” It was such a grand adventure. We need more movies like that!

Cool list! I would add:

– Before Sunrise (Vienna) – Waking Ned Devine (Ireland, though filmed in the Isle of Man) – Lost in Translation (Tokyo)

Great additions. I loved Before Sunrise, I can’t believe I forgot about that one. I saw it in the 90s and then watched the whole trilogy. I haven’t seen Waking Ned Devine, I’m going to check that out and yes, Lost in Translation is a good one for Tokyo. I have to watch that again. I barely remember it, but I do remember loving Bill Murray

Just what I needed, thank you guys. Into the wild is my favourite one on the list.

I don’t think any movie has made us want to travel more than Amelie.

2 Days In Paris, on the other hand, was kind of a turn off.

Amelie celebrated Paris, but 2 Days kinda made fun of it. .-= The Jetpacker´s last blog .. UFO Hotspots — 11 Best Places To See UFOs In The World =-.

I don’t need a movie to inspire me to travel. I always want to travel, but some movies make me want to travel more I guess is how to put it. BTW. I thought Up in the Air stunk and don’t get why it was so popular. I loved In Burges which many people have never seen. Guess I’m just weird. .-= Gwen´s last blog ..Kids Grease Costumes =-.

You’re not weird at all! That is what makes watching movies so great. Everyone has different opinions on them all. We didn’t love Amelie and I have never met another person that didn’t like it. We were more into the quirkiness of Two Days in Paris and nobody liked that one:-)

Great choice, I never really fancied visiting Bruges until watching the hilarious In Bruges (and I agree the film also did Colin Farrell a huge favour). Tuscany is still on my must see list after the gorgeous ‘Stealing Beauty’ and being from the UK, Sideways and Swingers always made me want to go to California.

OK, I obviously need to get myself to the nearest pirated DVD place since I’ve only seen 3 of these movies! Thanks for the advice. .-= Audrey´s last blog ..Couch Surfing with KGB Agents =-.

Fantastic post, though most of these movies I haven’t seen (yet) but Vicky Christina Barcelona has really made me want to see Barcelona. I’m really bad for being easily suggestible when it comes to travel. If a place is featured on a movie or tv have a sudden desire to go there. Like I watch a John Waters movie and I wanna go to Baltimore, or the way Shirley Valentine made me really want to go to Greece. Even places that were never really on my travel to do list, like watching Dexter has made me want to visit Miami (even though most of the show is filmed around LA). .-= Alouise´s last blog ..List 9 – How To Have A Cheesy Time At West Edmonton Mall =-.

Wonderful list! I’ve seen a few of these and just loved them (Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Julie & Julia, In Bruges, Up in the Air, and Romancing the Stone)…..and I still dream of someday going to Cartagena, Columbia because of that movie! There are so many great movies that inspire travel that I’m sure it must have been hard to winnow it down to just eight. The rest of your list I’ll have to add to my Netflix queue! .-= Trisha´s last blog .. PR-Blogger Relations Manifesto =-.

I love that you think of Cartagena because of Romancing the stone. There were so many movies that I had on a list. I could have just listed about 50 and that could have been good enough. Maybe I will do that for a post one day when I am out of ideas:) It was very difficult to narrow it down to eight, we were trying to be a little unique in our choices, but then again, it is hard to be unique when it comes to choosing great travel movies. I guess, it was more of a reminder post. Everyone thinks of the choices like The Beach, The James Bond Movies and the Bourne Movies, but we haven’t thought about Romancing the Stone or Once Upon a Time in Mexico in a while.

Great list! We think movies and books add so much to travel that we brought a bunch with us on our open ended world tour. We’re in France now, so tend to watch French ones here and ones that are family friendly since we travel with a kid. 😉 I think we love the Red Balloon and Chocolate best for France.

Two that really stick out on our trip were Troy ( watched again and again through out Greece while reading Homer, including also while we were in Troy in Turkey) and “The Medici, Godfathers of the Renaissance” a thrilling PBS special series that we watched in Florence before we toured. .-= soultravelers3´s last blog .. Captivating Colliore- France on Bastille Day =-.

Thanks for the additions. I forgot about Chocolate. I loved that movie and Johnny Depp and Juliet Binoche were both so charming. I haven’t seen Red Balloon, I will check it out. It is wonderful to watch movies for inspiration before, after and while you are at that place.

Great choices for movies! Others that come to mind are “Before Sunrise” and “Into the Wild.”

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The 40 best travel movies

Hit the trail with some of cinema’s most magical destination films

There’s loads to be said for the transportive power of cinema – that magical ability to whisk us off to places we’d never otherwise go – but we’re often glad of its power to bring us back again. It’s fun to pay a visit to Mos Eisley or Twin Peaks but you probably wouldn’t want to linger too long. Occasionally, though, a movie will leave you with itchy feet and an urge to hit the trail (or at least, low-cost airline website) for real. Here are 40 films that’ll have you reaching for your passport.

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Sideways (2004)

Destination: Santa Ynez Valley, California, USA

They may be insufferable wine bores cursed in perpetuity by merlot producers the world over, but it’s hard not to kinda love pent-up Miles (Paul Giamatti) and laconic Jack (Thomas Haden Church) in Alexander Payne’s Oscar-winning comedy-drama. For one thing, the hapless roadtrippers are never dull; for another, they introduced the moviegoing world to California’s lush Santa Ynez Valley and its array of sun-kissed valleys, bountiful vineyards and roadside staging posts. If you’re ever following in their footsteps, be sure to stop in at Miles’s favourite restaurant, The Hitching Post II . PDS  

Into the Wild (2007)

• Action and adventure

Destination :  Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

Things go south when Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch) heads north in Sean Penn’s moving biopic of the young hiker’s journey from comfortable middle-class life to the vast Alaskan wilderness. This true-life adventure may have a heartbreaking ending but the journey there is pretty special, backdropped by unforgettable American landscapes and life-changing encounters in the spirit of all great road-trip movies. The vast solitude of Alaska’s Denali National Park, five hours’ drive from Anchorage and overshadowed by North America’s highest peak, Mount Denali (aka Mount McKinley), leaves a haunting impression. PDS

Wild (2014)

Destination: The Pacific Crest Trail, USA

There was a reason thousands of solo hikers set off on the Pacific Crest Trail IRL after seeing this movie. Based on Cheryl Strayed’s bestselling memoir of the same name and starring Reese Witherspoon, ‘Wild’ paints a vivid picture of life off-grid and on-foot on the PCT, an equal parts gruelling and stunning hiking route which weaves through the Cascade and Sierra Nevada mountain ranges on America’s west coast. The urge to pack up your water purifier and your emotional baggage and hit the trail as the credits roll is hard to ignore. EWA

The Sheltering Sky (1990)

Destination: Aït Benhaddou, Morocco

Paul Bowles’s bohemian account of post-war life in north Africa is hardly the greatest advertisement for tourism – the jaded American couple at its heart aren’t the most open-minded pair – but Bernardo Bertolucci’s visually rich adaptation makes it all seem well worth the trip anyway. It has Debra Winger and John Malkovich as the pair of slightly insufferable roamers (‘We’re travellers,’ they’re at pains to point out, ‘not tourists’) but the real stars of the show are the Saharan landscapes, Tangier souks and dusty villages. One of those villages, the ancient fort of Aït Benhaddou, is a film star in its own right, having appeared in ‘Gladiator’, ‘Babel’, ‘Kundun’ and ‘The Mummy’, among others. PDS  

Lost in Translation (2003)

Destination: Tokyo, Japan Sofia Coppola’s classic is one of the quintessential travel movies, not just for its Japanese locations, both postcard-famous and off-the-beaten-track, but in perfectly capturing that unmistakable sense of dislocation that can come with hitting the trail. Here, it’s magnified by deeper life crises for Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray’s two lonely travellers, but their existential woes spark a powerful connection – and we’ve all been there. As far as the travelling goes, they’re doing it the luxe way, staying in the now-very-famous and expensive Park Hyatt Tokyo and taking day trips to Kyoto soundtracked by Air. Other hotels (and Spotify) are available. PDS

A United Kingdom (2016)

Destination: Serowe, Botswana

This true-life love story between Bechuanaland royal heir Seretse Khama (David Oyelowo) and Londoner Ruth Williams (Rosamund Pike) plays like a cross between a Disney fairy tale and a bracing slug of social realism. The couple are subjected to prejudice and disapproval in all its guises – straight-up racism in post-war Britain and prescriptive protocols in Africa – but coolly face it down to make history. The story is inspiring and the backdrops scarcely less so. Director Amma Asante filmed on location in Seretse’s home village of Serowe, so head there for a two-in-one cinematic and historical pilgrimage (and check out the rhinos while you’re there). PDS

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

Destination: Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

This comedy-drama is at once an Aussie classic, a road trip gem and a glorious celebration of difference – all crammed on to a bus called Priscilla and driven across Australia’s Outback to a gig in Alice Springs. The movie’s spiritual home – as its website proudly points out – is The Palace Hotel in hardscrabble Broken Hill, where a night in the tacky-flamboyant Priscilla Suite will set you back around A$200. It’s here that Bernadette Bassenger (Terence Stamp), Mitzi Del Bra (Hugo Weaving) and Felicia Jollygoodfellow (Guy Pearce) stay over en route to the Northern Territory. Or if you want to keep things strictly underground, head for the subterranean White Cliffs motel in the bizarre town of Coober Pedy– another port of call for the trio. PDS

A Room with a View (1985)

Destination: Florence, Italy

What’s most charming about this 1980s Merchant Ivory classic, which follows the  first visit to Italy of the young Lucy Honeychurch (Helena Bonham Carter)? It’s a tough call between the sun-soaked streets of Florence and all those becoming Edwardian ruffles. Though it does a very good job of capturing England’s bucolic countryside too, it’s the first half of the film, full of glorious views of the languid Arno river, the city’s terracotta rooftops and ochre-coloured landmarks that lingers in the memory. EWA

A Walk in the Woods (2015)

Destination: The Appalachian Trail, USA

According to the Bill Bryson memoir from which this warm-hearted outdoorsy adventure is adapted, 2,000 people attempt the 2,200-mile-long Appalachian Trail every year, but only 10 percent make it. Attempting to beat the stats are Robert Redford and Nick Nolte’s old-timers. The trail – the longest hiking-only path in the world – runs from Maine to Georgia, with glorious, Ansel Adams-esque scenery and killer hills all the way. Will our grizzled heroes make it? Do bears shit in the woods? Finally, a movie that can answer both questions. PDS

Monos (2019)

Destination: Chingaza National Natural Park, Colombia

The brilliant ‘Monos’ sometimes feels like a war film, sometimes like a sci-fi and sometimes like some new genre we’ve never encountered before. Its high-altitude locations are guaranteed to have intrepid types reaching for their passports. Rising to more than four kilometres above sea level, Colombia’s Chingaza National Natural Park, where it is filmed, feels like the roof of the world and director Alejandro Landes gives its cloud forests, waterfalls and rocky outcrops the full widescreen treatment. Within range of Bogotá, it’s catapulted straight on to our bucket list. PDS  

Journey to Italy (1954)

Destination: Naples, Italy

This influential Roberto Rossellini film follows discontented marrieds Katherine (Ingrid Bergman) and Alex Joyce (George Sanders) as they drive to Naples and bicker their way towards something that looks likely to involve eye-watering legal costs and a painful conversation about who gets to keep the Frank Sinatra LPs. Watching these sophisticated travellers slugging it out can be an emotionally arduous ride, but they find calm and beauty amid the city’s archaeological treasures. For her, it’s the volcanic Phlegraean Fields and the ancient artefacts of the Naples Museum; for him, a ferry ride to Capri. For us? A trip to the EasyJet website.  PDS

The Way (2010)

Destination: El Camino de Santiago, Spain 

Whether it’s to the football, the pub or just to Homebase for something to de-grease the barbecue, a father-and-son pilgrimage is a special thing. It’s arguably even more special when there’s an actual pilgrimage involved, as is the case in this touching 2010 drama directed by Emilio Estevez and starring his dad, Martin Sheen. The movie follows the path of Galicia’s Camino de Santiago, a UNESCO listed network of hiking trails that leads pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela. With its stunning landscapes and moments of footsore camaraderie, it’ll have you itching to follow in its footsteps. PDS

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

Destination: Oahu, Hawaii, USA Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy tracks down girl in far-flung corner of Hawaii. Boy discovers girl is now having mindblowing sex with a rockstar (Russell Brand). Major bummer. Still, on the upside for Jason Segel’s lovelorn musician – and everyone else in the film – this lol-some romantic-comedy unfolds on Oahu’s stunning north shore. Specifically, the Turtle Bay Resort , a honeymooners’ paradise that comes equal first with Bora Bora from ‘Couple’s Retreat’ in a list of dream destinations Kristen Bell has managed to visit for work . PDS

Midnight in Paris (2011)

Destination: Paris, France

Americans swooning over the City of Light is nothing new. But rarely are their chansons d’amour so persuasive as Woody Allen’s ‘Midnight in Paris’. Gil (Owen Wilson) is a jobbing Hollywood screenwriter on vacation in gay Paree with fiancée Inez (Rachel McAdams) and her parents. Each night he wanders off alone, and on midnight’s chime, is transported into a magical-realist time warp: first the 1920s (hello, Ernest, Zelda and Scott), then the Belle Époque of Degas, Gauguin and Toulouse-Lautrec. From Rodin’s hôtel particulier to abandoned fairground the Musée des Arts Forains , Gil is swept up by the city’s charms, and as he falls deeper in love, so do we. HO

The Passenger (1975)

Destination: Vera, Spain

From the nocturnal streets of Milan to the Aeolian Islands and even south-east  London, Michaelangelo Antonioni’s locations often got as much screen time as his actors. Even larger-than-life Jack Nicholson feels swallowed up by the epic sweep of southern Spain, the last stop for his journalist-gone-rogue David Locke after an almost 007-worthy itinerary (Algeria, London, Munich, Barcelona). The dusty Andalusian hilltop town of Vera, with its dilapidated bullring and now-demolished Hotel de la Gloria, is the filming location for the famous six-minute tracking shot in which Locke’s fate is sealed – in typically cryptic Antonioni style, naturalmente . JM

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

Destination:  Seyðisfjörður,  Iceland Timid Life magazine staffer Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) heads off to track down grizzled photojournalist Sean O’Connell (Sean Penn) and finds himself along the way. It’s basically a mega-budget version of that gap year your mate Charlie still goes on about. But if Walter’s fantastical daydreams of superpowered adventure and heart-stopping romance are eclipsed by the rugged Icelandic landscapes, what landscapes to be eclipsed by. If you want to recreate his high-speed longboard ride , just head for Seyðisfjörður on the eastern edge of Iceland. Just be sure to check the terms of your travel insurance first. PDS

Leap Year (2010)

Destination: Aran Islands, Ireland It may not be a great advertisement for filmmaking but this romcom is an excellent billboard for the Irish counties of Wicklow, Mayo and Galway. Matthew Goode plays Irish innkeeper Declan O’Callaghan and Amy Adams is Anna Brady, the American visitor looking to exploit an arcane tradition whereby a man proposed to on a Leap Day must accept (because no marriage is more likely to last than one you’ve been forced into by an ancient form of blackmail). Forget the plot contortions and focus instead on the glorious Irish vistas, especially those of the rocky Aran Islands where much of the movie was filmed. PDS

L'Avventura (1960)

Destination: Aeolian Islands, Italy In Michelangelo Antonioni’s languid classic, a young woman (Lea Massari) vanishes during a yachting trip to the rocky, mysterious Aeolian Islands and her boyfriend Sandro (Gabriele Ferzetti) and BFF Claudia (Monica Vitti) make a slightly half-hearted attempt to find her (think Tommy Lee Jones in ‘The Fugitive’, only on Xanax). The disappearance itself takes place on the tiny volcanic outcrop of Lisca Bianca, which can be visited only by private boat, but Sandro and Claudia’s ensuing wanderings will have you adding Sicily to your holiday wishlist too. Even in black and white, the Tyrrhenian Sea sparkles enticingly. PDS

Mamma Mia! (2008)

Destination: Skopelos, Greece Abba-inspired ‘Mamma Mia!’ is movie Marmite, but it’s impossible to watch the film, or it’s more recent sequel ‘Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again’, and not be left pining for Greece’s many paradise-like islands. And if you’re into tales of friendship, motherhood, a secret search to find a father figure and a dungare ed Meryl Streep singing ’70s hits, they are pure joy. Oh, to be skipping through a Greek orange grove, falling in love in an intimate taverna or diving off a boat into the clear waters that surround sunny Skopelos right now…  EWA

Tracks (2013)

Destination: Western Australia

Australia’s dusty town of Alice Springs is the jump-off point for an outback adventure that’s based on a true story. Mia Wasikowska plays Robyn Davidson who, in 1977, trekked 1,700 miles across the continent with only her dog, Diggity, and four dromedaries for company. At least, until National Geographic photographer Rick Smolan (Adam Driver) pitches up to cover her incredible undertaking. It’s a pure travel movie: a celebration of the dangers and majesty of the great outdoors that captures the spirituality of Aboriginal lands, the vastness of ever-shifting deserts and the spellbinding starscapes of the Australian night sky. PDS

The Two Faces of January (2014)

Destination: Crete, Greece Like ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’, this underrated thriller has everything you could possibly want from a Patricia Highsmith adaptation: gorgeous costumes, slippery characters and exotic European settings. Oh, and foul deeds – let’s not forget about them. Here the double-dealing and betrayals take place in Greece rather than Italy, but the soft Mediterranean light and shimmering seaside backdrops are equally to die for as Viggo Mortensen and Oscar Isaac’s vying tricksters, and Kirsten Dunst’s beautiful sorta-moll, journey from the tourist traps of Athens to Crete’s sun-baked hills and its Minoan ruins. PDS

Jeremiah Johnson (1972)

Destination: Zion National Park, Utah, USA In movie terms, Utah is most famous as home to Monument Valley, a landmark in all those great John Ford westerns. Head a few hours west, though, and you’ll find the even more remote dream destination for the hardcore western lover-cum-outdoors type: Utah’s mountainous Zion National Park, where Robert Redford western and handy gif generator ‘Jeremiah Johnson’ was partly filmed. The real-life Johnson was the nineteenth century’s answer to Bear Grylls and probably smelled badly of bison liver and fetid beard, but needless to say, Redford makes him a total thirst trap(per). PDS

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Destination :  Ventura, California, USA It may not be Big Sur or Malibu but Ventura is famous for a few things: its sandy beaches, long pier, surfing and – surely the topper – hosting the climactic moments of ‘Little Miss Sunshine’. It’s in this sun-kissed corner of California that the dysfunctional Hoover clan pull up in their yellow VW microbus and unleash comedy mayhem. In the film, the setting is actually Redondo Beach, 70-odd miles south, but Ventura was the real-life stand-in for the pier scene . If you really want to get close to the action, check in to the Crowne Plaza Hotel Ventura Beach where Olive Hoover (Abigail Breslin) unleashes her superbly inappropriate ‘Super Freak’ on that unsuspecting beauty pageant. PDS

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

Destination: Machu Picchu, Peru Before becoming a doctor, rebranding as ‘Che’ and becoming the last word in revolutionary chic, Ernesto Guevara (Gael García Bernal) embarked on a roadtrip across South America with his old friend Alberto Granado that is faithfully recorded in Walter Salles’s excellent 2004 biopic. The pair visit the spectacular Incan citadel of Machu Picchu without once referring to ‘Lonely Planet’ and set about exchanging revolutionary ideas and posing for snapshots. If they’d had Instagram back in 1952, @Che would have been lapping up the likes. PDS

Local Hero (1983)

Destination: Pennan, Scotland

Home, as they say, is where the heart is, and in this enduring delight that means Scotland’s unspoiled east coast, with its tiny fishing villages, crystal-clear skies and mystical vibes. It’s here – the fictional seaside village of Ferness, specifically – that oil company exec (Peter Riegert) is sent with a brief to buy the place so it can be turned into a refinery. Unexpectedly, the villagers like the idea because, well, fishing is hard work. It’s a lovely comic twist that throws the whole film winningly off its axis. Any ‘Local Hero’ pilgrims should head for the village of Pennan in Aberdeenshire, Ferness’s real-life stand-in, and grab a selfie by that famous phonebox. PDS

Patagonia (2010)

Destination: Trelew, Patagonia, Argentina This gentle travelogue has Welsh photographer Rhys and his partner Gwen discovering the charms of Patagonia, where their guide (Matthew Rhys) introduces them to the region’s Welsh heritage and the chapels built by Welsh settlers. If you’re intrepid – or Welsh and fancy undertaking a similar pilgrimage – head for the Welsh town of Trelew in Argentina and saddle up for a horse ride into the dusty desert. Bizarrely, it’s exactly what Rhys was doing when he bumped into ‘Patagonia’ director Marc Evans location-scouting the film. PDS

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter… and Spring (2003)

Destination: Juwangsan National Park , South Korea This lushly located Korean masterpiece exudes seriously serene vibes as it charts a young Buddhist monk’s rocky spiritual journey under the tutelage of his master across 40 or so years. Since the film came out in 2003, its location – a purpose-built floating monastery on Jusanji Lake in Juwangsan National Park – has gone from hidden secret to national treasure, with visitors making the trek to sit in the shade of its willow trees and get zen by its tranquil waters. It’s a tricky trek to get there, though: Juwangsan is one of Korea’s most inaccessible national parks and the hike to the lake is a real glute-burner. PDS

Roman Holiday (1953)

Destination: Rome, Italy Sly but chivalrous American journo Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) shows Audrey Hepburn’s royal fugitive, Princess Ann, around the Eternal City in a classic romance that’s fizzier than a flute of prosecco. He takes her on a whirlwind Vespa tour of Rome’s famous tourist attractions – Joe isn’t one for the hipster haunts – taking in the Spanish Steps, the Mouth of Truth and the Colosseum. Other films have majored on the city’s jaded hedonism (‘La Dolce Vita’, ‘The Great Beauty’) and social ills (‘Bicycle Thieves’); this one just makes Rome feel like a dream. PDS

Seven Years in Tibet (1997)

Destination: Lhasa, Tibet

A Sun-In blond Brad Pitt plays Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian mountaineer who sets out to climb the Himalayan peak of Nanga Parbat in 1939 only to end up in a POW camp. He escapes, crosses the border into Tibet and becomes tutor to the Dalai Lama in Lhasa – then the Chinese plan an invasion and things get complicated. The film faced a couple of problems: Harrer turned out to be a Nazi IRL and Tibet itself was off-limits to the production. Scorsese had the same issue on ‘Kundun’ and recreated it in Morocco; here, it is Argentina and the Canadian Rockies. But director Jean-Jacques Annaud’s time in Tibet recce-ing the country pays off and he does a fine job capturing its rugged beauty on screen. PDS

The Piano (1993)

Destination: Karekare Beach, New Zealand If you’re looking for a beach holiday with a movie pilgrimage thrown in, head for New Zealand’s west coast where Jane Campion’s period drama is set. The gripping emotional journeys of Holly Hunter’s mute immigrant and her young daughter (Anna Paquin) as they deal with the harshness of nineteenth-century life steered the film to eight Oscar nominations. It was all filmed on the black sands of Karekare Beach, only 30 minutes’ drive from Auckland but stretched out at the foot of rugged cliffs in splendid isolation. If there was an Oscar for beaches, it’d be a shoo-in. PDS

Australia (2008)

Destination: East Kimberley, Western Australia

With its glorious shots of the outback and Hugh Jackman taking his kit off, Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Australia’ celebrates the continent’s rugged natural phenomena in all its forms. Sure, the film – an homage to the old westerns of John Ford – is a mite corny, but it showcases the scenery of Western Australia so beautifully, you’d think the tourist board funded it. And sure enough, they did: to the tune of $1 million. Luhrmann also filmed in Sydney and Queensland, but if you want the proper ‘Australia’ experience, head for Kununurra and from there the Kimberley, approximately a bazillion square miles of canyons, cattle stations and beaches. Saddle up. PDS

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Destination: Barcelona, Spain

Set in a world full of beautiful people doing impossibly bohemian things at extreme short notice, ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ is the life we’d all lead if we weren’t at home worrying about loo roll. It’s a seductive love letter to Catalonia and, in particular, a billboard for the beauties of Barcelona: as the title implies, the city itself shares top billing with Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson), two friends who fall under the spell of Javier Bardem’s artist while visiting. Needless to say, the movie is full of Barca landmarks, including Park Güell, the Miró Museum, Parc de la Ciutadella and the Sagrada Família, and they all look utterly dreamy. PDS

The World's Fastest Indian (2005)

Destination: Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA

This feelgood yarn has rough-around-the-edges Kiwi biker Burt Munro (Anthony Hopkins) travelling from New Zealand to Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats, aiming to beat the land speed record (just north of 200mph) on his trusty 1920 Indian Scout motorbike. A true story, it was filmed on location on an expansive salt pan in northwestern Utah that attracts petrolhead pilgrims to the annual Bonneville Speedway every summer. It also pops up in ‘Mad Men’, when a sweat-mottled Don Draper manages to blag a drive in a 1970 Chevelle SS, and ‘Independence Day’ . It’s another reason why anyone embarking on a movie-themed road trip should head straight for Utah. PDS

The Lost City Of Z (2016)

Destination: Tayrona National Park, Colombia Colombia has been South America’s go-to country for big-screen adventure since the days of ‘ Romancing the Stone’ and ‘The Mission’ in the ’80s. It offers a suitably mysterious landscape in James Grey’s dazzling epic about a British explorer (Charlie Hunnam) trying to find an undiscovered civilisation in the early twentieth century. Robert Pattinson joins him as a fellow military man with Ray Mears-like knowledge of the Amazon jungle. Grey and his crew used the Colombian Caribbean town of Santa Marta as a base, but you’ll need to head into the Tayrona National Park – the film’s Amazon scenes were filmed on the nearby Don Diego River – to follow in R-Patz’s and co’s boot prints. PDS  

Skyfall (2012)

Destination: Istanbul, Turkey There’s not many desirable locations that 007 hasn’t passed through over his 25 film outings. The Caribbean has been a popular pitstop, right from his first film outing in ‘Dr No’, while he’s ticked off more European capitals than a 19-year-old Interrailer. One of them, Istanbul, has hosted the big man three times and just about emerged unscathed. In ‘Skyfall’, Daniel Craig’s Bond takes us on a high-speed tour of the city’s vast and labyrinthine Grand Bazaar in pursuit of a mercenary with a vital hard drive. One day, he’ll go back and just have a nice browse instead. PDS

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004)

Destination: Lech, Austria Beyond James Bond, ski resorts are a rare sight in movies. After all, there’s only so much drama to be juiced from fondue evenings and teenagers necking pints, right? Wrong! Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger), who could ring drama from an empty packet of ready salted, delivers her own inimitable brand when Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) whisks her off to the Austrian Alps, hurricaning down the slopes and into a pharmacy to request a pregnancy test in strangled German, worried that she is ‘mitt baby’. Hosting the mayhem is Lech, a resort that promises ‘200km of high alpine powder’ and at least one skiable chemist. PDS

Unrelated (2007)

Destination: Tuscany, Italy  A spiritual cousin to ‘The Green Ray’, another movie that sets a woman’s personal crisis against a woozy summer holiday backdrop, Joanna Hogg’s debut film has fortysomething Anna (Kathryn Worth) joining some friends at their villa in Tuscany where she finds herself gravitating towards their young public school-y offspring – led by Tom Hiddleston in his first film role. It’s all surprisingly edgy stuff and culminates in a barney for the ages but the setting is to die for: the holidaying families staying in villa on the San Fabiano Estate just outside Siena, a world of rolling hills and olive groves. It’s a real B&B so you can check in any time; you just might not want to leave. PDS

Out of Africa (1985)

Destination:   Chyulu Hills, Kenya

Your grandma’s favourite film has Danish farmer Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep) and Tiger Moth-flying big-game hunter Denys Finch Hatton (Robert Redford) falling in love on the Kenyan savannah, despite the presence of hungry lions and (irksomely) an actual Mr Blixen (the astonishing  Klaus Maria Brandauer). It all goes on for ages which allows for plenty of time to take in the sweeping African landscapes, replete with watering holes, green hills and the vast, sunbaked expanse of the Great Rift Valley. If you’re looking for the ‘Out of Africa’ experience, head for Kenya’s Chyulu Hills where the film was shot. PDS

The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003)

Destination: New Zealand 

The action is plentiful in the big-screen adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s magical ’Lord of the Rings’ epic, but the setting is jaw-dropping enough to still be a distraction. While Frodo and his fellowship battle their way across Middle-earth to return the One Ring to Mordor, the only place where it can be destroyed, New Zealand’s sweeping plains, lush forests and snowcapped mountains are in the background like an 11-hour advert for Tourism New Zealand. A one-way ticket to Rivendell via Auckland International, please. EWA

The Green Ray (1986)

Destination: St Jean-de-Luz, France

Sometimes a holiday isn’t enough. Secretary Delphine (played by director Éric Rohmer’s muse Marie Rivière) finds herself dumped and facing the prospect of being stuck in sweltering Paris for the summer ( quelle horreur! ). But trips to Cherbourg, the Alps and Biarritz only serve to make her feel more alienated – from smug couples, flirtatious singles, clueless tourists and the whole seething mass of humanity. Then, she finds a transcendent sunset in the Basque beach town of St Jean-de-Luz. Rohmer’s classic is not only a funny, magical exploration of human connection but a snapshot of a French summer – complete with dodgy holiday fashion. JM  

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34 Movies That Will Make You Want to Get Off the Couch and See the World

From "The Holiday" to "Romancing the Stone" to "Eat Pray Love," these travel movies will inspire some serious wanderlust.

There's nothing like an epic on-screen adventure to get you acquainted with some place new and dreaming up an enviable vacation itinerary. For me (and basically all my childhood friends), this first happened following a viewing of Disney's "The Lizzie McGuire Movie" back in 2003, when Hilary Duff's character traveled to Rome to live out every teen's parent-free European fantasy. Though I've graduated to more mature travel movies over the last 18 years, one thing hasn't changed: films with gorgeous backdrops give me an unruly case of wanderlust.

From classics like "Around the World in 80 Days" and "Roman Holiday" to modern masterpieces such as "Wild" and "Crazy Rich Asians," travel films tend to ignite a longing for freedom and excitement. Maybe it's the sight of beaches on your screen triggering a phenomenon known as Blue Mind , or maybe watching a couple of pals take to the open road for a life changing road trip just makes you want to feel unconfined. Whatever it is, sometimes a travel film is all you need to provoke that feeling. That's why we've rounded up, in no particular order, 34 of the best travel movies that inspire wanderlust. Maybe they'll be cause for a change of scenery — or maybe they'll incite the adventure of a lifetime.

'Thelma & Louise' (1991)

Widely regarded as one of the best road trip movies of all time, this buddy film follows best friends Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) as they drive through the American Southwest after Louise kills a man in Arkansas.

'The Holiday' (2006)

A Hollywood movie trailer producer (Cameron Diaz) and a London reporter (Kate Winslet) decide to switch homes for a few weeks after finding out their respective boyfriends have been cheating on them. The results offer enough glamor shots of Los Angeles and cozy footage of England's countryside to make you want to pack up and head to either city immediately.

'Crazy Rich Asians' (2018)

Though this movie revolves around the conflict between New Yorker Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) and her boyfriend's wealthy family, "Crazy Rich Asians" could pass as a tourism film for Singapore . If the Southeast Asian country wasn't on your bucket list before, this film's dazzling shots of Singapore, specifically the acclaimed Marina Bay Sands Hotel , may convince you.

'Wild' (2014)

Based on a true story, "Wild" sees Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) hike more than a thousand miles from California to Washington on the Pacific Crest Trail following her divorce and the death of her mother. On her journey, Cheryl treks through the Mojave Desert , the Sierra Nevada, and Mount Hood National Forest while reflecting on her life.

'Eat Pray Love' (2010)

After her divorce, Elizabeth (Julia Roberts) sets off to explore the world with hopes of finding herself in the process. Elizabeth's inspiring and uplifting journey takes her — and viewers — to Italy , India , and Indonesia where she discovers the pleasure of nourishment, prayer, and romance.

'La La Land' (2016)

Admittedly, this musical doesn't feature much traveling (save for a brief road trip to Mia's hometown in Nevada), but the dreamy, oversaturated shots of Los Angeles in nearly every scene are enough to make anyone want to book a flight to the City of Angels.

