Wanderlust for Dummies

11 movies that made millions want to pack their bags

Some movies leave you thinking about the characters. Others leave you checking airfares. A great travel movie can turn a city street, lonely highway, vineyard, or train ride into somewhere you suddenly need to see for yourself. From Iceland to the landscapes of Middle-earth, these 11 films have inspired wanderlust in thousands of viewers.

Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) travels halfway around the world in this 2013 adventure, but Iceland does more of the traveling than viewers might realize. The country doubles for several destinations, while its own spectacular scenery supplies some of the movie's most memorable moments. Skógafoss waterfall, Vatnajökull's icy landscapes, black-sand country, and the mountains of East Iceland all help make Walter's escape from ordinary life irresistible.

The movie isn’t the first incarnation of this story. A 1939 short story by James Thurber was published in The New Yorker, which, in turn, inspired a 1947 musical comedy starring Danny Kaye.

Few movies have launched more trips to Italy than Under the Tuscan Sun (2003). After her life falls apart, Frances (Diane Lane) buys a crumbling villa in Tuscany and begins rebuilding both the house and herself. Cortona's stone streets, sunny piazzas, countryside, and leisurely atmosphere provide such a seductive backdrop that the movie helped send travelers searching for their own taste of Tuscan life.

Some of that movie magic involves a little deception. The fixer-upper seen onscreen wasn't the original book author Frances Mayes's real Bramasole home but Villa Laura, chosen partly because filmmakers needed a property that could convincingly require renovation. Cortona's Piazza della Repubblica became the bustling market, while another picturesque detail, a fountain seen in Piazza Signorelli, was created for the film.

Middle-earth may be fictional, but its mountains, rivers, forests, and rolling green hills are remarkably real. Peter Jackson filmed The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003) entirely in New Zealand, using more than 150 locations across the North and South Islands. Farmland around Matamata became the Shire, Kaitoke Regional Park became Rivendell, and landscapes around Queenstown and Glenorchy helped create Tolkien's enormous world.

The movies didn't just make New Zealand look spectacular; they changed tourism there. Hobbiton survived as a permanent attraction, and travelers can visit numerous landscapes recognizable from the trilogy. The connection remains remarkably powerful decades later: New Zealand government research found that 12.4% of international visitors surveyed in 2025 said The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit influenced their decision to visit.

What happens when two strangers get off a train and spend one night wandering Vienna together? In Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise (1995), the answer is remarkably little, and that's precisely the charm. Jesse (Ethan Hawke) and Céline (Julie Delphi) talk, walk, ride a tram, visit cafés, browse a record store, and gradually fall for each other. Vienna quietly becomes the third participant in their spontaneous overnight romance.

Many of their stops are real places visitors can still find, including Café Sperl, the Ringstrasse, Kleines Café, Zollamtssteg, and the Giant Ferris Wheel. The movie's connection with Vienna has become so enduring that the city's tourism authority offers an official Before Sunrise walking route featuring 11 locations.

Tokyo doesn't appear peaceful or easily understandable in Lost in Translation (2003). That's exactly what makes it so alluring. Sofia Coppola presents a city of towering buildings, neon signs, crowded crossings, late-night karaoke, temples, bars, and sensory overload. Bob (Bill Murray) and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) may feel disoriented there, but viewers get the irresistible impression that something fascinating is waiting around every corner.

Much of the movie was filmed around Shinjuku and Shibuya. The Park Hyatt Tokyo provides those famous views over the seemingly endless city, while Kabukicho supplies neon-soaked streets and Shibuya Crossing delivers controlled urban chaos. There are glimpses of quieter Japan, too. Few movies have made jet lag, culture shock, and getting completely lost so seductive.

