Visiting film and book locations is one of my favourite activities when we’re travelling. Over the years I’ve dragged Pork Belly along to the real Green Knowe House, the whole Holy Blood and the Holy Grail book trail in Languedoc in France and of course a fair few Harry Potter sites.
Amazing as they are, we’re not including places where you have to trek for days, para-glide in, walk miles through the desert or hire a private yacht to reach. These are 10 worldwide film locations that are easily found, where you can stand and relive iconic scenes from your favourite films.
This is a companion piece to our post about UK film locations you can actually visit.
National Treasure – Philadelphia
We spent several happy hours tracking down all the locations in this fun, family film. If you haven’t seen it, the plot revolves around the supposed secrets of America’s founding fathers and involves Nic Cage leaping agilely over the city’s many monuments and historic buildings.
But keep your eyes peeled for other, less obvious spots. In 2011, we discovered 2nd street where Cage’s character was arrested (wrongly, of course!) and decided to eat in Café Nola (now Bloomsday) just because it was an important backdrop.
Rocky – also Philadelphia
C’mon, who can resist humming the Rocky theme while running up the steps of the Museum of Art?
Rocky did a lot of his training in the meat markets of the Italian Quarter, although you’d be hard put to recognise it these days.
But you could take in a famous Philly cheese-steak, star of so many TV cop shows, instead.
Getting there
We love Philadelphia and often return to visit family and friends. Flights from the UK can be expensive so going via New York is an option, then take the train, an internal flight or hire a car for the rest of the journey.
Mama Mia – Skopelos, Greece
Most of the outdoor sequences were filmed on location at the small Greek island of Skopelos, specifically Kastani beach on the south-west coast.
By all accounts the cast and crew suffered from pretty chilly weather while they were there, but in high season it’s a warm and wonderful place to visit with loads of sandy beaches.
Getting there
Skopelos doesn’t have an airport – the nearest one is on neighbouring Skiathos – so a ferry ride is required. From some UK cities you can get a direct flight to Skiathos, but most flights go via Athens.
Godfather – Sicily
Most scenes were filmed in New York, but if you head for the village of Savoca you can find Bar Vitelli where Michael asks for Señor Vitelli’s daughter’s hand in marriage.
You’ll also discover the little church where Michael and Apollonia marry and the Piazza Fossia.
Getting there
Plenty of flights from the UK to this popular destination, but prices soar in July and August, as do the temperatures.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – French Riviera
The south of France is a vital character in this wonderfully silly film.
The stunningly beautiful resorts of Antibes, Cannes, Beaulieu-sur-Mer (depicted in the film as “Beaumont-sur-Mer”), Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, Nice, and Villefranche-sur-Mer aree the perfect backdrop for Michael Caine and Steve Martin’s antics.
Sadly, the 2019 remake The Hustle failed to hit the same high notes, perhaps because they filmed it mainly on sets at Pinewood and Shepperton Studios.
Just not the same.
Getting there
From the UK you’re spoilt for choice with flights, high speed train routes or a leisurely drive. We once went to Nice for an evening meal – drove for three days, ate, and drove back again, stopping off in little auberges en-route. Wonderful memories.
The Dark Knight – Hong Kong
This gloomiest of Batman movies was mainly filmed in America, but the vertigo-inspiring chase sequence between Christian Bale’s caped crusader and Heath Ledger as The Joker took place in Hong Kong’s high-rise banking district and through the markets and crowded streets of Hong Kong island.
Getting there
It’s a long haul from the UK. Flight times from London are around 12 hours non-stop, but many airlines include at least one stopover, which lengthens the journey time but does allow the body to catch up a bit with the time zone change.
Once there, accommodation ranges from cheap hostels to five star luxury, depending on your budget. Hong Kong is ever-changing, always growing, and the skyline’s altered beyond recognition since we were last there in the 1980s. The Star Ferry and trams still run, though most people now use the MTR to get around.
Star Trek Beyond – Dubai
If you want to strand the crew of the Enterprise on some futuristic planet, where better than the ultra-modern, almost entirely man-made frontage of Dubai?
A skyline full of sleek and shiny skyscrapers provided a truly alien-looking landscape.
Mission Impossible, Ghost Protocol – also Dubai
Probably the most talked about stunt sequence, with Tom Cruise doing his usual daredevil stuff on Burj Khalifa – one of the world’s tallest buildings.
Getting there
From the UK, it has to be by air. Direct flights take around 10 hours, but many airlines run shorter flights with stopovers in Switzerland or France. Once there, if you’ve got Cruise’s head for heights you can stay in one of the many high-rise hotels, although there are other options for those of us who prefer to live closer to the ground!
In Bruges – yes you’ve guessed it, Bruges
This film is superbly acted but a bit violent for my taste. It certainly showcases the beautiful city out of season.
The centre of Bruges, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is dominated by The Belfry which one of the characters, Ken, insists on climbing for the breathtaking view. The bridges and canals feature prominently, as do several cafés and restaurants.
The Hitman’s Bodyguard – Amsterdam
Much more my type of action film, not just because of its humour but for the amazing car, tram and boat chase sequence which was filmed in and around Amsterdam’s canals.
The scene where Ryan Reynolds sits drinking and complaining while all hell breaks loose in the city behind him is darkly comic.
The most used locations were the Rijksmuseum, Nieuwe Achtergracht, Lijnbaansgracht and Plantage Kerklaan.
Getting there
From the UK most continental cities are a very short hop away – by plane, ferry, train or car via the Eurotunnel
Various – New York
From King Kong via Sleepless in Seattle to Elf, the Empire State Building has appeared in many films. Central Park and Times Square are also popular film locations which have been the backdrop to dozens of hit movies, along with the funfair at Coney Island.
Way too many to name – so over to you. Do you have a favourite New York City silver screen moment?
Getting there
One of the most popular long-haul destinations from the UK, so you have plenty of flight options and hotels range from upmarket chains with vast suites to tiny apartments.
Popeye – Malta
And finally, does anyone remember the 1980 Robin Williams live action version of Popeye?
It was pretty much a turkey but the film set, located in Anchor Bay, just a couple of miles from the village of Mellieha, has gone from strength to strength and is now one of the major tourist attractions on the Maltese Islands. Just goes to show the power of the silver screen.
Getting there
Malta’s a popular tourist destination with bags of choice for family-friendly and couples holidays.
Some images reproduced under public domain or Creative Commons licence
Where to next?
• Dog-friendly holiday cottages UK
• Island Life – Isle of Wight
• Terra Botanica