Skip to main content

MEMBER LOGIN

Departures Logo Created with Sketch.

JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER

Departures Logo Created with Sketch.
  • City Guides
  • Travel
  • Fashion
  • Art + Culture
  • Home + Design
Departures Logo Created with Sketch.
  • City Guides
  • Travel
  • Fashion
  • Art + Culture
  • Home + Design

FOLLOW US

LOGIN

NEWSLETTER

More In City Guides

Italy's New Coast-to-coast Hiking Trail Is Filled With Mountains and Beaches to Explore

The trail across Calabria is nearly 34 miles long with a variety of landscapes to enjoy.

This Resort in the Maldives Has the Most Powerful Telescope in the Indian Ocean — and It’s Also a Cocktail Bar
New Silversea Cruise Visits 72 Destinations in 22 Countries
$3.65 Million Beach House Features Chanel and Hermès Accents

More In Travel

  • Hotels
  • Travel Guides
  • Restaurants

Kanye West’s First Yeezy Sneakers Could be the Most Expensive Kicks Ever Sold

Here’s how much the sneakers are going for.

Privé Porter’s New Miami Store Is Stocked With Exclusive Birkin Bags
Hublot Launches Four New Versions of Its Iconic Big Bang Timepiece
Gucci’s First High Watchmaking Collection Is an Ode to Innovation and Design

More In Fashion

  • Style
  • Shopping

‘Rock of Ages’ Is Returning to the Stage for a One-Night-Only Virtual Show

Grab your tickets for the ‘Rock of Ages: All-Star Reunion Concert.’

You Can Now See Lost Artwork Recreated Through AI
Behind the Scenes of Bruno Aveillan's New Waldorf Astoria New York Film
Stay at One of These Hotels for Some Oscar History

More In Art + Culture

  • Books
  • Philanthropy
  • Film

Sculptural Planters to Get Ready for Spring

Give your plants (and home decor) a chic update with these sophisticated and modern pla

Plant Butlers Are the Latest Luxury Amenity
How the Imperial Fabergé Egg Came to Be One of the Most Sought-After Pieces of Art
How Travel Inspires Top Interior Designer Joy Moyler

More In Home + Design

  • Art + Design
  • Architecture
LOGIN
NEWSLETTER
  • City Guides
  • Travel
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Travel Guides
  • Fashion
    • Style
    • Shopping
  • Art + Culture
    • Books
    • Film
    • Philanthropy
  • Home + Design
    • Art + Design
    • Architecture
  • MEMBER LOGIN
  • JOIN OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
  • Contact Advertise Sitemap
Home / Travel
Travel

10 European Destinations You Might Know From the Silver Screen

By Nadja Sayej on May 01, 2018

From the Grand Budapest Hotel to the Corleone compound, these film-famous locations are open for business.

© Martyn Goddard/Getty Images

SHARE:

Have you ever traveled through Europe and thought, “I know this place from somewhere?”

It might not be déjà vu. Many European cities, shorelines, and passageways were featured in beloved Hollywood films, from The Godfather, shot in Southern Italy, to The Sound of Music, which takes place in the Austrian Alps. While Europe is known for its Medieval flair, 19th-century buildings, and tiny, winding streets, it’s also been a prime shooting location for blockbuster franchises ranging from Harry Potter to Game of Thrones. From scenic beaches to remote Mediterranean islands, here are the top 10 most famous movie hotspots to hunt down during your next trip to Europe.

 
Westend61/Getty Images

Grand Budapest Hotel, Görlitz, Germany

Who knew that Wes Anderson's famous Grand Budapest Hotel is actually set in the small town of Görlitz, Germany? The hotel was originally built as an Art Nouveau department store in 1912, and today its grand entrance hall is used as the hotel’s lobby. Today, the Kaufhaus Görlitz is also recognizable for its grand staircases, glass ceilings, and marble architecture. While this silver screen history has the locals calling the town “Görliwood,” the film was also shot at a confectionary shop in Dresden (Pfunds Molkerei, Bautznerstrasse 79) and a castle in Zwickau (Osterstein Castle). goerlitz.de

denisav/Getty Images

The Godfather, Sicily, Italy

Set in the real-life Sicilian town of Corleone, the dramatic Godfather film trilogy was actually shot in nearby towns and villages, including Savoca and Forza d'Agro. Cinema buffs must stop by the historic Chiesa di Santa Lucia church, used for the Godfather’s famed wedding scene, and Bar Vietelli in Savoca, where Al Pacino held meetings with his bodyguards. Today, the bar looks more or less the same; the 18th-century stone building, covered in vines, also contains a collection of photos from the making of the film. While there, order up a granita di limone, director Francis Ford Coppola's favorite drink (it’s a local lemonade recipe).

