Songs For Travel Reels: 29 Songs For Instagram Stories & TikTok In 2024
Looking for the best Songs For Travel Reels, Instagram Stories & Tikok videos?
Who doesn’t love showing off their best travel content on social media? You’ve had the adventure of a lifetime, visited some super cool places and now you want to share the best of it with your family, friends and followers.
Choosing the best travel song for your Instagram stories, reels or TikTok posts can sometimes be a little overwhelming. The right song can add depth and emotion to your videos, making your adventures more memorable for you and everyone else.
I post regularly on my own Instagram so I know how important it is to get the songs/sounds just right. I could spend hours flicking through the different songs but there are some that just work every time!
I’ll list the best travel songs for your content and I have regularly used these for my own social media. No matter the destination, you’re sure to find the best song from this list to make your reels and travel TikToks stand out.
Planning Your Trip? Use Our Favourite Travel resources below!
Accommodation – I recommend Booking.com
Tours & Activities – I recommend Viator
Flights – I recommend Skyscanner
Car Rental – I recommended Discover Cars
The Best Songs For Travel Reels
Without beating around the bush, let’s dive right into the list of songs for travel reels and the best travel TikTok songs to add that extra dimension to your visual journey.
These are a mix of absolute classics as well as modern, trending tracks. You’ll find that different songs will work completely differently depending on location and activity so try a few out before posting.
1. Explore the World (feat. Sis) – Brainheart
‘Explore The World’ is quite a fitting tune for travel videos. Released in 2019, the song’s upbeat tempo and lively melodies quickly made it one of those perfect songs about travelling.
The catchy tune made it the go-to choice for many travel content creators looking to jazz up their adventures. Perfectly synced with the pace and excitement of exploring different places, this song amps up the vibe of travel videos, creating a lively backdrop for showcasing various journeys and experiences.
2. Interstellar Theme – Hans Zimmer
This epic instrumental piece is one of my favourite pieces of music from one of my favourite movies (no bias then!) The song is from the 2014 movie Interstellar and is used often to create a powerful and cinematic mood for travel videos.
The instrumental, though lacking lyrics, creates an otherworldly and adventurous vibe that perfectly complements awe-inspiring landscapes and adventurous activities in travel reels. Think epic mountain scenery and epic hiking!
3. Magic Moments – Austin Farwell
Magic Moments by Austin Farwell is the perfect soundtrack for Instagram reels during your travels. You may have heard it many times already as you’re scrolling through the travel content on your social media feed.
With its upbeat tempo and lively melodies, this song elevates the energy of your videos, making each moment captured more vibrant and exciting.
Its infectious rhythm pairs effortlessly with the visual storytelling of your adventures, infusing your Instagram reels with a contagious enthusiasm that perfectly captures the essence of your travel experiences.
4. I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) – The Proclaimers
This classic is an absolute gem for travel content. Anyone who’s seen How I Met Your Mother will remember the scene with Ted and Marshall listening to this on an endless loop during their road trip.
Released in 1988, it stands the test of time with its upbeat tempo and vibrant energy, perfectly capturing the essence of exploration and discovery.
The song’s infectious rhythm and lively vibe effortlessly enhance the visual narrative of your travel experience, making your travel content fun and memorable.
5. Feels Like Summer – Samual Jack
This track by Samual Jack is absolutely perfect for sunny beach vibes. I can’t even remember how many times I’ve used it or heard it on other reels and stories.
Released in 2017, Feels Like Summer has a catchy melody and upbeat rhythm and captures the essence of joy and carefree adventure. The song’s lively spirit mirrors the feeling of fun in the sun and discovery, enhancing the mood of your summer travel experiences.
6. The Best Part – gardenstate & Bien
The chorus of this song is the perfect match for happy, fun travel videos. Its mix of electronic beats and vocals creates a mood of adventure and relaxation, perfectly complementing visual journeys.
The song’s calm yet energetic feel enhances travel scenes, giving a sense of discovery and happiness. It blends well with the excitement of exploring new destinations and experiencing diverse cultures, making it a great addition to travel content.
7. Good Morning – Kanye West
The perfect song for any travel content that involves views, walks or anything morning-related! Good Morning was released as the opening track on his 2007 album ‘Graduation’ and brings a motivational and spirited tone.
