Introduction: Walk the Walk of Your Favorite Scenes
There’s a moment in every great movie or TV show where you forget you’re watching a screen. You’re in the Shire. You’re walking the halls of the Overlook Hotel. You’re racing through the streets of London on a scooter. Then the credits roll, and you’re left with that specific craving—not just to watch again, but to stand where that moment happened.
That’s exactly what this guide is for. We’ve traveled, researched, and geeked out over the world’s most iconic sets turned real-world destinations. Whether you want to sip coffee where your favorite rom-com leads met or hike the volcanic terrain of an alien planet, we’ve mapped out the best movie and TV filming locations that deliver genuine star power. You’ll get the backstory, the travel know-how, and the kind of practical tips that turn a fan dream into a real trip.
Why Visit Filming Locations? The Magic of Set-Jetting
Set-jetting has grown from a niche hobby to one of the most compelling reasons to travel. It’s the act of planning a vacation around the places you’ve seen on screen, and it offers something standard tourism can’t: emotional resonance.
When you visit a filming location, you aren’t just looking at a landmark—you’re stepping inside a narrative. You can feel the weight of a character’s journey in the same physical space. It’s why fans flock to places like the Wizarding World, Middle-earth, and Westeros. These destinations fuse fiction with reality in a way that deepens your connection to both the story and the place itself.
And let’s be honest—it makes for incredible travel stories. “I stood exactly where Jon Snow and Daenerys had their first meeting” hits different than “I saw a nice castle.” That’s the brand of travel we champion at TV Travel Package. Travel like a star means chasing that moment where your favorite scene comes to life around you.
Top 10 Must-Visit Filming Locations for TV and Movie Fans
These locations earned their spot through a mix of fan devotion, visual impact, and real travel accessibility. Some you’ve seen a thousand times on Instagram. Others might surprise you.
1. Hobbiton, Matamata, New Zealand — The Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit
Visiting Hobbiton is the gold standard of filming location travel. The hillside village is intact and painstakingly maintained. You’ll walk the path Bilbo ran down shouting “I’m going on an adventure.” The Green Dragon Inn serves real ale. Book the evening banquet tour for fewer crowds and sunset-lit hobbit holes.
2. Dubrovnik, Croatia — Game of Thrones
Dubrovnik stood in for King’s Landing for nearly the entire run of Game of Thrones. Walk the city walls, stand on the Jesuit Staircase (where Cersei’s Walk of Shame began), and visit Fort Lovrijenac for views of the Red Keep. The old town gets crowded by midday—go at dawn for empty streets that feel like they’re yours alone.
3. Warner Bros. Studio Tour, Leavesden, UK — Harry Potter
This one’s a purpose-built experience, not a remote location, but it remains the essential pilgrimage for Harry Potter fans. You’ll walk the actual Great Hall, Diagon Alley, and Platform 9¾. Allow four hours minimum. The studio offers evening tours and seasonal events that add layers beyond the standard visit.
4. Skellig Michael, Ireland — Star Wars: The Force Awakens & The Last Jedi
This jagged island off the coast of Kerry served as Luke Skywalker’s remote hideaway. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site with a steep stone staircase and a 6th-century monastery at the top. Access is limited and weather-dependent—book through local boat operators months in advance. No cameras are allowed on the steps, but the payoff is the most dramatic panorama in the Star Wars galaxy.
5. Atlantic Road, Norway — Various Car Commercials & No Time to Die
This stretch of road looks like it was engineered for a car chase through a fairy tale. It appears in the James Bond film No Time to Die, but it’s a real road you can drive yourself. The route curves over small islands and bridges, with the North Sea crashing on both sides. Visit in late spring for milder weather and extended daylight.
6. Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles — La La Land & Rebel Without a Cause
No list of the best filming locations is complete without this hillside landmark. It’s central to the “A Lovely Night” dance scene in La La Land and the knife fight in Rebel Without a Cause. The view of the Hollywood sign and downtown LA is hard to beat. Go at sunset—the golden hour lights up the Art Deco building and the city below.
7. The Elephant House Cafe, Edinburgh — Harry Potter
This is where J.K. Rowling wrote early chapters of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. While it’s not a film set in the traditional sense, it’s a required stop for Potterheads visiting Edinburgh. Order a coffee and sit in the back room with a view of Edinburgh Castle. Arrive early to avoid queues—it’s small and popular. The bathroom graffiti is worth a look.
