30 Inspiring Travel Movies You Need to Watch

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Lacking a little wanderlust in your life? Get inspired to book your next adventure with these travel movies, and enjoy an evening of gripping adventures, heartwarming romances, or journeys of self-discovery in some gorgeous and exotic locations that you too could soon visit.

Travel Movies

Travel Movies List

Want to truly delve into the wonderful world of travel movies? Scroll to the end of this article (to the summary section) to find a link to download the entire list as a free printable.

From there, you can make it your mission one summer, winter, or year to watch them all, ticking them off as you go. There’s even room to add a couple of your own!

Solo Travel

1 – Into the Wild (2007)

One of the most inspiring travel movies to be made, Into the Wild tells the true story of Christopher McCandless, AKA Alexander Supertramp. In a rebellion act against consumerist America, Chris decides to embark on a cross-country road trip that takes him into the wildest areas of Alaska, where he ends up living on an abandoned bus that he calls “The Magic Bus”. 

The movie inspired many adventurous travelers to explore Alaska and find the famous bus. While the bus was recently removed for safety reasons, the movie remains a must-see for those who dream of traveling “into the wild”. 

2 – The Art of Travel (2008)

After calling off his wedding, Conner decides to go on his honeymoon in Central America on his own. During his trip, Conner meets a group of other travelers who convince him to join them in their attempt to cross the dangerous Darién Gap.

The Art of Travel is one of the most iconic travel movies EVER made, exploring the choice between a conventional life and a life of adventure. 

3 – Wild (2014)

Following a series of life challenges, including the loss of her mother and a divorce, Cheryl Strayed embarks on a solo hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. With no prior hiking experience, Cheryl decides to hike 1,100 miles out of the 2,650-mile-long trail, starting from the Mojave Desert in Southern California.

The movie is based on Cheryl Strayed’s memoir, and it’s an inspiring story of resilience and personal discovery. While you may not want to hike 1,100 miles on your own, watching this movie will likely awaken your adventurous spirit. 

4 – The Way (2010)

The movie that has drawn hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to the Camino de Santiago, The Way follows the story of an American father walking the Way of Saint James from France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The pilgrimage is an homage to his son, who died walking The Way after getting caught in a storm in the Pyrenees. 

If you haven’t walked the Camino de Santiago yet, this movie might inspire you to do it. 

5 – Tracks (2013)

Whether you are afraid of traveling solo or thrive on it, Tracks will inspire you to face your fears and embark on the trip of your life. Based on Robyn Davidson’s true story, Tracks follows a young woman who decides to walk across the Australian outback with four camels and a dog. 

Despite many difficulties, Robyn manages to cross the deserts of Western Australia over nine months, occasionally followed by National Geographic photographer Rick Smolan. 

6 – One Week (2008)

After a fourth-stage cancer diagnosis, Ben decides to go on a motorcycle trip across Canada that will get him to meet new people and re-evaluate his life choices. 

Ben’s trip through the beautiful Canadian wilderness takes him from Toronto to Vancouver, through Banff National Park and other breathtaking landscapes. If you’re dreaming of Canada, this is the movie for you. 

Exploring European Cities

7 – Midnight in Paris (2011)

If you haven’t been to Paris yet and it’s on your bucket list, you must watch what is deemed as Woody Allen’s most successful movie. A romantic comedy in perfect Woody Allen style, the movie will guide you through the streets of Paris, halfway between reality and fantasy.

Follow Gil Pender (Owen Wilson) in his surreal nights as he travels back in time to the Paris of the Belle Époque and meets artists like Picasso, Dalí, Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and many others. You’ll be left wanting to book your flight to Paris as soon as the movie ends. 

8 – A Room with a View (1985)

A classic travel movie that should be on your list if you haven’t seen it yet, A Room with a View will take you through the streets of Florence with its churches, sculptures, and picturesque squares. 

Despite being almost four decades old, the movie remains a classic travel romance that will inspire you to visit the beautiful and romantic Italian city. While Florence may have changed a little since the movie came out, it remains one of the most charming Italian destinations

9 – To Rome with Love (2012)

Another Woody Allen romantic comedy will get you to discover Rome through four different stories, all somehow connected to the Italian capital. 

The movie rewards you with beautiful shots of Rome, from rooftop views to narrow alleys in Trastevere, as each of the characters must deal with their personal struggles. In true Woody Allen style, the movie revolves around humoristic dialogues and almost surreal situations. 

10 – Amélie (2001)

In a funny and surrealist movie, Amélie Poulain will show you different sides of Paris and especially Montmartre as she starts a mission of positively affecting the lives of people around her. 

