Top 68+ Movie and TV Filming Locations You Can Actually Visit

Jurassic World: Rebirth

Locations: New York City and Thailand

The latest blockbuster hit in the Jurassic franchise opens with a traffic jam caused by a dinosaur in the streets of New York City. While you can find traffic almost anywhere in NYC, if you want to visit the exact location of the Jurassic World: Rebirth opening scene, head to Dumbo, aka Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass, in Brooklyn.

Much of the rest of the action takes place around the fictitious Caribbean island Ile Saint-Hubert, home to the research facility from the original Jurassic Park. While the facility is fake, the Thailand locale isn’t. The island shipwreck scene was shot at the gorgeous Ko Kradan island, and the mangrove swamp trek was filmed in Klong Root Canal in Ao Nang. Boat amid towering karst formations and take a jungle hike (without all the dino dangers) in famous filming locations such as Ao Phang Nga National Park in Phang Nga and Khao Phanom Bencha National Park in Krabi.

Sadly, Van Dyke’s Bar was a set and not a real watering hole. But a local couple in Krabi collected some of the props and set pieces and created a Jurassic Rebirth Props Exhibit at their home. Even better? They offer location tours to set-jetters.

The White Lotus

Locations: Hawaii, Italy and Thailand

Although it’s probably not a good idea to recreate your favorite posh and problematic scenes from The White Lotus, you can take your pick of its three famous filming locations for a sun-soaked, set-jetting journey.

Season 1 fans can head to Hawaii to read your Roland Barthes and Sigmund Freud by the pool at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea. Keen on a romantic dinner cruise (without Jennifer Coolidge’s character scattering ashes, of course!)? Pop over to Oahu and take a sunset sail on Vida Mia, the 97-year-old historic yacht featured on the Emmy Award–winning show.

If Season 2 was your favorite, you’ll want to stay at Italy’s San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel in Taormina. Here, you can sunbathe with a view of Isola Bella and take a boat trip to the grottos spotted during Lucia and Albie’s late-night conversation at the beach.

Season 3 moves to the island of Koh Samui, in Thailand. Stay in a luxurious villa like the Ratliff family at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui. Visit Wat Phu Khao Thong, the site of the Buddhist monastery, and indulge in a treatment at the stunning spa where Belinda works—yes, it exists, and it’s located at the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Resort.

Wednesday

Locations: Romania and Ireland

If you were hoping to find filming locations for Tim Burton’s TV series in Vermont, where the show is set, think again. This dark drama was filmed halfway across the world in Romania.

The exterior of Nevermore Academy is Cantacuzino Castle in Bușteni, and fans of Wednesday Addams (played by Jenna Ortega) can tour the castle, gardens and gallery. Many of the interior scenes were shot at Palatul Monteoru, an arts center in downtown Bucharest. But at least the lake scenes were filmed at Lake Champlain in Vermont, right? Nope! Romania again, specifically Brănești and Sterbei.

In Season 2, Wednesday and the crew head to Ireland, so viewers looking for famous filming locations will enjoy the Emerald Isle’s majestic scenery, from the waterfall and gardens of Powerscourt Demesne to the gothic Charleville Castle in County Offaly and the Deansgrange Cemetery in Dublin.

Downton Abbey

Location: United Kingdom

This beloved series (and soon-to-be-released movie) showcases numerous spots across the United Kingdom. The series is set in a fictional estate in Yorkshire, but the actual house is Highclere Castle in Hampshire, England. And you’re in luck! It’s open to the public for tours and events. You can also live that lord and lady life with a carriage ride in Windsor Great Park, afternoon tea at The Ritz London (where Edith was seen reuniting with her former fiancé, Bertie) and a stroll in Kensington Gardens (where Lady Mary and Lord Gillingham have a heart-to-heart).

Dune and Dune: Part Two

Locations: Jordan and Abu Dhabi

The planet of Arrakis, featured in Dune and Dune: Part Two, isn’t real. But the expansive deserts seen in the sci-fi flicks are. The towering dunes of Abu Dhabi’s Liwa Desert and the rust-red sands and imposing rock formations of Jordan’s Wadi Rum Protected Area set the stage for a thrilling adventure. And fortunately for intrepid travelers and film fanatics, both deserts are accessible to visitors.

Oh, and don’t be surprised if you’re feeling a little deja vu while watching Dune or Dune: Part Two. Numerous films have been shot in Wadi Rum over the years, including the 1962 adventure classic Lawrence of Arabia, the 2015 blockbuster sci-fi film The Martian (starring Matt Damon), 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the 2019 live-action Disney movie Aladdin.

The Sound of Music

Location: Austria

Austria’s hills are alive with the sound of music … and tourists! More than 300,000 fans of the 1965 mega-hit musical visit Salzburg each year to frolic in the footsteps of the von Trapp family. Here, you can cross Residenzplatz Square like Maria and belt out the famous lyrics of “Do-Re-Mi” while skipping through Mirabell Gardens like the von Trapp children.

Remember the scene when the children famously fell into the lake? That was filmed at Leopoldskron Palace, the former family seat of a prince-archbishop that now operates as a hotel. Access to the property is limited to hotel staff and guests, so if you want to take a tour, be sure to book your stay in advance.

Game of Thrones

Locations: Multiple, including Northern Ireland, Croatia, Iceland, Spain, Scotland and Morocco

This wildly popular HBO series, which ran from 2011 to 2019, was one of the chief catalysts for the set-jetting travel trend. Wherever GOT filmed, superfans followed, driving tourism numbers up in its key filming locations so dramatically that the impact was dubbed “The Game of Thrones Effect.”

