To me, there’s nothing more exciting than visiting a place you have seen before on screen, closing your eyes, and imagining you are a part of the movie.
That’s why two years ago, my boyfriend and I decided to embark on the adventure of a lifetime, visiting some totally epic film locations over the course of just over a year!
Thankfully, it’s never been easier to find out the exact filming locations of your favorite shows.
Here’s what we discovered on our travels.
1. Hobbiton, New Zealand, Lord of the Rings
Although this set is on a private farm, it is open to the public for tours.
We were so lucky to explore the hobbit holes, the Green Dragon Inn, the mill, and other iconic locations from the films! The tours included a knowledgeable guide who provided loads of added insight into the locations and the films.
For fans of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, like us, a visit to Hobbiton is an absolute film lover’s dream!
2. Alnwick Castle, England, Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone
The incredible Alnwick Castle in Northumberland, England, was used in the first two Harry Potter films as the exterior of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I’m a total Harry Potter nerd so this place was high on my list!
We took a tour of the castle and even had a go at a broomstick lesson in the same spot where Harry, Ron, and Hermione have their very first flying lesson in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone!
The castle also hosts various other Harry Potter-themed attractions and special events throughout the year and has an excellent gift shop. I got lots of cool souvenirs here.
3. Skellig Michael, Ireland, Star Wars: The Force Awakens
The beautiful Skellig Michael, located in Ireland served as a filming location for the films Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi. My boyfriend is a huge Star Wars fan, so he was super excited to visit Skellig Michael.
So, on our way to our NYC layover from the UK and our Harry Potter adventures, we headed over to Ireland.
Situated off the coast of County Kerry, Skellig Michael is an absolute treasure. An uninhabited island that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the scenery is simply stunning. It’s an absolute must-see for any true Star Wars fan!
4. Timberline Lodge, Oregon, The Shining
80’s movie buffs, this one is for you! If the majestic Timberline Lodge in Oregon looks familiar to you, think way back to 1980, and the movie The Shining.
It’s a little bit before our time, but we made a point of watching it before we booked and were so glad we did!
Timberline Lodge was used for the exterior shots of The Overlook Hotel. When we checked in, we really felt like we were on the set!
It is actually a 1930s historic ski lodge located near Mount Hood and is a popular year-round destination for skiers, snowboarders, and film lovers wanting to stay a night at the famous Overlook Hotel.
5. Mokule’ia Beach, Oahu, Hawaii, Lost
The stunning Mokule’ia Beach was frequently used in the hit TV show Lost as a backdrop for scenes on the island. It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful island, we were completely blown away.
Mokule’ia Beach was also used in the film Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides and was transformed into a tropical island for filming.
6. Dubrovnik, Croatia, Game of Thrones
The city of Dubrovnik in Croatia is famous for being Kings Landing on the TV series Game of Thrones.
The city walls were used as the walls of Kings Landing and the nearby Lovrijenac Fortress became the exterior of the Red Keep.
The nearby island of Lokrum may be familiar to fans of the show too, it became the city of Qarth during filming. We had a lovely afternoon here, browsing the markets.
For fans of Games of Thrones, Croatia is an absolute must-visit. We hopped over one weekend for a city break.
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7. Astoria, Oregon, The Goonies
This is my boyfriend’s all-time favorite film, so we had to visit Astoria!
The Goonies house, located on 38th Street, Astoria was used as Mikey and Brand Walsh’s home in the film. All the filming locations were easily found and very accessible.
There are many landmarks scattered around the town that are used in the film and the former Clatsop County Jail is available to visit and was used in the opening jailbreak scene of the film.
8. Varda Viaduct, Turkey, Skyfall
Ok, cheating a bit here as I’ve not yet been, but this is on my next to-see list.
This historic bridge was built during Roman times and is still standing today. Located in southern Turkey, it has been used in many movies and TV Shows, most notably, in the 2012 movie Skyfall starring Daniel Craig.
This impressive structure is well worth a visit, and I can’t wait to see if it meets my expectations.
9. Tom’s Restaurant, NYC, Seinfeld
Fans of Seinfeld from all over the world flock to 2880 Broadway and West 112 St to take photos in front of Tom’s Restaurant.
Why? Because it served as the exterior shots for the popular Monk’s Café, a frequent hangout for Jerry and friends in the show. On a layover in NCY, we just had to visit here as had heard so many good things.
Inside the café, we had a bite to eat and took photos inside the famous booth the friends often sat at in the show.
10. Philadelphia Museum of Art Steps, Rocky
The 72 stone steps leading up to the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art became very famous after the 1976 film Rocky was released.
The steps were used in the famous shot of Rocky doing his training routine. We had lots of fun here taking photos and re-creating the famous scene!
11. Koh Phi Island, Thailand, The Beach
The beautiful island of Koh Phi Phi in Thailand was the setting for the famous movie The Beach, starring Leonardo Dicaprio.
I have wanted to visit for so many years and felt so lucky to finally experience the beauty of Koh Phi Phi firsthand.
We even went on a tour that took us to many of the locations used in filming including hidden lagoons and waterfalls.
12. Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland is the stunning viaduct that the Hogwarts Express travels over in the Harry Potter films. It is well worth the trip for the incredible scenery!
The train ride is referred to as the “Harry Potter train” or the “Jacobite Express” due to its close association with the movies.
Taking this special train journey left me feeling like a student due to arrive at Hogwarts! We went there after we visited Alnwick in northern England whilst on our Harry Potter whistlestop tour of the UK.
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13. Split, Croatia, Game of Thrones
Fans of Game of Thrones will recognize the city of Split in Croatia as Meereen, where Daenerys Targaryen freed the slaves and went on to rule as their queen.
I was so excited to visit here, and it didn’t disappoint. We even took a tour of the dungeons, where the dragons were kept in the TV series!
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14. Aggios Ionas Church, Greece, Mama Mia
From Croatia, we headed to Greece. This quaint church in Aggios Ionas on the island of Skopelos in Greece was the setting for Sophie’s wedding in Mama Mia. We arrived at sunset and the views were spectacular.
Located high on the island, overlooking the Ionian Sea, many people flock to the church without even knowing about its glitzy past!
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15. Ocean Avenue, Amityville, USA, Amityville Horror House
Horror movie buffs will know this as the infamous Amityville Horror House, and it’s located at 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville. On our NYC layover, we headed here.
The imposing Dutch colonial-style house was the site of a horrific mass murder in 1974, where 6 members of the Defoe family were killed by their own son.
The family who moved into the home a year after the murders were terrorized by supernatural activity and the film was then made about their experiences. Super scary to see firsthand!
Final Thoughts on 15 Epic Film Locations You Can Actually Visit
There are some iconic locations to discover out there. Visiting a film location left us with a new perspective on some of our favorite films and TV shows.
We loved visiting famous film locations to see some of the most scenic places and landmarks that we enjoyed watching on the big screen in real life.
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