Have you ever watched a movie and suddenly found yourself reminiscing about a place you’ve visited or adding a new destination to your travel bucket list?
That happens to me all the time. Some movies take me right back to places I’ve already explored, while others have me searching for flights before the credits roll. And sometimes, it’s actually the book behind the movie that sparks the wanderlust.
Here are some that have inspired me. Maybe they’ll inspire your next adventure, too.
1. CASINO ROYALE
Where It Takes You: Venice and Lake Como, Italy
Daniel Craig’s first outing as James Bond takes him to several incredible destinations, but it’s the scenes in Italy that always get my attention.
I love watching this movie, not just for the action, the storyline or even the scene where Daniel Craig emerges from the water all muscular and fit (all of which are good!), but for the scenes at the end of the movie that were shot in Venice, Italy.
I was lucky enough to tour Italy by car and Venice was by far one of the highlights of the trip.
Although I was only there for a day, I packed a LOT into a short amount of time. But Venice is one of those places that deserves to be savored, and I’d happily go back to wander the canals, get a little lost, and explore more of the city.
Spots You May Recognize:
- Venice: Accademia Bridge, Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge, St. Mark’s Square
- Lake Como: Villa del Balbianello and Villa La Gaeta
If Venice or Lake Como is on your bucket list, this one delivers plenty of Italian eye candy between the Bond action scenes.
2. THE DEPARTED
Where It Takes You: Boston, Massachusetts
This Martin Scorsese crime thriller is definitely not a travel movie, but Boston plays such a big role in it that the city almost feels like another character.
When I worked for a major insurance company based in Boston, I visited at least five times for work. Later, I returned with one of my friends for St. Patrick’s Day.
Every trip made me appreciate the city more: beautiful parks, great food, tons of history and neighborhoods that are fun to explore on foot.
When I watch The Departed, I enjoy the great story (although it is quite violent and gruesome at times), but I also love spotting places I recognize from my own visits.
The first time I was in Boston for work was a whirlwind 48-hour trip, so I didn’t have time to see any of the sights. My second trip, however, I saw a LOT. I took a tour bus with some friends, which helped me learn my way around the city and get my bearings.
Afterwards, I was able to tour Boston on foot and often on my own, confident that I knew where I was going and how to get anywhere I wanted.
I especially loved Boston Common, the Public Garden and beautiful Beacon Hill, with its historic brick homes, cobblestone streets and gas lamps.
Spots You May Recognize:
- Boston Common
- Chinatown
- Long Wharf
- South Station
- South Boston (aka Southie)
- Beacon Hill and other locations around the city
If you enjoy history, walkable cities and distinctive neighborhoods, Boston deserves a spot on your travel list, even if organized crime isn’t part of the itinerary.
3. EAT, PRAY, LOVE
Where It Takes You: Italy, India and Bali
Few movies are as closely associated with travel as Eat Pray Love. While Elizabeth Gilbert’s journey takes her around the world, it’s the Italy portion that brings back the strongest travel memories for me.
This movie holds a very special place in my heart for many reasons. When I was going through a difficult breakup, one of my girlfriends told me about the book and suggested that I read it. I did and really related to it; it was very cathartic. In fact, I’ve read it several times since.
When I heard they were making the movie and cast Julia Roberts as Elizabeth Gilbert (the perfect choice), I couldn’t wait to see it and the movie did not disappoint!
My favorite part of the movie is when Julia Roberts’ character is living in Italy.
Several years ago, I toured Italy from Milan to Rome and back to Milan with plenty of stops in between.
Watching the movie takes me right back to that trip, which remains one of my favorites. And let’s face it: a movie filled with Italian piazzas, pasta, pizza and gelato makes it pretty hard not to start searching for flights to Italy.
One of my favorite memories from Rome involved finding a coffee shop with such amazing chocolate croissants that I went back several times. Sometimes it’s those little discoveries that stick with you long after a trip ends.
Spots You May Recognize
- Rome: Piazza Navona and locations throughout the historic center
- Naples: L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele
4. FRENCH KISS
Where It Takes You: Paris, Cannes and the French countryside
In French Kiss, Meg Ryan heads to France in pursuit of her fiancé and ends up on an unexpected adventure with Kevin Kline. For me, though, part of the fun is seeing France again.
