Anthony Bourdain was not just a renowned chef, author, and television personality; he was also a passionate traveler who explored the world in search of culinary adventures and cultural experiences.

His unique perspective on travel, food, and life resonated with millions of people, making him an inspiration to many wanderlust seekers.

In this article, we celebrate Bourdain’s spirit of adventure and curiosity by sharing 25 of his most inspiring travel quotes.

Anthony Bourdain Travel Quotes

1. “Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.”
2. “If I am an advocate for anything, it is to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. The extent to which you can walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food, it’s a plus for everybody. Open your mind, get up off the couch, move.”
3. “Travel is about the gorgeous feeling of teetering in the unknown.”
4. “The journey is part of the experience – an expression of the seriousness of one’s intent. One doesn’t take the A train to Mecca.”
5. “I’m a big believer in winging it. I’m a big believer that you’re never going to find perfect city travel experience or the perfect meal without a constant willingness to experience a bad one. Letting the happy accident happen is what a lot of vacation itineraries miss, I think, and I’m always trying to push people to allow those things to happen rather than stick to some rigid itinerary.”
6. “If you’re twenty-two, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel – as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them – wherever you go.”
7. “Maybe that’s enlightenment enough: to know that there is no final resting place of the mind; no moment of smug clarity. Perhaps wisdom… is realizing how small I am, and unwise, and how far I have yet to go.”
8. “It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be. The more I become aware of, the more I realize how relatively little I know of it, how many places I have still to go, how much more there is to learn.”
9. “Drink heavily with locals whenever possible.”
10. “You learn a lot about someone when you share a meal together.”
11. “I’m not afraid to look like an idiot.”
12. “Good food and good eating are about risk.”
13. “If you’re twenty-two, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel – as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them – wherever you go.”
14. “Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.”
15. “To me, life without veal stock, pork fat, sausage, organ meat, demi-glace, or even stinky cheese is a life not worth living.”
16. “Assume the worst. About everybody. But don’t let this poisoned outlook affect your job performance. Let it all roll off your back. Ignore it. Be amused by what you see and suspect. Just because someone you work with is a miserable, treacherous, self-serving, capricious and corrupt asshole shouldn’t prevent you from enjoying their company, working with them or finding them entertaining.”
17. “I learned a long time ago that trying to micromanage the perfect vacation is always a disaster. That leads to terrible times.”
18. “I’m not going anywhere. I hope. It’s been an adventure. We took some casualties over the years. Things got broken. Things got lost. But I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
19. “Skills can be taught. Character you either have or you don’t have.”
20. “If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. Walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food. It’s a plus for everybody.”
21. “If you’re twenty-two, physically fit, hungry to learn and be better, I urge you to travel – as far and as widely as possible. Sleep on floors if you have to. Find out how other people live and eat and cook. Learn from them – wherever you go.”
22. “You have to be a romantic to invest yourself, your money, and your time in cheese.”
23. “It’s very rarely a good career move to have a conscience.”
24. “I know what I want. I want it all. I want to try everything once.”
25. “The journey is part of the experience – an expression of the seriousness of one’s intent. One doesn’t take the A train to Mecca.”

Bourdain’s love for travel was evident in his writing and television shows, where he ventured into both famous and off-the-beaten-path destinations.

His quotes reflect his belief in the transformative power of travel, the importance of trying new things, and the value of immersing oneself in different cultures.