Movies are powerful. They have the ability to tug at our heart strings, open our minds, and can stick with us long after the credits roll (in addition to giving us a front row seat for some washboard abs – thanks Hollywood!)

But one of the biggest benefits of a good film is its ability to whisk us away to far off places. To transport its audience to a piazza in Rome where you can almost taste the fresh gelato. Or a jungle in Borneo with its low hum and thick heat. Or even a road in South America with the gravel crunching beneath your feet.

Here are 10 of the best wanderlust inspiring movies that will treat you to a vacation from the comfort of your couch.

1. Eat Pray Love

Eat Pray Love left audiences yearning to walk away from their jobs to embrace a life of uncertainty and wonder. The lead character does just that when she leaves it all behind and journeys to Italy, India, and Indonesia on a quest to find herself.

Each frame is a delightful venture into some of the most picturesque places on the planet. Stone facades, chaotic streets, and tranquil fields leave you yearning for your next adventure.

2. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty takes you to the far reaches of the globe with a character who led a previously unremarkable life. But circumstance soon prompts him to embrace the unknown. While in pursuit of a lost picture, he soon finds himself in the rugged landscapes of Greenland, Iceland, Yemen, and Afghanistan.

The film’s stunning scenery is a perfect backdrop for the lead character to transform from a wimp to a winner. And while Walter wrestles sharks and scales mountains, the audience learns how a little adventure can transform your life.

3. Under the Tuscan Sun

Under The Tuscan Sun had to be a godsend for real estate in the Italian countryside. Because after watching this film, you instantly want to run off to Tuscany and buy yourself a villa.

When the heroine goes through a painful divorce, she embarks on an unexpected tour of Italy. After buying property there on a whim, her life is renewed by the country’s charming locals and jaw-dropping atmosphere. This wanderlust inspiring movie leaves you dreaming of good wine, great food, and the romance of the Italian countryside.

4. Into the Wild

Into The Wild takes you on an epic journey across North America and the Alaskan wilderness. Based on a true story, the film follows the wanderings of Christopher McCandless, who gave away all his money and possessions before hitchhiking cross country.

After meeting several people who help shape him along the way, he finally settles into an abandoned bus in the wilds of Alaska. It’s here where the picturesque scenery and simplistic lifestyle teach Chris the joy and pain of living in nature with no one to rely on but yourself.

5. The Way

The Way makes you want to grab a walking stick and head out for a pilgrimage of epic proportion. In this film, you’re taken on an unintentional voyage across Spain’s Camino de Santiago trail.

The trek is filled with hazards, triumphs, and some of the most striking scenery in Europe. Whether it’s a lively hostel or a still country meadow, The Way will bring you along for the journey of a lifetime.

6. Midnight in Paris

Midnight in Paris paints a romantic picture of France’s capital during the 1920’s. When a nostalgic writer travels back in time every night, he’s left to wander the cobblestone streets mystified by the simplistic allure of a bygone era.

The film leaves you falling in love with the city over and over again. With each corner cafe, stroll along the Seine, and impressive flower garden comes a heartache you just can’t shake.

7. The Bucket List

The Bucket List will motivate you to explore the world and check off everything you want to do before you die. And when these two strangers learn their time is running out, they join together to do just that.

This film takes you on an entertaining adventure across landmarks, countries, and continents. From the pyramids of Giza, to the Great Wall of China, to Mount Everest, no corner of the globe is left unexplored. By the end, they’re left with a completed checklist and a remarkable friendship.

8. The Hundred-Foot Journey

The Hundred-Foot Journey takes you on a culinary tour across Europe. The film follows a family as they rebuild after hardship, finally settling in a tiny town along the French countryside.

This cinematic masterpiece transports you to bustling markets, serene river banks, and sophisticated cities. When the credits roll, you’ll yearn to see its spellbinding scenery all over again.

9. Casino Royale

Casino Royale treats its audience to luxuries spanning multiple countries across Europe and the Caribbean. As a newly promoted 007 works to rid the world of a terrorist organization, moviegoers work on a list of all the places they need to add to their travel list.

From the Czech Republic, to Montenegro, to Venice, to Lake Como, this film leaves you on the edge of your seat and completely in awe. (And is easily one of the best action movies ever made!)

10. Love Actually

Love Actually has it all. Heart, intrigue, laughter, and an awesome backdrop. Set in locations around Europe and the U.S., it follows multiple storylines of characters in their pursuit of love. And in the end, it’s all wrapped up in a perfect holiday bow.

The film also begins and ends at the arrivals terminal in Heathrow airport. It shows that despite what the news would have you believe, love actually does exist. And for anyone who’s watched loved ones reunite at an airport, you know how true that is.

And there you have it! Ten of the most wanderlust inspiring movies of all time. So if you can’t jet off on your next adventure quite yet, grab the popcorn and put one of these on! Soon, you’ll be transported to captivating locales without leaving your living room.

What are some of your favorite travel films?

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