The best movie set locations that you can actually visit

Stef Zisovska
Island landscape - Author: Diego Delso - CC BY-SA 3.0
Island landscape - Author: Diego Delso - CC BY-SA 3.0

Traveling around the world is something that many of us like to do. But how do we choose the next destination? Well, all the film buffs among the outdoor travel enthusiasts out there like to move around the globe visiting famous movie sets. And there are plenty of real locations that you can visit and track down the exact spots where your favorite actors were once standing. If you want to combine your travels with your passion for movies, then you going to love this list of famous movie locations.

Gladiator, Ait Benhaddou, Morocco

Aït Benhaddou, southern Morocco – Author: Donar Reiskoffer – CC BY-SA 3.0
Aït Benhaddou, southern Morocco – Author: Donar Reiskoffer – CC BY-SA 3.0

All Gladiator fans should book a ticket to Morocco right away. Ait Benhaddou is an ancient town where there are still four families living in the old kasbah. It’s a famous spot among movie makers, many of whom have chosen the ancient village as a location for their movie. Big budget movies like Gladiator, Babel, Jesus of Nazareth, The Mummy, and Son of God were all shot here. If any of these films is your favorite, start searching for a cheap flight. By the way, autumn is a perfect time to visit Morocco.

The Beach, Ko Phi Phi Le, Thailand

Boats in the bay of the island – Author: Diego Delso – CC BY-SA 3.0
Boats in the bay of the island – Author: Diego Delso – CC BY-SA 3.0

Besides remembering Leo DiCaprio’s fresh face from The Beach, the Thai scenery is what makes this movie location an unforgettable experience. Ko Phi Phi Le is an island in the Phi Phi archipelago and was more or less unknown before the shooting of the film. Nowadays, loads of tourists go to visit the jewel with its sugary white beaches and crystal-clear water. Even if you don’t like the movie this island is worth visiting. You won’t regret it.

Notting Hill, London, England

London: Notting Hill – Author: Urban – CC BY-SA 2.5
London: Notting Hill – Author: Urban – CC BY-SA 2.5

If you feel nostalgic for the 1999 romantic comedy Notting Hill, then fly to London and visit the neighborhood. You can also visit the Portobello Road Market, shown in the same film.

Lord of the Rings, Matamata, New Zealand

Sign in Matamata identifying the town as the location where the Hobbiton scenes from the Lord of the Rings were filmed – Author: Jasenlee~commonswiki – CC BY-SA 2.5
Sign in Matamata identifying the town as the location where the Hobbiton scenes from the Lord of the Rings were filmed – Author: Jasenlee~commonswiki – CC BY-SA 2.5

You don’t have to be a Lord of the Rings fan to want to experience the most magical landscapes with your own eyes, but if you are then your trip will be even more enjoyable. Matamata is a small, idyllic village on the North Island of New Zealand where you’ll find cottages surrounded by flower meadows and tinkling springs. Guided tours are available in ‘Hobbiton’, which has become the second name of Matamata.

Jaws, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

Gay Head Cliffs, Martha’s Vineyard – Author: JP06035 – CC BY-SA 3.0
Gay Head Cliffs, Martha’s Vineyard – Author: JP06035 – CC BY-SA 3.0

One of the Spielberg’s most famous movies, Jaws was shot near Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. This summer colony is accessible only by boat or by plane. Besides all the scary scenes in Jaws, visitors keep returning to Martha’s Vineyard to enjoy the beautifully clear waters.

Trainspotting, Calton Street Bridge, Edinburgh, Scotland

Calton Road underneath the bridge, with the arches overhead – Hynek – CC BY-SA 3.0
Calton Road underneath the bridge, with the arches overhead – Hynek – CC BY-SA 3.0

The black comedy movie about the destructive heroin abuse of late 1980s. The opening scene takes place on Princes Street and Calton Street Bridge in Edinburgh. If Trainspotting was one of your favorite movies from your youth, then it’s time to visit Scotland.

Forrest Gump, Savannah, Georgia

Chippewa Square, Savannah – Author: Alecconnell – CC BY-SA 3.0
Chippewa Square, Savannah – Author: Alecconnell – CC BY-SA 3.0

The opening scene of this heart-melting movie was shot at a bus stop bench in Chippewa Square in Savannah, Georgia. Everybody who ever saw the movie remembers this scene. If you ever visit Georgia, head to the Savannah History Museum and see the actual bench from Forrest Gump.

This list of movie locations will hopefully prove inspiring for all traveling film buffs who are keen to choose to their next travel destination. Even if you’re not a movie fan, most of these places are beautiful to visit anyway. Challenge yourself and get the best out of your next trip. Never stop traveling and exploring our amazing planet. Good luck!

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stef-zisovska

stef-zisovska is one of the authors writing for Outdoor Revival