First notes you’ll take aren’t on paper—they’re in your senses. The echo of footsteps through an empty piazza, the smell of rain on old stone, the pulse of a city you’ve only known through a screen. That’s the pull of “set-jetting”—following your favorite shows into the real world and realizing the stories were grounded in actual places all along.
In 2025, travel isn’t just about ticking off landmarks; it’s about stepping into the mood, the frame, the plot. These 18 destinations don’t just recreate what you’ve watched—they invite you to live it, one cinematic moment at a time.
1. Koh Samui, Thailand — The White Lotus S3
Thailand is the show’s newest playground, and Koh Samui steals the frame. Production based marquee scenes at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui with cameos at Anantara Bophut, while additional shoots took place in Phuket and Bangkok—so the on-screen arc mirrors an island-to-city hop you can actually copy. It’s glossy. It’s lush. And it’s Thailand at full sparkle.
Samui is your launchpad for Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park, a 42-island archipelago about 35 km away—classic day-trip territory with boats departing most mornings. The park keeps regular hours and closes seasonally (Oct 20–Dec 20), so check dates before you lock anything in. Samui’s rainy peak hits late Oct–mid-Dec, with November historically the wettest; drier, sunnier spells follow from late December into spring. Samui Airport (USM)—operated by Bangkok Airways—has frequent nonstops to Bangkok.
Practical Information:
- Peak/Off-peak: Best weather late Dec–Apr; heavy rain late Oct–mid-Dec.
- Getting there: Fly into USM; frequent Bangkok–Samui nonstops.
- Ideal duration: 3–5 days for Samui + 1 day for Ang Thong. (Park is ~35 km; tours run full-day.)
- Must-try: Long-tail or speedboat to Ang Thong; sunset at a hillside bar; island-style spa day at a luxe resort used by the show.
- Photo ops: Fisherman’s Village piers, Ang Thong lookouts, resort infinity pools featured in press stills.
2. County Wicklow & Dublin, Ireland — Wednesday S2
The production moved from Romania to Ireland in 2024, transforming parts of Dublin, Wicklow, and Offaly into Nevermore’s world—Ashford Studios in Wicklow for the big builds, Trinity College Dublin for travel scenes, and Charleville Castle for those gothic corridors. It also became Ireland’s largest TV production to date, buoyed by the country’s Section 481 film incentive.
On a day trip you’ll feel the shift from city to storybook fast. Wicklow Mountains National Park opens into glacial valleys and peat-brown rivers, and Glendalough layers in early-medieval monastic ruins a short walk from trailheads. For a quick hit of drama, Powerscourt Waterfall drops 121 m, the tallest in Ireland—easy to pair with the gardens.
Practical Information:
- Peak/Off-peak: May–Sep for longer days; winter is quiet but short-daylight. (Visitor centres run seasonal hours.)
- Getting there: Airport → Wicklow by Wexford Bus or car; multiple daily runs from Zone 14.
- Ideal duration: 1 day ex-Dublin for Glendalough + Powerscourt; 2–3 days if you want hikes.
- Must-try: Spinc boardwalk loop at Glendalough; Powerscourt gardens + waterfall combo; a Dublin night walk on Georgian squares.
- Photo ops: Round Tower at Glendalough, Upper Lake boardwalk, Victorian glasshouses and gray-stone facades in Dublin.
3. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada — The Last of Us S2
Season two shifted west to Metro Vancouver, doubling the city for a post-apocalyptic Seattle. Sets and scenes popped up across Downtown Eastside, Gastown, Harbour Green Park, and even the Vancouver Aquarium—a clever nod to the game’s aquarium threads. And yes, fans spotted night shoots through early 2025.
Beyond the fandom trail, the visitor experience is easy mode. Stanley Park is a ~400-hectare coastal rainforest with a 10-km seawall, beaches, totem poles, and the country’s largest aquarium on site; summer is dry and pleasantly warm, while October–March skews rainy. Best weather window: mid-July to late-August.
Practical Information:
- Peak/Off-peak: Jul–Aug for the driest, warmest days; Oct–Mar is rain season.
- Getting there: Canada Line rapid transit from YVR → Downtown.
- Ideal duration: 3–4 days for city + North Shore day hikes.
- Must-try: Seawall cycle, Capilano or Lynn Canyon forests, craft breweries in Mount Pleasant after a Gastown film-locations walk.
- Photo ops: Lions Gate views from the Seawall, Coal Harbour at blue hour, neon in Gastown lanes.
4. Valencia, Spain — Andor S2
Lucasfilm leaned into Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences, using its white, bone-smooth curves to stand in for parts of Coruscant’s Senate District. The production filmed here in 2023; the choice makes sense—the complex reads like sci-fi before you touch a lens.
