15 Classic Movie Film Locations That Travelers Can Still Visit
Some people think their life is a movie, and you can find their micro-films all over social media. In a sense, though, life is a movie. That’s because directors who don’t rely solely on green screens must use real-world backdrops to create their fictionalized worlds.
Audience members may recognize their favorite travel destination as they watch The Godfather or The Mummy. Other film buffs are so inspired by their favorite flicks that they scout and travel to the filming locations to dig deeper into their fandom. For other travelers, the movie scene is simply a heads-up that a destination is worth visiting.
Many popular filming locations are natural travel destinations, whether or not they are affiliated with Hollywood. Some of these locations, though, would exist in relative anonymity were it not for a director’s decision to include them in a popular movie. Either way, consider the following destinations as candidates for entry on your bucket list itinerary.
Salzburg, Austria: The Sound of Music (1965)
Austria lies in the heart of one of the world’s most popular tourism regions. Germany, Croatia, and other nearby nations offer a rich tapestry of history, architectural marvels, and stunning natural surroundings. This strategic location makes Salzburg an obvious addition to the Central European itinerary, particularly for those who count The Sound of Music among their favorite films.
The real Von Trapp family lived in Salzburg, and shooting locations in the city include Mirabell Gardens, Leopoldskron Palace, and Nonnberg Abbey. Don’t you dare call it a Von Tourist Trapp.
Oxford, England: Harry Potter Series
I don’t want to burst your bubble, Potter-head. The truth is, though, that Hogwarts is not accurate. Well, it is real; it’s just called Oxford. The directors of the Potter films also used locations like Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, England, to bring Hogwarts to life. However, many of the most memorable scenes unfolded throughout one of England’s most architecturally gifted cities.
The stacks of Duke Humfrey’s Library, meters-long dining tables, Gothic hallways of Christ Church, and New College Courtyard are among the Oxford-based locations in the Harry Potter films.
Namib Desert, Namibia: Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
George Miller’s original, Mel Gibson-led Mad Max films utilized Australia’s vast stretches of lifeless desert to recreate a dystopian wasteland. With his 2015 series installment, director George Miller scouted a more textured desert filled with dunes and rock formations. Namibia is familiar to travel vlog enthusiasts, as its massive dunes give way to the South Atlantic Ocean for stunning visual effects.
Mad Max: Fury Road was a boon for the Namibian economy, as the film was filmed (and taxed) in Dorob National Park, the Namib Desert, and other locations throughout the West African nation. Post-filming reports griped that the filming had caused damage to wildlife and sensitive foliage, which makes us think no Namibian officials who green-lit the filming had the first clue what Mad Max was about.
Winnetka, Illinois: Home Alone (1990)
Few films made the impression on ’80s and ’90s kids like the Home Alone series did. Watching the movie meant living vicariously through Kevin McCallister. It’s as if, for two thrilling hours, we occupied the family-free hallways of the brick mansion with the trickster, crushing banana splits and calling would-be crooks filthy animals.
Some fans aren’t satisfied living vicariously through the television screen. Diehard Kevin-ites pilgrimage to the ritzy Chicago suburb of Winnetka, where they snap pictures of the unchanged brick two-story at 671 Lincoln Ave. If you’re planning a jaunt to Chicago despite this, why not reserve half a day to see where the most outstanding home defense expert of his era honed his craft?
Ait Ben Haddou, Morocco: The Mummy (1999)
Ait-Ben-Haddou, also known as the Ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou, is one of those locations most people have encountered through popular culture, but few can recognize it by name. The Moroccan dwellings are located in the Province of Ouarzazate, and defensive walls have made the destination a stunning backdrop for films including The Mummy, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, and Prince of Persia.
It is astounding that the city was constructed from earth’s materials and is still standing. The town was a stop on the road from Sudan to Marrakesh, and the 17th-century (and later) architecture conveys an ancient feeling ideal for the directors who filmed there.
Lake Como, Italy: Star Wars Episode II (2002)
Lake Como is a location that appears disproportionately in travel influencers’ Instagram feeds, bucket lists, and Star Wars films.
While most of the Star Wars series was filmed in a faraway galaxy, the directors must choose real-world locations without relying on CGI and film sets. Lake Como appears in Star Wars: Episode II (not the series’ high point) as Anakin and Padme marry at a lakeside getaway that feels futuristic and near-ancient.
That getaway is Villa del Balbianello, which you can book for your wedding (if you’ve got it like that).
Mehrangarh Fort, India: The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Many of the locations on this list are used repeatedly as the scene in many films. Mehrangarh Fort is not like those places. One headline notes that The Dark Knight Rises put the Indian fort on a hill on the map.
