There are so many iconic locations in movies and the best part is that not all of them are shot behind a 4 walled studio in Hollywood, like the dreamy sights of “Middle-earth” from Lord of the Rings that was shot in New Zealand.
In this blog, we’re gonna explore some of the best movie shot locations that you should definitely add to your bucket list and visit if you’re a die-hard movie fan!
New York City, USA
This one might be a tad bit obvious but most of the iconic movies and series are shot in the Big Apple. If you’re a fan of the 2007 hit series “Gossip Girl” most of the scenes are shot in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where Blair and her minions would indulge in a light breakfast.
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Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, and The Empire Hotel — which now sells “Gossip Girl”-inspired drinks — were used as backdrops.
Bali, Indonesia
Eat, Pray, Love – a movie depicting the story of Elizabeth Gilbert (starring Julia Roberts) after her messy divorce and how she embarks on a journey to find and rediscover herself. This included everything from meeting up with a real-life spiritual man (the late) Ketut Liyer in his Pengosekan village home to riding a bicycle through rice fields north of Ubud in a tropical dress and straw hat.
There are also several scenes of swimming in the clear waves of Padang Padang Beach.
If you want to explore Bali with a local and visit all the cool spots, check out TripLeader Angel’s trip to Bali.
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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
When you think of Rio, you probably think of never-ending parties, beaches, and, of course, the Rio Carnival.
Picturesque Rio was chosen as the setting for films like Fast Five (2011), in which Vin Diesel and Paul Walker flee America to avoid being imprisoned. Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) spend their honeymoon at a beautiful vacation property in Rio, as part of The Twilight Saga’s Breaking Dawn.
There are so many spots to hit up in Brazil, check out a bunch of awesome trips by our TripLeaders to Brazil.
Oxford, UK
When you visit Christ Church College in Oxford, you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the world of witchcraft and wizardry because of the 16th-century design displayed in the staircase, halls, and dining hall. The school and cathedral were used in the Harry Potter books. Christ Church College and Durham Cathedral’s architectural characteristics were also used as inspiration for various filming locations in England for the movie.
Mount Hood, Oregon, USA
If you’re a fan of horror movies then The Shining must sound familiar to you. This movie was shot in the Timberline Lodge in the USA although the real inspiration behind the Overlook Hotel is The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park.
We definitely recommend the Timberline Lodge, if you are considering going on a ski vacation.
The lodge is roughly 45 minutes east of Portland and was built during the Great Depression. For outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and skiing, Mount Hood is a fantastic year-round getaway. You’ll also want to want to travel to Hertfordshire, England, where the majority of the interior sequences were filmed in the studio.
Matamata, New Zealand
You don’t have to be a film critic to appreciate the Lord of the Rings movies’ stunning natural scenery. The place is known as “Middle Earth” in the movies, although it is actually Matamata, a small hamlet in New Zealand. You may see the mystery beauty for yourself by visiting the Waikato Region on the North Island.
Expect to see lovely homes, floral fields, and, if you’re lucky, maybe even a hobbit or two. Make sure to check out the rest of New Zealand’s finest Lord of the Rings film locations.
Guatemala
Although the Star Wars movies have a whole different vibe to them, you may see some of the places where the epic series was filmed. The Tikal National Park in Guatemala is one of the most gorgeous places on the planet, and it should be on any Star Wars fan’s bucket list.
The Mayan temple ruins that functioned as the Massassi Outpost on Yavin’s fourth moon can be seen here. This is one of the largest Mayan civilization sites in South America that has been unearthed. It has been a national park since 1955 has become a World Heritage Site in 1979, spanning 576 square kilometers of rainforest habitat.
Now that you have an idea of where to go, why not create your own trip and find your new movie lover best friend within our community of over 150,000 travelers or find a trip to join in so you can sit back and relax while the TripLeader takes the lead.
If you’re not sure how to plan your own trip book a free trip consultation with us and it’s completely free!