8. Monument Valley, Utah / Arizona — Forrest Gump & Stagecoach
Forrest Gump’s cross-country run ends here. The exact spot is on Highway 163 at Mile 13, where the road runs straight toward the iconic Mittens and Merrick Butte. There’s a pullout for photos, but watch for traffic. Beyond the pop culture connection, Monument Valley is a sacred landscape and a place to understand the American West’s visual language.
9. Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy — Under the Tuscan Sun
Positano is the jewel of the Amalfi Coast and the backdrop for one of the most aspirational house-buying scenes in modern romantic comedy. Even beyond Under the Tuscan Sun, the town has appeared in dozens of films and shows. Take the Path of the Gods trail for views of the colorful cliffside houses that made the movie famous.
10. Shinjuku Crossing, Tokyo — Lost in Translation & The Fast & the Furious
Shinjuku Crossing is Tokyo’s busiest pedestrian scramble and a near-constant backdrop in films set in the city. You’ll recognize it from the opening of Lost in Translation and multiple Fast & Furious sequences. The best view is from the Starbucks in the Starbucks bookstore on the second floor of the QFRONT building. Go at night for the full neon effect.
How to Plan Your Filming Location Trip Like a Star
Planning a filming location trip requires a different approach than a standard vacation. Here’s how to do it without the stress.
Start with a map of scenes. Before you pick a location, watch your favorite show or movie again and note the specific places the scenes were shot. Use IMDb’s Filming Locations section or dedicated fan sites to cross-reference. It’s not unusual for one film to use five different countries for five different scenes.
Book guided tours for hard-to-reach spots. Some locations, like the interior of Hogwarts Castle or the closed sets on studio lots, require a tour. We work with local operators who know the filming schedules, the best lighting, and the stories the guidebooks miss. A good tour saves hours of hunting.
Use location-specific apps. There are apps designed to help you find climbing routes for hikes featured in movies or locate the exact bench where your favorite TV couple sat. MovieMap and Filming Location Finder are two strong starting points. They layer film data over real-world maps, showing you where to stand for that perfect shot.
Choose themed accommodations. Some locations offer on-site lodgings that stay in character. Think cabins styled like hobbit holes, hotel rooms decorated with movie memorabilia, or bed-and-breakfasts that were used as crew housing during production.
Build in buffer days. Weather and permits can shut down location access. If your whole trip revolves around one scene, you risk losing the whole trip. Plan a two-day window for the main location and fill the rest with local culture, good food, and backup options.
We recently helped a family of four recreate the train station scene from a certain platform 9¾. They almost missed their slot because of a delayed flight. We rebooked them for the next morning and sent a driver to meet them at the hotel. That’s the difference between a good plan and a star-worthy experience.
The Best Film Locations by Genre
Not everyone travels for the same kind of story. Here’s a genre-based breakdown of locations that deliver exactly what you’re looking for.
Fantasy & Sci-Fi
New Zealand is the undisputed king of fantasy location travel. The country hosted The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and key scenes from The Last of Us television series. Beyond Hobbiton, you can hike to Mount Ngauruhoe (Mount Doom), explore the mossy forests of the Waitomo Caves, and walk the Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) fjords that doubled for the Misty Mountains. Book a guided tour that covers all three main islands for a full cinematic itinerary.
Period Dramas
Bath, England stands in for Regency-era London in nearly every Jane Austen adaptation. The Royal Crescent, the Circus, and the Bath Assembly Rooms are used in Bridgerton, Persuasion, and Emma. The city is compact and walkable—you can hit three filming locations before lunch. Visit in spring for gardens in full bloom.
Romantic Comedies
Notting Hill, London is practically its own character in the Richard Curtis film. The blue door at 280 Westbourne Park Road is a pilgrimage spot, but the real magic is in Portobello Road Market and the surrounding pastel townhouses. Stop at the Travel Bookshop on Blenheim Crescent, which inspired Hugh Grant’s character’s shop. The market gets packed on Saturdays, so go midweek for a slower pace.
Action & Adventure
Bangkok, Thailand appears in more action films than almost any other city. From the tuk-tuk chase in Bangkok Dangerous to the opening scene of The Man with the Golden Gun, the city’s chaos is cinematic fuel. Visit Wat Arun for temple scenes, Khao San Road for backpacker energy, and the floating markets for speedboat chase backdrops. Hire a local guide who knows the filming locations—the back alleys and canal routes are easy to miss on your own.
Filming Locations That Are Also Stunning Vacation Destinations
Some filming locations offer the best of both worlds: cinematic history and legitimate vacation appeal. These are the places where you can geek out by day and unwind by night.