This isn't simply a motorcycle trip through one spectacular landscape. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) follows the 1952 journey undertaken by 23-year-old Ernesto Guevara (Gael García Bernal) and his friend Alberto Granado (Rodrigo de la Serna), beginning aboard their battered Norton 500, nicknamed La Poderosa. As the miles accumulate and the motorcycle eventually disappears from beneath them, the journey becomes much larger than either traveler expected.

The scenery changes constantly, from Argentina's Lake District and Patagonia to Chile's stark Atacama landscapes and Peru's Andes. Machu Picchu provides one of the journey's defining stops. Rather than selling one particular destination, the movie makes an entire continent feel enormous yet interconnected.

Few films have used landscape on such a grand scale as Out of Africa, starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. Its images of open plains, distant hills, wildlife, and enormous skies helped make the 1985 film visually unforgettable. The story's colonial setting deserves historical context, but the Kenyan landscapes themselves remain among the movie's great attractions, particularly the country surrounding Nairobi and the Ngong Hills.

The story also has a real address. Danish writer Karen Blixen lived on a farm outside Nairobi, where she attempted to operate a coffee plantation. Her former farmhouse is now the Karen Blixen Museum, with the Ngong Hills visible beyond it.

Travel doesn't have to stop when retirement begins. That's the wonderfully optimistic premise behind The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012), in which a group of British retirees arrives in India expecting an inexpensive but luxurious retirement residence. What they find isn't quite what the brochure promised, but Jaipur's streets, markets, colors, noise, and energy gradually become part of their unexpected second act.

The movie used locations around Jaipur and Udaipur, including Lake Pichola and Panna Meena Kund. Best of all, the Marigold itself isn't entirely imaginary. Its exterior was filmed at Ravla Khempur, a heritage property outside Udaipur.

If you've ever dreamed about abandoning deadlines for vineyards, long lunches, and a stone house in southern France, A Good Year (2006) knows exactly which buttons to push. The film, based on Peter Mayle’s 2004 novel, features Russell Crowe playing a London financier who inherits a vineyard in Provence and initially intends to sell it. But sunshine, wine, childhood memories, and a slower rhythm of life begin interfering with that plan.

The vineyard is real: Château La Canorgue near Bonnieux supplied one of the movie's principal locations. Filming also ventured through the Luberon to places including Gordes and Cucuron, whose plane-tree-lined Place de l'Étang appears onscreen.

The title might send you searching for Darjeeling on a map, but the scenery that makes Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited (2007) so memorable lies largely elsewhere. Three estranged brothers (Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody, and Owen Wilson) undertake an eccentric train journey through India amid the vivid landscapes and architecture of Rajasthan, with filming centered around locations including Jodhpur and Udaipur.

The train itself becomes part of the fantasy: colorful, carefully composed, and packed with the symmetrical visual details associated with Anderson's movies. Outside its windows lies a constantly changing India. The trip is messy, funny, and frequently goes wrong. The movie makes an imperfect journey seem considerably more interesting than a perfectly planned vacation.

In The Beach (2000), Leonardo DiCaprio's character searches for a supposedly secret tropical paradise and finds it at an impossibly beautiful hidden bay. The real location was Maya Bay on Thailand's Phi Phi Leh, and moviegoers wanted to find it too. Paradise didn't remain secret for very long.

By 2017, Maya Bay was receiving nearly 5,000 visitors a day. Environmental damage became so serious that Thai authorities closed the bay in 2018, and what was initially expected to be a temporary measure stretched to roughly three and a half years. It later reopened under stricter rules and has undergone periodic conservation closures.

Top family getaway destinations

10 top family vacation spots for every generation

Taking trips together is a wonderful way for families to strengthen their bond: it sparks great conversations, creates everlasting memories, and allows everyone to get to know each other a bit better. Once you actually get out there, you see just how much fun you can have together on a trip. From the world-famous theme parks of Orlando, Florida, to the sunny, relaxed coastlines of San Diego, California, there are endless options tailored for every age group. Here are 10 stellar travel destinations for your next family adventure.

