Top 10 Film Locations

Have you ever watched a film or TV programme and thought ‘wow, I wonder where that is?’ Over the years, incredible destinations around the world have been used as the backdrop for famous movies. Here are some fabulous filming locations you can visit on a Just You guided touring holiday.

1. When Harry Met Sally

New York, USA: This late-eighties rom-com follows the story of two friends, Harry and Sally, who very slowly discover they are in love. Set against the backdrop of New York, the film was shot in locations right across the city. Book a table at The Loeb Boathouse in Central Park and you’ll be dining in the very spot where Sally met two of her friends. From here you can walk to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where the Egyptian monument, the Temple of Dendur was also used as a filming location. Die-hard fans of the movie will probably want to head to Katz’s Delicatessen in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, where Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal sat to shoot the movie’s famous ‘I’ll have what she’s having’ scene.

2. The Sound of Music

Salzburg, Austria: More than 50 years on, thousands of visitors flock to Salzburg every year to see the sights and scenery which formed the backdrop to their favourite film. Following in the footsteps of Maria Von Trapp herself, you can head to Nonnberg Convent, where the real-life Maria Von Trapp lived as a novice nun. You can also admire views of Schloss Leopoldskron, the spectacular building used as the lakeside façade of the Von Trapp home and stroll through the glorious Mirabell Gardens. Here Maria and the children sang ‘Do Re Mi’ as they danced around the Pegasus fountain.

3. The Godfather

Sicily: The ultimate gangster movie, The Godfather tells the story of a New York Mafia family and its patriarch Don Vito Corleone. During the film, Corleone’s son, Michael, flees to Sicily and some scenes were shot in the beautiful village of Savoca. Bar Vitelli, a rustic café at the village entrance, appeared in the film and you can still head there today to enjoy a refreshing granita.

4. Game of Thrones

Dubrovnik, Croatia: More epic TV series than movie, no-one can escape the popularity of Game of Thrones. Filmed in various locations across Europe, fans of the series can head to Dubrovnik in Croatia, the real-life home of the fictional city of King’s Landing. Explore Dubrovnik and look out for the filming locations as you discover the city’s highlights.

5. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Northumberland, England: The dramatic countryside of Northumberland provided the location for two of the Harry Potter films. Alnwick Castle was transformed in Hogwarts School and the grounds were where the boy wizard took his first flight. Explore this beautiful part of the world on foot (rather than broomstick!) as you walk the coastline and across the causeway to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, which is also one of the locations for the next Indiana Jones film!

6. No Time To Die

Puglia, Italy: In Daniel Craig’s last outing as James Bond, the fascinating city of Matera is the backdrop for one of the franchise’s most dramatic chase sequences. It’s easy to understand why, as Matera is well-known for its Sassi dwellings carved into the hillside, offering lots of small winding roads and doorways to disappear through at each turn. You can visit this UNESCO-listed town, considered to be among the earliest human settlements and while many of these unique houses remain uninhabitable today, much work has been done to regenerate the town to become one of the most picturesque destinations in the area.

7. Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker

Wadi Rum, Jordan: Jordan is a beautiful Middle Eastern land with a rich heritage. Amman hosts a grand Roman amphitheatre and magnificent citadel and nearby the Dead Sea, where a high salt content means you to float weightlessly in the water, is not to be missed. Petra has been a location for many films over the years but it is Wadi Rum that was chosen for the 2019 Star Wars film. It is a vast desert whose rocky landscape has been carved by the forces of nature. With sand dunes and sandstone rock formations of all shapes, sizes and colours, this magical landscape is sure to leave a lasting impression and you can stay in the heart of Wadi Rum in your own Bedouin-style tent!

8. Dances With Wolves

South Dakota, USA: South Dakota is an expansive, sparsely populated midwestern U.S. state and natural beauty and wonder await you. Referred to as “the land of infinite variety” it is home to Mount Rushmore National Memorial and is just one of the stopping points on our epic 17-day National Parks tour. The state, specifically Rapid City and Badlands National Park, provided the location for the Academy Award-winning film, Dances With Wolves. Starring, directed and produced by Kevin Costner, the 1990 film tells the story of a Union Army Lieutenant who travels to the American frontier.

9. Moonraker

Iguacu Falls, Argentina and Brazil: There are few locations across the world where Ian Fleming’s super spy hasn’t travelled to and so it’s only fair that 007 should have a second entry on our list. In Moonraker, Roger Moore’s Bond is chased along the Iguacu River by iconic villain Jaws and we see the incredible Iguacu Falls in the background. Forming the border between Argentina and Brazil, experience the magnificent falls from both countries with our South American adventure. The Devil’s Throat is possibly the most iconic of all the falls as water thunders over the edge, but the whole of the park offers travellers one wow moment after another.

10. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Jaipur, India: Affectionately known as the “pink city” because all of the buildings are painted in a distinctive shade of pink, Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan and one of the locations for the 2011 comedy-drama film, which follows a group of British pensioners who move to a retirement hotel in India. Jaipur is steeped in ancient history and the City Palace and surroundings featured in the film. The incredible Amber Fort is close to Jaipur and is a must-see when visiting this beautiful part of India.