With its lively beat and confident rap, this song is definitely the cool choice for travel videos. Its upbeat rhythm and optimistic lyrics propel a sense of adventure and new beginnings. It’s a great backing track for those reels where you get out of bed and open up the curtains of your dreamy beach location.
Packed with vibrant energy and Kanye’s distinctive style, it adds a positive, forward-moving vibe to visual travel narratives, serving as a perfect mood booster for travel content.
8. Summer Love – Sole Sole
This song may not be the most famous but I guarantee you’ll have heard it somewhere, or will do very soon. The track’s relaxing and smooth rhythm is a fitting song choice for travel content giving off carefree summer vibes.
Its laid-back yet cheerful melody adds a mellow feel to travel videos, while its pleasant and easygoing tone complements your travel scenes and experiences with light and positive energy.
9. A Sky Full of Stars – Coldplay
Confession time – I’ve seen Coldplay twice recently so I’m a little in love with pretty much all their songs. But it’s not just me and much of their music would suit travel content.
A Sky Full of Stars has an upbeat tempo and energy creating a vibrant and optimistic atmosphere. Its catchy melody and feel-good rhythm will suit various travel scenes, adding a sense of joy to your reels, stories and TikTok posts.
Of course, A Sky Full of Stars is just one of many Coldplay songs you could easily use for your travel content. Try Paradise, Adventure of a Lifetime and Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall.
10. Mellow Skies – Hakaisu
This tranquil and laid-back melody offers a perfect backdrop for travel content to capture the quieter, more introspective side of travel.
The song’s calm and soothing ambience makes it ideal for serene moments and slower-paced travel scenes. Its mellow vibe pairs well with peaceful and reflective visuals, creating a relaxed and meditative atmosphere such as a tranquil sunset or serene landscapes.
I find the song works best at 0.29 seconds into the track when the melody starts to kick in.
11. Makeba – Jain
A perfect example of how an older tune can become viral at any time! Released in 2015 as part of Jain’s album ‘Zanaka’, Makeba is a lively and energetic song that perfectly fits in travel videos.
This song has a catchy rhythm and a blend of diverse sounds, giving off a cheerful and vibrant vibe drawing from Afrobeat influences. Jain’s spirited vocals create an exciting atmosphere that captures the thrill of exploration and adventure with an exotic and adventurous feel.
There is also a little dance that’s popular with this track that you could try on the beach or any location. Not my cup of tea but each to their own!
12. Past Lives – Sapientdream
A song with 113 million views and 50k comments on YouTube must tell you something. Not that it was a commercial success or made for pop culture but that it’s a song that resonates with many of us in a different way.
The song’s dreamy and relaxed vibe pairs well with contemplative visuals and reflective moments during travel. It’s perfect for capturing introspective scenes, such as gazing at scenic landscapes, self-reflection, or moments of calm amidst the journey.
With its smooth and tranquil melody, this song complements content aiming to show the quieter, thoughtful aspects of travel experiences.
13. Better Together – Jack Johnson
This delightful and laid-back track will always remind me of my backpacking days in Thailand. With its calming melody and Johnson’s warm vocals, the album ‘In Between Dreams’ was the soundtrack of Southeast Asia in the mid-2000s.
This particular song adds a sense of togetherness, making it perfect for showcasing travel adventures shared with loved ones.
The song is perfect for anyone wishing to showcase their travels to those perfectly laid-back, sun-drenched days in far-off destinations.
14. Follow The Sun – Xavier Rudd
Having been around since 2012, Follow The Sun, by Xavier Rudd, has slowly found its way into chilled, summer acoustic playlists on all streaming platforms.
The track presents a mellow and easygoing melody that is perfect for Instagram reels featuring travel experiences. The mellow, easy-going song encapsulates a laid-back, feel-good vibe, making it an awesome choice for relaxed moments during your travels.
Its soothing acoustic tones and Rudd’s complement the slower-paced, serene aspects of travel, making it an excellent match for peaceful and reflective scenes in your travel content.
15. Ocean Eyes – Billie Eilish
It’s hard to believe that this debut single from pop superstar Billie Eilish was released in 2015. Eilish’s soothing voice and the song’s dreamy, enchanting melody would go perfectly with serene landscapes, reflective moments, and scenic beauty.
Ocen Eyes offers a dreamy and introspective vibe that goes with breathtaking vistas, peaceful settings, and the emotional connection you can have during your dreamy escape.
