Travel-Inspiring Films That Will Make You Pack Your Bags

There’s something magical about a great travel film. Whether it’s the sweeping landscapes of Patagonia, the chaos of a Bangkok street market, or the quiet solitude of a mountain trail, cinema has the power to transport us to far-flung corners of the globe without ever leaving the sofa. But the very best travel films don’t just show us the world — they make us want to get out and explore it for ourselves.

Maybe you’ve watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and suddenly found yourself daydreaming about hiking in Iceland. Or perhaps Eat Pray Love had you Googling yoga retreats in Bali before the credits even rolled. From soulful solo adventures to chaotic food-fuelled road trips, these films tap into that deep desire to break away from routine and dive into the unknown.

In this list, we’ve grouped some of the most wanderlust-inducing films by travel mood — whether you’re craving epic adventure, a cultural deep-dive, or just something beautifully offbeat. So grab your passport (or at least your remote) — these movies are here to inspire your next journey.

Epic Adventures

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

Destinations featured: Iceland, Greenland, Himalayas
Why it inspires travel: This visually stunning film follows Walter, a quiet photo editor who escapes his monotonous routine and embarks on an epic global quest. His journey evolves from a reluctant mission into a full-blown adventure, reminding us how transformative stepping into the unknown can be.
Must-see scene: Walter skateboarding down a remote Icelandic road as the music builds — it’s a moment that captures freedom in motion.
Fun fact: Most of the scenes set in Greenland and Afghanistan were actually filmed in Iceland, taking advantage of the country’s wildly varied terrain.

Into the Wild (2007)

Destinations featured: USA (Alaska, Arizona, California, South Dakota)
Why it inspires travel: Based on a true story, this film follows Christopher McCandless as he gives up his possessions, donates his savings, and heads into the American wilderness to find meaning beyond materialism. It’s a poignant, powerful reminder of the beauty and solitude that comes with living deliberately.
Must-see scene: Chris standing on top of the abandoned “Magic Bus” in the Alaskan wild, arms raised — a snapshot of total isolation and freedom.
Fun fact: The real bus became a pilgrimage site for travellers, but after multiple rescue missions and safety concerns, it was removed by helicopter in 2020.

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

Destinations featured: Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela
Why it inspires travel: This coming-of-age road movie chronicles the early travels of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara before he became a revolutionary. Through stunning South American landscapes and powerful encounters, it explores how travel can awaken a deep sense of empathy and purpose.
Must-see scene: Ernesto swimming across the Amazon River to a leper colony, symbolising his growing sense of solidarity with the marginalised.
Fun fact: Gael García Bernal learned to ride a motorbike specifically for the role — and immediately crashed on his first attempt.

Seven Years in Tibet (1997)

Destinations featured: Himalayas, Lhasa (Tibet), India
Why it inspires travel: Part mountaineering saga, part cultural awakening, this film tells the story of Austrian climber Heinrich Harrer, whose escape from a British internment camp leads him to the heart of Tibet and an unlikely friendship with the young Dalai Lama.
Must-see scene: Harrer’s first glimpse of Lhasa’s Potala Palace, framed by fluttering prayer flags, captures the awe of arriving somewhere truly sacred.
Fun fact: Due to its portrayal of the Chinese invasion of Tibet, the film was banned in China, and Brad Pitt was reportedly blacklisted from entering the country for years afterward.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Food-Fuelled Journeys

Chef (2014)

Destinations featured: Miami, New Orleans, Austin, Los Angeles
Why it inspires travel: Equal parts heartwarming and hunger-inducing, Chef follows a disgraced fine-dining chef who starts over by launching a Cuban food truck. The film is a road trip through flavour and culture, celebrating food as a way to connect, heal, and rediscover joy.
Must-see scene: The first Cubano sandwiches served in Miami — sizzling, golden, and enough to make you book a food tour on the spot.
Fun fact: Director Jon Favreau trained under famed chef Roy Choi to make sure every kitchen scene was authentic. It shows — the food prep scenes are as captivating as the plot.

