Set-Jetting: 12 Famous Movie & TV Filming Locations You Can Visit
You know that moment when the credits roll and you’re still half in the story, mentally Googling “Where did they film that?!” (I do it, every time!) That is the heart of Set-Jetting: taking your love of film and TV and turning it into real-life trips. In this guide we are heading to railways, castles, tiny chapels and desert canyons that you have already “visited” on screen. It is aimed at film fans who like a bit of comfort, mostly UK and European travellers who want a good balance of fun and budget. By the end, you will know exactly where those famous scenes were shot, what it is like to stand there in real life, and how to plan a trip that feels cinematic without draining your bank account. 🎬✈️
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| What is this type of travel? | Visiting real-life locations that appeared in films or TV shows. |
| Locations in this guide | 12 filming locations across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Oceania and the US. |
| Typical budget per trip | Roughly £500–£1,500 / €570–€1,700 / $650–$2,000 for a long weekend or short break, depending on distance. |
| Best time to go | Spring and autumn for quieter cities; summer for islands and mountains; winter for cosy city breaks and interiors. |
| Types of productions | Fantasy epics, sci-fi, period drama, classic musicals, rom-coms and cult movies. |
| Good starting point | Mix one “big” location (Petra or Hobbiton) with nearer European spots like Dubrovnik or Highclere. |
💡 Fact: Set-Jetting is most enjoyable when you mix famous filming spots with regular travel moments like local cafés, markets and walks, so the trip feels like a real holiday rather than a checklist.
🔥 My Recommended Tour to get you started: From Belfast: Giant’s Causeway and Game of Thrones Tour
Quick Q&As
What is Set-Jetting in travel?
Set-Jetting is travelling to real places that appeared on screen, from castles in period dramas to sci-fi planets that are actually just very dramatic cliffs.
Is Set-Jetting expensive?
It can be, but it does not have to be. You can pair free filming locations with one or two paid “bucket list” experiences and keep the rest of the trip fairly normal.
Do I need guided tours to visit filming locations?
Sometimes. Places like Hobbiton or Kualoa Ranch are only accessible on official tours, while others such as Glenfinnan Viaduct or Shibuya Crossing are easy to visit independently.
Is it okay to visit places where people live or work?
Yes, as long as you are respectful. Keep noise down, do not block doorways, and remember you are in someone’s neighbourhood, not on a closed set.
Which countries are easiest for film-location trips from the UK?
The UK and Ireland, Croatia, Spain, Austria and Jordan all have excellent connections plus well-known film and TV locations.
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: If you are overwhelmed, start with one big paid “set visit” and one free or low-cost location from the Q&As, then build the rest of your itinerary around those.
Set-Jetting 101: Turn screen moments into real trips
Set-Jetting is basically giving yourself permission to plan a trip around that one shot you cannot get out of your head. It might be a steam train over a Scottish viaduct, a sandy Greek cove where ABBA is blasting, or a desert canyon that once hid the Holy Grail. Film tourism has grown fast in the last couple of decades, as fans fly out specifically to stand where favourite characters once stood.
The trick is to build a realistic trip around those scenes. Start by clustering locations that are near each other, like Dubrovnik and nearby Croatian islands, or Glenfinnan with the rest of the Scottish Highlands. Check access rules early, as some places limit numbers, require tours, or close in bad weather, such as Skellig Michael in Ireland.
Then there is the social side. Many of these locations are now busy and locals are a bit tired of people singing show tunes at 7 am. Go early or late in the day, keep your photo sessions short, and do not copy risky stunts just because an actor did it with ten safety wires and a stunt team.
Costs at a glance (sample “hero” experiences)
| Location | Key experience | Local price | Approx GBP | Approx EUR | Approx USD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobbiton Movie Set, New Zealand | 2.5-hour guided set tour | 120 NZD | ~£52 | ~€58 | ~$69 |
| Petra, Jordan | 1-day ticket (accommodated visitor) | 50 JOD | ~£54 | ~€61 | ~$71 |
| Dubrovnik, Croatia | City walls ticket | 40 EUR | ~£35 | 40 EUR | ~$47 |
| Kualoa Ranch, Hawaii | Jurassic Adventure Tour | 149.95 USD | ~£114 | ~€129 | $149.95 |
Now lets’s get to the 12 unreal sets!
