TV is our window to the world! There are few things that connect people as much as discussing their favourite TV series. With the introduction of streaming services like Netflix, watching television has never been more accessible or widespread. Many of our favourite shows celebrate the wonders of travel and showcase the beauty of cities and countries across the globe. In honour of World Television Day on 21 November, Expat Explore has put together a list of some amazing TV shows – both fictional and non-fictional – to inspire your wanderlust!
TV shows to inspire wanderlust – Non-Fiction:
1. An Idiot Abroad
Created by British comedy master Ricky Gervais, An Idiot Abroad follows his friend Carl Pilkington as he travels the world. What makes Carl Pilkington the perfect subject for a comedic travel documentary TV series? He has absolutely no interest in travelling! Ricky Gervais and fellow comedian Stephen Merchant take great pleasure in sending Carl on wild adventures around the world. There is no shortage of laughs as Carl visits Egypt and traverses the Saharan desert on a camel. Or, when he partakes in sumo wrestling in Tokyo, acts in a Bollywood film, stays with a pet hippo in South Africa and unwillingly goes on many other crazy adventures! The show’s producers have confirmed that poor Carl never knows what he’s in for before it happens. This makes his reactions and completely unfiltered commentary all the more hilarious.
2. Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father
Another travel TV doccie that delivers plenty of laughs, Travels with My Father sees comedian Jack Whitehall on a “delayed gap year” with his aging father. Jack, being young and vibrant, loves to experience different cultures and engage in authentic travel experiences. On the other hand, his father is in his late 70s and very straight-laced. Dad doesn’t like to travel out of his comfort zone at all! It’s a classic fish out of water comedy with some added wanderlust and sentimentality. Watch the pair, over five whole seasons, on Netflix as they traverse through Southeast Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Western USA, Australia and their native United Kingdom.
3. Parts Unknown
One cannot speak about travel TV and not mention the legendary Anthony Bourdain. Bourdain appealed to foodies, adventurous travellers and curious individuals alike with his unpretentious, open-minded and engaging approach to travel and culinary adventures. In Parts Unknown, the renowned chef ventures to lesser-known regions to discover unique cultures, fascinating history and delicious food. One of the most famous episodes saw Bourdain eating street food in Hanoi with Barack Obama. Another sees him on a wild night out in Thailand with well-known chef Andy Ricker. He travels to the Congo, Libya and Iran while tackling difficult social, political and ecological issues.
Bourdain was loved deeply by fans, and his loss was a very difficult pill to swallow. He delivered viewers a deeply personal experience while taking on real issues and having a good time.
Related: These are the best travel TV series for foodies!
4. The Amazing Race
Although it may not be the most prestigious of travel documentaries, The Amazing Race is likely the most well-travelled show of all! The popular reality television game show has been on the air for a whopping 32 seasons. Its contestants have competed across 92 different countries. Contestants in teams of two compete in a range of physical and mental challenges and scavenger hunts. All while travelling to foreign places, interacting with locals and using various methods of transportation on a very limited budget.
Viewers have watched in awe as contestants competed in ancient Olympic games in Greece, ate four pounds (almost 2kg) of meat in Argentina, herded ducks in Vietnam, yodelled in Bavaria and much more! While there are plenty of tears, arguments and dramatic moments, it’s all worth it for the winning team to get that $1million prize… and for the viewers to add new places and experiences to their bucket lists!
Related: Explore the ancient site of Olympia on our Best of Greece tour!
5. Dark Tourist
This one is for those who wish to go, quite seriously, off-the-beaten track. With Dark Tourist, you can discover some of the least appealing tourist attractions and experiences! In just eight episodes, all of which are available on Netflix, host David Farrier explores the concept of “dark tourism”. Dark tourism involves a morbid fascination with visiting destinations associated with death or tragedy. Throughout the series, Farrier visits a town with seriously high radiation levels and a “suicide forest” in Japan, a vampire cult in New Orleans, stays with white separatists and survivalists in South Africa, meets Charles Manson’s best friend and engages in plenty of other bizarre and occasionally scary activities.
If you share Farrier’s morbid curiosity, you’ll love his quirky observations and seemingly unwavering optimism. While you may not desire to visit these spots or partake in these activities yourself, you certainly won’t be able to take your eyes off the screen!
Related: If you would like to dip your toes into dark tourism, have a look at our list of Spooky European Getaways!
