Traveling is always a dream. Sometimes it comes true, other times it doesn’t. Such is life. But lacking the means to travel shouldn’t stop you for taking your dream as far as possible through the magic of current technology. Now more than ever, it’s easy to enjoy many of the benefits of actually traveling by spending a good afternoon learning about other cultures through the internet. With that in mind, here are the best 10 shows to watch on Netflix if you’re too broke to travel right now.
Conan Without Borders (2018)
Conan O’Brien puts his charismatic humor to work in this original travel series that’s great at mixing the lighthearted tone of Conan’s show with the more serious atmosphere of foreign cultures and their conflicts. You’ll delve both in heartwarming stories as much as in difficult topics like Haiti’s humanitarian crisis or the war in the Middle East. This show is particularly gifted at showing people, more than places. So, if that’s your thing, you’ll thoroughly enjoy it.
Somebody Feed Phil (2018)
Phil Rosenthal, creator of the successful sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond (1996), takes us on his trip around the world as he tastes the traditional food of different countries. It’s a fun twist to the travel-meets-food kind of show, and it’s really illuminating to see just how clueless an American can be when it comes to foreign dishes. Phil’s faces are hilarious. And if you enjoy Phil’s approach, you’ll probably like I’ll Have What Phil’s Having (2015) too.
Tales By Light (2015)
We’re so used to seeing incredible pictures of anything whatsoever, from starving children in Africa to paradisiacal beaches in South America, that we all too often forget about the person behind the camera. Photographers constantly risk health and limb for that great shot we all enjoy, and their world is usually as fascinating as that they depict through the lens. This show is about them: the travels they make, the challenges they face, and the stories they tell.
Planet Earth II (2016)
One of my favorites. This show will take you places beyond your wildest dreams, with a stellar production, narration, and overall quality. Narrated by David Attenborough, all six episodes are a treat. You’ll see some of the most spectacular sights nature has to offer, and you’ll learn a lot in the process.
Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father (2017)
Did you ever wish to see a famous comedian travel around the world with his father? Well, perhaps this show is one of those things we never knew we actually wanted. As comedian Jack Whitehall documents his father and son trips in South East Asia with his dad, we’re treated with hilarious and surprisingly heartwarming results that’ll show much about those little cultural details we all wish to see.
Planet Earth (2006)
The first iteration of the wonderful documentary series, Planet Earth is a treat to the eyes, imagination, and all travel buffs who wish to take a look at a world beyond human culture. David Attenborough is as great as ever at presenting the wonders of the Earth throughout eleven detailed episodes you’re sure to remember for a long time.
Stephen Fry In America (2008)
If you don’t live in America, or you’d like to see a charming British man’s perspective and opinions when traveling through it in a black London taxi, then this show’s for you. Stephen Fry, the famous English comedian, writer, actor, presenter, and activist, is perfect to give the outsider’s take on the U.S. with honest and authentic curiosity.
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (2013)
Perhaps what most travel-and-food shows strive to be, Bourdain treats us with an amazing spectacle that’s as close to the real deal as you can get from the comfort of your own home. The world-famous chef travels to little-known destinations to explore their cuisine, culture, and people—and the outcome is amazing. It’s not for nothing that Parts Unknown won ten Primetime Emmy Awards, having been nominated for a staggering total of 31. This is the show Bourdain was working on at the time of his death last year, and though it’s a shame we won’t get to see more episodes, what we got already made television history.
Departures (2008)
In this show we get to see great human chemistry at play as we watch Friends Scott Wilson and Justin Lukach travel around the world complimenting each other’s personalities perfectly, resulting in a thoroughly enjoyable travel experience. The pair is so relatable you’ll feel you’re right there, discovering everything firsthand alongside them.
Chef’s Table (2015)
A food-lover’s ultimate show, Chef’s Table is one of those rare gems to ripple through and beyond anyone’s expectations. It’s easily one of the best food-documentary productions ever done, and will take you on an amazing ride around the planet, filled both with unbelievable photography and the amazing stories of the world’s top chefs.
That should give you enough streaming time to scratch that traveling itch. Do you know any other good shows in Netflix right now? Let us know on the comments.
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