Five Travel Movies That Will Give You Wanderlust (Part One)

A collage of five pictures from the movies that will be mentioned in this article. The first image shows a woman lying her head on another woman's lap as they're having a conversation. The second picture shows a young man trying to hitchhike with his thumb facing up. The third picture shows a woman stringing some sort of a citrus fruit. The fourth picture shows a man and a woman on a rocky cliff by the ocean. The fifth picture shows three men in a convertible. Two are in the front, the third is lying in the backseat.

You know what I absolutely love doing on a quiet night in when I have the whole house to myself? Watching feel-good travel movies. They’re meaningful yet effortlessly cozy, especially during the rainy season. Sure, some people might brush them off as silly or clichéd, but I think travel movies are such a broad category that there’s always something interesting to discover. So, here we go! Five travel movies that won’t just give you wanderlust but might even inspire you to start planning your next adventure.

Little Forest (2018)

In a lush and green orchard, a woman uses a stick to pick oranges. — A scene from Little Forest (2018), directed by Yim Soon-Rye and produced by Yim Soon-Rye. Production company: Watermelon Pictures

So, you ran off to the big, glitzy city to chase your “big dreams,” only to find out it wasn’t nearly as easy or glamorous as you had imagined. Eventually, you return to your idyllic, bucolic hometown. And surprise! Your childhood friends decide to do the same. Oh, and as it turns out, you’re an amazing cook and have no enemies and no drama. Okay, enough with the cheesy humor, but this “life story” perfectly captures the plot of this ridiculously scenic and peaceful South Korean movie.

A woman, the same one that was picking the oranges, is sitting on the roof of a traditional Korean home. These traditional homes are called hanoks -Travel Movies That Will Give You Wanderlust — A scene from Little Forest (2018) directed by Yim Soon-Rye and produced by Watermelon Pictures

What truly sets this film apart from other travel movies is its rich focus on food. The main character not only gathers fresh, in-season ingredients from gorgeous local farms but also walks us through the process of food preparation and cooking. They’re not just quick, generic shots of someone chopping vegetables before jumping to a beautifully plated dish. Every step is presented so aesthetically that you’ll find yourself utterly mesmerized and absolutely hungry for homemade Korean food.

By the way, here is a YouTuber named MovieKitchen who recreates the dishes from the movie as well as its Japanese movie version.

Ginger and Cinnamon (2003)

A man, a teen girl, and a young woman are sitting on white washed stairs in Greece -Travel Movies That Will Give You Wanderlust — A scene from Ginger and Cinnamon (2003) directed by Daniele Luchetti
Produced by Conchita Airoldi

This cute and lighthearted Italian coming-of-age movie follows a heartbroken, pedantic woman who gets tricked by her 14-year-old niece into a trip to the Greek island of Ios. The niece’s goal? Unfortunately, to lose her virginity. What starts as a predictable storyline quickly evolves into a series of silly twists and turns.

A man is sitting on a low rock cliff by the water and a teen girl is climbing up the cliff -Travel Movies That Will Give You Wanderlust — A scene from Ginger and Cinnamon (2003) directed by Daniele Luchetti
Produced by Conchita Airoldi

After reading the synopsis, I expected the film to lean heavily into melodrama. However, it’s refreshingly calm compared to the usual American coming-of-age movies. The island’s natural cliffs and hills provide stunning scenery amidst the characters’ chaos. Want to know a fun fact about Ios? It’s said to be the final resting place of the legendary poet Homer!

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)

A vintage blue convertible with its top down is being driven down the road through a plataeu like area. Parallel to the car, next to the road on the grassy area, four horses are running very majestically -Five Travel Movies That Will Give You Wanderlust — A scene from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, directed by Zoya Akhtar and produced by
Farhan Akhtar & Ritest Sidhwani. Production companies: are Excel Entertainment and Kanzaman Productions

If there’s an approaching-middle-aged-hood equivalent of a “coming-of-age” story, this big budget Bollywood road comedy belongs in that category. It follows three childhood friends, each ridiculously different from the others, on a road trip through Spain. Against the stunning Mediterranean scenery of the country, they confront their inner demons and navigate the tribulations of “approaching-middle-aged-hood”.

