15 Movies That Feel Like A Euro Summer Escape

Forget Brat Summer (2024) and Barbie Summer (2023), this year it’s all about cobblestone streets, Aperol spritzes, and dressing like you just stumbled out of a Roman Holiday . There’s just one catch: a passport. And a plane ticket. And, you know, thousands of dollars. But don’t spiral just yet; cinema’s got your back. Whether you’re dreaming of a steamy Italian fling, a windswept French coastline, or just want to live vicariously through someone who isn’t melting in a suburban parking lot, these movies serve peak European Summer energy. All the vibes, none of the TSA lines. Ciao , FOMO. Monte Carlo (2011) When their graduation trip to Paris goes awry, Meg (Leighton Meester) and Emma (Katie Cassidy) get lucky when their best friend Grace (Selena Gomez) is mistaken for a British heiress, Cordelia. After learning that the women are identical, they decide to take advantage of the mixup as Grace impersonates Cordelia, leading the three friends on an unforgettable adventure in Monte Carlo. As fun and wholesome as it gets, this movie will leave you smiling from ear to ear. The Barefoot Contessa (1954) Harry (Humphrey Bogart) is a film director seeking his comeback and determined to find the perfect leading lady for his next film. He travels to Europe and meets Maria (Ava Gardner), an elusive Spanish sex symbol and dancer. As both of their careers take off, they learn the hard way that the life of a Hollywood star isn’t as glamorous as it is on paper. Set in both Europe and Los Angeles, this movie has all the glamour and edge of Old Hollywood. Mamma Mia (2008) Based on the jukebox Broadway musical, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) has been raised by her bohemian, independent mother, Donna (Meryl Streep), who runs a hotel on a Greek island. While she’s never felt the need to know who her biological father is, she wants to find him now so he can walk her down the aisle at her upcoming wedding. She discovers three men who could be her father: Sam (Pierce Brosnan), Harry (Colin Firth), and Bill (Stellan Skarsgard), and invites them to Greece. What ensues is a sun-soaked adventure full of ABBA songs that you’ll want to sing into your hairbrush. Midnight In Paris (2011) When hopeless romantic Glen (Owen Wilson) travels to Paris with his fiancée, Inez (Rachel McAdams), he’s disappointed when she doesn’t see the beauty in the city that he does. On a late-night walk through the streets of Paris, he accidentally travels back in time to the 1920s, where he meets famous writers and artists like Jean Cocteau, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Zelda Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Pablo Picasso. However, Picasso’s mistress, Adriana (Marion Cotillard), gives him the motivation to keep coming back every night. Under The Tuscan Sun (2003) Reeling from her painful divorce, Frances Mayes (Diane Lane) doesn’t know if she’ll ever fall in love again. When her best friends convince her to go on a tour of Tuscany, she falls in love with a charming house in a small town and buys it on impulse. Realizing she’s bitten off more than she can chew, she asks for help from the town’s eclectic population, leading her into the arms of a local man named Marcello (Raoul Bova). Before Sunrise (1995) Jesse (Ethan Hawke) meets Celine (Julie Deply) on a train from Budapest to Vienna, and the two instantly spark a connection. They decide to kill time together before Jesse’s flight back to the United States. As they get to know each other, they discover that both are recovering from breakups and crave adventure, and start to fall for each other, but what happens when Jesse has to go back home to the United States, and Celine to France? You'll have to watch to find out. To Catch A Thief (1955) In this Alfred Hitchcock classic set in the idyllic French Riviera, John “The Cat” Robie (Cary Grant) is a retired jewel thief trying to prove his innocence by proving someone else is the infamous thief. Nothing could get in his way, not even stunning American heiress Frances Stevens (Grace Kelly), whom he can’t help but fall for. As thrilling as it is romantic and glamorous, this is the perfect addition to any summer movie marathon. Notting Hill (1999) Movie star Anna Scott (Julia Roberts) can’t go anywhere without the paparazzi following her, not even to a London bookshop. When bookshop owner William Thacker (Hugh Grant) accidentally spills his drink on Anna, he invites Anna to his apartment (or flat, as the English say) to clean up, only for the paparazzi to follow her. As William and Anna get to know each other, they realize their lifestyles might not match, but that doesn’t stop them from falling for each other. