21 Best Travel Movies: Take A Trip Around The World

Need a little inspiration for travel? Who doesn’t like movies that are set in exotic places, showcase adventure and exploration? And can take you from your home straight to a new country. Here are 21 of the best travel movies to watch. It includes some old classics and also some recent Netflix movies on travel to watch.

These movies not only offer captivating stories but also showcase beautiful and exotic locations around the world, fueling your desire to explore and experience new cultures, landscapes, and adventures.

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21 Best Movies On Travel (on Netflix and Amazon)

Under The Tuscan Sun (2003)

This movie is based on the best-selling memoir of the same name by Frances Mayes. After a sudden divorce, the protagonist buys a villa in Tuscany and embarks on rebuilding her life. The film hits all four quadrants of escapist cinema: romance, real estate, Italian food, and female friendship. The book and movie are both passionate about Tuscany and “dolce vita”.

This romantic drama transports you to the charming countryside of Tuscany, Italy. The film showcases beautiful vineyards, rolling hills, and historic towns of Tuscany. You can enjoy the Tuscan region via a wine tasting tour.

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

This is a coming-of-age story, it chronicles a young Che Guevara’s journey across South America on a motorcycle with his friend. The two men soon witness the great disparities in South America, encountering poor peasants and observing the exploitation of labor by wealthy industrialists. These experiences on the backpacking Argentina journey transform Che.

The film showcases the diverse landscapes of Argentina, Chile, Peru, and Venezuela, evoking a strong sense of adventure and cultural discovery. The trip covers around 5,000 miles, west from Buenos Aires, Argentina, through Patagonia and into Chile, north along the Andes to Machu Picchu and finally to the Guajira Peninsula in Venezuela.

A Good Year (2006)

This romantic comedy is about a man who inherits a vineyard and begins to appreciate the slower, more relaxed lifestyle. In his new life, the finds love and laughter while trying to revive the vineyard’s fortunes against local opposition and a backdrop of suspicious trading within the murky world of wine.

The movie is set in the picturesque vineyards of Provence, France. The sun-drenched scenery and charming French countryside will make you dream of a life in the vineyards. Château La Canorgue is the organic winery featured in the film. It is located in the shadow of the hilltop village of Bonnieux in Provence. However, the winery does not allow visitors to tour the film location. But you can take other winery tours from Aix-en-Provence. Or even other activities like a visit to colorful lavender fields in Sault.

Da Vinci Code (2006)

The film is based on the bestselling novel by Dan Brown. A Symbologist and Professor of Harvard University travels from Paris to London to unravel a bizarre murder. Accompanied by a cryptographer, he soon comes across a religious enigma protected by an age-old secret society. The movie casts Catholicism and the Catholic Church as inherently perverse and oppressive. It is not historically accurate.

The film transports the viewer to several iconic locations across Scotland, England, France and Italy including the Musée du Louvre in Paris, Temple Church in London.

Into The Wild (2007)

This film follows Christopher McCandless, a young man who abandons his material possessions and sets out to live in the Alaskan wilderness. Along the hitch-hiking way, he faces numerous challenges and meets interesting people. The movie inspires the adventurous side of us all by reminding us that we can change our lives tomorrow. 

The movie captures the majestic beauty of USA’s diverse landscapes, from the canyons of Arizona to the icy peaks of Alaska. It was filmed in many locations across the United States, including Georgia, Alaska, California, Oregon, Nevada, South Dakota, and Washington State.

The Bucket List (2007)

This heartwarming film has two well-known Hollywood stars who act as terminally ill men. The men find they have two things in common: a need to come to terms with who they are and what they have done with their lives, and a desire to complete a list of things they want to see and do before they die. They embark on a global adventure to complete their bucket list. The Bucket List is definitely one of the best travel movies on Netflix.

From skydiving over California and exploring the Alpes-Maritimes in France to a wildlife safari in Tanzania, the movie was shot in several locations around the world. It also features several wonders of the world including the Taj Mahal in India, Great Wall of China, and the pyramids in Egypt, and highlights the agenda of ticking off travel goals.

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

This quirky film follows 3 brothers on a train journey across India to reconnect with each other. Their experiences force them to introspect on their lives. Director Wes Anderson insisted on filming the entire train journey on an actual moving train, rather than a studio set.

The movie showcases India’s vibrant culture, colours and landscapes, capturing the chaotic beauty of the country. Much of the film was shot in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The Himalaya scenes were shot in Udaipur, one of the cities in Rajasthan.

