Famous movie locations you can visit around the world

Travelers chasing film sets still find themselves crossing continents for a single establishing shot or a memorable storefront. The draw has only grown since the earliest location lists appeared, with new productions layering fresh sites onto the old circuit. This guide keeps the focus on real-world addresses, current access rules, and the small practical details that separate a quick photo stop from a full day’s plan.

Whether you want to stand where the Ghostbusters truck once parked or trace the exact stairwell from The Grand Budapest Hotel, the following spots remain open to visitors in one form or another. Several have added seasonal events or tightened conservation rules, so a quick check before travel saves time once you arrive.

Hook & Ladder Company Firehouse, New York City

Fans of the iconic 1980s movie Ghostbusters will be pleased to know that the headquarters of the film’s ghost-fighting crew were actually filmed at a real firehouse in New York City. This firehouse, the home of the Hook & Ladder Company #8, remains fully functional today and you can see it in Tribeca at 14 North Moore Street on the corner of Varick Street. The station still hosts Ghostbusters Day gatherings outside the building each year, drawing costumed visitors who keep the sidewalk lively without entering the active quarters.

Harry Potter Studios, London

The majority of the scenes of the legendary Harry Potter movies were filmed in the Warner Bros. Studios in London. Tickets for Harry Potter tours can be purchased online. As part of the tour you will be able to explore iconic Harry Potter sets such as Diagon Alley, the Great Hall and Dumbledore’s office, as well as see real costumes and props, including Harry’s Nimbus 2000 and Hagrid’s motorcycle. The 2026 calendar adds First Year at Hogwarts from May through September, Dark Arts in the fall, and Hogwarts in the Snow over the holidays, plus new displays covering sound-effect secrets and a working Wizard Chess set.

Café des Deux Moulins, Paris

This quaint café in the Montmartre neighborhood in Paris is one of the main film locations of the cult class Amélie. This little café with its quintessential French décor and little tables on the pavement was the scene for the film’s main character Amélie’s workplace, a central location for many of the movie’s plot points. The tobacco counter visible in the film was removed after a 2002 ownership change, yet the overall décor and atmosphere remain largely unchanged, so you can simply pop in for a meal and feel like you’re in the movie yourself.

Salzburg, Austria

This historic Austrian city was the main filming location for the classic Julie Andrews film The Sound of Music, with settings for many of the movie’s scenes to be found around Salzburg. The Pegasus Fountain at the Mirabell Gardens, for example, was the location for the boating scene among others. Hellbrunn Palace’s gazebo was the set for the iconic “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” song and one of the most loved Sound of Music filming locations.

Fox Plaza, Los Angeles

Fox Plaza is not only the headquarters of Twentieth Century Fox, but it is also the setting for some of the studio’s biggest action films. The high-rise building, located at 2121 Avenue of the Stars in Century City was the central filming location for the legendary action movie Die Hard, as well as being featured in other classics including Speed and Fight Club.

Görlitzer Warenhaus, Görlitz, Germany

This historic department store in the town of Görlitz just east of the German city of Dresden, was one of the key film locations in the movie The Grand Budapest Hotel. The store, with its magnificent original columns, staircases, grand window and chandelier, served as the fictional hotel’s atrium lobby in the film. The building is closed to public interior access, though the exterior and surrounding town still draw film fans who photograph the façade before continuing on guided walking tours of other nearby sets.

The Marriott Marquis Hotel, Atlanta

Hunger Games fans will delight in visiting Atlanta, Georgia, where they’ll find one of the key locations of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The city’s Marriott Marquis Hotel, located at 265 Peachtree Center Avenue NE, served as the movie’s Tributes’ Quarters and Training Center. The hotel’s enormous atrium stretching up many storeys, and glass elevators made it perfect for the futuristic set.

Timberline Lodge, Mt. Hood, Oregon

This Alpine hotel and ski lodge in Oregon featured in the classic film The Shining. The Timberline Lodge was used for the exterior and establishing shots in the movie, and is located on the slopes of Mt. Hood. These days it attracts mostly skiers due to its location near a number of fine ski runs. The resort now operates year-round, offering summer hiking, mountain biking, and lodging that keeps the property busy even when the lifts close.

Phi Phi Leh, Thailand

Idyllic Phi Phi Leh island was the setting for 2000’s Leonardo DiCaprio film The Beach. Specifically, Maya Bay on the island was the central beach which the movie is named after. The island is located near Phuket, Thailand. Maya Bay reopened to visitors in January 2022 after the 2018 closure and now follows an annual conservation shutdown from August 1 to September 30. When open, daily hours run roughly 7 AM to 6 PM with an entry fee of around 400 baht to help fund reef recovery.

Koh Tapu, Thailand

Don’t worry if you can’t visit Maya Bay, because there is an equally famous and equally stunning film location in Southern Thailand. Koh Tapu is located in Phang Nga Bay and is known as “James Bond Island” because it appears in the 007 movie The Man with the Golden Gun. Tours to the spectacular limestone island run from nearby Phuket or Khao Lak.

Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

Along with being a popular summer vacation destination, Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts also served as the fictional town of Amity Island in the classic horror film Jaws. Edgartown and its landmarks featured heavily in the movie, including the American Legion Memorial Bridge, now known as “Jaws Bridge”. Local Joseph Sylvia State Beach was also the filming location for one of the movie’s shark attacks. Jumping from the bridge remains common despite posted rules, and the site continues to draw summer crowds tied to the film’s legacy.

Recent Film Location Tourism Trends

Movie location tourism remains strong with millions visiting iconic sites annually. New productions continue to add filming spots in regions like New Mexico and Massachusetts, extending the classic circuit into fresh counties and small towns that suddenly find themselves on visitor maps.

Sustainability at Film Locations

Maya Bay implements annual closures and fees for ecosystem recovery. Many destinations balance tourism with preservation efforts, from timed entries at European palaces to restricted beach hours that protect coral and nesting birds without shutting sites entirely.

Seasonal Events at Iconic Locations

Harry Potter Studio Tour runs multiple 2026 seasonal features. Ghostbusters Day occurs annually outside the NYC firehouse, giving fans a single day each year to gather without interfering with daily station operations.

Hidden or Lesser-Known Nearby Spots

Additional Sound of Music sites exist around Salzburg such as Schloss Leopoldskron. Multiple Jaws-related landmarks are in Edgartown and surrounding areas, letting visitors extend a single afternoon into a full island circuit without retracing steps.

Virtual or Guided Alternatives When Access Is Limited

Görlitzer Warenhaus interior is not open to the public. Guided tours and maps are available in Görlitz and Salzburg for those who want context without needing interior entry at every stop.

Planning around current hours, fees, and seasonal closures keeps the experience smooth. Locations that once felt frozen in celluloid now shift with conservation needs and fan events, yet the core addresses and the scenes they hosted remain exactly where the cameras left them.