'Before Sunrise' (1995)

Two strangers meet aboard a train from Budapest. Jesse (Ethan Hawke) is hoping to catch a flight home to the United States while Céline (Julie Delpy) is en route to Paris . Instead of sticking to their plans, the two disembark in Vienna and spend the entire night exploring the city and falling in love. A viewing of this movie will leave you longing for an epic adventure in the picturesque Austrian capital .

'National Lampoon’s Vacation' (1983)

National Lampoon 's classic comedy series is now six films strong, but it was 1983's "Vacation" that started it all. Unlike the franchise's most famous film, "Christmas Vacation," the original movie sees the Griswolds actually hit the road for a trip to Walley World, an amusement park several states away. After you watch Chevy Chase's hilarious hijinks unfold in this film, let sequels "European Vacation" and "Vegas Vacation" inspire further travels.

'The Darjeeling Limited' (2007)

After the death of their father, three estranged brothers (Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman) decide to hop aboard a train in India called The Darjeeling Limited to reconnect and experience spiritual self-discovery. Viewers catch glimpses of the Indian countryside, Hindu temples, and eventually the Himalayas — but not without a few jokes along the way.

'Up' (2009)

Arguably the most heart-wrenching animated film of all time, "Up" earns a spot on our list thanks to adorably grumpy widower Carl Fredricksen's determination to fulfill his own wanderlust. With the help of thousands of balloons and a young sidekick named Russell, Carl and his house soar across the world on an incredible journey that culminates at Paradise Falls (based on Angel Falls in Venezuela).

'Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981)

"Raiders" kicks off the iconic Indiana Jones series with a quest to find the fabled Ark of the Covenant. On his journey, Indy (Harrison Ford) makes stops in Nepal , Egypt , and the Aegean Sea , and, of course, famously runs from a giant rolling boulder in a temple in Peru . Follow up this film with its sequels, "Temple of Doom" (1984), "Last Crusade" (1989), and "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" (2008), to see Indy travel to Jordan , the Amazon jungle, and beyond.

'Mamma Mia!' (2008)

Few movies offer the kind of gorgeously colorful beach imagery "Mamma Mia!" and its 2018 sequel, "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" provide. If you haven't seen the films, you likely know them as "the movies with all the ABBA songs." But if you have seen them, you know they're actually about three men who travel to the impossibly beautiful, albeit fictional, Greek island of Kalokairi, each believing they're the father of a young bride-to-be.

'Nomadland' (2020)

After losing her job in the town of Empire, Nevada, Fern (Frances McDormand) decides to sell her belongings, buy a van, and drive across the country working odd jobs. Fern travels through deserts, small towns, and nomad communes where she works, makes new friends, and learns about life. If you've ever fantasized about dropping everything and taking to the open road, "Nomadland" will probably either convince or deter you.

'Romancing the Stone' (1984)

When New York City-based romance novelist Joan Wilder's sister is kidnapped in Cartagena , Joan (Kathleen Turner) ends up on a rescue-mission-turned-treasure-hunt with adventure-seeking Jack T. Colton (Michael Douglas). Don't be surprised if a viewing of this movie makes you want to trade in your annual beach vacation for a wild ride through the Colombian jungle .

'Paris, Je T’aime' (2006)

Paris, Je T'aime is different from the other films on this list in that it's not one film — it's 18 short films that all feature Paris as a central theme. Because the project is made up of 18 different stories in 18 different arrondissements around the city, viewers get a true, unfiltered sense of Paris, and may even find themselves inspired to visit lesser-known locales in the City of Light.

'The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' (1994)

If you've ever longed to take a laughter-fueled road trip with your best friends, this film is worth a watch. In the flick, pals Tick (Hugo Weaving), Adam (Guy Pearce), and Bernadette (Terence Stamp) head out on a cross-country road trip through the Australian outback to perform their successful drag act in a new town. The trio takes up residence in an oversized tour bus called Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in this fun, ahead-of-its-time dramedy.

'RV' (2006)

While plenty of road trip movies have been made over the years, "RV" might be the only one that takes place in, well, an RV . Though the main characters in this movie face more bad luck than fun, family bonding, the film does feature generous desert , mountain , and wilderness scenery, as well as an all-star cast (Robin Williams, Kristin Chenoweth, Cheryl Hines, and Josh Hutcherson are just a few that appear).

'Point Break' (2015)

Yes, we're talking about the "Point Break" remake rather than the original film from 1991, but hear us out: the imagery in this movie inspires some serious wanderlust. The story takes viewers to several of the wildest places on Earth (Mexico's Cave of Swallows, Venezuela's Angel Falls, etc.) and though the plot is slightly different from the original (think eco-terrorism rather than bank robberies), it is quiet possibly the most visually stimulating travel movie ever made.

'Girls Trip' (2017)

When was the last time you took a trip with just your core group of girlfriends? A quick watch of this comedy will have you planning your next gal pal getaway faster than you can say "PTO." In the film, a group of friends (Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish, Regina Hall, and Jada Pinkett Smith) head to New Orleans , but you'll be ready to travel anywhere with your best buds after watching "Girls Trip" — even if it's just to the next town over.

'The Way' (2010)

After his son is killed walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route to Galicia, Spain, Tom Avery (Martin Sheen) sets out on the trail himself to retrieve his son's body. Along the way, Tom meets several other travelers who are walking the trail in hopes of changing their own lives for one reason or another. This inspiring film may just persuade you to make the famed pilgrimage yourself, or to book a similarly reflective trip.

'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' (2005)

If you were a teen or pre-teen in 2005, you have likely seen this movie and its 2008 sequel, and can attest that both inspire major wanderlust. The first film follows best friends Carmen, Lena, Bridget, and Tibby (who share a magical pair of jeans that fits them all perfectly) as they spend a summer in different parts of the world. Lena (Alexis Bledel) travels to Santorini, Greece , which makes for some seriously dreamy backdrops. In the sequel, the whole gang heads to Greece, but not before Bridget (Blake Lively) spends some time in Turkey .

'Up in the Air' (2009)

This George Clooney-led comedy-drama makes business travel and airports look glamorous — hospitable, even. Boasting just as many cityscape shots as it does plane scenes, "Up in the Air" will have you longing to be in the skies, jet setting off to some place new. Anna Kendrick and Vera Farmiga also star in this critically-acclaimed film about a man who lives out of a suitcase.

'Around the World in 80 Days' (1956)

If this classic adventure film doesn't inspire daydreams of traveling somewhere new, we're not sure what will. In 1872, Englishman Phileas Fogg makes a bet with several members of his gentleman's club that he can travel around the globe in just 80 days. On his journey, he and sidekick Jean Passepartout bring viewers along as they travel by gas balloon to France , Spain , Italy , India, Hong Kong , the United States , and more.

'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York' (1992)

The Home Alone movies usually fall under the comedy or holiday categories, but if you think about it, the second installment in the series is totally a travel movie. The film does a fantastic job of showing off the glamorous side of New York City , the place young Kevin McCallister accidentally ends up while the rest of his family vacations in Florida. From shots of the Rockefeller Christmas tree to the Manhattan skyline , this film is sure to inspire a trip to the Big Apple.

'Under the Tuscan Sun' (2003)

You won't find shots of northern Italy as serene as the ones in this feel-good film about independence, love, and friendship. After losing everything in her divorce, American writer Frances Mayes (Diane Lane) suddenly finds herself beginning a new life in the small Tuscan town of Cortona. And if you're anything like us, Googling "Tuscan villas for sale" will become a regular part of your life after watching this film.

'Angels & Demons' (2009)

Though "Angels & Demons" is classified as a thriller, it'll definitely make you want to head to Rome and dig up some history, both figuratively and literally. Based on the Dan Brown novel of the same name, the story follows Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) as he discovers secrets of the Vatican and faces off against the supposed Illuminati. If you're a fan, check out other Dan Brown adventure travel films, "The Da Vinci Code" (2006) and "Inferno" (2016).

'Easy Rider' (1969)

Our list features travel by plane, train , RV, and even hot air balloon , but "Easy Rider" is the only movie that follows a journey via motorcycle. In the film, drug smugglers Wyatt (Peter Fonda) and Billy (Dennis Hopper) ride from Los Angeles to New Orleans in hopes of reveling at Mardi Gras to celebrate their latest score. On their journey, they stop in several small towns, make a few friends, and unsuccessfully try to evade trouble.

'Out of Africa' (1985)

If Africa doesn't currently have a spot on your bucket list, this film might make you rethink that. Meryl Streep and Robert Redford star in this true story about Karen Blixen, a Danish woman who moves to Nairobi with her new husband, and builds a life there despite their many marital issues. "Out of Africa" features sweeping panoramic shots of Nairobi in nearly every scene, leaving it no wonder the drama won seven Academy Awards, including one for Best Cinematography.

'Johnson Family Vacation' (2004)

This family comedy starring Cedric the Entertainer, Vanessa Williams, and Solange Knowles follows the mildly dysfunctional Johnsons as they road trip to their family reunion in Missouri. On the drive, the family hilariously encounters just about every road trip cliché, from picking up a problematic hitchhiker to running out of gas, before making it to the reunion and performing a musical number to nab the coveted Family of the Year trophy.

'Midnight in Paris' (2011)

Set in present-day Paris , this Oscar-winning film is typically a favorite among art and literature lovers. At midnight each night, screenwriter Gil (Owen Wilson) is transported back in time through different eras of Paris, where he befriends Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Pablo Picasso, and even strikes up a romance with a 1920s woman named Adriana. The film offers plenty of inspiration for a culturally rich trip to France.

'The Parent Trap' (1998)

"The Parent Trap" is another film that may not immediately stand out as a travel flick, but once you take into account the film's many settings ( London , San Francisco, Napa Valley , and the northeastern U.S.), it's easy to see that this family classic has been a travel film all along. Plus, the main characters spend lots of time on planes, boats, and camping trips throughout the movie.

'The Talented Mr. Ripley' (1999)

Carefully spliced between disturbing revelations and suspenseful plot twists are luxurious shots of Italian beaches in this Matt Damon-led film. When Tom Ripley (Damon) is paid to travel to Italy and bring Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) back to the States by Dickie's father, Tom ends up befriending — and later becoming obsessed with — Dickie. Despite the plot quickly darkening, viewers are treated to bright, colorful scenes in Rome and glamorous seaside villages .

'Roman Holiday' (1953)

Romance? Check. Stunning visuals of Rome ? Check. Audrey Hepburn? Check. This classic travel comedy lands at the top of many movie buffs' all-time favorite lists, and for good reason. Bored with her mundane life as a European princess while on a trip to Rome, Ann (Hepburn) ditches her duties and hits the town with journalist Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck). The two take viewers on a tour of the Eternal City and fall in love in the process.

'Pee-wee’s Big Adventure' (1985)

Before you roll your eyes, take a moment to acknowledge that this film essentially sends happy-go-lucky Pee-wee Herman (Paul Reubens) on the great American road trip in search of his stolen bicycle. In this comedy for adults and children alike, Pee-wee stops at the Alamo, the Cabazon Dinosaur park in California , and Hollywood . Traveling by car, truck, and train, Pee-wee befriends a biker gang, competes in a rodeo, and of course, famously dances to "Tequila" before his journey is through.

Hillary Maglin is a digital editor who splits most of her time between New York City and Pittsburgh. You can find her on Instagram @hillarymaglin , where her DMs are always open to discuss travel gear, wine bars, and Taylor Swift's latest record.

The 35+ best travel movies of all time

Movies make us travel, they transport us to unknown places or even nonexistent sites. Sometimes we even choose the next destination based on a film and the desire to relive the film or see the site by ourselves. So, we gathered a list of the best travel movies of all time. These 37 films are the most wanderlust-inducing movies that we have ever seen! Today we inspire your next trips with movies.

Page Contents

Best travel movies

#1 before sunrise.

This romantic movie makes you want to get lost and roam around an unknown city. The movie is set in Vienna , Austria , where two strangers decide to visit the city together. They meet on the train, he is from the USA, and she is from France – uncertain if they will ever see each other again, they decide to try it.

During the film, you will discover some of Vienna’s most important attractions and fall in love with the city. It is a good wanderlust movie, but it’s also one great film!

Imdb score: 8.1 | Rotten Tomatoes: 100%

#2 Before Sunset

Spoiler alert: don’t read this if you haven’t seen Before Sunrise as this is a sequel to the movie Before Sunrise.

After 9 years, the couple meats again, but in Paris, it is totally unexpected. Jess is there for his book presentation, and Céline, who lives in Paris, decides to attend it. With a deep connection but without having heard from each other for 9 years, they decide to talk and walk through the streets of Paris.

With the beautiful scenery of Paris, you will hear about politics, work, and personal beliefs. And discover if this time they will stay together.

Imdb score: 8.0 | Rotten Tomatoes: 95%

#3 The Motorcycle Diaries

The Motorcycle Diaries is about the journey and written memoir of 23-year-old Ernesto Guevara during his trip through South America. It is a fascinating movie that will make you travel through South America. You will pass through the breathtaking landscapes of Argentina , the Andes in Chile, the Atacama Desert, the Peruvian Amazon, and Venezuela.

The movie takes place before Che Guevara becomes the leader of the Marxist guerilla. During the film, you will see the transformation of Che Guevara’s personality and his beliefs. It’s an excellent film, even if you aren’t a fan of Che Guevara.

Imdb score: 7.8 | Rotten Tomatoes: 83%

#4 Into the wild

Into the wild is a biographical movie about a boy who travels through the USA. He decides that he doesn’t need money or any materialistic possessions. He works along the voyage, hitchhikes, and relies on the kindness of people.

During the movie, you will travel through incredible places in the USA , like the Grand Canyon, California , South Dakota, and Alaska . It is a beautiful movie that makes you reflect on some topics in life while enjoying some of America’s most beautiful sites.

Imdb score: 8.1 | Rotten Tomatoes: 83%

This movie unrolls in the Way of Santiago, a famous Catholic pilgrimage with several routes all leading to the shire of Santiago of Compostela, Spain. In this movie, a father follows his son’s footsteps. His son died during the pilgrimage due to a storm. To make peace and grieve his son, he decides to do the way of Saint James. Along the way, he discovers Spain , makes new friends, and learns new things about himself.

It is a good movie to explore the Way, and it truly allows you to travel through northern Spain’s beautiful and diverse scenery.

Imdb score: 7.4 | Rotten Tomatoes: 83%

Wild is a biographical movie based on the memoirs of Cheryl Strayed. The author changes her life radically and does the Pacific Crest Trail. Without experience, she explores the wild by herself. During 3 months, she will walk 1 700 km on this long-distance trail that starts in California and ends in Canada , passing through the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Range.

The movie has stunning views of the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Range. It makes you want to leave everything behind and hike the Pacific Crest Trail.

Imdb score: 7.1 | Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

#7 The Beach

The beach is an adventure movie that takes place in Thailand , mostly on the famous island of Ko Phi Phi Le. Leonardo DiCaprio plays the paper of a US boy that goes to Thailand looking for adventure. In Thailand, he hears about a paradisiac island nearly unreachable. The whole story backfires, and paradise transforms into hell.

This iconic movie was one of the reasons the Ko Phi Phi Le island in Thailand became so well-known. If you haven’t yet seen this movie, you really should, despite de bad reviews below…

Imdb score: 6.7 | Rotten Tomatoes: 20%

#8 Lost in translation

This movie is about an actor that is hired to go to Japan to do an advertisement for Suntory whiskey. During his stay in Japan, he makes friends with a girl that is discovering who she is. Both embark on a voyage of trying new things in a different country.

It is a comedy that explores the cultural experience of Japan and traveling. That feeling when you arrive in a country and don’t know how everything works and its social rules. One of the best traveling movies ever.

Imdb score: 7.7 | Rotten Tomatoes: 95%

#9 The secret life of Walter Mitty

The movie is about a negative asset that works in Life Magazine – he always wanted to travel and never wasn’t able to do so. But due to work reasons, he travels the world looking for a renowned photographer. The movie is full of imagination, with a thin line between reality and fantasy.

It is one of the most mesmerizing travel movies ever done. It transports you to Greenland, Iceland, and the Himalayas. You will be simply breathless with the stunning scenery.

Imdb score: 7.3 | Rotten Tomatoes: 51%

#10 Easy Rider

Easy rider is a classic movie of the ’70s about two motorcyclists who go through the USA . The movie portrays the society of that era, the hippie movement, and drug use. It is a cool movie to see.

One of the most striking things about the movie is its soundtrack, especially the song “Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf. The movie made the song one of the most iconic pieces of music ever.

“Get your motor runnin’ Head out on the highway Lookin’ for adventure And whatever comes our way Yeah Darlin’ go make it happen Take the world in a love embrace Fire all of your guns at once And explode into space “

Imdb score: 7,3 | Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

#11 Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a romantic comedy by Woody Allen in Barcelona. The film revolves around two Americans that come to Barcelona on vacation and are seduced by a Spanish artist. But the artist is involved in a violent relationship with his ex-wife.

The film will make you want to travel to Barcelona and spend the day drinking wine and eating tapas. It is well worth seeing, strangely erotic, and comical.

Imdb score: 7,1 | Rotten Tomatoes: 81%

#12 Borat! Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

This is a controversial comedy movie with the character Borat, a fictitious Kazakh journalist who travels to the USA. The film exposes society’s preconceptions in a documentary/comedy movie. The “journalist” Borat interviews real-life Americans who believe he is from Kazakhstan and doesn’t understand American culture.

The film may be a bit choking, but it is very funny while revealing some personal beliefs of many Americans.

Imdb score: 7,3 | Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

#13 Little Miss Sunshine

Little Miss Sunshine is a comedy about a weird family from New Mexico that does a road trip through America so their daughter can attend a beauty pageant contest held in California. During the trip, several setbacks make it a complicated/funny journey.

It is a good travel movie that reveals nobody is perfect and everybody has their own quirkiness. But that’s ok.

Imdb score: 7,8 | Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

#14 Eat Pray Love

Eat, Pray, love is based on a biography book by Elizabeth Gilbert. The movie portrays the turning point in the life of the author. Unsatisfied with her life, she decides to live in Italy , India , and Indonesia.

It is a quintessential movie about traveling and how it is to live in different countries. It is a nice romantic, feel-good movie. Despite the reviews below…

Imdb score: 5,8 | Rotten Tomatoes: 36%

#15 The way Back

The way Back is an intense and dramatic survival movie based on the memoirs of a Polish war prisoner. He was sentenced to a labor camp in Siberia for 20 years. He and a group of people decide to escape, walking 6000 km through Siberia, Mongolia, and the Himalayas until India , where they will be safe.

Although very intense, you will travel through marvelous places. We are unsure if this is travel-inducing, but the sceneries are as good as it gets, and it’s truly about travel.

Imdb score: 7,3 | Rotten Tomatoes: 74%

#15 Eurotrip

Eurotrip is a comedy and a goofy movie. It is about a group of friends that do a trip around Europe. During this trip, they will experience several weird and embarrassing situations, plenty of them related to sex.

It is a fun, light movie to see when you don’t want to think too much.

Imdb score: 6.6 | Rotten Tomatoes: 47%

Tracks is a movie based on a true story about an Australian girl that decides to cross the Australian desert with Camels. This journey takes 9 months traveling from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean.

Very hot, with lots of hallucinations, It’s a weird film and a weird story. The suffering shown is so intense that it probably won’t make you want to travel… or maybe it will… you have to see it for yourself.

Imdb score: 7.2 | Rotten Tomatoes: 83%

#17 The Darjeeling Limited

This movie is a comedy-drama about three brothers that meet in India a year after their father’s funeral. They all decide to embark on a spiritual journey, trying to reconnect with each other.

The film is rather strange, but it will take you on an expedition through India .

Imdb score: 7.2 | Rotten Tomatoes: 68%

#18 Out of Africa

Out of Africa is a romantic drama film based on a true story about a Danish woman who moves to Nairobi after marrying Baron Bror Blixen. She is in charge of a coffee plantation and her husband doesn’t help. She ends up loving Africa and the African people.

The movie is interesting and has stunning views of Kenya.

Imdb score: 7.2 | Rotten Tomatoes: 58%

#19 One week

One Week is about a boy diagnosed with cancer who travels by motorcycle from Toronto to Vancouver Island in Canada . During his road trip, he meets fantastic people and breathtaking landscapes.

This movie will make you want to travel to Canada on your next trip.

Imdb score: 7.0 | Rotten Tomatoes: 50%

#20 127 hours

127 hours is a biographical movie about an adventurous traveler that gets trapped in a slot canyon in Canyonlands National Park in Utah . Unable to get himself loose, and after no success in asking for help, he spends 127 hours stuck.

This isn’t the most wanderlust movie, but it makes you conscious of some safety tips while traveling.

Imdb score: 7.6 | Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

#21 The art of travel

This movie is about a man that after discovering his fiance betrayed him on their wedding day, decides to leave everything behind and travel to Nicaragua. He finds a group of foreigners who are attempting to cross the Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia and joins them.

This is a stunning movie about Central America.

Imdb score: 6.4 | Rotten Tomatoes: 63%

#22 Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump is a reference in the cinematographic world, winning 6 Oscars, including Best Picture in 1994. The movie tells the story of the life of Forrest Gump, a boy with a low IQ but a fantastic ability to run.

Although it isn’t a classic travel movie, the film crosses all of America.

Imdb score: 8.8 | Rotten Tomatoes: 70%

#23 In Bruges

As the title says, this movie unrolls in the city of Bruges, Belgium. It is about an Irish hitman who kills a priest in a church and accidentally kills a small boy. He and a colleague are sent to Bruges to hide and await instructions. During this time, they visit Bruges.

It is an interesting movie in a very charming city.

Imdb score: 7.9 | Rotten Tomatoes: 84%

#24 Under the Tuscan Sun

This is a film about a writer that discovers her husband is having an affair. Feeling depressed, she buys a villa in Tuscany in, Italy , hoping it will change her life.

Fantastic traveling movie especially if you love Italy .

Imdb score: 6.8 | Rotten Tomatoes: 62%

#25 A Good Year

A Good Year is about a workaholic trader from London who receives a vineyard state in Provence from his uncle. When he was young, he spent his Summers on his Uncle’s propriety in France . He has very fond memories of that period in time. He now has to decide if he wants to sell the vineyard or stay and live in it.

A good romantic film in Provence.

Imdb score: 7.0 | Rotten Tomatoes: 25%

#26 7 years in Tibet

Seven years in Tibet is a biographical movie about an Austrian explorer that during the II World War, is made captive as a POW in the Himalayas. He is able to escape and crosses the border to Tibet, where he meets and befriends the Dali Lama.

One of the most beautiful travel movies ever done.

Imdb score: 7.1 | Rotten Tomatoes: 60%

#27 Midnight in Paris

Midnight in Paris is a film written and directed by Woody Allen, set in Paris. It is about a screenwriter with different viewpoints from his fiancée. The film portrays the duality between modernism and the nostalgia of the old times.

A good Woody Allen movie with the plus of visiting Paris’s main attractions.

Imdb score: 7.7 | Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

Up is an animated movie by Pixar. It is about an elderly widow who, throughout his life, wanted to travel but couldn’t due to life complications. One day a scout boy knocks on his door, and after some doubts, they both embark on an adventure to Paradise Falls. Turning his house into an airship using thousands of helium balloons

It is a wonderful travel movie that teaches us one should try to live life with the most adventures possible at any age.

Imdb score: 8.2 | Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

#29 Thelma and Louise

Thelma and Louise is a travel movie about two friends that go on a road trip to the USA. During the trip, they suffer aggression that makes them run away from the cops. The film won 6 Oscars and is a well-known movie in the cinematographic world.

It is a cult film that you definitely must see.

Imdb score: 7.5 | Rotten Tomatoes: 84%

#30 The Gods must be crazy

The gods must be crazy is a South African movie about the “Bushman” or San People. They receive a gift from the Gods (a Coca-Cola bottle). But the bottle creates plenty of confusion in the community, so they decide to through it at the end of the world.

This movie is one of the funniest movies we have seen, and it will make you want to visit the Kalahari Desert in Botswana and Namibia.

Imdb score: 7.3 | Rotten Tomatoes: 85%

#31 Mama Mia!

Mama Mia! is a musical movie based on the songs of the pop group ABBA. The movie is set on the island of Skopelos in Greece .

Throughout the movie, you catch fantastic views of greek islands while hearing ABBA songs.

Imdb score: 6.4 | Rotten Tomatoes: 54%

#32 Lord of the rings

Lord of the rings is a film series of 3 epic movies based on the books of J. R. R. Tolkien. The three movies are The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003). All of them are amazing and a must. It is about a hobbit traveling through middle earth to destroy the One Ring to save the world.

Throughout the movies, you will encounter breathtaking views of New Zealand that will blow your mind. If the lord of the rings doesn’t make you want to travel to New Zealand (or elsewhere), I don’t know what will…

Imdb score: 8.8 | Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

#33 The Bucket List  

The Bucket list is a film about two terminally ill cancer patients that decide to complete their bucket list. This will make them embark on a voyage through the world.

This comedy-drama movie will allude you to seize the moment and go and enjoy life while you can.

Imdb score: 7.4 | Rotten Tomatoes: 41%

#34 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is about a group of British retirees that decide to spend their retirement in India . They install themself in a restored hotel, the Marigold Hotel, and although it isn’t the most luxurious, they ultimately fall in love with it.

It is a good travel movie that proves that it is never too late to travel.

Imdb score: 7.2 | Rotten Tomatoes: 79%

#35 The Big year

The Big Year is a comedy film about a group of birders who contest to identify the biggest number of bird species in North America. For that, they have to travel all over the USA to try to spot as many birds as they can

A funny and weird movie that will make you travel to remote places. Oh, we had to search, but that big year contest really exists…

Imdb score: 6.2 | Rotten Tomatoes: 41%

#36 Spider-Man: Far from Home

Spider-Man: Far from Home is about a Marvel Comics superhero, Spider-Man. In this film, Spider-Man joins his friends and goes on a European trip, visiting iconic cities like Venice and Prague.

It isn’t the most obvious choice for a travel movie, but it actually does visit Prague’s and Venice’s top attractions.

Imdb score: 7.5 | Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

#37 Away we go

Away we go is about a couple expecting a baby and starts questioning where they want to raise a child and build a happy family. To choose wisely, they travel through the USA and discover where they want to call home.

A travel movie about the USA that makes you think about where you should call home.

Imdb score: 7.0 | Rotten Tomatoes: 67 %

#38 The Martian

The Martian is about an astronaut that is left alone on Mars and has to learn how to survive. So it is a travel movie but out in Space, more particularly to Mars.

It is a fantastic movie with “out of this world” scenery.

Imdb score: 8.0 | Rotten Tomatoes: 91%

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75+ Best Travel Movies to Inspire Your Wanderlust

Home » Blog » Travel » 75+ Best Travel Movies to Inspire Your Wanderlust

 curated a giant list of wanderlust-inducing movies that’ll make you feel as if you are on an adventure far, far away. This list of travel movies covers all genres, from comedies to dramas to documentaries and even a big section of travel series on Netflix!

It’s not always possible to jump on a plane bound for a far-flung destination, but that doesn’t mean your wanderlust just quietly subsides. Nah, that’s when those itchy feet get even itchier. We know the struggle all too well, friends.

There’s no real cure, but sometimes looking at old travel photos does the trick and other times, getting wrapped up in a good travel book makes you almost feel like you did get on that plane after all…

But let’s be real, sometimes you just need to curl up on your couch and turn your brain off for a while. Finding a good travel movie (or Netflix series!) lets you escape reality andexperience the magic of traveling without ever leaving your living room.

We’ve curated a giant list of travel movies including some of our personal favorites as well as some films that are on our to-watch list. Some of these movies are specifically about travel, while others give you a glimpse into places around the world that might inspire your next big trip.

Whether you’re an avid traveler or someone who prefers to “explore” from the comforts of home, these movies will transport you to new and exciting locations around the globe. So bring on the popcorn and cozy slippers and get ready for your next travel adventure!

Types of Travel Movies

We’ve done our best to round up a variety of different kinds of travel movies — from comedic and light-hearted tales to action-packed thrillers to educational series. There is even a section of Netflix-produced films for easy accessibility! Whatever your movie genre preferences, you’ll find pretty much everything on the list.

Psst! Be sure to look for our personal notes, as we’re sharing our favorites on this list as well as a handful that are on our to-watch list!

Jump to the type of movie you prefer and see all the options we’ve gathered just for you:

Action & Adventure

Inspirational travel movies.

Travel & Romance

Outdoor Adventure Movies

Animated Travel Movies

Travel documentaries, netflix original travel series.

If you’re looking for a little comedic relief and some light-hearted travel inspiration, these movies are for you!

The Bucket List

Where: Around the world

What: This is the uplifting story of two strangers who decide to make the most out of life while facing their impending deaths. 

Two strangers nearing the end of their lives form a bond while sharing a room in the hospital. They decide to take a journey across the globe together checking off items on a list of things they want to accomplish before they kick the bucket. 

Watch trailer | Purchase | Rent

Crazy Rich Asians

Where: Singapore, New York City

What: A romantic comedy about love exceeding cultural barriers and family and societal pressures. 

TWS Favorite!

In this hilarious and heart-warming film, a girl from New York City, Rachel, agrees to go to Singapore with her boyfriend Nick to meet his family for the first time. She discovers his family is not only crazy-rich but he is also one of the country’s most eligible bachelors and she must fight off the competition – mostly his family – who don’t believe she is good enough for him. 

Watch trailer | Purchase | Rent  

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Where: Iceland, Greenland, New York City

What: An inspiring film about stepping into the unknown and embracing unexpected adventures.  

Based on a short story, this movie is a blend of adventure, comedy and drama. The viewer follows the life of Walter Mitty, a man who is living an ordinary and often boring life but daydreams of more. Adventures begin to unfold when he steps out of his comfort zone, and he follows a hunch that brings him to Greenland and Iceland. A little predictable at times, but we like this movie a lot! The stunning landscapes and inspirational storyline are always a good pick-me-up. 

Psst! When this movie makes you want to pack your bags and travel to Iceland , we’ve got tons of tips and useful info for you!

Lost in Translation

Where: Tokyo, Japan

What: A comedic drama about an unlikely friendship and facing personal challenges.

Bob is an aging American actor on assignment in Tokyo where he meets Charlotte, a young college graduate who’s been left behind by her photographer husband. Gradually the pair forms an unlikely friendship and face the challenges in their lives that they were running away from. 

Inspired to travel to Tokyo after watching this movie? We’ve got a huge list of the best things to do in Tokyo to help you plan a future trip!

The Darjeeling Limited

Where: India

What: A comedic film that examines the role of grief, extravagance and spirituality in the bond of family. 

Three brothers set out on a so-called “spiritual journey” to try and reconnect a year after the death of their father. Their adventure takes them across India on a train called the Darjeeling Limited and forces them into self-reflection. 

Where: Bruges, Belgium

What: A dark comedy set in a beautiful medieval city in Belgium   

After a job goes wrong, Irish hitmen, Ray and Ken, decide to hole up in Belgium until things cool down. In the medieval city of Bruges, they meet tourists and locals and even find romance. 

Last Holiday

Where: Europe

What: A comedic film about breaking out of your shell, throwing caution to the wind and finding true happiness in life. 

After the discovery of a terminal illness, a shy woman (aka Queen Latifah) cashes out her bank accounts and jets off to Europe to live out her last days like a millionaire. Her positive attitude charms everyone she meets, the only thing she is missing is her long-time crush. While this movie might be a bit cheesy and cliché, it’s an uplifting comedy for a light-hearted movie night. 

Midnight in Paris

Where: Paris, France

What: A comedic film in which Woody Allen mocks the classic American ideals of status and class, set against the backdrop of nightlife in Paris. 

While on vacation in Paris with his fiancee and her family, Gil is having a hard time fitting in with her stuffy, pretentious family. In the midst of trying to finish his debut novel, he is beguiled by the city, which takes him to a time past, away from his fiancee.

The Hangover Part II

Where: Thailand  

What: The sequel to The Hangover, this movie follows a group of friends on a comedic adventure in Bangkok, Thailand.

If you’ve seen the original, you know this group of friends makes some poor decisions that lead to cringe-y but laugh-out-loud consequences like face tattoos and marrying strangers. Set 2 years after the original movie, one of the friends (Stu) is getting married in Thailand, and all that can go wrong does…

Psst! If all the bad things that happen in this movie don’t scare you away from planning a trip to Thailand , we’ve got all the information you need!

Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

What: An uplifting tale of self-discovery, romance, and second chances.

