Top 10 Holiday Movies to Ignite Your Wanderlust

Have you ever found yourself compelled to visit a place merely because you saw it in a movie? It happens to all of us. You see a delicately carved stone statue or sun-kissed people enjoying aquamarine waters. Before you know it, you’re frantically researching the filming location and planning a vacation.

The destination becomes the star in these movies, brilliantly showcasing a city’s charms, landscapes, and culture. We’ve hand-picked some of the finest to guarantee you experience the world through the best travel movies you can ever find.

Don’t be surprised if one of them inspires you to get out of the couch, pack your bags, and book a package vacation to faraway lands for the adventure of a lifetime.

1. Midnight in Paris (2011)

France’s capital adorns the dreams of all those who’ve gazed upon it. Artists, writers, and directors have all had their feet swept up beneath them by the metropolis, which captivated them to the point where their artwork became a love letter to Paris.

Woody Allen’s Oscar-winning movie Midnight in Paris is no exception. The movie follows Gil (Owen Wilson), a writer on vacation with his fiancée and her family. One midnight, he accidentally finds himself in a time warp that transports him to the Jazz Age of Paris, where he meets Salvador Dali, Ernest Hemingway, and others. On top of this, he falls in love with a woman named Adriana (Marion Cotillard).

From painter Claude Monet’s house to the Palace of Versailles, you’ll be bombarded with breathtaking Parisian landmarks, providing plenty of inspiration for a culturally rich journey to France.

Planning a honeymoon trip to Paris? In that case, we encourage you to stroll down the Quai de la Tournelle, where Adriana and Gil takes a quiet walk on the cobbled roads with dazzling lights above.

2. Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019)

If you take all the superhero elements out, Spider-Man: Far From Home is essentially a travel movie about Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and Michelle “MJ” Jones (Zendaya) on summer vacation with world-renowned European cities and locations serving as the backdrop.

After Peter decides to take a vacation from saving the world, he joins a class trip to Europe, starting an adventure that will carry him across six countries in less than 72 hours. Parker visits Venice, Eastern Alps, Prague, Berlin, Broek op Langedijk, and London; of course, trouble follows.

To be honest, his route is excellent if you want to explore the diverse culture in Europe. For example, you can enjoy a romantic nighttime gondola ride down Venetian Arsenal, a historic shipyard district, as Nick Fury and Peter do in one scene. Next, travel through the Alps via train and take a short break in Berlin. Then, in Prague, book accommodation in the classically beautiful Carlo IV Hotel and take a walk down the Charles Bridge —which should be on everyone’s bucket list— as MJ and Peter did. Later, enjoy the tulip fields in The Netherlands. Finally, London welcomes you with its fascinating mix of old and contemporary urban structures.

Thankfully, you won’t be dealing with multi-dimensional monsters during your European travels and don’t have the time limitations Peter Parker had. Vacation packages can help you to plan a customised route free from worry.

3. Roman Holiday (1953)

One thing is sure: Even in black and white, Rome is mesmerising! So prepare to travel back in time to the Italian capital in 1953, when a European princess (Audrey Hepburn) escapes her royal life to explore Rome by herself. She meets an American reporter (Gregory Peck). The two fall in love as they spend the day seeing the city’s breathtaking sites.

If you decide to tour some of Roman Holiday’s most iconic filming locations, make sure you take a selfie in front of the complex in Via Margutta 51, where the reporter resides. It’s near the famous Spanish Steps, where the pair meets, and the reporter tells the princess to “live a little and try a gelato.” You might want to take his advice as well.

4. Into the Wild (2007)

There is no movie that better captures the desire to escape the nine-to-five grind and seek adventure outdoors. Based on true events, Into the Wild tells the poignant story of Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch), who gives up all of his possessions and embarks on a road trip from Northern America to Alaska.

As the nomad tries to invent a new life for himself, you’ll be feasting your eyes on the peaceful Lake Tahoe and the camping sites at Beard’s Hollow. He even kayaks down the Colorado River, but make sure you pick safer kayaking options.

If you ever find yourself in Hot Springs, South Dakota, pay a visit to the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary, where the gorgeous scene where Alex runs with a herd of wild horses was shot. The sanctuary offers private tours, so don’t forget to book one before visiting.

Perhaps the movie’s most famous scene was in Alaska, where McCandless camps in an abandoned bus. This “magic bus,” located north of Denali National Park and Preserve, became a hotspot for tourists who braved the strenuous hike to get there. Unfortunately, after some accidents, it was removed from the site and is a part of the Alaska Museum, which is definitely a must-see.

5. Before Sunrise (1995)

Directed by Richard Linklater, Before Sunrise is arguably the finest of all romantic travel movies. It follows Celine (Julie Delpy) and Jesse (Ethan Hawke) as they meet on a train to the picturesque Austrian capital, Vienna. Then, they decide to spend the rest of the day exploring the city together.