Because the series had so many iconic filming locations, it’s impossible to list all the places you can visit. Major highlights include Croatia, which stood in for King’s Landing; Ireland, where Westeros came to life; Spain, which represented Dorne; Morocco (aka Essos); and of course Iceland, which was used for many scenes “North of the Wall.”

Ghostbusters

Location: New York City

Get into the “spirit” of set-jetting with a tour of several Ghostbusters famous filming locations in NYC. Kick things off where the movie starts—the main branch of the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue, where the paranormal investigators first encounter an apparition. After admiring the restored Rose Main Reading Room, you can race down the marble front steps like they did in the movie, visit Times Square and City Hall and snap a selfie outside the Ghostbusters’ headquarters (a real firehouse in Tribeca called Hook & Ladder Company 8).

Bridget Jones’s Diary

Location: London

If rom-coms are your favorite, you might enjoy a Bridget Jones–themed tour of London. Shop for produce like Bridget did at historic Borough Market, grab a pint at Globe Tavern (her local pub) and re-enact her interview with Mark Darcy at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Fans of the newest Bridget Jones movie, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, can also sip hot chocolate on Flask Walk, a pedestrian street in Hampstead, much like Mabel did. Or, take afternoon tea at Petersham Nurseries, where the garden party scene was filmed.

Slumdog Millionaire

Location: India

While much of Jamal’s story plays out in his underserved neighborhood in Mumbai, this Oscar-winning film also showcases a few tourist hotspots. The iconic Taj Mahal, where Jamal worked as an illegal tour guide, should certainly be on your itinerary. You could also bust a move at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus train station, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the setting for the films “Jai Ho” dance sequence—if you don’t mind an audience. More than 3 million people travel through this station every day!

Troy

Locations: Malta, Mexico and Turkey

Although the Palace of Troy was filmed at Shepperton Studios in the United Kingdom, most of this 2004 adaptation of the Greek epic was shot elsewhere—but not in Greece! Malta’s beautiful blue waters, such as those at Golden Bay and Hal Far, seamlessly served as stand-ins for Greek-like settings. If you find yourself traveling in Canakkale, Turkey, you can snap a photo of the towering Trojan horse replica that was used in the film. You might also recognize some of the movie’s beachy backdrops all the way on the other side of the globe, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, another Troy filming location.

Ant-Man and The Wasp

Location: San Francisco

Like many Marvel films, much of this superhero sequel (and the 2015 original) was shot at a movie studio in Atlanta. But fans can visit several real-life San Francisco sites featured in the film, including the triangular Transamerica Building, the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods and Alcatraz. You can also follow Ant-Man’s steps down to Fisherman’s Wharf, where he chased a bad guy onto the Harbor Emperor, one of the ferries in San Francisco’s Blue & Gold Fleet.

If you’re up for a drive, take a trip along Lombard Street, SF’s famously windy road. But don’t expect a high-speed chase like you might find in the film, as 2 million people visit this street each year, and the hairpin turns have a 5 mph speed limit. Fun fact: The Real World San Francisco house and Scottie’s apartment in Vertigo also have Lombard Street addresses.

While You Were Sleeping

Location: Chicago

This 1995 Christmas rom-com was a huge hit and, like the bus in Speed, a great vehicle for Sandra Bullock’s career. Her character, Lucy, was a Chicago Transit Authority employee who collected tokens at the Randolph/Wabash “L” train station in the Loop, which has unfortunately been demolished. But you can glimpse the exterior of Lucy’s second-floor apartment at 3017 West Logan Boulevard and take a peek at Peter’s luxurious high-rise building at Lake Point Tower on North Lake Shore Drive.

But don’t even think of reenacting any of the hospital scenes; while they were set at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, those scenes were primarily captured at a constructed set, and very little filming actually took place in the real hospital.

Skyfall

Location: Turkey

Skyfall begins in Istanbul with James Bond on a spectacular motorbike chase through the Spice Bazaar in the Eminonu district of Istanbul, Turkey. The chase moves to the rooftops of the Grand Bazaar, and the magnificent Hagia Sophia mosque forms part of the backdrop. Bond also crashes through a window of the centuries-old covered market and continues his high-octane chase in its maze of passages before boarding a train that leaves from Sirkeci train station.

While you can visit all these sites in Istanbul, we recommend you slow down and actually enjoy them! Oh, and don’t expect to wrap up your Skyfall city tour on the bridge where the chase scene ends—the Varda Viaduct, as it’s known in real life, is actually nine hours away in Adana, a province in southern Turkey.

Rocky

Location: Philadelphia

Capture your own Rocky moment without ever setting foot in a boxing ring. Just head to the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and start running. But don’t expect to be alone; this is one of the most famous filming locations of all time, and every day thousands of people mimic Sylvester Stallone running up the museum’s 72 stone steps. Once you’ve filmed your sprint up the stairs, take a breather on the nearby grassy knoll and grab a selfie with the Rocky statue there.

Westworld

Locations: California and Utah

Vacationing the cowboy way might not sound like the best plan after watching this HBO series about a futuristic, Western-themed park and its android hosts with itchy trigger fingers! But the setting—with spectacular panoramas, natural minarets and sunsets—is spectacular, and much safer in the present-day “Wild West” of California and Utah.

