It’s no wonder some of the most beautiful places in the world are chosen by location scouts for popular films and TV series. From Dubrovnik in Croatia, known as the setting of King’s Landing in Game of Thrones, to the Croatian island of Vis – the filming location of the latest Mamma Mia sequel – we have worked with our friends over at PromotionalCodes.org.uk who compiled a list of the 11 most stunning filming destinations.
Soak up the atmosphere and take in all the visual scenery captured in your favourite movie or TV series, whilst enjoying an amazing summer break. It’s the perfect chance to get some great selfies, re-enact the most memorable scenes and do some research of your own.
From far flung New Zealand to Bruges in Belgium, take a look at the below picks of the best and most beautiful filming locations around the world.
Here’s the top 10 filming locations for holiday inspiration:
Island of Vis, Croatia
The long-awaited sequel of the 2008 film Mamma Mia has just been released, and in contrast to the original which was shot in the Greek island of Skopelos, the 2018 sequel Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again was actually shot on the Croation island of Vis just off the Dalmatian Coast.
Previously cut off from visitors until 1989, the small island of Vis has plenty of lush, green, unspoiled countryside, plus blue sea and white, sandy shores.
Gozo, Malta
Remember when Khal Drogo and Daenerys wed in season one of Game of Thrones? That was filmed in the Azure Window in the island of Gozo which is part of Malta. The Azure window was a natural arch in the sea cliffs just on the western side of Gozo – but it sadly collapsed in March 2017 (pictured before). It’s now a popular spot with divers who like to inspect the crumbled remains of the window in the turquoise, clear waters. Gozo itself is a popular tourist destination with plenty of sandy beaches, temples and scuba diving spots.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
The renowned city of Dubrovnik in Southern Croatia is popularly known as the filming location for the largest city and capital of the Game of Thrones’ The Seven Kingdoms. Walk the historic city walls and take in the scenic views of the Adriatic Sea whilst imagining you are a member of House Lannister.
Kefalonia, Greece
Kefalonia is the largest island in the Ionian Sea just west of mainland Greece. It was the main setting for the 2001 film Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – starring Nicolas Cage and Penelope Cruz. Famous for its dry rugged landscapes, blue seas and sandy coves, Kefalonia is a romantic destination with plenty of beauty spots and breath-taking beaches.
Ko Phi Phi Leh, Thailand
Famous for being the setting for the 2000 film The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Koh Phi Phi Le is an island of the Phi Phi Archipelago in the Krabi Province of Thailand. There are no places to stay on the island overnight, but tourists can visit for day trips.
The site of the beach, famously known as Maya Bay, is shut to allow it to recover from tourist damage until September 30th 2018, but tourist boats can still cruise past it for a look and head to other beautiful spots like Pileh Lagoon.
Waikato, New Zealand
You’ll find the intriguing set of Hobbiton in Lord of the Rings, 10km southwest of Matamata in Waikato, New Zealand. The site is a family run farm and was scouted by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson himself in 1998. A lot of work went in to transforming the farm into Hobbiton, including building 37 hobbit holes, a 1.5km road and bridges. Guided tours of the set have been popular since 2002 and tourists can enjoy a two-hour excursion around the site.
Ischia, Italy
Ischia is a volcanic island that lies the northern end of the Gulf of Naples. It was one of the main filming locations for the 1999 film The Talented Mr Ripley starring Matt Damon. Ischia Porte is the busy square where Ripley gets off the bus and Bagno Antonio beach is where Ripley first runs into Dickie and Marge. Ischia is popular with tourists for its thermal spas and natural springs.
Bruges, Belgium
The Belgian city of Bruges is known for being the film location of the 2008 British black comedy crime film In Bruges starring Ralph Fiennes, Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell. With its cobbled streets, canals and enchanting medieval buildings, Bruges is the perfect getaway for all things charming, quaint and beautiful.
Petra, Jordan
Famous for being the resting place of the Holy Grail in the 1989 film Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade, Al-Khazneh is one of the most elaborate temples in the Nabatean Kingdom City of Petra (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) in the Arab nation of Jordan on the east bank of the Jordan River. Al-Khazneh is a giant, ornately carved sandstone temple dating back to the first century AD. There are plenty of tours in the ‘Rose city of Petra’ for movie fans.
Atlanta, Georgia
The Walking Dead fans may remember the famous scene where protagonist Rick Grimes rides on horseback along a highway in Atlanta in search of his family, and that’s because a lot of series one was actually filmed in Atlanta city, the capital of the U.S state of Georgia. There are plenty of The Walking Dead tours throughout Atlanta, showing the various locations where the hit show was filmed. The famous highway Rick took into the city was in fact Freedom Park Highway.
