1. The Sound of Music 1965 – Salzburg, Austria
Seeing all the sights that are featured in the cult movie might take you a couple of days. There are too many spots to list, but to name a few important ones: Leopold Palace was used for all the lake terrace scenes, the Gazeebo where Liesl sang ’16 going on 17’ is located in Hellbrunn Palace and the real von Trapp villa. If you would like to have a day trip outside Salzburg itself, the Werfen meadow where the famous picnic scene takes place would be a wonderful choice.
2. Schindler’s List 1993 – Krakow, Poland
Although the Krakow ghetto is among the few that were not demolished during the war, most of the scenes were actually filmed in the Kazimierz district - the historical Jewish district of the city. Not much is left of the Plaszow concentration camp, but the area is still worth a visit for those who are interested. You can see the abandoned house in which Amon Goeth lived during his time as the camp commandant, as well as the house that was chosen for the film.
3. Breakfast at Tiffany’s 1961 – New York City
Everyone remembers the famous opening scene where Holly Golightly (played by the incredible Audrey Hepburn, of course) climbs out of a taxi in a black evening dress and eats her breakfast in front of Tiffany’s. You can experience your own Audrey Hepburn moment on your next holiday to the big apple. It is also possible to visit the classic brownstone flat Holly lived in, which is located in 169 East 71st Street, Manhattan.
4. Lord of the Rings 2001 – Matama, New Zealand
It is no secret that tourism to the area has spiked since the first part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy came out in 2001, and it’s hardly surprising since the location is absolutely stunning. Daily tours of the Hobbiton movie set are departing everyday form Matama, during which you can walk past the Hobbit holes, all the way to Bag End, and even grab a drink at the Green Dragon.
5. Harry Potter 2001 - Glencoe, Scottish Highlands
The Harry Potter series was shot in many different locations around the UK, but the Scottish Highlands are definitely among the most impressive. If you board a train or drive from Glasgow to Fort William, you’ll be sure to spot a few iconic sights. Another great experience is taking the Jacobite steam train from Fort William to Mallaig. It is the very train that took Harry from Platform 9 3/4 all the way to Hogwarts.
6. Mamma Mia 2008 – Skopelos, Greece
The largest town on the island is Skopelos Town, and the majority of visitors choose to stay there or nearby. From there, you can take a guided or independent tour of the main filming spots. Those include the beautiful Agnos Ioannes Chapel (where Sophie plans to get married), the traditional Greek village of Glossa and Kastani Beach (used for several musical scenes in the movie).
7. Black Panther 2018 – Busan, South Korea
As Wakanda is a fictitious African country the majority of the hit marvel film was shot throughout Africa, but the Korean city of Busan made a memorable appearance during the car chase scene. It goes through Jagalchi Fish Market, crosses a bridge to Yeongdo Island and goes further north all the way to Gwangalli Beach. Not many westerners were familiar with this bustling city, second largest in Korea, before it starred in Black Panther.
8. Notting Hill 1999 – London
The colorful London neighborhood probably needs no introduction. After the mandatory stroll around Portobello Market (during the weekend is when the second hand goods and antiques are included), you can pop by William Thacker’s blue door on 280 Westbourne Park Road and not far down the road lies the little coffee shop he went to, now called Coffeebello. If you feel like wandering outside of Notting Hill, there are quite a few more London spots that appear in the movie – like the Savoy Hotel in Strand and Kenwood House in Hampstead.
9. Jurassic Park 1993 - Kauai, Hawaii
It has been over 20 years since the first Jurassic Park came out and the franchise is still a classic. There are quite a few filming locations you can visit on the island of Kauai. In one of the early scenes of the first movie, a helicopter lands on the edge of a waterfall – those are the beautiful Manawaiopuna waterfalls that are now referred to as the Jurassic Park waterfalls. Those who are not afraid of a steep climb can enjoy the peace of the secluded Pilaa Beach. If you would like to avoid the rock climbing bit, Na Pali coast is beautiful. It was used as the setting for the fictional Isla Sorna in Jurassic World.
10. The Shining 1980 – Stanley Hotel, Colorado
The Stanley hotel stands intimidatingly against the beautiful backdrop of Estes Park in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. This was the building that inspired Stephen King’s novel and the chilling cinematic adaptation that followed. King had spent a night there with his wife Tabitha in 1972 in room 172. Seemingly, they were the only guests that night, but King had the eerie feeling they were not alone. To this day, guests report they felt a spooky presence or a feeling that something was not quite ‘right’ while staying at the Stanley. This is probably the perfect Halloween destination.
11. Star Wars 1977 – Sahara Desert, Tunisia
The Sahara set is home to the planet of Tatooine, actually named after the Tunisian town of Tataouine located nearby. The never-ending vastness of sand and sky definitely gives the sensation of being in a galaxy far far away. The nearest town you can stay in is Tozeur. It won’t be difficult to find a touristic agency there that will be happy to take you on a day tour of the set.
12. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 1989 – Petra, Jordan
Though the third part of the Indiana Jones trilogy was filmed all over the world (Utah, the UK, and Turkey included) we chose to focus on the unique city of Petra. Located about 3 hours from Amman, the ancient city is known for its incredible architecture. The structures are carved directly onto the naturally red cliffs, creating the illusion you have entered a magical universe.