Many church and Main Street scenes were shot at the Paramount Ranch, a 2,700-acre former satellite studio lot that’s now part of the National Park Service. Multi-use trails here mean you can gallop around on horseback like Dolores. While in California, you can also schedule a VIP tour of the Melody Ranch Studio in Santa Clarita, another site where Westworld was filmed.

Remember (or perhaps you’d rather forget!) that scene when the mysterious and violent Man in Black, played by Ed Harris, does a bit of scalping and there’s a breathtaking rock formation in the background? That was shot at Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah. And those dusty roads and red buttes also provided the setting for the final scene for another wildly popular film. Watch the turquoise Thunderbird car go careening off the cliff at the end of Thelma & Louise, and you’ll spot the same rock spire seen in Westworld.

Pretty Woman

Location: Los Angeles

Want to play Pretty Woman for a day in LA? Hope you’ve got a big travel fund. In this film, you might recall that Vivian experienced the luxe life at the Regent Beverly Wilshire’s penthouse (now the Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel). You can too—for $25,000 per night. (Most of the interior scenes were actually shot at the Ambassador Hotel, which unfortunately, you can’t visit, as it has been demolished.)

Ready to reenact some shopping scenes? Throw on an obnoxiously oversized hat and head down to Rodeo Drive, where you’ll find two miles of luxury stores. But be warned, the sales associates likely won’t appreciate hearing you recite Vivian’s famous line: “Big Mistake. Big. Huge.”

Paris, je t’aime

Location: Paris

A series of 18 short movies shot by different directors, this anthology is a love letter to Paris. Plenty of famous filming locations appear, including the eternally popular Latin Quarter, the Eiffel Tower, Place de la Bastille, Pere Lachaise Cemetery and Montmartre. Maybe you’ll find your own love-at-first-sight moment as the characters do in Le Marais, a beautiful and historic district. Or you can bar hop along Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, the street where Natalie Portman’s character and her boyfriend break up.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Locations: California and Tunisia

When not in a studio, the original Star Wars was filmed in Tunisia and Death Valley, California. Both locations provided arid settings for the fictional planet of Tatooine. One of the most iconic scenes involves C-3PO and R2-D2 wandering along the dunes of La Grande Dune in Tunisia. Want to live like Luke Skywalker? Book a stay at Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata, Tunisia, where the interior of Luke’s home was filmed.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi

Location: Ireland

At the end of the 2015 film, the plucky hero Rey heads off to search for Luke Skywalker and return his lightsaber. She finds him on a craggy island, cursing all things Jedi. And when the follow-up film debuted, Rey was still trying to get Luke’s attention and plead her case to become his padawan. The craggy island setting is the mystical Skellig Michael in County Kerry, Ireland. Monks built a stone monastery on its cliffs in the 7th century, which can be seen on the screen.

You have to be very determined to visit this one. It’s 13 miles off the coast and serviced by boats from Portmagee and Ballinskelligs. The weather is unpredictable, there are no accommodations and it’s a perilous climb up the monk-made, scary-steep 618 steps. The Office of Public Works even made a safety film to warn the growing crop of visitors. Yikes!

Prefer a more relaxed and luxurious set-jetting trip? Book a transatlantic or British Disney cruise and sign up for the Gaelic Galactic Adventure excursion. The helicopter tour gives you an aerial view of Skellig Michael and surrounding areas before landing for lunch at the Skellig Visitor’s Center—no scary stairs required.

Harry Potter

Location: United Kingdom

J.K. Rowling started writing the Harry Potter books while she was living in Edinburgh, Scotland, so it’s no surprise that she set most of the story there. The Hogwarts Express zooms through the Scottish Highlands and along the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which is instantly recognizable in the Chamber of Secrets. The second highest waterfall in the United Kingdom, Steall Falls (Glen Nevis) is also featured as the dramatic backdrop during Quidditch matches. Remember that amazing moment when Hermione punches Malfoy? That took place in Glen Coe.

London also has a huge role in the Harry Potter franchise. Harry talks to the snake in the Reptile House at London Zoo and accesses Diagon Alley on the Muggle street of Charing Cross Road in the West End. Leadenhall Market, located in London’s financial district, was used as Diagon Alley; the entrance to the Leaky Cauldron pub is an optician in Bull’s Head Passage. The most popular spot is King’s Cross station, where Platform 9¾ has its very own sign on the wall in the station concourse.

The Big Blue

Locations: Multiple, including Italy, Peru, the Virgin Islands and Greece

Luc Besson’s 1988 classic is a gorgeous feat of cinematography, but the natural landscapes and Aegean Sea can claim much of the praise. It was filmed in various locations, including the Virgin Islands, Sicily and Peru, but primarily on Amorgos, a Greek island in the Cyclades archipelago. The film’s title perfectly sums up the aesthetics: Amorgos boasts dramatic cliffs, whitewashed villages, secluded coves and an abundance of beautiful blue bays to explore.

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

Location: Cambodia

You’d be forgiven for assuming the setting for the 2001 Tomb Raider movie was too spectacular to be a real place. But it is! And you can visit. This film was shot at the Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap, Cambodia. And the vine-clad temple where Croft fell through the ground? Yep, that’s real too (OK, the temple is, but don’t worry, you won’t fall through the ground here). Ta Prohm is exactly as seen on screen, overgrown with trees and reclaimed by nature. Other famous scenes take place at Bayon, a Khmer temple with giant carved faces, and Phnom Bakheng, the hill overlooking Angkor Wat.