It’s also a terrific day out. The Oceanogràfic is Europe’s largest aquarium and home to the continent’s only beluga whales; adjacent, the Hemisfèric screens IMAX and planetarium shows. When you’ve had your fill of glass and water, walk or cycle the 9-km Turia Gardens—a riverbed turned greenway that stitches the city together.
Practical Information:
- Peak/Off-peak: Late Jun–early Sep is beach-prime but hot; shoulder months are cooler.
- Getting there: AVE from Madrid ~1h40–1h46; frequent daily services.
- Ideal duration: 2–3 days for the complex, Old Town, and beach.
- Must-try: Oceanogràfic tunnels, golden hour around Hemisfèric, bike the Turia to the Marina.
- Photo ops: CAC pools at blue hour; Calatrava lines mirrored in the water
5. Cáceres, Spain — House of the Dragon S2
For King’s Landing in season two, HBO returned to the medieval streets of Cáceres and nearby Trujillo. The maze oftone alleys and plazas reads pure Westeros on camera—no heavy VFX needed—so you can walk the same arches and squares you’ve seen in battle scenes and processions.
the 9-hectare Old Town sits inside 12th-century walls and Roman-Moorish layers you’ll spot just by looking up. It’s compact, atmospheric, and built for strolling from tower to tower to sun-splashed plaza.
Practical Information:
- Peak/Off-peak: Apr–May and mid-Sep–mid-Oct = best temps; Jul–Aug can be scorching.
- Getting there: Direct Renfe trains ~3h–3h30m from Madrid.
- Ideal duration: 1–2 days within the walls + a Trujillo side trip.
- Must-try: Sunset on Plaza Mayor ramparts, Romanesque-Gothic church towers, tapas crawl under sandstone arches.
6. Venice, Italy — Ripley
Let’s flip Venice away from gondola selfies and show you its 1960s noir alter-ego. While the canals and palazzi will of course catch your eye, I find the lesser-known side is the mid-century rationalist heart and the edges of the lagoon where the city meets the industrial fringe. In the show, decrepit grandeur meets sleek ambition — so when you walk past the vast, linear walls of the Arsenale or the side-canals behind San Polo, you’re stepping into that tension.
And there’s that moment when dusk hits and the reflections lengthen across the water — you know how the show frames a long glass window looking out to decay and opulence side‐by‐side? That’s real here. So take your time: cross the Ponte dell’Accademia at golden hour, sit on the steps of the Scuola Grande dei Carmini, watch light bounce off terracotta roofs. It isn’t just pretty, it’s evocative.
Practical Information:
- Arrive: Fly into VCE or Treviso, then take Alilaguna boat or ATVO bus to lagoon.
- Transport: Get a Venezia Unica City Pass for vaporetto rides, city buses.
- Best time: Shoulder seasons (April/May or Sept) for fewer crowds.
- Tip: Stay overnight if you can—day-tourists are subject to the access fee.
- Photo moment: Reflections from the San Giorgio Maggiore bell-tower facing Piazza San Marco.
7. Paris, France — Emily in Paris
don’t just chase the show’s glamorous cafés and fashion-scenes; lean in on the quotidian side of Paris the series glosses over. The Montmartre back-streets, the little boulangeries, the vintage book-shops … there’s a rhythm to those parts that mirror Emily’s “trying to belong” vibe. So instead of only snapping angled selfies in front of the Eiffel Tower, pause at a 7 AM croissant stand, watch the light hit Rue des Abbesses before the tourists swarm.
Or pop in at dusk into the Picasso Museum or Bourse de Commerce — places locals treat like their second living-room — and you’ll feel vintage Paris mixing with the show’s high-end gloss. It’s less about “I’m the character” and more “I’m part of her world”.
Practical Information:
- Arrive: CDG or Orly; use RER B or Orlyval + metro into city.
- Transport: Pick up a Navigo Easy or Paris Visite pass for metro/bus.
- Best time: June or September for lighter crowds and mild weather.
- Tip: Learn a quick “bonjour/merci” for polite café exchanges—it opens doors.
- Photo moment: Early morning at Palais-Royal gardens, before the tourist wave.
8. Edinburgh, Scotland — One Day
it’s a city of layered time, and you can step into the show’s emotional beats by walking parts of it slowly. For instance: the climb up Calton Hill when the sun is low, where the monument silhouettes echo introspective moments from the series. Or the old lanes under the New Town that feel like a secret between you and the stone-walls.
rain just stopped, the cobbles glisten, you duck into a pub on Rose Street for a pint. You’re not “on set”—you’re “in scene”. Because the vibes are real. Then the next morning stroll through Dean Village, where the water murmurs and the walk is quiet—almost therapy for sight-seeing fatigue.
