Let some tinsel dust rub off on you when you visit locations where some of the most iconic movies were filmed. There are some famous locations which were the background of some of the greatest films, and they simply fitted perfectly for the movie. Temples which are thousands of years old, beaches which are too stunning and ethereal, panoramic vistas and lovely little café’s which captured your imagination can be visited and experienced. Check out this list of movie locations around the world, and maybe stand in exactly the same spot, stay in the same hotel as your favorite star from your favorite movie.
19 movie locations around the world you can visit
Kauai, Jurassic Park (Hawaii)
There is hardly anyone on the planet, who has ever watched a movie and has not heard of or seen Jurassic Park. The movie explored the reality of how things would be like if Dinosaurs suddenly started walking the earth. The Manawaiopuna Falls were mesmerizingly beautiful and you’d know them as the ‘Jurassic falls’.
This is one of the movie locations you can visit. You can reach there by helicopter, as only helicopters can take people there on this very isolated Kauai island. 80% of the island has no human habitation. The Na Pali Coast cliffs are jagged and mysterious, the jungles are tropical and lush and in the eerie silence, you will feel a dinosaur might jump out at you at any moment!
Matamatat-Al-Qadimal, Star Wars (Tunisia)
The cult classic Star Wars has a special place in the hearts of movie buffs. If you are a die-hard Star Wars fan, then the quaint hotel Sidi el Driss Hotel in Tunisia is a must visit famous Hollywood films movie locations for you. Do not expect any luxury though – the hotel is extremely basic, with small beds and public washrooms.
Café des 2 Moulins, Amelie, Paris
The charming French movie Amelie was a global success, and the sweet romance still brings a smile. You’d be glad to know that the café where she worked in is one of the movie locations you can visit, in Paris. The café, called Café des 2 Moulins, is named after two historical windmills nearby. It is tucked away in Montmartre, Paris. A few chic selfies are a must in this café!
New Zealand, Lord of the Rings
Before Harry Potter, the world was swayed by the Lord of the Rings franchise. The trilogy catapulted quiet New Zealand into being the cynosure of all eyes. People all over the world awoke to the breathtaking beauty of New Zealand. The impressive mountain ranges, rolling hills, and the dramatic cliffs were the perfect foil for the film.
The hobbit scenes were filmed in the specially constructed hobbit village. It’s called Hobbiton and is one of the most popular movie locations in the world. You can enjoy a meal at the memorable The Shire’s Rest café and stay at Green Dragon. People even get married there, in the midst of the fantasy.
Hobbiton is in Matamata, a town at two hour’s drive from Auckland. Waitomo Caves, Mt. Sunday, Ruapehu are some other LOTR locations you should put on your list.
The Notebook, South Carolina, US
This classic love story moved millions of people when it came out. The location and the mansion had a special place in the movie and in the life of the characters. South Carolina in the US is where the pretty white mansion is situated, as well as the home where Noah spent his childhood. You can soak in the beauty of the big trees, as well as palm trees that grow in groves all along the highway.
To feel the atmosphere and relive The Notebook, you can visit the mansion, one of the most famous Hollywood movie locations in Wadmalaw Island, Martin’s Point Plantation. The childhood home of Noah is located in the Edisto Beach and is open to visitors as well.
Alcatraz, Escape to Alcatraz
For movie buffs, this is a movie which is unforgettable. The location is the real Alcatraz prison which used to be fully functioning at one time, housing major crime lords such as Al Capone. The place is now known as ‘The Rock’. You can take a ferry to ‘The Rock’, and tour the prison depicted in the movie.
The Steps, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia
The Rocky series has been seen by generations of moviegoers. It made Sylvester Stallone or Rocky a cult figure. The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s iconic steps are lead up to the place where Rocky Balboa trained. Fun fact: There’s a bronze statue of the fictional Rocky Balboa there.
London, Harry Potter
London has been showcased in tons of movies over time. The film Harry Potter too had scenes shot in London. The city is one of the oldest of the world and with its old world architecture juxtaposed with the ultramodern vibes, it became the perfect setting for some of the most memorable Harry Potter scenes.
One of the most popular movie locations you could visit in London, is the King’s Cross Station with Platform 9 3/4, Leadenhall Market and St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel – these locations transported millions to a fantastic imaginary world of wizards.
Try to visit the Warner Bros. Studio in Hertfordshire, where most of the film was shot. Alnwick castle, Northumberland was the location for Hogwarts, Gloucester Cathedral, Christ Church College, Duke Humfrey’s library were other locations for the film. And if you want a ride in the Hogwarts Express, that’s possible too – just travel to Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland and you’d be one of the wizards on the train too!
Al Khazneh, ‘Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade’ (Petra, Jordan)
The thrilling escapades of Indiana Jones are fascinating. The fast paced movies with their imaginative stories have enthralled movie goers for generations. The movie magic of ‘Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade’ was created in Jordan in Petra’s giant temple made form sandstone in the first century AD. and the temple is magnificent, with elaborate hand carvings.
The Treasury which you see in the movie is actually quite different. But the canyon they ride through is very real, called the Siq. It is one of the most famous Hollywood films movie locations, visited by thousands of people.