👉 Good to know: Pick one “big spend” set visit per trip, then pad the itinerary with cheaper or free locations nearby so your bank account survives the closing credits.
🗺️ Inspirational Guide for later: Dream It, Do It: How a Vision Board Can Fuel Your Wanderlust
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Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland – Ride the ‘Hogwarts Express’
If you grew up waiting for an owl and a letter, this one hits hard. The Glenfinnan Viaduct in the Scottish Highlands is the graceful concrete curve that the Hogwarts Express thunders across in the Harry Potter films. In real life, it carries the Jacobite Steam Train between Fort William and Mallaig, passing over Loch Shiel with scenery that looks too perfect to be real until you are actually there.
You can book a seat on the Jacobite itself, with standard returns from about £69 (~€78 / ~$92) for adults. Or, if you prefer the “fan on the hill with camera” experience, you can hike to viewpoints around the Glenfinnan Visitor Centre and watch the steam train puff across the arches. There is a paid car park near the viewpoint and it fills fast on sunny days.
- Getting there: Train or bus from Glasgow to Fort William, then local bus or car to Glenfinnan.
- Best moment: Check Jacobite timetables, then arrive about an hour early to claim a good viewing spot.
👉 Good to know: Standard Jacobite tickets sell out quickly for peak summer dates, so treat it like a concert and book as early as you reasonably can.
🔥 Can’t miss tour: From Edinburgh: Hogworts Express & Highlands Tour
🗺️ Tips for Visiting Scotland: Unforgettable Scotland Travel Tips For First-Timers
Dubrovnik, Croatia – King’s Landing in real life
I loved Game of Thrones, but let’s not talk about season 8. Dubrovnik’s old town is one of those rare locations that already looked cinematic before the cameras arrived. Its honey-coloured walls, steep alleys and Adriatic views became King’s Landing in Game of Thrones, as well as featuring in Star Wars and other productions. Walking the city walls, you can pick out towers and battlements you have seen in battles, coronations and very tense conversations.
To get the full effect, buy a city walls ticket and do the full loop. In 2025 an adult ticket is 40 EUR (~£35 / ~$47), and the same ticket also includes Fort Lovrijenac, another key filming spot, with a 72-hour validity. You can also join dedicated Game of Thrones walking tours that stitch the locations together and show comparison shots on tablets.
- Getting there: Fly into Dubrovnik Airport, then bus or taxi to the old town.
- Best moment: Late afternoon circuit of the walls, then golden-hour photos of the terracotta roofs.
💡 Fact: The city has raised prices partly to control visitor numbers and protect the walls, which means early morning and shoulder seasons are your friend if you want thinner crowds.
🔥 Highlight tour: Game of Thrones Walking Tour – Dubrovnik
🗺️ Recommended Read: Dubrovnik Travel Guide: Your Ultimate Companion
Hobbiton Movie Set, Matamata, New Zealand – A walk through the Shire
Hobbiton is one of those rare film sets that still feels quietly alive. Tucked into rolling farmland near Matamata on New Zealand’s North Island, it is the permanent outdoor set used for the Shire in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films. You wander past perfectly round doors, vegetable patches, smoking chimneys and tiny garden chairs that make you feel absolutely enormous in the best way.
The only way in is on an official guided tour. The standard 2.5-hour Movie Set Tour from The Shire’s Rest costs 120 NZD for adults (about £52 / €58 / $69). Tours also run from Matamata and some operators bundle Hobbiton with nearby glow-worm caves. Expect it to be busy in peak season, but the groups are managed well and there is time for photos plus a drink at the Green Dragon Inn.
- Getting there: Drive from Auckland (around 2 hours) or join a day tour from Auckland or Rotorua.
- Best moment: First glimpse over the hill from the party tree towards Bag End.
🔹Tinker’s Tip: Book the earliest morning slot you can; the low light is beautiful and there are fewer branded hoodies in your photos.
