Matt B
- May 10, 2022
- 8 min read

30 Best Travel Movies of All Time (Ultimate Guide for 2022)

Travel can be about so much more than just seeing new sights. Taking in new cultures and meeting new people, exploring new landscapes, and taking in the beauty of the places you visit are all a part of the experience of exploring a new destination. These movies explore these themes and more, showing viewers just some of the best reasons to explore the world around you. With so many wonderful places to see, it’s easy to understand why so many movie lovers have chosen to explore them instead. Here are the 20 best travel movies of all time.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links and we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. However, this does not impact our reviews and comparisons. We try our best to keep things fair and balanced, in order to help you make the best choice for yourself.

1.EuroTrip (2004)

EuroTrip is a movie that follows the story of Scotty, a high school graduate who’s about to head off to college. Along with three other friends, head off on an adventure around Europe to explore the sites as well as get to Berlin so that Scotty can profess his love to his pen pal, Micah.

2. Into the Wild (2007)

Into the Wild is based on the true story of Christopher McCandless who decided to leave behind all of his material possessions and venture out into the wilderness by himself. After graduating from college with a 4.0 GPA, Christopher donated all of his savings to charity and cut off all ties with family and friends as he set out in search of adventure and independence. He eventually found what he was looking for in Alaska where he hiked alone into the Alaskan wilderness and lived off the land in an abandoned bus. This movie is a powerful story of adventure and self-discovery that will inspire you to reach out and experience more of the world.

3. The Beach (2000)

The Beach is a movie based on the novel of the same name by Alex Garland. The main character, Richard, is a young American who travels to Thailand after reading an article about a secret island paradise where no one is allowed entry without permission from the island’s guardian. After finding his way to the island, Richard quickly realizes that he wasn’t prepared for what he was going to find there, but despite this, he decides to stay and try out life on this island paradise. The Beach explores themes of friendship and self-discovery as it follows Richard on his journey to find himself in Thailand. It also has some beautiful scenery as it shows viewers just how amazing Thailand can be during its many seasons.

4. Lost in Translation (2003)

Lost in Translation is a movie about two strangers who meet in Tokyo, Japan and form an unlikely friendship. The movie has a very slow pace and it’s not really about anything in particular, but that’s what makes it so good. This is a great movie for anyone who wants to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery from another part of the world.

5. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

The Motorcycle Diaries is based on the journal of Che Guevara, who was a young medical student when he decided to take off on his motorcycle and explore South America with his friend Alberto Granado. Together they travel through Argentina, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama and many other countries as they learn about each other and discover new parts of the world along the way. This movie will inspire you to travel more while also making you appreciate where you live even more than you already do. It will also make you want to take off on a motorcycle and explore the world with your best friend, which is never a bad thing.

6. The Way (2010)

The Way is a movie about a father and son who are hiking the Camino de Santiago, which is a pilgrimage that many people take to honor their faith. The father and son have different beliefs, but they come together to share the experience of completing this spiritual journey together. It’s a great movie for anyone who has taken on a difficult journey in life and wants to find meaning in it.

7. In July (2000)

In July or Im Juli in German is a German-language movie about Daniel who has a boring life and is in search of his true love. He meets this girl from Turkey while in Hamburg and decided to find her back in Istanbul after their initial encounter. The journey is filled with hitchhiking through Europe until he reached Istanbul, but discovered that his reasons for coming to Istanbul have changed.

8. Wild (2014)

Wild is based on the true story of Cheryl Strayed, who decides to hike 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail by herself after losing her mother suddenly and dealing with other problems in her life. This movie will make you want to get out there and explore more of your own country while also making you appreciate all of the natural beauty that’s here as well.

9. Before Sunrise (1995)

Before Sunrise takes place over one night in Vienna as two strangers, who are both Americans, meet and talk about their lives. They also decide to spend the night together in Vienna as they continue to talk and get to know each other even better. This movie is a great one for anyone who has ever been away from home on a trip or vacation and had a chance encounter with someone else who was also traveling alone.

10. Before Sunset (2004)

Before Sunset is the sequel to Before Sunrise, which is about two people who met on a train in Europe. The two decide to meet nine years later in Paris where they discuss their lives and their hopes for the future. This movie will inspire you to travel more often and appreciate all of the beautiful places that you have yet to see while also encouraging you to stop worrying so much about your future plans because they’re not set in stone yet anyway.

