set jetting destinations

Set-Jetting Destinations: Famous Filming Locations to Visit

Love movies and travel? Visit real filming locations with this fun guide to set-jetting destinations from Harry Potter to White Lotus.

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If you’ve ever paused a show, squinted at the background, and immediately Googled “where was this filmed?” — welcome. You’re already into set-jetting and didn’t even know it.

So, what is set jetting? It’s basically “film set” meets “jetting off” – aka turning your binge-watching obsession into real-life travel. In other words, it’s visiting the movies and shows you love… snacks in hand, passport still sitting there judging you.

This fast-growing travel trend has exploded thanks to streaming platforms that casually show us jaw-dropping places we now feel emotionally attached to.

Research says 66% of travelers have considered visiting somewhere they saw on screen, 39% actually booked because of it, and 94% of Indian travelers admit movies and shows influence where they want to go.

Among Gen Z and millennials, nearly 70% say the same – proving that screen time now leads directly to flight time.

From set-jetting White Lotus in Sicily and Hawaii to iconic set-jetting destinations in Europe, like Dubrovnik from Game of Thrones, travelers aren’t just chasing landmarks anymore – they’re chasing storylines.


🎬  Famous Set-Jetting Destinations That Feel Fictional

From fantasy kingdoms to suburban streets, these set-jetting destinations and filming locations invite you to step straight into the scenes you love.


🚀  Star Wars Filming Locations – Tunisia, Spain, Italy

Few franchises define set jetting like Star Wars. From the sun-baked deserts of Tatooine in Tunisia to the elegant plazas of Naboo in Spain, and the imposing imperial settings of Andor, fans can now walk the very locations that brought a galaxy far, far away to life.

  • Matmata, Tunisia – Luke Skywalker’s desert home on Tatooine
  • Lake Como, Italy – Naboo’s secret wedding scenes in Episode II
  • Plaza de España, Seville, Spain – Naboo cityscapes in the prequels
  • Montserrat, Spain – Chandrila’s highlands in Andor
  • City of Arts & Sciences, Valencia, Spain – Imperial city sequences in Andor

Check out our multiple guides to set-jetting Star Wars & Andor filming locations.

italy star wars location


🌵  Dune Filming Locations – Tunisia & Abu Dhabi

Fans of sand, spice, and giant sandworms can visit the real deserts and striking sets that brought Dune to life. From Tunisia’s sun-scorched dunes to Abu Dhabi’s sleek, otherworldly architecture, these locations capture the harsh beauty and scale of Arrakis – sandworms not included.

  • Tataouine, Tunisia – Desert landscapes for Arrakis
  • Chott el Jerid, Tunisia – Sweeping salt flats and dune shots
  • Liwa Desert, Abu Dhabi – Imperial palace exteriors and futuristic desert scenes
  • Al Faqa, Abu Dhabi – Outdoor sequences and desert vistas

Check out our guide to set-jetting Dune filming locations.

where was dune filmed arrakis


🧙  Harry Potter Filming Locations – UK

Britain accidentally became Hogwarts. Across castles, cathedrals, and train routes, fans now wander through real corridors that doubled as wizarding hallways. This is pure set-jetting tourism, where medieval architecture meets childhood nostalgia, and everyone secretly expects a letter.

  • Alnwick Castle – Flying lessons courtyard
  • Gloucester Cathedral – Hogwarts corridors
  • Glenfinnan Viaduct – Hogwarts Express route
  • Leadenhall Market – Diagon Alley

Check out our guide to set-jetting Harry Potter filming locations.

harry potter filming locations scotland


🌊  The White Lotus Filming Locations – Sicily, Hawaii & Thailand

Nothing explains set jetting film locations better than people booking five-star resorts because a fictional family argued there. Sicily, Maui, and Thailand have turned into luxury pilgrimages where travelers chase the same views, pools, and delightfully chaotic vacation energy.

  • Four Seasons Maui, Hawaii – Season 1 resort
  • San Domenico Palace, Sicily – Season 2 hotel
  • Noto & Taormina, Sicily – Sicilian town scenes
  • Four Seasons Koh Samui, Thailand – Season 3 resort

Check out our guide to set-jetting White Lotus filming locations (all seasons).

white lotus filming location season 2


🐉  Game of Thrones Filming Locations – Europe

Dubrovnik may be King’s Landing’s poster child, but Game of Thrones turned much of Europe into Westeros. From Croatian forts to Spanish palaces and icy Nordic landscapes, fans can roam real locations where betrayals, battles, and CGI dragons came to life.

