Set amongst crystal blue waters and white sandy beaches, scenes from feel-good musical Mama Mia! were filmed on two neighbouring islands in the northwest Aegean Sea — Skiathos and Skopelos — in Greece. ABBA admirers are able to join a guided tour of the island, stopping at Chapel Rock where Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan duet “The Winner Takes It All”, and relaxing on the soft sands of Kastani beach, where fan-favourite song, “Lay All Your Love On Me” was performed.
Situated in the medieval sector of Aït Ben Haddou in Morroco, this unique film location was not only home to Gladiator, but The Mummy, Kingdom of Heaven, Prince of Persia, and scenes from Game of Thrones. Crowned a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987, the red desert landscape adorns mud-brick structures that date back to the 1700s and are an impressive example of Moroccan architecture. Are you not entertained?
Featuring breathtaking views of the Amalfi Coast, the stunning Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, Italy appears in scenes from Themyscira, home to the Amazons, in hit Marvel Blockbuster, Wonder Woman (thanks to a touch of CGI). Those desperate for a night’s stay at the luxurious villa however will have to fork out over HK$10,000 per night for a suite.
A symbol of Jordan, and one of its most visited tourist attractions, the ancient city of Petra is well recognised for its carved sandstone, tombs and temples that boosted even further in popularity thanks to its cameo in Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade in 1989. One of the seven wonders of the world (and where Jones finds the Holy Grail), this slice of history is top of the bucket list for history and film fanatics alike.
Fully guided tours run regularly from Matamata, New Zealand to the fictional town of Hobbiton. Situated on a family run farm, a trip to this enchanting movie set is more than worth the journey for a glimpse of hobbit holes, meadows, and gardens of Bilbo and Frodo.. Spend an afternoon in Middle Earth and soak up everything that the Shire has to offer before topping off the day with an only-available-in-Hobbiton Oatbarton Ale at the leafy lakeside Green Dragon Inn.
This railway viaduct on the West Highland Line in Glenfinnan, Inverness-shire, Scotland has since become one of the most recognisable railways in the world following the success of J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets. Filmed in 2002, fans will remember the flying Ford Anglia landing on Glenfinnan Viaduct, on the West Highland line between Fort William and Mallaig; take the journey for yourself for unbeatable views across the Highlands.
Although previous Mad Max films were shot in Australia, Mad Max Fury Road took to Swakopmund, Namibia where its crimson deserts, towering dunes and stark mountain ranges gave chase to Tom Hardy and a tyrannical ruler across the wasteland. With notoriously little rainfall, the landscape remains dry, barren and quite obviously post-apocalyptic.
The hills in Salzburg are alive with the sound of music, where over 300,000 visitors a year head to where this hit musical was filmed to follow in the footsteps of of Maria von Trapp and Julie Andrews. With plenty of iconic landmarks to snap photographs of and guided tours available all throughout the city, spend the day marveling at the likes of Mirabell Gardens and the Pegasus Fountain, Schloss Leopoldskron and Hellbrunn Palace.
Celebrating 27 years, Kauai has been a consistent filming location for the Jurassic Park franchise with its vast, lush landscape and undisturbed beauty. With plenty of filming locations to pay a visit to, be sure to add The Amber Mine at Ho’opi’i Falls, Allerton Garden and Kahili Ranch to the list.
Planning your next trip? These unique movie destinations are a must-visit for film buffs.
Whether you geek out over the thought of ‘discovering a dinosaur egg’ in Jurassic Park, or can’t wait to whirl and twirl your way around Salzburg in Austria, there are plenty of movie destinations that you can actually travel to. Usually complete with guided tours around these impressive set locations, film buffs are sure to learn everything there is to know about their favourite movies. Or, take pleasure in simply strolling around stunning scenery for yourself. Here are 8 movie destinations on our list…
All images courtesy of Unsplash