27 Picturesque Places in Famous Movies And How You Can Visit Them In Real Life

Movie magic can take an ordinary sound stage or road and turn it into a fantasy world. Some places on earth, however, don’t need post-production to enhance their beauty. Hundreds of unique places exist on Earth that provide perfect locations to shoot pivotal movie scenes.

Below, discover 27 picturesque places around the world that have been featured in famous movie scenes and how and when you can visit them yourself.

Skellig Michael, Ireland

The small island in the County of Kerry in Ireland hosted Mark Hamill and other Star Wars actors for the latest trilogy’s filming. It’s also a historical site for Catholics.

Various tour companies offer guided tours of the island between April and September. The boat tours take around two and a half hours; they include tours of both Skellig Michael and Little Skelligs. There are also “landing” tours that focus specifically on 

Bayon Temple, Cambodia

In the movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, the titular character explores the Bayon Temple as well as the ancient city of Angkor Thom and the University of Ta Prohm. You can visit all of these sites today, starting at around $80 USD. Angkor Wat, the temple complex in which these places reside, is the largest religious structure in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Various travel companies offer guided tours year-round between 7:00 a.m. and noon. The tours take about five to six hours to cover all three locations.

Varda Viaduct, Turkey

Featured in the 2012 James Bond film Skyfall, the Varda Viaduct is a railway you can ride. It was built in the early 1900s and played a role in World War I.

While guided tours of the viaduct itself don’t exist, you can ride a train over the bridge or drive yourself to walk on the tracks. Always practice caution, obey traffic laws, and keep yourself safe when exploring new places.

Hobbiton, New Zealand

Peter Jackson leveraged New Zealand’s beauty for his Lord of The Rings films, as well as the subsequent Hobbit movies. With so many fans around the world, officials in the Waikato region created a real-life Shire™ where fans can take guided tours, enjoy meals, run a marathon, or even get a private tour of the movie set. 

Depending on the tour, you can spend a few hours to most of your day in Hobbiton. The set has special events outside of the marathon weekend, including beer festivals and Christmas celebrations.

Al Khazneh, Jordan 

 When Indiana Jones entered the final resting place for the Holy Grail, he was actually entering “The Treasury,” or Al Khazneh — one of the most elaborate and well-known tombs in the ancient city of Petra. 

Fans and enthusiasts can partake in an Aqaba Shore tour with various tour guide companies. These tours will take you through several hours of sightseeing events, provide food, and allow you to explore the wonder of Petra. 

Buckingham Palace, England

You may not see Paddington Bear while visiting England, but you can follow his footsteps by heading over to the Queen’s home: Buckingham Palace.

Open to visitors in the summer, as well as some exclusive dates in the spring and winter, Buckingham Palace provides hour-and-a-half-long guided tours. Some of the highlights of the tour include the white drawing room, the throne room, the ballroom, the changing of the guard, and the palace gardens.

Griffith Observatory, United States

The first time a planetarium theater appeared on screen was in the 1955 hit Rebel Without A Cause starring James Dean. The movie made use of the observatory’s picturesque exterior and interior throughout the movie.

Today, you can visit the observatory in full — including looking through telescopes, watching a planetarium show, exploring exhibits, or paying homage to James Dean’s monument. The observatory is admission-free and accessible to visitors of varying abilities. It also features a gift shop and cafe.

Kualoa, United States

In sunny Hawaii, you can experience the fear and wonder of those who attended the opening day of Jurassic Park — sans dangerous prehistoric creatures. 

Various tour and resort companies, including the Kualoa Ranch Nature Preserve, offer in-depth Jurassic Park-themed guided tours. Some adventure tours take one to two hours while private guided tours can take up the better part of a day. You’ll visit iconic film sites in the Hakipu’u and Ka’a’awa Valleys from both franchises. 

Hatley Castle, Canada

Wish you were a superhero? At Hatley Castle, you can pretend you’re part of Professor X’s School for Gifted Youngsters. You also may recognize the stunning 1908 mansion from movies like MacGyver, Poltergeist: The Legacy, The Mole, and Deadpool.