Seven strangers decide to uproot their lives in the UK and live out the remainder of their golden years in what is promised to be a luxury resort for seniors. They get a lot more than they bargained for when they arrive in India to find the hotel in less than operational standards. However, with the encouragement of the hotel’s enthusiastic owner, they form unlikely bonds and bring the hotel and each other back to life. 

What: Uplifting film about a young woman who sets out on a mission to make other people’s lives better.

This quirky comedy is set in Paris, and brings you on a journey through this iconic city. The story follows Amélie, a young woman with a unique perspective on the world who is making it her mission to bring her own unique sense of justice to the world. As she’s helping others, she embarks on her own love story. 

Watch trailer | Purchase

Up in the Air

Where: Airports

What: The ups and downs in the lives of (very) frequent travelers.

This witty comedy starring George Clooney and Anna Kendrick, mostly takes place in airports and in the air instead of the destination itself. While it’s focused on travel for business, most travelers can relate to the “airport life” that you either love or hate, but can’t really escape.

Watch trailer | Watch Movie (Free with Amazon Prime Video)

Note: If you dig the airport setting, then be sure to check out Catch Me If You Can and The Terminal .

Be on the edge of your seat as you journey across the world with these dramatic tales adventures that take place around the globe. No packing necessary! Although you might want to keep the Kleenex box nearby for a few of the movies on this list…

Where: Thailand

What: This drama based on the best selling novel of the same name, examines the idea of self-discovery and limits of a utopian society. 

TWS Favorite! (We also like the book !)

Young American backpacker Richard arrives in Thailand with a thirst for adventure and the desire to discover something new. After hearing rumors about “The Beach”, he sets out to find paradise with his new friends. Soon after they arrive on the idyllic island, they realize that paradise isn’t always what it seems and find themselves in a fight for their own survival. 

The Motorcycle Diaries

Where: Motorcycle trip around South America

What: A film about two young men on a journey to “forget who they were and discover who they are.”

TWS Favorite! (This is a book too !)

A biopic based on the memoir of 23-year-old Ernesto “Che” Guevara (later known as a Marxist guerilla leader and prominent figure of the Cuban Revolution, Che Guevara) as he finds his calling in life while on a motorcycle road trip across South America with his best friend Alberto. 

Where: Morocco, Japan, Mexico and the US

What: This film gives an interesting take on cultural diversity and the barriers that both separate and connect humankind around the world. 

Told non-linearly, this is the story of four disparate groups of people on 3 separate continents whose destinies are intertwined after an accidental shooting leaves an American tourist fighting for her life in a remote village of Morocco. The film depicts the emotional struggles and traumatic situations as each of the characters tries to deal with their problems and winds up making an even greater mess of things. 

Where: India and Australia

What: A biographical drama based on the memoir of Saroo Brierley.

At 5 years old, Sarroo is separated from his family in an unlucky series of events that leaves him alone on the streets of Calcutta, facing many challenges while thousands of miles from home. After being adopted by an Australian family, 25 years later he sets out on a journey through India to find his long-lost family. 

Y Tu Mama También 

Where: Mexico

What: With a combination of drama, comedy and sex, this coming-of-age film follows two teenage boys on their road trip across Mexico.

Julio and Tenoch, like most 17-year old boys, are driven by raging hormones, intense friendships, and a reckless rush towards adulthood. While on a cross-country road trip over the course of a summer with an older female companion, the two best friends get into plenty of trouble but ultimately find connection with each other, themselves and the world around them. 

Seven Years in Tibet

Where: Nepal, Tibet

What: Based on the memoir, this is the film adaptation of the real life events that lead Heinrich Harrer to spend seven transformational years in Tibet.

Follow legendary explorer, Heinrich Harrer, on his extraordinary journey across the frozen Himalayas. From being imprisoned by the Chinese to becoming one of the first Europeans to enter Tibet and the Forbidden City of Lhasa where his friendship with the young Dalai Lama transforms his life. 

The Impossible

What: Based on a true story of survival and the desperate drive to be reunited with family. 

In 2004, tragedy struck Southeast Asia in one of the worst natural disasters in human history. The Bennett family is on holiday in Thailand when a tsunami hits without warning, devastating the country and separating the family, leaving them to survive the initial impact and embark on a heart-wrenching search to reunite amongst the chaotic aftermath.   

Memoirs of a Geisha

Where: Japan

What: A Cinderella story set in a mysterious and exotic world where against all odds a house servant rises to decide her own destiny.

Sold to a geisha house at the age of nine-years-old, Chiyo Sakamoto becomes a victim of unpleasant circumstances, but her fate changes when she meets Mameha. The relationships of two couples become complicated and deceitful and Chiyo blossoms to become the most captivating geisha of her time. 

Half of a Yellow Sun

Where: Nigeria

What: A drama that brings together the lives of four people during the struggle to establish an independent republic in Nigeria.

On the top of our to-watch list!

Twin sisters from a wealthy Nigerian family, who were educated in England, return to Nigeria to take wildly different paths in life. However, both become swept up in the struggle of the Nigerian civil war.

Watch trailer | Purchase (Free on Amazon Prime Video) | Rent

Slumdog Millionaire

What: Loosely based on a true story, this is one young man’s emotional and uplifting tale of rising above circumstance to fulfill what he believes is his destiny. 

A Mumbai teen becomes a contestant on the Indian version of the show ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?’ When he is accused of cheating, he reflects on his childhood in the slums, his struggles and his long lost love, revealing how he knew all the answers.

If your favorite kind of movies usually involve guns, spies, or some kind of action hero who narrowly escapes death multiple times before the credit scene, then these travel movies are for you!

Where: North Africa

What: An action-packed comedy following treasure hunters on an adventure through the most dangerous parts of Northern Africa.

An explorer finds the adventure of a lifetime when he and his wise-cracking sidekick venture through some of the most dangerous parts of North Africa in search of a lost Civil War battleship known as the Ship of Death. Using their wits and clever heroics, they partner up with a beautiful WHO doctor who believes the ship may have something to do with the mysteriously spreading plague she is investigating.

Indiana Jones

Where: US, UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Jordan, Egypt, India, China, Peru, etc. etc. etc.!

What: A classic action series based on the around the world adventures of Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones, a fictional professor of archaeology. 

TWS Favorite: These were my favorite movies growing up as a kid, and they still spark a sense of adventure in me today!

Follow the adventures of Dr. Indiana Jones and his unlikely sidekicks as he sets out on assignments to find ancient artifacts and save the world from Nazis and bad guys. Though the original 3 movies were filmed in the 80s, they are filled with action-packed comedy that has stood the test of time and still carry a fan-base to this day.

Raiders of the Lost Ark: Peru, USA, Nepal, Egypt, Tunisia

Temple of Doom: China, India

The Last Crusade: USA, Venice, Jordan

While there was a 4th Indiana Jones (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) released in 2008, and a 5th set to hit theaters in 2021, we’d definitely recommend starting with the originals!

The Da Vinci Code

Where: France, UK

What: An action-packed mystery thriller is based on the best selling novel about a fictional professor of Symbology. 

Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon travels to Paris to investigate a murder inside the Louvre. Once he realizes he’s under investigation, he pairs up with the deceased’s daughter following clues hidden inside Da Vinci’s works to discover a religious secret that could shake the foundations of Christianity. 

Like this movie? Watch the following two films in the series: Angels & Demons and Inferno .

The Italian Job

Where: Italy, Los Angeles

What: An action-packed crime drama following a group of professional thieves from Italy to Los Angeles.  

Professional thief Charlie Croker pulled off the heist of a lifetime in Italy, but was betrayed by one of his team members and left for dead. Along with the help of his former boss’s safe-cracking daughter, Croker assembles a team of con artists and formulates a plan to retaliate by stealing back the gold from his former ally. 

City of God

Where: Brazil

What: This action-heavy film illustrates the crippling effect of poverty with limited choices for survival. 

Set in the poverty-stricken favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the 1970s, this film follows two young men as they navigate the increasing drug-related violence of their neighborhood. José is an ambitious drug dealer who uses photographer Rocket, and his photos of the crime-ridden slums, as a way to increase his fame while a turf war erupts with his rival. The film was shot on location in Rio’s poorest neighborhoods.

The Tourist

Where: Italy

What: A romantic action thriller about the dangerous world of espionage. 

An American tourist is seeking solace in Italy after a recent heartbreak finds his life turned upside down when he meets a beautiful woman on a train going to Venice who convinces everyone that he is her lover who is wanted by the police.

Lord of the Rings trilogy

Where: Middle-earth (aka New Zealand)

What: A series of three epic fantasy adventure films based on the novel written by J. R. R. Tolkien.

Set in the fictional world of Middle-earth, the films follow the hobbit Frodo Baggins as he and his companions embark on a quest to destroy a ring that will ensure the destruction of its evil maker and save the free people of Middle-earth.

This epic fantasy adventure is filmed mostly on location in New Zealand , so while the movie may take place in a fictional land, the landscapes give a peek into the real-world southern hemisphere destination. 

If you are looking to be lifted up and inspired, these feel-good movies will bring you along on transformational journeys and will reignite your wanderlust.

The Art of Travel

Where: Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Bolivia and California

What: A film that explores the very nature of wanderlust, how it informs character and transforms life.

On his wedding day, Connor walks out on his cheating bride-to-be and decides to embark on his honeymoon alone. While on the road in Central and South America he befriends a ragtag group of travelers and encounters both physical and metaphorical obstacles as he learns the art of travel.

Watch trailer | Watch (Free on Amazon Prime Video)

Hector and the Search for Happiness

Where: UK, China, Africa

What: One man’s search around the globe for joy and ultimately purpose. 

Disillusioned by his own existence, psychiatrist Hector feels he is a fraud for treating patients who never seem to improve or get any happier. Finally reaching his breaking point, he decides to make a change and embarks on an international quest to find the formula for happiness. 

Where: Australia

What: Based on the bestselling memoir, this drama chronicles the author’s solo journey across the Australian desert.

Mia, a young Australian woman, sets off on a journey to find solitude by embarking on a solo trip across the desert from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean. She is accompanied only by her dog and 4 camels to make the 9-month journey on foot.

Whale Rider

Where: New Zealand

What: An uplifting family drama that questions gender roles in cultural traditions. 

When her twin brother dies at birth, Pai decides to fulfill the destiny he was given to become the chief of their Maori tribe in New Zealand. The only problem is, only males are allowed to become chiefs. With the help of her grandmother and the training of her uncle, the 12-year-old strives to win over her ultra-traditional grandfather and claim her birthright. 

Learning about Maori culture is one of the many things you should know before planning a trip to New Zealand .

The Fundamentals of Caring (Netflix Original)

Where: Road trip across the United States

What: A feel-good movie about overcoming personal challenges and finding hope in friendship. 

After suffering a personal tragedy, retired writer Ben decides to become a personal caregiver to Trevor, a snobby 18-year-old with muscular dystrophy. They take an impromptu road trip across the US to see all of the quirky road-side stops Trevor has become obsessed with when they meet Dot, a runaway, who joins them on their journey and helps them come to understand the importance of friendship and hope. 

Watch trailer | Watch on Netflix

Where: Road trip across Canada

What: A humorous and moving film about grappling with one’s own immortality on a search for self-discovery.

When 20-something Ben Tyler is given a terminal diagnosis, he flees from his impending marriage and boring job in an attempt to live out the rest of his life to the fullest. His misguided road trip on a vintage motorcycle becomes an adventure of self-discovery set against the great Canadian landscape.

Queen of Katwe

Where: Uganda

What: An inspirational story of a young girl who lifts herself out of poverty through the game of chess.

This film from Disney is based off of the real life story of a girl named Phiona who grew up in a slum in Uganda called Katwe. At the age of 10, Phiona is introduced to the game of chess and soon begins competing. Her talent opens doors that she never thought would be possible.

The Hundred-Foot Journey

Where: A small village in the French countryside

What: A heart-warming tale of overcoming cultural differences, romance, and following one’s passion.

This story follows an Indian family who moves to southern France and shakes things up in a small village when they open a restaurant across the street from a Michelin-starred French restaurant. When the son decides to go cook for the competition across the street, cultures clash, loyalties are tested, and boundaries are pushed.

Kodachrome (Netflix Original)

Where: A road trip across the US

What: An emotional and somewhat humorous film with incredible cinematography. 

When Matt’s estranged father’s nurse shows up at his office out of the blue, asking Matt to drop everything and honor his father’s dying wish, he finds his life turned upside down. Reluctantly, Matt joins his famed bad-boy photojournalist father and the nurse on a journey to the last remaining lab in the country that is still developing Kodachrome film. 

Where: The “Camino de Santiago” trail in Spain, France and Portugal

What: A powerful and inspirational film about dealing with loss, family dynamics and unlikely friendships. 

When Tom’s adult son is tragically killed in a storm while walking the The Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of Saint James trail, he sets out to St. Jean Pied de Port, France to collect his son’s remains. But instead of returning home as planned, Tom decides to complete the historical pilgrimage in honor of his son. 

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

What: An adventure comedy-drama film about personal growth and relationships.

TWS Favorite! 

When a rebellious boy is left in the care of tough but loving foster parents, he and his foster uncle become the subject of a nationwide manhunt after they get themselves stranded in the wild New Zealand bush. 

Inspired to travel to NZ after watching this? This film brings you through some beautiful landscapes across Kiwi country, and we’ve got tons of resources to help you plan an epic vacation to New Zealand !

A Dog’s Way Home

Where: A journey across Colorado

What: A humorous and moving film about the bonds of love and friendship between man and dog. 

Told from the perspective of Bella, a rescue dog, who gets separated from her human and embarks on a 400-mile journey across Colorado to be reunited with him. Along the way, she encounters people and animals that need her help and help her to reach her final destination. 

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Where: Greece, Mexico and suburban America 

What: A coming-of-age tale that highlights the bonds of friendship when grappling with family relationships, romance, and change.

In this “guilty pleasure”-esque flick, four best friends who couldn’t be more different in personality and style find a pair of pants that miraculously fits each of them perfectly. As they set out on separate adventures spending their first ever summer apart, they agree to share the pants between them in the hope that it will keep their bond strong.

*If you like this movie, check out the sequel , which brings all four friends to Greece!

The Road Within

What: An inspiring film about grappling with mental health and overcoming personal challenges. 

After the death of his mother, Robert, a young man with Tourette’s Syndrome is sent to an in-patient facility to get help with his condition. There he meets two unlikely friends and together they embark on an adventure across the country in a stolen car. An epic road trip that will change their lives forever. This feel-good movie takes a deeper look at interpersonal relationships and the stigma of mental health, proving that life is truly about the journey and not always the destination. 

Watch Trailer | Watch (Free with Amazon Prime Video)

Travel & Romance Movies

Get swept off your feet (or couch!) with these light hearted tales of romance and adventure that take place around the world.

Eat Pray Love

Where: New York, Italy, India, Indonesia

What: Based on the best selling memoir, Eat Pray Love is one woman’s journey to reignite her passion for life, connect with her spirituality and focus on herself. 

Leaving behind her comfortable life and a marriage she was no longer happy in, Elizabeth Gilbert takes a year-long sabbatical for a journey of self-discovery eating her way through Italy, practicing meditation in India, and finding love in Bali, Indonesia. 

Perhaps one of the most cliched travel + love stories, this one doesn’t resonate with everyone, but those for whom it does tend to be pretty inspired by this true journey. (In our opinion, the book is better, but the movie indulges you with some pretty scenes from Italy, India and Indonesia!) 

Bali dreaming? After watching this movie, you’ll want to plan a trip to Bali (trust me!). Check out our list of top things to do on this island (we lived there for 6 months, so we’ve got quite the list!).

Under the Tuscan Sun

Where: Tuscany

What: This film is about stepping out of your comfort zone and finding / creating your own happiness.  

Frances Mayes is a 35-year-old writer living in San Francisco, suffering from writer’s block and depression after her recent divorce. When her friend gifts her a trip to Italy, she impulsively decides to buy an abandoned villa in the Tuscan countryside. Restoring the home leads her to new friends and a life-changing adventure filled with unexpected surprises. 

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Where: Barcelona, Spain

What: A Woody Allen film about the nature of love and how it plays out between consenting adults. 

Vicky and Cristina are two friends who are spending their summer vacationing in Barcelona when they meet a handsome artist named Juan Antonio and begin an illicit affair. When his ex-wife Maria Elena comes back into the picture, things get interesting and the girls get more than they bargained for. 

Monsoon Wedding

What: This movie follows the complexities, drama, comedy, romance and utter chaos that is an Indian wedding.

Aditi is the only daughter in a modern, upper-middle-class family in Delhi, and her family has arranged her marriage to the son of a family friend who lives in Texas. Their wedding is going to be the event of the year. However, it is not without its twists and turns, hidden family secrets, affairs, and unexpected romance.

Letters to Juliet

Where: Italy, New York

What: A romantic chick-flick about following your heart and finding true love. 

Sophie is an aspiring writer in New York City who travels to Verona, Italy with her chef-obsessed boyfriend, where she meets the “Secretaries of Juliet” and finds an old love letter hiding in a wall. Sophie sets out on a journey across Italy with the woman who wrote the letter, Claire, and her reluctant grandson, to reunite her with her true love from decades past. 

P.S. I Love You

Where: Ireland, NYC

What: A tragic story of life after loss and finding new love and happiness.

This movie follows Holly, a young woman who has just lost her husband to cancer. Before his death, he organized a scavenger hunt type of adventure that brings her back to his hometown in Ireland with her girlfriends. 

A Good Year

Where: Provence, France

What: Set in French wine country, this movie follows a man’s journey to finding love and realizing what is important in life. 

Max is a work-a-holic London banker who makes a quick trip to Provence with the intention of selling his late uncle’s vineyard and estate. But things don’t go as planned. Max unearths secrets, finds romance, and gets a lesson on what’s really important in life. 

Before Sunrise

Where: Vienna, Austria

What: A story of modern-day romance between people from two different worlds.

If you’ve ever had a travel fling, this indie film will grip you. It follows the story of an American traveler, Jesse, who falls for an Austrian student he meets on a train. Their connection is strong and they spend a night exploring Vienna together before Jesse’s flight leaves the next morning. 

Like this one? Lucky for you, there are two more in this 3-part series: Before Sunset (takes place in Paris) and Before Midnight (takes place in Greece).

Outdoor Adventure Travel Movies

To our fellow outdoor adventure lovers, this list is for you. From dramatic mountaineering feats in the Himalayas to transformational treks across the USA, these movies will take you on some epic outdoor adventures around the globe.

Everest 

Where: Climbing Mt. Everest

What: Inspired by a true story, this dramatic and thrilling adventure is about overcoming mental and physical challenges to achieve the nearly impossible.

Everest documents the dramatic and awe-inspiring journey of two expeditions to summit Mt. Everest during a devastating snow storm. The climbers battle the elements and face nearly impossible obstacles as their lifelong obsession becomes a breathtaking struggle for survival. 

Want to know more? Read about our 17-day journey to Everest Base Camp !

A Walk in the Woods

Where: The Appalachian Trail

What: Based on the best-selling book, this is the story of two friends attempting to hike the Appalachian Trail. 

On the top of our to-watch list (we loved the book )!

Sick of life being all about ailments and funerals, Bill decides to push himself on an adventure hiking the Appalachian Trail. After protests from his wife, he recruits an old friend for the journey. 

This is the light-hearted and humorous story of the ill-prepared friends on their attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail in their later years of life. 

Into the Wild

Where: Hitchhiking across North America to Alaska

What: Based on a true story, this is a biographical adventure drama film of a young man’s journey to find meaning, belonging and love on a solo journey. 

Christopher McCandless is a young man who decides to hitchhike across North America to reach the Alaskan wilderness. During his transformative journey, he encounters several people and situations which change who he is as a person. This story is also a book ! 

Where: Crossing the ocean from Peru to Polynesia

What: A historical adventure-drama about the 1947 Kon-Tiki trans-oceanic expedition.

Norwegian explorer Thor believes that the South Sea Islands were originally colonized by South Americans. He sets out to prove his theory by recruiting 5 companions to set sail from Peru on a wooden raft built from an ancient design with only the stars and ocean currents to guide them. Along the way their moral and physical limits are tested as they encounter more than they bargained for. 

Where: The Pacific Crest Trail

What: Based on the best-selling memoir, this is the story of one woman’s transformative journey hiking the PCT. 

When her life feels like it’s hit rock bottom after losing her mother, battling drug abuse, a slew of one-night-stands, and her marriage crumbling, Cheryl Strayed (played by Reese Witherspoon) makes the impulsive decision to hike over 1,000 of the Pacific Crest Trail, with no experience or training, completely solo. 

Get the family together for a cultural experience or a far-flung adventure to another world. These movies will take you on a comedic journey to some interesting places, and hopefully remind you that animated movies are not just for kids!

Where: Celebrating the culture of Mexico

What: This light-hearted and comedic tale deals with family dynamics set against the backdrop of Dia de Los Muertos celebrations in Mexico. 

TWS Favorite! We watched this for the first time on a bus to Oaxaca (one of our favorite Mexican cities!), and it taught us a lot about local culture.

Young Miguel has a passion for performing. Despite his family’s generations-old ban on music, he dreams of becoming a singer like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. After a mysterious series of events during the Dia de Los Muertos celebrations, Miguel finds himself in the Land of the Dead where he befriends a trickster and winds up uncovering secrets of his family’s history. 

A delightful and excellent portrayal of the cultural holiday, this animated film is a must-see for anyone interested in learning more about the Dia de Los Muertos celebrations. Plus, it’s great for kids!

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Where: Life as an animal in the African bush

What: This is the comedic portrayal of what happens when New York City zoo animals find themselves in the wild African bush. 

In the sequel to the popular Dreamworks hit, Madagascar, this fun bunch of NYC zoo animals find themselves in Africa for the first time in their lives. The characters hilariously portray what it would be like to discover “the wild” for the first time after being raised in a zoo, and the difference between New York City and the African bush. With humor that can span generations, this is a fun film for the whole family. 

Where: An imaginary adventure in South America

What: A comedic animated film about taking chances and fulfilling one’s dreams before it’s too late. 

78-year-old Carl Fredricksen decides to tie thousands of balloons to his house and flies away on his an adventure into the wild of South America. When he realizes he’s accidentally brought along a 9-year-old Wilderness Explorer as an unwitting stowaway, the two have to make the most of their circumstance and build a friendship. 

Where: Polynesia

What: A lovable Disney movie that follows the adventures of a brave young girl on an important mission.

Moana is a high-spirited teenager who is on a mission to save her people  by sailing across the open ocean in search of answers. Along the way, she meets a demigod, fights monsters, defies impossible odds, and discovers her true identity. The whole family will love this movie and its catchy songs, plus, you’ll feel as if you’ve escaped to a tropical island! 

Ratatouille

What: A story of rising above one’s circumstances and proving once and for all that truly anyone can cook.   

Remy, a resident of Paris, has quite the sophisticated palate and aspires to become a French chef. There is just one problem… he is a rat. When he winds up in the sewer beneath one of Paris’ finest restaurants, Remy befriends a young kitchen worker and together they cook up amazing dishes using Remy’s talents.

Sahara (Netflix Original)

Where: A journey across the Sahara Desert

What: A story of friendship and love takes these characters on a journey out of their comfort zones. 

When his new love is captured by an evil snake charmer, a kind-hearted cobra and his best friend, a scorpion, set out on a wild rescue mission across the Sahara desert. This cute animated film is best for children. 

Find out what life is like around the globe through your own eyes in these compelling documentaries about travel, humanity and the species that share our planet.

Life in a Day 

What: A National Geographic feature documenting daily life in 192 countries around the world. 

From National Geographic, Producer Ridley Scott and Oscar-winning director Kevin Macdonald asked the world to chronicle their lives via video in a single day. They took the 4,500 hours of footage submitted from 192 countries — all shot on July 24, 2010 — and created the groundbreaking documentary, Life in a Day.

Watch trailer | Watch for free on YouTube

Losing Sight of Shore 

Where: Rowing across the Pacific Ocean

What: An inspiring documentary about overcoming challenges, both mental and physical, to achieve a common goal. 

Four women set out to make history as they row across the Pacific Ocean, from America to Australia. Covering over 8,000 miles of open ocean, they must overcome extreme mental and physical challenges during their nine months at sea.

Expedition Happiness

Where: Road trip from Alaska to South America

What: An inspiring documentary about taking chances and following your dreams in the pursuit of happiness. 

A filmmaker and his musician girlfriend leave their lives in Germany behind and buy a school bus which they renovate and move into for their journey driving from Alaska to South America with their dog.

Did this film get you curious about #VanLife?! We’ve got all sorts of content on campervans , from how to build your own to insider advice and epic campervan adventures!

Pedal the World 

Where: Around the world by bicycle

A filmmaker and his musician girlfriend leave their lives in Germany behind and buy a school bus which they renovate and move into for their journey driving from Alaska to South America with their dog. 

Planet Earth & Planet Earth II

Where: Nature up close around the globe

What: A documentary series and follow up series that takes a close look at nature in our planet’s many ecosystems. 

A BBC-produced television docu-series with breathtaking high-definition footage of some of the world’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders — from the oceans to the deserts to the polar ice caps. Actress Sigourney Weaver narrates the American version, while David Attenborough is the voice of the original production.

Human Planet

What: A documentary series that takes a close look at humans and their relationship with nature around the globe. 

Filmed in dozens of locations around the world, this awe-inspiring BBC production documents how humans interact with their natural surroundings. Each episode is tied to a particular habitat to showcase humans who have adapted to thrive in these extreme environments by building complex relationships with their animal neighbors. 

A Map for Saturday

What: A film documenting the emotional arc of extreme long-term travel for everyone who’s ever wondered what it would be like to travel the world. 

“On a trip around the world, every day feels like Saturday.” Long before the time of Travel influencers and vlogging, documentary filmmaker Brook Silva-Braga made a movie documenting his solo travels through four continents by telling the stories of travelers he meets along the way from Thailand to Nepal to Brazil.  

Encounters at the End of the World

Where: Antarctica

What: Documentary that gives you a glimpse into the least-visited continent on earth.

The only film on this list set on the continent of Antarctica, this documentary follows filmmaker Werner Herzog on his journey to the most remote parts of the earth. See the austere beauty of the landscapes and meet the people who have dedicated their lives to studying this unique part of the world.

What: A transcendent global tour that explores the sights and sounds of the human condition.

With no conventional narrative, this is a film about people, places and things from around the world. From chaotic cities to barren wilderness to former concentration camps, the movie takes viewers around the globe and doesn’t shy away from the dark side of humanity when portraying a variety of natural and technological spectacles. Ultimately proving the interconnectivity of the world by both the tragedy and celebrations of life.

Netflix has made streaming incredibly accessible in homes across the globe. If you’ve already got an account, these series will be free to watch! Also, be sure to look for throughout the rest of this list, as we’ve done our best to make note of all the movies that are available on Netflix as well!

Travels with my Father

What: A docu-series following comedian Jack Whitehall as he attempts to introduce his stuffy father to the world of backpacking through SE Asia. 

In the first season, adult comedian Jack Whitehall convinces his aging and reluctant father Michael to join him on a backpacking trip through Southeast Asia in an attempt to strengthen their bond.

They are recreating the “gap year” experience and along the way they take part in unique experiences including attending an elephant polo match in Bangkok and taking a primitive train ride in Cambodia. When their trip is completed, the pair reflect on the impact of their journey. Subsequent seasons take the pair to other parts of the world. 

Watch on Netflix

What: A documentary series about the wild inhabitants of our planet through the lens of climate change.

This is sort of Netflix’s answer to Planet Earth and the increasing concerns of climate change. This series takes an up close look at our planet’s inhabitants — from polar bears to wildebeests to marine life — and how climate change is affecting every living species on earth. 

Tales by Light

What: A documentary series about photographers and the making of their images to inspire change.

From wildlife photographers in Africa to underwater photographers in the Arctic seas, to photojournalists documenting at-risk children, this captivating Netflix series takes viewers around the world to showcase talented photographers in their mission to use imagery to save the world.

Each episode follows a photographer and shows what happens behind the lens to create their powerful images. 

Street Food: Asia

Where: Streets and food markets in Asia

What: A documentary series exploring street food in some of the world’s most vibrant cities in Asia.

From the hawker stalls of Singapore to food carts in India, this series brings viewers all over Asia to highlight the stories of perseverance and culture that bring life to various countries’ cuisine. Nations visited include Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and Vietnam.

Psst! If you like this show, you’ll love the late Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations and Parts Unknown . We love binging these shows (you can purchase them to watch on YouTube) before traveling to a new country and then trying out the restaurants he features! We’ve been to a bunch of Bourdain-approved locales around the world.

Extreme Engagement

What: In this reality series, find out if an extreme around the world trip will bring this engaged couple closer together or wind up tearing them apart.

A newly engaged couple embark on a year-long around the world journey, hoping to discover the secret of marriage by exploring marriage customs in cultures around the globe. They hope this journey will help them to know if they are really ready for a lifetime commitment to each other. 

Night on Earth

What: A documentary series that uncovers the wonders of the nocturnal wildlife around our planet. 

Similar to Planet Earth , but entirely shot at night. All around the planet, the most interesting animals reveal themselves in a completely new light.  Using new night vision technology, this nature series allows viewers to lift the veil of darkness and witness the wonders of the nocturnal world like never before. 

The World’s Most Extraordinary Homes

What: A reality series that showcases the most unique properties around the world. 

This property series  showcased the most extraordinary homes found all over the world. The hosts travel across mountains, through forests, along coasts and deep underground to find unique properties in every corner of the globe. If you’re a travel enthusiast and also a fan of HGTV, then this one’s for you! 

Restaurants on the Edge

What: A reality series that helps struggling restaurants around the world by reinventing their business model. 

Follow a team of three experts — a restaurateur, a designer and a chef — as they travel the world in search of struggling restaurants that need their help. For each episode, they target a restaurant and tap into the surroundings, culture and community to remodel each business for a chance at success. 

Looking for more travel movies?!

While we couldn’t possibly list all the travel movies out there, here are a handful of more honorable mentions to add to your watch list:

The Grand Budapest Hotel , comedy/drama

Away We Go , comedy/drama

Like Father , Netflix original comedy/drama

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert , comedy/drama

Little Miss Sunshine , comedy/drama

Adrift , drama

The Terminal , drama

The Talented Mr. Ripley , drama

Catch Me if you Can , drama

Eurotrip , comedy

Just Married , comedy

National Lampoon’s Family Vacation , comedy

The Holiday , romance/comedy

Tomb Raider , action & adventure

Murder on the Orient Express ,  crime (1974 original, 2017 remake)

Lawrence of Arabia ,  adventure/drama

Nowhere in Africa ,  drama (in German)

You may also like…

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We want to hear from you!

What travel movies are on your watch list? Did we miss one of your favorites? Comment below and we’ll do our best to get back to you!

Comments (11) on “ 75+ Best Travel Movies to Inspire Your Wanderlust ”

Brilliant! Thanks for sharing the list, this is very helpful. I will do my best to watch all. Sometimes I write about the movies too. Here’s a handpicked list of movies that make you want to travel and fuel your wanderlust, in case you or any of your readers find it interesting. Keep up the good work. Can’t wait to see something new from you. Cheers!

What a great list. I really like that you have broken it up into genres – makes it so much easier to find what you might be looking for.

Glad to hear you like the travel movie list! Hope you got to add a few to your watch list!

Wow, what a comprehensive list! Netflix’ Street Food: Asia was one of the show I was actively watching prior to going to South Korea. I was even happy to see the lady on the SK’s segment. I had to stop and try her food and yes it was delicious.

Amazing! That’s so cool you got to try her food! I want to go to every one of the street food stalls on that show!

75 movies, I thought, wow there’s no way I’ve seen even half of these… but I was surprised at how many I’ve seen! Great list with some out of the box inclusions, too.

We tried our best to get a big variety of travel movies. We’ve seen a lot of these as well, but definitely have more to add to my watch list!

Wow that’s an awesome list .I have only seen half of them..but I will make sure to see all

Glad you liked the travel movie list, Madhu!

I started watching Travels with my Father but couldn’t finish it, because my American husband just couldn’t get the British humour or the way that Jack and his dad treated each other. I’ll have to finish watching it without him.

Hey Katherine, I can understand, it goes get a little dry at times. But I love the way Jack says "Daddy!" It gets me everytime!

