Twenty Binge-worthy Travel TV Shows
As I write this, we’ve been dealing with the world-wide pandemic of COVID-19 for six months. That means a lot of time sitting at home on our couches watching TV, unable to travel the world like so many of us yearn to.
We wrote an article about traveling without leaving your house during the pandemic and, of course, have been working hard at providing ideas for books and movies to help you get the most out of your armchair travel this year.
As we approach the colder weather and another surge of the coronavirus, we’ll find ourselves returning to our couches so we can protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our world.
So, to really fill up your time, here are twenty binge-worthy travel television shows. We focused on ten travel TV shows that are documentary-style and ten travel TV shows that are scripted, but with a real sense of place.
And don’t forget the bonus recommendations for children’s television shows that will help them learn about the world–perfect for this time of virtual learning!
Ten Reality Travel TV Shows
Amazing Race
Genre: Documentary, Action/Adventure
Debut Season: 2001
Number of Seasons (as of 2020): 32
Places Featured: Several
This is probably the first travel show I really got into and it’s probably one of the first mainstream travel shows to really garner mass viewership…because it’s actually a game show (and there can be lots of reality show drama). In it, teams of two follow clues around the world completing tasks, performing challenges, and navigating transportation. Sometimes the drama (and the way some of the teams treat the locals) can be a lot, but it’s still an exciting show.
An Idiot Abroad
Genre: Documentary, Comedy
Debut Season: 2010
Number of Seasons (as of 2020): 3
Places Featured: Several
Karl Pilkington has no interest in traveling the world. Unfortunately, two of his best friends, comedians Karl Gervais and Stephen Merchant, think he needs to see the world. So, they set him to visit various destinations, giving him surprise tasks along the way to help him get a sense of each place. It’s a funny but honest fish-out-of-water series with some interesting (and very real) insight. (There’s also a book about the journeys–we included it on our list of funny travel books!)
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
Genre: Documentary, Food & Wine
Debut Season: 2013
Number of Seasons (as of 2020): 12
Places Featured: Several
It was hard to settle on just one Anthony Bourdain show to include on this list (all of his shows are binge-worthy, especially if you’re a foodie). But, Parts Unknown is the one that will take you away from the usual tourist destinations and it’s the one that won 12 Emmy Awards (out of 31 nominations!). It’s a fascinating look at real people and real food in some destinations I’ve certainly never been to (and haven’t even really considered) and you can’t help but be thankful we had Bourdain for the time that we did. It’s a classic.
Down to Earth with Zac Efron
Genre: Documentary, Nature
Debut Season: 2020
Number of Seasons (as of 2020): 1
Places Featured: Several
Down to Earth touts itself as a show that follows celebrity Zac Efron as he travels the world to learn about climate change, natural resources, and sustainable living practices. It’s not as heavy as it sounds, though, and critics have said the science and health advice presented is questionable, but it’s a light-hearted easy show to watch that travels to several countries, so it’s entertaining and worth your time.
Planet Earth
Genre: Documentary, Nature
Debut Season: 2006
Number of Seasons (as of 2020): 1
Places Featured: Several
Some might say Planet Earth doesn’t really belong on a list of travel shows, because it is more of a nature show, but, to me, it’s a show that presents the beauty of the world so it counts for me. It’s mesmerizing and really changed the way documentaries are filmed, presented, and received.
Ride With Norman Reedus
Genre: Documentary
Debut Season: 2016
Number of Seasons (as of 2020): 4
Places Featured: Several
Most people know Norman Reedus from the popular show The Walking Dead, but he also has this really interesting travel show where he and a friend and/or celebrity travel across a different destination on motorcycles each episode. The series mostly focuses on destinations in the United States, but it has started to branch out more. It’s a different take on a travel show and is a fun way to learn more about certain places (and certain celebrities–I have to say watching him explore Tennessee with Marilyn Manson was not what I expected).
Tales by Light
Genre: Documentary, Nature
Debut Season: 2015
Number of Seasons (as of 2020): 3
Places Featured: Several
If you have any interest in photography and/or travel writing, you’ll really enjoy this show–and it’s just gorgeous. Tales by Light follows professional photographers as they travel the world searching for photos–”behind every powerful image is a powerful story.” This is one you watch purely for the beauty in this world.
The Kindness Diaries
Genre: Documentary
Debut Season: 2017
Number of Seasons (as of 2020): 3
Places Featured: Several
Leon Logothetis was living an unhappy and uninspired life as a broker in London when he decided to make a change and head out on the road, which changed his thoughts on life and the people of the world. He learned a lot about kindness and decided to feature that in this series where he travels the world relying on nothing but the kindness of strangers for food, lodging, and gas (meaning he’s not allowed to accept money/pay for things)…he then attempts to return the favor by helping those who have helped him. It’s travel with a heart.
Travel Man
Genre: Documentary, Comedy
Debut Season: 2015
Number of Seasons (as of 2020): 10
Places Featured: Several
Another contribution from our friends in the United Kingdom, each episode of Travel Man features host Richard Ayoade visiting a popular city with a celebrity guest for a two-day (48 hour) break. It’s an entertaining show that also focuses on practical helpful information for people considering visits to the featured destination.