Sleepless in Seattle

Locations: Seattle and New York City

Go bicoastal with a Sleepless in Seattle trip. Did you know Sam’s floating home was not a set? It’s a real houseboat in Lake Union, and you can get a glimpse of it on a lake tour in Seattle. Over on the East Coast, you can visit some of the movie’s famous filming locations in NYC, including Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building and Tiffany & Co. on Fifth Avenue and East 57th Street.

Ocean’s 8

Location: New York City

George Clooney and his guy gang already plundered Las Vegas and Europe in other Ocean’s installments. So when it came time for his sister Debbie (played by Sandra Bullock) to plan her ultimate heist, she assembled her rag-tag team in New York City. The target? A dazzling Cartier necklace made of cascading colorless diamonds, which is inspected by team members at the brand’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue.

Debbie and her crew plan to steal the necklace at The Met Gala, an annual fundraiser for The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute that takes place inside the largest museum in America. Yes, you can visit the museum, but no, you can’t attend the VIP gala without an invitation.

Other sites shown in the film and open to the public include the Plaza Hotel, Christie’s at Rockefeller Plaza, Junior’s Deli in Brooklyn (get the cheesecake!), The Pierre Hotel, Casa Lever restaurant, Bergdorf Goodman and the Bushwick United Methodist Church Annex (Cate Blanchett’s loft).

Forrest Gump

Location: Savannah, Georgia

Grab a box of chocolates and make your way to Chippewa Square, Savannah, for your Forrest Gump moment. This is where he uttered his most memorable movie quote: “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” The scene was shot in the square, and this continues to be a famous movie location, but if you want to see the actual bench, you’ll have to visit the nearby Savannah History Museum, where it is housed.

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Location: Germany

If you assumed from the title that you’d find this famous movie set location in Budapest, Hungary, think again. Wes Anderson created the Republic of Zubrowka, an imaginary Eastern European country, and the director found the setting for it in Görlitz, a town in Saxony, Germany. The Art Nouveau department store Görlitzer Warenhaus was used for the atrium lobby of the eponymous hotel. This was not Görlitz’s first foray into fame. Hollywood seems to love the town’s old-world charm and has featured it in The Reader, Inglourious Basterds, The Book Thief and The Monuments Men.

The Beach

Location: Thailand

The popularity of this movie, released in early 2000, sadly turned Phi Phi Leh, where much of the film was shot, into a sort of paradise lost of places ruined by tourism. Six thousand people tramped all over the beach at Maya Bay every day while the boats that brought them destroyed the coral with their anchors.

In 2018, park officials closed Maya Bay for environmental restoration. It reopened in 2022 with some big changes: Boats are no longer allowed to anchor in the bay, swimming is only allowed in designated areas and a limit was placed on daily visitor numbers. The bay still closes for two months each year, typically from August to October, to allow for eco-regeneration. So if you’re really set on set-jetting here, double-check the dates. And don’t plan on having the beach to yourself; it is still very popular, so you’ll just have to pretend all the people in the background are extras on your personal film set.

The Revenant

Location: Canada

The Revenant‘s director, Alejandro González Iñárritu, was adamant about filming in the wild. Most scenes were filmed in Alberta’s Kananaskis Country, which comprises several reserves in the Canadian Rockies. That frigid river scene? That was Bow River. But the one you’re probably most interested in, the gnarly bear attack? That one was filmed in Squamish, British Columbia. There are indeed black bears and grizzly bears here, so if you’re planning to venture into the wild, be sure you are properly prepared with adequate training and equipment and/or a professional guide.

The Great Gatsby

Location: Australia

When director Baz Luhrmann decided to bring the story of Jazz Age millionaire and Daisy devotee Jay Gatsby (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) to the screen in 2013, it wasn’t like he could use any ol’ mansion to be Gatsby’s home. No, Gatsby’s Long Island estate had to be palatial, of the period and the perfect setting for parties. So he had DiCaprio play house in a former seminary in the beautiful Sydney, Australia suburb of Manly. Now, not only can you visit this gothic structure built in 1885, you can get a business degree there! It is currently the home of the International College of Management.

Even with its bell tower and archways, the site still wasn’t grand enough for Gatsby. Faux ivy was attached to the bottom two levels, a temporary fountain was built out front, and turrets and other details were added with CGI, so some of the details you see in the film cannot be seen here.

The Godfather

Location: Italy

The Sicilian town of Corleone is so important to The Godfather, it’s practically another character. The Corleone family featured in the movie is imbued with the culture of the town in everything from their clothing and gestures to their traditions. While it is indeed a real place in Italy, the scenes set there were actually shot in two other towns, Savoca and Forza d’Agrò. The filmmakers felt Corleone was too developed, so these alternatives were used.

The Notebook

Locations: South Carolina and California

Hopeless romantics looking for the kind of love Allie and Noah (Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams) shared in the 2004 tearjerker should head down to Charleston. (Yes, you read that right. Despite the novel and movie being set in North Carolina, it was largely filmed in South Carolina.) The lovers boated through a flock of geese at Cypress Gardens and shared their first date at the American Theatre. The theater is now an event space, so you won’t be able to have a movie date here, but you can certainly dance in the street out front!

If your rom-com dream is to recreate the beach frolicking scene, you’ll need to go west. That scene was filmed at El Matador Beach in California.