🔥 Magical tour: From Auckland: Hobbiton Guided Tour
Skellig Michael, Ireland – Luke’s island hideaway
Skellig Michael is a jagged rock rising from the Atlantic off County Kerry, and in Star Wars it became Ahch-To, Luke Skywalker’s remote refuge. In real life, it is an early medieval monastic site with beehive huts, steep stone steps and nesting seabirds, and it feels as remote and wild as it looks on screen.
Access is tightly controlled for safety and conservation. Licensed boats run landing tours from Portmagee and nearby harbours, usually from around mid-May to early October, weather permitting. In 2025, landing tours are typically priced around 130 EUR per person (~£115 / ~$153). Numbers on the island are limited and the steps are steep, so this is very much one for sturdy shoes and a decent fitness level.
- Getting there: Fly to Kerry Airport, drive or bus to Portmagee, then pre-book a licensed boat.
- Access quirks: Tours are often cancelled at short notice if seas are rough, so build slack into your itinerary.
👉 Good to know: Recent legal disputes around boat permits have disrupted some seasons, so always check the latest situation and have a back-up plan on the mainland.
🔥 Recommended Tour: Skellig Michael Ultimate Tour
Highclere Castle, England – Downton Abbey’s grand home
Highclere Castle in Hampshire doubles as Downton Abbey, and visiting feels suspiciously like turning up for an unexpected shift below stairs. The real castle is the home of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, and you can tour the lavish public rooms plus an Egyptian exhibition in the cellars, thanks to the family’s links to Tutankhamun.
General admission tickets are released in blocks and often sell out quickly in summer. A simple ticket including castle, exhibition and grounds typically costs from around £25–£29 (~€28–€33 / ~$33–$39) per adult, depending on the day and event. Opening days are limited, usually clustered in spring, summer and special event periods, so date flexibility helps.
- Getting there: Trains from London Paddington to Newbury, then taxi, or drive from London in around 1.5–2 hours.
- On site: No photos inside the main rooms, but you can go wild with the camera in the grounds.
💡 Fact: The first entry slot of the day is usually the calmest; later arrivals can feel more like a very polite queue through Lady Mary’s sitting room.
🔥 Recommended Tour: From London: Downton Abbey tour with Oxford and Highclere
🏴 All Our Guides to England
Plaza de España, Seville, Spain – Naboo’s Theed Palace
Seville’s Plaza de España is already wildly dramatic, with tiled alcoves for every Spanish province, canals with rowing boats, and curving bridges. In Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, it became part of Naboo’s capital, Theed, where Anakin and Padmé wander along sunlit colonnades.
The plaza sits on the edge of María Luisa Park and is completely free to visit. You can stroll the arcade, spot exact film angles, and then rent a rowing boat on the shallow canal if you feel like leaning fully into the drama. It is especially atmospheric at sunset when buskers appear and the tiles glow warm in the fading light.
- Getting there: Walk from central Seville or hop on a tram or bus to the park.
- Costs: Plaza access is free; allow a few extra euros for boats or an ice cream stop.
🔹Tinker’s Tip: Visit twice in one day if you can, once in quiet early morning, then again near sunset when the light does its thing.
🔥 Recommended Ticket: Priority Access including Cathedral
Recommended Tours from GetYourGuide
Salzburg & Mondsee, Austria – The Sound of Music trails
If you know the words to “Do-Re-Mi” without even thinking, Salzburg will feel familiar the second you arrive. The city and its mountain-framed surroundings provided many filming locations for The Sound of Music, from Mirabell Gardens and Leopoldskron Palace to the lakeside church at Mondsee.
Several companies run dedicated tours. A classic half-day “Original Sound of Music Tour” from Salzburg usually costs about 60 EUR for adults (~£53 / ~$71) and visits key film spots around the city and lake district. You can also DIY with a Salzburg card and local buses, though the tour bus is a fun karaoke-on-wheels if you lean into it.
- Getting there: Direct trains from Vienna and Munich; Salzburg Airport serves regional flights.
- Best moment: Looking out over the lake at Mondsee and quietly humming instead of belting it out. Locals will thank you.
👉 Good to know: Salzburg is busy in summer; for more breathing room, try late spring or early autumn and book tours ahead around major anniversaries.