While this may not be an actual travel movie, it allows you to discover Paris through Amélie and her unique and creative way of viewing the world. 

Traveling with Friends/Family

11 – The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

Before Ernesto Guevara became el Che, he was a medicine student in Buenos Aires. Shortly before completing his degree, he embarked on a motorcycle road trip across South America meant to end in a leper colony in Peru.

A mix between a coming of age and a road movie, The Motorcycle Diaries follows Ernesto Guevara and his friend Alberto Granado through the Andes, the Atacama Desert, the Peruvian Amazon, and the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, among other iconic places in South America. 

12 – Everything Is Illuminated (2005)

In the autobiographical movie based on the novel of the same name, Jonathan Safran Foer travels to Ukraine to find Augustine, a woman who saved his grandfather’s life during the Holocaust. 

On this emotional yet fun journey to learn about his ancestors, Jonathan is accompanied by Alex, a young local passionate about American pop culture, his grandfather, and their dog. The journey is not only about discovering Jonathan’s roots, but about the friendship that is born between people from very different worlds.   

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

This classic 1994 travel movie follows the story of two drag performers and a transgender woman who travel through the Australian outback in a bus named Priscilla, performing their cabaret show. 

Throughout their trip from Sydney to Alice Springs, Bernadette Bassenger, Mitzi Del Bra, and Felicia Jollygoodfellow meet a number of characters as they stop for their performances. If you haven’t seen it, add this comedy road movie to your list. 

14 – The Beach (2000)

To say The Beach had a major impact on Thailand’s tourism would be an understatement. Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Leh Island became so famous after the movie came out that in 2018 it had to be closed for over-tourism. 

The Beach sees a young Leonardo Di Caprio travel to Thailand searching for paradise, which he finds at Maya Bay. More than twenty years after it came out, The Beach is still one of the must-see travel movies. 

15 – The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

In this Wes Anderson movie, three brothers played by Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, and Jason Schwartzman meet in India a year after their father’s funeral. 

The journey through India’s countryside and various Hindu temples forces them to face various adventures, as well as personal struggles. They eventually make it to the Himalayas, where they meet their mother and finally make peace after various fights. 

16 – Away We Go (2009)

Verona and Burt are expecting a baby and realize they are not exactly living a fulfilling life. They decide to travel across America to find a new place to live and build their family. 

The couple’s trip takes them to Arizona, Wisconsin, Canada, and Florida, among other places. They meet friends and relatives and keep traveling until they finally find a place where they believe they will be happy. 

17 – A Walk in the Woods (2015)

If you need some inspiration to explore the great outdoors, A Walk in the Woods is a movie you should watch. The biographical movie is the story of writer Bill Bryson who decides to hike the entire Appalachian Trail with an old friend. 

Follow Bill and Stephen in their misadventures as they start their walk in Georgia with no prior hiking experience and take on several challenges over the following three months. 

18 – The Way Back (2020)

A movie based on an unbelievable true story, The Way Back narrates the story of a group of prisoners detained in a Gulag camp in Siberia who decide to escape and walk all the way to India.

A truly inspiring story about the value of freedom and the will to survive, the movie follows the group as they cross snowy Siberia, Mongolia, the Gobi Desert, the Great Wall, and the Himalayas. 

Travel Comedies 

19 – The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty sees Ben Stiller in the role of Walter Mitty, a negative asset manager at Life. A mistake with a negative leads Walter Mitty on an epic journey from Greenland to Iceland and the Afghan Himalayas. 

If you’re looking for an adventure comedy, this one is guaranteed to make you laugh while also giving you a glimpse of the awe-inspiring landscapes of Iceland. Fun fact, the entire movie was filmed in Iceland, including the scenes set in Greenland and Afghanistan.  

20 – In Bruges (2008)

Many people haven’t even heard about Bruges in Belgium, but it’s a beautiful little town with canals, stone houses, and a fairytale-like atmosphere. And yet Ray, the main character played by Colin Farrell, keeps complaining about it throughout the movie. 

Ray is a hitman who is sent to Bruges to wait for further instructions from his boss. Despite not being a typical travel movie, In Bruges will make you want to visit this charming little Belgian town. 

21 – The Big Year (2011)

Follow Owen Wilson, Steve Martin, and Jack Black on a journey through North America in a competition to see the greatest number of bird species in 365 days. 

Whether you are into bird watching or not, this is a fun travel movie that will motivate you to get out there and explore the world. Plus, given the cast, you can expect some great laughs. 

