16 Famous Film Locations to Inspire You to Travel

We have selected 16 films, featuring incredible sights and scenery, which may motivate you to explore the world and create your own adventure better than any Hollywood film. Check out our selection of famous film locations below, which feature incredible travel destinations and may inspire your next holiday. 

1. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade - Petra, Jordan

In the final scenes of this classic Hollywood blockbuster sees Indiana discovering a secret temple where the Holy Grail is located. The iconic building used in the Last Crusade is the Treasury in the rock city of Petra. Enjoy an adventure in the Middle East on our Jordan holidays.

2. The Godfather - Sicily, Italy

After assassinating his father's enemy, Michael Corleone has to leave America and escapes to Sicily. Whilst in hiding Michael falls in love and gets married. You too will fall in love with Sicily, with its charming seaside towns and villages located along the coastline and Mount Etna which dominates the skyline of Catania. We'll make you an offer you can't refuse - take a holiday to Sicily.

3. The Third Man - Vienna, Austria

A classic film noir set in Post World War II Vienna, starring Orson Welles. One of its famous scenes, the Cuckoo Clock speech, takes place on the city's iconic ferris wheel in Wurstelprater amusement park. Take a city break to Vienna and discover this historical capital. 

4. The Spy Who Loved Me - Cairo, Egypt

Arguably Roger Moore's best outing as Bond, The Spy Who Loved Me takes place in Cairo and sees 007 fight one of the film franchise's most famous villains - Jaws. From exploring the Pyramids of Giza to relaxing in Hurghada, there are so many incredible places to visit in Egypt. Book a spot on our Egypt holidays - Nobody does it better than the Travel Department!

5. Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones - Lake Como, Italy

On our Lake Como holidays, you can visit the filming location for Anakin Skywalker and Padme's wedding, which took place in Villa Balbianello in Lake Como. Built by Cardinal Durini at the end of the 18th century; the villa rises on top of a wooded promontory. The garden is a masterpiece, built on terraces, majestic plane trees, magnolias, cypresses, wisteria and azaleas; it’s truly a classical Italianate garden. 

6. The Lord of the Rings - New Zealand

New Zealand's stunning landscapes were the perfect setting for Middle Earth. It's no surprise why Peter Jackson, director of the LOTR trilogy, shot the entire film in his homeland. You can enjoy a holiday in this beautiful country as part of our Highlights of Australia & New Zealand tour.

7. The Sound of Music - Salzburg, Austria

The setting for this famous musical, surrounded by incredible Alpine scenery, Salzburg is truly a fairy-tale city with its beautifully preserved architecture, manicured parks and green areas. Follow in the footsteps of the Von Trapp family, where you can take a Sound of Music tour, and discover this beautiful city on our Austria holidays. 

8. Home Alone 2 - New York, USA

New York has been the backdrop to many films, like Ghostbusters, Saturday Night Fever, Wall Street and Taxi Driver. In this classic Christmas film, 10 year old Kevin McCallister is separated from his family and accidentally ends up in the Big Apple! However he makes the most of it by going on his own city tour of New York and seeing top sights like Queensboro Bridge, the Statue of Liberty and Central Park. Visit the city that never sleeps on our USA holidays and discover some New York filming locations. 

9. From Russia With Love - Istanbul, Turkey

007 does love to travel, so we had to create a separate blog post on iconic James Bond film locations and detail all the wonderful places our favourite spy has visited! In From Russia with Love, we see Bond travel to the enchanting and exotic city of Istanbul, which you can also do on our Turkey holidays; where we’ll visit the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar and much more. 

10. Lara Croft - Tomb Raider - Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Ta Prohm has been dubbed as the Tomb Raider temple. Since the release of Lara Croft in 2001, tourism to Cambodia has greatly increased and the temples of Angkor Wat continue to enchant tourists. Discover this incredible UNESCO site and much more on our Cambodia holidays. 

11. In Bruges - Bruges, Belgium

Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson play two Irish hitmen who are laying low in Bruges after a botched job. They explore this beautiful city and see highlights like Minnewater, Breidel Street, Market Square and the Belfry. On our Bruges City Break, our local guide will tell you all about its history and show you the top sights.

12. Our Man in Havana - Cuba

A British spy comedy filmed on location in Havana starring Alec Guinness and Maureen O'Hara. The film was shot just two months after the overthrow of the Fulgencio Batista regime. Fidel Castro even met the cast and crew! Today, you can travel by vintage car through the streets of Old Havana. Enjoy our Cuba holidays; the Caribbean destination that has it all.

13. The Dark Knight Rises - Jodhpur, India

One of the many highlights of our holidays to India, is a guided tour of Jodhpur, the home of the Rathore rulers of the princely state of Rajasthan. Here you will visit Mehrangarh Fort, an imposing structure sitting on a hill, where Batman was held captive in The Dark Knight Rises.

14. Rocky - Philadelphia, USA

Possibly one of Hollywood's most iconic scenes is Rocky running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in preparation for his boxing match against Apollo Creed. There is even a statue commemorating Rocky! Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s largest city, the centre of US history and a World Heritage City by UNESCO is worth exploring. Discover Philadelphia on our East Coast USA by Rail tour.

15. Inception - Nijo Castle, Japan

Technically, the Japanese castle featured in the film was based on Nijo Castle and was recreated in a studio elsewhere. One of the highlights of our Japan holidays is a guided tour of Nijo Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kyoto. It was built in 1603 and served as a residence for Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period.

16. Rebel Without A Cause - Los Angeles, USA

Starring Natalie Wood and James Dean, a cultural icon of teenage rebellion, this was one of the first films to accurately depict teen angst in the 1950s. The Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles was used in key scenes and you can still visit today, where it offers incredible views of the city. Discover L.A. as part of our Route 66 tour, a quintessential American road trip. 

We hope our selection of famous film locations has inspired you to travel and see more of the world. Discover all our holiday destinations, where we plan itineraries, flights, accommodation, transfers and guided excursions.