Before Sunrise was followed by Before Sunset and Before Midnight, all of which were filmed ten years apart in three different European cities — Vienna, Paris, and Greece.

Suppose you’re on a honeymoon or an intercontinental date. In that case, you can book a private waltz class at the Palais am Beethovenplatz or take your partner to the iconic Riesenrad. At this 19th-century Ferris wheel, Jesse and Julie shared their first kiss in Before Sunrise. Or, just like they do in Before Sunset, you can stroll along the Pont Neuf, Paris’ oldest stone bridge across the Seine, while enjoying delicious French cuisine.

The last movie of the trilogy follows Celine and Jesse, now in their forties with kids, on a peaceful getaway to Kalamata, Greece. They explore the Ancient city of Messini and enjoy a date night at a seaside restaurant. If you’re lucky, you might reserve a room at the Westin Resort Costa Navarino, where the hotel scenes were shot, and the cast members stayed while filming.

6. In Bruges (2008)

Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges is a black comedy about a pair of hitmen who brilliantly display all Bruges offers. The plot centres around two Irish hitmen who are hiding out in the city with very different objectives. While Ray (Colin Farrell) wants to get drunk and whine all the time, Ken (Brendan Gleeson) prefers to visit the cultural attractions.

The cult classic features architectural landmarks, voyaging viewers back in time since Bruges is one of Europe’s most well-preserved medieval cities.

The duo stays at the Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce, located at the intersection of two canals and will undoubtedly steal your breath away and get your fingers typing. Make sure to try the hotel’s delicious cuisine —only if there’s room left in your belly after enjoying all the waffles, chocolates, and beer Bruges offers!

7. On the Road (2012)

Based on Jack Kerouac’s novel set in the late 1940s, On the Road tells the story of the literature’s most famous road trip. The movie’s protagonists are Sal Paradise (Sam Riley), a writer, and a free-spirited man, Dean Moriarty (Garrett Hedlund). The plot follows the adventures of these two men in a cross-country trip across Denver, North Carolina, San Francisco, and Mexico.

You’ll be transfixed by Chicago’s waterfront views and pleasing skylines and find yourself dreaming of Mexico’s long cactus-lined highways. Also starring Kristen Stewart, Amy Adams, and Kirsten Dunst, this movie adaptation of the Beats classic is not to be missed.

8. Lost in Translation (2003)

Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation will take you right into the heart of Tokyo’s two most colourful districts, Shinjuku and Shibuya. The movie tells the eerie bond between two complete strangers, Bob (Bill Murray) and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson).

The movie highlights some of the best spots in Tokyo with enthralling sights, sounds, and energy that will have you booking a flight to Japan. Bob and Charlotte stay at the Park Hyatt Tokyo, which offers one of the city’s most awe-inspiring vistas.

As seen in the movie, if you’re looking for lively nightlife at a neon wonderland, take a cab to the red-light district Kabukicho. You can also sing your heart out at Karaoke Kan in Shibuya and request rooms 601 or 602, used in the iconic scene where Charlotte and Bob sing together. Then, after you’ve had your fill of the city’s turmoil, you may visit Joganji, the temple Charlotte dwells on during a calm, rainy day.

9. Mamma Mia (2008)

Few movies offer the kind of gorgeously colourful beach imagery “Mamma Mia!” and its 2018 sequel, “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again,” provide. In this jukebox musical based on ABBA’s songs, three men travel to the fictional Greek island of Kalokairi, each believing they’re the father of a young bride-to-be.

The movie will make you long for sandy beaches and the azure waters of Skopelos and Skiathos, the two central locations in Greece where the film was shot.

Or, if you prefer to stick to more well-known places, the beautiful Santorini island in the southern Aegean Sea is always waiting for you. It will not disappoint with its iconic white houses and blue domes, Instagram-worthy sunsets, and delicious food. Santorini also boasts a scenic hiking trail running from Fira to Oia, which you should consider going to.

10. Baraka

Directed by Ron Fricke, Baraka is a collection of sequences portraying human life, environmental events, and technological phenomena shot in 25 countries on six continents. This non-narrative documentary transcends language and geography, offering a unique perspective on our world that is possibly unparalleled in its beauty and compassion.

The film opens in Nango Springs, Japan, with footage of snow monkeys sitting contently in hot springs. Then it takes you on a once-in-a-lifetime journey across the world’s numerous destinations. Some locations featured in the movie include the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the Ryōan temple in Kyoto, Lake Natron in Tanzania, and the aircraft boneyard at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base.

While it’s impossible to summarise all of the locations shown in the movie, at least one of them is bound to ignite your wanderlust and get you exploring.