Movies like Eat Pray Love to Inspire Your Travels + Book Ideas

If you’re a fan of the classic film inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert’s biographical book, chances are you’ll love movies like to Eat Pray Love.

In Eat Pray Love, Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) travels to Italy, India, and Bali on quest to find herself and the real meaning of life.  It’s a romantic and inspiring film that explores themes of self-improvement through travel.

If you’re looking for similar travel movies,  take a look at this list of movies like Eat Pray Love for some serious watch-list inspiration!

Prefer books?  We’ve included book references for the movies that are based on books.  As well, we’ve added some recommendations for our favourite books like Eat Pray Love.

Movies like Eat Pray Love to Inspire Your Voyage of Discovery

Solo travel movies like Eat Pray Love:

Nomadland

If you’re looking for some inspiration to hit the road, the 2021 Academy Award winner is an excellent choice. This American drama film stars Frances McDormand as a woman named Fern.  Following her husband’s death and losing her little town in the Great Recession, Fern decides to leave home and set off to the American West.

The people she meets on the way, the jobs she does to satisfy her needs, and the lessons she learns about life and love are some of the best takeaways from this film.  In short, Nomadland will inspire you to embark on a journey of self-discovery.

Get it on Amazon Prime
Buy the book

Wild

Wild is a thought provoking movie that stars Reese Witherspoon as Cheryl.

After her divorce, Cheryl decides to kickstart her new life by hiking 1100 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail in the U.S.  On her journey, she begins to discover herself and gain confidence to set herself free from the major challenges in her life.

If you’re inspired by movies like Eat Pray Love, Cheryl is another character who can boost your confidence to not only deal with the mental challenges but also the physical ones.

Buy or rent it on Amazon Prime
Read the book

Tracks

Tracks is yet another exceptional movie like Eat Pray Love.  It’s the story of an Australian woman, Robyn, who embarks on a solo trip from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean along with her dog and four camels.

In the movie,  Robyn deals with the challenges she faces along the journey.  If you’re craving some inspiration to love yourself, Tracks is a must-watch movie that will leave you thinking about the power of solitude.

See it on Amazon Prime
Get the book

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Here is yet another classic.  The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a go-to whenever you want to explore themes of self-discovery and introspection. It follows the story of a man who dreams of turning his travel fantasies into reality. And when his job is threatened, he sets out for real on an adventurous journey.

What he finds and learns on the way are thought-provoking and interesting to watch.  It’s perfect if you’re up for an inspirational movie night.

Get it on Amazon Prime
Read the book

The Tree

The Tree is an inspiring film about an 88-year-old widow named Dorothy. Wanting to meet her childhood friend, Dorothy decides to travel from her home in Kansas to Indiana on her own terms. Although her family is concerned about her safety, Dorothy is all set to hit the road and have some fun.

The Tree is proof that it’s never too late for an adventure. What’s even more interesting is that the film is based on the actual friendship between the director’s mother and her best friend.

Get it on Amazon Prime

 

Into The Wild

Into The Wild is a beautiful and thought-provoking movie inspired by a novel of the same name.  It is the story of Christopher McCandless, a man who hikes across North America to Alaska. After leaving all his worldly possessions behind, he sets out on a journey of self-discovery and introspection. The film progresses as Christopher deals with several difficult situations he encounters on the way.

The events that lead to the transformation of the protagonist as an individual is beautiful, deep, and heart-touching.

Watch the movie on Amazon Prime
Read the Christopher McCandless’ book, Back to the Wild

Romantic movies like Eat Pray Love:

Midnight in Paris

Directed by Woody Allen, Midnight Paris is a beautiful film that features the city of love, Paris.

Following a lover’s spat, Gil walks the streets of Paris alone at night. He suddenly gets caught in a time warp that transports him to a Paris of another epoch. The events that follow will encourage you to think about what you love the most and what you’re passionate about.

If you enjoy movies like Eat Pray Love, you’re likely to fall in love with this part romantic comedy and part fantasy film.