There is a party in some sort of a small town square with a stage in the middle. There are people dancing on the stage. surrounded by the stage are many women dressed in traditional flamenco wear -Travel Movies That Will Give You Wanderlust — A scene from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, directed by Zoya Akhtar and produced by
Farhan Akhtar & Ritest Sidhwani. Production companies: are Excel Entertainment and Kanzaman Productions

The characters are deeply relatable: a successful yet hollow workaholic, a man who seemingly has it all but remains unhappy, and a jokester who masks his insecurities with *very* annoying humor. We all know people like these group members! While the theme of self-discovery on a road trip isn’t new, this film elevates it with a truly larger-than-life Bollywood flair. Romance, music, humor, dancing, introspection…it’s all there in this 2.5 hour movie.

P.S. One of the lead actors, Hrithik Roshan, is renowned as one of Bollywood’s most talented dancers. If you haven’t seen his moves yet, I highly recommend checking out a dance number or two!

The Missing Piece (2015)

A road winding its way through the side of a mountain with the ocean on the other side. A white pick up truck is approaching in one direction, and in the other direction, going away from the camera, there are two people riding a moped. The person sitting on the back of the moped is waving hi to the white truck -Travel Movies That Will Give You Wanderlust — The Missing Piece (2015), directed by Chiang Fong-hong and produced by Huang You-hua. Production company: Three-Giant Production Co., Ltd.

This gorgeous Taiwanese movie is the reason I booked a flight to Taiwan in the first place. It tells the story of a young man who tries to manage his severe social anxiety by hitchhiking across Taiwan. Along the way, he encounters a cast of quirky characters in a picturesque seaside farming town. They gradually endear themselves to him, including a young woman who works as a “betel nut beauty.”

An old man, women, and a young woman in a superwomen cosplay outfit and bright yellow wig, are talking to a man wearing a yellow backpack. They are on the side of a road surrounded by a field -Travel Movies That Will Give You Wanderlust — The Missing Piece (2015), directed by Chiang Fong-hong and produced by Huang You-hua. Production company: Three-Giant Production Co., Ltd.

As with life, people are not what they seem. While the young man initially views his new friends as carefree and unburdened, he soon learns the reality of life! They are just like him, dealing what the cards life has dealt them and trying to gain closure on the past. The color tones of The Missing Piece are damn beautiful and just dreamy. I found myself trying to recreate the palette by scouring for the perfect film stock. Haven’t really had any luck though!

P.S. The betel nut beauty phenomenon is very unique to Taiwan and the history is very interesting. I definitely implore you to read up on it!

Queen (2014)

A woman is standing out of a moonroof of a Parisian taxi. She looks happy -Travel Movies That Will Give You Wanderlust — Scene from Queen (2014), directed by Vikas Bahl, produced by Anurag Kashyap
Vikramaditya Motwane. Production Company: Phantom Films

No travel movie list is complete without the quintessential “discovering-oneself-on-a-solo-trip” film, and this one fits the bill perfectly. This is a story about self-love. The film follows a sheltered and conservative woman from a small Indian town who, after her engagement falls apart, decides to take her honeymoon trip solo. In Paris and Amsterdam, she encounters unique personalities, forms beautiful friendships, and gains the confidence she’s always lacked.

A woman, and three men are walking down a street surrounded by shops with smiles on their faces -Travel Movies That Will Give You Wanderlust — Scene from Queen (2014), directed by Vikas Bahl, produced by Anurag Kashyap
Vikramaditya Motwane. Production Company: Phantom Films

This thoughtful movie completely charmed me with its authenticity. The protagonist’s transformation into a confident woman is gradual and realistic while retaining her humility throughout. There’s no wild romance or crazy drama here, just meaningful relationships, heartfelt moments, and a beautiful journey of self-discovery.

Well, there you go! Five travel movies that will give you wanderlust from across the world spanning plots, years, languages, and aesthetics. They will surely have you planning your next vacation. If you’ve already watched any of these before, drop a comment down below and let me know how you felt about them! If not, I hope you enjoy these as much as I did.