Famous film locations are no longer just a niche hobby for a handful of enthusiasts running around New Zealand pastures in costume. Travelling to see your favourite shows has become a global business, worth an incredible 8 billion dollars in the United States alone. According to current data, more than 80% of young travellers now plan their holidays based on what they saw on screen the night before.
When you finish that breathtaking finale of your favourite series, what often lingers in your head isn’t just the story itself, but above all the urge to walk those places in person. People no longer want to just lie passively on a beach — they long to stroll the exact same cobbled street as their heroes, or sip a morning coffee in a café they know from TV.
Do you also feel like every second holiday now starts with you remembering a series on the plane? Here are 30 places the screen can take you, and I’ll tell you straight up where real magic awaits and where you’ll find nothing but disappointment and crowds.
Quick answer
If you’re after the absolute strongest film experiences, the biggest phenomenon right now is London’s Warner Bros. Studio with its Harry Potter sets, drawing millions of people every year. For fantasy lovers, New Zealand’s Hobbiton or Croatia’s Dubrovnik from Game of Thrones are a must, while romantics should head to Salzburg in Austria to follow The Sound of Music, or to the Irish island of Skellig Michael, where Luke Skywalker hid away.
TL;DR
- Most searched location: It’s not a natural wonder, but the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London (110,000 searches a month).
- Free-access hits: The iconic steps to the art museum in Philadelphia from Rocky, or London’s Portobello Road from Notting Hill, don’t cost a cent.
- Advance booking essential: You simply won’t get into Hobbiton in New Zealand or Japan’s Ghibli Park without a ticket bought months ahead.
- Biggest trap: Disappointment often comes down to scale — what looks like a giant metropolis on screen is in reality often just one short street.
- Closed paradises: Thailand’s Maya Bay from The Beach is regularly closed completely for several months a year to protect nature.
- Top tip for visiting: Head to the most famous spots strictly early in the morning, ideally right at sunrise, otherwise you’ll be battling hundreds of other tourists in your photos.
How to navigate this article
To make planning as easy as possible, I’ve marked each location with a special colour symbol that instantly tells you how tricky it’ll be to get there. The tag (verified 7/2026) means it’s hard data and prices valid for the current season that you can rely on.
🟢 Free access: A public space, street, forest or square you can head to completely free and with no planning. 🟡 Entrance fee: Classic tourist operation — you simply buy a ticket on site or online and walk in (castles, museums, national parks). 🔴 Booking required or limited: Without a ticket bought well in advance you’re out of luck, or there are strict visitor limits in place. ⚫ No access, exterior only: Private property or a hotel for guests only, where you’ll see it from the public pavement at most.
Fantasy and sci-fi: Middle-earth, Westeros and other planets
This category represents the absolute heavyweights of tourism, because studios and entire cities long ago figured out how to make billions from magic and outer space. If you want to see Middle-earth or Westeros with your own eyes, get your wallet ready and arm yourself with a big dose of patience, because the crowds of fans here tend to be endless.
1. Matamata (New Zealand): The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit
Say the words “film location” and most travellers instantly picture the green hills of New Zealand and the famous Hobbiton. This perfectly maintained little village sits on the Alexander family’s farm just outside the town of Matamata, roughly a two-hour drive from Auckland.
On site, you’ll wander among dozens of hobbit holes built right into the slopes — some at full scale, others deliberately shrunk to create optical illusions. The whole tour ends in style at the Green Dragon, where you can enjoy a draught beer or a non-alcoholic ginger drink.
💡 Tip: You can’t reach Hobbiton on your own — you have to take an organised bus from the visitor centre, and the whole tour is easy to book through GetYourGuide. Tickets vanish at lightning speed, so 🔴 booking months ahead is essential. The price is around 130 NZD per adult, roughly €75 (verified 7/2026).
2. Leavesden (United Kingdom): Harry Potter
Paradoxically, the most searched film location in the world isn’t a natural wonder at all, but the gigantic Warner Bros. Studio Tour London. These former aircraft hangars hide the original sets, props and costumes from all eight films about the bespectacled wizard.
Getting here is very easy by train from London Euston station to Watford Junction, from where a special themed bus takes you straight to the halls. The biggest wow moment is the walk down Diagon Alley and the enormous, detailed model of Hogwarts castle, which the filmmakers used for exterior fly-over shots.
💡 Tip: There are no tickets sold at the door, so 🔴 booking a specific time slot is an absolute must — the average purchase happens 49 days in advance. A basic ticket costs £58.50, or about €68 (verified 7/2026).
3. Alnwick (United Kingdom): Harry Potter
If you’d rather see the real castle that played Hogwarts in the first two films, you’ll need to head to northern England and the majestic Alnwick estate. This gorgeous historic building served the filmmakers for outdoor scenes — the very first broomstick flying lesson with Madam Hooch took place on its perfectly manicured lawn.
Just be aware that you won’t find any film interiors inside the castle, because the rooms look like a classic grand aristocratic residence with a rich history. The local guides are brilliantly prepared for fans, though, and regularly host fun broomstick flying lessons in the courtyard for adults and kids alike.