The Shining

Locations: Colorado and Oregon

The Stanley Hotel, a 140-room colonial revival that opened in Estes Park, Colorado, in 1909, hosted horror novelist Stephen King and his wife one fateful night in 1974. The couple were the only guests, and the long, empty corridors, late-night noises and dining room full of chairs turned upside down sparked a nightmare that inspired King’s 1977 bestseller.

But when it came time to shoot the 1980 Jack Nicholson cult classic, director Stanley Kubrick decided the exterior of the Timberline Lodge on the slopes of Mt. Hood in Oregon would make a better Overlook. Interiors were shot in Elstree Studios in England, so you can’t visit those, but you can stay in the real Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. Brave film fans can book The Spirited Night Tour and get acquainted with the resort’s, um, spiritual side, as well as its literary and film fame.

If you want to stay in room 217 as King did, you’ll have to reserve it well in advance. Despite the hotel’s concerns that no future guests would want to stay in that room after the movie was released (they used 237 just for that reason), it remains the most requested accommodation at The Stanley Hotel. Fun fact: When the book was remade for TV 17 years after its film premiere, The Stanley Hotel was finally the main filming location for the miniseries.

Australia

Location: Australia

Baz Luhrmann’s epic romance stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, but the real star of this film may be Australia itself. Much of the movie is set in the vast, inhospitable Kimberley region in the country’s northwest—perfect for those grand, sweeping shots of the Outback. As for the 1940s city of Darwin seen in the film? That was actually the coastal town of Bowen in the northeastern state of Queensland.

Singles

Location: Seattle

Singles is like a time capsule offering a glimpse of the 1990s grunge movement through a group of 20-somethings who navigate life and love in Seattle. Most of the film’s characters lived in a building on 820 E. Thomas Street in the artsy area of Capitol Hill, and a couple of them stroll by Occidental Park. But if you want a very Singles experience, consider a night of live music at the dive bar called El Corazon, where the film’s characters watched Soundgarden perform.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

Location: Jordan

In the 1989 action movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, one of the most riveting scenes is when Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) finds the Temple of the Holy Grail. In real life, this rock-cut monument is actually the ancient Treasury of Petra, Jordan. If you visit this iconic movie location (and you should, as it’s one of the best destinations for solo travelers), you won’t be allowed to enter the structure as Indiana Jones did. But you can admire the famous facade, take a trek around the ancient Nabataen city and find your own Indiana Jones adventure.

American Crime Story

Location: Miami

For the second edition of Ryan Murphy’s true-crime FX franchise, the team headed to Miami’s South Beach to tell the story of The Assassination of Gianni Versace. Of course, the story showcases Villa Casa Casuarina, the former home of the famous fashion designer and the site of his 1997 murder.

Versace purchased the property on Ocean Drive and the art deco hotel next door in 1992 while on vacation in Florida. He added the pool, gardens and the south wing. The Villa is now a hotel, which retained the opulently decorated walls, floors, ceilings and windows that Versace put in. That 54-foot-long Million Mosaic Pool featuring his 24-karat gold tiles with the signature Medusa head? Yep, still there too. You can book the bedroom that was formerly reserved for his sister (fashion designer Donatella Versace) by asking for the signature suite.

Lost in Translation

Location: Japan

Lost in Translation was shot in two of Tokyo’s most vibrant districts, Shinjuku and Shibuya. Young newlywed Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) forms an unlikely friendship with aging actor Bob (Bill Murray) at the Park Hyatt Hotel in the large business and entertainment district of Shinjuku. The pair meets for the first time at New York Bar, which you’ll find on the top floor of the 52-story Shinjuku Park Tower. The bar is currently being renovated, but plans to reopen in October 2025. If you fancy a night out on the town, head to Karaoke Kan (30-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku), where the pair spent an evening crooning tunes like “More Than This.”

Suits

Location: Toronto

Meghan Markle, now the Duchess of Sussex, was the star of her famously televised wedding to Prince Harry in 2018. But just weeks earlier, her Suits character Rachel Zane said “I do” to her on-screen beau Mike Ross (played by Patrick J. Adams) in a scene fictionally set in NYC. That wedding was actually filmed in the Crystal Ballroom of the Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto.

Couples can book the ballroom for their own nuptials, and guests can walk in Rachel’s footsteps on the historic hotel’s free tour. Coincidentally, this property also has links to Meghan’s real-life husband. Harry’s ancestor, King Edward VIII, visited the hotel in 1927.

To Catch a Thief

Location: French Riviera

In this film, two golden-era stars, Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, displayed incredible chemistry against a sunny Mediterranean backdrop. The movie was shot in the beautiful towns and villages along the French Riviera. If you take the Grande Corniche road between Nice and Monaco, you’ll find some of those spectacular views of Monte Carlo from above. But don’t take your eyes off the road for too long; there are a lot of hairpin curves! (You might also recognize this road from a car chase scene in the James Bond film Goldeneye.)

Amelie

Location: Paris

Embark on an Amelie-themed adventure in Paris, which has so many famous filming locations (in so many movies) that it’s hard to keep track. You can feast on classic French fare at Cafe des Deux Moulins, where Amelie, the waitress in the film, works. Reenact the stone-skipping scene at the bridge on Canal Saint-Martin. Or stop by the Maison Collignon grocery, where Amelie is seen in the film chatting with local residents, and where visitors can now purchase Amelie souvenirs.

