47 Movies About Travel to Inspire Your Wanderlust

As much as I love to travel, I also love to stay home and watch a good movie. One of my favorite things to do with Daniel is to make a batch of popcorn and watch a film featuring some of the places we have been or where we want to go. Over the years, I’ve obviously been drawn to movies where adventure is as much of a character as the people in the movie.

Here are some of my favorite movies I’ve seen over the past few years. While we’re all stuck inside over the next few months, I hope this list inspires you to keep the spirit of wanderlust alive. Eventually, we’ll be back on the road again. These might also inspire you to head to some new destinations!

1. WILD

I added the Pacific Crest Trail to my bucket list after reading the book and watching the movie starring Reese Witherspoon. She was nominated for her role playing the author Cheryl Strayed. Well-worth watching for the beautiful scenery and for the story of redemption–anyone can surmount the impossible when they put their minds to it.

2. UP IN THE AIR

This Oscar darling features a moody and handsome George Clooney and spirited Anna Kendrick. As much as the movie is about traveling and the act of it, it’s also about finding a home and developing relationships with the people who matter most.

3. INTO THE WILD

John Krakauer is one of my absolute favorite authors, and Into the Wild was the first book I read about him. Both the book and the movie follow the story of the real-life figure Chris McCandless, who sold all of his possessions in order to disappear into the American west. Beware–it is a bit tragic, so you’ll want your tissue at the ready.

4. THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY

For a more uplifting film, Walter Mitty is your go-to. While it is NOTHING like the short story, it does offer some stunning scenery of Iceland and Greenland, as well as a great reason to live out your dreams and to take the leap to go see the world.

5. EAT, PRAY, LOVE

Based off the best-selling memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert, there is no better film to get you ready to pack your bags. Jumping from Italy to India to Indonesia, Eat, Pray, Love inspired a whole generation to follow their dreams. It also launched Gilbert’s career and took over Bali.

6. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK

While all Indiana Jones films have a travelogue feel, this one feels the most adventurous to me. A hunky Harrison Ford heads to Peru, Nepal, and then Egypt (actually filmed in Tunisia) in order to locate an ark that gives you the power of invincibility. Yes, it’s silly. Yes, it’s awesome.

7. THE DARJEELING LIMITED

While Wes Anderson has gotten some flack for this film and the way it represents its Indian characters, I find it more of a love letter to the people and the nation than anything. Three brothers unite on a train traveling across India as they look to reconnect as family.

8. TRACKS

I first found out about Adam Driver from Girls, and I have been obsessed ever since. Mia Wasikowska plays the author Robyn Davidson, who traveled across the Australian continent with two camels alone. As much as it is a romance, it’s more about finding yourself and accepting who you truly are. The book is also great and I highly recommend it.

9. THE WAY

My mom suggested I see this movie while we were walking the Camino de Santiago together. Martin Sheen plays a bitter man recovering the death of his son. One of their wishes was to walk “the Way” together, which he does with his son’s ashes in tow. With some humor thrown in, this movie is about the power travel can have when finding new purpose in life after a tragedy.

10. UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN

I personally love this movie because it is the perfect amount of early 2000s cheesiness that I want from Diane Lane. I adored the book by Frances Mayes, and the movie takes it in an, um, unexpected direction. Overall, they both show how magic Tuscany is and why it continues to capture so many imaginations.

11. SEVEN YEARS IN TIBET

I still need to read the book on this one, but I hear it’s amazing. Brad Pitt plays a mountaineer whose attempt to scale one of the Himalayan mountains is knocked off course by World War II. He makes friends with the Dalai Lama and becomes a better person. Which, damn.

12. THE BUCKET LIST

I watched this one with my family in high school. Starring Jack Nickolson and Morgan Freeman as crotchety old men (which is really what Jack Nickolson does best), they go out into the world to have some last laughs and experiences before they die. Picture Grumpy Old Men with skydiving and Morgan Freeman looking concerned.

13. THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL

Honestly, there’s nothing I love more than when old people travel. This movie has a stellar cast, you can tell they were having a blast filming this movie in India. Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, and Bill Nighy head to India for retirement, only to find that the hotel they’ve chosen isn’t exactly what was expected.

14. TO CATCH A THIEF

Old Hollywood did a lot right with the travel movie genre. Carey Grant plays a robber trying to clear his name for crimes he didn’t commit. Directed by Hitchcock and featuring the stunning Grace Kelly (where she met her future husband, the Prince of Monaco), this fast-paced film is well-worth watching even today.

15. LOST IN TRANSLATION

I’m biased here, but this is one of my favorite movies of all time and a big reason I wanted to head to Japan. Bill Murray is a washed-up actor living on advertising whiskey and the syndication of his movies. When he meets the struggling Scarlett Johansson, they form an unlikely friendship in the city of Tokyo.

