20 Travel Movies for Family Movie Night

Here you can find 20 Travel Movies for families. Inspire your kids to travel and learn about different places and cultures with these travel movies which are perfect for a family movie night.

Best Travel Movies for Families

We love a good movie night, and as a family who travel a lot, we try to watch as many travel movies as we can with our kids to inspire them! Here you can find movies about travel and culture for the whole family to enjoy. They are great for when you can’t travel or just dreaming of travel! If you would like to see our list of younger kids travel movies, check out our Travel Movies for Kids post.

1. Home Alone: Lost in New York (1992) PG

Probably one of the well known and best travel movies for families. A sequel to the movie of the same name, Kevin once again finds himself accidentally without his family during Christmas, but this time in the bustling concrete jungle of New York City. He comes across the same burglars, who’s trying to steal from a toy store. With determination and a little creativity, he fends off the two burglars. Full of creative tricks that will amuse the whole family, this movie shows that traveling on vacation, or staying home, is not quite the same without good friends and family. The rating is for some uses of profanity, and show of violence.

2. Sound of Music (1965) G

A beloved musical drama film based on the stage musical of the same name, Sound of Music is a classic travel movie for families. It’s about Maria, a young postulant in Salzburg, Austria whose love for music and imagination puts her at odds with the rules among the nuns. She soon becomes hired as a governess to take care of seven unruly children of a retired naval officer, George. A wholesome movie for the whole family that encourages love for music and the outdoors.

3. Paddington (2014) PG

Paddington, of an unusually intelligent species of bear, lives with his aunt and uncle in Peru. After an earthquake destroys their home and his uncle dies, Paddington travels to London to find a new home. His experience is not what he dreamed it would be – until he meets the Brown family, who take him in. A warm, charming, delightful travel movie appropriate for the whole family.

4. Hugo (2011) PG

A young boy named Hugo Cabret in Paris, continues repairing a broken automaton of a mechanical man that his father found and was working on before he died. He meets a young girl named Isabelle, and together they unlock the mystery behind the automaton which ties to her godfather Georges Méliès’ memories and regrets. A movie that encourages embracing your past experiences and making good memories.

5. Cool Runnings (1993) PG

A Jamaican sprinter, Derice Bannock, recruits three others to join him in forming the first Jamaican bobsled team for the Winter Olympics. He also convinces an old friend of his father, formerly disgraced Olympian Irv Blitzer, to train them. They travel to train in Canada, where they struggle to be seen as equals by the other bobsledding teams. A fun movie that shows there is no limit to what you can achieve and to where you can go. The rating is for some profanity in this movie (hell, damn, butt, asshole, two-dollar hooker, bad-ass).

6. Mr. Bean’s Holiday (2007) G

Britishman Mr. Bean travels to France after winning a vacation and a video camera through a raffle. With the camera, he records his travels through France where he unknowingly separates a young boy from his father, who reports the boy as kidnapped. Despite his struggle with the language and losing his wallet and passport, Mr. Bean develops some meaningful relationships. A laugh-out-loud movie set in the beautiful country of France. There is some profanity in other languages (connard, shithead in French. “Damn” in Russian) and use of “darn” and “heck”.

7. Parent Trap (1998) PG

Two identical twins, Annie and Hallie, are separated shortly after birth after their parents divorced. Each parent raised one twin each — one in California, the other in London — who have not seen each other until they meet at summer camp. They soon discover they’re twins and swap places to get to know the other parent. This will encourage children to imagine how it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes, especially one who’s not from the same part of the world as them. Kids can also get to know two different cities.

8. Around the World in 80 Days (1956) G

Englishman Phileas Fogg relies on his precision and bets it all that he can circumnavigate the world in eighty days. Together with his French valet, Passepartout, they begin their journey from Paris in a hot air balloon. They encounter unforeseen challenges along the way while racing to reach their deadline.

9. Queen of Katwe (2016) PG

Based on the true story of a young girl named Phiona Mutesi who lives in Katwe, a slum in Kampala, Uganda. When she proves to be a talent at chess, it becomes a hope for her out of poverty. This travel movie for families shows her triumphs and challenges navigating through poverty and self-doubt, where she eventually prevails. A hopeful story about determination overcoming difficult circumstances that will inspire younger children.

10. National Treasure (2004) PG

Benjamin Franklin Gates, a historian and treasure hunter, is in a race against others to find the “national treasure,” believed to be hidden by the Founding Fathers in the United States, and with clues all over the country. They find a clue in the lost ship Charlotte that leads them to a map to the treasure decoded on the Declaration of Independence. Folks, young and old, will enjoy seeing some of the landmarks in the United States. The movie uses some profanity so probably not suited for really young kids.