Get the movie on Amazon Prime
See this list of books about Paris in the 1920s

Paris Can Wait

If you’re searching for a movie similar to Eat Pray Love, here is a great one.

Paris Can Wait is a quiet comedy film that will leave you thinking about the importance of slowing down to enjoy the little things in life.

The film centres around Anne (Diane Lane) and her husband’s business associate, Jacques. The two decide to go from Cannes to Paris and the short journey unexpectedly turns into a two-day trip full of beautiful sights, divine food, wine, and romance.

Get it on Amazon Prime

Under the Tuscan Sun

This movie follows the story of Frances Mayes, a San Francisco writer who goes through writer’s block and depression following an ugly divorce. To transform her life and find happiness again, Frances decides to leave her home to the beautiful Tuscan countryside. The people she meets in Tuscany teach her wonderful life lessons.

Just like Eat Pray Love, Under the Tuscan Sun is also a beautiful movie that will leave you thinking about the real meaning of life and what exactly your source of happiness is.

Buy or rent the movie on Amazon Prime
Get the book

Letters to Juliet

If you believe in love, hope, and destiny, Letters to Juliet is one to watch. The movie is about an aspiring writer, Sophie, who travels to Verona, Italy with her busy fiance, Gael. Being left alone to sight see, she sets out to visit the “Secretaries of Juliet”.

Among the thousands of unanswered letters, Sophie finds an old love letter and writes to its author, Claire, and sets out to help Claire find her long-lost lover.

Buy or rent the movie on Amazon Prime
Get the book

The Bridges of Madison County

This romantic drama film is inspired by a best-selling novel of the same name by Robert James Waller.  The plot begins as housewife Francesa encounters photographer Robert while her husband and children are away at the Illinois State Fair. The events that follow paves way for a bitter sweet romance between the two.

After Francesca’s demise, her children learn their mother’s weird final wishes and find themselves in a dilemma whether or not to honor those wishes.

Buy or rent the movie on Amazon Prime
Read the book

Message in a Bottle

Inspired by a novel by Nicholas Sparks called “Message in a Bottle”, the film is about a divorced woman named Theresa who finds a love letter in a bottle on the beach. Determined to track down its author, Theresa sets out and later finds out that the letter is written by a shipbuilder who has lost his wife he truly loved.

The story continues as Theresa slowly falls in love with the man as she learns more about him. Like Eat Pray Love, Message in a Bottle speaks the power of true love and is a perfect addition to your watch-later movie list.

See the movie on Amazon Prime
Read the book

Me Before You

Me Before You is an incredible movie starring Emilia Clarke as a small town girl named Louisa Clark. Louisa is an ordinary girl who is desperately in need of a job. She gets hired as a caregiver for a paralyzed man named Will. The film progresses as their rocky relationship gradually turns into a beautiful one, filled with love and compassion.

Although you will likely be in tears at the end of the movie, it will urge you to reflect on the real meaning of life.

Watch the movie on Amazon Prime
Read the book

Movies like Eat Pray Love involving a search for identity and meaning:

Lion

A heart-touching film, Lion is simply adorable to watch when you’re happy, when you’re sad, or when you want some inspiration. It’s a story about a thirty-year-old Indian man named Saroo (played by Dev Patel). He was separated from his family at the age of 5 and ends up being adopted by an Australian couple. The film progresses as Saroo decides to travel back to India 25 years later to find his family.

This film is all about how important home and identity means to every person. It is a tale of loss and pain, but it is also a tale of love, determination, and hope.

Get the movie on Amazon Prime
Read the book, “A Long Way Home”

Everything is Illuminated

Everything is Illuminated follows the story of a young man named Alex who travels from the US to Ukraine to find the woman who saved his grandfather during WWII.  On his journey with a yellow photograph in hand, Alex encounters many people and is led into an unexpected past.

This comedy-drama film will urge you to reflect on the importance of memories and flashbacks. And if you’re in for a deeply personal quest, this is a movie worth watching.