It evokes a sense of wanderlust and introspection, enhancing the visual storytelling of peaceful and tranquil travel scenes in your travel videos.
16. Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen
Don’t Stop Me Now is an iconic anthem, released in 1979, known for its energetic beats and Freddie Mercury’s dynamic vocals.
This lively and uplifting tune radiates a sense of enthusiasm and adventure, perfectly matching thrilling travel experiences. With its upbeat rhythm and spirited lyrics, it’s an ideal choice for capturing exhilarating activities, vibrant city tours, and exciting escapades.
This song is an awesome choice for thrilling road trips or adrenaline-filled explorations. Using the verse and chorus separately can also alter the mood of your video depending on what you’re going for.
17. Now We Are Free – Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard
What is it about Hans Zimmer? Not only is he one of the best composers out there, but he always seems to be on the soundtracks of my favourite movies!
Here he’s teamed up with Lisa Gerrard to offer a powerful, emotive track from the movie Gladiator that can beautifully complement your Instagram reels. The song’s majestic orchestration and evocative tones create a grand sense of adventure, fitting for breathtaking landscape shots and awe-inspiring travel moments.
It’s an ideal piece for scenic views, cultural explorations, and life-changing travel experiences. If you want to post serene sunsets or monumental landmarks, this track is the one you’ve been looking for.
18. Golden Hour – JVKE
I’ve only just found this track whilst looking for the perfect sunset song for one of my Instagram stories.
Golden Hour is vibrant and upbeat with positive energy with lovely vocals, especially the atmospheric chorus. This catchy tune serves as an excellent backdrop for sun-kissed landscapes and exciting adventures.
Its joyful rhythm matches the carefree spirit of travel and can elevate the mood of your dreamy content. It would be an ideal match for lush sunsets, joyous experiences and outdoor explorations and there are now several variations of the song available.
19. Snowfall – Øneheart x Reidenshi
Although ‘Snowfall’ has no lyrics, it’s still a mellow and atmospheric tune that complements dreamy landscapes and snowy destinations.
With its tranquil vibe and ambient sounds, this song is an ideal match for serene and scenic moments captured during travels. You don’t have to just use it for snowy landscapes. It’s also great for peaceful settings and reflective journeys.
The song sets a calming tone for your videos and stories. The next time you want to capture the quieter, contemplative side of travel, use this soothing melody to show the beauty of what you’ve just caught on camera.
20. On Top of the World – Imagine Dragons
Want an uplifting and spirited track? Then ‘On Top of the World’ by the popular group Imagine Dragons is the one for you.
Its vibrant beat and jubilant energy will suit moments of adventure and triumph. With lyrics that evoke a sense of excitement, this song will add a positive and invigorating touch to your travel videos.
I think I’ve used this song nearly every time I’ve climbed to the top of something whether that be a mountain or a building. It never gets old!
21. I Got Summer on My Mind – Elli Eli
Those of us who remember the West Coast anthem ‘Still D.R.E.’ by Dr Dre will either love or hate this song that samples the track.
I personally really like ‘I Got Summer on My Mind’ and its upbeat and cheerful tune is a great choice for your travel content. This song is infectious energy with an obvious summer-filled vibe, ideal for showcasing joyful moments and vibrant experiences during travel.
Whether it’s beach escapades, exciting city explorations, or any sunny travel destination, this song is an excellent choice for your Instagram reels and TikTok videos.
22. Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles
Let’s face it, there’s almost a Beatles song for every type of moment you can think of. From their entire back catalogue, Here Comes The Sun is a song that often crops up when scrolling through travel content.
The 1969 hit is an iconic and timeless tune that has a cheerful melody, optimistic lyrics and beautiful guitar riffs. This classic track captures the joy of exploring new places, serene moments and embarking on adventures.
The uplifting lyrics from the Fab Four (minus Lennon at the time) can add a positive, happy vibe to any sunny travel video.
23. Be Free – Soul Rising
‘Be Free’ is a refreshing and liberating track popular on travel reels and acoustic playlists. There isn’t much in the way of lyrics but the vibrant and energetic vibe captures the essence of freedom and exploration.
The song’s lively beat would complement scenes of adventure, discovery, and enjoyment, encouraging your followers to embrace the wanderlust spirit. If you want to show off your carefree moments then this song would be the perfect soundtrack to your travel stories.