💡 Tip: The castle runs in 🟡 normal visitor mode, so you can buy tickets at the entrance with no trouble. Just double-check prices and opening hours online before your trip, as the grounds are often closed over winter.
4. Dubrovnik (Croatia): Game of Thrones
The old town of Dubrovnik, ringed by massive stone walls, became the perfect embodiment of King’s Landing. Tourists come here mainly to admire the Lovrijenac fortress, which played the Red Keep, and the famous Jesuit Steps, where the unforgettable walk of shame scene with Cersei Lannister was filmed.
The city is extremely overloaded, though — at peak times there’s an incredible ratio of 27 tourists to every resident, so local authorities have had to introduce very strict rules. Cruise ships have capped capacity, and in the summer heat the narrow white-limestone lanes become practically impassable.
💡 Tip: 🔴 From 2026, entry to the city walls requires booking a specific time slot. The entrance fee is €40, and it’s definitely worth heading here early in the morning, when the city is still breathable.
5. Banbridge (Northern Ireland): Game of Thrones
While Croatia’s Dubrovnik bursts at the seams under the onslaught of fans hunting sunny exteriors, for the real studio sets you’ll need to head north. A short drive from Belfast in the town of Banbridge, they’ve opened the official Studio Tour, located right where the series was actually filmed.
Unlike the packed city streets, here you can calmly examine up close detailed weapons, original costumes and above all the monumental Winterfell sets left behind by the crew. It’s an incredibly fascinating spectacle that shows you just how much painstaking handiwork lies behind every TV shot. Just south of Belfast, you’ll also find the Castle Ward estate, whose farmyard was used for the Winterfell exteriors in the first season.
💡 Tip: The attraction runs on a 🟡 classic entrance-fee basis, starting at £19 (about €22) (verified 7/2026), and tickets can conveniently be arranged in advance through GetYourGuide.
6. Skellig Michael Island (Ireland): Star Wars
This jagged chunk of rock, jutting dramatically out of the wild Atlantic waves, was made famous by The Last Jedi, where the island served as Luke Skywalker’s secret refuge. Getting here requires a fairly adventurous voyage from the port of Portmagee — the journey by small boat takes just under an hour, and the ocean will often toss you around properly.
On the island, a steep climb up ancient stone steps leads to the ruins of a 6th-century Christian monastery. Adorable puffins nest everywhere around you — so ever-present for the filmmakers that they preferred to digitally transform them into alien porgs rather than laboriously erase them from the shots.
💡 Tip: Access to the island falls into the category of 🔴 extremely limited bookings, as only 180 people a day are allowed in during the season from 9 May to 30 September 2026. What’s more, up to 40% of sailings get cancelled due to weather (verified 7/2026), and a boat ticket will cost you €100 to €130.
7. Alcázar Palace in Seville (Spain): House of the Dragon
The royal Alcázar palace in Andalusian Seville is an architectural gem that already played the exotic Water Gardens of Dorne in Game of Thrones and recently appeared in the prequel House of the Dragon too. Its stunning courtyard full of palms, fountains and intricate mosaics instantly transports you to the hot southern climate of Westeros.
The complex is incredibly vast, and every corner practically begs for a photo — but be prepared to wait for ten other people with the same idea to clear the shot. Luckily the gardens are big enough that even amid the crowds you’ll find your own peaceful patch of shade under the orange trees.
💡 Tip: It’s a UNESCO-protected monument, so 🔴 booking tickets online is strongly recommended to avoid queuing endlessly in the sun. The entrance fee is around €15.
Shows of the streaming era
Locations from Netflix, HBO or Amazon productions now experience enormous fan invasions practically overnight, right after the big premiere. Streaming is ruthless here: overnight it turns a sleepy village into a global attraction, hotels hike their prices and castles burst at the seams.
8. Jackson, Georgia (USA): Stranger Things
You’d search the map in vain for the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, because it actually lies in the state of Georgia and is called Jackson. You’ll find this picturesque town about an hour’s drive south of Atlanta, and its main square with the typical courthouse in the middle looks exactly like it does on your TV screen.
The local community has embraced the phenomenon perfectly, so the streets are full of shops with themed souvenirs, commemorative plaques and ever-present fans. People most often take photos in the inconspicuous alley where Steve fought Jonathan in the first season, or in front of the local library building.
💡 Tip: Getting around town is 🟢 completely free, and the locals benefit wonderfully from tourism. If you grab a coffee or lunch at a local bistro, you’ll support the community, who in return will happily point you towards more hidden locations (verified 7/2026).
9. Cantacuzino Castle in Bușteni (Romania): Wednesday
Romania experienced an unprecedented tourism boom thanks to the series Wednesday, whose creators picked the mountain town of Bușteni. The local historic Cantacuzino Castle served as the model for Nevermore Academy, and you can reach it very comfortably from Bucharest by direct train in under two hours.
In the courtyard, with its incredible view of the Carpathians, you’ll instantly recognise the spots where Wednesday fenced with Bianca — but the building itself may disappoint you a little. The filmmakers heavily reworked the original façade with digital effects, added gothic towers and a dark roof, and you won’t find any of the show’s interiors here at all, because those were built in studios.