Hatley Castle is a living building under the ownership of Royal Roads University. As such, visits are only permitted on a schedule of guided tours. Otherwise, it serves as the administration building for the school with dozens of offices inside.

The McCallister Home, United States

What’s more picturesque than a stately family home all dressed up for Christmas? The McCallister’s home — which is a personal residence located in Winnetka, Illinois — proves that Home Alone’s classic story remains relevant over 30 years later.

You can’t tour the actual home, but you can stand outside of its gates to take a picture. Visitors often make the “scream” face that eight-year-old Kevin makes in the movie.

Point Dume, United States

Located in Malibu, you’re able to visit the iconic beach features in Planet of the Apes at the Point Dume State Beach and Preserve.

The preserve has both a large beach and trails for walking. Parking costs less than $10 at the actual beach’s parking lot. If you get to the preserve early enough, you may be able to snag a free spot at the two-hour parking area. 

The J. Paul Getty Museum, United States

In Star Trek: Into Darkness, Kirk and Spock (played by Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto, respectively) visited Starfleet Headquarters — which is the real-life J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California.

Also known as the Getty Center or simply The Getty, this museum provides an exploration of classic and modern art and architecture. It’s open year-round and admission is free. However, due to its popularity, the museum and villa require reservations for entry.

The Swan House, United States

Live your dystopian rebel dreams out at the Swan House, located within the Atlanta History Center in Georgia. Film crews from The Hunger Games transformed the beautiful, stately home into President Snow’s mansion for the movie franchise. 

Open year-round, the Atlanta History Center costs $24 for non-members to visit the 33-acre destination for a whole day. All historic houses, including the Swan House, open to visitors around 11:00 a.m.

Timberline Lodge, United States

If you’re looking for a heart-pounding adventure, the Timberline Lodge has you covered on two fronts. Not only is it a destination for high-alpine experiences; it’s the filming site of The Shining.

When you visit the lodge, you can delight in the resort owner’s much-loved dogs, thrilling skiing and snowboarding, delectable food, and The Shining-themed merchandise at the gift shop. 

Salzburg, Austria

When visiting the historic and gorgeous city of Salzburg, you can delight in a guided tour of iconic places from The Sound of Music. The real von Trapp family lived in Austria as well, making the tour extra special.

On the city-sponsored “original Sound of Music” tour, you’ll visit the Mirabell Gardens, the Schloss Leopoldskron, the Hellbrunn Palace, the Nonnberg Convent, and the Mondsee Basilica. Or, opt for a self-guided tour through the same points of interest and take yourself on bike, by foot, or by public transportation. 

Nijo Castle, Japan

When Inception created a crumbling seventeenth-century shogun castle that began to crumble, it created a digital image based on a very real place: Nijo Castle.

You can visit Nijo Castle — the home of the first shogun of the Edo period, Tokugawa Ieyasu — in Kyoto. This UNESCO World Heritage site remains open most of the year and charges an admission fee of about $12 for the day. 

Görlitz, Germany

Considered “Görliwood” by some, the city of Görlitz, Germany has hosted film crews to create many stunning sites on the silver screen. Movies shot all, or in part, in the town include The Grand Budapest Hotel, Inglourious Basterds, The Book Thief, and The Monuments Men among others.

The tourism office of Görlitz offers a half-dozen guided tours around the year. When booking, take care to read the full description as some tours are only conducted in German. 

Villa del Balbianello, Italy

Situated on the beautiful, tranquil banks of Lake Como is Villa del Balbianello — a residence used in both Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and the James Bond film, Casino Royale.

Because the villa’s main use is to host private events, parties, and weddings, movie fans aren’t able to rent out the space to stay overnight. They can, however, visit the villa on a boat or limo tour of the surrounding area. Tour prices, times, and durations vary by company.

Keahua Arboretum, United States

Though many regard Avatar’s CGI as groundbreaking work, the real beauty of the movie shines through in the choice of shooting location. Keahua Arboretum at the Wailua State Park provided the backdrop for most of the non-CGI scenes in the movie.

Thanks to Hawaii’s beautiful weather, the arboretum remains open year-round. Its sprawling acreage provides places to hike, picnic, swim, and marvel at the natural beauty of the trees, waterfalls, and mountains around you.

Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland

Despite your status as a muggle, you can make your way to Hogwarts via the Glenfinnan Viaduct — the same bridge that the Hogwarts Express carries students across in the Harry Potter series.

Over 300,000 visitors flock to the famous viaduct every year, according to Scotland’s industry travel statistics. A few ways exist to experience the viaduct’s beauty:

• Drive yourself to explore the viaduct and the surrounding area.
• Join a guided tour from Scotland.
• Ride a train over the viaduct.

The most popular train you can ride over the viaduct is the Jacobite train. 

Namib Desert, Namibia

Thanks to the 2012 movie Mad Max: Fury Road, Namibia has seen an increase in both tourism and global interest from film companies. Both Mad Max and 10,000 B.C. spotlight the vastly untouched beauty of Namibia.

When visiting the country, you can hire private or group tours of the Namib desert. Some safaris are as long as a week, taking you across Namibia and South Africa.

Melody Ranch, United States

If you’re interested in stepping into the Western world of times long past, call Melody Ranch in Santa Clarita to book a tour. Movies like Django Unchained, Holes, and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood have filmed here. In addition, television shows including Westworld, Gunsmoke, and Deadwood have used Melody Ranch as the main shooting location.

Because it’s an active workplace, Melody Ranch isn’t open to the public. You must call in advance to set up a tour through the ranch or in conjunction with a partnering tour company.

Nærøyfjord, Norway

Despite being an animated movie, the flurry of fame Frozen brought Norway positively impacted the Scandinavian country’s tourism. The Nærøyfjord remains one of the narrowest arms of the Sognefjord and is bordered by dizzyingly high mountains. 

You can enjoy the beauty of the Nærøyfjord through cruises and kayak tours, as well as day trips as part of other excursions. 

Forks, United States

When Stephenie Meyer published her vampire YA romance set in Forks, Washington, she created a tourist destination much loved by many voracious readers. Fans of Twilight can explore the town that still pays homage to the book and its characters. You can visit Dr. Carlisle Cullen’s parking spot at the Forks Community Hospital, Forks High School, and even the Swan residence, where Bella lives with her dad.

Depending on what you’d like to do from the books, different travel agencies and tour companies host hours- or days-long excursions to Forks, La Push, Port Angeles, and more.

Agios Ioannis Church, Greece

Sophie didn’t know who her father was, but that didn’t stop all three of them from giving her away during her wedding at Agios Ioannis Church at the end of Mamma Mia!

Skopelos island hosts a tiny church atop the rocky island. Climb over 200 stairs to reach the top, where you’ll capture views that reach for miles across the Mediterranean Sea. The church is free to visit and about an hour and a half’s walk from the nearby Glossa Village. Some visitors are disappointed by the size of the church when they arrive — since the movie filmed the church’s interior in a completely different (and larger) building.

Aït Ben Haddou, Morocco

The fortified village (or ksar) of Aït Ben Haddou, Morocco has made a name for itself in both history and entertainment. You may even recognize it before knowing its legacy in Morocco. Used as a stopping stop for caravans as far back as the eleventh century, Aït Ben Haddou is now a UNESCO World Heritage site for its influence on Moroccan architecture and fame in today’s movie industry. Among the productions that have used the ksar are Gladiator, Lawrence of Arabia, The Mummy, and The Jewel of the Nile.

Phang Nga Bay, Thailand

The final iconic spot on the list with can’t-miss views is yet another James Bond film location. Featured in The Man with the Golden Gun, Phang Nga Bay National Park is a jaw-dropping coastline of islets, sunken caverns, and vertical rock formations rising out of the sea. True fans will want to visit Ko Tapu or James Bond Island.

Best suited as a day trip from Phuket, visitors can enjoy the beauty of Phang Na Bay around the year via dozens of different travel companies.

Next Stop: the Silver Screen

The selections above make up just a few dozen of the hundreds of stunning, naturally occurring wonders of the world that movie crews choose to highlight in their films. Each place has a unique story, history, and cultural significance to their country. When visiting, consider immersing yourself in the local culture to learn more about the community outside of its fame from Hollywood.