Eat Pray Love (2010)

Destinations featured: Italy, India, Indonesia (Bali)
Why it inspires travel: Based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s bestselling memoir, the film traces one woman’s journey to rediscover herself after a messy divorce. From eating her way through Rome to meditating in an Indian ashram and finding balance in Bali, it’s a full-course wanderlust meal.
Must-see scene: Elizabeth enjoying a plate of spaghetti in Naples with complete, guilt-free bliss — it’s the definition of living in the moment.
Fun fact: The Bali scenes were filmed in Ubud, which has since become a major wellness hotspot (and a bit of a pilgrimage site for fans of the book).

Julie & Julia (2009)

Destinations featured: Paris, New York
Why it inspires travel: A dual timeline film that bridges two lives across decades — Julia Child discovering French cuisine in 1950s Paris and Julie Powell blogging her way through Child’s recipes in modern-day Queens. It’s a love letter to French food, messy kitchens, and personal growth.
Must-see scene: Julia’s first French meal — sole meunière — as she melts into delight in a little Parisian bistro.
Fun fact: Julia Child's actual cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, shot to the top of bestseller lists again after the film’s release — decades after it first came out.

Chef.

Soulful Escapes

Tracks (2013)

Destinations featured: Australian Outback
Why it inspires travel: This quiet, powerful film tells the true story of Robyn Davidson, who trekked over 1,700 miles across the harsh Australian desert with only four camels and a dog. It’s a slow burn, but the sense of isolation, self-reliance, and raw connection to the land is unforgettable.
Must-see scene: Robyn walking alone through the endless ochre-red desert as the wind picks up — it captures both the magnitude and serenity of the outback.
Fun fact: The film is based on Davidson’s 1980 memoir, which became a cult travel classic. National Geographic photographer Rick Smolan, who appears in the story, took the real photos featured throughout the journey.

Wild (2014)

Destinations featured: Pacific Crest Trail, USA
Why it inspires travel: Based on Cheryl Strayed’s bestselling memoir, Wild follows a woman hiking over a thousand miles alone to reclaim her life after grief and loss. It’s gritty, honest, and deeply inspiring — reminding us that travel can be a form of therapy.
Must-see scene: Cheryl arriving at the Bridge of the Gods, worn out but changed — a quiet, cathartic moment of triumph.
Fun fact: Reese Witherspoon wore no makeup for the majority of filming to maintain realism. The film sparked a huge surge in interest for the Pacific Crest Trail, especially among solo female hikers.

The Way (2010)

Destinations featured: Camino de Santiago, Spain
Why it inspires travel: Directed by Emilio Estevez and starring his father, Martin Sheen, The Way follows a grieving father walking the Camino pilgrimage route in honour of his late son. It’s a heartfelt, human journey that captures the power of walking, reflection, and shared stories.
Must-see scene: A campfire gathering where pilgrims swap personal stories — it’s a reminder that some of the most meaningful parts of travel are the people you meet along the way.
Fun fact: The film was shot entirely on location across the real Camino Frances route. It led to a huge rise in international pilgrims choosing to walk the Camino.

Tracks.

City Breaks & Culture

Before Sunrise (1995)

Destinations featured: Vienna, Austria
Why it inspires travel: This minimalist masterpiece follows two strangers — Jesse and Céline — who meet on a train and spend one unforgettable night wandering the streets of Vienna. It captures the magic of spontaneous travel, fleeting connections, and the charm of discovering a city on foot.
Must-see scene: The moment they read each other imagined phone messages in a record shop’s listening booth — intimate, awkward, and impossibly romantic.
Fun fact: Richard Linklater’s film was inspired by a real encounter he had in Philadelphia. The film’s naturalistic style was largely improvised, adding to its authenticity and emotional pull.