My Own Private Idaho

Locations: Idaho, Oregon and Italy

In this 1991 adventure drama, Keanu Reeves and the late River Phoenix star as street hustlers who journey between Oregon, Idaho and Italy. The road trip movie begins and ends on a deserted Idaho highway, Route 216, near Maupin, Oregon. Throughout the film, Phoenix’s narcoleptic character wakes up in various places, including Portland’s Elk Fountain on SW Main Street and Rome’s Piazza del Popolo. He later hustles at Via Celio Vibenna, and while we certainly don’t recommend partaking in the same activities, a visit to the nearby Colosseum is a must when in Rome!

The Walking Dead

Location: Georgia

No list of famous filming locations would be complete without The Walking Dead. Over the course of its 12 years (and counting) the main and spinoff storylines traveled to several states. But the majority of filming for this zombie apocalypse series took place in Georgia. Although many of the bigger sets, like the prison and The Sanctuary, are on studio lots, there are plenty of photo ops outside the locked gates.

You can snag the iconic downtown Atlanta skyline and empty freeway shot, seen in the original posters, from Jackson Street Bridge. The quaint main street and historic buildings of Senoia, Georgia, have popped up in the show as Morgan’s apartment, Woodbury and Alexandria (a real neighborhood in the tiny town). Remember the butcher shop where Andrea and Michonne chill in the freezer? That’s Sportsman’s Deer Cooler in Senoia. And while the real U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is headquartered in Atlanta, filming of it actually took place at The Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

If you work up an appetite after all that zombie chasing, head to Nic & Norman’s, a burger joint created by filmmaker Greg Nicotero and fan favorite Norman Reedus, who plays Daryl. Superfans interested in visiting private locations where the series was filmed can book an authorized tour through operators like Atlanta Movie Tours or the Georgia Tour Company.

The Avengers

Location: Cleveland

Would you believe that Ohio is the unknown superhero of this Marvel film? It’s true! The German city of Stuttgart, where Loki demands the public kneel before him, was actually filmed in Cleveland’s Public Square. The building where Captain America battled aliens? That’s The 9 in Cleveland, formerly known as the Cleveland Trust Tower. And the Manhattan bank where Captain America rescues cornered civilians? You guessed it, another Cleveland location, on East 9th Street.

Wonder Woman

Locations: Italy and United Kingdom

According to the studio’s press notes, production designers considered locations in 47 countries for Wonder Woman. The list of requirements for Themyscira was long; the setting needed to appear wild and ancient, plus offer imposing cliffs, weather warm enough to suit the women warriors’ costumes and a beach large enough to stage a battle. Italy’s Amalfi Coast checked most of the boxes, but cliffs had to be added in post-production.

Of course, the setting shifts to the U.K. when Diana (Gal Gadot) leaves to help Steve (Chris Pine) with his mission in industrial London and war-torn 1918 Europe. Fans of the film can ride vintage train cars, like those that the movie characters traveled in, at Bluebell Railway in East Sussex. Tour the film’s “Belgian” chateau, which is actually Arundel Castle, in West Sussex. Or visit Dr. Maru’s first bomb factory, actually the historic Tilbury Fort in Essex.

Sex and the City

Location: New York City

The city’s sights and streets deserve equal billing with Sex and the City‘s four lead actresses. Carrie Bradshaw’s “East 73rd Street” apartment from the iconic ’90s show, reboot and movies is fictitious (and at $700 per month, it was truly unbelievable anyway!). But the brownstone built in 1866 at 66 Perry Street in Greenwich Village, which was used for the exterior shots, still stands.

After decades of enduring an incessant stream of fans on the front stoop, posing for photos, filming their Carrie Bradshaw moments and even carving their initials into the door frame, the homeowner finally requested permission from the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission to install a protective gate. You can still visit this famous filming location, just don’t be that disrespectful tourist who tries to cross the barrier.

The Hunger Games

Location: North Carolina

The 2012 hit film that made Jennifer Lawrence a star was primarily shot within the pine forests and craggy mountains of DuPont State Forest in North Carolina. An abandoned textile town, Henry River Mill Village, played the role of District 12, the poorest district of Panem. Katniss hunted in the Big Ivy Area, a section of the Pisgah National Forest on Route 197, northeast of Asheville. Scenes of the Tributes’ training center in the Capitol were filmed inside the abandoned cigarette manufacturer Philip Morris Cabarrus Plant in Concord. The Charlotte Convention Center became the set for the fiery chariot entrance, while the stage for the Tributes’ interviews with Caesar took place at Knight Theater. The Arena scenes were filmed at DuPont State Forest and North Fork Reservoir on Black Mountain.

The Brothers Bloom

Location: Romania

Rian Johnson’s 2008 comedy The Brothers Bloom was filmed almost entirely in Romania. Locations included several sites in Bucharest and the Constanta Casino (which has just recently reopened to the public after renovations). Some of the most memorable scenes were filmed at Peleș Castle in Sinaia, a gorgeous mountainside palace that was once the summer residence of the Romanian royal family. The castle is now a museum and educational site—and well worth a visit.

The Lord of the Rings

Location: New Zealand

New Zealand played a central role in Peter Jackson’s cinematic masterpiece, from the soaring peaks and valleys of the South Island to the North Island’s picturesque village of Matamata in the Waikato region. Yes, you can enjoy the Shire’s idyllic, lush green meadows for yourself and check out the thatched-roof cottages of Hobbiton, the only set that remains intact from the epic fantasy adventure series. Don’t forget to visit the Green Dragon and try some specially brewed Middle-earth beverages.