16. UP

The first few minutes are the saddest thing ever, but again–there’s an old person traveling in this movie. Also a talking dog, the most adorable kid ever, and balloons. There’s a reason so many people have latched onto this movie. The feels, guys. The feels.

17. OUT OF AFRICA

Okay, upfront I’m going to admit that I have a crush on Robert Redford. This movie might be his hunkiest ever. Based on the book by Karen Blixen, a young Meryl Streep heads to Kenya with her new husband, only to find out that he lied to her about their circumstances. She takes the savannah on while falling in love with a delicious bush pilot (guess who).

18. PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES

We all need a laugh right now. Steve Martin trying to get home to his family during Christmas and John Candy as his foil, chaos ensues the entire film. In case you’re not convinced, the film has a 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and is directed by John Hughes.

19. BEFORE SUNRISE

I remember watching this in high school and thinking how romantic the premise was. Two strangers (Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy) meet on a train on their trip through Europe. He’s leaving on a flight back to the United States in the morning, but that doesn’t mean sparks can’t fly as they explore the city of Vienna.

20. BEFORE SUNSET

The sequel (also directed by Richard Linklater) features the pair as older and wiser. It’s been decades since they have seen each other and they have moved on with their respective lives. However, they are starting to find them falling apart after that old flame reappears in Paris.

21. BEFORE MIDNIGHT

This is the final film in the “Before” trilogy. Following their reunion a few years later, Jesse and Celine grapple with the fact that marriage isn’t as simple as falling in love on a train or seeing each other after years and years. Honestly, this one is my favorite because of the real portrait it paints of love while the couple are on vacation in Greece.

22. THE BEACH

A young and very thin Leonardo DiCaprio backpacks through Southeast Asia and gets caught up in a community living on a beach there. There’s some drugs, some sex. I can’t tell you much else because it’s not a good movie–but it is the perfect thing to watch when you’re stuck inside!

23. TWO FOR THE ROAD

Audrey Hepburn is adorable in this movie featuring France and Albert Finney (nope, didn’t know who he was either before this movie). The married couple embark on a trip across the country to go meet a client and they reminisce about their years together, what went wrong in their marriage, and the milestones they faced.

24. THELMA AND LOUISE

Are there ever enough road trip movies? As one of the ultimate feminist manifestos, Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon play best friends running from the cops after Louise kills a man that tries to rape Thelma at a bar. I love this movie since the women in the film are finally liberated for the first time–there’s a reason it’s a classic.

25. CRAZY RICH ASIANS

This recent movie shows Singapore off in its best light. A young professor played by Constance Wu heads to Asia to meet her boyfriend’s family while not knowing that they are some of the wealthiest people in the entire world. She must prove herself to herself and show that she’s made of tougher stuff. The book is also a ton of fun.

26. MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (ORIGINAL)

While the newer one is pretty, you can’t beat the original classic. Holding true to the “Queen of Crime’s” vision, Albert Finney (this dude likes to travel) plays detective Hercule Poirot looking to solve a whodunnit on the most famous train in history. Even if you know the ending, the movie is still delightful.

27. A ROOM WITH A VIEW

I try to read A Room with a View once every few years. Not only is it one of my favorite books, but they did an excellent job recreating the movie. A young Helen Bonham-Carter plays Lucy, a naive girl on holiday with her stickler of a cousin. She falls in love with Florence as well as a free-spirited man named George even though they are discouraged to be apart.

28. THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES

Written by Che Guevara, this book caught like fire. The movie is a more recent adaptation following Gael García Bernal as he travels from Brazil to Peru on his motorbike in order to join the revolution. The book was used as a manifesto, and it launched Guevara to international fame. While I don’t think the movie is quite as good, it does have some gorgeous scenery to make you wanderlusty.

29. SIDEWAYS

Starring Paul Giametti and Sandra Oh, two buddies head out on one last wine tasting adventure before one of them gets married. However, once soon-to-be married Jack starts sleeping with Stephanie, the two men find themselves getting more than they bargained for.

30. VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA

Too many beautiful actors in this movie! ScarJo plays Cristina, who heads to Barcelona with her friend Vicky (Rebecca Hall) to find new inspiration. The two find that and a swinger artist couple who manage to drag them into an intoxicating relationship.

31. A WALK IN THE WOODS

Based on the book by one of my favorite writers, Bill Bryson, Robert Redford plays the author as he decided to embark on the 2,000-mile-long Appalachian Trail. Nick Nolte and Emma Thompson also make an appearance, as well as the beautiful scenery of the eastern United States.

32. NATIONAL LAMPOON’S VACATION

This film can seem a little dated, but it’s a classic worth checking out if you need a laugh. Chevy Chase plays a family man taking his kids to “Wallyworld” on the other side of the country. Following a hot blonde in a red sport car, Clark finds the real meaning of travel and family. I think.

