Can’t Fly to Europe This Summer? 20 Movies That’ll Transport You Virtually

Summertime is in full swing and the wanderlust to travel abroad is all too real thanks to A-listers like Reese Witherspoon who kicked off the season in Europe.The good news is, even if you cant actually fly to Europe there are movies that will transport you to your dream destination from the comfort of your couch. Take Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantswhich shows Alexis Bledels Lena finding love in Greece.”They had me running around like crazy, Bledel told MovieWeb in May 2005 of filming on the Greek Isles. They had me riding Vespa scooters and motorcycles which I hadn’t ridden before in my life. I was swimming and the donkeys and drawing. I had, like, summer camp over there.”European destinations like Italy, England, Scotland and Ireland are popular in the film world which luckily for moviegoers means they can be virtually transported there in an instant.[ami-related id=”3642799″ pwaid=”3642799″ url=”https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/celebrities-in-europe-for-summer-vacation-2024-photos/” title=”Patrick and Brittany Mahomes Are Among Celebs Flocking to Europe for Vacay” target=”” thumb=”true” imgsrc=”http://www.usmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Nicky-Hilton-Reese-Witherspoon-and-More-Celebrities-in-Europe-for-Summer-Vacation-2024-Patrick-Mahomes-Brittany-Mahomes.jpg?quality=86&strip=all” imgid=”3651778″ format=”gallery” flag=”” channel=”1″]Check out What a Girl Wants or Notting Hill to feel like youre in London or Made of Honor for a trip to Scotland. If summer love is your dream genre, watch Letters to Juliet or Roman Holiday for an escape to Italy.Scroll down to see all of Us Weeklys top picks for the best movies to quench your wanderlust for a European vacation this summer:

Destination: Paris

Stars: Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron

Why Watch?

The title of this 1951 classic really says it all! American Jerry Mulligan (Kelly) will dance away with your heart — and maybe the heart of Parisian Lise Bouvier (Caron) — as viewers fall in love with Paris in the ‘50s.

Destination: Greece

Stars: Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried

Why Watch?

The 2008 film has the ultimate summer playlist thanks to the songs of ABBA, which both Streep and Seyfried sing as their respective characters, Donna and Sophie. The mother-daughter duo, who are preparing for Sophie’s wedding, live in the idyllic fictional town of Kalokairi, which is really Skopelos, Greece. Add in the mystery of who Sophie’s biological father could be, and you have a recipe for a summertime hit.

Destination: Rome

Stars: Hilary Duff and Adam Lamberg

Why Watch?

In addition to seeing Duff’s Lizzie McGuire tour Italy by Vespa and on foot, this movie gives viewers something to dream about: being a star! While in Rome for a school trip, Lizzie gets mistaken for Italian popstar Isabella, who just so happens to be singer Paolo’s (So Gellman) duet partner. As Isabella, the teen lives out her fantasy of singing for adoring fans in the romantic country. Plus, we get more Lizzie and Gordo (Lamberg) time.

Destination: London

Stars: Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant

Why Watch?

Notting Hill gave moviegoers one of the best pick-up lines of all time when Roberts’ Anna Scott said, “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.” The romance, which is set in London’s Notting Hill neighborhood, transports viewers across the pond and into a dream scenario when an actress actually falls in love with a non-famous person in bookstore owner William Thacker (Grant).

Destination: Monaco

Stars: Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester and Katie Cassidy

Why Watch?

When Grace (Gomez) is mistaken for a British heiress, she gets the adventure of a lifetime in Monte Carlo with her two best friends — complete with five-star accommodations and invitations to polo matches and balls. Really, what more could you want from a girls’ trip?

Destination: Dublin

Stars: Amy Adams, Matthew Goode and Adam Scott

Why Watch?

The Irish countryside — and Dublin’s many shades of green — are on full display in Leap Year. Viewers will come for the scenery and stay for the love story, which features a woman named Anna (Adams), who plans to propose to her boyfriend in Dublin before realizing he might not be her perfect match.

Destination: Paris

Stars: Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

Why Watch?

As any ‘90s kid would tell you, the idea of traveling to Paris and meeting cute boys who become your tour guides was inspired by Passport to Paris. In the film, Mary-Kate and Ashley play twins who get to spend the summer in France — and famously insult their chef by smuggling McDonalds into the house. Plus, they hit all the iconic spots throughout the City, so it’s a must-watch.