In Bruges (2008)

Ray and Ken, two hitmen, get stuck in Bruges, Belgium, after an unsuccessful mission. Ray hates the medieval city they land in, but Ken finds its beauty and peacefulness enchanting. Their experiences become increasingly surreal and possibly life-changing as they encounter tourists, locals, an American dwarf and a potential romance for Ray.

You can visit most of the locations in Bruges, Belgium, where the movie was filmed. And some nearby locations including Koningin Astridpark,  Jerusalem Church, Minnewater, Jan van Eyckplein Square, Bruges train depot, Cafedraal restaurant, and Diligente bar. You can do a rickshaw tour to see the city’s top monuments and learn about its history along the way. Or a a day tour to Ghent and Bruges from Brussels.

Mama Mia! (2008) and Mama Mia! Here We Go Again (2018)

Mama Mia celebrates love in all its forms, be it romantic, familial, or friendship. The plot follows a young bride-to-be who invites three men to her upcoming wedding, with the possibility that any of them could be her father. This classic movie has a message of gender role stereotypes and the dangers of gender roles. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is a 2018 musical romantic comedy that serves as both a prequel and sequel to the 2008 film Mamma Mia! Both the original and the sequel are popular travel movies on Netflix.

Mama Mia! captures the beauty and allure of the Greek islands. It was primarily filmed on the Greek islands of Skopelos and Skiathos. These breathtaking Mamma Mia! Greek islands served as the perfect backdrop, immersing audiences in Sophie’s story and inspiring travelers worldwide to visit. For the sequel, the producers moved the location from Greece to the beautiful and remote Croatian island of Vis, in the heart of the Adriatic Sea.

Eat Pray Love (2010)

This movie is an adaptation of the bestselling memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert. The story follows a woman’s quest for self-discovery as she travels through Italy, India, and Bali. The story is built on the notion of a woman trying to heal herself from severe spiritual and emotional crisis. The movie showcases the allure of food, spirituality, and love in different cultures. You can follow this one week in Bali itinerary to experience some of that spirituality and nature immersion.

Julia Roberts, the movie star who plays the lead character, first visits Rome, Italy’s beautiful capital city and Naples. Most of the Bali locations for the movie were filmed in and around Ubud, the cultural heart of Bali. Parts of the movie were also filmed in Delhi and Pataudi, in India.

The Way (2010)

This movie is about a father sets out on a journey to collect the remains of his son, who died during a pilgrimage to Spain’s Santiago de Compostela. He resolves to take the journey himself, in an effort to understand both himself and his son. He finds new friends on the way while discovering new meaning in life.

The Way movie was filmed entirely in Spain and France along the actual Camino de Santiago. Some of the locations of the film along the traditional pilgrimage route include Zubiri, St Jean Pied de Port, Leon, Cape Finisterre, Torres del Rio, and Mezkiritz.

Midnight in Paris (2011)

Gil Pender is a screenwriter and aspiring novelist. Vacationing in Paris with his fiancee, he has taken to touring the city alone. He is beguiled by the city. On one such late-night excursion, Gil encounters a group of strange revelers, who sweep him along, apparently back in time, for a night with some of the Jazz Age’s icons of art and literature. The more time Gil spends with these cultural heroes of the past, the more dissatisfied he becomes with the present.

Midnight in Paris is probably the most famous of all Woody Allen movies shot in Paris. You can visit several of the locations in Paris, including Church of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont, Notre Dame Cathedral, Hôtel Le Bristol, Saint-Ouen Flea Market, Musée Rodin, Pont Alexandre III, and Restaurant Le Grande Véfour.

Several scenes are filmed at Versailles, both in the gardens and inside the Palatial building itself. The opening scenes of the movie is filmed close to Claude Monet’s home in Giverny.

The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty (2013)

This story of a daydreamer who steps out of his comfort zone may inspire you to seek your own adventure! In the movie, an employee at Life magazine gets the chance to have a real adventure, when the magazine owners send him on a mission to obtain the perfect photo for the final print issue.

This visually stunning film takes you on a journey from the bustling streets of New York to the incredible landscapes of Iceland, Greenland and the Himalayas. This movie is one more reason to visit Iceland and see its wonderful nature and landscapes. The movie was filmed in several locations all around Iceland including Seydisfjordur in east fjords, and the valley between Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon and town of Höfn on Iceland’s south coast.