💡 Tip: There’s a 🟡 standard entrance fee to the grounds and gardens, which you should check on site for the current season. Be prepared for the castle interior to look like a classic historic residence full of rare fireplaces and stained glass, not a gloomy school for outcasts.
10. Bath (United Kingdom): Bridgerton
Historical romances now draw crowds of visitors to Britain, and the hit Bridgerton turned the already popular Bath into an absolute sensation. This city full of honey-coloured Georgian architecture lies west of London, and you can get here comfortably by train in about an hour and a half.
The iconic crescent of houses at Royal Crescent needed practically no alterations for filming, and you can visit the famous Assembly Rooms, where the grandest balls took place, with your own eyes. The local tourist centre reacted to demand immediately and commonly offers location maps or afternoon teas in proper period style.
💡 Tip: While strolling the streets is free, access to the Assembly Rooms is 🔴 limited to guided tours only, which you have to arrange in advance (verified 7/2026).
11. Doune Castle (Scotland): Outlander
Scotland has long benefited from the massive success of the Outlander phenomenon, which boosted visitor numbers at local landmarks by hundreds of percent. The ruins of Doune Castle, a short drive from historic Stirling, fantastically portrayed the seat of Clan MacKenzie, and today fans travel here from every corner of the world and queue in the courtyard as if at Disneyland.
What takes the visit to a whole other level is the fact that the audio guide was recorded by none other than the lead actor Sam Heughan, which lends the tour a wonderfully personal dimension. Visitor numbers here have risen by an incredible 366%, so the castle courtyard, where the rugged Highlanders trained in the series, is often packed to bursting.
💡 Tip: Entry to the castle runs in 🟡 normal mode, but given the final season of the show currently airing, be prepared for 2026 to be the most demanding year of all for Scottish landmarks when it comes to crowds (verified 7/2026).
12. Taormina (Italy): The White Lotus
The White Lotus works as the best possible catalogue of luxury holiday resorts, one that instantly shoots accommodation prices into the stratosphere the moment it airs. The second season was set in Sicilian Taormina, specifically in the gorgeous San Domenico Palace hotel, a renovated monastery perched high on a cliff.
The views from here over the sparkling Ionian Sea and smoking Mount Etna are absolutely breathtaking, but for a mere mortal, entry is more or less off-limits. The hotel’s security is very uncompromising and makes sure prominent guests enjoy their expensive privacy without onlookers.
💡 Tip: This 14th-century palace falls into the category of ⚫ inaccessible locations, unless you happen to be planning to spend thousands of euros a night here. Even so, Taormina itself is worth a visit, because its historic lanes and ancient theatre offer plenty of beautiful set-jetting experiences.
Classics that still draw crowds fifty years on
These aren’t hot new releases from this year, yet crowds still flock to them decades after their premiere, because no one can ever strip these places of their cult status. People come here to be moved, to sing their favourite song, or simply to run up the right set of steps.
13. Philadelphia (USA): Rocky
Few film locations in the world are as iconic as the wide staircase in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The 1976 film Rocky left an utterly indelible mark here, and when you arrive you’ll see dozens of tourists running up with their arms over their heads, humming the theme tune as they go.
From the top of the steps you’ll get a fantastic view of the skyscrapers lining Benjamin Franklin Parkway — a sight you simply never tire of. The bronze statue of Rocky himself, which stood right at the top in the third film, is now located at the bottom right beneath the trees, where long queues form for a photo.
💡 Tip: The steps and statue are 🟢 freely accessible to anyone all day for free. Private company tours do exist (costing around €320 for a group), but the official tourist site Visit Philly recommends soaking up the right atmosphere on your own (verified 7/2026).
14. Skopelos Island (Greece): Mamma Mia
The Greek island of Skopelos has become an absolute synonym for the summer musical Mamma Mia, and to this day it lures thousands of romantic souls. Getting here requires a bit more planning, because the island has no airport of its own, so you’ll have to fly to neighbouring Skiathos and take a ferry across.
The highlight of any trip is the Agios Ioannis Kastri chapel, dramatically perched on a lonely rock right above the turquoise sea. Climbing up means tackling roughly two hundred steep steps carved into the rock ⚠️ (different sources cite anywhere from 106 to 198), which in the summer Greek sun is no walk in the park.
💡 Tip: The rock itself and the little chapel are 🟢 freely accessible with no entrance fee. Inside, though, a big surprise awaits — the space is so tiny it only fits a few people, and the richly decorated wedding interior from the film was shot in a studio. We have a separate article on Skopelos with more tips.
15. Maya Bay (Thailand): The Beach
This renowned bay on the island of Phi Phi Leh shows the darkest side of uncontrolled film tourism. The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, brought in such masses of people that the anchoring motorboats and thousands of feet a day almost decimated the fragile local coral reefs.
The Thai government had to close the bay completely for several years so nature could catch its breath, and while you can now reach it by speedboat from Phuket, strict rules apply. Boats anchor on the far side of the island, you walk to the beach along wooden boardwalks, and swimming in the bay itself is absolutely forbidden — something the park rangers with whistles enforce without compromise.
💡 Tip: Entry to the island is subject to 🔴 tough restrictions — there’s a fee of 400 THB (about €10) per adult, and the limit is 300 people at once (verified 7/2026). The bay is also regularly closed completely from 1 August to 30 September. If you’re planning a trip, check out what else to see in Thailand.