Practical Information:
- Arrive: Fly into EDI; Airlink bus to Waverley Station in city centre.
- Transport: The city centre is very walkable; tram/bus for suburbs.
- Best time: May or September for fewer crowds and milder skies.
- Tip: Bring layers—even summer evenings can surprise you.
- Photo moment: Evening lights from Carlton Hill looking over the Royal Mile.
9. Rome, Italy — Ripley
We’ve all done the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain, but in this location-piece I suggest shifting focus to the modern side of Rome that Ripley taps into—namely EUR (Esposizione Universale Roma). Wide boulevards, rationalist architecture, the kind of space that feels designed for spectacle.
from the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana (“Square Colosseum”) to the deserted-feeling forums and tree-lined avenues. At twilight the sterile geometry gives way to long shadows, exactly the kind of visual the show uses. Then cross back into the old city for contrast—baroque, bustling, messy.
Practical Information:
- Arrive: Fly into FCO; take train/metro into Termini then Metro Line B to EUR (~20-30m).
- Transport: Rome has metro lines A, B, tram/bus; buy Roma Pass for 48/72h for transport + museum discounts.
- Best time: Late September–October or February–March for fewer crowds and moderate weather.
- Tip: Dedicate half a day to EUR if you’ve visited Rome’s classics before.
- Photo moment: Sunset over the Square Colosseum building in EUR with a pastel sky.
10. Atrani, Amalfi Coast, Italy — Ripley
Here’s the “hidden gem” moment: this village is tiny (Italy’s smallest municipality by land area) and it was used to play the faux-villain’s hideaway in Ripley. Unlike the crowded tourist hubs, this one has texture. The alleys climb almost vertically, the light falls in narrow shafts, and the beach is modest. You won’t just be visiting—there’s a feeling of settling in.
Picture you arrive by ferry from Amalfi, drop your bag into a B&B, step into the piazza where the show had its standoff, then walk five minutes to the cliff-top path that leads to Torre dello Ziro. The ocean below, the church façade behind—real story. Locals still talk about the filming interrupting the village flow.
Practical Information:
- Arrive: Fly into Naples (NAP), train to Salerno then bus/boat to Atrani (~1h45 from NAP).
- Transport: Buses along the Amalfi Coast get very full in summer—consider early morning ferry from Amalfi for smoother ride.
- Best time: April-May or September-October—pleasant weather, fewer crowds.
- Tip: Stay overnight rather than day-trip—soak the evening stillness.
- Photo moment: The clock-tower church of Santa Maria Maddalena, late light, empty beach.
11. Madeira, Portugal — The Acolyte
The new Star Wars prequel found its galaxy in Madeira’s volcanic wilds. And you’ll get why instantly — those knife-edge ridges at Pico do Arieiro and mossy Laurisilva forests don’t look like Earth at all. Step onto the PR1 trail linking Arieiro to Pico Ruivo and you’re in real-life sci-fi terrain, clouds rolling below you like dry ice on a soundstage.
hikers say winter (Dec-Mar) brings clearer skies and wildflower bursts. Bonus: it’s compact — drive coast to coast in 2 hours — and the airport now has direct links to Lisbon, London, and even New York.
Practical Information:
- Getting there: FNC airport; frequent shuttles to Funchal (~20 min).
- Best season: Apr–Jun or Sep–Nov for hiking temps (20–25 °C).
- Do: Sunrise at Pico do Arieiro; levada-walks through the cloud forest.
- Stay: Rural guesthouses around Santana for a quiet base.
12. Ucluelet, Vancouver Island, Canada — Shōgun
While most tourists stop at Tofino, Shōgun slipped further down the map to Ucluelet — a place where rain is a daily guest and the Pacific crashes meters from cedar-lined trails. Between the Wild Pacific Trail headlands and old wharves, you’ll find the show’s fog-wrapped mood alive and well.
It’s not flashy; it’s elemental. Whale spouts arc offshore, surfers vanish into mist, and locals greet storms like old friends. If you want solitude, shoulder season (Oct–Mar) is magic — storm-watching from a cabin window is cinematic in itself.
Practical Information:
- Access: Fly or ferry to Nanaimo → 3 h coastal drive.
- Best season: Jul–Sep for calm seas; Oct–Mar for storm-drama.
- Tip: Pack waterproof layers; trails stay open in light rain.
- Eat: Ucluelet Brewing Co. for ocean-view craft pints.
13. Cartagena, Colombia — The Night Manager S2
The espionage sequel traded the Mediterranean for Cartagena’s caramel-colored colonial quarter — think bougainvillea balconies, salsa echoing off stucco, and a Caribbean wind that refuses to quit. Away from tourist grids, peek into Getsemaní, where street art and local rumba bars tell the city’s truest stories.
