11 Travel-Inspired Movies to Fuel Your Wanderlust

Old streets, national music, and a wealth of colors are all you need to find inspiration and plan your summer vacation. Here are 11 vibrant films that will help quench your thirst for adventure and delight your eyes with views from different countries.

The Great Beauty, 2013

Paolo Sorrentino’s style slightly resembles Fellini’s manner of exploring Rome from various aspects of life. Architectural marvels straight out of guidebooks, Great Gatsby-style parties, vibrant costumes, and a scorching summer. The film won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA, making it the most awarded film capturing the spirit of Italy.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, 2005

Four best friends, who grew up together, part ways and spend their first summer apart. Before saying goodbye, they accidentally find a pair of magical jeans that fit each of them perfectly despite their different body types. These jeans become a talisman that they must pass on to each other every week with a note about the good things that happened in their lives in different countries.

Lost in Translation, 2003

Bob is a weary actor whose life lacks anything extraordinary. Charlotte is a beauty bored by her husband’s neglect. They meet in a modest Tokyo hotel, suffering from insomnia and experiencing culture shock from life in Asia.

A Bigger Splash, 2015

This film by the creator of “Call Me by Your Name” is filled with a cozy, sunny atmosphere. Tilda Swinton, as a rock star on vacation, successfully infuses the film with drama. There’s also a paradise-like spot somewhere near Italy, dark passions, jealousy, and hunger.

Before Midnight, 2013

This film concludes the series about the romantic encounter of two strangers on a train who decided to spend a night in Vienna. Nine years after the events of “Before Sunset,” they have two children but have lost touch, and their relationship seems to be experiencing an autumn. During a trip to Greece to visit their friends, Jesse and Celine try to rediscover their deep connection.

Magic in the Moonlight, 2014

A classic Woody Allen film starring Emma Stone and Colin Firth. The atmosphere of 1920s France, magic tricks, conversations with good spirits, green lawns, and torrential rain that washes away all barriers between people.

The Tourist, 2010

Critics were ruthless with this film, believing it didn’t keep viewers on the edge of their seats enough. With Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, and the stunning streets and canals of Venice and Paris on screen, it’s no wonder. The filming locations are key points in a European guidebook, and the vintage dresses worn by Angelina’s character are a dream for any fashionista.

Letters to Juliet, 2010

Young Amanda Seyfried goes to Verona on her honeymoon, but her new husband can’t find time for her because he’s busy opening a new restaurant. By chance, the girl joins volunteers who respond to letters that tourists send to Juliet. One careless piece of advice leads her on a journey through the country to help save someone else’s love.

Under the Tuscan Sun, 2003

This story partly resembles the life of Elizabeth Gilbert: a depressed writer, persuaded by friends, goes on vacation to Italy. After several happy weeks, she realizes she’s not ready to go home and seeks love in sunny Tuscany.

The Rum Diary, 2011

A story about the fictional gonzo journalist Paul Kemp, who tires of life in New York and decides to work as a reporter in Puerto Rico. The resort’s leisurely life gives way to drunken escapades, and the relaxed pace of life turns into serious financial deals. The Caribbean Sea, Johnny Depp, and Amber Heard make for a perfect evening with cocktails.

The Diaries of His Wife, 2000

An atmospheric film by Alexei Uchitel about the life of Ivan Bunin. A provincial writer staying with a classic in France becomes the cause of many dramatic events. His wife and mistress plot against each other, and triumph and the Nobel Prize turn into creative failures. Sea landscapes, retro atmosphere, and an amazing soundtrack are rare finds in Russian films.