15 of The Coolest Movie Locations of All Time

by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 9:00 AM ET, Sat June 17, 2023

Hobbiton, from The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings

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Those who are super-fans of the beloved The Hobbit and The Lord of The Rings movie series all know there's one place they'd rather be: Hobbiton! Hobbiton, located in New Zealand, is a park created from the former film set. Portraying The Shire, the homeland of the hobbits, travelers can enjoy walking around the gardens, visiting the green-roofed hobbit-holes and even enjoy tours featuring second breakfast or a hobbit-style dinner banquet. Where else can you immerse yourself in the humble beauty of your favorite film series?

Salzburg, from The Sound of Music

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The Sound of Music has captivated decades of movie-goers, from its beautiful natural scenes featuring the splendor of Austria to its catchy music. That's why Salzburg is so popular with fans of the movie. Travelers can head of movie-themed tours to the location where Julie Andrews sang what is quite possibly the most iconic song of the film: The Sound of Music.

Astoria, Oregon, from The Goonies

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Victorian-era Astoria, Oregon has one cult classic as its claim to fame: The Goonies. Fans of the movie can retrace a lot of the steps the young treasure hunters took across the city and beyond, but they can also visit the home that began it all, where Sean Astin's character lived with his mom and big brother. The destination also offers whale watching tours, the Columbia River Maritime Museum, the Oregon Film Museum (not to be missed for cinephiles) and the Lewis and Clark Historical Park.

Petra, Jordan, from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

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One of the most iconic ancient monuments in the Middle East is none other than Petra, the Nabataean city carved into a mountain. Travelers already flock to this incredible site to learn about its history and marvel at its construction, but some travelers got their interest in this ancient monument from none other than Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The movie's high-energy climax is filmed at the site, where the adventurer and his father find the legendary Holy Grail.

Skopelos, Greece, from Mama Mia!

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Let's admit: we've all stared longingly at the TV or movie screen while Mama Mia! (or its sequel) played, but it wasn't for the actors and their singing voices. No, it was for the startlingly clear, turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea, the craggy cliffs that make way for white-sand beaches and the hardy olive trees that create a stunning backdrop for the movie. The island of Skopelos is where the movie was filmed, and travelers today can head to the place where it all began for the beloved main characters of the musical saga, Donna and Sophie.

Hanapepe Valley, Kauai, from Jurassic Park and Jurassic World

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Both Jurassic Park and Jurassic World feature the stunning real-life world of Kauai, Hawaii, and nature lovers and Jurassic Park lovers alike will relish visiting one of the most iconic places set in the films: the Hanapepe Valley. Hawaii's incredible lush tropical rainforest is on full display here, and travelers can head up to the Hanapepe Valley Lookout to get some incredible shots of the valley.

Dubrovnik, Croatia, from Game of Thrones

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What does a seventh-century city nestled along the dreamy Adriatic have in common with one of the most popular fantasy cities ever created for a TV series? Well, Dubrovnik, Croatia is the real-life filming location of King's Landing, made famous as the seat of power within A Game of Thrones. It's celebrated quite a bit of popularity ever since travelers connected the two, with tour operators specializing in their Game of Thrones city tours. But filming locations aren't the only attraction for this city: its old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it offers plenty of historical and cultural attractions to round out any trip to the city.

Pike Place Market, Seattle, from Sleepless in Seattle

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Pike Place Market is one of the most iconic places in the city of Seattle, second perhaps only to the Space Needle. But one of its most beloved cameos occurs in a similarly loved rom-com: Sleepless in Seattle. Romance lovers enjoy visiting the historic market and walking in the steps of Tom Hanks's character. True superfans can enhance their visit by dining at The Athenian Seafood Restaurant and Bar.

