To celebrate this genre, we look back at some of the best travel movies, balancing criteria like how essential movement and destinations are to the story and critical greatness. From Audrey Hepburn‘s iconic classic Roman Holiday to Julia Roberts‘ beloved three-country tour in Eat Pray Love, these essential movies about travel prove that some of the greatest travel stories aren’t always about reaching a destination but also about who one becomes along the way.
10‘The Beach’ (2000)
The epitome of the “paradise found, paradise lost” arc, The Beach pulls the rug out from under viewers’ feet as it slowly reveals the darkness simmering beneath its sun-soaked utopia, only for jealousy and violence to shatter it completely. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role, this Danny Boyle-directed adaptation of Alex Garland‘s novel unfolds as a treasure hunt that spirals into a feverish dream of both isolation and intrigue.
9‘Eat Pray Love’ (2010)
Julia Roberts stars in Ryan Murphy‘s 2010 adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert‘s memoir, ditching divorce heartbreak for a year abroad: four months devouring Italy’s delicious feasts (eat), seeking enlightenment in India (pray), and discovering romance in Bali (love). Is it a bit too glossy at times? Absolutely, from the pristine Bali beaches to sun-drenched villas in Italy. Empowering blueprint for reinvention? Millions of viewers — as well as bucket list tours — say yes.
Eat Pray Love romanticizes travel and cultural immersion as much as it does personal rebirth. Although critics knock its polish, audiences across the globe have resonated with it, proving that one woman’s reset can be a blueprint for yours. Whether she’s devouring gourmet, undergoing a spiritual awakening, or embarking on a romance, Liz’s journey is interesting enough to hook audiences worldwide while spawning ‘Eat Pray Love’ tours.
8‘The Darjeeling Limited’ (2007)
Anderson’s signature symmetry shines in the 2007 film, whether it’s framing dusty villages or temples, featuring a prominent Kinks soundtrack setting the tone. In addition to its beauty — and Bill Murray‘s memorable cameo — what elevates this whimsical odyssey is also its sharp exploration of grief, biting satire on Western spiritual tourism, and poignant truth: people seek meaning in unfamiliar places when, most of the time, the real answers lie within.
7‘Into the Wild’ (2007)
Although often bittersweet and grounded in its heartbreaking biographical elements, Sean Penn‘s Into the Wild is very much a travel movie. This internal and external journey of self-discovery and disillusionment follows 24-year-old real-life adventurer Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch), as he donates all his money to charity, ditches his car, and abandons society for a two-year journey across North America, eventually hitchhiking to Alaska.
6‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’ (2013)
This 2013 adaptation of James Thurber‘s uplifting adventure-comedy tale centers on negative assets manager Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) as he leaps from fantasy volcano surf sessions to Himalayan avalanches. The story essentially illustrates the ultimate breaking free — chasing dreams, embracing the unknown, and finding beauty in the ordinary. From Iceland’s erupting volcanoes to Afghanistan’s rugged terrain, Mitty’s real-world quest rivals his wildest dreams — it’s as much of an external trip as it is an internal journey, with jaw-dropping visuals to match.
5‘Lost in Translation’ (2003)
Undoubtedly one of Sofia Coppola‘s most memorable works, rightfully earning her the Best Original Screenplay Academy Award, Lost in Translation celebrates the power of human connection, particularly between strangers. The movie follows two lost souls — aging actor Bob Harris (Bill Murray) and the bright, young Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) — who come together and form an unlikely bond that immortalizes the intimacy of fleeting connections against the backdrop of Japan’s dazzling chaos.
But it’s not just Tokyo’s striking, at times meditative beauty that makes the film stand out. Coppola’s keen eye for character, subtle cultural observations, and understated camera work make Lost in Translation moving — it’s simple, yes, but deeply affecting. At its core, the 2003 picture is as much about the bittersweet ache of self-discovery as it is about travel and wonder.
4‘Wild’ (2014)
A biographical adventure travel film chronicling Cheryl Strayed‘s solo hike on the Pacific Crest Trail — a long-distance hiking path stretching over 2,600 miles from the Mexican border to Canada, through California, Oregon, and Washington — after personal trauma is a powerful story of self-discovery through backpacking travel, with Reese Witherspoon‘s captivating performance anchoring it.
Directed by the late, talented Jean-Marc Vallée — one of the talented minds behind the first season of acclaimed TV drama Big Little Lies, in which Witherspoon also stars — Wild is a raw survival drama that transforms pain into profound rebirth, one step at a time. Whether she’s fending off rattlesnakes and black ice or enduring heavy rain and an overstuffed backpack, Cheryl’s journey is far from easy, yet that’s what makes it transformative. The film has turned into an empowering epic thanks to its brutal honesty and spiritual undertone, celebrating thru-hiking as a moving meditation for those learning to carry their pain differently.
3‘Y tu Mamá También’ (2001)
In R-rated masterpiece Y Tu Mamá También, what starts as a boozy escapade from Mexico City quickly veers off the map: whether they’re dodging cops, skinny-dipping, or stumbling into dusty villages, Cuáron’s film — elevated by intimate, documentary-style, handheld camera direction — captures the laughter, sweat, and unspoken tensions of the trip. If you’re on the lookout for something that blends eroticism, humor, and a poignant social commentary, this might very well be it.
2‘Before Sunrise’ (1995)
While reality might not be quite so romantic and some adventures are best kept in movies, Before Sunrise charms with the effortless chemistry between Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, the captivating conversations between their layered, believable characters, and its generally simple, heavily dialogue-driven narrative. It’s not the kind of film that’ll surprise you with plot twists or grand gestures, but rather a truly wonderful, memorable slice-of-life that lingers in the quiet moments between two people exploring both a city and each other.
1‘Roman Holiday’ (1953)
When it comes to iconic classics about travel, Roman Holiday stands as the gold standard. It captures Rome’s magic through the charm of Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, blending screwball comedy with a memorable love story. The plot follows Princess Ann, played by Hepburn in her breakout role, who rebels against stifling royal duties during a Rome visit. After her doctor administers a sedative to help her sleep, she wakes on an Eternal City bench, where American journalist Joe Bradley discovers her.