Tracks (2013)

Based on a true story, this film follows Robyn Davidson’s 1700-mille trek across the Australian desert with her dog and four camels. She satisfies her craving for solitude with this solo trip from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean. It is an adaptation of Robyn Davidson’s memoir of the same name.

The stunning desert landscape of Australia evokes a deep connection to nature and the desire for a life of adventure. Locations included the Flinders Ranges and Coffin Bay in South Australia and Uluru and Kings Creek Station in the Northern Territory. 

Wild (2014)

This film tells the real-life story of Cheryl Strayed’s 1100-mile solo hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. Driven to the edge by the loss of her beloved mother, the dissolution of her marriage and a headlong dive into self-destructive behavior, Cheryl makes a decision to halt her downward spiral and put her life back together again. The main message of Wild is about finding oneself and healing through nature and self-discovery.

The Pacific Crest Trail is one of USA’s longest and toughest through-trails. The rugged natural landscapes showcased in the movie will awaken your inner explorer and make you want to hit the trails.

Tourist Guide To Love (2023)

This Netflix film is quite cheesy. It is about a travel executive who, after an unexpected breakup, accepts an assignment to go under cover and learn about the tourist industry in Vietnam. Along the way, she finds adventure and romance with her Vietnamese expat tour guide.

You can visit all the cities in Vietnam where the film was shot, including Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hoi An, and Hanoi. The movie’s scenes in Hà Giang showcase the province’s natural beauty and cultural richness. You can explore Hà Giang Loop on a hike, motorcycle, or a small van with multi-day tours.

Irish Wish (2024)

This Netflix movie has a simple plot. When the love of her life gets engaged to her friend, Maddie puts her feelings aside to be a bridesmaid at their wedding in Ireland. Days before the wedding, Maddie makes a spontaneous wish for true love, only to wake up as the bride-to-be.

The Netflix movie Irish Wish was filmed in several locations in Ireland, including Killruddery House, Lough Tay (also known as Guinness Lake), Powerscourt Estate in Wicklow, Westport, Ireland West Airport, The Cliffs of Moher, among others.

A Few Classic Travel Movies

Roman Holiday (1953)

Stuck with boredom in her luxurious confinement, a princess escapes from her guardians and falls in love with an American news reporter in Rome.

The movie Roman Holiday was filmed in several locations in Rome, Italy. It features notable attractions in Rome including Palazzo Colonna, Fontana di Trevi, Spanish Steps, Bocca della Verita “Mouth of Truth”, and the Colosseum.

Out Of Africa (1985)

Out Of Africa is a movie adaptation of the book by the same name. The central theme of Out of Africa is the quest for self-discovery. The story is about a woman with upper class background who travels to East Africa to join her husband. She finds herself isolated in an unfamiliar place, burdened with the significant task of managing a coffee plantation.

The majority of the movie was filmed in Kenya and England. The most striking thing about the film is the breathtaking cinematography. Thanks to protected parks and reserves in Kenya, you can visit just about every natural area depicted in the film.

Before Sunrise (1995)

A young man and woman meet on a train in Europe, and wind up spending one evening together in Vienna. Since the man’s flight to the U.S. departs the next morning and he has no money for lodging, they wander the city together, taking in the experiences of Vienna and each other.The film explores themes and differing perspectives on life, love, time, death, self-discovery, and postmodern romance.

You can visit most of the locations where the film Before Sunrise was shot in Vienna, Austria. Kleines Café, Café Sperl, Friedhof der Namenlosen, Wien Westbahnhof, Maria Am Gestade, Riesenrad, and Teuchtler Schallplattenhandlung were among the filming locations. Some say that taking a Before Sunrise tour of Vienna is a great way to relive the film’s key moments and see parts of the city you might not otherwise see. You can also take a walking food and drink tour in Vienna.

Seven Years in Tibet (1997)

The movie is based on Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer’s 1952 memoir of the same name. Heinrich breaks out of prison and travels to the holy city of Lhasa. He is employed as an instructor to the 14th Dalai Lama and soon becomes his close confidante. The film’s heart lies a tale of a Western man spiritually transformed by his contact with the Eastern culture of Tibetan Buddhism.

The film was filmed in La Plata and Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Andes were used to represent the Himalayas. Parts of the film were also shot in British Columbia, Austria, Nepal, and Tibet. It features stunning climbing sequences and breathtaking landscapes.

Hope these movies spark your desire to travel the world. Nothing better than a holiday destination that feels like stepping onto a movie set!

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