Movie Locations Around the World You Can Actually Visit

Movies often make real places unforgettable. One minute, it is a castle; the next it is Hogwarts. An empty street is the setting for some love story everyone remembers. A bare patch of desert turns into "oh there's the scene in the movie." Here's the thing: some of these Movie Locations Around the World aren't locked-away film sets; you can actually walk through them.

Hobbiton in New Zealand, Petra in Jordan, Salzburg in Austria they're all visitable, and honestly worth the detour even if you've never seen the film. For film lovers, these spots just add a little something extra to a trip. They don't take away from the destination; if anything, they give you one more reason to book the ticket.

1. Hobbiton Movie Set, New Zealand

Matamata’s lush green hills became the Shire in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. While most filming locations are destroyed after shooting wraps, Hobbiton was preserved and opened as a bona fide tourist attraction. Take a guided tour around the 12-acre Hobbiton set and you can see the Hobbit Holes, the Green Dragon Inn, the Party Tree, and all that beautiful countryside laid out before you.

What To See

• Hobbit Holes
• Green Dragon Inn
• Party Tree
• Stone bridge and mill
• Alexander family farm

Pro Tip: Book the guided tour ahead of time; you can't just wander in on your own; it's all organised.

2. Alnwick Castle, England

This one played Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets. Remember Harry's first broomstick lesson? That courtyard is real, and you can stand right there.

Highlights

• Hogwarts filming areas
• Inner and Outer Bailey
• Lion Arch
• Castle gardens

Pro Tip: Don't rush off after the Potter photos; the castle's actual history is worth your time too.

3. Petra, Jordan

Petra is one of Jordan's most famous attractions and also appeared in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The Treasury features in the film's final sequence. The movie connection is only one part of the experience. Visitors can explore the Siq, ancient tombs, the Monastery and other Nabataean remains.

Don't Miss

• The Siq
• Treasury
• Monastery
• Rock-cut tombs
• Petra Archaeological Museum

Pro Tip: Get there early. There's a lot of walking, especially if you're pushing on to the Monastery; the heat catches up fast.

4. Salzburg, Austria

At this point, Salzburg and The Sound of Music are basically inseparable. Also used in the film were several real-life locations, including Mirabell Gardens, Nonnberg Abbey, Leopoldskron Palace and Hellbrunn Palace. Since these places are in the city and not stuck on some movie set, you might as well see them on a regular sightseeing.

Places To Explore

• Mirabell Gardens
• Nonnberg Abbey
• Leopoldskron Palace
• Residenzplatz
• Hellbrunn Palace

Pro Tip: A proper Sound of Music tour saves you a ton of time if you want to visit several spots in one day.

This is easily one of the best Famous Movie Filming Locations for anyone who wants their cinema fix mixed in with actual history and local wandering.

5. Glenfinnan Viaduct, Scotland

Any Harry Potter fan will recognise this instantly, because it appears in scenes featuring the Hogwarts Express. The surrounding Scottish Highlands were also used in the films. Visitors can walk to viewpoints overlooking the viaduct and explore the surrounding Glenfinnan area. 

Things To Do

• Walk to the viaduct viewpoint
• Visit Glenfinnan Monument
• Explore Loch Shiel
• Travel through the Highlands
• Take the Jacobite Steam Train when operating

Pro Tip: Check the train schedule before you plan your whole day around catching the "Hogwarts Express"; it doesn't run every day.

6. Monument Valley, USA

The red-rock formations have been in more films than anyone can probably count, but for a lot of people that place on the side of the road means Forrest Gump. You can tour Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park by car, guided tours, hiking, visiting the trails, whatever pace you like.

What To See

• Forrest Gump Point
• Monument Valley Scenic Drive
• The Mittens
• John Ford Point
• Wildcat Trail

Pro Tip: Forrest Gump Point sits right beside a busy road; be careful, and please don't stand in the middle of the road for the photo. People do this and it's genuinely dangerous.

7. Notting Hill, London

Notting Hill blew up after the movie of the same name came out, and pieces of it are still recognisable: the blue door, Portobello Road, St Luke's Mews. But honestly the neighbourhood is worth it for the colourful houses, little cafés, independent shops and weekend market.

Explore Around Notting Hill

• Portobello Road
• Notting Hill Bookshop area
• St Luke's Mews
• Colourful residential streets
• Portobello Market

Pro Tip: A lot of these streets are residential; people actually live there, so keep the photography respectful.

An International trip package can easily include Notting Hill along with the city's major attractions. 

Why Visit Movie Locations?

Sometimes the movie scene itself isn't even the best part. It's everything around it that gets you. Petra offers thousands of years of history beyond its Indiana Jones connection. Salzburg combines film history with Austrian culture, while Glenfinnan offers beautiful Highland scenery beyond Harry Potter. That's what makes Movie Locations to Visit fun: they add flavour without turning your whole holiday into one long movie tour.

Conclusion

Film locations just give you another excuse to explore places you might already love. A castle, a street, a railway bridge, an ancient ruin knowing its movie connection changes how it feels to stand there. Relish that movie moment but do not hurry over the destination. Do it right and these spots become some of the most memorable stops on a much bigger trip. Travel Junky is there to connect these places with a full itinerary of attractions and local activities, and travel arrangements, all based around a real international holiday.