On Set! Beloved Film Locations You Can Actually Visit

Immerse yourself in your favorite movies!

Visit these film set locations where they really filmed hit movies and tv shows. 

Platform 9 ¾

The Platform 9 and 3/4 sign at Kings Cross station in London.
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Pretend you are a witch en route to your magical classroom via the Hogwarts Express! Kings Cross in London installed the platform as fans flocked to the station to recreate their favorite scenes.

The Clock Tower

The Clock Tower from Back to the Future at Universal Studios.
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Save the clock tower with a visit to Universal Studios Hollywood! The iconic tower is on the studio’s backlot, only open to the general public during Halloween Horror Nights.

Hobbiton

A hobbit hole in Hobbiton New Zealand.
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The idyllic village where hobbits make their home may have been built for the movies, but it lives on as a tourist attraction in New Zealand. Tour the Shire and enjoy a meal fit for a hobbit with the various tours this stunning site offers.

Beyond the Wall

Aerial view of Dubrovnik in Croatia.
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The majestic scenery from Game of Thrones leaves viewers awestruck, but many are real places. Visit the glaciers beyond the wall in Iceland or Winterfell in Northern Ireland, then head to Croatia to explore King’s Landing. 

Canyon of the Crescent Moon

View of the temple at petra from the ground shooting upwards.
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The holy grail rests inside the Canyon of the Crescent Moon, but the real-life location is even more spectacular than the Indiana Jones version.

Visit Petra, the temple in Jordan where the iconic ending to Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was filmed.

Escape from Alcatraz

Misty view of Alcatraz Island.
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Alcatraz was a real prison, and the ruins still sit just off the coast of San Francisco. Modern tourists don’t need to plan a daring escape; they can simply take the ferry.

Get in Shape with Rocky

Philadelphia museum of art including the rocky stairs

Nothing gets your blood pumping more than watching Rocky Balboa ascend the massive flight of stairs to the hearth-thumping “Eye of the Tiger.”

Relive the epic scene by heading to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Plenty of tourists have radios blasting the iconic rock ballad so you can embrace your inner Rocky. Check out the statue and the impressive works inside the museum while there!

Sunnydale High

Torrance High School front, Torrance, CA.
Photo Credit: Partners in Fire.

An unassuming high school in Torrance transformed into various schools from beloved shows and movies. Although it hosted popular nineties movies like She’s All That and Not Another Teen Movie, television lovers will recognize it as home to two of the most popular nineties shows.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Beverly Hills 90210 both called Torrance High home. Visit when school is out to trace the steps of your favorite high school friend groups.

Welcome to Jurassic Park

Aerial view of Manawaiopuna Falls in Hawaii.
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Though the dinosaurs were fake, the waterfall was real. Some of Jurassic Park’s most iconic scenes were filmed at the Manawaiopuna Falls in Hanapepe Valley, on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai.

Notting Hill

Row of pastel houses in Notting Hill.
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A favorite romcom features a famous American actress who falls in love with a quiet English bookstore owner in the charming village of Notting Hill.

Although the bookstore in the film is fictional, it’s based on a travel bookshop that’s still open today, and there are numerous other filming locations you can see in the small town.

Planet of the Apes

Rocky shores of Point Dume Malibu Ca.
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The rockey coast where our heroes discover the ruined remains of the Statue of Liberty really exists at Point Dume, Malibu.

Haunted Hotel

The exterior of the Stanley Hotel in Estes Colorado.
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Two hotels feature in Stephen King’s horror classic The Shining. Though the Stanley Hotel in Colorado inspired the macabre story, the Timberline Lodge in Oregon became the “Overlook Hotel” featured in the film. 

Real Life Haunted Hotels You Can Actually Visit

three images of the Emily Morgan Hotel exterior in a row
photo Credit: B.gill from Partners in Fire Stylized via Canva

They may not be movie famous, but these haunted hotels are renowed for their otherworldly guests.  Stay at one of these real life haunted hotels for your chance to glimpse a ghost. 

The Sound of Salzburg

Aerial view of Salburg with a hill in the background.
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The hills are truly alive in Salzburg. Visitors may be unable to keep themselves from bursting into song as Maria did when they behold the breathtaking views.

Bustin Makes Me Feel Good

A firetruck backing into the garage of New York's Hook & Ladder 8. A Ghostbusters Logo is above the entrance.
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Many iconic spots feature on a Ghostbusters walking tour of New York City. Visitors can whisper through the public library featured in the opening scene or view the skyscraper where the gang bested Zuul in the film’s climax.

The best location is the old firehouse they purchased as a headquarters. The Hook and Ladders is still a functioning firehouse, but they love their association with Ghostbusters and have the logo painted on the sidewalk out front.

The Fairy Tale Castle

Castle Neuschwanstein with a dark stormy sunset in the background.
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The iconic Disneyland fairytale castle is based on a real-life castle. Castle Neuschwanstein in Bavaria, Germany, inspired the Cinderella castle we know and love today.

Tatooine

Caves in Sidi Driss, Tunisia where Star Wars was filmed.
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Luke’s home on Tatooine is a real place. Head to the Hotel Sidi Driss in Tunisia to immerse yourself in Star Wars culture.

After becoming the on-set location for the late 1970s film, the hotel embraced its claim to fame, keeping many Star Wars decorations installed for tourists to enjoy.

Hollywood Not Ideal for Film Locations, But You Should Visit California Anyway

picture of palm trees pointing toward the sky
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California is a massive state with a huge variety of cities, ecosystems, and things to do. Find out the best the Golden State has to offer and start planning your visit!

Check out the 41 Best Things To Do in California