  • Old Town Walls, Dubrovnik, Croatia – King’s Landing streets
  • Fort Lovrijenac, Croatia – Red Keep exterior
  • Jesuit Staircase, Croatia – Walk of Shame steps
  • Alcázar of Seville, Spain – Water Gardens of Dorne
  • Itzurun Beach, Spain – Dragonstone shoreline
  • Thingvellir National Park, Iceland – Beyond the Wall scenes

Check out our guide to set-jetting Game of Thrones filming locations (and the prequels).

game of thrones locations winterfell


🧝  Lord of the Rings Filming Locations – New Zealand

New Zealand didn’t just host Middle-earth – it fully leaned into it. Fans can join tours that take them through rolling hills, volcanic peaks, and lush forests that brought the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies to life, where every path feels like it could lead to a hobbit hole… or an unexpected troll.

  • Hobbiton, Matamata – The Shire
  • Tongariro National Park – Mordor
  • Fiordland – Forest realms

Check out our guide to set-jetting Lord of the Rings and Hobbit filming locations.

hobbiton movie set the hobbit filming locations


🦈  Jaws Filming Locations – Martha’s Vineyard

This peaceful island still proudly answers to “Amity.” Its beaches and harbors look instantly familiar, though jumping in the water now comes with a healthy side of suspense – because let’s be honest, every shadow in the surf might be a shark… or just a huge wave.

  • Edgartown Harbor – Amity Island
  • South Beach – Opening scene
  • Menemsha Village – Fisherman spots

Check out our guide to set-jetting Jaws filming locations.

jaws filming locations marthas vineyard


🧇  Stranger Things Filming Locations – Georgia, USA

Hawkins is scattered all over Georgia, USA, and fans love hunting down the malls, streets, and neighborhoods that look exactly like the show. Walk around long enough, and you half-expect a Demogorgon to pop out of a corner – selfies and Eggo waffles optional, but highly encouraged.

  • Jackson – Downtown Hawkins
  • Gwinnett Place Mall – Starcourt Mall
  • Stockbridge – Neighborhood scenes

Check out our guide to set-jetting Stranger Things filming locations.

stranger things filming atlanta
Image by Counse on Wikipedia

💣  Narcos Filming Locations – Colombia

Fans of crime dramas can explore the real streets of Bogotá and Medellín, where Netflix’s Narcos series brought Escobar’s world to life. These locations still carry the show’s tension and atmosphere – thankfully without the chaos that made it infamous.

  • Medellín, Colombia – Escobar’s neighborhood and city scenes
  • Bogotá, Colombia – Police operations and street sequences
  • Cartagena, Colombia – Coastal drug cartel hideouts

Check out our guide to set-jetting Narcos filming locations.

narcos filming locations medellin


🎩  Bridgerton Filming Locations – UK

Step into Regency-era romance without the time machine! Bridgerton’s lavish balls and lush estates were filmed across England, letting fans roam the gardens, palaces, and stately homes where scandals, waltzes, and flirtations unfolded – high drama guaranteed, gossip optional.

  • Wilton House, Wiltshire – Bridgerton estate exteriors
  • Ranger’s House, London – Interior ballroom scenes
  • Bath, Somerset – Regency street sequences

Check out our guide to set-jetting Bridgerton filming locations.

bridgerton filming locations bath uk


🏰  Downton Abbey Filming Locations – UK

Step into aristocratic drama without needing a butler. Fans can visit the stately home and surrounding estates where the Crawleys’ lives unfolded, from lavish parties to secret romances. It’s all the glamour, gossip, and grandeur of early 20th-century England – just with fewer powdered wigs in real life.

  • Highclere Castle, Hampshire, UK – Downton Abbey estate exterior and interior
  • Bampton, Oxfordshire, UK – Village scenes and streets
  • Basildon Park, Berkshire, UK – Grand ballrooms and party sequences

Related articles:

famous uk castles


🎶  The Sound of Music Filming Locations – Austria

Fans can twirl through Salzburg’s gardens, lakes, and hilltops where The Sound of Music turned Austria into a singing postcard. Expect scenic views, humming “Do-Re-Me,” and the sudden urge to spin in circles.

  • Mirabell Gardens, Salzburg – “Do-Re-Me” song sequence
  • Nonnberg Abbey, Salzburg – Maria’s convent
  • Leopoldskron Palace – Von Trapp home exterior
  • Lake Wolfgang & Mondsee – Lakeside scenes and wedding church

Check out our guide to set-jetting The Sound of Music filming locations.

where was the sound of music filmed locations


🎯  The Day of the Jackal Filming Locations – Europe

The new Day of the Jackal series turns Europe into a scenic game of hide-and-seek, with an assassin racing through real streets you can visit – minus the gunfire. Elegant cities and coastal towns make this thriller unexpectedly great travel inspiration.