Damouchari, Mamma Mia
For Mamma Mia and Abba fans, Greece is the place to travel to. The small island of Damouchari, with its beautiful beaches and turquoise waters was where the movie was filmed. You can dance and sing old Abba songs on the beach and relive the nostalgia. Another of the movie locations where Mamma Mia was filmed was the Skopelos island, which has become a huge attraction for tourists. Out of the two islands, Damouchari is the one you should go to if you love peace and quiet and natural beauty.
Vienna, Before Sunrise
Richard Linklater’s movie Before Sunrise was captivating and romantic beyond words. Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke were two strangers who met and fell in love in Vienna. The glorious natural beauty as well as the Danube Canal, National History Museum of Vienna is still as charming as depicted in the movie. As the characters roam the city, they come across a record shop. The name of the shop is Teuchtler Schallplattenhandlung, which you can visit. The shop has been around since 1948, and a visit to the shop is worth it, and should be on your bucket list for movie locations to visit.
Koh Phi Phi, Thailand
The Beach, which featured Leonardo di Caprio in the lead, was a huge hit, and so was the beach where it was filmed. The film was about a secret commune on a mysterious island. After the movie’s success, thousands of people flocked to the Maya Bay beach on Koh Phi Phi Leh, in Thailand. The mesmerizing beauty of the turquoise waters and limestone cliffs was irresitible and soon, before the locals knew it, the pristine beach was flooded with plastic pollution, overrun with tourists, speed boats and garbage.
Maya Bay had to close down to allow the long suffering corals to recuperate. However, you can still seek paradise on the other stunning beaches of Koh Phi Phi Leh, and visit one of the most sought after movie locations. But be sure not to litter, and be considerate to the environment when you visit.
Sound of Music, Austria
For Sound of Music lovers, Austria is the place to travel to. The various locations of the movie are still to be seen, and there are conducted Sound of Music tours too, wherein you can relive the magic of the film. Every year, thousands of people come to visit the Mirabell Gardens, Pegasus Fountain ( the famous dance scene of the children and Maria, the Nonnberg Convent (where the nun scenes were shot), the Schloss Leopoldskron (the family home), and the Mondsee Basilica (wedding scene).
Martha’s Vineyard, Jaws
Jaws is one of the classic horror movies that is still quite popular. The movie was shot in the classy and peaceful Martha’s Vineyard. It’s hard to imagine that this peaceful location could have been the location of the spine chilling shark story. During the shoot, a rubber shark with the terrifying expression on its face was dragged through the calm waters. A dip in the water of one of the most famous movie locations would be quite a thrilling experience.
Hatfield House, The Favorite, England
Feel the opulence and majestic beauty as Queen Anne in the movie The Favorite in the Hatfield House, England. The house is in Hertfordshire, only one hour’s distance from London. Both the interior and exteriors were used as locations in the movie. If you’re visiting London, you might choose to take the trip to Hatfield House.
Istanbul, Midnight Express
Midnight Express is based on the true story of Billy Hayes who was caught in Turkey while trying to smuggle drugs. He was imprisoned in a prison in Istanbul, Turkey, with no knowing when he would be released. Though the prison scenes were shot in Malta, the movie portrayed Istanbul beautifully, with the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia and Bosphorus featuring prominently.
Stay at the Four Seasons in Istanbul, which was once a notorious prison named the Sultanahmet Jail. The hotel still has the original arched hallways and wooden doors.
Banaue Rice Terraces, Philippines, Avengers Infinity War
Many places in the world featured in the movie, including Tallulah Falls, Georgia, New York, Edinburgh (Scotland), and more. But the breathtaking beauty of the Banaue rice terraces, the location of Thanos after the snap, is one of the movie locations which you should visit, especially if you love serene natural locales.
County Meath, Ireland, Braveheart
Braveheart was filmed in the Trim Castle, in the quaint little town of Trim in Ireland. The Irish castle was chosen instead of any other Scottish castle, as it was much cheaper to shoot in Ireland. The incredible castle is open to tourist tours, as well as the grounds. The elegant Trim Castle hotel is right across the road and a stay there would be a nice change from the hustle and bustle of large and busy movie locations.
Savoca, Sicily, Italy, The Godfather
One of the most amazing movies ever made, it made generations of people want to emulate Al Pacino or like his father Don Corleone. People still mimic the lines and try to act like the ‘The Godfather’. Some of the scenes were shot in Savoca, Sicily in Italy. Die-hard fans traipse through Italy to this tiny coastal town to soak in the various locations.
The Bar Vitelli, in which Michael (Al Pacino) asks for his love’s hand in marriage, the church where Apollonia and Michael get married and the pretty Piazzo Fossia. The town offers ‘Godfather Tours’ where guides give you the information on the film’s locations, tell you some inside facts about the Sicilian mafia, and take you on a Sicilian food and wine journey. This is one of the movie locations which you should definitely visit.
Movies are very much a part of urban culture all over the world. They influence us with their stories and plots, and visiting the locations where they were shot, is a small tribute as well as a way to being a part of your much loved movies.