Honorable Mention Reality Travel TV Shows
Ten Scripted TV Shows for Armchair Travelers
Atlanta
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Debut Season: 2016
Number of Seasons (as of 2020): 2
Places Featured: Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is one of those underrated shows that you wish everyone would watch because it’s just that good. (But don’t take our word for it; you can also check out all the awards it has won.) The show is about Earn, a man in Atlanta trying to figure out the best way forward–with his career, his (ex-)girlfriend, his parents, and his cousin who is an up-and-coming rapper. It’s real life in a big city with lots of history in the U.S. South.
Downton Abbey
Genre: Drama, Historical
Debut Season: 2010
Number of Seasons (as of 2020): 6, plus the Downton Abbey movie
Places Featured: England
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of Downton Abbey, the British historical drama that took the world by storm in 2010. The excellent ensemble cast and screenwriters won several awards for their work–and the attention to detail in the costumes and sets is also magnificent. It’s a must-watch, especially if you enjoy history.
Note from Jen: If you’re in England, I highly recommend one of these Downton Abbey tours to see the show come to life!
Emily in Paris
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Debut Season: 2020
Number of Seasons (as of 2020): 1
Places Featured: Paris, France
Emily in Paris is the charming light-hearted story of a Midwestern girl who moves to Paris for a job and realizes that life in Paris is a little bit different–especially as she tries to navigate a new job, a new city, and, of course, new relationships. It isn’t particularly realistic and it’s been widely panned by French critics, but if you take it for what it is, it’s the perfect escape (with some great eye-candy of all kinds).
Hawaii Five-0
Genre: Drama, Mystery/Crime, Action/Adventure
Debut Season: 2010
Number of Seasons (as of 2020): 10
Places Featured: Hawaii
Hawaii Five-0 is a police procedural series that actually first aired from 1968-1980, but I have to give this reboot credit–it’s fun. It’s the story of a task force that works directly for the Governor of Hawaii and investigates a variety of crimes around the state. The scenery is gorgeous, the characters are interesting, the music is fun and it’s just an enjoyable show.
Note from Jen: Full disclosure that this tour wasn’t actually available when I was visiting Oahu, but, man, I really wanted to go on this Hawaii 5-0 Tour *with* Flippa!
Lost
Genre: Drama, Science Fiction
Debut Season: 2001
Number of Seasons (as of 2020): 6
Places Featured: South Pacific
I debated on including this one, because I’m not sure I should recommend a show to travelers whose premise is based on an airplane crash…but this is one of the first shows I ever binged, so it’s a bit nostalgic for me. It’s the story of a group of people who survive a plane crash on a mysterious island in the South Pacific. Each one of the survivors has a story which is told through various flashbacks as the group figures out how to survive the island…and each other.
Note from Jen: You can see filming locations from Lost while on a few different tours in Hawaii–I highly recommend!
Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories
Genre: Drama, Food & Wine
Debut Season: 2016
Number of Seasons (as of 2020): 2
Places Featured: Tokyo, Japan
I love the concept of this show–it’s about a diner in Tokyo that is only open from midnight until 7 a.m. There isn’t really a menu and there’s only one employee, the Master. Each episode features new characters coming in and out and a dish that matches the theme of that episode. While you don’t see a whole of Japan, you definitely see a whole lot of Japanese food and that alone makes it worth it.
Outlander
Genre: Drama, Historical, Romance, Science Fiction
Debut Season: 2014
Number of Seasons (as of 2020): 5
Places Featured: Scotland, France
Based on the best-selling series of novels by Diana Gabaldon, Outlander is the story of Claire Randall, a married World War II nurse, who somehow finds herself transported back to Scotland…in 1743…where she meets a Highland warrior and struggles to find her way in this new world. It’s really dramatic, but the characters are well-done, the history enticing, and the scenery is gorgeous.
Sense8
Genre: Science Fiction
Debut Season: 2015
Number of Seasons (as of 2020): 2
Places Featured: Several
Sense8 is a science fiction show about eight characters from different parts of the world who are somehow linked mentally and emotionally, despite their differences. It’s an interesting concept that touches on some high-level topics like sexuality, gender, politics and identity. It’s a fun one to watch for travel fans, because scenes really were filmed all around the world (according to Wikipedia, they filmed in eight countries for the first season and eleven countries for the second). Especially fun are the scenes that feature special events like the Gay Pride Parade in Brazil, the Ganesha Chaturthi festival in India, and a fireworks show by the Eiffel Tower in France.
Sex and the City
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Debut Season: 1998
Number of Seasons (as of 2020): 6, plus two movies
Places Featured: New York City, New York, United States
Fashion, romance, friendship–Sex and the City is the story of four young up-and-coming professional women in New York City who are just trying to navigate life. It can be fun, dramatic, exciting, and very relevant for (single) women. It’s a fun way to explore the glitz and glamour of New York City living. (It’s also based on a book!)
Note from Jen: Next time you’re in New York, make sure you enjoy a Sex and the City tour and channel your inner Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, or Samantha.
Trapped
Genre: Drama, Mystery/Thriller
Debut Season: 2015
Number of Seasons (as of 2020): 2
Places Featured: Iceland
This thrilling show takes place in a small town in Iceland and follows Andir Olafsson, the Chief of Police, as he solves the murder of a mutilated corpse that was recovered by local fishermen. You can’t help but get caught up in the mystery and want to know what happened/who did it. And the Icelandic scenery plays a big role in the cinematography and the difficulty in solving the crime.