🔥 Tinker’s Recommended Tour: Salzburg Sound of Music Tour
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Shibuya Crossing & Park Hyatt, Tokyo – Lost in Translation vibes
Tokyo is a goldmine for screen moments, but Lost in Translation gave two locations a cult following: Shibuya Crossing and the Park Hyatt Tokyo in Shinjuku. The film’s early shots of Charlotte crossing the famous “scramble” intersection, umbrella in hand, are part of what cemented Shibuya in global pop culture.
Shibuya Crossing itself is just a very busy intersection, but watching the organised chaos from a café window or a high viewpoint is addictive. The Park Hyatt (which inspired those bar scenes high above the city) stopped regular hotel operations in 2024 for a renovation and brand change, so check the latest status before you plan a drink there. You can still replicate the mood by heading to another sky bar for city views at night.
- Getting there: Shibuya and Shinjuku are major JR rail hubs, easy from Tokyo Station or the airport lines.
- Costs: Crossing the road is free, views just cost the price of a drink or observation deck ticket.
💡 Fact: The crossing sees thousands of people per light cycle at peak times, so give yourself ten minutes just to stand back and watch the pattern repeat.
🔥 Tour of Tours: Tokyo Street Kart Experience
Kualoa Ranch, Oahu, Hawaii – Jurassic valleys
Kualoa Ranch on Oahu is one of those places that looks CGI even when you are standing in it. Its lush valleys and cliffs have hosted countless productions, but for most visitors it will forever be “the Jurassic Park place”, with fields where dinosaurs once chased jeeps and iconic gallimimus scenes were filmed.
The main way to see it is on a Jurassic Adventure Tour, a 2.5-hour open-air journey through filming sites. As of 2025, adult tickets are around 149.95 USD (~£114 / ~€129). You bump along farm tracks, stop at set pieces and props, and get time for photos with those famous valley vistas. Combine it with beach time on the windward side of Oahu for a full day out.
- Getting there: Drive from Waikiki in around 45–60 minutes, or book a tour with transport included.
- On site: There are also ATV, horseback and zipline options if you have more time and budget.
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Wear something you do not mind getting dusty and bring a light waterproof; “tropical showers while you sit on a bench in a bouncy truck” is very much part of the experience.
🗺️ Useful Guide: Guides to the USA
Petra, Jordan – Indiana Jones’ canyon approach
Petra’s narrow Siq and the reveal of the Treasury are forever tied to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. In the film it hides the Holy Grail; in reality it is an extraordinary Nabataean site carved into rose-coloured rock, and the walk through the canyon genuinely feels like a slow, cinematic build-up.
Petra involves some planning. Standard one-day tickets for visitors staying at least one night in Jordan cost 50 JOD (~£54 / ~€61 / ~$71) as of 2025, with slightly higher prices for day-trippers. The site is huge, so wear decent shoes and start early to beat the heat and tour groups. Petra by Night is a separate ticket if you fancy the candlelit version.
- Getting there: Many travellers base themselves in Wadi Musa and walk or shuttle to the visitor centre; others join day tours from Amman or Aqaba.
- Time needed: One full day lets you see the Treasury and main trail; two or three days lets you hike to viewpoints and quieter tombs.
💡 Good to know: The Treasury interior in the film is studio work; in real life you admire it from outside, which surprises a lot of first-timers.
🔥 Hot Tour: Petra and Wadi Rum 2 day tour
The Dark Hedges, Northern Ireland – The King’s Road
On screen, the Dark Hedges became the King’s Road in Game of Thrones, a brooding avenue of beech trees where Arya and the Night’s Watch recruits pass early in the series. In real life it is Bregagh Road, near the village of Armoy in County Antrim, and the twisting tree tunnel is still one of the most photographed spots in Northern Ireland.
To protect the trees and avoid traffic chaos, the road is now closed to vehicles. You park nearby, often at the Dark Hedges Estate or Hedges Hotel, then walk a few minutes to the avenue itself. Parking fees vary; recent visitors report car charges around £4–£5 (about €4.50–€5.60 / $5–$6.70), while the road itself is free to access.
- Getting there: Best visited by car, usually combined with the Causeway Coastal Route and Giant’s Causeway.
