Real World Fantasies
If you've ever wished you could step into the fantasy worlds from your favorite films, you're in luck. Whether it be the cozy hobbit homes of the shire or the desolate desserts of Mad Max. Here are 20 iconic movie locations that exist in real life and are waiting for your visit.
Photo by Donovan Kelly on Pexels
1. Indiana Jones
Indiana Jones is a series of movies that follows Harrison Ford from one temple-twisting adventure to the next. However, you can visit the temple in 1989’s Last Crusade in real life, as the scenes were shot in Petra, Jordan.
2. Game of Thrones
While Game of Thrones has various settings that take place all over the world, most fans will begin to recognize the landscapes of Northern Ireland and Iceland. These deep green fields were the setting of Season 1, and the cast returned to the United Kingdom’s Cornwall for House of the Dragon.
3. Hogwarts
For fans of Harry Potter, you’ll be thrilled to know that Hogwarts is a place you can easily visit in real life. Most of the scenes were filmed at Oxford University, where you can easily find the Bodley Tower Staircase and Duke Humfrey’s Library.
4. Tatooine
The planet of Tatooine may look like something out of this world, but it’s actually quite accessible and has even been turned into a hotel. Located in Tunisia, the Hotel Sidi Driss will teleport you straight to the set of Star Wars.
5. Gladiator
Not only is the town of Ait Ben Haddou in Morocco the setting of numerous scenes in Gladiator, but this red desert is also home to shots from The Mummy, Prince of Persia, and Game of Thrones, making it quite a destination.
6. The Shire
Most fans know that The Lord of the Rings was shot throughout New Zealand, where the expansive and varied landscapes made ideal settings for Mordor and Rivendell alike. Additionally, you can find a real-life Shire with hobbit houses and all in Matamata.
7. Fury Road
Most people think Mad Max is set in Australia, and while that’s true from a story perspective, in reality, the movie was filmed in the Namib Desert in Namibia. This expansive red desert was the perfect setting for an apocalyptic wasteland.
8. Isla Nublar
Throughout the Jurassic Park movies, the scientists find themselves trapped in the lush and wild jungles of Isla Nublar. Turns out the island is a real place—minus the dinosaurs. You can explore its lush coasts and blue waters in Hawaii, specifically at Kauai.
9. Grand Budapest Hotel
Most people probably know The Grand Budapest Hotel is a real and easily accessible place. With gorgeous medieval inspirations and a gothic motif throughout, this hotel in Germany is also home to scenes from a quintessential Quentin Tarantino film.
10. Tomb Raider
Lara Croft is known to tumble her way through some of the most exotic and beautiful ancient temples around. Many of these temples exist in real life, one of the most impressive being Ta Prohm in Cambodia.
11. Avatar
The wild alien jungles of Pandora captured the imagination of people across the world when Avatar was released. When CGI wasn’t in use, the cast found themselves doing most of their filming in the lush nature preserves of Kauai’s Keahua Arboretum in Hawaii.
12. Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is known for its numerous musical numbers and beautiful frolic-ready fields. These fields, alongside the snow-capped mountain ranges and quaint Germanic towns, are readily accessible in the town of Salzburg.
13. Bella Swan’s House
The mysterious and beautifully forested town of Forks has lured many readers to Twilight. Not only was the 2008 film set in the scenic state of Oregon, but Bella Swan’s actual house is an Airbnb hotel you can stay at.
14. Lost’s Beach
In the early 2000s, many people were tuning in weekly to catch up on the latest Lost happenings. This show was filled with mystery and intrigue, and the iconic beach where the crash landing occurs is actually Mokule’ia Beach in Oahu, Hawaii.
15. Platform 9 and 3 Quarters
If you’re trying to catch a train to Hogwarts, you’ll find yourself having pretty good luck at King’s Cross Station in London. This was the setting of the actual Platform 9 ¾ and offers all the historical authenticity you’ll want.
16. Walter White’s House
For fans of Breaking Bad, visiting Albuquerque is a must. But if you want to make your experience even more accurate, you can actually visit Walter White’s house, which is at 3828 Piermont Drive.
17. Mamma Mia
Here we go again! If you ever want to lose yourself to a romantic escapade or an impromptu wedding, then the coast of Skopelos, Greece, is the place for you. Most of the outdoor scenes in the film were set on these white sandy beaches.
18. La La Land
Many of the iconic locations in La La Land, such as the Lighthouse Café, are real places you can visit in Los Angeles. A drive through California’s most illustrious city will easily transport you into this romantic film.
19. Carrie Bradshaw’s Apartment
Many avid watchers fell in love with New York City through Sex and the City. In reality, Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment is located between West 4th and Bleecker, and you can visit it today.
20. Joker’s Staircase
While the second film didn’t receive as much praise as the first, you can still film a Joker staircase dance of your own at West 167th Street in the Bronx. Just be careful not to slip as you stylishly stomp your way down this iconic set.