Midnight in Paris (2011)

Destinations featured: Paris, France
Why it inspires travel: A love letter to the City of Light and the golden age of 1920s art, literature, and bohemia, this time-travelling fantasy follows a writer who strolls into his dream era each night at midnight. It celebrates the romance of nostalgia and the enduring beauty of Paris.
Must-see scene: Gil’s first midnight walk, when a vintage Peugeot pulls up and whisks him away to Hemingway’s Paris — surreal and magical.
Fun fact: Owen Wilson’s character was inspired by director Woody Allen’s own romanticised view of the past — and the script was written in just a few weeks.

Lost in Translation (2003)

Destinations featured: Tokyo, Japan
Why it inspires travel: This quiet, melancholic gem follows two lonely travellers navigating life and culture shock in Tokyo. It beautifully captures the feeling of being adrift in a new city — overwhelmed yet alive, lost but open to connection.
Must-see scene: Bob and Charlotte’s late-night karaoke session, neon lights flickering through the windows — equal parts awkward, electric, and unforgettable.
Fun fact: Much of the film was shot guerrilla-style without permits, using real hotel guests and bystanders — lending it an organic, documentary-like feel.

Midnight in Paris.

The Road Less Travelled

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Destinations featured: India (mainly Rajasthan)
Why it inspires travel: A visually rich and darkly comedic story of three estranged brothers reuniting on a train journey across India. Wes Anderson’s signature style — symmetrical shots, bold colours, and dry wit — blends perfectly with the chaotic beauty of India’s landscapes and railways.
Must-see scene: The train detouring through the remote countryside as the brothers quietly absorb the passing scenes — a rare, contemplative moment.
Fun fact: The film was shot entirely on location in India, and the crew lived on the train for much of the shoot to stay immersed in the experience.

Amélie (2001)

Destinations featured: Paris (Montmartre)
Why it inspires travel: A whimsical portrait of Paris through the eyes of a curious, imaginative young woman, Amélie romanticises the everyday magic of neighbourhood life. It’s a postcard-perfect invitation to slow down, observe, and find joy in small details.
Must-see scene: Amélie skipping stones at the Canal Saint-Martin, plotting acts of anonymous kindness — pure cinematic poetry.
Fun fact: After the film's release, Montmartre saw a huge rise in tourism. You can still visit Café des 2 Moulins, where Amélie worked in the film.

The Beach (2000) * EDITORS CHOICE

Destinations featured: Thailand (Ko Phi Phi Leh, Bangkok, Khao San Road)
Why it inspires travel: This cult classic taps into the backpacker dream — an untouched paradise, a hidden community, and the idea of finding something "real" off the beaten path. It captures the tension between freedom and escapism, idealism and reality.
Must-see scene: The first glimpse of the secret beach, emerging from the jungle — golden sand, turquoise sea, and not another soul in sight.
Fun fact: Maya Bay, the real filming location, became so popular after the film that it had to close temporarily for ecological recovery due to over-tourism.

The Beach.

Honourable Mentions

180° South (2010): A visually meditative documentary following a modern adventurer retracing the 1968 journey of Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins to Patagonia. It's equal parts climbing, surfing, conservation and slow travel philosophy.

Expedition Happiness (2017): A real-life road trip across North America in a converted school bus, this documentary captures the highs and lows of nomadic living. Raw, scenic, and deeply personal.

Maidentrip (2013): A documentary about 14-year-old Laura Dekker, who set out to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world. A story of resilience, solitude, and wide-open seas.

A Map for Saturday (2007): This doc follows a long-term solo backpacker through hostels, buses, and border crossings. It’s a love letter to the lonely, thrilling rhythm of round-the-world travel.

Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014): A light-hearted fictional journey that follows a psychiatrist travelling the world to discover what makes people truly happy. Think: feel-good philosophy with a passport in hand.

Whether you’re craving a soul-searching solo hike, dreaming of Parisian cafés, or itching to hop on a food truck road trip, these films prove that travel inspiration can strike from the screen. They remind us why we wander — for adventure, connection, perspective, and sometimes, just for the joy of getting lost.

So next time you’re grounded or between trips, hit play on one of these cinematic journeys. Who knows? It might just spark your next great escape.