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) While only Lena’s story takes place in Greece, I’d argue that this movie is solely responsible for making me put Santorini on my travel bucket list. Best friends Lena (Alexis Bledel), Bridget (Blake Lively), Carmen (America Ferrera), and Tibby (Amber Tamblyn) are spending the summer apart, but decide to share a pair of jeans during their summer adventures. While visiting her grandparents in Santorini, Lena falls for a handsome local boy named Kostas (Michael Rady), only to find out that their families are sworn enemies. While she’s loyal to her family, there's something about Kostas that she simply can’t resist. Roman Holiday (1953) Crown Princess Ann (Audrey Hepburn) craves adventure from her restrictive schedule, and American journalist Joe Bradley (Gregory Peck) is in desperate need of a good scoop. When she accidentally stumbles into his life after running away, Joe takes advantage of the opportunity and takes her on a Roman adventure for an exclusive story. What he doesn’t expect is to start to fall for her, leaving him torn between his career and his heart. Famously known as the film that launched Audrey Hepburn into superstardom, this old-school rom-com has something for everyone. It Started In Naples (1960) It wouldn’t be a European Summer movie list without Sophia Loren! In this classic, disgruntled American lawyer Michael (Clark Gable) discovers his late brother left behind an eight-year-old son in Italy. Michael travels to Naples only to find that his nephew lives with his maternal aunt, Lucia (Sophia Loren). As both want custody of the boy and have different ideas on how to raise him, Michael wonders if he could give his nephew the best of both worlds. A Good Year (2006) When English banker Max (Russell Crowe) inherits his uncle's stunning vineyard in the South of France, where he spent some of his happiest moments, he's determined to sell it. Much to his surprise, he falls in love with both the vineyard and a local woman named Fanny (Marion Cotillard). Come for the romance and scenery, and stay for a sweet story about rediscovering who you are. Letters To Juliet (2010) Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is a hopeless romantic who’s thrilled to go on a pre-wedding trip to Verona, Italy, with her fiancé, who couldn’t care less about the city where Romeo met Juliet. During a visit to Juliet’s Wall, Sophie finds an old letter to Juliet from 1957 of a young woman named Claire who didn’t run away with the boy who wanted to run away with her. Sophie writes back, resulting in Claire (Vanessa Redgrave) and her grandson, Charlie (Christopher Egan), traveling to Verona. After the death of her husband, Claire wants to find her lost love, but Charlie is skeptical. This leads Sophie to convince Charlie to allow his grandmother to follow her heart, only for Sophie to wonder if she’s following hers. The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003) When 14-year-old Lizzie McGuire (Hilary Duff) travels to Rome for her middle school graduation (ironically, this is the most realistic part of the plot), she catches the eye of Italian pop star Paolo (Yani Gellman), who tells her she looks just like his former singing partner. Much to the dismay of her best friend, Gordo (Adam Lamberg), Lizzie fakes a cold to go on an Italian adventure with Paolo, only to find out some things are too good to be true. As nostalgic as it is wholesome, you truly can’t go wrong with this movie. Enchanted April (1991) Four English women, each longing to escape their dreary, rain-soaked lives, answer an ad for an Italian villa available for rent for the month of April. As they settle into the sun-dappled coast of Portofino, friendships blossom, hearts soften, and beauty works its quiet magic. With breathtaking scenery, elegant costumes, and a story full of grace and growth, Enchanted April is a gentle, soul-soothing film that feels like a Tuscan breeze through your living room curtains. It’s the ultimate girl’s guide to romanticizing your life, no passport required.