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The Travel Sisters

Best travel movies that inspire wanderlust.

by The Travel Sisters | Nov 16, 2020 | Travel Inspiration | 23 comments

And if you are looking for more travel inspired things to do at home, here is a list of best travel shows to watch on TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime and other streaming services and fun ways to travel the world from home .

Related:  Best Credit Cards for Streaming Services

Best Travel Movies of All Time to Inspire Wanderlust

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a movie that wowed me. The story of a really boring guy that had always daydreamed about adventure (almost too much) gets the opportunity to take the adventure of a lifetime – and it changes him forever. The story, the imagery, the adventure, will make you quit your job, buy a ticket, get a tan, fall in love and never return.  – Megsy Collins, Travel Freedom Network

I love Wild for the stunning scenery. From the deserts to the mountains, watching it made me want to visit the regions featured in the film. It also has a powerful message. How Strayed dealt with fear and the perceptions made about women made me feel inspired. It can be summed up best in this quote from the movie – “I knew that if I allowed fear to overtake me, my journey was doomed. Fear, to a great extent is born of a story we tell ourselves, and I chose to tell myself a different story from the one women are told. I decided I was safe, I was strong, I was brave. Nothing could vanquish me”.  – Jen, The Trusted Traveller

Along the way, he faces challenges and meets other walkers with different backgrounds from all around the world. I highly recommend The Way as for me it promotes the Camino de Santiago but also the story is very inspirational with a powerful message that shows the difference between “the life we live and the life we choose”. – Dominic Down, Flashpacking Duo

I love this movie, as it is like a moving postcard on Italy. From the rolling hills of Tuscany, to the pretty seaside town of Positano, the visuals fill me with wanderlust and the heart-warming stories in the movie compliment the stunning scenery. We love Italy and often dream of moving there, buying a villa and doing it up, so until our dreams come true, it’s nice to live vicariously through this movie! – Kim-Ling,  Travel-Ling

This film resonates with me because, whether physically or mentally, we have all taken, or will take, a journey to discover what makes us happy. My favorite quote about travel : “Happiness is not a destination. It’s a state of being.” – Colby Holiday, World of a Wanderer

The movie is centered around an Eastern European tourist, Navorski, who was visiting New York City but was denied entry because of a sudden outbreak of civil war in his home nation of Krakozhia. As a result, the Department of Homeland Security didn’t recognize this as a ‘valid’ nation so refused him entry and made him stay inside the airport terminal.

The movie continues to highlight the struggles that Navorski faces, while at the same time offers a very relatable experience to anyone that has spent a considerable amount of time in an airport. I personally enjoy the experience of waiting around in the terminal, whether I am catching up on work or simply people watching, there is always something to do. If I had a similar experience to Navorski, well perhaps I wouldn’t be saying the same thing!  – Chris Boothman,  A Brit & A Southerner

The North Shore of Oahu Island in Hawaii is prominently featured and the cinematography shows off the island’s beauty. Many scenes were filmed at Turtle Bay Resort, which is gorgeous. The surfing scenes were filmed at Hale’iwa beach in Waialua Bay. Perhaps most stunning, are the cliffs where Rachel dares Peter to jump in after her. This was filmed at Laie Point, a dramatic coastline with 30 foot cliffs. With the stunning scenery, this movie gets my wanderlust focused on Hawaii!  – Natalie, Blissmersion

Roman Holiday is a 1953 Audrey Hepburn classic. This romantic comedy follows the adventures of a crown princess who escapes from the restrictions of her scheduled tour of Europe to explore Rome alone and incognito. She meets an American reporter and during various adventures around Rome, they inevitably fall in love.

Although most people think of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s , Roman Holiday was in fact her first major role – and won her the Academy Award for Best Actress . Although Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck are the Hollywood stars of the movie, the real star of the show is the city of Rome. The city provides the perfect backdrop to a very stylish Audrey Hepburn, with all major sights featured, such as the Spanish Steps and the Bocca Della Verita. A gorgeous feel good fairytale! – Marianne,  Mum on the Move

One scene says it all – On a deserted beach in France, a young Joanna muses, ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could just clap our hands and a drink would appear.’ She claps her hands and the scene cuts to the same beach years later, now a crowded construction site for condominiums being built by Mark. As a waiter hands a jaded and unhappily married Joanna a drink she says ‘ Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could just clap our hands and make all these people disappear.’ – Lyn Lindfield,  The Travelling Lindfields

I love this movie because it is not just about friendship but also about travelling to find that special place in your life. A coming of age story. There is a great deal of escapism here, and absolution is not necessarily what you will find at the end of the journey. Even though I don’t like snow and winter, the remote landscapes of northern Sweden and Finland are just beautiful, the people are tough and full of warmth, and the contrast to the grey Irish hometown couldn’t be more striking. A beautiful film throughout and not just your usual Hollywood fare. – Silke Elzner,  Happiness & Things

Watching Crazy Rich Asians would inspire anyone to visit Singapore as it showcases the wonderful and lush lifestyle and the wondrous places in the country. The movie shows the grand Changi Airport about which Rachel comments “looks like an upscale tropical resort”. It then shows popular attractions from the hawker centers to the top of the Marina Bay Sands . Instagrammable places in Singapore like Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Botanic Garden, and also the beautiful Sentosa Island are a part of the Crazy Rich Asians movie. – Sarah,  Hungryoungwoman

Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion’s starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don’t see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it’s not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it’s always there – fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge – they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.”  – Paula McInerney,  Contented Traveller

Do you agree that these are the best movies about travel ? Did your favorite travel movies make the list?

23 Comments

Excellent list and some inspiration just before the big holidays start!

Thanks! We were looking for some inspiration before the holidays too!

Thanks for publishing this great list. Some of the movies are very close to heart and some other I had not even heard of. 🙂

Now time to watch some.

Same here, excited to check them all out!

So much choice! Excellent idea, thanks for featuring our Scottish contribution (subtitles may be advised!)

Thank you for your contribution! And will take your advice on the subtitles:)

Great list! I will definitely use it next time when looking for some more inspiration to travel. “Eat, Pray, Love” would be my next choice. I watched it once but I liked it so much I could gladly watch it once again. Thank you for including us here and greetings from China :)x

Yes, some movies you can just watch over and over again!

Such a lovely list! Now I have some major movie inspiration to go watch. Thanks for including me 🙂

Thank you! We can’t wait to watch all the awesome contributions too:)

Great list, perfect for a snowy weekend. I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve also submitted your article to StumbleUpon.

Of course we don’t mind! Thank you!

That’s a great list, thanks for the inspiration, ladies! There are many movies in it that I love, like the Walter Mitty one!

Woow.. That is an amazing list. Just the thing I needed before the holiday season for some binge watching sessions 🙂 Few of my own favorites to which are worth adding: The leap year, The Holiday. Under the tuscan sun, Life of Pi and Cast away are my favorites too.

Great it’s! Walter Mitty made me put Iceland almost at the top of my bucket list.

Love this list. I have some serious winter watching here! 🙂

Awesome list!!! I have seen a lot of these, but have immediately started downloading a few of the new ones!

Can I also add the African Queen?

Great list of movies! Not so sure about the Revenant inspires travel. I mean yea, great scenery though look out for the bears. 🙂

Great list! Some of them are worth watching several time. I’d suggest watching and adding A Good Year (Russell Crowe). You will be packing your bags for Provence before it is over.

There are some great suggestions here. One of my favorites is the 100 Foot Journey. Also with the Holidays almost here it is almost time to watch Love Actually!

I’m amazed how many of these I haven’t seen. The beach is the one I remember that first triggered wanderlust in a way back a long time ago. (i just realized how old that movie actually is). As for other comments the Revenant did inspire travel for me since i’m fascinated in exploring history and the “wild west”

Great list!

Definitely check out LE WEEK-END.

A few other travel recommendations: – The RED BALLOON – short film, beautiful views of Paris through eyes of a sweet little boy. – WHITE MANE – short film, capturing the wild horses of Camargue, France. (Same director as Red Balloon.) – AMELIE! – BLOW UP – 1960s London.

Thank you so much for all these inspirations!! Now we´re ready for the next rainy day!

Happy Thursday Girls!

Lots of love from Germany

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25 Best Travel Movies – That Will Inspire you to travel

Have you ever wanted to visit a place only because you saw it in the movies? It happens to me all the time! So I decided to share a list of Best Travel Movies and my favourite movies that have inspired me to travel.

Of course, this is the time of a global pandemic, which none of us was prepared for. But on the positive side, what better time to finish watching the best travel movies and updating your bucket list for when we can travel again.

If you are a travel buff, then these should be on your list of must-watch movies.

1. Into The Wild (2007)

Into the Wild is a true story of a student who gives up everything to live alone in the Alaskan wilderness. He hitchhikes and meets many people on the way, all with their different life stories and situations that change him as a person. One of the best movies on Netflix, if you have ever considered full-time travel.

Available on: Netflix , Prime Video

2. Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)

One of my favourites and the best travel movies to watch, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. One car, three best friends and the road trip of a lifetime across Spain with lots of adventure and fun. The movie had everyone writing the Tomatino Festival on his or her bucket list.

3. The Bucket List (2007)

Who doesn’t have their travel bucket list? And how far can you go to tick off each place on it? The Bucket List story is of 2 oldies who break out of a cancer hospital to live their last days to the fullest. They have a checklist, and their itinerary includes a visit to the Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, Hong Kong, the French Riviera and a trip to the Himalayas. Don’t wait until your last days to fulfil your dreams. Pick your buddy and off you go!

Available on:  Netflix

4. The Hangover Series (2009-2013)

The Hangover is a series of three American comedy movies, which follow the misadventures of 4 friends who go on a road trip to attend their friend’s bachelor parties. One follows them to Las Vegas, another to Bangkok and third is about a road trip where a gangster kidnaps one of the friends. These movie series make you look forward to the next bachelor trip of your group.

Available on: Prime Video (Part 1, 2, 3) Netflix (Part 2, 3)

5. Wild (2014)

A divorced woman decides to go on an 1100 miles hike to recover from the loss of her mother. Another one on the best movies to watch list based on a true story. While she crosses mountains, snowy fields and muddy trails, she begins to discover herself and gain a clearer perspective on life. Add this to your list of must-watch movies.

Available on: Google Play for rent

6. Dil Chahta Hai (2001)

Dil Chahta is already on everyone’s list of best movies to watch or rather on their list of favourite movies. Three childhood friends take a road trip to Goa, and you can see the real rustic side of Goa. This fun movie will surely make you take the much-awaited road trip with your best buddies. And if you haven’t seen the movie yet, what world are you living in buddy?

Available on:   Netflix , Prime Video

7. Up In The Air (2009)

Up in the air, this must-watch movie is about a corporate downsizing expert who is about to reach ten million frequent flier miles when a new co-worker wants to put an end to his constant travels. He takes the young co-worker on his tour to show her the importance of face-to-face meetings with those he must fire. And that is when he meets the frequent flyer women of his dreams.

Available on: Netflix

8. The Way (2010)

The Way is a story of an American father who flies to Spain, to identify his son’s body. The son died while attempting a centuries-old pilgrimage, and the father plans to complete the journey himself to scatter his son’s ashes along the way and also to understand his son better. It is a heart-touching and another one of the must-watch movies.

Don’t have Netflix or Prime Video subscription? Good news!! Both of these have 30 days FREE trial. That is at least enough to finish watching this list of best travel movies. For a free trial, sign up here – Netflix / Prime Video

9. Lost in Translation (2003)

Lost in Translation shows how funny and interesting travelling in a country can be. The many random experiences while travelling can be the most memorable ones. One of the best travel movies to watch, it is a story of 2 travellers who happen to be visiting Tokyo at the same time. From the upmarket hotels to the neon-lit karaoke bars and streets, this movie takes you around the beautiful and busy city of Tokyo.

10. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a classic story of a daydreamer who escapes from his anonymous life to his fantasy world filled with heroism, romance and lots of action. One of the best movies to watch as it takes you from the streets of Manhattan to Greenland to Iceland and even to the Himalayas. The adventures of this movie will make you want to have one of your own and to explore new places.

11. Mr. Bean’s Holiday (2007)

A perfect travel movie, Mr. Bean’s Holiday portrays very well how the journey is more important than the destination. Mr. Bean wins a trip to Cannes, and he starts his trip by missing his train from Paris to Cannes. Everything that can possibly go wrong on a holiday, happens with Mr. Bean. A fun comic Europe trip movie but will surely get you planning a trip to France.

12. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

Ever wanted a road trip with your best buddy just like the travel movies? Imagine how that is going to be, with this must-watch movie – The Motorcycle Diaries”. Two friends set out on a four-month, 8000 km long motorcycle road trip across South America. The movie is about their journey, their adventures and all that comes in between.

13. Midnight in Paris (2011)

Midnight in Paris takes us through the past and present of Paris, and both are equally enchanting. Owen Wilson playing the lead is an aspiring novelist & on a trip to Paris with his fiancée. He finds himself going back to 1920s at midnight and meeting his artistic idols. A fun comedy romance is one of the best movies to watch.

14. Euro Trip (2004)

Euro trip is a teen comedy where an American teenager accompanied by his friends takes a trip to Europe in search of his pen pal. This trip takes them to London, Paris, Amsterdam, Bratislava, Berlin, and Rome, encountering awkward, humorous, and embarrassing situations along the way. Another Europe trip movie but fun & must-watch movie that will make every teen out there take their own Euro Trip.

Available on:  Netflix , Prime Video

15. The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

India is a beautiful country, and this movie – The Darjeeling Limited makes you want to explore your own country. A year after their father’s death, three wealthy brothers take a train journey across India to bond with each other. The movie is hilarious and beautifully shot and shows the vast open deserts of Rajasthan to the stunning mountain landscapes.

Available on: Google Play fo r rent

16. Queen (2013)

Always wanted to go on a solo trip? But something stops you? Queen is the best travel movie and will be your inspiration. A young woman decides to go her honeymoon all by herself after getting ditched by her fiancée. She takes us through the romantic boulevards of Paris and crazy, eccentric avenues of Amsterdam while she transforms into a strong independent woman. These are one of the best solo trip destinations and a Europe trip movie that will make you crave a solo vacation.

Available on: Voot , Google Play for rent

17. Sex And The City 2 (2010)

A sequel of the HBO series, Sex and the City 2 has a chance for the four ladies to visit one of the most extravagant vacation destinations on the planet, Abu Dhabi for the adventure of a lifetime. This movie is one of the must-watch movies with your girl gang, and I promise you it will make you want to pack your bags immediately and plan a bachelorette vacation for all of you.

Available on: Prime Video

18. Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)

A dialogue in the movie – “Main udna chahta hoon, daudna chahta hoon, girna bhi chahta hoon…bus rukna nahi chahta” and OMG! I could totally relate to that. From the awesome backpacking trek in Manali to the wanderer life of bunny, this movie makes you reconsider your career choices and want to take up that of a photographer. This is my favourite of the best travel movies, among others.

19. Amelie (2001)

A young woman, Amelie, grows up to be a joyful & happy woman despite her unusual childhood. She takes it upon her to change the lives of those around her and make them happy. A cheerful light-hearted movie will make you want to pack your bags immediately for Paris. This will definitely be one of your best Europe trip movie of all time.

Also Read: Where we travelled in 2019 after getting inspired by these movies?

20. Before Sunrise (1995)

Before sunrise is about a young man & woman, who meet on a train in Europe and impulsively decide to get off at Vienna. With only one night in hand, they explore the city and each other, knowing very well that they have to go their separate ways. Not a movie everyone might like, but for those who put this on their list of best travel movies, it has 2 sequels – one in Paris (Before Sunset) and then again in Greece (Before Midnight).

Available on: Netflix  

21. Tamasha (2015)

Tamasha brought the city of Corsica to us Indians. Most of us didn’t know of its existence until we watched the movie. The beautiful landscapes in the movie make you want to book that ticket immediately. But you know what makes me put this movie on the list of best travel movies? The movie perfectly shows how in a new city, nobody would know you, and you would know nobody. That feeling, how awesome is it?

22. Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)

A peek into the Italian Countryside, Under the Tuscan Sun is about an American writer who buys a villa in Tuscany and begins to restore the house and start her life afresh. This is among the best travel movies as it takes you to the countryside with an eye of a seasoned traveller, exploring the Italian life and food. You will soon be planning a vacation to Tuscany after this Europe trip movie.

23. Anjaana Anjaani (2010)

Two heartbroken strangers meet when each of them is about to end their lives. But instead, decide to live their life to the fullest till the New Year Eve. And what better place than Las Vegas. They take a stunning road trip from New York to Las Vegas with breathtaking views on the way. And that’s the point where we want to take out time from what we are doing to live our lives to the fullest. A sweet romantic movie but definitely gives us some travel goals.

24. Tracks (2013)

Tracks is a beautiful adventure story and should be on your list of best movies to watch. It is a story of a young woman who sets out on a 1700 miles trek in the Australian desert with four unpredictable camels and her dog. In the desert, she meets a National Geographic photographer who starts capturing her journey.

25. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)

Seven British tourists pick India for their retirement after seeing an ad for the newly restored luxurious hotel, The Marigold Hotel in Jaipur. Upon arrival, they find that the hotel is not quite what they expected. Though the new environment is less luxurious than imagined, they are forever transformed by their shared experiences. It proves how deeply travel can stir us and even change us, for good.

So how many of these movies have you watched already? This is my all-time favourite list of Best Travel Movies and most of them I found on Netflix & Prime Video . You might find others on many other online platforms, for free. So Stay Home, Stay Safe and Binge on this list of must-watch movies.

We are going to give you tons of travel goals and have lots of fun together!! Till then, stay tuned, keep saving, keep exploring, and Happy Travel!!

Follow @TheExplorester on Instagram , Facebook & Youtube for more Travel Goals.

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Riya Agarwal

Very intriguing collection of travel movies. While I have watched quite a few of them, there are some which I would love to watch. Will surely watch them in the near future. Thanks for the suggestion. Keep giving us good content and travel goals! Love you guys.

Like!! I blog frequently and I really thank you for your content. The article has truly peaked my interest.

Maxwell Keal

I just like the valuable information you provide on your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and check once more here regularly. I’m fairly certain I’ll learn many new stuff right right here! Best of luck for the following!|

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Best Travel Movies of All Time That will Captivate You

Inspirations

Last Updated on: Jul 16, 2023  

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that movies can inspire people. Sometimes if we watch a good movie, it lifts us our spirits and motivates us. For travellers like us, movies are undoubtedly a great source of inspiration. Have you ever felt like visiting a place after watching a travel movie? Well, we have felt the urge to visit a place after watching good travel movies, or any movie that depicts a place beautifully. The first time I saw Sonar Kella by Satyajit Ray, I knew I have to visit Rajasthan. And I totally relived the movie scenes of Joy Baba Felunath (another gem by Satyajit Ray) when I visited Varanasi (Kashi) where the movie is based on. And the list is endless.

This happens to almost all of us. So I asked a few of my blogger friends about their favourite travel movies and here’s what they had to say. With their suggestions, I have collated a list of all-time favourite travel movies that will take you on a virtual tour to a destination. Experience the place and people along with the protagonists. Feel their emotions and who can say, it might end up answering some of your unasked questions! Watch these great travel movies and even if you are unable to travel, these movies will surely give you an armchair travel experience!

List of Favourite Travel Movies according to Travel Bloggers

Roman holiday (1953).

IMDb Rating: 8 Available on: Amazon Prime

Contributed by Bisola from Bis to The World

One of my favourite travel movies is Roman Holiday. I love Audrey Hepburn and her perfect eyebrows so when I watched Roman Holiday, I was hooked! And as the title implies, it’s based in Rome.

The movie is a ‘modern’ fairy-tale about shy, Royal Princess Ann (Hepburn) on a state visit to Rome and while there becomes frustrated with her lack of freedom and decides to escape and secretly leave her embassy. Gregory Peck plays a US reporter, Joe, in Rome who stumbles on the princess sleeping on a park bench after her escape. Not knowing who she was and thinking she was drunk, he offered his place to stay the night. He finds out who she really is the next day, a princess eager for some adventure and immediately sees that he might have stumbled on the story of his career.

He becomes her guide as she goes incognito, lets her hair down, and explores what Rome has to offer! As she enjoys her freedom, Joe plots with his photographer friend to take pictures of Ann dancing, smoking and getting into trouble for his building story. But he starts falling for her, and battles with himself on possibly betraying her. Such a lovely film! This was Audrey Hepburn’s debut performance and she won an Oscar for it!

I love this film because, although it’s super old and in black & white, the love story was cute, but the way Rome looked was priceless. It made me want to visit Rome immediately and that’s what I did, but, years later. I spend my 25th birthday in Rome trying to live my best Roman holiday. Even went on a restaurant where they shot one of the scenes and had dinner there facing the Spanish steps.

Out of Africa (1985)

IMDb Rating: 7.2 Available on: Netflix

It is a film that will make you fall in love with Africa. Meryl Steep and Robert Redford star in this film about a married baroness with an infidel husband falling take you on a virtual tour to the African safari and might make you yearn to travel to Africa.

Thelma and Louise (1991)

IMDb Rating: 7.5

Thelma and Louise is definitely a classic. This is one of the first movies to tell the truth about women’s lives, friendship and bonding. The film is about two friends Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) set out on an adventure to take a break from their banal life. They enjoy their moment of freedom on the road trip, but things soon take a wrong turn. Though the girls did not get a happy ending, but this movie actually paved the way for several women hitting the road. A well-cast and well-made movie, its screenwriter Callie Khouri became one of the few women to win an Academy Award for best original screenplay.

Before Sunrise (1995)

IMDb Rating: 8.1 Available on: Netflix

Contributed by Cass from Cassie the Hag

‘Before Sunrise’ is a simple but beautiful film directed by Richard Linklater (now better known for ‘Boyhood’). American Jesse and French Céline meet on a train to Vienna. The plot follows them over just one night, walking through the beautiful streets of Austria’s capital city before Céline must catch her train at dawn. Their stroll around Vienna passes both impressive and simple landmarks, which will evoke a familiarity to any traveller who enjoys seeing a new city without a schedule.

Although I have not yet visited Vienna, I could still relate the film to my own solo travels in Europe . I sympathised with how both characters quickly bond and form a connection over their contrasting journeys. They open up to each other believing they’ll never see each other again. Far from an adventure travel movie, this film will appeal to those of us who understand travel is often less about the places and more about the connections and conversations that surprise and nourish us along the way. Though I’d love to visit Vienna now too!

French Kiss (1995)

IMDb Rating: 6.6

Contributed by Jade from The Migrant Yogi

French Kiss is a romantic comedy from the mid-1990’s that was filmed on-location in (you guessed it) France.  The movie is about an American woman, Kate (Meg Ryan), who, terrified of flying, has to travel to Paris to win her fiancé, Charlie (Timothy Hutton), back from a young French ‘goddess’.  The Frenchman seated next to Kate on the plane, Luc (Kevin Kline), uses her to smuggle a stolen diamond necklace into the country.  This is completely unbeknownst to Kate.  Once the plane lands in France, an Inspector General (Jean Reno) spots Luc while Kate heads off to her hotel.  Eventually Luc tracks Kate down and Luc aims to get his necklace back (which Kate still doesn’t know she has in her possession).  This is all under the guise of helping Kate get her fiancé back.  The two share some sparks as they traverse France in search of Charlie and the ‘goddess’ all while evading the Inspector.  As one could imagine, eventually sparks begin to fly between Kate and Luc.

The movie travels with the characters from Paris to Provence and la Côte d’Azur, and gives some great, classically French scenery along the way – including a hilarious train scene in which a lactose-intolerant Kate describes (in detail) her sampling of 452 of French cheese.  I’m not usually into romantic comedies, but this movie is actually pretty funny.  It makes me want to return to France every time I watch it, reliving the cheese platters and champagne tastings that the country is famous for.

PS: For my Indian readers, if the plot sound familiar, yes the film was remade in Bollywood in 1998 as Pyar To Hona Hi Tha!

Seven Years in Tibet (1997)

IMDb Rating: 7.1 Available on: Netflix

Contributed by Wendy Werneth from The Nomadic Vegan

My favourite travel movie is Seven Years in Tibet, which I first saw with my husband (who until that night was just a close friend) back in 2002. And I don’t just love the movie for sentimental reasons, although the fact that my husband and I became a couple that night does make it even more special for us.

Seven Years in Tibet tells the true story of Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian mountaineer who escaped from a British detainee camp in India and snuck his way into Tibet at the height of World War II. He was one of few foreigners who had ever visited Tibet, which at that time was a very isolated country. Harrer, who is played by Brad Pitt in the movie adaptation of his life, ends up staying in Tibet for seven years and develops a strong connection with its culture and its people. He even becomes the private tutor of the Dalai Lama, who was just a boy back then.

When watching the film, I was mesmerized by the stunning landscapes as well as the unique culture of Tibet. The film is set just before the Chinese invasion when Tibetan culture was still completely intact. It took another 17 years, but in 2019 my husband and I eventually made it to the Rooftop of the World, as Tibet is known. Even though we were forced to join a Chinese-approved group tour of Tibet , we were still able to experience a slice of life in this fascinating part of the world.

The Castle (1997)

IMDb Rating: 7.7 Available on: YouTube

Contributed by Audrey Chalmers from See Geelong

One of Australia’s best-loved and most widely quoted movies is the comedy The Castle. I especially love it because it’s set in Melbourne, Australia just an hour from my hometown Geelong . And when I’m travelling I watch it for a taste of home.

The movie has a simple David and Goliath type storyline that showcases the nature of Australians in a comedic yet wholesome way. The quirky Kerrigan family love their home which is located just a few metres from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport. Government and airport officials reveal plans to force the family out of their home to make way for an airport expansion. The Kerrigans then hire a bumbling solicitor to help them with the fight of their lives.

The Castle was made 22 years ago, yet it still manages to feature on ‘Best Australian Movies’ lists. I think it’s because the film is about what is most important to us Aussies, looking after your family, owning your own home, and standing up for what’s right. But for me it’s just hilariously good fun.

Amelie (2001)

IMDb Rating: 8.3 Available on: Amazon Prime

Contributed by Claudia from My Adventures Across The World

Without specifically being a travel movie, Amelie will definitely inspire you to travel to Paris. The movie was released in late 2001 and launched French actress  Audrey Tatou, who plays the role of Amelie, a young Parisian living and working in Montmartre – one of the places in Paris you really should not miss .

Amelie, a terribly shy woman, goes about town on a mission to have a positive impact on anybody she meets. She teases her father to get out more and travel by stealing one of his garden dwarf and sending it on a world tour with a flight assistant friend – who regularly sends photos of the dwarf in the mail.

She manages to set up one of her hypochondriac colleagues (who also works at a café in Montmartre) with a paranoid customer. Yet her biggest challenge is tracking down the man she falls in love with, who accidentally drops a book of photo-booth photos. Shy as she is, she eventually meets him and starts a relationship with him. The scene in which they roam the streets of Paris on a scooter is one of the most iconic of the movie.

Adding to this, the incredible soundtrack you will never tire to listen to. It’s a great feel good movie. You will be captured by the story, the music and the views. You will enter Amelie Poulin world and you will want to stay there.

Lord of the Rings (2001-2003)

Available on: Netflix

Contributed by Diana from Travels in Poland

There are several installments of the movie Lord of the Rings, which was filmed in the beautiful country of New Zealand.  Most people are aware of the fictional fantasy novels written by J.R.R. Tolkien which have been made wildly more popular as a result of the movies.

The movies are based upon several books and follow the story of a ring that has been lost and is being sought out by many different characters.  The characters are all different kinds of forces that are trying to find it and use it for its power to rule Middle-earth.  Eventually, a young Hobbit named Frodo finds the ring, and adventures across the realms include worlds of elves, dwarfs, hobbits and men.  The story follows as he tries to find the balance between good and evil and meets powerful forces that work to take the ring from his possession.

The movie is spectacularly done, and the backdrop is across more than 150 locations in New Zealand.  One of the most iconic locations is the town of Matamata which shows the Hobbit village in the movie, and remains a permanent attraction.  Among other locations, Mount Aspiring National Park is another beautiful location that would be great to visit.  The striking landscape of New Zealand is prominently featured throughout the film and creates wanderlust for travellers who would want to be in an iconic natural setting.

Count of Monte Cristo (2002)

IMDb Rating: 7.8             

Contributed by  Lauren from The Expat Chronicle Blog

Maybe it’s the romantic love story, the tale of triumph or the breathtaking French backdrop, but one of my absolute all-time favourite travel movies is the Count of Monte Cristo (2002).

The movie is an adaptation of the story written by Alexander Dumas and stars the incredible Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ).

Set in 1815 the southeastern port city of Marseille, France, Caviezel plays the role of Edmund Dantes. He is a modest, kind and trustworthy sailor who is falsely accused by his jealous “best friend” of treason and is sentenced to life. After spending six years in the horrid conditions of his cell, he is met by an elderly prison mate of 11 years attempting to dig his way out. The pair forms a friendship and makes an agreement to escape together.

The escape does not go as planned but Dantes is still able to achieve freedom and flee back to Marseille with the help of some rebellious pirates. From this point on in the story, Dantes plans the ultimate revenge on the best friend who betrayed him, the city magistrate who imprisoned him and the lover he left behind.

By discovering a cave of hidden treasure (an estimated 80 mill francs to be exact) known only by the elderly prison mate, Dantes assumes the hidden identity of The Count of Monte Cristo.

The story is a tale of heroism, faith and friendship. It captivates me every time my husband and I watch it and although we know the ending, we often find ourselves cheering for the underdog, Dantes, throughout each scene.

Having had the opportunity to visit Marseille this past Fall and catching a glimpse of the famous Chateau d’If prison island in the distance was chilling. Although we did not have time for a tour of the prison, it is most certainly on our list for next visit!

Lost in Translation (2003)

IMDb Rating: 7.7 Available on: Amazon Prime

Contributed by Dave Chant

After directing the hauntingly beautiful Virgin Suicides in 1998, Sofia Coppola came back in 2003 to direct the equally great Lost in Translation. It stars Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson as two strangers – Bob and Charlotte – lost in Tokyo, Japan.

Bob is a middle-aged American movie star arriving in Tokyo to film an advert for whisky, and Charlotte is married to a celebrity photographer, who is on assignment in Japan. It’s a beautiful, poignant and subtle portrayal of her strangers can meet and bond in a completely alien place.

The real key to Lost in Translation is its nuance. It can be taken on many levels. Tokyo is intriguing and you want to enter that world, visit it, be shocked by it as the main characters are. Things are literally lost in translation, a typical feeling for those that travel. But Tokyo is also held at a distant. Though the protagonists do venture out, there’s a coldness to it all – the city is mostly seen through taxi and hotel windows.

On a simple level, Bob and Charlotte are lost in the strange world of Japan and few places could make such a discrepancy between the world they are used to. But they are also lost in their own relationships and lives back home. In a strange way they are less dissociated to the real world in their travelling home then they are back home. Home for Bill is a series of disappointments and different shades of carpet samples he’s sent in the post to decide on.

It’s not all sadness. There are moments of humour and lightness that make this a grown up romance. And Tokyo is, of course, beautiful. I’ve never visited and it’s always been on my bucket list – I’ll have to go soon as I’ve been yearning to see it for twenty years now.

By the end scene of the film, you’ll realise both how life affirming and lonely travel can be, and also how the people you met briefly on the road can have the greatest impression.

Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)

IMDb Rating: 6.8 Available on: YouTube Movies

Contributed by Anda from Travel for a While

One of my favourite travel movies ever is Under the Tuscan Sun. It’s an oldie already (2003) but definitely a goldie. Without adding too many details, it is about a divorced writer who buys a villa in Tuscany on an impulse. She remains in Italy and for a while, her life revolves around renovating the quaint house. In the process, she makes friends, ‘adopts’ a family and life restarts before she realizes.

Besides the amazing views of Tuscany from Cortona, Sienna and Florence, the movie takes us to Rome and Positano. It seems designed to make you book plane tickets to Italy. Watching this movie was actually the first time I heard about Positano , which turned into o trip to the Amalfi Coast. It also gave me an idea about the work on an Italian olive farm and I turned that later into a personal experience by volunteering on such a farm.

I visited Rome and Florence but I still have to take a proper tour of Tuscany, rent a car and drive for a few days through that amazing landscape, visit Sienna and Luca, drink Chianti and maybe even stay on a farm and take some cooking classes.

So, next time you have a free afternoon, take some gelato and watch this movie. It will feel like traveling to Italy.