Queenstown, New Zealand served as the backdrop for The Last of Us, The Lord of the Rings, and The Chronicles of Narnia. It’s also New Zealand’s adventure capital—bungee jumping, jet boating, and world-class skiing are a short drive from town. The lakefront restaurants serve fresh green-lipped mussels and sauvignon blanc. You can hike to filming locations in the morning and wine-taste in the afternoon.
Dubrovnik, Croatia is more than just King’s Landing. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Adriatic Sea is crystal clear, and the local cuisine combines Italian and Balkan influences. You can take a kayak tour around the city walls, ferry to Lokrum Island for a beach day, and watch the sunset from the Mount Srđ cable car. It’s a full Mediterranean vacation with a Game of Thrones overlay.
London, England anchors more films and TV shows than any other city. Harry Potter, Paddington, Notting Hill, The Crown, Sherlock—the list is endless. London itself is a world-class city with free museums, diverse food scenes, and excellent public transit. You can spend years here and still find new filming locations. A week gives you a solid tour of the major sites with time for proper pub lunches and West End shows.
Unique Photo Ops: Recreate Your Favorite Scenes
These specific spots offer high-reward photo opportunities for fans with a camera.
The Shire gate, Hobbiton. Stand at the edge of Bagshot Row with a small bag and a walking stick for your best Frodo impression. The guide can show you the exact angle used in the movies. Go during the morning tour for soft, golden light.
The Iron Throne room, Dubrovnik. Actually, it’s the Fort Lovrijenac interior, but there’s a replica throne inside the old town’s museum. Line up your shot from the doorway for a forced perspective that makes the room feel enormous. A 50mm lens works fine.
The “A Lovely Night” bench, Griffith Park, Los Angeles. The bench used in La La Land overlooks the city. Go during blue hour—about 20 minutes after sunset—for the same mix of twilight and city lights the film used. Bring a tripod.
The train station scene, Platform 9¾, King’s Cross. There’s a dedicated photo op area with a luggage trolley disappearing into the wall. The in-house photographers deliver decent shots, but you can also position a friend with a wide-angle lens from the side. Go early morning or late evening to avoid the queue.
Tips for Respectful and Responsible Filming Location Visits
Visiting a filming location comes with a responsibility to the place and the people who live there. These are real communities, not backlots.
Always check whether a location is on private property. Many houses and buildings used in films are still active residences. Standing outside for a photo is fine; knocking on the door is not. Look for designated viewing areas or public walkways that provide a good angle without crossing boundaries.
Follow posted guidelines. National parks and protected areas often have rules about drones, climbing, and access to certain areas. The rules exist to preserve the landscape that made the location special in the first place. Ignoring them risks fines, site closures, and damage to the environment.
Support local businesses. The economic benefit of set-jetting is real for small towns that rely on tourism. Eat at local restaurants, stay at family-run accommodations, and hire local guides. This keeps the industry sustainable and ensures future visitors are welcomed.
Avoid contributing to overcrowding. Some locations, like the narrow streets of Dubrovnik or the summit of the Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) observation point, can become unmanageable. Visit during shoulder season (spring or fall) and choose less-popular times of day. Your experience will be better, and the site won’t suffer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Filming Location Travel
What’s the best time of year to visit filming locations?
It depends on the location. For outdoor temperate-zone locations like New Zealand or the UK, late spring through early fall is ideal. For desert locations like Monument Valley, spring and fall offer comfortable daytime temperatures. For city-based locations like London or Tokyo, any season works, but avoid major holidays when crowds peak.
Are filming locations open year-round?
Most are, but with exceptions. Some private locations close for renovations, seasonal weather, or shooting schedules. Studio tours have specific operation dates and require advance booking. Always check the official website or contact a local tour operator before you book.
Do I need permits to visit filming locations?
For public spaces and national parks, no. For private property, studio lots, or protected sites, yes. Permit fees are usually minimal, but the process can take weeks. Guided tours handle permits for you, which is one reason they’re worth the investment.
How can I find hidden filming spots not mentioned in guides?
Use the IMDb page for the specific movie or show and scroll to the Filming Locations section. Then cross-reference with local fan forums. Facebook groups and Reddit communities dedicated to specific productions often share accurate location information. You can also hire a local guide who specializes in film location tours—they know the spots that aren’t on the main tourist trail.
Final Cut: Book Your Star-Worthy Adventure
Standing where your favorite character once stood changes how you watch the story. It turns a passive viewing experience into a memory you own forever. That’s the kind of travel we specialize in at TV Travel Package. We handle the logistics, the timing, and the insider access so you can focus on the feeling of walking into a world you thought only existed on screen.
You have the guide. You have the inspiration. Now it’s your turn to step onto the set.