From 'Roman Holiday' to 'The Darjeeling Limited': Most memorable travel-themed films

It’s quite magical how films, more than any other piece of pop-culture ephemera, have the power to sweep you away on a Mediterranean cruise, walk you into the lap of the Alps or whisk you through a musty flea market in Asia. Watching these films can fill you with the urge to pack your bags and head out to explore a new destination. On World Tourism Day (September 27), we bring you some of the most memorable travel-based films that will put a spring in your step and a tune on your lips...
Roman Holiday(1953)
What happens when a runaway princess slips incognito into Rome and meets a charming newsman? They fall in love, of course. While Gregory Peck was busy cooking up the biggest scoop of his lifetime, the mischievous, aristo-chic Audrey Hepburn soaks in the beautiful sights of the city. Directed by William Wyler, the romantic-comedy film also features the iconic Vespa.
Before Sunrise (1995)
Just how a fairytale would unfold, Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy meet on the train from Budapest to Vienna. Sensing a connection between each other, the two decide to spend a day in Vienna. Directed by Richard Linklater, the first of the trilogy documents the mesmerizing landmarks of the European city.
A Room with a View (1985)
Based on EM Forster’s novel of the same name, this James Ivory films follows the journey of Maggie Smith and Helena Bonham Carter to Florence, where they are left disheartened to find a room without a view of the river Arno, and they decide to swap rooms with an eccentric father-son duo.
Out of Africa (1985)
This Meryl Streep- and Robert Redford-starrer movie takes you to 20th-century colonial Kenya, where a Danish plantation owner falls in love with a gypsesque big-game hunter. Directed by Sydney Pollack, this epic romantic drama begins in Denmark and traces its characters to a plantation in Africa.
READ: Ethan Hawke: Career causes strain on wife
Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
Directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud, this biographical war drama film is based on Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer’s experiences in Tibet between 1944 and 1951. Starring Brad Pitt and David Thewlis, the plot revolves around the adventurer who befriends the Dalai Lama during China’s takeover of Tibet.
The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
The biopic recounts the experiences of Che Guevara and his friend during an 8,000 km-long adventure motorcycle trip through South America, years before he became the iconic Marxist revolutionary. The film — based on the 1952 expedition — is directed by Walter Salles and stars Gael García Bernal, Rodrigo De la Serna and Mía Maestro.
Amélie (2001)
From street cafés to mulled wine, this movie features almost all the staples of Paris. The film documents the life of a young French woman called Amélie, played by Audrey Tautou, who finds joy in helping others, while she herself is in search of a purpose in life. Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet, the film is largely about inspiration and wanderlust.
The Darjeeling Limited (2007)
The film is about three brothers — played by Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman — who reunite on a train a year after their father’s funeral. Together, they set out on a journey across India to ease the pain and sort out their differences. Directed by Wes Anderson, the film was shot in different locations of Rajasthan.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
True to Woody Allen’s quirky thematic skills and choice of charming shoot locations, the film — with Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz in lead roles — shows how the lives of two friends on a summer holiday in Spain get tangled with that of a painter and his ex-wife.
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011)
Reeled at various locations in Spain, the UK, Egypt and Mumbai, the film is about three friends — played by Farhan Akhtar, Hrithik Roshan and Abhay Deol — who stay tangled in their own personal stories. They set out on the fantasy trip and discover a new meaning to life. The film is directed by Zoya Akhtar.
Eat Pray Love (2010)
This romantic comedy-drama film is an adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir of the same name. Directed by Ryan Murphy and starring Julia Roberts, the movie documents the life of a divorced woman who embarks on a quest for self-discovery — she finds the pleasure of eating in Italy, the power of prayer in India and inner peace and true love in Bali.
Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani (2013)
The film essays the relationship of two characters, played by Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, at two different points of their life. Apart from the glamorous mountain trekking sequences in the Himalayas, the film, directed by Ayan Mukerji, was shot at various other locations including Udaipur, Gulmarg, Naggar and Paris.
Chennai Express (2013)
Featuring Shahrukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, the romantic-comedy film chronicles a train journey where the lead characters from different demographic and background fall in love. Directed by Rohit Shetty, the movie was filmed at a number of scenic locations in South India, including Munnar, as well as in Goa.
Highway (2014)
In the snap of a finger, a young would-be bride is thrown into the harsh life of a lorry driver. While the story begins with abduction and demand for ransom, the girl eventually starts enjoying her journey with the kidnapper through Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir. Directed by Imitiaz Ali, the film featured Randeep Hooda and Alia Bhatt.
Dil Dhadakne Do (2015)
Covering the picturesque locales of France, Spain, Tunisia, Italy and Turkey, a luxury cruise liner witnesses the bitter-sweet experiences of an industrialist family onboard. Directed by Zoya Akhtar, the film includes stars like Anil Kapoor, Farhan Akhtar, Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh, Anushka Sharma, Shefali Shah and Rahul Bose.
For latest Hollywood updates, follow us on Twitter >>>@TOIEntertain
For the latest in Hollywood news, like us on Facebook >>>TOIEntertain
WATCH: The Darjeeling Limited (1/5) Movie CLIP - You're Crazy (2007) HD