06 October 2023
The Screen Traveller’s Guide: 10 iconic film and TV destinations
Let the world of cinema inspire your next trip with The Screen Traveller’s Guide...
Let the world of cinema inspire your next trip with The Screen Traveller’s Guide...
Armchair travel is all well and good but what about taking it to the next level? Planning travel based on iconic film and TV scenes that you’ve admired on-screen is a sure way to create a unique trip. DK has just published The Screen Traveller’s Guide, a perfect companion for planning a getaway that follows in the footsteps of your favourite characters.
The book was researched and compiled by a team of self-proclaimed movie zealots and travel experts, so it’s jam-packed with fandom favourites and ever-loved classics. A book to browse slowly over time or devour in one go, The Screen Traveller’s Guide is full of detailed location maps, information about studio tours, inspirational road trip routes and insider tips about specific scenes. One thing’s for sure, if these 10 destinations are good enough for Hollywood directors, they’re certainly worthy of being the backdrop for your next holiday.
The ancient sandstone towers and red desert of Monument Valley have long been a staple of Western movies. Director John Ford was a particular fan of the area—he shot nine movies here, many featuring Wild West icon and star of Hollywood’s Golden Age, John Wayne. Though synonymous with cowboy movies, Monument Valley has appeared in many other films including Forrest Gump, Transformers: Age of Extinction and Back to the Future Part III. A hike through the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park will have you admiring glowing red sands and perhaps for a moment imagining your own shoot-out victory.
This undulating city set on a rocky outcrop in Southern Italy is explored by James Bond on a motorbike in No Time to Die. Along with Ravello and Palinuro on the Amalfi Coast, Matera also stood in for the mythical kingdom of Themyscira in Wonder Woman. These early sun-soaked scenes provide a contrast with the dark and desperate landscapes of war-torn Europe into which Diana Prince later journeys. Whether you visit by motorbike, car or even on foot, Matera is a beauty to be admired from several angles.
Wadi Rum, Jordan Credit: Pawel Gluza / 500px, Getty Images
Jordan’s ethereal Wadi Rum has become a favourite location for the final frontier so it’s rather fitting that the area’s other-worldly Arabic name translates to “the Valley of the Moon.” Denis Villeneuve chose the location to play inhospitable desert planet Arrakis in his 2021 adaptation of Dune. Wadi Rum also starred as the planet Pasaana in The Rise of Skywalker and the moon Jedha in Rogue One. Trek through the desert’s wild landscapes along the Bedouin Roads to experience a sense of total escapism for yourself.
Guillermo del Toro’s Gothic fairytale Pan’s Labyrinth opens with a glimpse of the crumbling ruins of Belchite, a village destroyed during the Spanish Civil War and left as a memorial. This historical site was also used as a stand-in for the village of Ixtenco in Mexico in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Trace the footsteps of history, both real and fictitious, by ambling through Belchite’s thought-provoking ruins.
The charming town of Jackson, Georgia stands in for Hawkins, a place continually plagued by the Upside Down in Stranger Things. Several characters' workplaces can be found on Jackson’s 2nd Street, including Joyce Byers’ Melvald’s General Store and Bob Newby’s Radio Shack. Gwinnett Place, an hour or so north of Jackson, was transformed into the dazzling Starcourt Mall where Eleven battled the Mind Flayer in Season 3. Re-enact your favourite scenes by wandering through the streets of this thriving Mississippi capital.
Charles Bridge, Prague Credit: Eloi_Omella, Getty Images
Prague’s iconic Charles Bridge is no stranger to drama. As the plan to stop the rogue agent unravels in the first Mission Impossible film, Ethan Hunt is seen running across it, while later in the film a car is blown up beneath it. The bridge is also where MJ discovers Peter’s real identity in Spider Man: Far From Home. Strolling across Charles Bridge will bring a cinematic element to your trip, from both imagining the movie scenes and admiring the views over Prague.
Jamaica’s Ocho Rios is the site of one of the most famous beach scenes in cinematic history - diver Honey Ryder emerges from the sea at Laughing Waters Beach, dispatching James Bond on decades of adventures. The island’s Green Grotto Caves also played Dr Kanaga’s (aka Mr Big) underground lair in Live and Let Die. Whether you fancy yourself as a modern villain or a rebellious MI6 agent, the beaches in Ocho Rios are blockbusters in their own right.
This ancient city famously stood in for King’s Landing in Game of Thrones. Travellers love admiring the route of Cersei Lannister’s memorable walk of shame on the Jesuit Stairs in season 5. Dubrovnik also makes an appearance as Canto Bight, a gambling city on the planet of Cantonica in The Last Jedi. Fantasy and sci-fi meet reality in Dubrovnik’s cobblestoned streets.
Svínafellsjökull Glacier, Iceland Credit: Abstract Aerial Art, Getty Images
Iceland’s rugged and bountiful landscapes have become much-loved stand-ins for other worlds. The Svínafellsjökull Glacier has doubled as Dr Mann’s ice planet in Interstellar and as the frozen lands of the north in Game of Thrones. Ridley Scott showcased the country’s spectacular scenery in Prometheus, including the gushing Dettifoss Waterfall and the other-worldly Hekla Volcano. Admire these lands for yourself on a visit to soak up Iceland’s natural beauty.
Nestled between the soaring peaks of the Southern Alps, Paradise is most famous for its various roles in The Lord of the Rings, having featured in both The Fellowship of the Ring and The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug. Beyond Middle Earth, Paradise and its surrounds have featured in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and TV drama Top of the Lake. With a name like Paradise, it’s hard to find an excuse not to plan a trip to marvel at these landscapes.
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