19 Songs That Will Make You Want To Travel

Let our selection of travel-inspired music transport you to the streets of Paris, the jazz bars of New Orleans and the vibrant markets of Marrakech, among many other exciting destinations. Just follow your ears!

Paris

Josephine Baker: “La Conga Blicoti”
We know, we know. Paris has plenty of contemporary music to offer, but there’s nothing quite like the Paris of the Roaring Twenties. Josephine Baker was one of the superstars of the era, and the sound of her voice has the power to take you to the romantic streets of the City of Love in a heartbeat.

Berlin

Seeed: “Dickes B”
Berlin is known for for its techno and electronic scene, but when this hip-hop/reggae classic comes on in the club, every Berliner goes crazy. Seeed’s members are proud sons of the German capital, and this is their tribute to their home town.

Buenos Aires

Bajofondo: Bajofondo Tango Club Album
While tango’s sexy reputation is a foregone conclusion, Bajofondo has built on that and brought the genre slap into the 21st century. Their first album, Bajofondo Tango Club (2002), fuses drum ‘n’ bass, trip hop and tango, creating a distinct sound that’s just as fresh more than 20 years on.

London

The Kinks: “Waterloo Sunset”
The Kinks are arguably the quintessential London band. Brought up in Muswell Hill in north London, so many of the songs penned by lead singer Ray Davies evoke images of the city, whether of suburban life or simply just ‘Terry and Julie’ (Terence Stamp and Julie Christie) meeting outside Waterloo underground station every Friday for eternity in the iconic “Waterloo Sunset”.

New York City

Alicia Keys & Jay Z: “Empire State of Mind”
It might seem kind of obvious, but this song iss an instant classic and should be playing on your headphones as your plane, train or automobile approaches the city, and you catch your first glimpse of the Big Apple.

Melbourne

The Cat Empire: Two Shoes Album
Recent years have seen the Aussie drawl back on the charts. The Triple J Hottest 100 – Australia’s ultimate annual music countdown – has featured Melbourne bands like The Cat Empire, The Smith Street Band and Architecture in Helsinki, who sing ’em like they hear ’em.

Edinburgh

Garbage: “Only Happy When It Rains”
Let’s be honest: If you’re in Edinburgh for at least 24 hours, chances are it will rain at some stage. Keep in mind this Generation X anthem – voiced by Edinburgh-born Shirley Manson – and look on the bright side.

Vancouver

Dan Mangan: “Pine for Cedars”
Born and raised in British Columbia, two-time Juno Award-winning artist Dan Mangan’s albums feature songs about Vancouver and the West Coast, but also politics and robots.

Marrakech

Majid Bekkas: “African Blues”
Majid Bekkas has spent his music career creating a rich fusion of traditional Moroccan Gnawa music and jazz. The whirl of jazzy rhythms melded with traditional Moroccan instruments is a pleasant sound you most likely haven’t heard before.

Cape Town

Beatenberg: The Hanging Gardens of Beatenberg Album
This easy-listening pop album by Cape Town-born band Beatenberg is decidedly poppy, but it does have a distinctly African sound that will get you in the mood to travel there. Here’s the single “Southern Suburbs”.

Rio de Janeiro

Novos Baianos: “Mistério do Planeta”
Tune into the Brazilian rock legends’ 1972 hit “Acabou Chorare”, a timeless classic that will aurally prepare you for the joyful spirit of this beautiful and beguiling city.

Portland

Blind Pilot: 3 Rounds and a Sound Album
Indie music was pretty much invented in the Pacific Northwest, with bands like The Decemberists and The Shins hailing from Portland. Blind Pilot’s debut album, 3 Rounds and a Sound, encapsulates the folk-indie feel of the city that they waited tables and served coffee in before making it big.

Montreal

Cœur de Pirate: “Comme des enfants”
This Montreal native makes soulful music that captures the essence of Quebec’s largest city. With sweet lyrics that could make anyone want to learn French, “Comme des enfants” should be at the top of your travel playlist if Montreal is the destination of your next adventure.

Austin

Black Joe Lewis: “Come to My Party”
Unlike a lot of musicians who live in Austin, Black Joe Lewis is actually from Austin. Lewis’ gutsy soul music makes it impossible to resist dancing – and if you’re lucky, he might just be playing when you’re in town.

Munich

Mundhaarmonika: “Schweben”
You might be familiar with the oompah music of Oktoberfest, but if you want to get a feel for what Munich is like during the rest of the year, listen to this jazzy hip-hop song that’ll guide you through the Bavarian capital.

Hong Kong

Onra: Chinoiseries Pt. 2 Album
French producer Onra loops and slices vintage Chinese and Southeast Asian vinyl samples into a venerable album of hip-hop vignettes. For those looking for a unique take on Hong Kong’s cross-cultural identity, Chinoiseries Pt. 2 integrates the stylistic differences between the East and West and distils it into a melodic soundtrack that delivers in spades.

New Orleans

Louis Armstrong: “When the Saints Go Marching In”
It’s a New Orleans classic that you’ll hear often, whether it’s because the Saints football team is playing at home in the Superdome, or because Mardi Gras season has begun.

Athens

Nana Mouskouri: “Athina”
Written by legendary Greek composer Manos Hatzidakis (Academy Award winner for Best Original Song in 1960 for “Never on Sunday”) and performed by Nana Mouskouri, “Athina” is a song dedicated to Athens, a hymn that extols the city’s beauty and history.

Dublin

Thin Lizzy: “The Boys Are Back in Town”
No other band captured the city’s transition from conservative island backwater to modern-day European capital more effectively than Thin Lizzy. Get in the mood for your trip to Dublin by listening to Phil Lynott, then pour one out for the late singer outside Bruxelles pub on Harry Street, where he has been immortalised as a bronze statue.