20 Ideas on How to Cure Wanderlust at Home

Did you use to travel at least once a year to a new exotic destination, only to find yourself canceling flight after flight due to a worldwide lockdown? Now you're stuck at home and wanderlust is starting to hit you hard? As fellow travelers, we totally get you! Luckily, besides daydreaming about your next trip, you can make your wanderlust depression go away with a few activities you can do without leaving your home. Check them out!

1. Read a book set in your dream destination.

For many years, books have been a proven cure for wanderlust. Whether you prefer fiction or not, reading allows you to be transported to another time and place. You can try with these titles:

• My Life in France by Julia Child
• Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
• Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
• Angels and Demons by Dan Brown

2. Cook food from different parts of the world.

Cure wanderlust depression in the tastiest way possible — try cooking a traditional dish from a destination you'd like to visit! Just choose a recipe and get ready to try something new. Whether you make Spanish paella, Chinese dim sum, or Balkan baklava, your taste buds will transport you to another part of the world.

3. Take virtual tours of destinations.

Thanks to technology, you don't have to move from your couch to enjoy the world's greatest attractions! Visit the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Tate in London, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, or tour the beautiful Sistine Chapel.

4. Create your own travel vision board.

You probably have many trip ideas swirling around in your head. Now you have the time to sort through the jumble and create the perfect travel vision board! List your favorite destinations and experiences, gather quotes, pictures, and anything else that inspires you.

5. Explore your own city.

You can make your wanderlust depression go away by pretending to be a tourist in your own city. Think of the things you usually do when you're exploring a new city — visit a museum, take a day tour, or visit a restaurant with the most reviews on Tripadvisor.

6. Learn a new language.

Not only will you feel connected to a new culture, but you will also train your brain and improve memory. Take a look at our language learning guide to find out how to pick a language, how to start, how to learn it quickly, which are the best language learning apps, and more.

7. Go to the zoo.

If you're missing exotic experiences, spend a day at the nearest zoo and see animals like lions, tigers, elephants, and dolphins up close. If you don't have a zoo nearby, you can let the zoo come to you with a virtual tour.

8. Watch travel documentaries.

Just like books, travel shows and documentaries are a great way to cure your itchy feet and transport you to different destinations. Some interesting Netflix documentaries are:

• Down to Earth
• The Chef Show
• The Down Wall
• Dark Tourist

9. Plan a bucket list trip.

Maybe you've always wanted to visit Cuba, maybe you've dreamed about traveling with a group of friends, or maybe you want to explore the Big Sur. Well, time to get planning! Learn about the destination, find hostels, activities, and tours — even if the trip won't happen for another year or so.

10. Meet travelers online.

Many travelers say that meeting new people is the best part of their adventures. It's natural to miss those connections if you're missing traveling. To cure it, you can connect with travelers on social media. Facebook groups like Bucket List Beasts and Nomads are popular choices.

11. Relive memories from your last trip.

To successfully battle wanderlust depression, relive the high of your past trip! If you're crafty, you can put all your memories in a travel journal. Write about the people you've met, put tickets and receipts in one place, create maps and itinerary layouts. For more ideas check out our travel journal guide.

12. Master a new activity.

If you used to pass out on activities like horseback riding, scuba diving, or volleyball, now that you're stuck at home you can take the time to master a new activity and have even more fun on your next trip.

13. Change your daily routine.

Don't let the monotony get you! Whenever you have a chance, change something in your daily routine — take the more scenic route to work or go to lunch in a different neighborhood. You might get the same thrill as when you're on vacation!

14. Take a day trip.

Remember that adventure can take place anywhere and anytime! You can cure your travel melancholy by exploring your own backyard. Take a bus ride for a couple of hours and you might end up exploring historic towns and art installations you've never seen before.

15. Pretend you’re staying in a hotel.

Put on a comfy robe, lower your shades, make sure your phone is in airplane mode, and make yourself a bubble bath. Treat yourself to a nice breakfast, lunch, and dinner delivery in one day. If you're design-savvy, you can even redecorate your bedroom to mimic the hotel style.

16. Start a travel blog.

If you're a traveler, you surely have funny, heart-warming, weird, and maybe even bizarre travel stories to tell. Why not share them with the rest of the world? You can tell your experiences and share travel advice to help others have safer and more memorable trips!

17. Create a travel playlist.

It's inevitable to create a travel playlist when you're going on a road trip or are preparing for a long-haul flight. Those songs might be a cure for your wanderlust depression when you're stuck at home. If you're not inspired, you can browse travel playlists on Spotify or Deezer.

18. Fill your home with your travel memories.

Besides redecorating your room to make a wanderlust-worthy living space, you can cure your wanderlust by making your travel memories come to life. Go through the photos of your past trips, pick your favorites, print and frame them, and let those memories live on the walls of your home.

19. Enjoy the outdoors.

No matter where you live, there is surely an outside area that you can make the most of. Maybe you can go hiking, maybe just a walk and a picnic in a city park, but just stepping out of your home and doing something different might make you miss travel less.

20. Wake up early to watch the sunrise.

If you can get excited for a 6 am flight, you can wake up early one day and get excited about watching the sunrise. Pour yourself a cup of coffee, find a spot with a nice view, and appreciate a day ahead.

You can also treat yourself to a new travel t-shirt or a mug! Check out the Elture shop and pick your favorites.