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

IMDb Rating: 7.8 Available on: Amazon prime

The story is about Ernesto Guevara and Alberto Granado, two friends who embark on a motorcycle trip across countries. Ernesto later goes on to become the famous Che Guevara. The film is set in South America, the two friends set off on their battered motorcycle travelling across the deserts and rainforests of South America. During their journey they encounter the poverty of the peasants and realize the difference between the haves and the have-nots. Even if you do not agree with the political attachment of the movie, it is well cast and directed. If nothing, this travel movie will definitely want you to take your motorcycle and hit the roads.

A Good Year (2006)

IMDb Rating: 7 Available on: YouTube Movies

Contributed by By Keri Baugh from Bon Voyage With Kids

One of my absolute favorite travel movies to watch at home is A Good Year, starring Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard.  This lighthearted romantic comedy is set in Provence, France . It is a charming tale of a London-based trader who unexpectedly inherits his uncle’s under-cared for vineyard estate in Provence, where he spent his childhood summers.  He travels there with the intent to sell the property, having no emotional attachment to it. Through the process, he learns a lot about himself and what makes life in Provence so special.

Prior to seeing this movie, I had been to Paris, but never Provence. After this movie, renting a home in Provence was high on my bucket list, as the glory of a summer in Provence takes center stage in A Good Year.  Whether it is the rows of lavender fields, hilltop villages, or the slower pace of life, there is so much magic in Provence.

This movie makes you want to jet set there immediately and indulge in wine, cheese, and delicious breads while taking in the “joie de vivre”. It was the inspiration for us to travel several times to Provence and stay in an old-Provencal farmhouse with our family. We very much felt like we were experiencing A Good Year.  It is such a great travel movie to watch to enjoy the magic of Provence from home.

Mama Mia (2008)

IMDb Rating: 6.4 Available on: YouTube movies

Contributed by Chrysoula from Travel Passionate

Mamma Mia is a feel-good summer movie set on the Greek islands about the lives of mother and daughter, Donna and Sophie Sheridan (Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried). The film sees the main protagonist, Sophie, planning her wedding to partner Sky, on the beautiful islands of Skopelos and Pelion.

The twist in the tale comes when Sophie decides to invite three men to the wedding, any of which could be her father! The ABBA-inspired musical comedy that ensues then follows conversations between Sophie, her partner, her mother, and these three men, trying to navigate the mysteries of Donna‘s wild, younger days.

Apart from the sing-a-long ABBA music and the character interactions, it is the Greek island landscapes that really capture the imagination of the viewer. The film portrays classic white-washed houses contrasted against the rich, azure waters, as well as rocky coves, pristine chapels, and traditional farmhouses that make you want to live the island dream!

I love Mamma Mia as it’s a light-hearted, warm movie that can cheer me up and make me think about beautiful Greek islands on even the drabbest winter day. While it’s obviously cheesy in places, this is all part of the charm and it’s a great film to watch with your girls’ friends with a drink in hand!

In Bruges (2008)

IMDb Rating: 7.9 Available on: Amazon Prime

Contributed by Veronika from Travel Geekery

Travel movies tend to be usually romantic and/or melancholic. That’s not the case with “In Bruges” from 2008 staring Colin Farrell. The movie is a cross between drama and comedy with a twisted detective plot.

The main part of the movie takes place in Bruges, a beautiful town in Belgium just an hour away from Brussels. The duo of hit men spends their time in Bruges awaiting orders from their boss. While one of them loves Bruges and wants to enjoy his time there, the other one, Colin Farrell, is the always-grumpy hater who doesn’t like anything. But Bruges’ charm eventually gets to him too in the end.

I like the movie since it’s raw and fun and some of the jokes are of a high caliber. I remember cracking up often while watching it.

I visited Bruges even before seeing the movie and it served as a great enhancement of my memories from the enchanting town. At the same time, it got me thinking what all could go on behind the picture-perfect tourist sites.

The movie will perfectly transport you virtually to Bruges, so in a way you can use it as an armchair travel experience .

Angels and Demons (2009)

IMDb Rating: 6.7 Available on: Amazon prime

Contributed by Kenny from Knycx Journeying

If you are a fan of Dan Brown – you must know who is Robert Langdon. His adventure in the series was so intense that you may lose sleep wanting to finish the book as soon as possible. In case you don’t have the time, watch the three blockbuster movies that were played by Tom Hanks to have a taste of the Langdon’s world.

Angels & Demons is the first one to watch – because this is the first novel of the series that starts it all. The mystery thriller took places in Rome, Italy , where Dr. Langdon, partnered with beautiful CERN scientist Dr. Vittoria Vetra, in the quest to recover a missing vial of antimatter from an Illuminati terrorist, who planned on destroying the Roman Catholic Church by annihilating the entire Vatican City.

So why do I love the movie? The story is filled with brilliant plots, heart-racing catch-and-chase scenes, riddle-solving that based on ancient symbology, secret societies, and conspiracy theories, all under the backdrop of the Eternal City. Follow Dr. Langdon’s path and visit the heritage sites in Rome, from the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Santa Maria del Popolo, Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter’s Square to Basilica, Castel Sant’ Angelo and Passetto… Trust me, the movie takes you through a journey like no others; You will definitely see the paintings and sculptures, symbols, and architecture from a completely different point of view.

Eat Pray Love (2010)

IMDb Rating: 5.8 Available on: Netflix

Contributed by Lara from Both Feet On The Road 

Eat Pray Love is the perfect feel-good movie for anyone who’s looking for some travel inspiration or who’s at a crossroads in their life. Should I travel the world or find a steady job and settle?

Julia Roberts plays a recently divorced woman, who decides to take a sabbatical and travel to Italy, India, and Indonesia. The movie is based on the book of the same name. First, she travels to Rome in Italy, where she takes Italian classes, meets new friends and mostly, eats a lot of delicious food. If Italy wasn’t on your bucket list yet, I am sure that all these shots of food will put it right at the top!

After Rome, she travels to Delhi in India to stay at an ashram and meet her guru. This is more of the spiritual part of the movie, hence the second word of the title: Pray. Lastly, she travels to Bali in Indonesia where she finds peace and balance and eventually love.

I love the fact that this movie takes you through so many beautiful places across the world. I had already fallen in love with Rome and Italy before the movie, and Bali had been on my places visit for quite some time. But it did inspire me to add a Vipassana meditation retreat to my bucket list.

And even though I hate the clichés of people going traveling to find themselves, there is some truth in the cliché and the movie, which is why it is such a great movie to watch for travel lovers!

The Way (2010)

IMDb Rating: 7.4 Available on: YouTube / Amazon Prime

Contributed by Campbell & Alya from Stingy Nomads

The Way is a movie about walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage from St Jean Pied de Port in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The movie follows a group of pilgrims on the Camino on the 800 km journey walking in Northern Spain. It shows different parts of pilgrims’ life on the Camino including challenges on the way, relationships between people that meet on route and different reasons why people walk the pilgrimage. We’d recommend watching the movie if you’re planning to walk the Camino and definitely watch it if you are one of the handful of pilgrims that have not seen it!

We watched this movie while walking the Camino, one of our fellow pilgrims told us about it. It was interesting to recognize some of the scenery we have already passed and we laughed, because some of the characters and situations in the movie reminded us a lot of what we experienced on the Camino. We were on our way to Portugal to walk the Camino Portuguese, another Camino de Santiago pilgrimage, from Portugal to Santiago de Compostela in Spain with family when the lock down started and will do this next summer. It is an inspirational movie that can be enjoyed by anyone and the movie may even inspire you to walk the Camino!

Midnight in Paris (2011)

Contributed by Lauren from Always Find Adventure

“Midnight in Paris” a Woody Allen film that takes place in Paris, France , one of my favourite cities. The first scene of the movie is a 5-minute long montage of all the beautiful areas of Paris. Just that is enough to make you lust after the city. In the movie, Gil Pender played by Owen Wilson also becomes enchanted with Paris, therefore I relate to him. But the movie not only takes place in current-day Paris. Gil drunkenly stumbles into a car at midnight, only to find himself in Paris during the 1920s. He’s surrounded by famous creators of the time like Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Scott and Ella Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Gertrude Stein. What an awesome concept!

Another reason I love this movie so much is that I relate to Gil’s struggles of straying and finding one’s path. Gil’s character is blinded by love and totally disregards his own wants and needs because he’s infatuated with his materialistic fiancée, Inez (played by Rachel McAdams). Gil wants to change his career from making good money writing garbage movie scripts and instead, wants to continue on his passion project, his novel, which has no monetary guarantee. He gains confidence through his literary heroes and comes to his senses at the end of the movie, finally breaking free of the illusions.

It’s funny because what may have been actual ‘illusions’ and ‘drunken adventures in his mind’ are the exact things that helped him see the reality of his situation. I relate to his character because, I too, like many of us travel content creators, was struggling with my seeing my career path clearly. Like Gil, I knew all along what I wanted to do, but was blinded by the pressure of society to ‘be successful’ by climbing the corporate ladder. I won’t give away the ending, but I’ll tell you it’s a happy one.

The Loneliest Planet (2011)

IMDb Rating: 5.5 Available on: YouTube

Contributed by Emily from Wander-Lush

Not many people have heard of this film before, but The Loneliest Planet is one of my favourite travel movies of all time. Set in the Republic of Georgia against a backdrop of the majestic Greater Caucasus mountains, the story follows a young couple, Alex and Nica (played by Gael Garcia Bernal and Hani Furstenberg), as they embark on a multi-day trek. A third protagonist, a local guide (played by Georgian actor, Bidzina Gujabidze), is recruited to lead them through the mountains.

It’s all fun and games (and breathtaking scenery) until an unexpected plot twist throws the trio into a strange situation. The movie crescendos with one quick interaction and after that, the pace changes dramatically. This is a travel film at heart – the location is the real star – but it also ruminates on themes of love, loyalty and self-preservation. The movie is considered a bit off-beat, mainly because there’s no dialogue. To me, the deafening silence is the perfect way to convey the solitude of the Caucasus mountains.

I first watched The Loneliest Planet when it was released back in 2011. Not only did it get me thinking about visiting Georgia – which I eventually did 6 years later – it also contributed to my decision to move here! I think my love affair with Georgia can be traced back to that first viewing and the movie that sparked my curiosity for a country I knew absolutely nothing about.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

IMDb Rating: 7.3 Available on: YouTube Movies

Contributed by Sinead from Map Made Memories

One of my favourite travel movies is ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’ starring Ben Miller. The movie is about a city-dwelling, office-based Mitty who works for Life Magazine but spends his days daydreaming of escape and adventure. To track down an elusive missing photograph, Walter Mitty has to leave his office behind and embark on a round the world journey to trace the photographer of the missing image. Walter visits locations all over the world during his trip – through most of the movie was shot in Iceland, even the parts of the story set in Afghanistan, the Himalayas and Greenland!

The film follows Walter’s growing confidence to make life-changing decisions. It is an engaging, beautifully shot movie with stunning backdrop locations. But for me, what I love about this movie is the ‘feeling’ of what travel gives to Mitty rather than the locations he is in. My favourite part of the movie is when Walter borrows a skateboard to ride down an incredibly scenic mountain road in Iceland (Seyðisfjarðarvegur in Eastern Iceland). Anyone watching the movie at this point will feel Walter’s sense of joy and freedom in his white knuckle ride. We visited Iceland four year after the movie was released and it did not disappoint!

Copenhagen (2014)

IMDb Rating: 7.1

Contributed by Anjali from Travel Melodies

Copenhagen remains one of the most inspiring travel movies I’ve ever watched. As the name suggests, the movie features Copenhagen, Denmark’s vibrant capital city. You know, it’s one of the happiest cities in the world. For a good reason.

The movie is about an unconventional and intricate love affair between two strangers. William – a half-Danish man in his late twenties after backpacking Europe reaches Copenhagen in search of his grandfather. He unknowingly falls in love with his local guide and translator named Effy – a girl half his age who intends to help him in tracing his grandfather.

William is immature for his age while Effy is wiser beyond her age. As the chemistry between the two builds, William realizes that “if the girl of your dreams is half your age, maybe it’s time to grow up!”

From the pretty cobbled streets of Copenhagen to the enticing canals with vibrant buildings of Nyhavn as a backdrop, the city of Copenhagen is so apparent in the movie that it’s hard not to fall for it. I loved everything about the movie.

Copenhagen is the movie that inspired me to take a trip to Copenhagen . I dreamt of exploring Copenhagen the way William and Effy do. The day I landed in Copenhagen, the streets and buildings all look familiar as if I’ve been here before. That’s the magic of this movie! The city, in fact, feels like a protagonist!

Marshland (2014)

IMDb Rating: 7.3

Contributed by Paul from Anywhere We Roam

Featuring the vast natural landscape of Spain’s Andalucía region, Marshland is a killer thriller set between the death of Franco in 1975 and the 1982 election which established the new democratic state.

The story follows two detectives, Pedro Suarez and Juan Robles who are sent to a ‘backwater’ town on the Guadalquivir Marshes in Andalucía to investigate the disappearance of two sisters. What unravels is a series of small town secrets where no-one is as innocent as it first appears.

The backstory of the detectives and the turbulence of the small town runs in parallel with the massive change Spain is going through at the time. One detective is a sour left-leaning idealist, the other a shamed ex-fascist who thought Spain was better under Franco – a sentiment shared by many in the town. Just like the secrets tearing the town apart, the political divide in the country is stretching the fabric of Andalucían society to its limits.

The genius of Marshland is the way it characterises the mood of Spain at the time; a period whose legacy shapes the country that is left behind today. It’s an enthralling look at the mindset of a society emerging from the shackles of fascism and awkwardly embracing the concept of democracy.

Backed by stunning landscapes featuring beautifully crafted overhead shots, it’s a visually exotic and expertly crafted film that makes viewers yearn to experience the mystery of the land and the culture. It’s also a thoroughly engrossing murder mystery

A Walk in the Woods (2015)

IMDb Rating: 6.3 Available on: Amazon Prime

Who says only young men can be the heroes of adventure and travel movies? A Walk in the Woods is the story of two septuagenarians who decides to hike the entire Appalachian Trail. Bill Bryson (Robert Redford) is a popular writer of travelogues who is in a great state of boredom after attending a funeral. This is when he see the marker of Georgia-to-Maine trail and decides on a whim to go all way out. He picks up Stephen Katz (Nick Nolte), an old friend, only because all the others deny accompanying him. The movie takes you through the beautiful Appalachian Trail while resting on the interesting and funny dialogues between the two protagonists. The landscape and sceneries that the movie takes us through is simply gorgeous.

Coco (2017)

IMDb Rating: 8.4 Available on: Disney+Hotstar

Contributed by Rose Munday from Where Goes Rose

One of the best and most endearing travel movies to watch is Coco. This cute Pixar cartoon does a great job of portraying Mexican culture and educating the viewer about Dia de Los Muertos, in English, Day of the Dead.

This unique Mexican holiday celebrates ancestors who have passed on from the physical world by holding lively parties in cemeteries and welcoming them back into the home with ‘ ofrendas ’. These are a type of altar, usually laden with the deceased’s favourite food and drink and photos of the family together. Marigold flowers and incense are also used to guide the spirit home.

Western countries usually see death as a sombre and mournful affair but this is the total opposite in Mexico. Coco explores this exciting holiday through the eyes of a young local boy, Miguel, as he explores the story of his ancestors. Coco is fun and entertaining but also an important cultural watch.

I travelled to experience the Oaxaca Day of the Dead celebrations after having watched Coco. This small city in Southern Mexico was a fantastic place to experience the festival while already understanding the cultural background, thanks to Coco.

Call of the Wild (2020)

IMDb Rating: 6.8

Contributed by Catherine from   Passports and Adventures

One of the best travel movies we have seen recently has been the remake of “The Call of the Wild”. This story is set in the 1890’s in Alaska in Yukon and follows the tale of a large dog called Buck.

Buck has a comfortable life in California but is dog-napped and brought to the wilds of Alaska to join a dog sledge team delivering post along the route between Skagway and Dawson. He is a total novice and one of the funniest parts of the movie is watching him discover snow for the first time. He soon finds his feet and eventually becomes the leader of the team. I won’t spoil the movie by telling you how.

It is an exciting journey as they race from outpost to outpost and town to town and with the help of Buck, the team delivers the mail on time for the first time. However, when the mail route is cancelled, Buck and his team of fellow dogs are sold to a set of greedy gold hunters. Buck is rescued from his harsh new owners by John Thornton, played by Harrison Ford and they begin a new journey together. It is another incredible journey and ends in both tragedy and triumph. You’ll have to watch it to find out more.

The Call of the Wild has a heart-warming story, and it is a great film with wonderful scenes, albeit through CGI. Some have criticised the CGI but for us, it did not detract from the movie or the storyline. In fact, it has made us want to visit Alaska even more. Even our six-year-old son loved it. It is a great travel movie and one to watch with the family.

Bollywood Travel Movies

Zindagi milegi na dobara (2011).

Contributed by Umang Trivedi from Travel Max

The Movie starts with three best friends: Arjun, Imran & Kabir. They are planning a bachelor party before Kabir gets married to Natasha. The Bachelor party is not a conventional one, but rather an adventurous road trip in Spain. During the trip, each friend chooses an activity. The other two have to indulge in the activity picked by the 3rd friend and just cannot refuse.

The movie portrays the beautiful landscapes, culture & vibe of Spain. The countryside with swaying fields, the cities dipped in culture, the friendly locals and a lot more about Spain is portrayed in an impressive and cinematic way. The activities that the friends choose are Scuba Diving, Sky Diving and Bull Racing. In between, the friends also indulge in La Tomatina Festival as well. All these experiences are presented in such a way that I was impressed by the beautiful country of Spain. This movie really inspired me to visit this country and that’s what I loved about the movie.

I visited Spain recently after getting inspired by the movie. The only difference was that I didn’t go with friends, but on a solo trip. It was a long 20-day trip and I did the skydiving course at the same place which was shown in the movie. I spent 15 days in Seville as I trained myself to become a certified skydiver. I had enrolled at Skydive Spain for the AFF certification which is the first step to becoming a certified skydiver. Anyway, I couldn’t complete the course, but that’s a story for another time. Along with Seville I also visited Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon during my trip. I witnessed the Flamenco dance at Seville and it was as gorgeous and fascinating as the movie shows it.

Tamasha (2015)

IMDb Rating: 7.3 Available on: Netflix

I know there are many who do not like this Bollywood flick by Imtiaz Ali, but I absolutely love this movie. Tamasha is a beautiful story that goes beyond “girl meets boy” story and tells us about how often we are live our lives as defined by society and jump into the rat race of life. Tamasha (meaning spectacle) delves on this thought and questions us on why always the same story. The film takes us through the stunning landscapes of Corsica and later the alleys and lanes of Delhi . Even with all its flaws, Tamasha is a well thought movie that made me question my choices in life. Very few movies make you do so and that’s why this is in the list.

Dil Dhadakne Do (2015)

IMDb Rating: 6.8 Available on: Netflix

Contributed By Anwesha Guha from Going Places with Anwesha

Dil Dhadakne Do is an Indian comedy-drama depicting a dysfunctional Punjabi family who invites their family and friends on a cruise trip to celebrate the parents’ 30th wedding anniversary and work together to resolve their differences by the end of the movie. This movie also portrays a more realistic sibling relationship in contrast to the unconvincing over-the-top portrayal for which Bollywood is known for.

I love this movie for two reasons. The first reason is of course due to the travel destinations they show in the movie – the cruise ship sails across the Mediterranean and Europe; stop at various ports in France, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey, and Italy. Cruise holidays give you enough time to get down and explore the shores.

The second reason is the message that the movie stands for – it conveys to be fearless, to pursue what you love, and give freedom to your loved ones. In short, traveling makes life more meaningful. This movie also showcases a side of the traveling – the joy of traveling with your pets.

Since most of the story unfolds in the cruise ships, after watching it, I want to go on a cruise across Europe on my 25th wedding anniversary. To achieve that dream, I have to start saving in a travel fund from now onwards.

Jagga Jasoos (2017)

IMDb Rating: 6.5 Available on: Netflix

One of the most underrated Bollywood movies, Jagga Jasoos is about a stuttering boy detective in search of his foster father. Since the boy, played to perfection by Ranbir Kapoor stammers and stutters, he sings to communicate. Thus prose is converted to poetry and silence into music. The film follows the adventure of its hero when he travels to Africa in search of his lost father. The film made in Broadway-musical language takes you to a fantasy world. The film was shot in Darjeeling, Morocco and Cape Town taking you across their beautiful landscapes. Once you watch the film, you will be struck with a sense of wanderlust to travel to these wonderful lands.

Kedarnath (2018)

IMDb Rating: 6.1 Available on: ZEE5

Contributed by Sundeep and Bedabrata of DelhiFunDos

Kedarnath –a  Hindi movie based on an inter-caste love story in the backdrop of floods that devastated the state of Uttarakhand in 2013, is special for many reasons. First, it makes us nostalgic about a childhood trip to Kedarnath, the epic mountain shrine in Uttarakhand, India. Second, it gives us fresh travel goals.

The film is shot in the actual location of Kedarnath and we are spellbound by the beauty of this place all over again. The film has deftly captured the beauty of the landscape. Though the flood scene is created through computer graphics, the rest of the film has brilliantly utilised the bounty of nature almost as a third dimension. The rivers, the mountains, the bridges and the quaint village markets are shot so well that we are almost overcame by an urge to visit Kedarnath soonest possible. Thousands of pilgrims visit Kedarnath for religious reasons but what draws us are the treks and the natural beauty so oozing out of celluloid.

Apparently, the film was shot without disturbing pilgrimage in Kedarnath or harming nature. This is so in tune with sustainable tourism. Having seen Kedarnath decades back from the eyes of a kid, we are sure much would have changed after that. Therefore, we want to experience it all over again and want to revisit every place and redo everything we did in our earlier trip. Call it the nostalgia or the wanderlust of travel bloggers; we have added Kedarnath to our immediate bucket list after watching this film.

So these were a few movies that have inspired travellers like us to venture into unknown lands and explore our own city or town. The list is obviously not a comprehensive one. Do let us know your favourite travel movie by commenting below. If you think any movie should be on this list, let us know as well.

Pin this for a later read!

Agni Amrita

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Darjeeling – Movies, Masti and Magic

Some of my favourites are already listed here. I would have added ‘Dil Chahta hai’ to the list. Thanks for curating the great list 🙂

Going by some of the movies you have listed here James Bond movies too should fall into the catagory of travel movies. Thanks for sharing the list.

Have watched half of he movies listed here. Will watch the remaining, all of which which I have come across never agave a serious thought to watch them.

Kedarnath – I found difficult to continue watching after 10 or 15 minutes.

If The Lord of the Rings is a travel movie, so is Ramayana.

Wonderful article and fantastic ideas!!

Thank you, Lauren!

I can’t believe I haven’t watched few of these – hides face. Bookmarking this post for a travel movie binge-watching weekend.

Thanks Jyotsna! I havent seen a few of these myself.

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55+ best travel movies to inspire wanderlust

In this day and age where travel restrictions persist worldwide, it’s only possible to imagine a dream. As armchair travel grows so does the need to look for books and films to inspire wanderlust.

So we did some legwork to make it easier for you to find our favorite travel movie hits for whenever you are stuck at home and cannot travel anymore! It’s not different from the previous one that discusses Best Travel Film.

As a traveller myself I often wonder which are the best Travel Movies which I can watch in my free time or maybe on my next flight. In this post, we will be covering the topic in detail about trip movies which you can check out in your free time.

What produces excellent travel movies? We feel it is when the location ends up being the celebrity. A motion picture that showcases stunning cities, landscapes, and society is a movie that motivates us to go to a location or relive our time there when we get residence.

Disclaimer  – Chasing Whereabouts is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by advertising and linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.

The Very Best Travel Movies to Inspire Wanderlust

Produced by Mark Magidson, the film aims to reach beyond languages, nationalism, and religious and politically speaking to the inner viewer.

Baraka is an extensive series of photographic scenes describing human life, natural events and technology filmed throughout 25 countries across six continents.

This documentary is unparalleled in its beauty, sensibility and understanding of our world. It transcends languages and geographical boundaries and helps us see planets differently. See movies .

This is by far the best travel movie. One of the personalities really brings around a guidebook! We recently rewatched Bruges and also it stands up! If you enjoy a good caper set in an exotic location, you’ll like In Bruges .

When Colin Farrell’s character constantly complained of hating Bruges in Belgium as he and Brendan Gleeson took the gondola via the canals, I assumed it was superb writing as well as direction. The more Colin Farrell’s personality complained, a lot more you absorbed the surroundings of Bruges and also noticed simply exactly how picturesque Bruges is.

As Brendan Gleeson took in the history as well as checked out the guidebooks admiring the city, Colin Farrell simply kept speaking about how much he hated Bruges, which made me like it much more.

Rent or Acquire In Bruges on Amazon.com

One of our favorite movies of all time. And also not due to the fact that it is set in Canada (And we live in Canada). One Week adheres to a boy driving a motorbike on a cross-country road trip across Canada after being detected with terminal cancer cells.

No motion picture has actually made me intend to discover a nation more than One Week . We wrote an entire testimonial about it below. It absolutely is the supreme Canadian trip motion picture. Rental Fee One Week Right Here on Amazon

I really did not wish to see this film because of its dark subject, however, it ended up being an uplifting as well as enlightening movie of self-discovery. One Week is a love letter to Canada and also a homage to being to life. I really did not also assume it would certainly fit into the mold and mildew of travel movies however it did!

We have actually been to many of the stops on this road trip film, and it is fantastic to see things like The Big Nickel and The Terry Fox monument on the big screen. It goes to the top of our finest travel film for a factor. Review our listing of ideal motorbike motion pictures

Secret Life of Walter Mitty

I needed to see this most popular of all travelling movies two times prior to determining I liked The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. At first, I assumed it was silly, however after that after a second as well as now a 3rd as well as 4th, I can recognize why it goes to the top of most checklists of best travel flicks. The first time around I was annoyed with all the long-drawn-out dream series that takes place in Walter Mitty’s head. Once he reaches Iceland and also Greenland, it really comes to be a fun adventure. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty demonstrates how taking a risk and also leaving your convenience area can lead to excellent points. The ending was my preferred, but I will not ruin it for you. Rent it now to see what you think of the Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Before Sunrise Trilogy

We have three of our preferred travel motion pictures in one package! As well as each showcases the location they remain in. They have to do with love yet they are additionally very much traveling movies. They were shot 10 years apart and they occur in three different locations around Europe– Vienna, Paris, and also Greece . The Before Sunrise trilogies capture the significance of each destination. And right here’s a great truth– Dave and I stayed at Costa Navarino in Greece where After Twelve o’clock at night occurred! Before Sunrise: Prior to going to Vienna , be sure to view Prior to Sunup, they showcase the entire city. Prior to Sunset: And also After Midnight records the power of Paris magnificently. They visit places such as Pont Neuf, Quai Henri-IV, and Shakespeare & Company Bookstore. Prior to Midnight: As our heroes age, this is a fitting title. Now with youngsters as well as in their forties, it’s a soothing getaway to Kalamata, Greece where they navigate middle age in the charm of Costa Navarino.

They go to the Old city of Messini, The Kardamali Pier, as well as the Westin Resort where we in fact had the benefit of spending four glorious evenings. It is probably the most effective of all romantic traveling flicks out there that literally spans 3 years. (they film a motion picture every one decade)

I read in an interview with Ethan Hawk that they are mosting likely to proceed doing installments every one decade. I can’t await the next one. See Before Sunup and also Sunset on Amazon Prime

Planes Trains and Automobiles

John Candy and also Steve Martin take an unexpected cross country road journey from New york city City to Chicago. This is Dave’s pick for the very best traveling movie. If you remain in the mood for a great wholehearted comedy, rent it today. Anyone that has actually ever before driven cross country can associate with some of the wrongdoings. Have you remained in a cheap motel? You can connect. Have you ever rested next to someone that has made you exceptionally uncomfortable? You can associate!

This is thought about among the terrific comedy travel films, but I consider it as a drama. John Sweet’s character breaks my heart. You might point of it as a holiday movie however it is also among the craziest traveling films available.

Julie & Julia

Not just does Julie as well as Julia star the fantastic Meryl Streep and also among one of the most functional starlets around, but this film is additionally regarding traveling and also blogging .

It’s like it was produced us! I was stunned by how much I enjoyed this motion picture based on real tale of Julia Child and I really did not go in anticipating a lot. Julie & Julia adheres to the life of Julia Child throughout her time in Paris and cuts throughout to the present day in New York. Meryl Streep’s Julia enjoyed Paris so much that she made you think that it was the most desirable place on planet. It makes you crave French food and also a life of decadence in France. When it pertains to choosing a preferred traveling flick this one is right up there. Besides, Meryl Streep can do no incorrect. Lease it now on Amazon Instant Video Clip!

The Big Year

I stood up to viewing this motion picture for many years, yet it ultimately turned up on one of my many streaming service memberships so I took a seat to watch it. The Big Year complies with Jack Black (that does not like Jack Black?), Owen Wilson as well as Steve Martin circumnavigating the United States with hopes of becoming the number 1 bird viewer worldwide. It wound up being among the most shocking traveling movies I’ve seen.

They are stressed with spotting even more varieties of birds than any other person in 365 days. I connected to this movie because it is a lot more regarding the journey and also exactly how having a wonderful experience can alter a life. It does not matter what your rate of interest is, simply go out and also check out! Rent it Currently

Best Travel Movies for Adventure Lovers

Into the wild.

Based on the true life true story it narrates the journey of Christopher McCandless who went on a cross country road journey through the US wound up in Alaska. I read Into bush years ago and also was enthralled trying to identify how someone could surrender every little thing to go and live off the grid. John Krakauer dug into the subconscious of McCandless and also what inspires individuals to take dangers.

What has a person to cut all connections with their household, hitchhike throughout the nation, and afterwards finally cut themselves completely off from society? Things don’t end up as he hoped, and it is a lesson learned for would certainly be adventurers. But it absolutely is a fascinating read and also I love Krakauer’s creating style. Enjoy it now!

It took me a while to enjoy Wild with Reese Witherspoon. I wasn’t really a fan of hers before. But then I watched The Early morning Show, Little Fires Almost Everywhere, and also Big Little Lies (another fantastic series for traveling enthusiasts) as well as became a big fan. Huge Little Lies showcases Monterrey and also Carmel by the Sea in California and truly flaunts the gorgeous views of the Pacific Coast Freeway. But I Swerve.

Wild is a based on true story an adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s traveling memoir concerning hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. It’s a trip regarding placing a life back with each other after everything crumbles. Pushing the limits and getting out of her comfort zone takes her on a trip of self discovery. A battle and journey can change a life.

Check it out this travel movie on Amazon.com

Another awesome movie inspired by the true story from 1996 Mount Everest disaster . It’s a first-hand account by Krakauer who was on Everest at the time and it is one of the travel adventure documentary which you have to watch if you love watching movies.

We really did not exceed base camp, however this movie takes a dark turn as the events in 1996 was one of the worst catastrophes in Everest background. It is an interesting flick checking out why individuals risk their lives for something and also what occurs when things go horribly wrong. 11. Tracks

I actually really taken pleasure in Tracks. It’s a film concerning a female who walks across Australia from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean with 4 camels and her pet canine. What’s more impressive is that it is based upon a real tale. What I actually liked is exactly how the protagonist Robyn Davidson finds out the abilities needed to endure. She is visited by a photographer from National Geographic who shared her story and was led via the spiritual lands of the Wilderness by an Indigenous senior. See it out on Amazon.com !

World’s Fastest Indian

From New Zealand to America, Anthony Hopkins takes his Indian Bike to the salt flats to see how much he can go. The Globe’s Fastest Indian is among my favorite efficiencies by Hopkins. He is vulnerable, adorable and also inspiring. He goes on a fun road trip in the process until he reaches the Salt Flats of California which is when you truly start directing for him to win! This flick wishes to make you follow your desire as well as shows you are never too old to make it take place. That’s practically our motto! Lease it on Amazon Prime

Adventures of Pricilla Queen of the Desert

While we are in the Oceana par of the globe, let’s speak about a fun road trip via the Australian outback. Adventures of Pricilla Queen of the Desert complies with a group Two drag performers and a transgender woman travel taking a cross country road journey in a van called “Pricilla” from Sydney to Alice Springs where they are going to do their drag program. They meet a lot of personalities along the road as well as this movie introduced us to superstars Hugo Weaving and also Guy Pearce who signed up with the already developed Terrence Stamp.