22 – The Bucket List (2007)

Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman portray two terminally ill men with only six months left to leave who meet in a hospital room. One of them makes a list of things he would like to do before he “kicks the bucket”, but he throws it away discouraged by his diagnosis. The other finds the list and offers to join him on the trip and cover all expenses.

The two travel the entire world crossing experiences off their bucket list, like skydiving, visiting Stonehenge, seeing Rome, or visiting the Taj Mahal.

Travel Romance

23 – The Before Trilogy (1995-2013)

A love story that develops over 18 years starts the night that Céline and Jesse meet on a train from Budapest to Vienna. In the first movie, Before Sunrise, Céline is meant to return to university in Paris, while Jesse has a flight back to the US. Before separating, they spend the entire night roaming around Vienna and getting to know each other. 

In Before Sunset, the two coincidentally meet again nine years later, this time in Paris. The last movie of the trilogy, Before Midnight, takes place in Greece, on the Peloponnese coast, with the now-married couple discussing their relationship, careers, and lives. 

24 – Eat, Pray, Love (2010)

Another true story of a woman traveling the world after her life was turned upside down following a divorce, Eat, Pray, Love is a classic travel movie. 

Traveling through Italy, India, and Indonesia, Elizabeth Gilbert embarks on a self-discovery journey that gets her indulging in delicious Italian food, praying in an Indian ashram, and of course, finding love in Bali, where she meets a charming Brazilian businessman. 

25 – Without Saying Goodbye (2022)

Salvador and Ariana meet in Cusco, Peru, and soon find out they couldn’t be more different. Salvador is a successful architect with a perfectly scheduled life, while Ariana is an adventurous backpacker afraid of settling down. 

A series of circumstances bring the two on a hike through some of the most beautiful places in Peru, all the way to Machu Picchu. Prepare to be amazed by the beauty of the South American country while following the love story of Salvador and Ariana.

26 – Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)

The picturesque Italian region of Tuscany serves as a backdrop for the story of Frances, an American woman who, following her divorce, ends up buying a house in a small Tuscan town.

As she struggles to restore the house, Frances meets different characters who help her and starts a romantic story with a local. If you are looking for a light-hearted romantic comedy set in the beautiful Tuscan countryside, this is the movie for you. 

27 – Holiday in the Wild (2019)

The premise of the movie may be a bit cliché. Kate finds herself going alone on her second honeymoon after her husband left her. However, the movie will get you to discover a less conventional travel destination. 

Set in an elephant nursery in Zambia, Holiday in the Wild is a travel romance narrating the story of Kate and Derek as they fall in love after rescuing a baby elephant. 

28 – Lost in Translation (2003)

Bob, a man going through a mid-life crisis, and Charlotte, a young philosophy graduate, meet in Tokyo as they are dealing with culture shock and a series of personal challenges. 

Bob and Charlotte experience the nightlife in Tokyo and have deep conversations about their lives and relationships until the time comes to separate. Lost in Translation is a slow but beautiful movie about cultural displacement and unconventional romance. 

29 – Out of Africa (1985)

Starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, Out of Africa is an epic romance and a classic travel movie. A married Danish woman, Karen, moves to Kenya, where she meets a charming big game hunter, Denys.

Karen quickly falls in love with Africa, the locals, and the beautiful landscapes of the Great Rift Valley and the Ngong Hills. Karen ends up spending 17 years in Kenya and writing a memoir of her time there. The movie is, in fact, loosely based on Karen Blixen’s book of the same name. 

30 – Vicky Christina Barcelona (2008)

One more from the vast Woody Allen collection to discover Barcelona through the eyes of two American tourists and the charming local artist they both fall in love with. 

After Vicky and Christina become involved with Juan Antonio, his crazy ex-wife appears to make matters even more complicated. The unusual romance develops throughout the summer as the two American women explore Barcelona and fly to Oviedo with Juan Antonio. 

Travel Movies Summary

Download your free travel movies list printable here.

Whether you’re looking to get inspired to plan an epic adventure abroad, or just want a fun travel-themed movie night to ignite that wanderlust within you, there’s something for everyone to enjoy on our list of travel movies.

Put on your comfy pants, grab yourself some snacks, and lose yourself in captivating journeys, triumphs over adversity, or some laugh-out-loud adventures in beautiful places far and wide!

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Travel Movies List

Author

  • Hey there! We are Dale and Doina, the founders of Nomad Paradise. We traveled full-time for over three years, and while we now have a home base in the U.K., continue to take trips abroad to visit new places and try new cuisines and foods. Our food guides are curated with the guidance of local foodies, and their contribution is indicated under each article. We also cook the foods we try abroad, and you can discover how to make them in our 'recipes from around the world' category.

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