Jurassic Park

Location: Hawaii

Steven Spielberg was familiar with Kauai after shooting Raiders of the Lost Ark on the island, so it seemed like an ideal choice for his 1993 movie Jurassic Park. Kauai was the setting for the fictional Isla Nublar, with filming taking place at Limahuli Garden, Hoopii Falls and Hanapepe Valley. Spielberg also filmed on Maui and at Kualoa Ranch on Oahu, a 4,000-acre private nature reserve where you can zip line, ride horses, engage in cultural activities and take ATV and movie tours.

Jumanji, Lost, Jurassic World, Kong: Skull Island and Hawaii Five-O

Location: Hawaii

What do all these plane crash survivors, cops, dinosaurs, video game-playing teens and primate-hunting adventurers have in common? They all visited “Hawaii’s Backlot,” aka the Ka’a’awa Valley at Kualoa Ranch. Here, you can hop aboard the vintage school bus for a tour, take pictures at the first Jurassic film’s fallen tree, fake a swing on Hurley’s golf course, find Godzilla’s footprints, wander around a WWII army bunker full of props and marvel at giant bones from Kong.

Fun fact: The first day of filming on Jurassic World took place at the Honolulu Zoo. The animal paddocks were used for the movie’s petting zoo scene, where human stand-ins crawled around with saddles and kids on their backs. Thanks to their special effects suits, they were transformed (using CGI) into the baby triceratops the guests were riding. While you can visit the zoo if you’re set-jetting in Hawaii, you certainly won’t find any triceratops to ride!

12 Monkeys

Location: Philadelphia

The Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia is now abandoned, but it once housed Al Capone before falling into ruin. As a result, this creepy building made the perfect post-apocalyptic setting for the sci-fi flick 12 Monkeys. The site still operates as a full-time museum, and fans can take an audio tour narrated by actor Steve Buscemi.

Out of Africa

Location: Kenya

The Academy Award-winning drama was filmed on location in Kenya, a stunning setting for an epic romance. The Masai Mara featured prominently, and the famous scene where Robert Redford washes Meryl Streep’s hair took place on the banks of the Mara River. A number of outdoor scenes were filmed in the Shaba Reserve north of Nairobi and the Ngong Hills.

Notting Hill

Location: London

This romantic comedy made a gentrified corner of London a huge star in 1999. It showcases Bohemian Portobello Road market and that blue door on Westbourne Park Road, which was where screenwriter Richard Curtis lived at the time. The famous door has since been removed and auctioned off for charity. Other locations shown in the film include The Ritz London, the Notting Hill corner where the couple has their fateful collision (now a branch of Coffee Republic) and the famous bookshop at 13-15 Blenheim Crescent, which contains a sign for the Travel Book Co. in a nod to the film.

Field of Dreams

Location: Iowa

The crew of this Kevin Costner feel-good flick built a baseball field on a farm in Dubuque County, and it has remained there to this day. The iconic site is located about 200 miles from Des Moines and attracts more than 100,000 visitors from around the globe each year. Visitors can take a spin around the bases, visit the surrounding cornfield or watch locals play.

Modern Family

Location: Los Angeles

A handful of scenes from Modern Family have been shot at The InterContinental Los Angeles Century City, located just around the corner from Fox Studios. Claire (Julie Bowen) and Phil (Ty Burrell) try to spice up their marriage with some Valentine’s Day role-playing in the Copper Lounge, and the hotel’s garden was converted into the backyard of Jay (Ed O’Neill) and Gloria (Sofia Vergara) to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. Other TV shows, including Speechless and New Girl have filmed there as well.

Mamma Mia! and Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again

Locations: Greece and Croatia

Back in 2008, bride-to-be Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) tried to determine which former beau of her mother (Meryl Streep) was her father, all while singing and dancing to the tunes of Abba in a fictional island called Kalokairi. Most of the musical was filmed in a windowless studio in England, but some scenes were shot in Greece. Rumor has it that producers visited 21 Greek islands to find the perfect one to play the part of Kalokairi. In the end, one just wasn’t enough, and Skiathos and Skopelos were the chosen two.

Remember when Sophie’s potential fathers met for the first time? That encounter took place at the Old Port in Skiathos. Want to recreate the “Lay All Your Love on Me” duet between Sophie and Sky? Kastani Beach on Skopelos is the spot. And that gorgeous church featured at the end of the film? Yep, it’s real and open to the public. It’s called Agios Ioannis Kastri, and you can find it in the northern area of Skopelos.

If the scenes from the sequel stole your heart, don’t book your flight to Greece. Vis, a remote islet in Croatia with crystal clear waters and postcard-perfect architecture, plays Kalokairi in Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again. Memorable moments were shot in Vis Harbour, Karolina Square, the Church of St. Jeronim, Restaurant Jastozera in Komiza and Barjaci Bay, which was transformed into the Villa Donna and the “Dancing Queen” jetty.

Argo

Location: Turkey

This espionage thriller, starring Ben Affleck, was loosely based on the rescue of six Americans from Tehran during the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis. But it wasn’t filmed in Iran. To visit these famous filming locations, including the mosques and bazaars seen on screen, put Istanbul, Turkey, on your itinerary. In Istanbul, you’ll find the bustling Grand Bazaar, the Blue Mosque, the Yeni Camii (New Mosque) and the Hagia Sophia—all featured in the film. And the Embassy scene from Argo? That, too, was filmed in Istanbul, though in the Bakirkoy neighborhood.