33. IN BRUGES

Colin Farrell and Brenden Gleeson are hitmen hiding out in Belgium. While one of them adores their new city, the other is bored and craves adventure. They manage to enjoy a bit of both as they get swept up in more shenanigans. It ends on a bit of a downer, but it does make me want to head to Bruges when I get the chance.

34. AMELIE

Not necessarily a travel movie per se, we follow the delightful Amelie (Audrey Tautou) around her home of Paris as she works to make her neighbors’ lives better. Finally, after providing so much love to others, she finds her own sort of happiness, as well.

35. MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

Another love letter to the City of Lights! Owen Wilson plays a Woody Allen-type character on vacation with his fiancee. Taking to the streets at night alone, he finds himself wrapped up in Paris when the Lost Generation made their home there. Along with a magnificent cast, it’s a good reminder to live in the moment and make the most of your life now.

36. ROMAN HOLIDAY

I really, really adore this movie. Audrey Hepburn in her first major role plays a princess escaping her duties to cavort through the Roman streets. Gregory Peck (swoon) is the journalist following her and capturing the ultimate story, only to find himself falling for her along the way. It’s everything to love about old movies and Rome.

37. EASY RIDER

This classic road trip movie features Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda as hippies looking to find some spiritual cleansing after a recent drug deal. Heading through the American Southwest, they encounter a commune, jail time, and more drugs. Known for capturing the mood of the United States at that moment, this movie remains a favorite for counter-culturalists.

38. ROMANCING THE STONE

Kathleen Turner stars as a romance-adventure writer thrown into her own novel when her sister is kidnapped and held ransom. With Michael Douglas as her mercenary companion, the two travel through the Colombian together jungle in order to find treasure and Joan’s sister while falling in love along the way.

39. Y TU MAMA TABIEN

This Mexican film recreates the feeling you have when you are young and the world is full of possibility. Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal set off on a road trip with an older woman, which complicates their relationship with each other. Set with the beautiful backdrop of rural Mexico, the boys come of age during a revolutionary time in their country.

40. THE TRIP

Two stodgy Brits played by Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan take to the road to visit Northern England and try its cuisine. Due to its popularity, it was soon followed by The Trip to Italy and the Trip to Spain. Honestly, there’s not much of a plot to any of them, but there’s lots of good food and ranting like only the English can do.

41. TO ROME WITH LOVE

Remember when Woody Allen made films wherever he wanted to take a vacation? To Rome with Love was one of these and possibly my favorite. While it received mixed reviews, it has an amazing cast including Penelope Cruz, Jesse Eisenberg, Alec Baldwin, Ellen Page, and many more. It also features Allen as a retired opera director trying to get his in-law to sing on stage in a shower.

42. ON THE ROAD

While no movie could have lived up to the book by Jack Kerouac, you still get the feeling of what it must have been like to be a beatnik in the 50s from the movie starring Garrett Hedlund and Kristen Stewart. Again, not one of my favorite movies, but it does inspire you to crack open the novel if you haven’t yet.

43. ONE WEEK

A young man diagnosed with cancer (Joshua Jackson) decides to spend the last week of his life road tripping across Canada. This film reminds us of the power of travel and how it can make us rethink our daily lives–as well as to make the right decisions for us when we choose to come home.

44. THE LIZZIE MCGUIRE MOVIE

Why the hell not? Lizzie (Hilary Duff) goes to Rome, gets mistaken for a popstar, almost falls in love with the wrong person, and then performs on stage and becomes a popstar in her own right. And there’s a Roman Holiday-esque vespa scene, and Ethan Craft, and it’s amazing. Sorry, I don’t care what you think.

45. THE TOURIST

This is not a good movie, but the cinematography of Venice is lovely and shows the city in its best light. Angelina Jolie plays a spy that takes advantage of Johnny Depp (yes, in that way too) as a cover. Again, you’re not watching it for the plot.

46. FRENCH KISS

Meg Ryan at peak Meg Ryan travels to France to stop her fiance from falling in love with a Parisian woman. Along the way, she gets caught up in a small crook’s (Kevin Kline) crimes. At the end, she must decide between her conventional past or her new future. Spoiler alert: Kevin Kline.

47. PASSPORT TO PARIS

I saved the best for last. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen head to Paris to visit their uptight grandpa (Peter White as the ambassador to France–NBD). They meet some cute boys who take them on a, you guessed it, Vespa ride and find their chaperone a supermodel girlfriend. Yes. It is amazing as it sounds. (Also, if you’re a millennial, you probably already know that they have an entire video collection based around their travels.) No apologies ever.

This article originally appeared on alexonthemap.com.