Cartagena isn’t just backdrops; it’s heat, rhythm, and persistence. Mornings are for history walks, afternoons for rooftop pools, nights for dance floors that don’t ask permission.
Practical Information:
- Arrivals: CTG airport 10 min from Old Town.
- Best months: Dec–Apr dry season, steady 30 °C.
- Costs: Mid-range daily spend ≈ US $80–100.
- Safety note: Stick to tourist zones after dark; use authorized taxis.
14. Bath, England — Bridgerton
Bath has become shorthand for Regency fantasy, but step past the Royal Crescent and you’ll find its living, breathing heart — indie bookshops, Georgian courtyards with laundry lines, cafés under colonnades once meant for nobles. Walk the Great Pulteney Street when it’s raining lightly; the honey-stone seems to glow from within.
Between takes, the crew filmed at the Holburne Museum and Assembly Rooms, both open to visitors. The bonus is proximity — everything’s within 15 minutes’ walk.
Practical Information:
- Train: 80 min from London Paddington.
- Stay: Boutique B&Bs around Pulteney Bridge.
- Budget: Day-trip ≈ £100 (transport + meals + entry).
- Photo op: Crescent lawns at sunset — tripod-friendly and quiet.
15. Badminton House, Gloucestershire — The Gentlemen
This country estate is the real deal — private yet periodically open for charity events and filming. It’s where Guy Ritchie rebooted his gangster energy into something aristocratic. When it opens, you can wander manicured grounds that stretch for over 50 acres, dotted with lakes and horse paddocks.
Nearby Tetbury and Cirencester offer antique shops and pubs that feel straight out of a vintage script.
Practical Information:
- Access: By car (~2 h from London); limited bus links.
- Tip: Combine with Highgrove Gardens (Prince Charles’ estate, public tours).
- Season: Spring or early autumn for open gardens.
16. Reykjavík & Akureyri, Iceland — True Detective: Night Country
The Arctic noir series used Iceland’s frozen frontier as Alaska’s double, but you can feel its own mythology in the light itself — never fully day, never fully night in winter. Reykjavík supplies warmth (literally, in geothermal pools), while Akureyri, north of the island, brings the emptiness that defines the show.
Rent a car and drive the Ring Road stretch between them — six hours of glaciers, lava fields, and roadside hot pots.
Practical Information:
- Flights: Into KEF; domestic hop to AEY ~45 min.
- Best window: Feb–Mar for aurora + stable roads.
- Gear: Studded tires, layered thermals.
- Budget: Iceland = pricey; fuel ≈ €2/L, dinner €25–40 pp.
17. Atlanta & Jackson, Georgia (USA) — Stranger Things 5
The final season keeps returning to Atlanta’s quiet suburbs — East Point, Stockbridge, Jackson — because they nail 1980s Americana like a time capsule. You can actually drive that nostalgia: vintage diners, pastel high-schools, and Main Street stores still carrying neon signage.
Fans head for Downtown Jackson, the stand-in for Hawkins, where the courthouse steps double as the series’ town square. Locals embrace it — you’ll find themed milkshakes and murals by the weekend.
Practical Information:
- Access: ATL airport → 1 h drive south to Jackson.
- Best months: Mar–May or Oct–Nov (mild, less humidity).
- Stay: Retro motels or small Airbnbs in Stockbridge.
- Freebie: Self-guided “Stranger Things trail” map at visitor centers.
18. Monsanto, Portugal — House of the Dragon
Perched on a granite hill, Monsanto feels more fantasy than fiction. The show turned its cave-like homes and boulder-strewn alleys into the Westerosi stronghold Stonemarket. In person, you climb under giant stones that seem to have decided to coexist with houses rather than crush them.
It’s a quiet, almost timeless place; church bells and goats are the loudest things you’ll hear. Perfect for travelers chasing authenticity beyond the castles.
Practical Information:
- Reach: Train Lisbon → Castelo Branco (2 h 45 min) + 40 min taxi.
- Stay: Family-run stone guesthouses (€60–80/night).
- Best months: Apr–Jun and Sep–Oct; summer is very hot.
- Tip: Bring walking shoes — cobbles are steep and uneven.
Conclusion:
Set-jetting works because it turns a screen crush into a real itinerary—and each stop on this list proves it. From moody alleyways to volcanic ridgelines, you’re not just finding locations; you’re stepping into a story, with smart tips to time the light, dodge the crowds, and move like a local. Pick a vibe—noir, romance, adventure—and let it shape your route. Then go kindly: support small businesses, respect neighborhoods, and leave the scene better than you found it.