16. Salzburg (Austria): The Sound of Music
The 1965 musical The Sound of Music is still a huge goldmine for Austria’s Salzburg, drawing generations of Americans and Asian tourists. The most famous Sound of Music location is without doubt the gorgeous gardens of Mirabell Palace, where the film’s Maria sang the famous Do-Re-Mi with the children and hopped along the stone steps.
These gardens are full of people trying to recreate that same choreography, while the film’s gazebo had to be moved by the city to Hellbrunn Palace, because fans kept climbing the fences of private property. The whole city lives on musical nostalgia, which you can see on every corner in the souvenir shops.
💡 Tip: You can walk the city locations 🟡 for free, but an organised 4-hour bus tour, which you can easily book through GetYourGuide, costs around €80 (verified 7/2026). You’ll find details about the sights on the official Salzburg Info website.
17. Forks (USA): Twilight
The Twilight vampire saga turned the rainy logging town of Forks in Washington State into an absolute pop-culture phenomenon, even though the film wasn’t actually shot here at all. The crew back then used locations in neighbouring Oregon and British Columbia, but that clearly doesn’t bother the fans one bit, and they come here to soak up the right gloomy atmosphere.
People take photos by the welcome sign, walk along the forested La Push beach, and local restaurants cheerfully serve them vampire burgers, while the annual festival for loyal fans regularly fills the town to bursting.
💡 Tip: Getting around town is 🟢 free, but if you’d like a VIP package for the local festival, be ready to shell out $825, roughly €715 (verified 7/2026).
18. Albuquerque (USA): Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad showed the desert city of Albuquerque in New Mexico in the rawest possible light, but tourists love it for exactly that. The city is brilliantly prepared for location tourism and the local city hall even offers a map for a self-guided tour completely free (verified 7/2026).
The biggest problem, though, became the White family home, where Walter angrily hurled a pizza onto the garage roof. The house is an entirely ordinary private residence, whose owners had to build a tall iron fence around the property after years of clearing real pizzas thrown by fans.
💡 Tip: You’ll see most of the exteriors 🟢 for free — you just need a car. For a deeper experience I recommend a themed guided tour (often available through GetYourGuide), which will cost you around €70–90 and show you spots you’d never find on your own.
Bond and action films
Bond locations have one thing in common: they either demand your fitness or your open wallet. Or both at once. They’re simply visually stunning.
19. Karlovy Vary (Czechia): Casino Royale
For fans in Central Europe, this is film luxury on the doorstep — the famous Grandhotel Pupp played the fictional Hotel Splendide in Montenegro in the Bond film Casino Royale. A couple of hours’ drive from major hubs will get you right to the spot where Daniel Craig parked his gleaming Aston Martin.
You can calmly stroll along the spa promenade, peek into the luxurious reception, or enjoy an excellent coffee in the restaurant where Bond dined with his fateful love Vesper. You won’t find the casino itself here, though, where the main card game took place, because those scenes were shot in the nearby Imperial Spa.
💡 Tip: A walk around the hotel is 🟡 open to the public, but for the full experience you should at least stop in for a coffee or a dessert. Karlovy Vary offers plenty more sights worth exploring.
20. Glen Coe Valley (Scotland): Skyfall
For that proper, rugged Bond atmosphere you’ll need to head north to Scotland, specifically to the Glen Coe valley, which lies roughly two hours’ drive north of Glasgow. The dark, often mist-shrouded mountain peaks here make an absolutely perfect backdrop for Bond and M’s journey to the old family estate.
The lay-by where the agent stops with the Aston Martin DB5 and gazes wistfully into the deep valley lies right beside the main A82 road. It’s basically just a small gravel rest stop, packed with cars during the summer season, so you’ll need enormous luck to grab a photo without other people’s camper vans in the shot.
💡 Tip: The road and valley are 🟢 freely accessible to anyone for free. I recommend heading here early in the morning, when Scotland has that perfect autumn atmosphere, because the mist mercifully hides the other tourists and gives your photos depth.
21. Petra (Jordan): Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones made the ancient Jordanian city of Petra famous probably more than any historical documentary on TV ever could. The route to the iconic Treasury (Al Khazneh) leads through a kilometre-long, narrow sandstone canyon called the Siq, and once the rocks part at the end, you’ll spot that stunning pink façade carved into the stone.
Don’t expect any deadly traps inside the Treasury — Spielberg took plenty of creative licence there. The real interior is just one relatively small, empty square room, which tourists are also forbidden to enter for safety reasons, so you only look in from the doorway.
💡 Tip: Entry to the archaeological site works via a 🟡 paid Jordan Pass or a single entrance fee starting at 50 JOD (about €65).
22. Preikestolen (Norway): Mission: Impossible
Tom Cruise keeps pushing the limits of stunt work, and for the closing scene of Fallout he chose the famous Norwegian rock plateau Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), even though in the film this location represented Kashmir. This huge, flat block of granite towers 604 metres straight above the fjord’s surface and offers views guaranteed to make your head spin.
Getting here requires decent physical fitness, because from the car park you face a two-hour hike over rocky terrain, and don’t expect any railings at the top — safety is purely up to you.