  • Budapest, Hungary – Stand-in for multiple European capitals
  • Vienna, Austria – Elegant city backdrops
  • Zagreb & Pag, Croatia – Coastal and inland sequences
  • Rijeka & Opatija, Croatia – Waterfront promenades
  • London, UK – Key narrative scenes

Check out our guide to set-jetting The Day of the Jackal filming locations.

day of the jackal filming locations 2024


🧭  Indiana Jones Filming Locations – Tunisia, Italy, Jordan & USA

Grab your imaginary fedora. Indiana Jones turned real deserts, ancient temples, and rugged landscapes into globe-trotting adventure scenes you can actually visit. From North African ruins to Jordan’s rose-red city and Italian canals, these spots prove archaeology has never looked this cinematic – snakes not included.

  • Kairouan & Tozeur, Tunisia – Desert market and Cairo scenes (Raiders of the Lost Ark)
  • Petra, Jordan – The iconic canyon temple in The Last Crusade
  • Venice, Italy – Library and canal chase scenes (The Last Crusade)
  • Yosemite National Park, USA – Mountain landscapes (Temple of Doom)

Check out our guide to set-jetting Indiana Jones filming locations.

where was indiana jones and the last crusade filmed


🔫  John Wick’s Ballerina Filming Locations – Europe & NYC

Fans can stroll the real streets and scenic spots of John Wick: Ballerina – from misty European bridges to lakeside villages and NYC’s Continental Hotel. Keanu Reeves optional, adrenaline guaranteed.

  • Trsteno Arboretum, Croatia – Pier & seaside vistas
  • Prague, Czech Republic – Old Town streets & courtyards
  • Hallstatt, Austria – Lakeside snow sequences
  • Budapest, Hungary – Castle district & Danube riverbanks
  • New York City, USA – Continental Hotel exterior

Check out our guide to set-jetting John Wick’s Ballerina filming locations.

ballerina filming locations


✨  The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Filming Locations – Iceland & Greenland

Follow Walter Mitty’s epic adventures across stunning natural landscapes, from icy fjords to volcanic peaks. Fans can retrace his journey through breathtaking scenery that turns every step into a cinematic daydream – photo ops mandatory, midlife crises optional.

  • Stykkishólmur, Iceland – Small-town adventures and harbor scenes
  • Snaefellsnes Peninsula, Iceland – Mountain and coastal sequences
  • Greenland – Arctic expedition and iceberg scenes

Check out our guide to set-jetting Walter Mitty filming locations.

the secret life of walter mitty filming locations


🦕  Jurassic Park & Jurassic World Rebirth Filming Locations – Hawaii, Thailand & Malta

Hawaii’s cliffs, valleys, and waterfalls became dinosaur territory in the original Jurassic Park, with Kualoa Ranch now a must-visit pilgrimage site for fans.

The newer Jurassic World Rebirth chapter expanded the franchise to tropical coastlines in Thailand and historic Mediterranean streets in Malta, proving that even dinosaur chases enjoy a little sunshine and sightseeing.

Filming landmarks:

  • Kualoa Ranch, Hawaii – Multiple Jurassic Park scenes
  • Manawaiopuna Falls, Hawaii – Iconic waterfall shot
  • Na Pali Coast, Hawaii – Aerial landscapes
  • Krabi, Thailand – Jungle coastlines (Jurassic World Rebirth)
  • Valletta, Malta – Historic city sequences (Jurassic World Rebirth)

Check out our guide to set-jetting Jurassic World filming locations.

where was jurassic world filmed in hawaii


✈️  Why Set-Jetting Tourism is Here to Stay

The reason set-jetting tourism works is emotional. These places don’t feel new – they feel familiar. You’re not just visiting a destination; you’re stepping into a story you already know.

Studies in film tourism show that emotional connection to shows and movies strongly influences travel decisions, often more than traditional marketing. That’s why filming locations are turning into cultural hotspots and why tourism boards now actively promote where productions were shot.

As streaming content continues to spotlight incredible landscapes, set-jetting trends in 2026 are expected to grow even stronger. What started as a niche interest among cinephiles is now shaping how modern travelers choose where to go next, blending storytelling, culture, and real-world exploration into one unforgettable journey.

That’s the real meaning of set-jetting, and why this travel trend isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

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Priya Florence Shah

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