The Hangover and The Hangover Part II

Location: Las Vegas and Thailand

The first Hangover film was shot in multiple locations in Las Vegas, where the majority of screen time was dedicated to Caesars Palace Hotel and Casino. This is where the epic bachelor party begins and ends, and all the hilarious missteps ensue in between. Although the entrance, lobby, pools, elevators and corridors were filmed in the hotel, you can’t actually book “The Villa” where the group stays. It was created on a soundstage at Warner Bros. Studios. If it looks familiar, you’re probably thinking of the suite in Rain Man that inspired it; that one was the Forum Emperor Suite, and you can book it (if you’re ready to drop upward of $25,000 per night).

Your Hangover-inspired adventures aren’t limited to Vegas. Follow in the footsteps of the film’s crazy characters and take in the views of Bangkok, Thailand, from Sky Bar at Lebua. Though we don’t recommend reenacting the movie’s levels of drunken debauchery, fans of this popular comedy flick can grab a “Hangovertini” and some incredible photos from this rooftop perch.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Location: New York

This “eternal” classic shows a different side to New York, hopping between the Hamptons and Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Sadly, you can’t catch a glimpse of Clementine’s (Kate Winslet) Williamsburg apartment; it was torn down and replaced. And Joel’s (Jim Carrey) apartment is actually in Yonkers, at 123 Valentine Lane, although it’s supposedly in Rockville Centre on screen. But you can book a stay at the Ocean Surf Resort in Montauk, pass through Grand Central Station or visit the Barnes & Noble on the Upper West Side, where Clementine worked.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Location: West Indies

Play Captain Jack Sparrow for the day at Wallilabou Anchorage in St. Vincent, West Indies, the principal location for this 2003 swashbuckling film. The hotel and restaurant opted to keep and maintain some of the set buildings and props, including waterside canons and a noose. Superfans can even opt to try on original costumes or stand inside coffins that were used during filming.

Big Fish

Location: Alabama

Edward Bloom, the main character of Tim Burton’s fantasy comedy-drama, visited a mysterious town in the middle of a dark forest. You, too, can venture to the fictitious town of Spectre on Jackson Lake Island in Alabama. The Spectre set was built here on the banks of the Alabama River, and still stands … well, sort of. The abandoned “town” has deteriorated over time, so you’ll see buildings showing their true Styrofoam and plasterboard form, with moss and mold taking over.

Saving Private Ryan

Location: Ireland

Did you know that the famous 20-minute opening scene of the military movie Saving Private Ryan was filmed in Ireland’s County Wexford, not the coast of Normandy, France? Filming took place on Ballinesker Beach, involved 2,500 background actors and lasted for two months. But a normal day here is actually quite peaceful and perfect for a stroll and some birdwatching—sans all the wartime activities and actors!

Paddington

Location: London, United Kingdom

Paddington, the beloved bear known for wearing red Wellington boots, is named after the train station where he meets the Brown family. In real life, there are several cafes at Paddington station where you can have tea and cake, as Mr. Brown and Paddington do. This family film features numerous famous filming locations in London that you can put on your set-jetting list, including Buckingham Palace, the Natural History Museum and Portobello Road in Notting Hill. And the Brown’s fictitious address of “Windsor Gardens”?Look for the pretty pastel houses along Chalcot Crescent in Primrose Hill.

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Location: South Africa

Plenty of real locations from Nelson Mandela’s life were used in this powerful biopic. Locations you can visit include his prison cell on Robben Island, Cape Town’s City Hall and the Palace of Justice in Pretoria. The interior of the Robben Island Prison was reconstructed at Cape Town Film Studios, as the real prison is now a museum. As for Mandela’s childhood village in Transkei? That was filmed in the Drakensberg, a dramatic and rugged mountain range.

Amadeus

Location: Prague

Although Amadeus was set in Vienna, the onscreen rivalry between composers Mozart and Salieri played out almost entirely in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. The Mala Strana provided an atmospheric area of winding streets and medieval architecture for an authentic period backdrop, with market scenes filmed in Maltese Square. The movie begins in the 18th-century Invalidovna hospital in the Karlin area of Prague. Mozart’s house and the Emperor’s Palace are both located in Hradcany Square. And the Estates Theatre on Havirska Street was not only the set for the opera scenes, but it was also the real-life venue for Mozart’s final performance. The historic theater, built in a classical style, has been well preserved and continues to offer tours and host opera, drama and ballet performances.

Rebel Without a Cause

Location: Los Angeles

Rebel Without a Cause was James Dean’s most celebrated movie, despite his death (or perhaps because of it) just before its release in 1955. Sadly, it is on the list of classic movies that didn’t win Best Picture. But you can take your best pictures at Griffith Observatory in the Hollywood Hills, where much of this classic was shot. Here, set-jetters can enjoy beautiful views of the Hollywood sign and check out a statue honoring Dean.

Under The Tuscan Sun

Location: Italy

If you’ve been daydreaming about pulling a Frances Mayes (played by Diane Lane) and running away to start over in Italy, you’re in luck. Villa Laura (known in the film as Villa Bramasole) is available to rent in Cortona. And unlike in the film, the estate is not falling apart. In fact, it was renovated and now contains a modern kitchen, 10 bedrooms, 1o and a half bathrooms, a conservatory, a ping pong table, a pool, a Bocce court, a wine cellar, even air conditioning—and of course plenty of places to sit and soak up that Tuscan sun. You might even bump into Frances, the writer whose memoir inspired the film; she splits her time between Cortona and her other home in North Carolina.

Additional reporting by Sunny Fitzgerald and Zahra Pettican.

Why trust us

Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.