💡 Tip: The trek itself is 🟢 freely accessible and free, but be prepared for fairly expensive parking at the trailhead.
Anime pilgrimage and Asia
The so-called seichi junrei, or anime pilgrimage, is a massive and incredibly popular phenomenon in Japan that in recent years has been spilling over into the rest of the world too. Japanese animators are so obsessed with real-world detail that an ordinary staircase or level crossing suddenly looks like a sacred site, and fans behave accordingly.
23. Yotsuya District in Tokyo (Japan): Your Name
The global hit Your Name (Kimi no Na wa) managed to turn a completely ordinary staircase in Tokyo into a sought-after pilgrimage site. This location sits by the Shinto Suga Shrine in the quiet residential district of Yotsuya, roughly a 6-minute walk from the metro station of the same name (verified 7/2026).
When you arrive, you’ll see the typical red railing and steep steps where, at the very end of the film, the main characters Taki and Mitsuha finally meet. Fans come here to take photos mainly in the early evening, to capture that right melancholy atmosphere of the setting sun.
💡 Tip: The place is 🟢 freely accessible and free, but it’s in the middle of dense housing. Behave very quietly here and respect the fact that the steps lead to a sacred site. When visiting Tokyo, it’s a great stop off the main tourist trail.
24. Kamakura (Japan): Slam Dunk
The coastal city of Kamakura, just under an hour by train south of Tokyo, is grappling with one of the country’s biggest problems because of anime tourism. The basketball hit Slam Dunk made the local Kamakurakōkōmae level crossing famous, where in the opening credits a green Enoden line train passes and the Pacific Ocean shimmers in the background.
Hundreds of tourists a day block the road here trying to grab the perfect shot, which led to the fact that the city had to install security cameras 24/7 and even close the nearby public toilets due to vandalism (verified 7/2026). Local residents and police are understandably highly allergic to unruly fans.
💡 Tip: The crossing itself is a 🟢 public space, but remember that you must never step onto the road or the tracks and block normal traffic.
25. Ghibli Park (Japan): Studio Ghibli
While most anime locations draw on the real world, the creators of the legendary Studio Ghibli decided to build a world of their own. This unique park in Aichi Prefecture isn’t a classic amusement centre with rollercoasters, but rather a huge, interactive walk through the most beautiful sets from Hayao Miyazaki’s films.
You can explore Satsuki and Mei’s house from My Neighbour Totoro, peek into the hat shop from Howl’s Moving Castle, or wander through a mysterious forest. The attention to detail here is utterly incredible, and every prop feels as if it stepped straight out of the animated frame. If you can’t make it to Aichi, at least visit the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo’s Mitaka, which is smaller, older and just as magical for fans.
💡 Tip: A visit falls into the category of 🔴 strict bookings, with tickets often needing to be bought online 3 to 6 months in advance (verified 7/2026). You’ll find official information and sales on the Ghibli Park website.
26. Jiufen (Taiwan): Spirited Away
Outside Japan, Asian fans are drawn above all to Taiwan, specifically the mountain town of Jiufen, which lies a short distance from the capital Taipei. Its narrow lanes full of red lanterns, steep steps and traditional teahouses look exactly like the magical, spirit-inhabited town from the Oscar-winning film Spirited Away.
Although director Hayao Miyazaki officially denied that Jiufen served as a direct model, the visual resemblance is so striking that fans couldn’t care less and flock here from all over Asia. The most famous photo is taken here in front of the iconic A-Mei teahouse.
💡 Tip: The town’s lanes are 🟢 freely accessible, but if you want to sit down calmly for a tea and admire the view, set aside money for the fairly pricey but very authentic refreshments in the local establishments.
Czechia and Central Europe: a backdrop right around the corner
You don’t need to fly across the ocean to experience real film magic, because homegrown classics and European productions often top the search rankings and hold up surprisingly well against global hits. All you need to do is hop in the car or on a train and set off on a weekend trip.
27. Moritzburg Castle (Germany): Three Wishes for Cinderella
Christmas without Three Wishes for Cinderella is something almost no one in Central Europe can imagine. This beautiful baroque castle, surrounded by a large expanse of water, lies just outside Dresden in Germany, making it an absolutely ideal destination for a family day trip.
The staircase on the castle’s east side, where Cinderella lost her famous slipper, you’ll recognise straight away. There’s even a metal replica of the slipper itself here, which you can try to slip your foot into for a photo.
💡 Tip: The castle runs on a 🟡 classic entrance-fee basis, and in the winter season it regularly hosts a gorgeous themed exhibition full of original film costumes, for which it’s worth buying tickets in advance.
28. Kašperk Castle (Czechia): Angel of the Lord
The beloved Czech fairy tale Angel of the Lord made the majestic Kašperk Castle famous, proudly rising up in the forests of the Šumava mountains. It’s the highest-situated royal castle in Bohemia, and from the car park you have to walk roughly a kilometre along a very pleasant path through the forest.
When you step into the main courtyard, you’ll instantly recall all those funny scenes with the devil Uriah and the angel Petronel. The atmosphere here is far calmer than at the foreign mega-hits, and the views of the surrounding landscape are worth it even for those who happen never to have seen the film.
