Famous Movie Locations You Can Actually Visit
Some places exist in movies so vividly that they feel almost mythical as if they were built solely for the screen. But a lot of those breathtaking backdrops are real places you can visit. Whether you’re a die-hard movie fan or just love traveling to places with a story, here are 15 iconic spots that have earned their place on the map.
Hobbiton – Matamata, New Zealand (The Lord of the Rings & The Hobbit)
Credit: Canva
This one isn’t just a film set—it’s a full-blown tourist attraction. Built for The Lord of the Rings and later rebuilt permanently for The Hobbit, Hobbiton in Matamata looks exactly like it does on screen, down to the Green Dragon Inn and those perfectly round doors. It’s the closest you’ll ever get to stepping into Middle-earth.
Petra, Jordan (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)
Credit: Getty Images
The dramatic sandstone facade of Al Khazneh, Petra’s most famous structure, is instantly recognizable from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. In the movie, it housed the Holy Grail. In reality, it’s an ancient tomb carved into the cliffs. While you can’t go inside (no booby traps, either), standing in front of it feels like walking onto a movie set.
Monuriki Island, Fiji (Cast Away)
Credit: pexels
Tom Hanks’ stranded-on-an-island saga was filmed on Monuriki Island, a small, uninhabited paradise off Fiji’s coast. Now, it’s become a tourist hotspot, with boat tours taking visitors to “Tom Hanks Island” to see where Cast Away was filmed. Bring a volleyball if you want to recreate the Wilson scene properly.
Skopelos, Greece (Mamma Mia!)
Credit: Getty Images
If Mamma Mia! made you want to drop everything and move to a Greek island, you’re not alone. The film’s fictional island was actually Skopelos, where the famous Agios Ioannis Chapel (the wedding scene) and Kastani Beach (many of the musical numbers) were filmed. The whitewashed houses and turquoise waters? All real.
Lake Como, Italy (Star Wars: Attack of the Clones)
Credit: Getty Images
You might not associate Star Wars with Italian lakes, but the Villa Balbianello on Lake Como was the setting for Anakin and Padmé’s wedding. The villa’s terraced gardens and panoramic views make it one of the most breathtaking Star Wars filming locations you can visit—no lightsaber required.
Tokyo, Japan (The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift)
Credit: Getty Images
Tokyo’s neon-lit streets were the perfect setting for Tokyo Drift. Shibuya Crossing, Harajuku, and Shinjuku all made appearances in the film, adding to the underground street racing aesthetic. It’s one of the few movie locations where visiting at night makes it feel even more cinematic.
Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada (The Revenant)
Credit: Getty Images
Leo DiCaprio’s brutal survival story wasn’t just set in the wilderness—it was filmed in it. The wintry landscapes of Kananaskis Country in the Canadian Rockies made for the perfect backdrop, adding to the film’s raw, unrelenting atmosphere. It’s a popular spot for hiking, but maybe leave the bear fights to the professionals.
Hamakua Coast, Hawaii (Avatar)
Credit: Getty Images
Though much of Avatar was CGI, the lush, towering rainforests of Pandora were based on a very real place: Hawaii’s Hamakua Coast. The vibrant greenery, waterfalls, and mist-covered cliffs bring to life the same energy that made the fictional world so visually stunning.
Oxford University, England (Harry Potter)
Credit: Getty Images
Several parts of Oxford University were used as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter series. The Bodleian Library, Christ Church’s Great Hall, and various staircases and cloisters all doubled as parts of the wizarding school. Walking through Oxford almost feels like wandering the halls of Hogwarts—just with fewer floating candles.
King’s Cross Station, London (Harry Potter)
Credit: Getty Images
While Harry Potter’s Platform 9¾ is fictional, King’s Cross Station embraced the fandom by marking the spot between platforms 9 and 10 with a trolley half-embedded in the wall. It’s now a must-visit for fans, complete with a Harry Potter shop and endless photo opportunities.
Mokule’ia Beach, Oahu, Hawaii (Lost)
Credit: Getty Images
The crash site of Oceanic Flight 815 from Lost was filmed on Mokule’ia Beach in Hawaii. Though the series eventually moved filming locations, this stretch of beach remains the most recognizable spot from the show, and fans often visit to relive the early episodes.
Bayon Temple, Cambodia (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider)
Credit: Getty Images
Angelina Jolie’s Lara Croft wasn’t the first to set foot in Cambodia’s Bayon Temple, but the film certainly made it more famous. Located in Angkor Thom, this ancient temple is covered in massive stone faces, giving it an otherworldly feel that made it the perfect backdrop for Tomb Raider’s lost civilization storyline.
The Harbor Freeway, Los Angeles (La La Land)
Credit: Getty Images
Few movies have a more visually striking opening than La La Land’s traffic-jam dance number—which was filmed on the Harbor Freeway in LA. While you can’t exactly pull over for a song-and-dance moment, driving across it gives you the same view of the city skyline.
Varda Viaduct, Adana, Turkey (Skyfall)
Credit: Getty Images
Bond fans will recognize Varda Viaduct from the opening sequence of Skyfall, where 007 takes a dramatic plunge from a moving train. Built in the early 1900s, this historic railway bridge is still in use today, and visitors can either ride a train across it or take in the views from a nearby lookout.
The Rocky Steps – Philadelphia Museum of Art (Rocky)
Credit: Getty Images
The stairs leading up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art are now simply known as The Rocky Steps. Thanks to Sylvester Stallone’s training montage in Rocky, these steps have become an essential stop for visitors, many of whom run up them in tribute to the underdog boxer.