Motorcycle Diaries

The Motorcycle Diaries is a 2004 biopic about the journey and written memoir of the 23-year-old Ernesto Guevara. Che Guevara is interesting as well as this film starring a young Gael García Bernal follows his motorcycle trip journey with South America prior to when he came to be a part of the revolution. Traveling can transform an individual.

This movie is based on a incredible true story where Che travelled with the continent and I believe it was traveling with South America that Che saw what individuals were undergoing which is what triggered him to take action in his very own method.

This film is a bittersweet homage to the impressive walking. Acting tale Martin Sheen walks the route to honor his kid Emilio Estevez (also supervisor) who passed away on the walk.

This movie explores styles of grief, remorse as well as understanding. Martin Sheen’s character finishes what his son started assisting him attach and recognize his kid while examining his very own life.

Best Clasic Travel Movies of All Time

Lawrence of arabia..

Dave as well as I saw Lawrence of Arabia on IMAX when it was re-released years earlier, and also it made us dream of the Arabian desert. I would certainly say that this is typically taken into consideration among the very best travel movies of perpetuity. It’s the initial for sure and also it really does record the greatness of the Arabian Desert. When we obtained the chance to check out Jordan as well as walk in the footprints of the actual Lawrence of Arabia, we couldn’t think we were living a movie. We felt downright woozy when our overviews explained where the actual Lawrence of Arabia stood.

This will make you wish to go on a journey as well as invest the evening in a Bedouin outdoor tents. Lease it on Amazon.com Prime Now.

Out of Africa.

If you want another Meryl Streep automobile that is often taken into consideration one of the very best travel films, you ought to try Out of Africa. Out of Africa happens in a different time, however it captures the heart of Africa beautifully. Meryl Streep is a wedded baroness crazy with big video game hunter Robert Redford. Their chemistry is unmistakable.

She loves Africa as well as you will certainly fall in love with it also. The cinematography is exceptional. It won 7 Oscars consisting of Finest Image and also Finest Cinematography. Rent of Africa on Amazon.com currently.

Romancing the Stone.

Who didn’t daydream about an experience in Colombia after watching Kathleen Turner as well as Michael Douglas in Romancing the Rock?

As a child I constantly considered the line “I require to get to Cartagena” as well as while I had no idea where Cartagena was,( It’s in South America incidentally) I recognized it was exciting. Kathleen Turner changed from an afraid writer that merely writes about experience, to a female encountering an experience and fulfilling a sturdy mystical man in unique Columbia. See Romancing the Stone today.

The Bucket List.

With two of my favored stars and a message to live life to the greatest, the Bucket List is one fantastic travel movie. The phrase has actually been excessive used in the last few years, however the message never ever gets old. The Bucket List is the initial “live your dreams currently” travel film.

The movie is all about Two terminally ill men bust out of the cancer ward with a plan to experience life to the fullest before they kick the bucket. Enjoy and also see to it you leave this earth without regrets. It really feels remarkable to mark off a pail listing, trust me! Rent or buy it right here!

So, I liked this film, yet I really did not enjoy it. The majority of people claim that Amelie is just one of the best travel films of all time.

So I felt that I need to include it due to the fact that this listing would not be total without it. I did enjoy the sights of Paris as well as the day-to-day life showcased in Montmartre. I additionally took pleasure in the uplifting message of silent Amelie aiding the people around her in the beautiful area of Montmartre in Paris. If you want to see sweeping scenes with Paris roads and also if you love Paris, you can not assist but like Amelie. So check it out!

Roman Holiday.

This did not age well in our point of view. We saw it just recently and also it is simply downright negative. Many people will possibly disagree.

However it is fun to see Rome as well as to revisit our Vespa Excursion that we did a few years ago there. They need to reprise Roman Holiday, it would certainly be enjoyable. However, perhaps the Hallmark Channel already did. There are a dreadful lot of Princess conference normal Joes on that network at Xmas. Rent it on Prime.

I admit it. Hereafter movie appeared, I didn’t drink Red wine for several years! Sidewards takes us on a trip through California red wine country as well as it truly is loaded with incredible performances. Rent or acquire on Amazon Prime. In 2015 we remained in Santa Maria, California. The very same places that Sideways was established and all I can think about was Paul Giamatti’s snobbery when it concerned Pinot Grigio.

It’s an enjoyable dramedy that was excellent for the 1990s. An outstanding actors with Sandra Oh, Virginia Madsen, and Thomas Hayden Church.

Up in the Air.

Up in the Air makes you enjoy the suggestion of traveling yet it shows the emptiness that the life of an explorer can result in if you do not remain based with your friends and family. It’s not in the genre of normal traveling films out there, but travel is the major motif. Travel for work that is. I can not experience flight terminal safety and security any longer without thinking about George Clooney and also understand simply exactly how messy I am. His character has the art of travel to a scientific research. Ah, to be cool like George. Life would certainly be excellent. This film also has an excellent message that Dave and I can associate with. We all end up being so consumed with our professions as well as our lives that we ignore what is important. Lease or buy it on Amazon.com Immediate Video.

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Best Destination Movie For Travel Lovers

The beach– thailand..

I really did not enjoy this flick. I liked guide instead. Yet I am a fan of Leonardo DiCaprio and if you want to get a sense of what it was like to take a trip to Thailand prior to the mass tourism, this is a great motion picture for you.

Plus it is beautiful. Not only are individuals attractive, but the landscapes of southern Thailand is likewise heavenly. Take the journey as they look for a hidden beach that is pure perfection.

Lost in Translation– Tokyo.

Tokyo is a little bit strange. It differs anywhere else in the world and Lost in Translation showcases the culture shock that really feels when staying in a different city.

There are various customs in Japan and the society is much different than anywhere else as well as this motion picture catches that strange feeling you get when taking a trip there. Shed in Translation highlights some of the very best places in Tokyo.

The hotel where the flick happens still has among the most effective sights in the city! As well as that doesn’t love Expense Murray? He is valuable and it’s one of Scarlett Johanson’s best performances. Check it Out.

The Coastline is the initial backpacker slacker travel film. I was actually delighted when this came out due to the fact that we had actually just been to Thailand for the very first time. The Coastline catches what Thailand resembled prior to tourists began crowding to it en masse. At once, it was an off-the-beaten-path backpacker destination. We enjoyed guide a lot more, but you can never go wrong with Leo.

Slumdog Millionaire– India.

Okay this is one of the most popular movie which the west knows about India but being an young Indian boy I never really knew why India was shown in such a way.

The movie is offset in the slums to catch the run-down neighborhoods of India. A lot of the cities and attraction are well developed, however there is no denying that you would find slums and region and this movie explores themes around that.

Download it here on Amazon.

Vicky, Cristina Barcelona– Spain.

Admit it, we all intend to go to Spain and face beautiful people like Penelope Cruz and Javier Barden. The cities in Spain are just as lovely as individuals! The Spanish are so much extra in contact with their feelings. They live life with a passion that the remainder people do not have. A minimum of, that is what Vicky Cristina Barcelona makes us believe.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona definitely is an inspiring travel motion picture and also one of the best travel films available. It truly captures the power and also interest of Spain. Rent Vicky Christina Barcelona on Amazon.

Under the Tuscan Sun– Italy.

For the romantics out there, Under the Tuscan Sun is one of the awe inspiring film of all time. Wouldn’t you just like to get a rental property in Tuscany and fall in love with a complete stranger? After a bad separation, her personality travels to Italy courtesy of her buddy, (The extraordinary Sandra Oh!) and purchases a home!

Diane Lane shows that avoiding it all as well as relocating to one more nation can fix whatever. This movie is based on a true story where our celebrity shares the trials and also tribulations of remodeling a Tuscan suite.

I do love the premise and also everybody lives happily ever before after. And Guess What? Under the Tuscan Sunlight gets on Amazon. You can download it currently!

Best Exotic Marigold Hotel– India.

I enjoy the most effective Exotic Marigold Hotel. We constantly preach that you are never too old to attempt something new as well as you are never ever as well old for travel. It’s chock filled with excellent fabulous actors consisting of Dame Judi Dench, Costs Nighy, as well as Maggie Smith. The Very Best Exotic Marigold Resort complies with a group of senior citizens who take a trip to India to endure their days at a falling apart retired life resort. All mayhem and madness occur as points can just in India. There’s love, catastrophe, as well as hope. Rental fee it currently.

A Good Year– Provence France.

A Good Year made me intend to most likely to Provence and also live a straightforward life … on a multi-million dollar winery estate. That’s reasonable, best?

A Good Year makes life in Provence resemble the yard of Eden and I want a piece of it. Everybody is gorgeous, everyone is a white wine connoisseur, and also everyone is pure as well as excellent. That would not intend to go to the south of France after seeing A Good Year?

Midnight in Paris– Paris

Midnight in Paris records the golden years of Paris as Owen Wilson goes through the streets at night in search of that charming nostalgia of the city.

He winds up fulfilling the famous clients of the 1920s including Cole Concierge, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein as well as more! This film makes me wish to get on a flight to Paris each time! See it on Amazon.com Prime or get it on DVD

This film was crucified by the doubters, but I liked it. Nicole Kidman as well as Hugh Jackman take her livestock across the Outback. It additionally touches on the oppressions of how

Australia treated the Aboriginal Individuals, advising me of what Canada did with property institutions to our own indigenous communities. It’s beautifully shot as well as is a love letter to Australia. I think it was worthy of much more love than it got. Check it out on Amazon

Lightheared Travel Movies

This is an enjoyable motion picture. I am not much of a Will Farrell fan, however this motion picture is one of his ideal. The motion picture starts (after a brief recall) in Iceland showcasing its attractive landscapes and also falls with sweeping drone shots of the stars performing.

It has all the stereotypes and also mottos of Iceland, however it is performed with heart and also enjoyable. It truly is a love letter to Iceland. Adhere To Lars as well as Sigrit as they try to accomplish their dream of contending in Eurovision in Edinburgh.

The film offers a great display of that city also! And it additionally explains to North Americans precisely what Eurovision is. It is complimentary on Netflix or you can lease it on Amazon.com

Darjeeling Limited

This film takes Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, and also Adrian Brody throughout India one year after their dad’s fatality starting on the Darjeeling Express train. It’s strange, heartbreaking, humorous and also pure Wes Anderson.

When they visit their mother in an Ashram, it makes me think of the strange people that escape to India to find themselves. Oh yeah, he gets it. Check it out on Amazon Prime

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

This is such an enjoyable film, set in the very real Turtle Bay Hotel in Oahu. It may just be in one location yet it most definitely seems like a traveling film.

The movie stars Jason Seigel as a Hollywood Author that mosts likely to Hawaii to recover his wounds after obtaining unloaded by his partner Kristen bell. It ends up, she exists on vacation with her brand-new boyfriend and also shenanigans follow.

This motion picture makes you intend to reserve an aircraft to Hawaii and have your own remain at Turtle Bay which has currently become popular. Rental it on Prime

Last Holiday

If you are looking for funny travel movies, this need to be at the top of your checklist. This is the supreme fairytale on exactly how travel can transform a life. As well as exactly how we ought to all strive to live a better life. It’s also short to wait.

Queen Latifa is valuable as a woman that is detected with an incurable illness, so she takes her life savings to appreciate her last vacation at a luxurious hotel. She does whatever from base jumping to snowboarding and also delighting in decadent French food. If every person took a vacation like this, we would certainly all live better lives. Rent, Buy or Enjoy on Amazon.com Prime

French Kiss

Meg Ryan plays a female named Kate who hesitates to take a trip. When her fiance falls for another female in France, she promises to win him back and also travels there despite being terrified. Hilarity takes place when she meets con man Kevin Kline and also they venture across the nation together.

My preferred scene is when she is indulging in cheese on the train. It’s that French minute that made me daydream regarding passing by train across the French countryside. Watch French Kiss for yourself

My Life in Ruins

While not just as good as My Big Fat Greek Wedding Event, My Life in Damages is a nice comeback for Nia Vardalos in an enjoyable loving traveling movie. She plays a trip leader taking stereotypical travelers with the websites of Greece.

It’s fun, it’s enchanting as well as the setting is gorgeous. It’s not mosting likely to win any Academy Awards, however, for an enjoyable Saturday afternoon movie, this will certainly transport you to Greece. Lease it or buy it on Amazon.com

The Hangover 2

The First Hangover was far much better and also if you haven’t seen it, I advise seeing. It as well is a travel movie taking you to Las vega (also an awesome road trip adventure), but this one is a lot of enjoyable taking us through Bangkok. It records the insane power of the city.

My favorite scene is when Bradly Cooper needs to go to the healthcare facility and also comes out with an absurdly low medical facility bill. Dave and also I have been to the hospital in Thailand as well as can testify. When you go out, you really feel as if you have simply robbed them for their time and also service. Rental fee it currently!

Blockbuster Travel Movies

Star wars: the surge of skywalker & the last jedi.

One would not think of a film based in celestial spaces to be a travel film that motivates wanderlust, however the last Star Wars Trilogy featured among our favorite locations in the world.

It was teased at the end of the Force Awakens and highlighted in the Last Jedi, but the Surge of Skywalker really showcased the impressive Skellig Michael of Ireland.

This 6th-century abbey was a celebrity unto itself as Luke experienced Rey the ways of the Force. It has actually currently motivated many vacationers as well as movie buffs to take the hair-raising watercraft come through to these rocky islands 12 kilometres off the shore of Ireland. Check it out on Amazon.com as well as Review our Short article regarding our experience at Skellig Michael

We really discovered where Mama Mia occurs while visiting the location where it was recorded, Pelion, Greece. The Greek islands are paradise, and Mom Mia complies with the story of Meryl Streep who runs a hotel on the coastline.

When her daughter becomes involved, she invites three men who might be her father. It’s a rip-roaring good time of music, enjoyable and also gorgeous landscapes.

The Santorini blue and white houses, the crystal clear blue sea, and also the songs of Abba become those who enjoy to travel to Greece! Watch it on Prime today

Once Upon a Time in Mexico Trilogy

Just how sexy are Antonio Banderas and also Salma Hayak together? You have to watch the whole trilogy to actually value this collection by Robert Rodrigues.

Once In Mexico ends the trilogy with Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, and also Cheech Marin. El Mariachi began everything starring Carlos Gallardo. My fave of the 3 is Desperado, but they are all amusing.

Once Upon A Time In Mexico is a fantasy as well as it is a stereotype of Mexico, however it makes you want to go to Mexico and have a fantastic experience. The landscapes is gorgeous, the film is filled with awesome design, and the music is fabulous. View the Trilogy today!

The Legend of Tarzan

The $180 million dollar spending plan ensures to display the appeal of the African Savannah, the dense jungles, as well as the marvelous wild animals.

You feel as if you have actually entered the heart of Africa. Seriously, lease it, you’re mosting likely to like it a whole lot greater than you assume! Rent it on Amazon

The Tourist

It’s a little indulgent, and Angelina Jolie is a little bit aggravating with exactly how outstanding she believes she remains in this, but it does record traveling in Europe magnificently.

It makes you want to have an enchanting tryst in Venice . It makes you intend to ride a train and also have a mysterious experience. It provides you a peek into how the abundant real-time and also take a trip the globe.

Just recently we had somebody contact us with a list of their favorite motion pictures concerning traveling. He mentioned the initial Alien vs. Predator occurred in Antarctica and I keep in mind that being a quite enjoyable movie. After that I thought of the timeless Kurt Russel flick, Things.

This thriller takes place at a clinical base camp in the Antarctic and truly allows you feel how claustrophobic and also separated scientists need to feel when spending the winter at the bottom of the world. Watch it now!

Bourne Movies, James Bonds, Mission Difficult & Indiana Jones Movies

The Bourne flicks, James Bond, Indian Jones, and Mission Impossible take us worldwide with each motion picture. They could be thought about travel movies, but they are more about adventure, action, as well as fantasy.

Nevertheless, I wished to include them because if you are seeking some stunning scenes from Europe and the Center East, these traveling films fit the costs. They are so good at taking you away to unique locations.

Best Travel Movies in Fiction

Grand budapest hotel.

I can’t help it, I enjoy Wes Anderson motion pictures. He is unique and quirky. Grand Budapest resort is just one of the most effective traveling films that isn’t embeded in any kind of actual place. This is done in an imaginary setup.

I like this for a travel film due to the fact that it advises me of the grand old resorts from another age. Well, it ought to because it is embeded in an additional period. The resort is fictional, however it does take you away to an additional world. Lease it on Prime

Black Panther

Wakanda might be a fictional place in Africa, yet this film captures the spirit of East and also South Africa. It accepts the Africa culture and also most of the flick’s scenes were recorded in Africa. We have actually been to Africa numerous times as well as this motion picture delivered us there once more. If you have not seen it, see it currently!

Lord of the Rings and also Hobbit

They might be embeded in Center Planet, but the Lord of the Rings movies are a love letter to New Zealand. Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit Flicks make us want to go to New Zealand and these films catch its appeal completely. Lease the trilogy on Amazon.com today

Eat Pray Love

One more boring adjustment. Eat Pray Love had not been my favorite whatsoever. However The book was all right but the film starring Julia Roberts is awful. If you liked it, let me recognize. Possibly I’ll give it one more watch in case I missed something. Lease it on Amazon.com

We’ll be updating this list on a regular basis and also we enjoy finding brand-new travel movies to enjoy. So, if you have tips for your favored travel flicks, leave them in the comments listed below as well as we’ll make certain to provide a watch!

Long way round

This DVD set and British television series follows Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s 2000-mile bike ride. From London to New York City, the team travels across 12 nations from Asia to Europe to Canada and the U.S. Their dreams for adventure and endurance took them across 19 different countries within just 115 days while visiting several UNICEF project projects. It’s an inspiring travel movie which challenges your view of life in many respects. See movies.

Hit the road: India

Follow Keith King and Mark Gazarian in their bid for a 12-day rickshaw rally across India. The documentary follows two travellers on a journey through Mumbai to Chennai as they face a series of travel difficulties including a temperamental car and bad weather. When their excitement fades, it’s easy for the young person to understand that endurance and determination are essential in their travel experiences. See movies!

Long way down

The following up to Longway Round, Ewan McGregor once again started riding a motorcycle in a Honda Odyssey. Starting from Scotland, they are heading towards Cape Town, South Africa.

Their 85-day trip through vineyards, deserts and jungles gives insight into 18 different countries. Between border crossings and motorcycle accidents, these reports provide real insight into the ups and downs of road trips. See movies.

Appeal to your curiosity about travel, it will encourage you to abandon all the daily chores, pack your bags and explore all around you. It focuses on one of friends who travel across Europe to visit Patagonia.

With boarders and climbing equipment, they saw the decline and the battle for industrialism. This is an amazing story with an honest storyline and beautiful scenery throughout. Watch movies.

A map for Saturday

If you are looking for a film about traveling around the globe a year, you will love this one. Then, Brook Silva-Braga stepped away in 2005 and it was an idyllic job.

Follow the journey few would have taken. Experience the emotions of long-distance travel. The film gives you an honest view on travels in 26 countries across five continents. Please see the movie.

Hector and the search for happiness

Based on the best-selling novel of similar names, Simon Pegg leaves his normal job as psychiatrist and travels the world looking for true happiness. He has developed an international adventure story with humorous effect and contemporary love stories.

For those who want to do something else with their lives, this film certainly inspires them. Watch movies.

Scotty has been left to a halt after he escaped his girlfriend after graduating high school. There are countless stereotypes throughout Europe as these two people encounter difficult situations and a few laugh out loud situations throughout their journey. The Comedians are certainly the most entertaining travel movie ever made! View movies.

The movie stars a couple expecting a child from a married couple. With little real places to call home, they travel through the USA and Montreal searching for a great home for them. Enjoy both funny and humorous experiences when you meet funny parents, friends and re-educational classmates. You can see the film on this website.

It tells a tale about freedom and corruption within an American society which is conformist and corrupt. After they sold their cocaine to a drug dealer from Mexico, he went to New Orleans just before the Mardi Gras. Easy Rider will help you see how the American people faced tensions in the 1960s. See movies.

The Hundred foot journey

Another awesome travel film which you can try watching is this which is a story centered around an Indian family who moves to France and opens a restaurant across.

So you can enjoy the beauty of France with this movie night.

That was our in depth guide about Travel Movies which you can watch on your next trip. Do let us know if there was any movie which you enjoyed the most.

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Sankalp Singh is the Founder and Author of Chasing Whereabouts. He is passionate about travel, photography, and food. He has travelled across Europe extensively to experience its quirks, culture, and diversity. He is a self-taught traveller and he has been exploring the world since the age of 25. When he is not travelling, you can find him at work being a Software Engineer in 9-5 Job.

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Best Travel Movies

• Movies or TV
• IMDb Rating
• In Theaters
• Release Year

1. A Tourist's Guide to Love (2023)

TV-PG | 94 min | Adventure, Comedy, Romance

An executive goes through an unexpected breakup, then accepting an assignment to go undercover and learn about the tourist industry in Vietnam.

Director: Steven K. Tsuchida | Stars: Rachael Leigh Cook , Scott Ly , Ben Feldman , Missi Pyle

Votes: 6,950

2. Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)

R | 88 min | Adventure, Comedy

A Korean-American office worker and his Indian-American stoner friend embark on a quest to satisfy their desire for White Castle burgers.

Director: Danny Leiner | Stars: John Cho , Kal Penn , Ethan Embry , Rob Tinkler

Votes: 206,030 | Gross: $18.23M

3. Due Date (2010)

R | 95 min | Comedy, Drama

High-strung father-to-be Peter Highman is forced to hitch a ride with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay on a road trip in order to make it to his child's birth on time.

Director: Todd Phillips | Stars: Robert Downey Jr. , Zach Galifianakis , Michelle Monaghan , Jamie Foxx

Votes: 357,880 | Gross: $100.54M

4. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)

PG-13 | 124 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

British retirees travel to India to take up residence in what they believe is a newly restored hotel. Less luxurious than advertised, the Marigold Hotel nevertheless slowly begins to charm in unexpected ways.

Director: John Madden | Stars: Judi Dench , Bill Nighy , Maggie Smith , Tom Wilkinson

Votes: 99,457 | Gross: $46.41M

5. Sideways (2004)

R | 127 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

Two men reaching middle age with not much to show but disappointment embark on a week-long road trip through California's wine country, just as one is about to take a trip down the aisle.

Director: Alexander Payne | Stars: Paul Giamatti , Thomas Haden Church , Virginia Madsen , Sandra Oh

Votes: 204,202 | Gross: $71.50M

6. When in Rome (2010)

PG-13 | 91 min | Comedy, Romance

Beth is an ambitious young New Yorker who is completely unlucky in love. On a whirlwind trip to Rome, she impulsively steals some coins from a reputed fountain of love, and is then aggressively pursued by a band of suitors.

Director: Mark Steven Johnson | Stars: Kristen Bell , Josh Duhamel , Anjelica Huston , Danny DeVito

Votes: 64,610 | Gross: $32.67M

7. Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)

PG-13 | 113 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

Frances Mayes, a 35-year-old San Francisco writer, gets a divorce that leaves her with terminal writer's block and depression. Later, she decides to buy a house in Tuscany in order to change her life.

Director: Audrey Wells | Stars: Diane Lane , Raoul Bova , Sandra Oh , Lindsay Duncan

Votes: 59,513 | Gross: $43.61M

8. Eat Pray Love (2010)

PG-13 | 133 min | Biography, Drama, Romance

A married woman realizes how unhappy her marriage really is, and that her life needs to go in a different direction. After a painful divorce, she takes off on a round-the-world journey to "find herself".

Director: Ryan Murphy | Stars: Julia Roberts , Javier Bardem , Richard Jenkins , Viola Davis

Votes: 105,866 | Gross: $80.57M

9. The Terminal (2004)

PG-13 | 128 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

An Eastern European tourist unexpectedly finds himself stranded in JFK airport, and must take up temporary residence there.

Director: Steven Spielberg | Stars: Tom Hanks , Catherine Zeta-Jones , Chi McBride , Stanley Tucci

Votes: 495,106 | Gross: $77.87M

10. The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

R | 91 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama

A year after their father's funeral, three brothers travel across India by train in an attempt to bond with each other.

Director: Wes Anderson | Stars: Owen Wilson , Adrien Brody , Jason Schwartzman , Amara Karan

Votes: 216,886 | Gross: $11.90M

11. Hope Springs (2012)

PG-13 | 100 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

After thirty years of marriage, a middle-aged couple attends an intense, week-long counseling session to work on their relationship.

Director: David Frankel | Stars: Meryl Streep , Tommy Lee Jones , Steve Carell , Jean Smart

Votes: 44,289 | Gross: $63.54M

12. A Good Year (2006)

PG-13 | 117 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

A British investment broker inherits his uncle's chateau and vineyard in Provence, where he spent much of his childhood. He discovers a new laid-back lifestyle as he tries to renovate the estate to be sold.

Director: Ridley Scott | Stars: Russell Crowe , Abbie Cornish , Albert Finney , Marion Cotillard

Votes: 101,340 | Gross: $7.46M

13. Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014)

R | 114 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama

A psychiatrist searches the globe to find the secret of happiness.

Director: Peter Chelsom | Stars: Simon Pegg , Rosamund Pike , Tracy-Ann Oberman , Jean Reno

Votes: 50,491 | Gross: $1.12M

14. Everything Is Illuminated (2005)

PG-13 | 106 min | Comedy, Drama

A young Jewish American man, with the help of an eccentric local, endeavors to find the woman who saved his grandfather during World War II in a Ukrainian village that was ultimately razed by the Nazis.

Director: Liev Schreiber | Stars: Elijah Wood , Eugene Hutz , Boris Lyoskin , Jonathan Safran Foer

Votes: 59,916 | Gross: $1.71M

15. Green Book (2018)

PG-13 | 130 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama

A working-class Italian-American bouncer becomes the driver for an African-American classical pianist on a tour of venues through the 1960s American South.

Director: Peter Farrelly | Stars: Viggo Mortensen , Mahershala Ali , Linda Cardellini , Sebastian Maniscalco

Votes: 571,409 | Gross: $85.08M

16. Interstate 60 (2002)

R | 116 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama

Neal Oliver, a very confused young artist, takes a journey of a lifetime on a highway that doesn't exist on any map, going to places he's never heard of, searching for an answer and his dream girl.

Director: Bob Gale | Stars: James Marsden , Gary Oldman , Kurt Russell , Matthew Edison

Votes: 36,764

17. Into the Wild (2007)

R | 148 min | Adventure, Biography, Drama

After graduating from Emory University, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandons his possessions, gives his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhikes to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that shape his life.

Director: Sean Penn | Stars: Emile Hirsch , Vince Vaughn , Catherine Keener , Marcia Gay Harden

Votes: 657,967 | Gross: $18.35M

18. We're the Millers (2013)

R | 110 min | Comedy, Crime

A veteran pot dealer creates a fake family as part of his plan to move a huge shipment of weed into the U.S. from Mexico.

Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber | Stars: Jason Sudeikis , Jennifer Aniston , Emma Roberts , Ed Helms

Votes: 485,939 | Gross: $150.39M

19. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

PG | 114 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama

When both he and a colleague are about to lose their job, Walter takes action by embarking on an adventure more extraordinary than anything he ever imagined.

Director: Ben Stiller | Stars: Ben Stiller , Kristen Wiig , Jon Daly , Kathryn Hahn

Votes: 340,785 | Gross: $58.24M

20. Couples Retreat (2009)

PG-13 | 113 min | Comedy

A comedy centered around four couples who settle into a tropical-island resort for a vacation. While one of the couples is there to work on the marriage, the others fail to realize that participation in the resort's therapy sessions is not optional.

Director: Peter Billingsley | Stars: Vince Vaughn , Malin Akerman , Jon Favreau , Jason Bateman

Votes: 114,828 | Gross: $109.21M

21. Mr. Bean's Holiday (2007)

G | 90 min | Comedy, Family

Mr. Bean wins a trip to Cannes where he unwittingly separates a young boy from his father and must help the two reunite. On the way he discovers France, bicycling, and true love.

Director: Steve Bendelack | Stars: Rowan Atkinson , Willem Dafoe , Steve Pemberton , Lily Atkinson

Votes: 134,076 | Gross: $33.30M

22. Vacation (I) (2015)

R | 99 min | Adventure, Comedy

Rusty Griswold takes his own family on a road trip to "Walley World" in order to spice things up with his wife and reconnect with his sons.

Directors: John Francis Daley , Jonathan Goldstein | Stars: Ed Helms , Christina Applegate , Skyler Gisondo , Steele Stebbins

Votes: 121,623 | Gross: $58.88M

23. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)

R | 104 min | Comedy

The comic "Bluntman and Chronic" is based on real-life stoners Jay and Silent Bob, so when they get no profit from a big-screen adaptation, they set out to wreck the movie.

Director: Kevin Smith | Stars: Jason Mewes , Kevin Smith , Amy Noble , Harley Quinn Smith

Votes: 161,024 | Gross: $30.09M

24. The Guilt Trip (2012)

PG-13 | 95 min | Comedy, Drama

As inventor Andy Brewster is about to embark on the road trip of a lifetime, a quick stop at his mom's house turns into an unexpected cross-country voyage with her along for the ride.

Director: Anne Fletcher | Stars: Barbra Streisand , Seth Rogen , Julene Renee , Zabryna Guevara

Votes: 39,961 | Gross: $37.13M

25. Joy Ride (2023)

R | 95 min | Comedy

Follows four Asian American friends as they bond and discover the truth of what it means to know and love who you are, while they travel through China in search of one of their birth mothers.

Director: Adele Lim | Stars: Ashley Park , Sherry Cola , Stephanie Hsu , Sabrina Wu

Votes: 23,213

26. Midnight in Paris (2011)

PG-13 | 94 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance

While on a trip to Paris with his fiancée's family, a nostalgic screenwriter finds himself mysteriously going back to the 1920s every day at midnight.

Director: Woody Allen | Stars: Owen Wilson , Rachel McAdams , Kathy Bates , Kurt Fuller

Votes: 449,774 | Gross: $56.82M

27. Broken Flowers (2005)

R | 106 min | Comedy, Drama, Mystery

As the extremely withdrawn Don Johnston is dumped by his latest woman, he receives an anonymous letter from a former lover informing him that he has a son who may be looking for him. A freelance sleuth neighbor moves Don to embark on a cross-country search for his old flames in search of answers.

Director: Jim Jarmusch | Stars: Bill Murray , Jessica Lange , Sharon Stone , Julie Delpy

Votes: 106,796 | Gross: $13.74M

28. Sex Drive (2008)

R | 109 min | Comedy, Romance

A high-school senior drives cross-country with his best friends to hook up with a babe he met online.

Director: Sean Anders | Stars: Josh Zuckerman , Clark Duke , Amanda Crew , James Marsden

Votes: 91,722 | Gross: $8.40M

29. EuroTrip (2004)

R | 92 min | Comedy

Dumped by his girlfriend, a high school grad decides to embark on an overseas adventure in Europe with his friends.

Directors: Jeff Schaffer , Alec Berg , David Mandel | Stars: Scott Mechlowicz , Jacob Pitts , Michelle Trachtenberg , Travis Wester

Votes: 222,829 | Gross: $17.72M

30. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

R | 111 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

Devastated Peter takes a Hawaiian vacation in order to deal with the recent break-up with his TV star girlfriend, Sarah. Little does he know, Sarah's traveling to the same resort as her ex - and she's bringing along her new boyfriend.

Director: Nicholas Stoller | Stars: Kristen Bell , Jason Segel , Paul Rudd , Mila Kunis

Votes: 302,390 | Gross: $63.17M

31. Kate & Leopold (2001)

PG-13 | 118 min | Comedy, Fantasy, Romance

An English Duke from 1876 is inadvertently dragged to modern day New York where he falls for a plucky advertising executive.

Director: James Mangold | Stars: Meg Ryan , Hugh Jackman , Liev Schreiber , Breckin Meyer

Votes: 89,061 | Gross: $47.12M

32. Romancing the Stone (1984)

PG | 106 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy

A mousy romance novelist sets off for Colombia to ransom her kidnapped sister, and soon finds herself in the middle of a dangerous adventure hunting for treasure with a mercenary rogue.