24. Happy – Pharrell Williams
Question – who isn’t happy when travelling? No one! That’s why ‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams is such a great song for your travel stories. The song is a joyous and upbeat tune that adds an infectious energy to your content.
It’s a feel-good song from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack that syncs seamlessly with visuals of adventure, friends’ gatherings, and discovering new places. The track’s positive vibes and catchy rhythm make it an excellent choice for celebratory and carefree moments.
Add a cheerful and uplifting tone to your content such as getting on a plane or arriving at an awesome city or location..
25. Unstoppable – Sia
It feels like Sia has been around forever. While she had success with Zero 7, it wasn’t until 2015 that she broke through as a solo artist.
Unstoppable was released in 2016 and remains one of her biggest hits and most used songs in travel content. The high-energy and empowering track with its motivational lyrics fits so well with exploration, adventure, and personal triumphs.
The song’s powerful and confident message amplifies scenes of overcoming challenges and seizing the moment while travelling. Think summiting mountains and completing multi-day treks!
26. Riptide – Vance Joy
One of my favourite songs to use on my travel content, ‘Riptide’ by Vance Joy brings a light and breezy feel to reels and stories.
I’ve used this one often and it worked well for things like road trips around Albania or motorcycle trips when visiting Bali or Vietnam!
The catchy ukulele riffs and upbeat tempo of this song are perfect for the carefree moments during your adventures. The track’s relaxed vibe creates an atmosphere of fun and leisure, ideal for visuals of road trips, beach outings, or exploration in beautiful locations.
It’s somehow energetic, yet relaxed making it an excellent choice for those scenes of casual exploration and memorable travel moments.
27. Blue Sea – Buffalo
When I hear ‘Blue Sea’ by Buffalo I instantly dream of far-off shores! It must be the sound of waves from this enticing and mellow track!
The calming melodies and soothing vibes create an ideal backdrop for any dreamy sea-related content. Whether that be cockatiels in a beach bar or simply chilling in a hammock the song gives off a peaceful and scenic feel.
There are no lyrics to this song so you could listen to it on an endless loop and never even realise!
28. Dancing In The Moonlight – Jubël
This 2020 cover of ‘Dancing In The Moonlight’ by Jubël is an upbeat track that takes a chilled classic and turns it into a lively, energetic song ready for scenes of fun and joy during adventures.
The song’s modern reimagining creates a cheerful atmosphere and inviting melody, making it a great choice for carefree moments, friendships, and vibrant travel scenes.
While this song is a great choice for your content, I would also suggest another Jubël hit – Klingande (wait for the dreamy saxophone part!)
29. On The Road Again – Willie Nelson
An utter classic that works on many levels! ‘On the Road Again’ was released back in 1980 and is a timeless anthem
The song encapsulates the adventurous spirit of being on the move, making it an excellent choice for any journey highlights. With its classic country sound and upbeat tempo, it’s perfect for road trips, exploration, and adventures.
Nelson’s spirited tune serves as an excellent choice for moments that capture the thrill and joy of travel experiences.
How Do You Make A Good Travel Reel?
Making a good travel reel, Insta story or TikTok doesn’t have to be difficult. You’ll naturally capture visually stunning content since you’re already travelling to epic destinations.
If you want to try and jazz up your reels and content, here are some tips to help:
- Use different angles to create different perspectives (try wide angle.)
- Check out some of the trending reels and stories for inspiration.
- Add text, like titles and inspirational captions if you feel the viewer can benefit.
- Choose an epic song for your travel reel from the list I just gave you.
- Don’t let filters overpower your content.
- Edit for the timing of the music if this adds to the flow.
Apart from that, the best advice is to just have fun with it. Remember that content is a result of your travel experiences, not the other way around!
Wrapping Up: Songs For Travel Reels
Since music plays such a significant role in how we remember our travel experiences it’s important to combine the visual and audio to create the perfect travel reel.
The songs listed here are just a small sample of the sounds that can make your travel reels more engaging. The more travel reels/stories you create, the easier it will be to choose the best song to match.
I prefer to edit my content after a trip since I’m always too busy enjoying myself during it. It’s important to know that creating great content isn’t the whole part of the journey (unless you’re a paid influencer!)
So, let your storytelling stand out with this amazing collection of travel reel songs but, above all, enjoy the journey and the process.
