wanderlust

/ˌwɑndərˈlʌst/

/ˈwɒndələst/

A strong desire to travel is called wanderlust. If you dream of backpacking through Europe and then taking a quick spin through southeast Asia, you have wanderlust.

The Germans call the strong urge for travel wanderlust, literally a desire for wandering. We loved the German efficiency of the word so much we annexed it for our own language. With a word like lust inside it, wanderlust really captures the dreamy passion travelers all share. Sometimes the word is also used for people who can't make a commitment to a job or a relationship.

Definitions of wanderlust

1. noun

   very strong or irresistible impulse to travel
   synonyms: itchy feet

   type of:

   impulse, urge

   an instinctive motive