💡 Tip: The castle offers 🟡 classic guided tours for a standard entrance fee. The second part of the fairy tale then moved to Český Krumlov, where you can take a trip the very next weekend.
29. Prague, Košíře (Czechia): Cosy Dens
The cult film Cosy Dens (Pelíšky) has its firm, irreplaceable place in Prague’s Košíře district. The iconic two-storey villa where the Kraus and Šebek families lived out the end of the 1960s stands on the sloping Schodová Street, which you can reach on foot from the busy Anděl station.
It’s exactly the place where the famous noticeboard stood and from which the legendary one-liners rang out, but you need to bear in mind that the villa is now privately owned. You can calmly photograph it from the street, but definitely don’t try to ring the owners’ bell or peer over the fence into their garden.
💡 Tip: The location is ⚫ freely visible from the street, but inaccessible. If you’re planning a walk around Prague, combine it with other sights.
30. Polabí (Czechia): The Polabí series
This might surprise you, but according to search engine data, the query for locations from the Polabí series is one of the absolute most searched on the Czech internet (verified 7/2026). Czechs simply love their homegrown rural productions and love to follow in the footsteps of their favourite TV heroes.
This region offers a calm, flat landscape along the Elbe river, full of picturesque villages, cycle paths and old farmsteads. It’s a perfect example of how film tourism doesn’t have to be all about pricey plane tickets — you can just hop on a bike and head just outside town.
💡 Tip: The region is 🟢 freely accessible and offers great options for weekend trips combined with a taste of local beer or relaxed cycling.
Quick table: where to find what
Here’s a complete catalogue of more than 60 film locations neatly in one place. It’ll serve as a quick cheat sheet when you’re figuring out where to head next.
| Title | Country | Specific place | Mode | Approx. price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Lord of the Rings / The Hobbit | New Zealand | Matamata (Hobbiton) | 🔴 | 130 NZD (€75) | Sold out months ahead |
| Harry Potter | United Kingdom | WB Studio Tour London | 🔴 | From £58.50 (€68) | No tickets at the door |
| Harry Potter | United Kingdom | Alnwick Castle | 🟡 | Check on site | Hogwarts exteriors |
| Game of Thrones | Croatia | Dubrovnik (city walls) | 🔴 | €40 | Timed-slot entry only |
| Game of Thrones | Northern Ireland | Banbridge (Linen Mill Studios) | 🟡 | From £19 (€22) | Original Winterfell sets |
| Game of Thrones | Iceland | Mývatn (Grjótagjá cave) | 🟢 | Free | Swimming forbidden |
| House of the Dragon | Spain | Seville (Alcázar as Dorne) | 🔴 | Around €15 | Online booking recommended |
| Star Wars | Ireland | Skellig Michael | 🔴 | €100–130 | Limit 180 people a day |
| The Witcher | Poland / Hungary | Ogrodzieniec Castle / Tata | 🟡 | Check on site | Castle played the Battle of Sodden |
| Narnia | Czechia | Tisá Rocks | 🟡 | Around €2 | Gateway into snowy Narnia |
| Dune | Jordan | Wadi Rum | 🟡 | Entry + jeep | Arrakis exteriors |
| Interstellar | Iceland | Svínafellsjökull glacier | 🟢 | Free | Mann’s planet |
| Blade Runner 2099 | Czechia | Mělník / Mayrau mine | ⚫ / 🟡 | Museum entry | Premiere 2026 |
| Stranger Things | USA | Jackson, Georgia | 🟢 | Free | Hawkins square |
| Stranger Things | USA | Rome, Georgia (Creel House) | ⚫ | No access | Private home |
| Wednesday | Romania | Bușteni (Cantacuzino Castle) | 🟡 | Check on site | Interiors don’t resemble the show |
| Dark | Germany | Brandenburg (Lanke Castle) | ⚫ | Hotel guests only | The show’s Waldhotel |
| Dark | Germany | Harz (Einhornhöhle) | 🟡 | Check on site | Cave interiors |
| Bridgerton | United Kingdom | Bath (Assembly Rooms) | 🔴 | Check on site | Ball scenes (guided tours) |
| Outlander | Scotland | Doune Castle | 🟡 | Check on site | Castle Leoch |
| White Lotus (S1) | USA, Hawaii | Four Seasons Resort Maui | ⚫ | Hotel guests only | Enormous prices after airing |
| White Lotus (S2) | Italy, Sicily | San Domenico Palace, Taormina | ⚫ | Hotel guests only | Luxury palace |
| White Lotus (S4) | France | Château de la Messardière | ⚫ | Hotel guests only | New locations for 2026 |
| The Crown | United Kingdom | Belvoir Castle / Burghley House | 🟡 | Check on site | Stand-ins for Windsor |
| Emily in Paris | France | Paris (Place de l’Estrapade) | 🟢 | Free | Apartment and restaurant |
| Wuthering Heights | United Kingdom | Yorkshire (Old Gang Mill) | 🟢 | Free | Farm ruins for new adaptation |
| Wuthering Heights | United Kingdom | Kent (Knole House) | 🟡 | Check on site | Played Gretna Green |
