If traveling around the world feels out of reach financially, there are plenty of creative ways to satisfy your curiosity about other cultures—and you don’t even need to leave home.

One simple way is through storytelling. Pick up a novel set in a country you know little about. The same idea applies to music, TV shows, and movies. Digital platforms offer nearly endless catalogs to explore, often with playlists or selections organized by country. To get started, search for curated lists online or ask your favorite AI assistant for recommendations.

Another option is to travel through cooking. Find a traditional recipe from another country and recreate it in your kitchen. Don’t worry if you can’t source all the ingredients—you can often substitute with locally available options. As you explore new flavors, you’ll get a taste of the country’s culture right from your dinner table.

You can also deepen your understanding of a place by following its news or watching documentaries about its history, people, or customs. Once you start dreaming about a country, you’ll likely notice more and more opportunities to explore it from afar.

Until the day comes when you can finally step onto new soil, these methods allow you to dream, discover, and feed your wanderlust in meaningful ways.