9 Must-Visit Movie Destinations Around The World

Movie tourism has been on the upswing in recent years, even being dubbed “set jetting” to reflect peoples’ interest in traveling to far-flung corners of the world to see the destinations featured in their favorite TV programs and films. The phenomenon has repeated itself time and time again: Maui and Sicily seeing big booms following “The White Lotus” and Croatia having a tourism heyday, thanks to “Game of Thrones.”

Top Movie Tourism Destinations Around The World

If you are looking to plan your 2025 travels around an exotic destination you saw on screen, this list will barely scratch the surface. But, these are some of the must-visit movie and TV hot spots that represent a good start.

Bangkok, Thailand

In Southeast Asia and a popular destination in its own right, Bangkok has also been the backdrop for several films including “Good Morning Vietnam” with Robin Williams (Bangkok city streets were used to represent Vietnamese city scenes), “Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason” with Hugh Grant and Renee Zellweger, and “The Hangover II” with Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms.

You can see one of the iconic scenes from “The Hangover II” by visiting the iconic Sky Bar at Lebua at State Tower. Lines form quickly so get there early. Colorful shrines and temples, eclectic street dining, night markets and boat rides along the Chao Phraya River are other popular tourist pursuits.

Lake Como, Italy

The stunning scenery of the curvaceous nooks along the shores of this lake make the perfect setting for a romantic film. Even many of its spectacular hotels have played starring roles on screen, like Villa d’Este (a member of The Leading Hotels of the World and featured in Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Pleasure Garden,” Federico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita” and “The Lizzie McGuire Movie”) and Grand Hotel Tremezzo (where Greta Garbo appeared in “Grand Hotel”).

Villa Balbianello featured in “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones” in the last scene when Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala kiss. Tourists can take the ferries between different towns on the lake like Bellagio, Tremezzo and Como where interesting shops and restaurants await with beautiful background views. Summer is the best time to visit since many hotels, restaurants and shops close during the winter months.

Wadi Rum, Jordan

The magnificent landscape of this mountainous desert has appeared in several well-known films. They include “Lawrence of Arabia,” “The Martian” (featuring Matt Damon), “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” and Disney’s “Aladdin” that debuted in 2019.

Visitors can camp in the desert with glamping tents some of the most popular. The best times to visit are spring and fall to avoid the excessive summer heat. Stargazing, camel riding, hiking and Bedouin feasts are among the activities. Petra, one of the 7 New Wonders of the World, is about 1.5 hours away by car.

London, United Kingdom

It should come as no surprise that one of the world’s most famous cities has appeared in film and TV scenes. But, many of London’s hotels, specifically, will let you sleep and eat exactly where the actors once did.

The Lanesborough’s Royal Suite is where Tom Cruise and Sydney Pollack acted out a famous scene from “Eyes Wide Shut.” The Langham in London had its own acting role, pretending to be the St Petersburg’s Grand Hotel Europe in one of the James Bond movies: “GoldenEye.” Bradley Cooper also shot scenes here in the film “Burnt.”

The Ritz and The Savoy appear in “Notting Hill,” and the latter is also home to Meryl’s Streep’s character in “The French Lieutenant’s Woman.” St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London, part of Marriott Bonvoy, has hosted scenes from movies like “Batman,” “Bridget Jones’ Diary,” and “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.” One look at the building’s façade will quickly explain what makes it so popular for producers.

London is enticing year-round, but its best weather is during the summer season when temperatures are at their highest.

Tokyo, Japan

One of the most famous scenes in Tokyo comes from “Lost in Translation,” starring Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray, which was filmed at the Park Hyatt Tokyo. This film made the hotel’s panoramic New York Bar incredibly popular with tourists who flock here and wait in long lines for a table (where there is a minimum spend). This hotel is a favorite of World of Hyatt fans.

The hotel is currently closed for a top-to-bottom renovation, but when it reopens in later this year, the famous bar will look better than ever. What you can see now is Karaoke Kan in Shibuya, which is where the film’s famous karaoke scene took place.

The X-Men series movie “The Wolverine,” starring Hugh Jackson, features a scene shot at Zojoji Temple, which is free for tourists to enter. Gonpachi restaurant, close to Roppongi, is recognizable for its messy scene in Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill: Volume 1.” It should come as no surprise that the movie was not filmed in the restaurant, but a full replica of it on a set in China.

Hawaii

The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay served as the backdrop for the film “Forgetting Sarah Marshall.” While it has been renovated since the 2011 film debuted, the destination is just as beautiful.

“Jurassic Park” fans need to look no further than Kualoa Ranch on the island of Kauai. Rent a car to explore other various filming locations across the island like Manawaiopuna Falls and Allerton Garden. The best time to visit is in spring and fall when crowds are fewer. Late March and April are still during the whale-watching season for those that can time it just right.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

The 1996 remake of “Evita,” starring Madonna and Antonio Banderas filmed parts of the movie in Buenos Aires, despite protests from some locals concerned about how the new portrayal may alter the true story. The crew were allowed to film some scenes, including the famous song “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina,” in the actual Casa Rosada, which tourists can visit. Other scenes were actually filmed in Budapest with notable backdrops including St. Stephens Basilica as the backdrop for her state funeral.

Francis Ford Coppola chose the famous neighborhoods of La Boca and San Telmo to film scenes of “Focus,” starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie. They also visit parts of the new city in Puerto Madero, which will be instantly recognizable. Being in the Southern Hemisphere, the best times to visit would be during northern winter (which would be southern summer).

Salzburg, Austria

Tourists and fans of “The Sound of Music” can take a full tour (complete with sing-a-longs) to explore various locations around the city where the movie shot scenes. It includes Mirabell Palace Gardens and the famous gazebo at Hellbrun Palace. Visitors can also stay at Schloss Leopoldskron, the palace where many movie scenes were filmed. Scenes from “Night and Day,” featuring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz were also shot in the city.

Casablanca, Morocco

The namesake movie here comes as no surprise to movie fans. Rick’s Café became a tourist destination thanks to the Humphrey Bogart film “Casablanca.” Scenes from “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” include the landmark Hassan II Mosque in the background. Both of these are open to tourists visiting the city although the ideal time to come is in spring and fall because summer can be a scorcher.

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