Wanderlust is a strong wish to travel and explore new places. The term originated during the German Romanticism period.

Etymology

The first known use of the term in English was in 1902. It described a tendency to wander that was linked to German traditions, including German Romanticism and the German system of apprenticeship, known as the journeyman, as well as the practice of young people traveling to connect with nature.

The term comes from two German words: wandern (meaning "to hike") and Lust (meaning "desire"). Together, they translate to "the joy of hiking," though it is often described as "the joy of walking, wandering, or roaming."

In recent years, the word Wanderlust is used less often in German. It has been mostly replaced by Fernweh, which means "a longing for distant places." Fernweh was created as the opposite of Heimweh, which means "homesickness," or Reisefieber, which translates to "travel fever."

Sociology

In the early 1900s, Robert E. Park believed that wanderlust, or a strong desire to travel, was opposite to the values of having a high social position and being organized. However, postmodernism, a later idea, viewed wanderlust as something fun and empowering.

After the Enlightenment in Europe, wealthy young men were often encouraged to take a Bildungsreise, which means a journey to gain cultural knowledge. These trips usually involved visiting places like Italy or France to see famous sights.

Sociologists, or scientists who study people, separate two types of travel motivations: sunlust and wanderlust. Sunlust is mainly about finding relaxation, while wanderlust is about experiencing different cultures.

Psychology

Wanderlust may show a strong desire for personal growth through exploring the unknown, facing unexpected challenges, learning about different cultures, lifestyles, and behaviors. It may also come from a wish to escape and leave behind feelings of sadness or guilt, and has been connected to bipolar disorder, especially during times when symptoms occur regularly.

During adolescence, feeling unhappy about the limits of home and local area may increase the wish to travel.