Every traveler knows that some destinations are just extra special. Whether it’s the architecture, the history, or the overall beauty, there are some sites that deserve screen time just to show off. Movie directors are aware that their carefully-chosen sets help tell a story, which is why they scour the globe for the perfect setting for their films. The result is, of course, travelers flocking to these destinations to recapture the magic of their favorite scenes. We’ve put together a list of some jaw-dropping destinations you’re sure to recognize from popular movies.
Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, Iceland
This wintry lake on Iceland’s picturesque south coast typically has icebergs bobbing around on its surface. They calve off the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier and eventually drift out to sea where they are washed back up on the nearby black sand beach. Because of the salt content of its water, even in winter, Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon doesn’t freeze. So when a scene in the 2002 Bond movie Die Another Day called for a car chase over the ice, it was necessary to block off the outlet to allow ice to form. This wasn’t the only time 007 had been here. The lagoon – in its unfrozen state – also featured in the title sequences of A View to a Kill, released in 1985. Scenes from Lara Croft: Tomb Raider starring Angelina Jolie were also shot here, with Jökulsárlón doubling as Siberia.The video player is currently playing an ad.00:037 U.S. Beach Towns You Need to Visit – The DiscovererSkip Ad
Borough Market, London
Borough Market is a popular choice with location scouts looking to create authentic London scenes. The UK capital’s lawbreakers seem to prefer it: this was the grotty hangout for the crooks in Guy Ritchie’s stylized gangster flick Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and also a haunt of Cruella de Vil’s henchmen. Incidentally, the Leaky Cauldron, featured in the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, was on the same road, though film trivia buffs will be at pains to tell you it was on the north side of the river in Leadenhall Market in the first movie. Bridget Jones lived just around the corner above The Globe pub. Remember that scene with the blue soup? It really wouldn’t have mattered; there are plenty of great eateries in the market so it would have been easy for her to grab some takeout for her dinner guests instead.
Helsetkopen, Norway
Just when you thought Tom Cruise’s stunts couldn’t get any more insane, they go and release Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning. In this action-packed movie, Cruise rides a motorcycle off a mountainside, base-jumping onto a moving train in the valley below. What makes this all the more special is that in this CGI age, the highly dangerous stunt was all real. The audacious sequence required rigorous training, with Cruise clocking up 13,000 practice motocross jumps and 500 skydives to prepare for the day of filming. No one in their right mind would copy him, but if you want to take a look at the same view of the Sunnmøre Alps, you’ll need to hike up Helsetkopen, the 4088 foot tall mountain in Norway where the stunt took place.
Skopelos, Greece
Friday night and the lights are low…if you can complete the next verse, you’ll probably want to visit the Greek island of Skopelos. Making ABBA songs shine, Mamma Mia! is not only a fun-filled spectacle, but an invitation to a beautiful island that will make you want to immediately pack your bags. The local beach is idyllic and the backdrop of quiet villages will make you feel like you should be singing some happy tunes yourself. There is an abundance of greenery, white sand and crystal clear water to make you want to live your life just like Meryl Streep.
Giverny, France
Woody Allen seems to make characters out of the cities he chooses for his movies. This is the case in Manhattan, Vicky Cristina Barcelona and To Rome with Love. But no film is more successful at displaying its setting than Midnight in Paris. Throughout the movie, the camera flirts with every corner of the City of Lights. Of course, there are many sites which will make your jaw drop, but the opening scene in Giverny definitely stands out.
This small village just outside of Paris is the former home of the Impressionist painter Claude Monet. Visitors can still visit his restored house and immaculate garden which inspired so many of his works. Monet’s love for waterlilies and Japanese landscaping will have you taking pictures every few steps. Try to visit on a sunny day to take in all of the colors.
Gapstow Bridge, New York
No list about movie destinations would be complete without at least one reference to New York City. Gapstow Bridge in Central Park is featured in films ranging from The Devil Wears Prada to the second Home Alone. Perhaps what makes this bridge so enthralling is its position within Central Park. If you stand in the middle, you will get one of the best views of the New York City skyline. Plus, the Big Apple has four very defined seasons, so you can catch the bridge covered in fall foliage or winter snow. No matter when you visit, this bridge has a unique charm that, for a second, you’ll forget that you’re in the middle of a concrete jungle.
Petra, Jordan
Although Petra has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985, it wasn’t until the release of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade that this archaeological complex became recognized around the world. The movie hit theaters in 1989 and since then, Petra’s columns, temples and carvings have impressed an ever-growing number of travelers. Called the “Rose City” because of its pink sandstone, Petra is half-built and half-carved into rocks. It is approximately 2,000 years old and a prime example of Hellenistic architecture. One of the buildings, The Treasury, is an especially famous structure. It was carved into the sandstone by the ancient Nabataean civilization in the second century CE.