TV shows to inspire wanderlust – Fiction:
1. Sex and the City
The iconic 90s television series about a group of four 30-something friends actually had a fifth main character – New York City! While many shows before and after Sex and the City were filmed and set in New York, few have created the level of fan culture around not only the series but the city too. Most of the show’s locations were real life restaurants, clubs, stores and bars that highlighted NYC’s cosmopolitan lifestyle. Even Carrie Bradshaw’s gorgeous, unrealistically large brownstone is a real New York apartment! Magnolia Bakery was only briefly shown in one scene, when Carrie tells Miranda about her crush on Aidan while eating a pink cupcake. However, the little bakery became so wildly popular thanks to the show that they had to hire a bouncer!
Related: Get your Carrie Bradshaw on and spend three nights in New York City when you book this Eastern USA and Canada tour.
2. Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones may be fantasy fiction set in fantastical lands, however, much of the wildly popular TV series was filmed in locations that can actually be visited! These locations are just as beautiful as their fictional counterparts. Most scenes were filmed on set in Belfast, Northern Ireland where fans can now partake in exciting studio tours. However, fans can also visit the real life landscapes, medieval castles and fortresses where the series was occasionally filmed!
If you long to see King’s Landing in real life, you actually can! Just visit Old Town Dubrovnik, Croatia and see instantly recognisable filming locations including the Red Keep (Lovrijenac Fort) and Blackwater Bay (Dubrovnik West Pier). If the snow-covered landscapes beyond Castle Black took your breath away, take a trip to Vatnajökull National Park in Iceland. Other stunning spots that feature on the series include Alcázar of Seville in Spain, Dunluce Castle in Ireland and the Doune Castle in Scotland
Related: Walk in the footsteps of Game of Thrones characters on an optional Game of Thrones walking tour on our Croatian & Eastern Delights and Balkan Explorer tours!
3. Outlander
Netflix’s popular time-travel series Outlander centres around a woman from the 1940s who is transported back in time to 18th century Scotland. Scotland acts as the backdrop for much of the series, particularly in the first season. With gorgeous cinematography that showcases majestic rolling hills, quaint towns and fairytale castles, it’s no wonder that Outlander has been credited with an increase in Scottish tourism! In more recent seasons, the characters have travelled abroad to France (filmed mostly in Prague), the Caribbean (filmed in Cape Town) and North and South Carolina (filmed back in Scotland!).
Some of the spectacular real-life locations that fans of the show can visit include The World’s End pub in Edinburgh, the Strahov Monastery in Prague (which acts as the library of Versailles in the show), Devil’s Pulpit (Liar’s Spring in the series) and Kinloch Rannoch (the fictional Craigh na Dun). While never visited in the show, Glencoe can always be seen in the openeing credits. This stunning historic Scottish glen is one of the most ruggedly beautiful landscapes in the country! Doune Castle, Blackness Castle and Midhope Castle are just a few of the gorgeous Scottish castles that can be spotted in Outlander.
Related: Travel via rail through the spectacular Scottish Highlands with our Scotland Rail Express!
4. Killing Eve
Viewers can’t get enough of Killing Eve for a few reasons: the show’s seamless blend of dark comedy and psychological thrills, Villanelle’s impeccable wardrobe and the exciting European settings! You never quite know where the show will take you, from top tourist attractions to quirky hidden gems. Thus far, Villanelle’s murderous escapades have taken fans to London, Oxford, Rome, Tuscany, Paris, Berlin, Bucharest, Viscri and Comandău in Romania, Amsterdam and, most recently, Barcelona!
The fourth and final season is set to premiere in 2022 . We cannot wait to see where our favourite villain ends up next!
Related: Tick off multiple European destinations when you join one of our multi-country Europe tours!
5. Sense8
Science fiction drama Sense8, created by the Wachowski sisters of Matrix fame, followed eight strangers from around the world who are mentally and emotionally connected to each other. Due to its diverse cast and the creative way the series handled political and social issues, Sense8 earned a devoted cult following after just two short seasons.
With a cast and characters dotted around the globe, Sense8 travelled to 19 countries over 24 episodes! The first season was filmed in Berlin, Chicago, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Nairobi, Reykjavík, San Francisco, and Seoul. The writers wanted to feature an event in every city. By the end of the season, the filmmakers had travelled a total 160,000 km. That’s four times around the globe!
The second season travelled even further with filming taking place in Amsterdam, Argyll (Scotland), Chippenham (England), Los Angeles, Malta, Positano (Italy), Redwoods (California), and São Paulo on top of the locations from season one. Berlin, Brussels, Naples and Paris were the gorgeous filming locations for the series finale. The cast and crew flew a whopping 400,000km to complete this season!
Related: Need more travel inspiration? These 12 books and movies are sure to inspire wanderlust!
Do these travel-inspired series spark your wanderlust? Why wait? Get started on planning your next trip now! Have a look at some of our top tours to begin planning your next adventure!