11. Swiss Family Robinson (1960) G

A Swiss family from Bern consisting of a father, mother and their three sons are on their way to New Guinea when they are shipwrecked to an uninhabited tropical island following a pirate attack on their ship. Unable to leave, the family has to be resourceful and build a home on the island to protect them from the wildlife and pirates roaming the seas. “Swiss Family Robinson” is a fun movie that will inspire kids to imagine an everyday life from scratch.

12. Wizard of Oz (1939) PG

A family movie night favourite that has lasted generations. A young girl stuck on a farm in Kansas who dreams of a more exciting life somewhere over the rainbow. When a tornado hits, she gets her wish when she and Toto wake up in another land with flying monkeys and witches, scarecrows, scared lions, and even a town of Munchkins in a green Emerald City. The movie’ s main message is that you go out and see the world, and have great experiences, but in the end, there’s no place like home where you have your family and friends.

13. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) G

Caractacus Potts is a poor, eccentric inventor in England. He scrapes enough money to buy a formerly legendary car after his two children, Jeremy and Jemima, plead with him to buy it. He transforms the broken down car into a beautiful car they call the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. With it, they rescue Caractacus’ father and go on beautiful adventures. “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” is a fun classic that will inspire kids’ imagination as they go on car rides.

14. Children of Heaven (1997) PG

In South Tehran, Ali lives with his little sister Zahra and their parents. One day, Ali accidentally loses Zahra’s only pair of shoes. Knowing they can’t afford to buy a new pair of shoes, Ali is too scared to tell his parents. The film is a series of adventures as Ali first tries to share his only pair of shoes with his sister and then tries to find a way to get her a new pair of shoes. At the heart of this movie is a young boy’s love for his family. The movie uses some profanity (shit, damn, hell).

15. Pele: Birth of a Legend (2016) PG

The biographical film chronicles the rise of legendary Brazilian soccer player Pelé. Pelé grew up in poverty, in the slums of Sao Paolo, Brazil. Guided by manager Civente Feola and with his amazing skills, Pelé would go on to lead Brazil to its first World Cup victory in 1958 at the age of only 17. An inspiring film about the journey of an inspiring man. The film uses mild profanity.

16. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2019) TV-PG

This travel movie for families is based on the true story of young William Kamkuamb in Malawi. William has a love for and talent in science, and continues to study it even after his family could no longer afford to send him to school. After his village is hit by drought and famine, he uses books from the school library and recruits the help of his father to build a windmill to power a water pump they could use to sow crops, and save them from starvation. William shows how even one boy’s determination can make life thrive even where the odds are against it.

17. Vicky the Viking (Wikie und die starken Männer) (2009) Not rated

Vicky, a young viking boy, who lives in the small village of Flake accompanies his father and his men on their adventures. He is timid and often scared. So instead of physical strength, he has to rely on his intelligence and creativity to save the day, rewriting what strong and what being a good viking means. This movie will inspire children from all over the world to explore the Scandinavian countries.

18. Like Stars on Earth, Every Child is Special (2007) PG

In India, Ishaan Awasthi is a young dyslexic boy. The things he cares about are rarely what the adults appreciate. And so, he struggles to do well in school and be understood, and is soon sent to a boarding school. There, he meets an unconventional art teacher who helps him make that journey to becoming understood. A moving story about a young boy who just needed to be seen.

19. Africa United (2019) N/A

Three Rwandan kids walk 3000 miles from their own country to South Africa so that Fabrice can audition to be part of the opening ceremony of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. They encounter people who help them in their journey and encounter hard realities along the way of refugee camps, child sex slavery/prostitution, and HIV/AIDS. Despite sad circumstances brought up in the movie, it is entertaining in the way humor is used, and hopeful because of the kindness of the people they meet along the way. There are few uses of the word “shit.”

20. Viva Cuba (2005) Not rated

In Cuba, Malú is a young girl from a middle-class family raised by a single mother while Jorgito is a young boy from a poor family with a socialist mother and alcoholic father. Their parents forbid them to see each other, but they underestimate the children’s bond as together, they travel to the other side of the island to find Malú’s father to get him to help them prevent Malú from moving out of the country. Some suggestions of nudity and mild nudity.

Movies about Travel for Kids & Families

We hope you have enjoyed this list of travel movies for families. Movie nights make a great family tradition to start. Perhaps we have inspired you and your kids to embark on a new adventure to discover a different language, culture, or destination! Let us know of any other movies about travel for kids that you can recommend, or any other travel movies you have watched lately! For more animated options for younger kids, check out our Travel movies for kids post.