Best TV Shows to Binge Watch on a Long Flight (& Fuel Your Wanderlust)

Last updated: March 2026
This is not a sponsored post and I am not affiliated with any of the businesses or organisations mentioned.

This is not a sponsored post and I am not affiliated with any of the businesses or organisations mentioned.

{A blog post by my sister Chris who loves combining her travels with her every day interests!}

Long flights have a strange way of slowing everything down. Somewhere between take-off and landing, you suddenly have hours to fill -and a good series can make all the difference. Whether you’re looking for something easy to get into or a story that draws you in completely, the right show can turn the journey into part of the experience. This list brings together a selection of TV series that not only pass the time effortlessly, but also capture that same sense of travel, atmosphere, and curiosity.

Most of these TV shows are available for offline viewing on major platforms. Download them on your phone or tablet, and you are ready for take off!

MEDICI

Florence, 15^th century. The Italian Renaissance. Cosimo de’ Medici becomes the head of the wealthiest, deadliest and most powerful banking family dynasty in Florence. After his father’s mysterious death, Cosimo finds himself in a world of political intrigue, bloody fight for power and family dispute. His only way out is his passion for art and his beloved city.

The true story of one of the most powerful families in Renaissance Europe; their influence over Florentine architecture and art is still as alive now as it was back then.

Check out Medici on IMDB.

THE DURRELS

In 1935, widow Louisa Durrell moves her four children from England to the Greek island of Corfu in an attempt to start a new, happier life. Finding a sea-front, semi-derelict mansion to live in, their adventures in idyllic, care-free Corfu begin. From matters of the heart to experiencing life in a place worlds apart from the way of life back in Britain, one thing is for sure. Anything is possible in Corfu, and that is why they like it so! Picture perfect Corfu looks like heaven on earth even through economic hardship and the clouds of WWII closing in.

With the majority of the series shot in Corfu, you’ll realise that it is indeed still paradise. So, prepare to be more than pleasantly surprised upon your first visit to the island.

Check out The Durrels on IMDB.

RIVIERA

A television drama created by Neil Jordan, set in the glamorous French Riviera and with Julia Stiles as the female lead? Sold. Following the death of her billionaire husband in a yacht accident, American art curator Georgina Clios (Julia Stiles) finds herself in a world of lies, crime, family animosity and greed. Her life turned upside down, she tries to uncover the truth about her husband’s untimely death.

Prepare to be dazzled by the glitz, glamour and beauty of the French Riviera.

Check out Riviera on IMDB.

HIGH SEAS (ALTA MAR)

My latest obsession. High Seas is a Spanish murder mystery series taking place on a luxury ocean liner in the late 1940s. Two sisters, on their way from Spain to Brazil, become entangled in a series of mysterious murders and discover disturbing secrets about their family that go back to World War II. High society, fashion, endless conspiracies and the golden era of travelling.

High Seas is an eye candy for those who love intrigue and travelling in style.

Check out High Seas on IMDB.

POLDARK

Late 1700s in the wild landscapes of Cornwall, England. Ross Poldark, having fought bravely in the American Revolution, returns to his ancestral home only to discover that all of his close friends and family believe him to be dead. The woman he once loved is now engaged to his cousin and his property is derelict. During these hard times where the conflicts between the rich and the poor are many, the only things keeping him going are his noble heart, stubbornness and courage.

With its rolling green hills, vast beaches and dramatic cliff drops, you will be visiting Cornwall next time you are in the UK.

Check out Poldark on IMDB.

GIRLS FROM IPANEMA (MOST BEAUTIFUL THING)

Rio de Janeiro, 1950s. Loyal housewife Maria Luisa arrives in Rio after the disappearance of her husband and decides to open a Bosa Nova club. Acting against the wishes of her family, she is trying to deal with her husband’s betrayal and setting up a new business with only the help of a small group of female friends. Will she be able to survive in a male dominated world?

From the sunny beaches of Rio to sultry nights filled with Bossa Nova, this is a story of female empowerment, friendship and passion lusciously wrapped in the stunning imagery of Rio and the design and fashion of the 1950s.

Check out Girls From Ipanema on IMDB.

THE WHITE LOTUS

And last, but certainly not least, the obvious contender! The White Lotus is one of those shows that feels like a holiday, even when things start to unravel beneath the surface. Set in beautiful, high-end resorts, each season takes place in a different destination — Season 1 in Hawaii, Season 2 in Sicily, and Season 3 in Thailand — which adds to its sense of escapism. The seasons aren’t interdependent, so you can easily pick one and dive straight in.

The White Lotus combines stunning scenery with sharp, often uncomfortable observations about people and privilege, with episodes that balance slow-building tension and dark humour -ideal for settling into on a long flight.

Check out The White Lotus on IMDB.

Now sit back, relax and enjoy your flight!

XOXO
Chris