Philadelphia Museum of Art, from Rocky

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What list of popular filming locations wouldn't feature the Philadelphia Museum of Art's iconic steps? Rocky is most famous for its scene of Sylvester Stallone training by running up the steps of the art museum, and it's attracted Rocky fans ever since. Travelers shouldn't just recreate the iconic scene, though: they should also enter the museum. It was originally built to hold the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, and today includes collections containing everything from modern art to East Asian and medieval European art.

Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland, from Harry Potter

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Have you ever sighed at the movie screen while watching the Hogwarts Express chug across a gorgeous Scottish countryside in the Harry Potter film series? We do, too! Travelers can actually experience it for themselves with a tour along the Glenfinnan Viaduct in a Jacobite steam train — yup, the Hogwarts Express is real. Besides the incredible train tour, travelers can also visit the Glenfinnan Monument & Visitor Centre to catch some incredible views of the viaduct and Scottish countryside, plus learn some history, too.

Highclere Castle, England, from Downtown Abbey

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Located in Highclere, England is one of the most beloved filming location for a TV series: Highclere Castle, the set for Masterpiece Classic's Downtown Abbey. Fans of the show can enjoy taking a tour of the castle's main areas and learning about its true history beyond its Downtown Abbey fame. The castle features two lodges for longer stays in the area and is also available to book for that perfect fairytale wedding.

Skellig Michael, Ireland, from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi

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UNESCO-designated Skellig Michael is famous among science fiction fans for being Luke Skywalker's hideaway in the newwest Star Wars trilogy. The island, located off the coast of County Kerry in Ireland, was a sanctuary for no lonely Jedi, but rather monks of the Christian variety. St. Fionan's monastery was located on the rocky island, living in the same beehive-shaped stone huts that made their way into the movies. And while you won't find any porgs on the island, you will find puffins! The island is free to visit, but you'll have to pay for a ferry boat to get you there.

Notting Hill, England, from Notting Hill

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Romance movie fans will remember the London neighborhood by the same name with a sigh. Travelers visit the neighborhood not only to enjoy its beautiful, trendy and approachable atmosphere, but also to take a Notting Hill Film Tour, visit the Portobello Market, browse the stacks at The Notting Hill Bookshop and partake in some great food at one of the area's many restaurants. Kenwood House in Hampstead Heath, where Julia Roberts' character was filming her movie in Notting Hill, also makes for a great day trip for fans of the movie.

Royal Palace of Caserta, Italy, from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

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The Royal Palace of Caserta, Italy, located just north of Naples, is a must-visit for any fan of the Star Wars prequel trilogy. It was the lavish filming location for Padme Amidala's palace on Naboo, and many of the interior shots in her palace were filmed here. In reality, it was the masterpiece of Charles of Bourbon, with a lavish palace featuring 1,400 rooms, 123 hectares of royal park and an English-style garden featuring over 200 species of plants. Travelers can visit this incredible UNESCO-designated palace on a day trip from Naples or, to experience more of the region's historical and cultural offerings, on a several days-trip to the scenic region.

Ait-Ben-Haddou, Morocco, from Gladiator, The Mummy and Game of Thrones

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The UNESCO World Heritage-designated ksar of Ait-Ben-Haddou is probably the destination on this list with the most filming credits, made famous time and again by movies like Gladiator, The Mummy, Prince of Persia, Lawrence of Arabia...and the list goes on. The Moroccan city was also the set of a fantasy city in the series Game of Thrones. The city features defense fortifications surrounding its buildings, which are made of earth in the style of pre-Saharan southern Moroccan architecture. It's now one of the coolest filming locations to visit in the world, attracting many travelers for its unique design and plentiful film credits.

Fantasy worlds and historic dramas are only the beginning...

No list could ever come close to naming all of the popular and iconic filming locations of all time, but there's a few that offer travelers unique experiences into some of the most beloved movies and shows of all time, from Mama Mia! to Game of Thrones and Lord of The Rings. Whether it be the Italian palace turned into a galactic queen's residence or the neighborhood made famous by a romantic comedy, these filming locations are second to none. Check out some of the coolest filming locations you can visit today right here.