It’s winter, it’s cold, time to turn winter mode on, unfortunately for us we do not have the luxury that animals have in winter time to; hibernate by sleeping till Spring is back, or to migrate well we can flee to warmer places however if we have day jobs or commitments back home we cannot do it for long; our only way out is to adapt.
And what a better way to adapt other than spending quality time at home, lying on the couch or a lazy boy, getting a warm blanket, warming your hands on a cup of hot chocolate or sa7lab, and munching pop-corn from a big bowl, or freshly baked sweet potatoes <3 <3 -LIFE IS GOOD, & I LOVE FOOD- while watching a “feel good” movie, or a movie that is filmed at scenic locations that take you to beautiful places around the world, enticing you to go see them in real life. So here is a list of movies that have my favorite filming locations, few have been visited, and the rest are yet to be visited.
Let’s start by the Christmassy ones first;
LOVE ACTUALLY – LONDON
Will I will be exaggerating if I told you that Love Actually was the reason I have been daydreaming to spend Christmas time in the lively city of London? I was dying to see those Christmas lights in real time, to feel this Christmas is in the air kind of feeling. And Notting Hill was why I wanted to visit it in summer or spring when the weather is less gloomy?! And after I’ve been in both seasons believe me it was worth it!
London in Christmas courtesy of Filippo Diotalevi
THE HOLIDAY – SHERE IN ENGLAND
As if one needs reasons to go to England really! This movie is absolutely enchanting, and has been filmed between L.A. in the U.S., and different parts of England namely London, Shere, Cornwell, and Godalming. Following the footsteps of the movie I’ve only been to one location; charming Shere, and even had lunch at the English Pub named The White Horse where Jude Law & Cameron Diaz had their first date, and crossed this small bridge that Cameron Diaz crossed when she decided to miss her flight to L.A. and stay with Jude Law.
View of The White Horse from outside by me
EAT. PRAY. LOVE. – ROME & NAPLES IN ITALY, PATAUDI PLACE IN HARYANA IN INDIA & BALI IN INDONESIA
The message is quiet simple; the journey to self-discovery begins with a year of travel to different parts of the world, learning a new language just for the sake of enjoying the sound of it, devouring new foods, why not forgive oneself, and you might as well fall in love again. The goodness about this movie lies at how relevant it is -at least to me-, it beautifully takes you to these places where Julia Roberts was able to put an end to her misery, and if you follow the same journey you will feel the same about your life –take me there.
Photo courtesy of: Yoel Ben-Avraham
MAMMA MIA – SKOPELOS IN GREECE
To me Mamma Mia is one of the happiest movies of all time, 1. I love ABBA’s music, and how it’s performed in the movie, I never get enough of listening to ABBA and the movie’s soundtrack, and to karaoke them as well, 2. Meryl Streep is just brilliant, and all the crew makes you feel happy about life, and 3. it’s filmed in GREECE on an island that’s absolutely off-the-beaten-path, toping my list for now -not to mention that a Greek lady told me that the staircase to the church where Amanda Seyfried was getting married is a kiss-a** climb.
Photo courtesy of: Nick Grabowski
WILD – PACIFIC CREST TRAIL ON THE EAST PACIFIC COAST OF THE U.S.
Every time I watch this movie I feel like someday that isn’t far from now, I will go for a similar trek that would last for several months, while I will completely lose track of time, and so I will disconnect from the world, and re-think my whole life. Though there wasn’t so much emphasize on the scenery all along the movie, and it was more about the journey towards self-salvation, I am sure that such treks are life-changing –did I mention that I left my legal career to become a travel writer right after I summited Mount Kilimanjaro.
Photo via google
STAR WARS – MATMATA IN TUNISIA
Believe it or not, I have never watched any of Star Wars’s episodes as it isn’t my kind of movies, and was never intrigued to watch any of them, however it was interesting enough to know while visiting Tunisia back in 2006 that in 1976, Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata was used as a filming location for Episode IV.