- Best time: Early morning on a grey day, when it feels a bit moody without the full tour-bus crowd.
🔥 From Belfast: Giant’s Causeway and Game of Thrones Tour
🗺️ Fancy a trip to Northern Ireland: 3 Days In Belfast: Titanic and Giants
Skopelos, Greece – Dancing through “Mamma Mia!” island
If your ideal trip involves turquoise water, pine-covered hills and spontaneous ABBA singalongs, Skopelos is the one. The 2008 film Mamma Mia! used this Greek island (along with Skiathos and a few mainland spots) as the fictional island of Kalokairi, with key scenes filmed at Kastani Beach and the tiny cliff-top chapel of Agios Ioannis.
You can now join Mamma Mia-themed boat or bus tours that link beaches and viewpoints, or hire a car and DIY. Kastani Beach still has clear water and a relaxed beach bar, minus the movie’s temporary pier, while Agios Ioannis involves climbing around 200 steps to reach the chapel, rewarded by ridiculous sea views.
- Getting there: Ferries to Skopelos from Volos or other mainland ports, often via Skiathos.
- Costs: Beaches and chapel are free; you just pay for transport, food and any organised tours.
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Bring sturdy sandals for those rocky paths and chapel steps, then reward yourself with a long, lazy lunch by the sea once your inner Dancing Queen has calmed down.
🗺️ For a closer look: Beach Hopping in Greece: Best Islands for June
General film-location etiquette & planning tips
There is one more thing that ties all these locations together, beyond your Blu-ray collection: they are real places with real people doing normal life around all the fangirling. Planning with that in mind keeps Set-Jetting fun for everyone.
Always check access rules, opening times and any seasonal closures before you commit to expensive flights. Some places, such as Skellig Michael or Petra, limit daily numbers for conservation reasons. Build in buffer days in case of cancellations or bad weather, especially for islands or mountain sites.
Think of yourself as a polite guest. No drones where they are not allowed, no climbing onto fragile walls for “just one shot”, and no trespassing onto private land because someone on Instagram did it. If a location is clearly overwhelmed, consider quieter times of day or alternative spots that featured in the same production but see fewer tour buses.
FAQs
Is Set-Jetting suitable for families?
Yes, as long as you pick locations that match your kids’ ages and patience levels. Castles, trains and city walks are usually great with children, while remote, steep or very long days such as Skellig Michael or Petra hikes may be better for teens and up.
Can I visit filming locations on a budget?
Definitely. Many outdoor spots like Shibuya Crossing, the Dark Hedges and Plaza de España are free, so you can keep costs down by limiting yourself to one paid “hero” experience and using public transport, picnics and mid-range accommodation to balance things out.
Do I need to book guided tours in advance?
If a location can only be visited on a tour, such as Hobbiton, Kualoa Ranch or many Sound of Music excursions around Salzburg, book as early as you can for peak dates. For free outdoor sites you can usually just turn up, though sunrise and sunset can be busy.
Is it safe to visit remote filming locations?
Most of the places in this guide are well-established tourist spots with safety measures in place. Still, you should respect trail closures, listen to local advice about weather or sea conditions, and avoid cliff edges and loose rocks, even if a character sprinted along them in the film.
How do I find out where my favourite show was filmed?
End credits and official studio websites sometimes list locations, and fan sites or location guides are excellent at mapping scenes to real-world places. You can also search for “[show name] filming locations” and cross-check a couple of sources before you book anything big.
Now, over to you…
If you have already stood in a famous scene, I want to hear about it. Which filming location felt exactly like the movie, and which one surprised you completely? Share your favourite spots or bucket-list sets in the comments so other film fans can steal your ideas for their own trips.
When you are ready to keep planning, dive into more travel inspiration, road trips and city guides over on TheTravelTinker.com and start turning more of your screen obsessions into boarding passes. Popcorn sadly not included. 🍿👇🗣️
Adventure on,
The Travel Tinker Crew 🌍✨
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Kualoa Ranch, Oahu, Hawaii – Jurassic valleys
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Claire Taylor
I am a storyteller, podcaster, and global explorer deeply intrigued by the nuances of unconventional living. I transitioned from conforming to conventional norms to embracing a life that defies the ordinary
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