11. Before Midnight (2013)

This is the third and final movie in the Before Sunrise series, which is about two people who met on a train but lost touch with each other for many years. They reconnect again in Greece and end up spending another night together. This movie is about how to make a relationship work when you’re not living together or even in the same city and it will give you hope that it’s possible to do so.

12. Copenhagen (2014)

When William, an immature twenty-something traveling across Europe, finally gets to Copenhagen, his father's birthplace, he meets the youthful but wise Danish girl Effy. Together they set off on an adventure to find William's grandfather and along the way develop a unique relationship that changes their lives forever.

13. The Tourist (2010)

The Tourist stars Johnny Depp as a man who travels around Europe for one year with the woman he loves (Angelina Jolie) and two other people (Cate Blanchett, William Hurt). This movie will help you realize that traveling isn’t just about sightseeing or visiting a new country; it’s also about meeting new people, experiencing different cultures, and maybe even learning a few things along the way.

14. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a movie based on a book of the same name and it stars Ben Stiller as Walter Mitty, a man who has trouble living up to his own dreams. He’s also having trouble dealing with his life and the people in it, which will make you realize that everyone has their own issues to deal with.

15. In Bruges (2008)

In Bruges stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two hit men who are sent to Belgium to kill someone. They think they’re going to be easy targets, but they soon realize that they’re in over their heads when a woman (Rachel McAdams) comes into the picture. This movie will teach you that there’s no place like home, and that every place has its own challenges.

16. Charlie Countryman (2009)

When his late mother appears in a vision and tells him to go to Bucharest, Charlie Countryman (Shia LaBeouf) immediately boards a plane across the Atlantic. A chance encounter with an ailing passenger leads Charlie to Gabi (Evan Rachel Wood), a Romanian beauty, changing the course of his entire trip.

17. Midnight in Paris (2011)

Midnight in Paris is a movie that stars Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams as two people who are in love with each other but can’t be together because of the time period. This movie will teach you that love is timeless, and that it doesn’t matter what time period you’re in.

18. The Art of Travel (2008)

Conner Layne (Christopher Masterson) is about to embark on an adventure - just not the one he had planned. After discovering his fiancé is having an affair with his best friend, he leaves her at the altar and heads off on his honeymoon alone in South America.

19. The Bucket List (2007)

The Bucket List is a movie that stars Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman as two men who are dying from cancer and they want to do all the things they haven’t done before. This movie will teach you that it’s okay to do things you’ve never done before, and that it’s okay to be afraid of death.

20. The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

A year after the death of their father, three brothers attempt to bond with each other by traveling together by train across India.

21. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Two girlfriends on a summer holiday in Spain become enamored with the same painter, fully unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he still has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture.

22. To Rome With Love (2012)

. Woody Allen plays a father meting his daughter's Italian in-laws to-be in this ensemble comedy that interweaves four tales set in Rome.

23. Under The Tuscan Sun (2003)

San Francisco writer Frances Mayes (Diane Lane) travels to Italy and impulsively buys an aging, but very charming, villa. She finds herself immersed in a life-changing adventure.

24. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a movie that stars Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, and Dev Patel as three elderly British pensioners on a tight budget move to a retirement home in india; their adventures there give them a new lease on life.

25. The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015)

Check in again for more love and laughter as new arrival Richard Gere joins an all-star ensemble cast returning for this heartwarming sequel to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

26. The Hangover Part 2 (2011)

Bachelor party survivors Phil, Stu and Alan endure another night of debauched revelry--this time in Thailand--in this outrageous sequel.

27. A Good Year (2006)

A Good Year is a movie that stars Russell Crowe stars as a bond trader whose life is changed by a trip to Provence to dispose of his uncle's estate.

28. My Life in Ruins (2011)

A disillusioned American-Greek tour director has her life transformed during one last excursion.

29. Deuce Bigalow: European Gigalo (2005)

Deuce Bigalow European Gigalo is a movie that stars Rob Schneider as a man who comes to Amsterdam to develop his full potential as a male prostitute as he discovers a high society of other men in his profession.

30. Leap Year (2010)

An Irish leap year legend spurs a feisty Boston lass to follow her boyfriend to Dublin to propose marriage in this romantic comedy.

Conclusion

There are many great travel movies out there. As you can see this list of 30 movies is just a small list of the greatest choices. I hope you will check them out and let me know which ones are your favorites in the comments below.

Matthew Bates is currently a full-time writer and digital nomad. Matthew started working as a middle school teacher before transitioning into a successful sales career. As a world travel enthusiast, Matthew credits the exciting real-life experiences of traveling and learning from other cultures as the inspiration for his writings.