Destination: Rome

Stars: Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck

Why Watch?

This 1953 romance has stood the test of time, with its fairy tale story of a princess (Hepburn) escaping her guardians and falling in love with an American newsman (Peck). Since the feature is in black and white it gives moviegoers a retro look at Italy from decades prior.

Destination: Vienna

Stars: Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy

Why Watch?

You’ll only need one night to watch Before Sunrise and fall in love with the characters and their whirlwind romance. The film documents two strangers who meet on a train and decide to get off together in Vienna to explore the city — but only for one day. The breathtaking scenery only adds to the romantic tale.

Destination: Greece

Stars: Alexis Bledel, Blake Lively, America Ferrera and Amber Tamblyn

Why Watch?

The friendship between Lena (Bledel), Bridget (Lively), Carmen (Ferrera) and Tibby (Tamblyn) is the ideal vibe for a summer film. However, it’s Lena’s adventure to Greece that has Us in wanderlust year after year.

Destination: London

Stars: Amanda Bynes and Colin Firth

Why Watch?

The answer to the question “What does a girl want?” is movies set in London, so they can fantasize about riding a double decker bus, shopping in lavish stor es and falling for a British man. Enough said.

Destination: Verona

Stars: Amanda Seyfried, Gael Garcia Bernal and Christopher Egan

Why Watch?

A trip to Italy is always a good idea, but when Sophie (Seyfried) travels to Verona she discovers that the romantic town is full of surprises. In addition to sparking her own love story where Romeo courted Juliet, Sophie helps others find their happily ever after — and answer one lost letter about romance written decades prior.

Destination: Scotland

Stars: Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan and Kevin McKidd

Why Watch?

Dempsey’s Tom is a fish out of water when he arrives in Scotland as Hannah’s (Monaghan) best man/man of honor. In addition to the comedy factor, the scenery of the castle where they stay, and the Highland Games are something you can’t miss.

Destination: Ibiza and Barcelona

Stars: Gillian Jacobs, Vanessa Bayer and Phoebe Robinson

Why Watch?

This Netflix comedy shows what can happen when you go to Barcelona for work and cross paths with the DJ of your dream. Spoiler: It leads to a wild getaway in Ibiza with your two BFFs.

Destination: Monaco

Stars: Romain Duris and Vanessa Paradis

Why Watch?

When Alex (Duris) is hired by a rich man to break up the wedding of his daughter, Juliette (Paradis), he never imagined she’d be the one mark that could give him a run for his money. Nor did he realize that traveling through Monaco and the French Riviera would lead to his own love story.

Destination: Tuscany

Stars: Diane Lane and Raoul Bova

Why Watch?

Under the Tuscan Sun teaches us that when life gives you writer’s block you should buy a house in Tuscany for the ultimate escape and refresh.

Destination: Prague

Stars: Mandy Moore and Matthew Goode

Why Watch?

After fulfilling her duties as the president’s daughter in Prague, Anna (Moore) decides to take life into her own hands and explore all Europe has to offer. Luckily, Anna has a little help traveling from country to country from fellow teen Ben (Goode).

Destination: Amsterdam

Stars: Ansel Elgort and Shailene Woodley

Why Watch?

The Fault in Our Stars will pull on your heartstrings as teens Hazel (Woodley) and Gus (Elgort), who met at a cancer support group, fall in love while adventuring around Amsterdam in hopes of meeting one of their favorite authors before one or both of them dies from their illness. The sober tone of the movie, however, doesn’t overshadow the beauty of the Netherlands.

Destination: Wicklow, Ireland

Stars: Lindsay Lohan, Ed Speleers and Alexander Vlahos

Why Watch?

If you’ve ever wondered what could’ve been then this movie is for you. Maddie (Lohan) makes a wish while in Ireland to attend her ex-boyfriend and best friend’s wedding. The wish makes Maddie the bride to be, marrying her ex Paul (Vlahos). However, she soon learns that the fantasy in her head might not be what she really wants — and wedding photographer James (Speleers) could be her true love.

Destination: Genovia

Stars: Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews

Why Watch?

While Genovia isn’t a real place it resembles many small European countries that are on our travel mood boards. Plus, Hathaway’s transformation as a California teen to princess Mia is a sight to see no matter what country you’re visiting.