Courtesy of: Dmitry Mishin
Its traditional underground troglodyte structures located at Tataouine from where the name “Planet of Tatooine” is derived, and where Berber locals live namely Ksar Ouled Soltane has been used as a backdrop for some Slave Quarters in Episode I.
Ksar Ouled Soltane by: Sarah Murray
AFRICANO – SUN CITY IN SOUTH AFRICA
Not entirely; only the hotel that is supposedly owned by “Joe” lies in Sun City, 3 hours away from the capital city of Johannesburg. Sun City has four resorts with rates starting from 80$ a night, golf courses, beaches, water activities, restaurants, bars, attractions, safaris, and many more.
Photo courtesy of: Nathan Hughes Hamilton
THE BEACH – PHI PHI LEH ISLAND IN THAILAND
Inspired , and written in the Philippines, but filmed in Thailand. I haven’t got the chance to go to Ko Phi Phi, and my mind could not believe that such a beautiful place could exist in real life, but after I’ve been to El-Nido in the Philippies, I know for a fact that these places do exist!
Hat Maya Beach in Phi Phi Leh Island by no.wikipedia.org
THE GLADIATOR – AIT BEN HADDOU IN MOROCCO
Since early 1960’s this location has been a favored filming location, several movies were shot there among which are; Game of Thrones, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, King of Persia, Babel & many more. It’s located in Morocco’s Sahara Desert, and is characterized by unique architecture of its Kasbahs built from earthen clay.
Courtesy of: Abdel Charaf
ARGO – GRAND BAZAAR IN ISTANBUL
That’s certainly not a feel-good movie, but a thrilling one. The movie was all about the evacuation of a team of American diplomats from Iran after the Iranian Revolution erupted, and so I was really curious to know where that busy market was where the group of politicians with a secret cop “Ben Affleck” claimed to be a group of Canadians filming a sci-fi movie in Iran, which turned out to be Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar where the best sa7lab in the world is served –nostalgia.
Grand Bazaar by: commons.wikimedia.org
TOMB RAIDER – CAMBODIA
Honestly I have never watched the movie as a whole, and have no intention to -lol-, however those locations shown at the movie, and where the Tomb Raider temple lies cannot go unnoticed, and still are on top of my travel list. Ta Prohm temple, & Angkor Wat what more can one ask for?
Ta Prohm Temple by: commons.wikimedia.org
INDIAN JONES & THE LAST CRUSADE – PETRA IN JORDAN
Now we are talking about a whole magnificent ancient city carved into red rocks, remaining at its original state! There isn’t a better way to discover Petra, but by going on a several days trek from Dana Reserve all the way to Petra rated by National Geographic as one the world’s best hikes.
Photo courtesy of: commons.wikimedia.org
A GOOD YEAR – PROVENCE IN FRANCE
I watch this movie every time it’s played without even focusing on the details, I have watched it at least 3 times, and have no idea what it’s really about, I just feel like Provence must be on everyone’s travel list. Ouh Oh, and someday I must run at its blooming Lavender Fields <3.
Lavender Fields of Provence by: Stéphane Toumayan
HARRY POTTER – OXFORD IN ENGLAND
This time I didn’t even realize that some parts of Harry Potter were filmed in Oxford, but the minute I arrived to Oxford I immediately felt that I was in one of its movie locations, only to find out later that I was right.
Oxford Univeristy Museum Of National History by me
LETTERS TO JULIET – VERONA AND SIENA IN IN ITALY’S TUSCANY
Although the movie is a bit of a cliche, but the scenery is jaw-dropping, I couldn’t stop myself from watching it as it keeps giving me more reasons –as if I need more of them– to pack my bags, and just go to Tuscany for a month or two.
Courtesy of Pixabay
Can you tell us what’s your favorite filming location? Were you ever intrigued to visit any of them? Have you been to any, and if not which one are you planning to visit?
Your trip to your favorite filming locations starts right here!
About the Author
Passainte Assem
A former lawyer, travel junkie and adventurer from head to toe. Whether broke or out of vacation time, always on the lookout for the next destination. Keen to share her travel stories, planning tips and photographs to give you a real sense of place.
