The Best Travel TV Shows for Families

What do we do when we can’t head to the airport, hop on a plane and experience a new destination? We put on our favourite TV travel show! We love watching travel shows as a family, whether for just entertainment or researching for future trips abroad getting tips and inspiration.  

Travel Man: 48 Hours In (2015- )

Presenter: Richard Ayoade
Original Network: Channel4
Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video

We have found Travel Man to be very family-friendly, with short and engaging episodes focused on 48 hours in various cities, mainly in Europe. This is not a show just about the regular guide book attractions. One of the best things that we like apart from his mockery is the quirky things he discovers in different locations. Another usually British comedian often accompanies him as he makes his sarcastic observations.

An Idiot Abroad (2010-2012)

Presenter: Karl Pilkington
Original Network: Sky One
Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video

More of a travel comedy, An Idiot Abroad is the brainchild of the creator of the British (original) The Office along with a few co-creators. The concept is to send a seemingly narrow-minded naive soul without any travel experience to some of the most exotic places around the world. That naive soul is called Karl Pilkington, someone who has rarely left his hometown. However, along the way, his experience of the world is gradually broadening his horizon.

Travels with My Father (2017-)

Presenters: Jake and Michael Whitehall
Original Network: Netflix
Streaming on: Netflix

We love this series, quickly becoming addicted after the first few episodes. The show follows Jack Whitehall as he embarks on the trip of a lifetime with his father, Michael. The two set off on a journey across South East Asia to partake in a series of adventures, mishaps and escapades with two very different perspectives. We thought series one and two were hilarious and the best so far, while series 3 was good but felt a bit more forced and scripted.

The Hairy Bikers’ Mediterranean Adventure (2018)

Presenters: David Myers, Si King
Original Network: BBC
Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video

The dynamic duo consisting of Si King and Dave Myers takes us on a culinary journey around the Mediterranean. These favourite Geordie cooks begin their Mediterranean adventure in mainland Italy where they search for the country’s most authentic flavours. They also teach us how the region was influenced by the ancient Greeks. During the series, they will also visit Sardinia, Corsica, France and Spain. Food is a great starting point to learn more about a culture, and we really like how they narrow down to the distinct taste and flavour of each country they visit.

Street Food Asia (2019)

Presenters: Daniel Lee Gray, Chawadee Nualkhair
Original Network: Netflix
Streaming on: Netflix

Food is all about people and culture which is something that the Street Food series on Netflix is capturing really well. The show is filmed from a down to earth perspective, with a focus on ordinary people going about their business making street food. It’s inspirational and the individual stories are making an impact. We like it because it’s different from the classic travel program with a westerner observing locals from the outside.

Dark Tourist (2018)

Presenter: David Farrier
Original Network: Netflix
Streaming: on Netflix

Dark Tourist provides a very unique twist on the genre of travel shows, taking the viewer to morbid and obscure places. We found the show both interesting and entertaining. Part of the plot is that the presenter, David Farrier, becomes shocked by local customs. This makes him seem more like an Idiot Abroad at times. Our only criticism is that it’s sometimes hard to tell if he shows a genuine lack of respect for locals or he is just trying to be funny acting like a stereotypical white guy travelling abroad.

Tales by Light (2015)

Presenters: Jack Thompson (season 1), Sigrid Thornton (season 2)
Original Network: National Geographic
Streaming on: Netflix

Tales By Light follows professional photographers from Australia and around the world as they push the limits of their craft. This is a brilliant masterpiece capturing intricate details, showing how the masters think behind the lens. It’s very inspirational and a must-see for every creative out there.

Pole To Pole (1992)

Presenter: Michael Palin
Original Network: BBC
Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video

In this epic British travel journey, Michael Palin travels from the North Pole to the South Pole. Travelling by train, truck, raft, Ski-Doo, barge, balloon and bicycle, Michael Palin experiences every extreme the world has to offer. Following in the footsteps of Roald Amundsen he covers 16 countries before ending up at the South Pole.

Around the World in 80 Days (1989)

Presenter: Michael Palin
Original Network: BBC
Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video

Duplicating Julus Verne’s Phileas Fogg, Michael Palin is attempting to circumnavigate the globe beginning and ending at the Reform Club in London. During the eighty days without taking any flights, he meets Monthy Python fans in Greece, tries eating snake in China, and experience one adventure to another.

The Americas (2019)

Presenter: Simon Reeve
Original Network: BBC
Streaming on: BBC iPlayer

In this travel show, Simon Reeve takes us travelling the entire length of the Americas, north to south. In this first part of his epic adventure, Simon travels from the frozen beauty of Alaska down through Canada to Vancouver and the border with the United States.

Race Across the World (2019-)

Original Network: BBC
Streaming on: BBC iPlayer

In Race Across the World, five pairs of travellers join in a race across multiple countries to reach a final destination. They can’t take planes or use smartphones and only have a very limited budget to use for transportation, accommodation and food. We found the program family-friendly and engaging, watching how the participant’s use different tactics to reach their target in the shortest time possible.