Stuck at home with nowhere to go? Grab your remote and get creative with an at-home adventure. Live vicariously through my 12 go-to travel movies when you need to scratch that travel itch. Bonus tip: make a night of it by cooking a themed dinner to complement the movie setting!
Call Me By Your Name
Transport yourself to Italy with this 2017 romance starring Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer. It’s a story of a young summer love set in a beautiful villa in Lombardy. The cinematography and scenery in this film are absolutely stunning and will have you googling “villas for rent in Italy” before you know it.
Rent it on Amazon Prime Video.
Sex and the City
Ahh, New York City. There’s nothing quite like it. The Sex and the City TV show and movie series perfectly portray the endless, infectious energy of New York. Transport yourself to the Big Apple and into the lives of Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda as they navigate their romantic relationships.
Stream it on HBO Max.
Crazy Rich Asians
Singapore, here you come! Crazy Rich Asians (2018) is one of my favorite recent travel movies and rom-coms starring Constance Wu and Henry Golding. The vibrant visuals of this film are so much fun to watch from the outfits to the food to the set and everything in between.
Rent it on Amazon Prime Video.
50 First Dates
Want more of a beach vibe? Take a getaway Oahu, Hawaii with 50 First Dates starring Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler. Set in an island paradise, this charming rom-com will have you craving a strong, fruity cocktail (nothing you can’t make in your own kitchen).
Stream it on Amazon Prime Video.
Chocolat
An all-time fave! Chocolat is perfect for travel lovers and foodies alike. Set in a quaint village in France in the 1950s, newcomer Vianne opens a chocolate shop that changes the town forever. Don’t worry, romance lovers, there is plenty of love in this one (and French accents to top it all off).
Stream it on HBO Max.
Spice World
Spice up your life! This movie certainly didn’t win an Oscars but hey, it’s a fun glimpse into London circa 1997. Follow the Spice Girls as they venture through London’s most iconic landmarks on their tour bus leading up to a big performance.
I can’t find this streaming anywhere – let me know if you find it!
P.S. I Love You
Get the Kleenex ready. Dublin, Ireland is a significant setting in this 2007 tearjerker. Starring American actress Hilary Swank and Scottish actor Gerard Butler, P.S. I Love you is an emotional rollercoaster that will have you laughing, crying, and booking a trip to Ireland.
Rent it on Amazon Prime Video.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Fellow millennials, remember this craze? The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is one of those travel movies I watched over and over as a teenager. It follows four friends spread out in four different destinations: Greece, Maryland, Mexico, and South Carolina.
Rent it on Amazon Prime Video.
La La Land
Head to Hollywood in this 2016 musical starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. Having visited Hollywood once myself, this movie was the perfect representation of the movie industry magic I felt when I was there. Palm trees, jazz bars, luxurious homes in the Hollywood Hills – what more could you ask for?
Stream it on HBO Max.
Roman Holiday
Audrey Hepburn stars in this classic Italian romance movie made in 1955 alongside Gregory Peck. Set in Rome, it’s a perfect, quirky black-and-white romance film that will have you dying to meet an Italian local to guide you around the Eternal City.
Rent it on Amazon Prime Video.
Slumdog Millionaire
Probably the most dramatic film on this list, Slumdog Millionaire is a visually stunning movie set in India that will have you on the edge of your seat. Winning the Oscar for Best Picture in 2008, this film will take you on the journey of main character Jamal Malik from escaping the slums of Mumbai to being a contestant on Who Wants to Be A Millionaire.
Stream on Hulu.
Mamma Mia 1 & 2
Sometimes all you need to get out of an adventure-less funk is two hours of beautiful scenery and catchy songs. Head to the coast of Greece with this musical rom-com series starring Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried. The first movie was filmed on the real island of Skopelos, and the sequel was filmed on the island of Vis, Croatia near Split!
Stream it on Hulu.
The Holiday
It’s embarrassing to think of how many times I’ve watched this – it’s one of my favorites! If you want some spontaneous travel inspiration coupled with cozy Christmas feels, this is the movie for you. Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet play two women so frustrated with their love lives that they decide to switch homes on a whim for Christmas. Set in Los Angeles, California and Surrey, England, this movie always rekindles my love for travel.
Rent it on Amazon Prime Video.
Hopefully this list is a good starting point for your couch adventures. What did I miss? Let me know your favorite travel movies in the comments that I can add to my watch list!
I love The Holiday!! Also love Pride and Prejudice (Matthew Macfadyen version), Girls Trip, and We’re the Millers as travel movies!
Also feel like Black is King should get honorable mentions! It’s more music video than movie, but it definitely has me excited to visit several countries in Africa!
Yesss to all of those, such good ones! Black is King blew my mind. I’ve been listening to the album nonstop! (Also, I miss you.)
Paris Can Wait and Under the Tuscan Sun (also Diane Lane) are good “missing Europe” movies for sure!
Ooh I’ve never heard of Paris Can Wait! Will have to check that one out. Under the Tuscan Sun is a CLASSIC!