See it on Amazon Prime
Get the book

The Beautiful Country

This interesting movie is about a young Vietnamese man, Binh, who sets out on a six-month journey to find his long-lost GI father.  Separated from his father during the Vietnam War, Binh is determined to connect with his father again.

The Beautiful Country also looks at themes of belonging and following one’s instincts. Despite being captured by the authorities, and faced with starvation and illness on his way, Binh does not give up. The film is also interesting from a historical perspective.

Get it on Amazon Prime

Away We Go

Away We Go is all about searching for the sense of belonging and the quest for the real meaning of life.

The film centres around a couple who is expecting their first child. The couple sets out in search of the perfect place to start their family. The movie progresses as they visit friends and family along the way. Gradually, they question their concept of “home” and understands how fluid the sense of belonging can be.

If you want to refine your definition of home, this light-hearted comedy will be a good watch.

See the movie on Amazon Prime

Travel & Friendship movies like Eat Pray Love

A Walk in the Woods

A Walk in the Woods is based on the autobiographical book by Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian.

After spending twenty years in England, Bill returns to the U.S. and decides to hike the Appalachian Trail. As he does not want to hike alone, Bill asks an old friend to be his travel companion. Although their friendship is quite rocky in the beginning, it turns into something beautiful.  A Walk in the Woods will also inspire you to keep moving forward no matter what happens.

Get the movie on Amazon Prime
Read the bestseller book

The Bucket List

The Bucket List is the story of two terminally ill friends. With only six months more to live, the two men create a bucket list of all the things they wish to do.

The story goes on as the two friends check off the items one by one without wasting any time. The movie is a true inspiration to be grateful for our time on earth and to enjoy each and every moment with our loved ones.

If you’re up for a touching and inspiring film like Eat Pray Love, go ahead and watch The Bucket List.

Buy or rent the movie on Amazon Prime

Books like Eat Pray Love

If you like to curl up with a book, here are some additional recommendations for inspirational books like Eat Pray Love.  Happy Reading!

Love with a Chance of Drowning by Torre DeRoche

This is a brilliant novel like Eat Pray Love where DeRoche falls in love with an Argentinian man, Ivan, she met in San Francisco. The story begins as she decides to join Ivan on his expedition to sail the Pacific.

The book delves deep into the challenges they faced in both sailing and in their relationship. With entertaining storytelling by Torre DeRoche, Love with a Chance of Drowning is thought-provoking, daring, and a must-try if you’re searching for books similar to Eat Pray Love.

Get it on Amazon

The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell

The Year of Living Danishly is a fantastic read that will urge you to celebrate even the little things in life.

Determined to find out why the Danish are happier than most people in the world, Russel sets out to the World’s Happiest Country, Denmark and lives there for a year.

With Russel’s humorous writing style and the ways in which he uncovers the secrets of happiness, this book is an excellent read.

Buy it on Amazon

The Lost Girls by Jennifer Baggart

The Lost Girls is also an fun travel memoir that is worth a read. The story is about three friends who decide to leave their normal life behind and travel the world.

As they move from place to place, the girls get outside their comfort zone and face the challenges they meet on their way. The book is daring, thought-provoking, and is likely to inspire the wanderlust in you.

Get it on Amazon

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

If you’re into reading, chances are, you have heard of The Alchemist.

The story is about a young shepherd named Santiago who has a dream of discovering a treasure. Curious and inspired, Santiago leaves his life behind and sets out in search of the treasure.

The Alchemist is sure to leave you thinking about a number of philosophical questions including the true meaning of life.

Get it on Amazon

Tales of a Female Nomad by Rita Golden Gelman

Like Elizabeth Gilbert in Eat Pray Love, Rita Golden Gelman in the book leaves her life to become a nomad traveling the world. She covers several continents such as Africa, Asia, and America.

As she learns the culture of different places and makes local connections, Rita slowly discovers herself and digs deep into the purpose of her life. If you’re in for an adventurous and inspiring read, Tales of a Female Nomad is an excellent option.

Get it on Amazon

 

Do you have any recommendations for inspirational travel movies or books?  Please let me know in the comments.

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