Director: Robert Zemeckis | Stars: Michael Douglas , Kathleen Turner , Danny DeVito , Zack Norman

Votes: 103,264 | Gross: $76.57M

33. Up in the Air (I) (2009)

R | 109 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

Ryan's job is to travel around the country firing off people. When his boss hires Natalie, who proposes firing people via video conference, he tries to convince her that her method is a mistake.

Director: Jason Reitman | Stars: George Clooney , Vera Farmiga , Anna Kendrick , Jason Bateman

Votes: 349,330 | Gross: $83.82M

34. The Beach (I) (2000)

R | 119 min | Adventure, Drama, Romance

On vacation in Thailand, Richard sets out for an island rumored to be a solitary beach paradise.

Director: Danny Boyle | Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio , Tilda Swinton , Daniel York , Patcharawan Patarakijjanon

Votes: 253,656 | Gross: $39.79M

35. Lost in Translation (2003)

R | 102 min | Comedy, Drama

A faded movie star and a neglected young woman form an unlikely bond after crossing paths in Tokyo.

Director: Sofia Coppola | Stars: Bill Murray , Scarlett Johansson , Giovanni Ribisi , Anna Faris

Votes: 488,683 | Gross: $44.59M

36. Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)

PG-13 | 123 min | Comedy, Music

When aspiring musicians Lars and Sigrit are given the opportunity to represent their country at the world's biggest song competition, they finally have a chance to prove that any dream worth having is a dream worth fighting for.

Director: David Dobkin | Stars: Will Ferrell , Rachel McAdams , Dan Stevens , Mikael Persbrandt

Votes: 102,339

37. French Kiss (1995)

PG-13 | 111 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

A woman flying to France to confront her straying fiance gets into trouble when the charming crook seated next to her uses her for smuggling.

Director: Lawrence Kasdan | Stars: Meg Ryan , Kevin Kline , Timothy Hutton , Jean Reno

Votes: 52,960 | Gross: $38.90M

38. The Hangover (2009)

R | 100 min | Comedy

Three buddies wake up from a bachelor party in Las Vegas, with no memory of the previous night and the bachelor missing. They make their way around the city in order to find their friend before his wedding.

Director: Todd Phillips | Stars: Zach Galifianakis , Bradley Cooper , Justin Bartha , Ed Helms

Votes: 845,931 | Gross: $277.32M

39. The Hangover Part II (2011)

R | 102 min | Comedy

Two years after the bachelor party in Las Vegas, Phil, Stu, Alan, and Doug jet to Thailand for Stu's wedding. Stu's plan for a subdued pre-wedding brunch, however, goes seriously awry.

Director: Todd Phillips | Stars: Bradley Cooper , Zach Galifianakis , Ed Helms , Justin Bartha

Votes: 534,452 | Gross: $254.46M

40. The Tourist (I) (2010)

PG-13 | 103 min | Action, Thriller

Revolves around Frank, an American tourist visiting Italy to mend a broken heart. Elise is an extraordinary woman who deliberately crosses his path.

Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck | Stars: Johnny Depp , Angelina Jolie , Paul Bettany , Timothy Dalton

Votes: 256,377 | Gross: $67.63M

41. Wanderlust (2012)

R | 98 min | Comedy, Romance

Rattled by sudden unemployment, a Manhattan couple surveys alternative living options, ultimately deciding to experiment with living on a rural commune where free love rules.

Director: David Wain | Stars: Jennifer Aniston , Paul Rudd , Malin Akerman , Justin Theroux

Votes: 80,472 | Gross: $17.23M

42. The Ramen Girl (2008)

PG-13 | 102 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

An American woman is stranded in Tokyo after breaking up with her boyfriend. Searching for direction in life, she trains to be a râmen chef under a tyrannical Japanese master.

Director: Robert Allan Ackerman | Stars: Brittany Murphy , Toshiyuki Nishida , Tammy Blanchard , Soji Arai

Votes: 11,096

43. Leap Year (2010)

PG | 100 min | Comedy, Romance

Anna Brady plans to travel to Dublin, Ireland to propose to her boyfriend Jeremy on February 29, leap day, because, according to Irish tradition, a man who receives a marriage proposal on a leap day must accept it.

Director: Anand Tucker | Stars: Amy Adams , Matthew Goode , Adam Scott , John Lithgow

Votes: 110,651 | Gross: $25.92M

44. How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)

R | 124 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

Stella is a highly successful, forty-something San Francisco stock broker who is persuaded by her colorful New York girlfriend Delilah to take a well deserved, first-class vacation to Jamaica.

Director: Kevin Rodney Sullivan | Stars: Angela Bassett , Taye Diggs , Whoopi Goldberg , Regina King

Votes: 8,321 | Gross: $37.67M

45. Midnight Run (1988)

R | 126 min | Action, Comedy, Crime

A bounty hunter pursues a former Mafia accountant who is also being chased by a rival bounty hunter, the F.B.I., and his old mob boss after jumping bail.

Director: Martin Brest | Stars: Robert De Niro , Charles Grodin , Yaphet Kotto , John Ashton

Votes: 94,205 | Gross: $38.41M

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The 20 Best Adventure Movies of All Time, Ranked According to IMDb

Take the adventure of a lifetime from your couch.

Recently released blockbusters like Dune: Part Two underscore the enduring popularity of the adventure genre, which is one that intersects with numerous other categories. Fans of films that depict epic journeys and thrilling encounters will be happy to learn that it’s easier than ever to discover the best adventure movies, thanks to IMDb .

Users’ votes on the platform have determined the highest-rated adventure films, which are often award-winning classics that represent the best that the genre has to offer. The top 10 adventure movies on the platform rightly include several entries from the Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings franchise (as well as the Avengers movies), which are essential films from the genre.

20 'Coco' (2017)

Imdb rating: 8.4/10.

There is a solid reason why many people consider Coco to be one of the best films that Pixar has ever produced . Fans have grown to anticipate exceptionally clear and stunning graphics from the studio, and the film delivers on those expectations. Also, the film tells an extraordinary tale about a little boy who has adventures in the Land of the Dead.

In the film, an unexplained ban on music is revealed to have been motivated by a tragic backstory, which will almost certainly move viewers to shed at least a few tears. Stunning and grandiose moments in the animated film are brilliantly accompanied by scenes that are more personal and moving – all of these work well and make up the engrossing and unforgettable trip of a lifetime for the film's lovable protagonist.

*Availability in US

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19 'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' (2018)

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is a critically acclaimed animated film that introduced the Marvel hero to the concept of the multiverse before it became mainstream. It follows the likable Miles Morales ( Shameik Moore ) as he attempts to juggle superhero responsibilities with schoolwork, a task that quickly gets more complex as he encounters other Spider-Man characters from all over the universe. Before it's too late, they have to work together to put a stop to the nefarious Kingpin and his "super collider."

The film's stunning visuals steal the show, overshadowing even its well-written characters in impact. It seems as if pages from a comic book have come to life in order to convey Miles' amazing experience thanks to the vivid colors and wild transitions that are used. It's an incredible animated movie that stands up remarkably well to more recent entries in the genre.

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse

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18 'Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981)

In Raiders of the Lost Ark , the courageous archaeologist Indiana Jones ( Harrison Ford ) embarks on an incredible journey. Alongside his brave love interest Marion Ravenwood ( Karen Allen ), the characters find themselves entangled in a race against villains who are searching for the lost artifact for their own nefarious purposes. What comes next is a treacherous adventure that is full of twists and traps, both of which the protagonist needs to overcome.

The thrilling Indiana Jones movie is packed with unexpected turns that shed light on the individuals and their motivations for the actions they do. As the audience becomes increasingly attached to Jones and Marion, the story focuses less on the artifact itself and more on the adventurous journey that they go on.

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

17 'avengers: infinity war' (2018).

The stakes are higher than ever before in Avengers: Infinity War , where the group of familiar heroes faces off against a truly terrible antagonist, Thanos ( Josh Brolin ), an intergalactic Titan warlord who's on a quest to collect all six Infinity Stones. His goal? To destroy half of all life across the universe to "restore balance."

For MCU fans, Infinity War left a sinking feeling in their stomachs that would only be resolved by the even more iconic sequel . It showed the world that the Avengers could lose in a spectacular fashion, and gave audiences a legendary antagonist with a twisted goal that changes everything for the mighty heroes.

Avengers: Infinity War

16 'avengers: endgame' (2019).

Following the devastating deaths caused by Thanos’ snap in Avengers: Infinity War , the survivors are left to pick up the pieces in Endgame . The events of Phase Three come to a head in the box office hit, which sees the remaining Avengers banding together for one final attempt at reversing the chaos and destruction all over the universe.

The Russo brothers manage to depict a complicated story with numerous moving parts in a cohesive and exhilarating way in one of the best adventure movies from Hollywood. With wild portrayals of time travel, tear-jerking final goodbyes, and visually stunning epic battles on a scale never before seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Avengers: Endgame

15 'aliens' (1986).

In this terrific sequel to Alien , Sigourney Weaver reprises her now-iconic role as Ellen Ripley, who is finally rescued after spending decades asleep in cryo. She quickly becomes a member of a team that is sent to a settlement of colonists on a planet that may be inhabited by extraterrestrial beings, and she is disheartened to discover that everyone around her appears to be underestimating the monsters.

James Cameron 's Aliens is able to successfully present audiences with a more extensive storyline since it has much improved special effects, expanded approaches for world-building, and even a more intimate look into Ellen's backstory. Widely regarded as one of the most iconic sci-fi movies , Aliens will keep audiences glued to their screens as Ellen survives one horrific encounter after another .

14 'The Lion King' (1994)

Imdb rating: 8.5/10.

The Lion King is an animated Disney classic that tells the story of Simba (voiced by Matthew Broderick ), a cub and successor to King Mufasa ( James Earl Jones ) in the Circle of Life. When Simba’s scheming uncle Scar ( Jeremy Irons ) murders Mufasa and manipulates the lion cub that it’s his fault, however, he finds comfort far away from home among new carefree friends, Timon ( Nathan Lane ) and Pumbaa ( Ernie Sabella ). It takes a childhood friend, Nala ( Moira Kelly ), and a shaman, Rafiki ( Robert Guillaume ), to get Simba back on the right path.

Among the greatest movies to come out during the Disney Renaissance , the touching story of Simba’s adventure is an important part of numerous audiences’ childhoods. The well-written film is still worth revisiting today, as adults may find new perspectives on Simba’s journey.

The Lion King (1994)

13 'back to the future' (1985).

Back to the Future is a film that needs no introduction. The critically acclaimed classic directed by Robert Zemeckis follows the misadventures of Marty McFly ( Michael J. Fox ), who accidentally uses Doc Brown’s ( Christopher Lloyd ) modified DeLorean to travel back in time . He’s soon in a messy situation when he ruins the early stages of his parents’ relationship, which threatens Marty’s existence.

Campy, wacky, and surprisingly heartfelt, it’s not hard to see why Back to the Future is beloved by fans. Any disturbing challenges Marty encounters are never too troubling thanks to the comedic tone and light atmosphere throughout the film.

Back to the Future

12 'gladiator' (2000).

Director Ridley Scott ’s Gladiator is a historical drama centered on the Roman general, Maximus Decimus Meridius ( Russell Crowe ). Maximus is betrayed, and his family is murdered by the treacherous Commodus ( Joaquin Phoenix ), who wanted to claim Emperor Marcus Aurelius’ ( Richard Harris ) throne. Maximus is sent away and into slavery, but he soon becomes a gladiator and climbs the ranks to seek revenge.

Anyone who has seen the hard-hitting yet spectacular movie knows that Maximus’ adventure isn’t a happy one. He repeatedly risks his life to get right back to where he was and confront his family’s murderer. One of Ridley Scott's very best works , it's an inspiring and heartbreaking tale of a courageous soldier who never stops fighting.

11 'Spirited Away' (2001)

Imdb rating: 8.6/10.

Director Hayao Miyazaki ’s Spirited Away is centered on ten-year-old Chihiro Ogino’s ( Rumi Hiiragi ) tale as she ventures deeper into the world of the Kami to find a way to rescue her parents. She has to learn to muster up the courage to survive in Yubaba’s ( Mari Natsuki ) bathhouse, deal with creatures like No-Face, and rely on her inner strength to keep going.

Still considered Studio Ghibli’s most popular film , the animated masterpiece has gorgeous visuals, imaginative character design, and a touching narrative of independence and hope. Chihiro’s adventure is unlike any other and will take viewers along for an awe-inspiring ride through the spirit world.

Spirited Away (2001)

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10 'Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope' (1977)

The film that birth the iconic franchise that's still thriving today, A New Hope transported viewers to a galaxy far, far away. It introduced iconic characters like Luke Skywalker ( Mark Hamill ) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford), who join forces to rescue Princess Leia Organa ( Carrie Fisher ) from the villainous Darth Vader ( David Prowse / James Earl Jones ).

Depicting the struggle between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire, the legendary classic redefined the sci-fi genre, and provided an adventure of a lifetime for an entire generation (and perhaps, for generations to come). It has cemented its place in cinematic history as one of the greats, and will forever be part of annual viewing traditions for countless fans.

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

9 'spider-man: across the spider-verse' (2023).

After the stunning premiere of Into the Spider-Verse , critics and fans alike were understandably skeptical about the sequel's ability to surpass the original . Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse didn't just manage to surpass the original, it soared and exceeded all expectations , cementing itself as an instant classic in the animation, sci-fi, and adventure genres.

Miles Morales is back and reunites with Gwen Stacy ( Hailee Steinfeld ), who accidentally leads him to discover the Multiverse where numerous Spider-People exist. Why has this been hidden from him the entire time? The complex and surprisingly emotional story unfolds over wildly beautiful scenes showcasing a variety of art styles. It's like watching art come to life, with heart-pounding action, well-written characters, and a fascinating world as added an bonus.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

8 'star wars: episode v - the empire strikes back' (1980), imdb rating: 8.7/10.

Set three years after the events of 1977’s Star Wars , director Irvin Kershner ’s The Empire Strikes Back depicts the ongoing battle between the tyrannical Galactic Empire and the fearless Rebel Alliance . The beloved continuation of the Skywalker Saga also sees Luke (Mark Hamill) training with Master Yoda ( Frank Oz ), as part of his preparation to face the ruthless Sith lord, Darth Vader (David Prowse / James Earl Jones).

The blockbuster is considered the best from the original trilogy and gives audiences some much-needed answers about Luke’s past and potential future. It also brings back the heroic Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), and continues her arc alongside other fan favorites like Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca ( Peter Mayhew ).

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

7 'interstellar' (2014).

Interstellar is a must-see sci-fi film that’s set in a world suffering from the effects of the climate crisis. With blight threatening humanity’s survival, ex-NASA pilot Cooper ( Matthew McConaughey ) agrees to lead a risky trip through a wormhole that could lead to the species’ last hope for a new home. He never imagines what kind of dangers and wonders are on the other side.

Directed by Christopher Nolan , the movie has won numerous accolades and is widely regarded as a scientifically accurate adventure that (mostly) conforms to established physical laws. This accuracy makes Cooper’s journey even more exciting, knowing that the wild things viewers see could be possible somewhere in the known universe.

Interstellar

6 'the good, the bad and the ugly' (1966), imdb rating: 8.8/10.

Known as the ultimate spaghetti Western , director Sergio Leone ’s The Good, the Bad and the Ugly follows the three titular characters and their relentless quest to find a buried cache of gold . Nothing will stop the men from locating and claiming their bounty, not even the chaos from the ongoing American Civil War.

The creative and sometimes campy adventure depicted in the film takes the three characters to some strange and violent places. The genre and director’s signature style is obvious through intense close-ups, long shots, and stylized gun fights, which build up throughout the movie all the way to its explosive conclusion.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

5 'the lord of the rings: the two towers' (2002).

Based on J. R. R. Tolkien 's renowned novels, director Peter Jackson's iconic Lord of the Rings trilogy depicts a fantastical sprawling world where magic, evil, and heroism combine, often from the most unexpected places . The second entry in the trilogy, The Two Towers , continues Frodo Baggins' dangerous journey to Mordor ( Elijah Wood ) alongside Samwise Gamgee ( Sean Astin ). On the other side, preparations for the Battle of Helm's Deep begin to sow doubt into Men's hearts, who have just been forced out of their homes.

It's impossible to call any of the three films in Jackson's trilogy bad, but The Two Towers is the weakest among them (at least based on IMDb scores). That said, it serves as a perfectly exhilarating bridge that continues the epic stories in exciting and tear-jerking ways.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

4 'inception' (2010).

Nolan’s Inception is often cited alongside some of the best sci-fi movies of all time and is rightly among IMDb's top adventure films. It follows a group of professional thieves led by Dom Cobb ( Leonardo DiCaprio ), who is an “extractor.” They go on a never-before-seen mission into a victim’s subconscious, not to steal information, but to plant an idea. Along the way, Cobb fails to let his team know that something from his past could complicate their already challenging mission.

An unprecedented adventure into the layers of the mind, Inception became a box office hit lauded by fans and critics alike for its stunning visual effects and novel concept. Its exciting sequences are set in large (often moving) set pieces that add to the fantastical and exhilarating atmosphere of the film.

3 'Dune: Part Two' (2024)

Following the successful premiere of 2021's Dune , it seemed to most that Frank Herbert 's notoriously unadaptable novels have found their match. Director Denis Villeneuve proves this with the recently released Dune: Part Two , which continues Paul Atreides' ( Timothée Chalamet ) journey further into the unforgiving deserts of the planet Arrakis, where he takes advantage of a prophecy to motivate the local population to fight.

Dune: Part Two is bigger, bolder, and better in every way, expanding on the already intriguing lore laid out by the first movie. It also introduces new characters and elements with ease, with the film benefitting from Villeneuve's direction in telling its tricky yet compelling story – not to mention its impeccably cast supporting characters. Fans and critics alike are hoping he can stick the landing with the potential final installment in the film series.

Dune: Part Two

Watch in Cinemas

2 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring' (2001)

Imdb rating: 8.9/10.

The widely beloved first movie in director Peter Jackson's legendary trilogy , The Fellowship of the Ring portrays the start of the perilous path the humble Hobbit Frodo Baggins (Wood) must take as the bearer of the One Ring . Alongside loyal friends, new allies, and a powerful wizard, the Fellowship is formed in Rivendell and pushes onward to face whatever may come their way.

The 2001 award-winning movie showcased the magical beauty of Middle-earth for the first time, building up anticipation for the sequels for years to come. Its far-reaching influence is still felt in the continuation of the saga today, though none can compare to the original trilogy that set a high standard for any future adaptation of Tolkien's work.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

1 'the lord of the rings: the return of the king' (2003), imdb rating: 9.0/10.

Director Peter Jackson’s final entry in the legendary The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Return of the King portrays the events in J. R. R. Tolkien’s eponymous 1955 novel. The renowned LotR film masterfully weaves the main storylines explored in the first two movies and delivers an epic conclusion that wraps up the trilogy in a satisfying way.

From the last leg of Frodo Baggins’ (Wood) journey to the heart of Mount Doom alongside Samwise Gamgee (Astin) and Gollum ( Andy Serkis ), to preparations for battles by well-loved characters like Gandalf ( Ian McKellen ), Aragorn ( Viggo Mortensen ), Legolas ( Orlando Bloom ), and Gimli ( John Rhys-Davies ), the film combines and completes the grand adventures and arcs that have enthralled and captivated audiences for years.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

NEXT: The Best Thriller Movies of All Time, Ranked According to IMDb

The Best Travel Movies On Netflix Right Now

Last Updated: March 12th, 2020

Movies are a big part of our daily lives. They make us laugh, they make us cry, and — for many of us — they make us want to travel . That’s why we put together a list of our favorite travel-themed movies on Netflix right now.

It should go without saying, this list will constantly be evolving as Netflix rotates its library and new movies arrive. In the streaming wars, as in travel, there’s no time like the present. So grab some popcorn and get cozy, then let these travel movies inspire your next grand adventure.

Ibiza (2018)

Run Time: 94 min | IMDb: 5.2/10

What Is It: Getting to travel for work feels like a luxury. Getting to hang in Ibiza with a star DJ and have a spontaneous time-of-your-life moment while traveling feels like something that only happens in movies. Maybe. But you’ll never know if it’s real unless you go out and look for these adventures yourself and that’s where Ibiza gets you.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: Sometimes you just have to go out there and live that life and see what happens. You’re never going to know what’s out there unless you go see for yourself.

Wine Country (2019)

Run Time: 103 min | IMDb: 5.4/10

What Is It: Amy Poehler rounds up some of her funniest pals from Saturday Night Live for this boozy comedy about a girls’ trip to Napa Valley. The film is packed with comedy legends like Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch, Paula Pell, Maya Rudolph, Ana Gasteyer, and Emily Spivey, and it marks Poehler’s directing debut.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: It’s an ode to female friendships and how they change as we age — think Bridesmaids but with more wine and some scenic views of idyllic Napa wine country. If these amazing vistas of vineyards don’t stoke a desire to get to California ASAP, nothing will.

Murder Mystery (2019)

Run Time: 97 min | IMDb: 6/10

What Is It: Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler reunite for this whodunnit with a slapstick comedy twist. The film follows Audrey and Nick Spitz, a married couple from Brooklyn celebrating their honeymoon 15 years late. They meet a dashing stranger on their plane to Europe (played by Luke Evans) who invites them to vacation aboard his yacht where a shocking murder puts them in the spotlight. As they use Nick’s detective skills and Audrey’s love of true crime to solve the case and clear their own names, more suspects pop up, and more laughs are had.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: We don’t want to say that movie posits you should never accept invitations to party on a yacht in the South of France. But keep your wits about you if you do find yourself in that situation.

Like Father (2018)

Run Time: 109 min | IMDb: 6.1/10

What Is It: Kristen Bell in anything is guaranteed to be funny, but this father-daughter comedy looks especially rife with humor. Bell plays a workaholic jilted at the altar who decides to salvage something from her relationship when she heads out on her honeymoon cruise … with her estranged father. Kelsey Grammer stars as her deadbeat dad and the two try to reconnect over tropical expeditions, ziplining, and plenty of seafaring.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: There are a lot of lessons to be drawn from a light comedy about people reconnecting while living in a confined space. Travel companionship is never a black-or-white prospect and sometimes the best travel buddy is the person you’d least expect.

David Brent: Life on the Road (2016)

Run Time: 96 min | IMDb: 6.3/10

What Is It: The Brentmaster General is back and as awkward as ever. This time, David Brent ( Ricky Gervais ) is on a music tour — funding the trip out of his own pocket, renting a bus completely unnecessarily, and making college kids cringe like crazy.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: This one of the best examples of people traveling together that really, truly don’t understand or even like each other. And, whether we like it or not, that’ll eventually happen to all of us at some point. At least with Ricky Gervais steering the action, there’ll be more laughs than tears. Just barely.

Mississippi Grind (2015)

Run Time: 108 min | IMDb: 6.4/10

What Is It: Ryan Reynolds and Ben Mendelsohn star in this road trip drama about a pair of down-on-their-luck gamblers making their way to New Orleans . Reynolds plays Curtis, the younger of the two who’s developed a system to manage his gambling habits. The key, Curtis says, is to not care about winning. Gerry (Mendelsohn) on the other hand is deep into his addiction, out of money, and unable to quit. The two team up, traveling down the Mississippi river, betting all they have on horse races and roulette tables before their wild ways catch up with them.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: It’s a film steeped in the American South’s blue-collar world. There’s plenty to admire about the scenery, but it’s also a film that does a decent job of tackling addiction without making it feel trite or heavy-handed. In the end, this is about two people on a mission and knowing when to let each other go.

Kodachrome (2018)

Run Time: 105 min | IMDb: 6.8/10

What Is It: Jason Sudeikis , Ed Harris, and Elizabeth Olsen star in this Midwestern road-trip drama about an estranged father-son duo trying to reconnect. Harris plays a famous travel photographer intent on developing the rest of his unused film and the only Kodachrome photo lab in Kansas before it closes. Sudeikis and Olsen are dragged along, and along with some stunning vignettes of small-town America, we’re treated to a beautiful portrait of a father-son relationship.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: This movie treats the idea of someone being the proverbial “third-wheel” to a traveling duo aptly. Each character feels like that third-wheel at some point along the journey, which perfectly mirrors reality when you’re traveling with two or more people.

Slow West (2015)

Run Time: 84 min | IMDb: 6.9/10

What Is It: Kodi Smit-McPhee plays a young Scottish man who travels from his home country to the dry, bleeding heart of the American West to find the woman he loves. Along the way, he meets a band of outlaws looking to collect the bounty on his intended’s head and a thuggish, slow-drawling Michael Fassbender who acts as his reluctant chaperone. It’s a fun, inventive take on the classic Western adventure, and it doesn’t hurt that the cinematography is gorgeous.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: How far will you go for love is a question as old as story-telling itself. In this case, our hero leaves the wind-whipped coasts of Scotland and trudges to America. Have you ever given up everything and hit the great unknown for your love? This movie may well inspire you to.

Kon-Tiki (2012)

Run Time: 118 min | IMDb: 7.2/10

What Is It: Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon-tiki Expedition is the travel-history of legends. Back in 1947, the intrepid Norwegian set out to prove that pre-Columbian American cultures had the means and wherewithal to cross the oceans. Heyerdahl’s work was instrumental in moving European anthropology away from the inept “savage” view of Indigenous people and recentering the idea of human migration.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: At its heart, this film is about the mad ones . The film follows the trials and tribulations of six crew members as they sail the Pacific on a small, reed craft with a single sail. Kon-Tiki offers a glimpse into how hard travel used to be and what we can overcome out there.

The Fundamentals Of Caring (2016)

Run Time: 97 min | IMDb: 7.3/10

What Is It: Paul Rudd is at his most charming and charismatic here. He plays a newly trained caregiver to a distant teenager with muscular dystrophy named Trevor. After some icebreaking, the two set out on a trip to see some of the most boring roadside attractions middle America has to offer. If you’re feeling down, this one will pick you up.

Plus… it’s Paul Rudd. That dude is always a ray of sunshine.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: There’s a classic appeal to a mismatched pair of people traveling along the American road. It helps when the trip isn’t grandiose or the soul purpose of the trip. Sometimes, the trip is the time you spend getting to know who you’re moving with. Everything else is just the icing on the cake.

Babel (2006)

Run Time: 143 min | IMDb: 7.4/10

What Is It: Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt star in this drama about a vacationing couple whose romantic trip to Morocco is cut short by tragedy. Blanchett plays Susan, Pitt her husband, Richard. When Susan becomes the victim of an accidental shooting while touring the country, their plans go awry and their story collides with three other families, all impacted by the event in one way or another.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: Alejandro González Iñárritu weaves these tales together, skipping from the deserts of Morocco to the bustling nightlife of Tokyo to the vibrant, colorful backdrop of the Mexican desert in a non-linear fashion that gives the film an added sense of urgency. Each place draws you in and asks you, ‘why aren’t you having this experience?’

Y Tu Mama También (2002)

Run Time: 106 min, IMDb: 7.6/10

What Is It: After a stint in Hollywood, Alfonso Cuarón returned to Mexico for this story of two privileged high school boys (Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal) who road trip with an older woman (Maribel Verdú) in search of an unspoiled stretch of beach. In the process, they discover freedom as they’d never imagined — and maybe more freedom than they can handle.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: Cuarón’s stylish film plays out against the backdrop of Mexican political upheaval and plays with notions of upturning the established order on scales both large and small, all the while suggesting that no paradise lasts forever. Those are universal travel themes if ever we’ve heard them.

Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Run Time: 153 min | IMDb: 8.3/10

What Is It: Tarantino often goes deep on a single location. Pulp Fiction , Reservoir Dogs , Jackie Brown , and Once Upon A Time … In Hollywood are all odes to a single place, Los Angeles. But when QT does hit the road, it’s often a treat for the sense. In his 2009 a-historical WWII B-movie, Inglourious Basterds, Tarantino takes us on a trip around Europe with titular Basterds. We maraud with them as they make their way from England, to the Belgian lowlands, through France, and into Paris.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: Travel isn’t always about self-fulfillment and relaxation. A lot of folks’ first travel experience before 1950 was via war. Still, there’s a sense of wonder to this movie that transcends any reason to travel and speaks to a universal truth of a group of people finding their way through places they don’t quite understand.

Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Run Time: 115 min | IMDb: 8.4/10

What Is It: As far as travel and adventure go, Raiders of the Lost Ark , has everything you could possibly want. A hero with a love for archeology and whips? Check. An adventure to recover a stolen artifact with destructive powers? Check, check. Harrison Ford beating up Nazis with sarcastic one-liners and a knowing twinkle in his eye? Did movies even exist before this?

Why It’s Great For Travelers: It could be argued that this movie inspired a generation of Gen X travelers to hit the road. The movie bleeds the sense of adventure and zest for life that we all wish we could have had on the open road. Raider’s promises glory and thrilling exploits exist out there and we want that to be true deep in our bones.

Snowpiercer (2013)

Run Time: 126 min | IMDb: 7.1/10

What Is It: Bong Joon Ho was on film lover’s minds for years before he became a household name with his Oscar-winning masterpiece Parasite . Bong’s 2013 sci-fi turn with Captain America Chris Evans is a dystopian train journey in a post-climate-change afflicted world. The world is iced over, people are surviving by speeding around the globe on a train, and the working class has had enough. Though you may have to suspend your disbelief that survivors who lived by cannibalizing infants would revolt over being fed insect protein, this movie still holds up as a spell-binding, action-packed whirlwind.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: The sense of non-stop movement in this film draws you in. You’ll be longing to hit the Trans-Siberian, jump on the Empire Builder across America, or buy that Rail Pass for Europe next summer. Hopefully, battling 1984 -esque guards and Tilda Swinton will not be a part of those train journies though.

Batman Begins (2005)

Run Time: 140 min | IMDb: 8.2/10

What Is It: The fourth reboot of the Batman franchise was helmed by Christopher Nolan when we still had something to prove to the world. The film follows a young Bruce Wayne as he spends the first half of the film wandering around the world looking for a purpose in life. He finally ends up in a Himalayan prison camp where he’s rescued by a mysterious group of psychonaut militant ninjas who help birth The Batman .

Why It’s Great For Travelers: The desire to find yourself on the open road is a universal one, especially when you’re in your late teens and twenties. Bruce Wayne’s down-and-dirty vagabond journies where he’s barely scraping by are the stuff of backpacking legend and inspiration enough to go out there and find a little truth. You may not come home Batman, but you may come home a more complete you.

Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)

Run Time: 111 min | IMDb: 8.1/10

What Is It: Tarantino has a knack for globetrotting. The first half of Kill Bill finds the vengeful Bride bouncing from Texas’ high deserts to Southern California suburbia to the mean streets of Tokyo. Each of these locations has a unique and highly stylized nature that begs you to step into the location.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: When the Bride walks into an Okinawa sushi house, you want to be sitting there too. For a brief moment, you think you too can wear a leather jumpsuit and ride a motorcycle around Tokyo at night. And, you know what? Why not? Go! Do exactly that. Maybe leave the katana at home though. They’re not really going to let you carry it on the plane (no matter how cool it makes you look).

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

Run Time: 139 min | IMDb: 7.9/10

What Is It: Patricia Highsmith’s ability to weave noirish tales around mid-20th century travelers is legendary. The atmosphere of 1950s Italy is so intact and somehow universal in this film that you can almost feel the heat of the sun and the taste of the bitters in the cocktails. The intrigue of a young Matt Damon going full psychopath on an unsuspecting Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow is a masterclass in creepiness (why doesn’t Damon play more villains?). Plus, there are wonderful Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Cate Blanchett performances here too. Taking a step back, this cast is phenomenal and worth the two hours alone.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: Do you become someone else when you’re no longer home? Maybe you do become someone else when you’re on the road? Maybe you don’t. Philosophical questions of self-identity aside, if this movie doesn’t make you book a trip to Italy , nothing will.

Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)

Run Time: 88 min | IMDb: 7.1/10

What Is It: There are few things better than a buddy stoner movie. This quest to quell a wicked case of the munchies by stoner pals Harold and Kumar to White Castle for a pile of sliders is a cult classic that still holds up. Plus, the under 90-minute runtime makes this an easy, fun watch — whether you’re stoned or not.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: If you’ve been on the road and you’re inclined to find an epic meal, you know Harold and Kumar’s drive and pain. Granted this is just about traveling across town for a fast-food snack, but there’s something universal about that trek. We travel far and wide for the best taco trucks, burger joints, craft brews, and simple pleasures that, simply, makes us happy, and that’s what this movie captures so perfectly.

Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989)

Run Time: 127 min | IMDb: 8.2/10

What Is It: Yes, we’re putting two Indiana Jones movies on this list. The Last Crusade is the actual sequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark ( Temple of Doom is an underrated prequel ). Indy is a little older, he’s traveling with his cantankerous father, and he’s punching Nazis all the way around the world. Hell, even the opening scene with River Phoenix playing a teen-aged Indy has a sense of wanderlust whimsy in Utah’s Arches National Park. And all of that’s before you get to Il Duce’s Venice, Austrian castles, Hitler’s Berlin, and the Middle East’s deserts.

Why It’s Great For Travelers: Nearly one-million people visit Petra in Jordan yearly (where the movie’s climax takes place) many thanks to this movie. And, in true Indiana Jones fashion, traveling is the core of the film. You can go to all of these places right now and relieve your favorite Indiana Jone’s fantasies. Plus, the movie touches on how two distant people can find common ground again while sharing experience on the road.

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35 classic films that will feed your wanderlust and inspire you to travel the world

Hostelworld Blog | Posted on February 21, 2019 |

The best travel films are the ones that make your feet itch and your brain start buzzing with adventure, escape and possibilities. They push you off the sofa and onto a plane because if you’ve seen it happen, you know you can do it too. These are some of the best travel movies that inspire wanderlust, make you dream bigger and chase real-life travel experiences.

35. Eat Pray Love (2010)

A quintessential ‘find yourself’ movie or just another cliché? Whatever you think about Eat Pray Love, no other film promotes a fabulous year of long-term travel like this one.

Voted 5.8/10 on IMDb

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34. National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985)

Authenticity isn’t high on European Vacation’s priorities, but the Griswald family travel to London , Paris and Bavaria in this classic American comedy.

Voted 6.2/10 on IMDb

33. The Inbetweeners 2 (2014)

You can’t think about embarking on a working holiday in Australia without watching the lads travel to all the major backpacking spots in the land down under.

Voted 6.4/10 on IMDb

32. The Hangover Part II (2011)

The Wolfpack rage havoc all over Bangkok during one of their legendary benders and have to make up for all their wrongdoings in time for Stu’s wedding.

Voted 6.5/10 on IMDb

31. The Beach (2000)

Is there a more seminal backpacker film? Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a traveller looking for paradise amongst the islands in Thailand .

Voted 6.6/10 on IMDb

30. Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)

Who doesn’t dream of dropping everything to buy a house in Tuscany? Diane Lane’s writer does just that and ends up falling madly in love, and not just with the jaw-dropping countryside.

29. Eurotrip (2004)

It’s like American Pie in Europe , what could be better for a Saturday night movie in? Four American teenagers backpack Europe during the summer before college and shenanigans ensue.

28. Letters to Juliet (2010)

One of the best romance travel films of this century, Letters to Juliet begins in Verona at Shakespeare’s Juliet Balcony before travelling around Tuscany in search of long lost love.

27. Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again (2018)

After the success of Mamma Mia, this sequel follows Donna’s backpacking journey and exploits through Paris before settling down on a paradise-like island in Greece .

Voted 6.8/10 on IMDb

26. A Good Year (2006)

Russell Crowe plays a high-powered London businessman turned vineyard owner as he learns to appreciate the slow life (and good wine) in the French countryside.

Voted 7/10 on IMDb

25. P.S. I Love You (2007)

This tragic love story starring Gerard Butler and Hilary Swank unfolds amongst the rolling hills of Ireland , specifically the picturesque Wicklow Mountains.

Voted 7.1/10 on IMDb

24. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Proof that not everyone changes during the trip of a lifetime, but Vicky and Cristina still have a summer in the famous Catalan city they will never forget.

23. Wild (2014)

Cheryl Strayed’s life is at a crossroads when she decides to walk the Pacific Crest Trail along America’s west coast and move past the pain of her mother’s death and breakdown of her marriage.

22. The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Three brothers hope to experience a ‘spiritual awakening’ on a train ride throughout India. The use of such a huge travel cliché makes for a humorous watch.

Voted 7.2/10 on IMDb

21. Copenhagen (2014)

Half-Danish William travels to Copenhagen during a backpacking trip to trace his father’s family. Denmark’s capital city is so prominent in the film’s narrative, it’s practically the main character.

20. Tracks (2013)

Based on a true story, Robyn Davidson trekked across the Australian outback defying illness and dehydration to develop a deeper understanding of her home country.

19. The Way (2010)

Martin Sheen takes his late son’s place on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage across Northern Spain . Featuring beautiful Galician landscapes and the notion that you’re never too young for a great adventure.

Voted 7.3/10 on IMDb

18. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

Turning his daydreams into reality, Walter Mitty travels to Greenland, Iceland and the Himalayas in search of an elusive piece of camera film and ends up finding his courage to face the unknown.

17. Easy Rider (1969)

Inspiring serious wanderlust for motorbike enthusiasts, Easy Rider is the OG bike movie as two guys travel all over the USA for a drugs deal.

Voted 7.4/10 on IMDb

16. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

One of the best thrillers in the last 20 years, Matt Damon’s Mr Ripley cons his way around Italy’s elite in Sicily , Rome , San Remo and Venice .

15. To Catch A Thief (1955)

Alfred Hitchcock hits the French Riviera for a stunningly beautiful crime caper starring Grace Kelly and Cary Grant. The film road trips through Monaco , Nice and Cannes .

Voted 7.5/10 on IMDb

14. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

A drag act travelling through the Australian outback singing Abba in a rickety old bus called Priscilla? It shouldn’t work, but it does.

Voted 7.510 on IMDb

13. The Indiana Jones Series (1981-2008)

It’s physically impossible to watch all four Indiana Jones movies without wishing you were a whip-cracking archaeologist travelling to places like Eygpt and Nepal to uncover secret treasure.

Voted 7.6/10 on IMDb (Average of 4 films)

12. Midnight in Paris (2011)

One of the best travel movies in terms of travel planning, you could just follow where Owen Wilson’s character visits in the film! A very wanderlust-inspiring comedy.

Voted 7.7/10 on IMDb

11. Lost in Translation (2003)

Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson are lost in translation in Sofia Coppola’s acclaimed drama which shows us that the relationships we make while travelling are often more important than the sights we see.

Voted 7.8/10 on IMDb

10. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

Before he was Che Guevara, he travelled through Peru (including Machu Picchu), Bolivia , Chile and Venezuela . The Motorcycle Diaries is not just a road movie, it documents how travel can change the course of your life forever.

9. In Bruges (2008)

The main characters may not be enjoying their break in Bruges , but the film still flaunts how beautiful the Belgian medieval city is if you’re not laying low after committing murder.

Voted 7.9/10 on IMDb

8. Call Me By Your Name (2017)

Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer star as unlikely lovers over one summer in the beautiful Lombardy region in Italy .

7. The Before Trilogy (1995-2013)

Before Sunrise, Before Sunset and Before Midnight shows how a holiday romance can become something much more while set in the beautiful backdrops of Vienna , Paris and Messenia, Greece .

Voted 8/10 on IMDb (Average of 3 films)

6. Roman Holiday (1953)

This Hollywood classic stars Audrey Hepburn as a Princess who wants to experience the magic of Rome as a regular traveller and Gregory Peck as a journalist who becomes her willing tour guide.

Voted 8.1/10 on IMDb

5. Into the Wild (2007)

This ultimate ‘leave everything and travel’ film is paradoxically both wanderlust-inducing and a cautionary tale about recklessness and appreciating what you have.

4. Lion (2016)

Five-year-old Saroo becomes separated from his family in India and is eventually adopted by an Australian family. A beautiful film spanning two nations and cultures.

3. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

David Lean’s cinematic masterpiece takes us on an epic journey via camel through the deserts of the Middle East .

Voted 8.3/10 on IMDb

2. Forrest Gump (1994)

This is the best travel movie to watch if you’re heading to the USA . Forrest Gump travels all over the country taking us, and his magnetic zest for life, with him.

Voted 8.8/10 on IMDb

1. The Lord of the Rings Series (2001-2003)

Hobbiton has to be on every traveller’s bucket list. You can’t travel to Middle Earth but you can travel to New Zealand , which is just as good in my opinion.

Voted 8.8/10 on IMDb (Average of 3 films)

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Home » Budget Travel » The Ultimate List of Travel Movies Updated For 2024

The Ultimate List of Travel Movies Updated For 2024

There is a pretty high chance that you were first inspired to get out of your hometown and see a bit of the world by a film. Maybe you were filled with a deep desire to be in nature after watching “Into The Wild”, or perhaps you just fancied partying in Thailand after seeing “The Beach”. Alternatively, (like me) you simply wanted to visit the chic cafes of Paris after watching the works of New Age Wave autre John Luc Goddard.

In this post, we are going to take a look at some of the best travel movies, documentaries and TV shows ever. As well as introducing the films, we’ll reflect on what makes them special and what they say about travel.

Unlike some other travel blogs, the Broke Backpacker boasts several self confessed film snobs amongst its writing staff and our eclectic list reflects this. We have included some true classics  (ie, golden oldies),  a few leftfield, indie-gems, and yes, a few definitive backpacker faves that we simply could not leave out. Oh and I’m happy to tell you right now that “Eat, Sleep, Pray” did  not  make our list.

What is a Travel Movie?

Firstly I think it’s worth taking a closer look at what we mean by a “travel film” or “travel movie” as the definition is not as apparent as it may at first seem.

In order to qualify as a travel film on this list, the film needs to have “travel”, or the journey of the protagonists as a central theme. Alternatively, it must use travel as the setting to explore the characters’ story arcs. So does this mean that Lord of the Rings qualifies? After all, the characters cover a fair few miles over the course of the trilogy. Well no, because to make it onto our list it also has to take place in a ‘real world’ setting.

It is also not enough for a movie to simply be set “abroad” in order for it to qualify and for this reason, “Lost in Translation” qualifies whereas “Enter The Void” doesn’t. Whilst both are essentially films about Americans in Tokyo, there are some crucial differences. “Enter The Void” is simply a story that happens to take place in Tokyo whereas the central theme of “Lost in Translation” is the alienation of being a stranger in a strange land (oh and much of the film takes place in a hotel!).

Finally, it’s only fair to tell you in advance that some films may make it onto this list purely because I say so!

The Best EVER Travel Films 

Now that we all know the rules, let’s meet the contestants. These are the best travel movies EVER. Pass the popcorn…

Into The Wild (2007)

Firmly established as a contemporary backpacker favourite, Sean Penn’s Into The Wild casts a young Emile Hirsch as “Alexander Supertramp”; a disillusioned young man who leaves his home, turns his back on society and sets off in search of the simple, free life. 

Based on a true story, Into The Wild examines the possibility of living a nomadic, cash-free existence in modern America as he ventures towards a hermetic existence in the wilds of Alaska . Critics of the film point out that it seems to gloss over the protagonist’s mental health issues and portrays his self-destructiveness as a form of nobility.

Into The Wild has become a very influential film and has (kind of) inspired a generation of backpackers as well as an Arcade Fire song (the book did anyway) . Pretty much all of The Broke Backpacker team have been told we are “just like the guy from Into The Wild” at some point or another – we don’t agree, as we are all glued to the capitalist system. But we don’t think it would necessarily be a good thing anyway if you’ve seen how it ends.

On The Road (2012)

On The Road is based on the seminal Jack Kerouac book of the same name and tells the semi-fictitious tale of the author’s alter-ego, Sal Paradise, as he crosses back and forth across America in the 1950s. Setting out from New York with his best friend and idol, Dean Moriarty, the film is an amphetamine fuelled, jazz soundtracked take on the nature of freedom and the symbolism of the road.

Sam Riley puts in a solid performance as Sal/Kerouac and there is also a notable cameo from Steve Buschemi. A few people would argue that the film fails to even come close to the novel, but it is indeed a worthy attempt.  

I first read the book as a young man and it inspired me to get out and travel, although it took me a good few years to muster the courage and save the cash to actually do so. Whilst On The Road has gone down a truly great piece of literature, its greatest achievement is perhaps putting hipster city Denver on the map.

Seven Years in Tibet (1997)

Let’s start with a fun factoid, this worthy adaptation of the memoir of the same name is one of the few films you can watch at the little cinema in Manang, halfway up Nepal’s Annapurna circuit . If you are ever passing that way, be sure to check it out.

Seven Years in Tibet tells the true story of Austrian (Nazi sympathising) mountaineer Heinrich Harrer who gets effectively stranded in the (closed) country of Tibet when World War II breaks out. After finding refuge in the “forbidden city” of Lhasa, Harrer is hired to serve as a tutor to the young Dalai Lama who inevitably ends up teaching him.

The film is a touching tale of redemption and enlightenment that examines the nature of friendship and fatherhood. The film is also notable for depicting the unique (and lost) Tibetan culture and the tragic invasion of Tibet by China’s Red Army in 1950.

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

For some bizarre reason, there seems to be a shortage of travel films set in India. This Wes Anderson comedy throws together a stellar leading cast including Owen Wilson (we’ll be seeing more of him) and Adrian Brody.

Seemingly set in the 1970s (judging by the fashion and soundtrack), The Darjeeling Limited documents the train journey 3 brothers decide to take across India to commemorate their Fathers passing.

As with most Wes Anderson films, the film does dry, dark humour very well. Moreover, as a travel movie the film examines the cliches and realities of the notion of India as a “spiritual country” . It also looks at the dynamics between travel companions – if you have ever taken a trip with your relatives, you know the pain.

Raiders of The Lost Arc (1981)

The first of the Indiana Jones series introduces Harrison Ford as the world’s most bad-ass archeologist. This fast paced and utterly lovable flick sees Jones travel from Peru, to Nepal and onto Egypt trying to beat the Nazis to the Arc of Covenant. The original 3 Indie films are all raucous globe-trotting masterpieces but this is probably the pick.

Despite being fantastical, the Jones films did nevertheless inspire a generation of youngsters to go out and seek adventure. Even to this day, when I find myself exploring the Temples of Bagan, or the overgrown Fort in Bundi, Rajasthan, I get giddy with excitement channelling my inner Indie.

Caravan (Himalaya) (1999)

This French-backed Nepalese feature film rightfully won a raft of awards upon its release and to date stands as one of the few Nepalese films to ever meet with worldly success. Set and filmed in Nepal’s mysterious and ancient Dolpang region, Caravan tells the story of traditional Nepalese mountain folk making their annual journey to sell rock-salt.

Despite such a simple premise, the film is utterly gripping. The journey across the Himalayas is tough and arduous and to make it, the cantankerous but wise Tinle must reconcile with young protegge Karma.

Most of the characters in the film were absolute amateurs – Dolpanese villagers making their acting debuts – but the performances are so perfect you would never tell.

You can also watch this film at Manang cinema too.

Before Sunrise (1995)

The first (and best) instalment of the beautiful Before trilogy , Before Sunrise introduces Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy as 2 American backpackers who meet on a train whilst interrailing around Europe.

Finding an immediate and deep connection (which seem to come thick and fast when backpacking) the pair are both ending their trip and decide to spend their last 12 – 24 hours exploring Vienna together before going their separate ways forever (or at least until 2004’s Before Sunset).

What this film does majestically, is encapsulating the joy of simply walking around a city with somebody interesting. Vienna is nice, but it ultimately serves as a backdrop to the two protagonists’ deeper explorations of one another.

Once you see this film, your challenge is to try and blag a “pay you later” bottle wine like Ethan Hawke’s character does. Let me know how it goes.

Fitzcarraldo – The Burden of Dreams (1982)

This West German underground masterpiece by auteur of the weird Werner Herzog is perhaps amongst the most unique films to make this list. Set in the Amazon Rainforest in the 1920s, Fitzcarraldo is based on the exploits of real-life Rubber Baron Roberto Fitzarrold.

Fitzcarraldo, played by the intense and charismatic Klaus Kinski, is an entrepreneur and Opera fan. Fitz dreams of building an Opera house in the middle of the jungle so he can invite legendary Tenor Enrico Caruso to open it. In order to raise the cash, Fitz needs to find a way to access the lucrative rubber trees buried deep in the forest, so he decides the easiest way is to carry his steamship over a mountain.

The film is utterly balmy. It’s surreal, humorous and possibly unlike anything else you have ever seen.

In Bruges (2008)

Even Gangsters need vacations right? Well, kinda yes, but mostly no. In Bruges tells the story of 2 bungling gangsters who are sent to Ghent, er I mean Bruges, by their crime lord boss apparently to lay low after a hit gone wrong back in London. After spending the first few days confined to a tiny hotel room, the 2 begin taking it in turns to go out and explore the city making friends and enemies as they go. Eventually, it becomes clear to the pair that their jaunt in Brugge is not just a jolly, but there is another hit that needs doing…

Starring Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes, the all-star cast are on their comedy best and the film packs in plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and memorable one-liners (what about the Vietnamese?).

“It feels like a dream but I know I’m awake” is how Colin Farrel’s character describes Bruges (actually he didn’t, he said it was shit, watch the film to find out why this is funny). Indeed the film put Bruge firmly on the map for weekend breaks and stag do’s – a clientele even less desirable than hitmen.

Roman Holiday (1953)

Rome has never not been an “in demand” holiday destination and the eternal city has been attracting visitors even long before St Paul made his pilgrimage there to establish a death cult. Still, in the 1950s, chic Rome was possibly at its peak, thanks in part to Richard Burton living there. But also thanks to this classic piece of black and white cinema.

Roman Holiday stars everyman Gregory Peck and the elfin beauty of Audrey Hepburn as a reporter and a secret Princess who meet one day exploring Rome . What follows is now a textbooky comic-romantic-adventure involving Vespa scooters, the Spanish steps and a ton more Roman tropes.

One of the oldest travel films to make our list, Roman Holiday is a true classic from one of Hollywood’s golden periods.

Easy Rider (1969)

“Two men set off in search of America, they couldn’t find it anywhere” – is how Easy Rider was summarised on its release in 1969. Filmed and set in California at the height of the 60’s counter-culture, Easy Rider follows the 2 protagonists (Dennis Hopper and Hollywood-hippy Peter “Wow’ Fonda) as they journey up from Mexico across the south-west en route to sell a giant haul of cocaine.

The film celebrates the simple joy of the open road examines the thriving hippy counterculture of the time. The New Orleans graveyard scene is perhaps one of the earliest and most successful attempts to capture the LSD experience on film. Easy Rider also packs an awesome soundtrack including The Byrds’ “Wasn’t Born To Follow”. The less than happy ending reminds us that not all journeys end well…

Midnight Express (1977)

Now for a look at the darker side of travel. Midnight Express is based on the true story of American Billy Hayes who spent 5 years in a Turkish prison for attempting to smuggle hashish out of the country.

The film is not for the faint hearted and depicts the brutality of the Turkish prison regime which drives the protagonist to the point of insanity.

Whilst watching this film, I was reminded that each year young backpackers around the world are arrested and sentenced to long jail sentences in foreign prisons for drug offences – please don’t take the risk and please stay safe in Istanbul !

Lost in Translation (2003)

Sofia Coppola’s critically acclaimed (but actually quite boring) indie flick sends Bill Murray alongside Scarlett Johansen (in her breakout role) to Tokyo. Murray is an American film star who has been sent to Tokyo by his agent to do some commercials, whereas Johansen is a bored wife who’s husband is always too busy working.

The film slowly examines one of the lesser acknowledged aspects of travel – the occasional melancholy and “why the fuck am I here?” moments that can make a traveller wonder whether actually, those who wander truly are lost after all.

There is plenty of substance in this film, some genuine moments of dry humour and the soundtrack features shoegaze pioneers My Bloody Valentine.

Midnight in Paris (2011)

I wasn’t a fan of Owen Wilson and initially dismissed him as a floppy Woody Harrelson until I saw this. Directed by another Woody, Woody Allen’s (who’s neurosis Wilson channels throughout) Midnight in Paris is the story of a Hollywood writer and his fiancee holidaying in Paris with her conservative (boo!) parents.

Despite having always dreamed of visiting Paris, Gil (Owen) is ultimately disillusioned with its reality and it just cannot live up to his expectations. He constantly finds himself wishing he “was here in the 20’s” or “here in the rain” and is endlessly seeking a romanticised version of the city that only ever really existed in the novels of Hemmingway and films of Truffaut anyway. Can you relate to any of that? Because I certainly can.

I won’t give away too much, but the film takes on a magical twist when (around midnight), Gil is transported back in time to the Paris of his fantasies – cue inevitable, happy, eventual realisation about the only time and place worth being here and now.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

I was loath to include war films on this list. Basically, I don’t really think that invading France or bombing Vietnam is what people have in mind when they think about “travel” despite what the shitty army recruitment campaigns try to suggest (‘Get Paid To Travel! Your Country Needs You!” etc)..

Anyway, I have included this firstly because it is a masterpiece and true classic, but also as it invites us on an intriguing cinematic voyage across a Middle East that is now lost forever. Leading an all legend cast, Peter O Toole plays British agent T.E Lawrence in the true story of his life and exploits in “Arabia” during WWI. Lawrence travels from Jordan to Syria to Iraq, basically trying to convince the Arab tribes to rebel against their Ottoman overlords and fight alongside the British.

Needless to say, both Lawrence and the Arab tribes are screwed over the British once get what they want from them. Thank God it’s only a film ( oh wait…) .

The Beach (2000)

Do I even need to tell you what this one is about?! The Beach follows a young Leonardo Di Caprio finding himself on his gap year (yada-yada) around Southeast Asia. He quickly grows disillusioned with “doing the same old shit” and having inauthentic experiences in Thailand, so decides to head out in search of something else.

Inspired by a scene-stealing Robert Caryle, Di Caprio and his hostel-buddies set off in search of a mysterious, hidden backpacker paradise known as “The Beach”. Upon finding it though, they soon realise that Paradise comes at a cost.

This one is rightfully established as a contemporary-classic travel film. It perfectly caught the Zeitgeist and feels as pertinent today as it did upon its initial release in 2000. The Beach forces us to acknowledge the dark side of hedonism and moreover, to confront the huge elephant (pants?) in the waiting lounge; are travellers actually looking for something or simply running away from something?

The actual beach used in the film is now closed after Thai backpackers pushed the eco system to the point of ruin.

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

Another golden oldie, The Man Who Knew Too Much is my excuse to include a film offering from ‘the master of suspense’ Alfred Hitchcock.  Featuring James Stewart and Doris Day (two other film & media legends), The Man Who Knew Too Much is a classic adventure romp across French Morocco and makes extensive use of Casablanca’s and Marrakech’s cinematic charm .

If you’re in the mood for great, entertaining filmmaking, they don’t make ’em like this anymore.

The Italian Job (1969)

The Swiss/Italian border high up in the Alps makes for perhaps one of the most scenic drives in the world and has been utilised by filmmakers countless times – never more memorable than in The Italian Job.

This 60s classic casts Michael Caine as a debonair, loveable ex-con who, upon his release from jail, sets to work on his next caper – a bold plot to rob the Italian gold reserve. The Italian Job is the only heist film you ever need to see. It fuses witty dialogue with some unforgettable visual set pieces. The mini chase around Turin looks as impressive today as it must have done in 1969.

FYI – There is a shitty remake of this film knocking about which is to be avoided at all costs.

Withnail & I (1987)

If any of you have ever taken a country break in the UK, then you will know firsthand that they tend to descend into squalid, traumatic disasters that leave you wishing you’d never left the city. 

This is essentially Withnail & I! Two out of work, out of luck, out of it actors decide to escape 60’s London for a few days and head to “the country” to gatecrash the rural cottage owned by Withnail’s (Richard E Grant) eccentric Uncle Monty. The two quickly find themselves making enemies of the country folk at every twist and turn as they bumble from one disaster to another.

Things only take a turn for the worse when Uncle Monty turns up and takes a bit too much of an interest in the protagonist “I” (Paul Mcann). This is British Black humour at its best. A true cult classic packed with t-shirtable one-liners.

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

The Talented Mr Ripley is an alluring, seductive and sinister story of obsession, envy, longing, belonging and social class. Young psychopath Thomas Ripley’s (played by Matt Damon) great talent is that he can almost “become” anybody and accordingly, is dispatched to Italy by a wealthy shopping magnate to persuade his wayward son to come home and grow up.

Arriving in 1950’s Italy, Thomas finds himself immersed in the intoxicating lifestyle of Dickie (Jude Law) and his young & monied circle. I have to be mindful not to give away any plot devices here so suffice to say, tensions start to build and things get a bit dark.

As a travel film, this focuses on the strange concept of travel nostalgia ( Italy in the roaring 50s – yes please!) along with the sobering realisation that no matter how much we like to pretend otherwise, travel is still reserved for the privileged.

Mr. Nice (2010)

Mr Nice tells the story of everybody’s favourite drug dealer, Howard Marks. Based on Marks’ memoir (which he wrote in jail), the film tells the (true) story of a simple boy from the Welsh Valleys who became one of the world’s biggest marijuana smugglers.

Funny, witty and fast paced, the film follows Marks from swinging London, to troubled Ireland, to Afghanistan and Mallorca before doing an unwanted tour of countless american penitentiaries. Ouch.

In case you have moral misgivings as to whether it’s ok to like a drug dealer so much, remember that Mark’s never dealt in hard drugs and never used violence. Outlaw yes, criminal no.

James Bond (1961 – Present)

I mulled long and hard over whether to include the Bond franchise on this list and mulled even harder over which one to single out as the best. In the end, I decided James Bond films do qualify but there are simply too many nuggets to choose just the one!

A supercool Brit fighting and shagging his way across the world whilst being utterly culturally insensitive, Bond was in many ways my original travel hero ( although I’m not so much into that Queen and Country crap) . What Bond does well (or awfully) is serve up delightfully patronising travel tropes whether it’s the Q-mechanised Indian Rickshaw in Octopussy or the cartoon Haitian Witch Doctor’ in Live and Let Die.

Ever wanted to jump from the Eiffel Tower? Cos Bond’s done it. Ever wanted to drive a Soviet tank across Red Square? He’s done that too.

Want to visit some of the spots made famous in the movies, check out the best James Bond filming locations for some inspiration.

Best Ever Travel Documentaries

These real-life documentaries are bound to astound and inspire you. Let’s take a look at the best travel documentaries ever.

Samsara (2011)

The last word in travel porn was how our very own Ralph Cope described this – and he’s not far wrong. Samsara is a non-narrative documentary that basically splices gorgeous images from around the world set to a haunting soundtrack featuring Lisa Gerrard (Dead Can Dance). 

From the sacred to the mundane, delving into the profane, the film’s iconic scenes feature the temples of Bagan in Myanmar, as well as jails in the Philippines. Whilst not always an easy watch, Samsara is rewarding, unforgettable and will inspire you to see more of the world.

Parts Unknown (2013 – 2020)

Parts Unknown is essentially a cooking show for people who hate food (or at least hate cooking shows ). Celebrity Chef and all round hero, Anthony Bourdain (dec’d) travels the globe in search of great recipes. On his way, he takes a close look at the cultures behind the food, meeting the people, learning the histories and seeking out the hidden spots that only the locals know about.

Various episodes have seen Bourdain drinking beer and eating noodles with Barack Obama in Hanoi, and have seen the chef getting pissed on a train in Myanmar. What I love about this show is that it reminds us how important food is to the travel experience – it’s no coincidence that all of my favourite countries have great cuisines.

Above all, it also reminds us that a good meal with the right people in the right setting, is an experience in itself and can take you away.

Planet Earth (2006)

If you are reading this, then there is a pretty good chance that you live on Planet Earth. This lauded BBC David Attenbrough series collates some utterly mesmerising footage from the 4 corners of the flat-earth and weaves them into the narrative of our planet.

From the snows of Bhutan, via the deserts of Sudan, to the Jungles of Milan, it’s all in here. The series melds never seen before, HD footage of some of the world’s great wonders with Attenbroughs familiar Grandfatherly tones offering the narration.

As well as Planet Earth, Human Planet and Blue Planet are equally unmissable.

Around The World in 80 Days (1989)

Before Bond and before Jack Kerouac, my first ever travel inspiration came as a 12-year-old boy watching the erstwhile, BBC-perfect, prototype Brit, Michael Palin going around the world in 80 days. In the late 1980s, Palin set out to re-create the fictional journey undertaken by Jules Verne’s character Phileas Fogg in the 19th-century classic novel.

Getting around the world in 80 days sounds easy enough until you realise that staying true to the source material, Palin was forbidden from flying and was instead forced to use trains and boats. This is where I caught my first ever glimpse of Tokyo’s pod hotels and the Orient Express. As a naive working-class boy from a small town, I had no idea that such a world existed and a seed was planted.

Palin’s gift is to make the ordinary extraordinary and all of his travel series are a delight. Also, I have a confession for you – as much as I like to think I’m Bond, in truth I’m closer to the amiable Palin. In fact, whenever I find myself in challenging situations out on the road, I ask myself “What would Michael Palin do?” and try to channel his unflappable manner of being calm, pleasant and just a bit bumbling; after all, it’s gotten him out of many a jam.

Tribe – with Burce Parry (2002 +)

Ex-Royal Marine and trek leader Bruce Parry travels to some of the most remote places on earth to visit and ingratiate himself with various indigenous tribes. Parry seeks out tribes who still live a traditional way of life more or less untouched by the modern world. His challenge in each episode is to immerse himself in their culture, master their ways or surviving and sometimes even undergo their brutal initiation rituals.

Over the course of the series, Parry has lived with Inuits in the Arctic, Mongolian horse tribes in the Steppes, and even dined with some of the earth’s last cannibal cultures.

Long Way Down (2006)

Long Way Down takes 3 of the coolest things in the world and throws them together in one long road trip. Yes, the winning formula of Motorcycles + Travel + Obi Wan Kenobi (or Ewan McGregor as he insists on been called) proved to be a massive hit.

The show follows McGregor and his best mate Charlie Boorman John o’ Groats in Scotland through eighteen countries in Europe and Africa to Cape Town in South Africa. It is a follow-up to the Long Way Round of 2004, when the pair rode east from London to New York via Eurasia and North America. On the way they visit the set of Star Wars in Tunisia, make their way (minus the camera crew) across Libya and bribe their way through multiple African border crossings.

Best Ever Travel Series

Let’s face it, this is the Netflix era and Hollywood is dead. For the last decade, HBO, Sky and now even the BBC have been producing absolutely awesome long-form TV series that rival even the greatest pieces of film in terms of storytelling and cinematography. Therefore it would be churlish (as well as Boomer as Hell) to not allow TV Series onto this list.

The Serpent (2021)

Made by the BBC, The Serpent transports us to 70’s Bangkok by way of India and Nepal. It tells the true story of a Dutch Diplomat who gets wound up in the investigation into 2 missing backpackers. Unimpressed by the Thai Police’s apathy, he takes matters into his own hands and ends up hot on the trail of notorious backpacker killer, Charles Sobhraj.

The show is gripping, fast paced and the characters well executed. Best of all, it shines a light on the seedier side of the 1970’s hippy trail and reminds us that we backpackers are pretty vulnerable. Don’t let your parents watch this before you set out on a trip is all I can say!

The Terror (2018)

The Terror is a fictional account of the very real lost voyage to the Arctic of Sir John Franklin which took place between 1845-1848. His ships leave England headed towards the cold North seeking out a mythical shortcut through the Arctic.

Strange things happen at sea and it seems even stranger things happen on frozen seas. As well as having to deal with the usual diet of rum, sodomy and the lash, the crew are challenged by ice-breaks, the arctic winter and a strange monster that haunts the frozen wasteland.

As winter drags on, the surviving crew slowly lose their grip on sanity (lead in your food will do that) and the boundaries between dream states and reality dissipate.

Fortitude (2015)

Right, so this one breaks my rules a bit. It is a drama set in a travel-place but it isn’t really about travel. Still, I am making an exception because it is set somewhere you just need to see, because it has an international cast and because I did warn you that sometimes I would just say so!

Fortitude is filmed on and based on Svalbard, although they renamed the city Fortitude in the show for dramatic purposes. It’s about a terrible prehistoric disease that breaks out in the isolated frontier settlement because of melting ice caps – how 2020 of them.

When I visited the Norwegian territory myself in 2016, I immediately said “this place is simply fascinating, it would make a great TV show” before the barman said, “they already made one, I was in it!”.

Final Thoughts

I enjoyed writing this one and I hope you enjoyed reading it. I could have included more but let’s keep it sensible, right? How many of these have you seen? Are you inspired to see a few more? If you have any gems that you think I missed, do let me know in the comments!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Aiden Freeborn

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