Searching for the best travel movies on Netflix? Are you starting to plan your next trip and looking for some inspiration?
Whether you’re about to jet off or are putting together a killer itinerary, the best way to get in the mood is by watching travel or road trip movies.
Luckily, Netflix is full of movies about travel, so you’ll likely find one set in your destination or relating to your travel style.
So, regardless of if you’re taking a road trip, flying to another country, or even sailing across the world, these ten travel movies on Netflix will fill you with excitement and anticipation.
1. Eat, Pray, Love (2010)
Eat Pray Love is perhaps the most loved movie for female solo travelers and one most of us can relate to.
This film is even better because it is based on the true story of writer Elizabeth Gilbert’s travel life.
What’s more, Gilbert is played by none other than the incredible Julia Roberts.
We first meet Gilbert in a moment of deep despair where she realizes that she is unhappy in her marriage.
The scene of her crying on the bathroom floor pulls the heartstrings of every female who has left a relationship for the life of travel.
After dealing with a messy divorce, Gilbert plans a year-long spiritual journey to rediscover herself. She splits the year between Italy, India, and Bali, and we follow her to each destination.
Throughout the movie, we see how she grows and finds pieces of herself that had become lost in an unfulfilled life, and we can’t help but cheer her on every step of the way.
If you’re a fan of this movie, make sure to read our post including the best quotes from Eat, Pray, Love.
2. Into The Wild (2007)
This Oscar-nominated film is based on the true story of a young American guy who feels called to go into the wild. He gives up everything to live a nomadic life, including his trust fund and excellent job prospects.
The film follows Christopher as he hitchhikes across North America, arriving in the Alaskan bush.
Here, he lives almost entirely off the land, hunting for food and sleeping in an abandoned bus he found.
While we may not have had such an intense travel experience, as freedom seekers, we can relate to Christophers’ desire to break free from society.
I don’t want to give too much away, but this film is undoubtedly a tear-jerker!
3. Expedition Happiness (2017)
This travel documentary follows a young couple wanting to escape their hometown and see the world, something all travelers can relate to.
Expedition Happiness follows the adventure-seeking couple who transform an old school bus into a motorhome and then travel across North America in it, with their fur child in tow.
Expedition Happiness feels authentic and relatable, and you’ll indeed feel for the couple as they encounter many familiar road trip problems.
It’s one of the best road trip movies you can find on Netflix right now and will remind you of the first big trip you ever took and that first taste of freedom you experienced.
Or, if you’ve yet to pack up your life and hit the road, this travel movie will inspire you to make it happen!
4. Lost In Translation (2003)
Lost in Translation is one of the best backpacking movies on Netflix. It deals with the feelings of loneliness solo travelers often experience on long stints away from home.
The 2003 movie follows the story of two travelers in Tokyo (played by Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson) who find comfort in each other’s company.
Lost in Translation represents perfectly the familiar feeling of confusion and alienation when you first arrive in a country where you don’t speak the language.
Plus, it highlights the importance of human connection during travel and how the people we meet while away are never by coincidence.
5. The Bucket List (2007)
The Bucket list is undoubtedly one of the best travel movies on Netflix for anyone who is procrastinating about booking their dream trip.
This inspiring film is about two terminally ill men (played by Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson) who meet on a cancer ward.
They create their bucket lists and decide to tick off as many things as possible before they die.
This ultimate travel movie follows the pair as they visit the most incredible places globally, such as the Taj Mahal, The Great Wall Of China, and the Egyptian pyramids.
What’s more, they embark on many adventures, from an African Safari to skiing in the alps to skydiving.
While the concept of this movie is simple, it serves as a refreshing reminder to make the most of the time we have left. What’s more, the acting and story writing is superb.
6. The Terminal (2004)
Ok, this may not be one that you’ll want to watch the night before a flight, but it’s an incredible movie nonetheless.
I’m sure we’ve all had worrisome thoughts of being stranded in an airport, and this is what happens to a traveler played by Tom Hanks in The Terminal.
However, he doesn’t just get stuck there for a few days, no he spends nine months inside New York’s JFK airport!
How does this happen? The character Viktor flies into JFK but then realizes his passport is invalid and unrecognizable and cannot enter the USA, nor can he return home.
But don’t worry, this story is entirely fictional, thank god!
7. The Fundamentals Of Caring (2016)
The Fundamentals of Caring is another of the best road trip movies and an inspirational buddy comedy about a disabled teen and his caregiver.
Ben (Paul Rudd) is a writer who retires early after a family loss and decides to become a caregiver for a troubled teen (Trevor) who’s fed up with being stuck in a wheelchair.
Ben decides to take Trevor on a road trip across America to change his perspective on life.
With themes of hope and companionship, they both overcome struggles and gain a new lease on life along with a solid friendship.
The Fundamentals of Caring is funny yet emotional and perfectly exemplifies how life-affirming road trips and traveling can be.
8. Holiday In The Wild (2019)
If you’re planning an African Safari, Holiday in the Wild is a must-see. This movie is about an American woman whose husband unexpectedly leaves her.
She decides to go alone on what was supposed to be their ‘second honeymoon,’ a trip to Africa.
However, during the solo safari, she finds purpose in helping the animals and extends her stay.
While in Zambia, Kate volunteers at an elephant sanctuary. There are several scenes that anyone who has volunteered with animals abroad will find relatable.
Although a little predictable, it’s a pleasant, easy-viewing film about leaving the modern luxuries of the western world and experiencing a simpler life in the wild.
9. The Tourist (2010)
We’ve all had holiday romances but probably not one that put us in great danger and on the run from the police!
The Tourist is a thrilling travel movie about an American tourist named Frank (played by Johnny Deep) who travels to Italy on his own to mend his broken heart.
However, instead of finding peace and solitude, he meets Elise (played by Angelina Jolie) on a train to Venice.
Frank believes they have hit it off but unknown to him, Elise has chosen him as a decoy.
As a result, he’s mistaken for a mobster and wanted by the police and the mob from whom Elise stole money.
The film is a tad unrealistic, but you’ll surely enjoy The Tourist if you like thrillers and adore Italy.
10. David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet (2020)
This recent David Attenborough travel documentary is a must-see for anyone interested in this magnificent world, thus all travelers. In ‘A Life on Our Planet,’ Attenborough recounts the most astonishing things he has seen on his travels.
As a man who has visited the most remote, uninhabited places on every continent, he is someone worth listening to!
Attenborough speaks of the evolutionary history of life on Earth and grieves the loss of rainforests and animal species and the effect of climate change.
But it’s not all doom and gloom, as he discusses his vision for the future and how we can make a positive change to the planet we live on.
This travel documentary will undoubtedly inspire you to get out there and make a difference in the world.
Final Thoughts On Travel Movies
Our list of the best travel movies on Netflix includes something for every wanderlust planning or preparing for a trip.
So, why not take a break from your destination research and packing and put one of these travel and backpacking movies on Netflix.
Searching for more inspiration? Read one of the following blog posts:
