Shows Like Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days

If you liked Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days (1989), a documentary series, here are 20 shows with a similar feel, based on TMDB's recommendations. Each one links to its cast, trailer and where it's streaming.

1
The Reluctant Traveller with Eugene Levy (2023)
★ 7.5/10Also documentary
Award-winning actor and nervous explorer Eugene Levy steps out of his comfort zone for a whirlwind tour of the world's most beautiful and intriguing destinations.
2
Planet Earth (2006)
★ 8.6/10Also documentary
David Attenborough celebrates the amazing variety of the natural world in this epic documentary series, filmed over four years across 64 different countries.
3
Welcome to Earth (2021)
★ 7.6/10Also documentary
Will Smith whose curiosity and wonder is positively infectious—is guided by National Geographic Explorers traveling to different corners of the world to get up close and personal with the weirdest, most unusual…
4
Great Migrations (2010)
★ 7.7/10Also documentary
Shot from land and air, in trees and cliff-blinds, on ice floes and underwater, this documentary tells the powerful stories of many of the planet's species and their movements, while revealing new scientific insights…
5
One Strange Rock (2018)
★ 7.7/10Also documentary
A mind-bending, thrilling journey exploring the fragility and wonder of planet Earth, one of the most peculiar, unique places in the entire universe, brought to life by the only people to have left it behind – the…
6
The Men Who Built America (2012)
★ 8/10Also documentary
Influential builders, dreamers and believers whose feats transformed the United States, a nation decaying from the inside after the Civil War, into the greatest economic and technological superpower the world had ever…
7
Earth at Night in Colour (2020)
★ 8.1/10Also documentary
Filmed across six continents, this docuseries uses cutting-edge camera technology to capture animals' nocturnal lives, revealing new behaviours filmed in full color like never before.
8
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (2013)
★ 7.7/10Also documentary
Bourdain travels across the globe to uncover little-known areas of the world and celebrate diverse cultures by exploring food and dining rituals. Known for his curiosity, candor, and acerbic wit, Bourdain takes viewers…
9
Secrets of the Penguins (2025)
★ 7.6/10Also documentary
Over two extraordinary years, National Geographic Explorer Bertie Gregory discovered never-before-filmed secret traditions, surprising intelligence and close-knit societies of penguins. This astonishing series reveals…
10
Planet Earth II (2016)
★ 8.6/10Also documentary
David Attenborough presents a documentary series exploring how animals meet the challenges of surviving in the most iconic habitats on earth.
11
Natural World (1983)
★ 7.4/10Also documentary
Natural World is a nature documentary television series broadcast annually on BBC Two and regarded by the BBC as its flagship natural history brand. It is currently the longest-running series in its genre on British…
12
Life on Our Planet (2023)
★ 8.1/10Also documentary
Life's extraordinary journey to conquer, adapt and survive on Earth across billions of years comes alive in this groundbreaking nature docuseries.
13
Walking with Dinosaurs (2025)
★ 7.1/10Also documentary
Each episode tells the dramatic story of an individual dinosaur whose remains are currently being unearthed by world-leading dinosaur hunters. As the dinosaurs' bones emerge from the ground, their prehistoric stories…
14
Prehistoric Planet (2022)
★ 8.3/10Also documentary
Experience the wonders of our world like never before in this epic series from Jon Favreau and the producers of Planet Earth. Travel back 66 million years to when majestic dinosaurs and extraordinary creatures roamed…
15
Prop Culture (2020)
★ 7.8/10Also documentary
Film historian and prop collector Dan Lanigan reunites iconic Disney movie props with the filmmakers, actors, and crew who created and used them in some of Disney’s most beloved films. Throughout this journey, Dan will…
16
The Story of Film: An Odyssey (2011)
★ 7.7/10Also documentary
A worldwide guided tour of the greatest movies ever made and the story of international cinema through the history of cinematic innovation.
17
Frozen Planet II (2022)
★ 8.4/10Also documentary
Ten years on from the original Frozen Planet, this documentary series takes audiences back to the wildernesses of the Arctic and Antarctica and tells the complete story of the entire frozen quarter of our planet that’s…
18
Galapagos (2006)
★ 7.5/10Also documentary
The history of these beautiful Islands from their creation as uprising lava to their being studied by Darwin to their modern day inhabitants.
19
Nature (1982)
★ 7.9/10Also documentary
Consistently stunning documentaries transport viewers to far-flung locations ranging from the torrid African plains to the chilly splendours of icy Antarctica. The show's primary focus is on animals and ecosystems…
20
Messi's World Cup: The Rise of a Legend (2024)
★ 7.5/10Also documentary
Follow the legend's epic journey through five World Cups, culminating in 2022's triumph. As the championship run unfolds, Messi shares some of his most personal reflections—on his national team career and the…