The fort is stunning, with Taj Mahal-like masonry surrounded by a walled fortress 400 feet above Jodhpur. The fort appears after Bruce Wayne emerges from the will-testing prison pit owned by his antagonist, Bane. Mehrangarh has been a tourist attraction for visitors to India, but it is now also a destination for people with a Batman mural tattooed on their backs.
Savoca, Sicily: The Godfather (1972)
The Godfather remains a film that transports viewers to a different time in their lives. Most of us remember where we were when we first saw It.
Savoca, Italy, is a location most Godfather fans wish they could transport themselves to. Michael Corleone meets (and loses) Apollonia during his lay-low period in the idyllic village. Despite having only a few restaurants and one hotel, the medieval locale remains a popular tourist destination.
Good luck determining how much tourism is due to The Godfather effect, as Italy’s tourism sector does not need much help.
Matamata, New Zealand: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Welcome to Matamata, or as you might know it, The Shire.
Those who trek across the globe to New Zealand will almost certainly have a few Lord of the Rings-themed destinations on their itinerary. If it can only be one, let it be Matamata, where the Hobbiton movie set still stands for fans to do some LARP-ing as Frodo Baggins.
Nearby trails, waterfalls, and kayak-able waterways mean your trip to Matamata can be more than just ducking through Hobbit-sized doorways.
Llanerch Diner, Philadelphia, PA: Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Admittedly, it is one of the more niche locations on this list, so it may be difficult to justify a trip to Philadelphia for the Llanerch Diner alone. If you’re already slated to visit for some Brotherly Love, you may swing by the diner where Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence had their failed fictional first date.
Warning: You’ll have to compete with other Silver Linings Playbook fans who seek out the particular booth that appeared in the movie.
The silver lining is that every good story is worth waiting for. Plus, Llanerch Diner offers a 24-hour breakfast menu, so you’ll have something to munch on while you wait for your photo opp.
Gorlitz, Germany: The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Critics and audiences alike adored Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel, which received a shower of Oscar nominations. While Gorlitz has a storied history as a filming location, Anderson and his team may have done more with the German backdrop than any other film.
The Görlitzer Warenhaus is the real-life location that became the interior of The Grand Budapest Hotel on screen. The city must be on every cinephile’s agenda, as it also appears in Inglourious Basterds, The Monuments Men, The Book Thief, and a handful of other films. Some have gone so far as to dub Gorlitz “Gorliwood.”
Bayon Temple, Angkor Thom, Cambodia: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
Cambodia is home to breathtaking temples, the most famous of which is Angkor Wat. Angkor Thom, known as The Great City, is an “urban planning marvel” and a long-standing testament to the Angkor Empire, which once ruled modern-day Cambodia and beyond.
Building royal cities for each new king was a tradition in the Angkor Empire, just as raiding tombs was for Lara Croft. Ta Promh temple is one of the sites Croft (also known as Angelina Jolie) visits in the 2001 action film.
Neglect of the temple allowed roots to take over the structure, initially constructed in 1186. This overgrowth made it the ideal movie set, even if the movie itself was a letdown.
Bruges, Belgium: In Bruges (2008)
In Bruges is one of the criminally underrated crime films of the 2000s. Colin Farrell is a cantankerous hitman stuck in his purgatory (Bruges, Belgium) while letting the coast clear following a botched assignment. His partner, played by the thoughtful, hulking Brendan Gleeson, is determined to see the sights in the historical city, dragging his partner (and his endless complaints) along.
The movie has a bit of an Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown element, and an unknown number of fans have added the museums and canals of Bruges to their must-visit list.
Notting Hill, London, England: Notting Hill (1999)
A 1999 romantic comedy starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant would always be a hit. The actors and directors may not have suspected that the movie (which grossed more than $363 million worldwide) would prompt a tourism boom in the Notting Hill district of London.
Be warned: Notting Hill has been called one of London’s most “Instagrammable” areas, so droves of selfie-ing tourists could await you. Like most Instagrammable locales, though, Notting Hill is pretty cool. From the Portobello Market’s antiques and fresh produce to the Gate Theatre and the iconic Notting Hill bookshop, there are plenty of ways to pass the time while pretending you’re Julia Roberts (or Hugh Grant).
Ischia, Italy: The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
If you want to know how the ordinary person could come to resent actors who aren’t sufficiently humble about their circumstances, consider The Talented Mr. Ripley. Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Company spent unknown months “working” on the film in Ischia, a paradise-like island off the coast of Naples.
Fans have put together Ripley-centric itineraries for Ischia visitors, replete with a trip to Castello Aragonese, mud therapy, elite restaurants, and water-based day trips. If you haven’t seen it, Netflix’s Ripley offers a revamped, black-and-white adventure into Italy’s centuries-old architecture and breathtaking natural beauty.