Luckily, when I went to France, I wasn’t chasing after a straying fiancé. I was with one of my good friends and we had a wonderful time. However, I got lost in Paris the first night (true story!).
We started and ended our trip in Paris and spent as much time as we could walking around and taking in the City of Light.
While there, we saw the Eiffel Tower, strolled along the Champs-Élysées, enjoyed the art scene and seeing the Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre.
Watching French Kiss allows me to relive some of these places while enjoying the movie’s romantic comedy antics along the way.
Spots You May Recognize:
- Paris: Champs-Élysées, Montmartre, the Louvre and Eiffel Tower
- Cannes
- Vaucluse and the French countryside
It’s a fun choice when you want a little Parisian wanderlust without the airfare.
5. UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN
Where It Takes You: Tuscany and other parts of Italy
If any movie can make you fantasize about dropping everything and moving to Italy, it might be Under the Tuscan Sun.
In Under the Tuscan Sun, Diane Lane plays Frances, a newly divorced writer who travels to Tuscany for a much-needed change of scenery. She is on a bus tour of Tuscany when she first sees a listing for a run-down villa. Then, on the journey between villages, the bus has to stop while a herd of cattle blocks the road. Where does it stop? Right in front of the same villa.
Taking this as a sign, Frances buys the villa on a whim and stays in Tuscany.
The story is about much more than buying a house in Italy. It’s about starting over, taking chances and discovering that life doesn’t always unfold according to plan.
The scenery in the movie is beautiful and takes me back to my road trip through Italy.
The Tuscan villages, fields of sunflowers, cypress and olive trees, farmers markets and winding country roads remind me of one of the best trips I’ve ever taken. Just like Eat Pray Love, this movie instantly transports me back to Italy.
Spots You May Recognize:
- Cortona
- Positano
- Florence
- Montepulciano
- Rome
- Sansepolcro
And yes, every time I watch it, buying a villa in Tuscany seems like a perfectly reasonable life decision.📚 READ BEFORE YOU GO: Under the Tuscan Sun will give you even more reasons to fall in love with Tuscany, from the food and culture to the rhythms of everyday Italian life.
6. A GOOD YEAR
Where It Takes You: Provence, France
There are some movies that make you want to visit a destination before the credits even roll, and A Good Year is one of those for me.
Russell Crowe plays Max, a London businessman who inherits his uncle’s vineyard in Provence and heads to France intending to sell it. Of course, things don’t quite go according to plan.
Unlike some of the other destinations on this list, Provence is a place this movie makes me want to explore. Between the vineyards, sun-drenched countryside, outdoor cafés, markets and slower pace of life, the movie makes escaping to the South of France look pretty tempting.
SPOTS YOU’LL RECOGNIZE:
- Provence and the Luberon region
- Vineyards and villages of the South of France
Maybe it’s the scenery. Maybe it’s the wine. Maybe it’s Russell Crowe. Whatever the reason, A Good Year always makes Provence look like a very good idea.
📚 READ BEFORE YOU GO: A Good Year takes you even deeper into the vineyards, food and laid-back lifestyle of Provence. Perfect for getting into the South of France state of mind.
7. ANGELS & DEMONS
Where It Takes You: Rome and Vatican City
This one is a little different because it was actually Dan Brown’s book, rather than the movie, that made me want to visit Vatican City. I love Dan Brown’s books, and Angels & Demons had me completely hooked.
By the time the movie came out, I’d already created my own version of Robert Langdon in my head…and Tom Hanks wasn’t it. (Sorry, Tom.)
But the story’s mix of history, mystery, art and incredible locations made me want to see Vatican City for myself. When I eventually made it there, I got to experience places I’d previously only pictured while reading the book.
Spots That Bring the Story to Life:
- Vatican City
- St. Peter’s Square and St. Peter’s Basilica
- Rome
📚 PREFER THE BOOK? In this case, I absolutely do! Angels and Demons by Dan Brown is the story that made me want to experience Vatican City for myself.
Final Thoughts
You don’t always need a plane ticket to escape somewhere for a couple of hours. A great movie can take you back to a favorite destination, remind you why you fell in love with a place or inspire you to start planning somewhere new.
So grab some popcorn, settle in and do a little armchair traveling. Just don’t blame me if you end up searching for flights before the credits roll.
What movie immediately makes you want to travel? Tell me in the comments. I’m always looking for another movie, and another destination, to add to my list!