| Rocky | USA | Philadelphia (Rocky Steps) | 🟢 | Free | Commercial tour costs around €320 |
| The Sound of Music | Austria | Salzburg | 🟡 | From €80 | 4-hour bus tour |
| Braveheart | Scotland | Stirling (Wallace Monument) | 🟡 | Check on site | Boosted tourism by 300% |
| Mamma Mia | Greece | Skopelos (Agios Ioannis Kastri) | 🟢 | Free | Wedding chapel with steps |
| The Beach | Thailand | Maya Bay (Phi Phi) | 🔴 | 400 THB (€10) | Closed 1 Aug / 30 Sep |
| Twilight | USA | Forks, Washington | 🟢 | Free | Festival VIP package €715 |
| Breaking Bad | USA | Albuquerque | 🟢 / 🟡 | €70–90 with guide | Free map also available |
| The Godfather | Italy / Sicily (Savoca) | 🟢 | Free (spend at the bar) | Bar Vitelli still operates today | |
| Friends | USA | New York (Bedford St / Grove St) | 🟢 | Free | Iconic apartment exterior |
| Notting Hill | United Kingdom | London (Portobello Road) | 🟢 | Free | Blue door and bookshop |
| Casablanca | Morocco | Casablanca (Rick’s Café) | 🔴 | Restaurant meal prices | Café built after the film |
| Casino Royale | Czechia | Karlovy Vary (Grandhotel Pupp) | 🟡 | Guests / restaurant | The film’s Hotel Splendide |
| Skyfall | Scotland | Glen Coe Valley | 🟢 | Free | Iconic road from the film |
| No Time to Die | Italy | Matera | 🟢 | Free | Opening chase through the lanes |
| Mission: Impossible | Norway | Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) | 🟢 | Free (parking fee) | Closing scene from Fallout |
| The Bourne Identity | Czechia | Prague (Kampa) | 🟢 | Free | Park played snowy Zurich |
| Indiana Jones | Jordan | Petra (Al Khazneh) | 🟡 | From 50 JOD (Jordan Pass) | The famous Treasury |
| Resident Evil | Czechia | Prague (Karlín) | 🟢 | Free | Premiere autumn 2026 (verified 7/2026) |
| Your Name | Japan | Tokyo (Suga Shrine, Yotsuya) | 🟢 | Free | Staircase from the final scene |
| Slam Dunk | Japan | Kamakura (Kamakurakōkōmae crossing) | 🟢 | Free | City battling massive overtourism |
| Demon Slayer | Japan | Tokyo (Asakusa / Sensō-ji temple) | 🟢 | Free | Starting point for Taishō-era scenes |
| Studio Ghibli | Japan | Ghibli Park (Aichi Prefecture) | 🔴 | Check online | Book 2 to 3 months ahead |
| Spirited Away | Taiwan | Jiufen | 🟢 | Free | Mountain town full of lanterns |
| Goblin (Dokkaebi) | South Korea | Gangneung (Jumunjin breakwater) | 🟢 | Free | Most famous K-drama location |
| Crash Landing on You | Switzerland | Iseltwald (Lake Brienz) | 🟡 | Pier fee | Village installed a turnstile |
| Parasite | South Korea | Seoul | 🟢 | Free | Staircase in a poor neighbourhood |
| Polabí | Czechia | Polabí | 🟢 | Free | One of the most searched CZ queries |
| Angel of the Lord | Czechia | Kašperk Castle / Český Krumlov | 🟡 | Check on site | Krumlov featured in part two |
| Odznak Vysočina | Czechia | Ledeč nad Sázavou | 🟢 | Free | The series’ police station |
| Cosy Dens | Czechia | Prague (Košíře) | ⚫ | No access | Iconic villa is private |
| Three Wishes for Cinderella | Germany / CZ | Moritzburg / Švihov Water Castle | 🟡 | Check on site | Moritzburg often has an exhibition |
| Winnetou | Croatia | Plitvice Lakes / Paklenica NP | 🟡 | Check online | Variable seasonal entry |
| Bergdoktor | Austria | Wilder Kaiser (Ellmau) | 🟢/🟡 | Free / commercial tours | An absolute phenomenon in Germany |
| Ranczo | Poland | Jeruzal | 🟢 | Free | Square with church and bench |
| Camping Paradis | France | Martigues | 🟡 | Campsite accommodation prices | Real seaside campsite |
| Sandokan (2025) | Italy | Calabria | 🟢 | Free | New adaptation smashing searches |
What disappoints people most at film locations
The gap between what you see on screen and harsh reality is probably the most common source of frustration for any location tourist. Filmmakers love using so-called composite locations, so what looks like one continuous place on TV was in reality shot across three different spots.
A great example is the dark German hit Dark, where the famous entrance to the Winden cave doesn’t exist at all, because it was just a wooden set built in a forest not far from Berlin. If you wanted to see those winding interiors, you’d have to drive hundreds of kilometres to the Harz mountains, where filming took place in the real Unicorn Cave, while the exterior set itself was demolished long ago.
Another huge shock tends to be the sheer scale of the buildings and cities, because computer effects can inflate a space incredibly. When you arrive in Croatia’s Dubrovnik expecting a gigantic King’s Landing, you’ll discover you can cross the entire old town at a leisurely pace in fifteen minutes, and there’s no giant Red Keep towering over it, since the graphics team only added it in post-production.