Orlando offers world-class theme parks like Walt Disney World and Universal Studios. Late fall through early spring brings ideal weather with lower humidity. Grandkids will love meeting their favorite characters, while parents and grandparents can enjoy premier golf courses or resort pools.

Together, the whole crew can explore Disney Springs for dining and live music. Book character breakfasts early so everyone gets up-close photos without spending hours standing in park lines.

San Diego features stunning beaches and sunny, mild weather year-round, though late spring and autumn offer smaller crowds. Kids will be thrilled by the famous San Diego Zoo, while older adults will enjoy strolling through historic Balboa Park or relaxing by La Jolla’s picturesque tide pools.

The whole group can gather for a sunset beach bonfire and s'mores. A slower coastal pace makes it easier for different generations to relax together without feeling rushed.

Yellowstone boasts breathtaking geothermal wonders and abundant wildlife. Visit in late spring or early fall to avoid peak summer traffic. The entire family can ride together along scenic drives to spot bison and bears, or walk easy boardwalks leading to Old Faithful. Grandkids will love the Junior Ranger program, while adults appreciate the majestic landscapes.

Stay inside the park or rent a large near-park cabin so mornings start stress-free right near the trails.

Oahu provides tropical beauty paired with convenient US amenities. April, May, September, and October offer fantastic weather and lower rates. Grandkids can take beginner surfboard lessons at gentle Waikiki Beach, while adults explore the historic sights at Pearl Harbor. Together, everyone can attend a colorful evening luau for traditional food, music, and hula.

Sharing a tropical sunset over the Pacific is one of those timeless moments your family will treasure forever.

The nation's capital offers rich history and world-class culture. Spring, especially during cherry blossom season, and autumn bring pleasant walking weather. Families will love visiting the National Mall monuments together, while different generations can pick their favorite free Smithsonian museums, from Space to American History. The efficient Metro subway keeps group transit easy.

Reserve tickets for popular sights like the African American History Museum or the Capitol well in advance online.

Costa Rica delivers accessible eco-adventures and lush rainforests. The dry season from December through April is the best time to visit. Older grandkids and adults can try ziplining through the jungle canopy, while grandparents enjoy relaxing in the natural volcanic hot springs of Arenal. Everyone can take a guided rainforest walk to spot sloths and monkeys.

Hire a private local guide to make wildlife spotting far easier for eyes of all ages.

Gatlinburg combines Great Smoky Mountains beauty with lively family entertainment. October offers vibrant fall foliage, while summer is great for mountain streams. Grandkids will adore the rides and music at nearby Dollywood, while adults appreciate local artisan craft shops along the loop.

Together, the family can rent a cozy cabin for game nights and barbecue. Renting one large home brings back that heartwarming slumber-party feel for all generations.

Cancun offers turquoise Caribbean waters and effortless, all-inclusive luxury. December through April provides warm, dry days. Kids can splash around in dedicated water parks, while adults relax on white-sand loungers with poolside service. The whole family can take a daytime catamaran excursion to nearby Isla Mujeres or visit ancient Mayan ruins.

Choose an all-inclusive resort with a dedicated kids' club so parents get a little quiet downtime too.

Banff features magnificent, postcard-worthy Rocky Mountain scenery. June through September brings warm days and melted lakes, while winter offers a snowy wonderland. Grandkids and grandparents alike can take the smooth Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain for panoramic alpine views, or take a gentle paved stroll around Lake Louise.

Standing beside Lake Louise’s brilliant turquoise waters reminds every generation how incredible our natural world really is.

Myrtle Beach delivers classic, affordable East Coast seaside fun. June through August is prime beach weather, though late spring brings pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds. Kids will love building sandcastles, while adults can play rounds on world-class golf courses. Together, the family can walk the oceanfront boardwalk or enjoy entertaining dinner shows.

Rent an oceanfront condo with a full kitchen to save money on easy family breakfasts and lunches.