The same goes for Romania’s Cantacuzino Castle, which played Nevermore Academy in Wednesday, but its real façade looks far more ordinary. The filmmakers added a dark slate roof and gothic turrets on the computer, so on site fans often spend a lot of time hunting for the right angle to make the building at least somewhat resemble their favourite school for outcasts.
As if that weren’t enough, the season and the natural light that comes with it play a huge role. If you head to Iceland’s glaciers in the middle of summer, you won’t see the frosty, inhospitable wasteland full of snow from Game of Thrones, but bright green grass full of grazing sheep and a car park crammed with camper vans to bursting.
Film tourist etiquette
Being a film tourist isn’t just about blindly ticking locations off a list, but above all about being a considerate guest in someone else’s environment. In their excitement, people often forget that the famous house from the screen isn’t a public museum, but a perfectly normal home where real people live, longing for peace and privacy.
The owner of the house from Breaking Bad in Albuquerque, USA, had to build a massive iron fence around her entire property after years of clearing away the real pizzas that fans kept throwing onto her roof. These days she commonly sits on her porch, angrily shooing away tourists who shamelessly try to climb the fence and photograph her through the windows straight into her living room.
Blocking normal traffic is also a huge problem, something the Japanese city of Kamakura is currently dealing with because of the popular anime Slam Dunk. Hundreds of tourists a day step straight onto the tracks here to grab the perfect shot of the passing train, risking their lives and forcing the city to install security cameras and pay for a constant security presence.
Crowds of fans can even paralyse entire cities, as we know from overcrowded Dubrovnik, where tourists commonly stop in the narrowest lanes and shout film quotes at each other. Local residents then can’t get home with their shopping, which is why the city had to introduce strict bookings for the walls and drastically limit the number of cruise ships in the port.
The best thing you can do for a location is spend a little extra money there. A coffee at the café on the corner, a local guide — and suddenly you’re not just a locust that takes a selfie and vanishes.
Where to go next
If this phenomenon of travelling to see the screen has captivated you and you want to dive even deeper, we’ve prepared more specialised guides for you. In them you’ll find specific tips and itineraries for the most sought-after places on the planet.
- Set-jetting and the White Lotus effect
- Harry Potter Studio London
- What to see in Dubrovnik
- Skopelos, the Mamma Mia island
- Emily in Paris: 15 places in Paris
Frequently asked questions
Where was Harry Potter filmed and how do you get there?
The most famous location is the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London complex, which is about an hour’s journey from central London. You can get there easily by train to Watford Junction station followed by a shuttle bus, but you must book tickets online often several months in advance, as tickets are not sold on-site at all.
Is Maya Bay beach from the movie The Beach open to tourists?
Maya Bay on the Thai island of Phi Phi Leh is currently accessible only very limitedly. There is an absolute ban on swimming and authorities also regularly close it completely for several months to protect damaged corals, with this year’s closure running from August 1st to September 30th, 2026.
Can I visit Nevermore Academy from the series Wednesday?
Yes, the academy exteriors were filmed in Romania at Cantacuzino Castle in the town of Bușteni, which you can reach by train from Bucharest. However, the building actually looks much more ordinary than in the series and you won’t find the filmed interiors there at all, as those were built artificially in studios.
How does visiting Hobbiton in New Zealand work?
Hobbiton is located on a private farm near the town of Matamata and you cannot explore it on your own. You must purchase a ticket for an organized guided tour, which costs around 130 NZD, and because it’s an enormous hit, booking in advance is absolutely essential.
Why is the Japanese city of Kamakura so popular?
The city was made famous by the cult basketball anime Slam Dunk, specifically the Kamakurakōkōmae railway crossing with ocean views. However, due to huge crowds of fans who constantly blocked traffic there, the city had to install security cameras and guards.
How much does entry to the walls in Dubrovnik cost?
Entry to the historic city walls in Dubrovnik costs €40, which incidentally is the same price as a one-day Dubrovnik Pass. From 2026 onwards, a very strict rule applies that entry is only possible with a pre-booked time slot, to prevent dangerous overcrowding of the narrow passages.
Can Skellig Michael island be visited year-round?
Definitely not, this rugged Irish island known from Star Wars has an extremely short season, usually only from mid-May to the end of September. Only 180 visitors per day are allowed to sail here and a huge number of sailings are also canceled at the last minute due to unfavorable weather and wild waves.
How many steps lead to the chapel from the movie Mamma Mia?
The wedding chapel Agios Ioannis Kastri sits on a cliff on the Greek island of Skopelos and is reached by a fairly challenging staircase carved directly into the rock. Sources differ somewhat, but be prepared that in the summer heat you’ll have to climb approximately 106 to 198 very steep steps.
Will I find the actual Rocky statue in Philadelphia?
Yes, the iconic bronze statue of Rocky Balboa stands right below the famous steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, specifically on the right side at the bottom. Both the steps and the statue are freely accessible to anyone for free, but be prepared that on weekends you’ll stand in a long queue for a photo.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can book guided walks, trips, skip-the-line tickets, tours, and much more. We always find some extra fun there!