Glowimages/Getty Images

The Sound of Music, Salzburg, Austria

The 1965 Hollywood classic starring Julie Andrews was shot in the hilly terrain of Salzburg, edging on the Alps of Switzerland. The classic musical clearly remains unforgettable to fans, as over 300,000 film buffs come to walk in the footsteps of its famous actors every year. The iconic snow-capped mountain opening credits were captured along Salzburg's Salzkammergut and the city's old monastery, the Kloster Höglwörth. Other scenes were shot in the rose-filled Mirabell Gardens, the city square Residenzplatz, which was featured during the famous carriage ride through the city, and St. Peter's Cemetery, which is where the family hid before escaping to Switzerland.

Lisa Mei Photography/Getty Images

Game of Thrones, Dubrovnik, Croatia

So, we lied a little: film locations weren't the only spots that stole our hearts. This popular TV series is shot in the center of Old Town Dubrovnik, which is lined with labyrinth-like streets, terracotta tiled-rooftops adorning Gothic and Renaissance-era buildings, and a choppy, craggy seashore. From 2012-2015, Dubrovnik garnered $150 million in tourism, helping the city to recover from the economic depression of 2011. Check out famous shooting scenes from the show, including the Jesuit staircase, St. Dominic Street, and the Ethnographic Museum Rupe.

Chris Wahlberg/Getty Images

Robin Hood, Surrey, UK

This 2010 remake film starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchett was shot in the peaceful English countryside, from Wales to Derbyshire and Surrey. One must-see is the Windsor Castle in Berkshire, one of the world's oldest fortresses, owned by the royal family, as well as the Windsor Great Park in Surrey, which is famous for its waterfall.

Imágenes del Perú/Getty Images

Inception, Paris, France

This blockbuster film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, shot on the stunning Left Bank of Paris, includes the legendary rue César Franck and rue Bouchut. Stop by the Italian deli Da Stuzzi, which was transformed into Cafe Debussy for the film. The fountain on Place Georges-Mulot, built 1904, is adorned with four medallions celebrating Parisian heroes; the engineer George Mulot, painter Rosa Bonheur, Dr. Bouchut and Haüy Valentin, who founded the Institute for Blind Youth in Paris.

Roy Rainford / robertharding/Getty Images

Harry Potter, Alnwick Castle, UK

Located between Edinburgh and Newcastle, this is probably the most recognizable castle on the silver screen (next to Walt Disney’s beloved Disney Castle). Set in the hilly region of Northumberland, it’s lined with cobblestone roads, stone pillars, and narrow alleyways. Today, the spot is also home to broomstick-training workshops, knight school, jousting competitions, and book talks by fantasy authors in the second-hand bookshop.

Courtesy Hotel Palácio Estoril

James Bond, Estoril, Portugal

Hotel Palácio is the luxury hotel from the 1969 James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, shot in Portugal and starring George Lazenby. The spot is also where creator Ian Fleming stayed during the Second World War. Alongside the rooms, lobby, and bar—where much of the same design is still intact—the film was also shot in Guincho Beach and Arrábida Mountain, both in Lisbon (average room rate at Hotel Palácio is $600).

Slow Images/Getty Images

The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ischia Castle, Italy

This 1999 film starring Matt Damon and Jude Law highlights the main port of Ischia, a volcanic island off the Gulf of Naples in the south of Italy. The film's luscious scenery was also filmed near the volcanic islands in the Bay of Naples and the island of Procida. If you're feeling adventurous, there's a ferry that travels to all them (and they each have stunning beaches).

Rudy Sulgan/Getty Images

Mission Impossible, Prague, Czech Republic

This famous Tom Cruise adventure classic from 1996 was filmed mostly in the historic buildings of Prague, like the Natural History Museum. (Staged to appear as an embassy, the museum was also used in the James Bond film Casino Royale). The film also features Wenceslas Square, a must-see in the heart of the Old Town. Be sure to check out the Lichtenstein Palace on Kampa Island, as well as the infamous Hotel Europa (which yes, is a real hotel).

Explore More in Travel

tout-img

Italy's New Coast-to-coast Hiking Trail Is Filled With Mountains and Beaches to Explore

tout-img

This Resort in the Maldives Has the Most Powerful Telescope in the Indian Ocean — and It’s Also a Cocktail Bar

tout-img

New Silversea Cruise Visits 72 Destinations in 22 Countries


Marketing Events & Promotions

Become a DEPARTURES VIP

Join our Weekly Newsletter

Privacy Statement
Join our Weekly Newsletter
Departures Logo Created with Sketch.
  • City Guides
  • Travel
  • Fashion
  • Art + Culture
  • Home + Design
FOLLOW US
Other Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group websites: 
  • Travel + Leisure
  • Food & Wine
  • Wallpaper
Related Websites for DEPARTURES International Editions:
  • DEPARTURES-International.com
Learn more about the American Express Platinum Card® benefits

View Terms of Service  and  Privacy Statement.   Ad Choices EU Data Subject Requests All users of our online services subject to Privacy Statement and agree to be bound by Terms of Service. Please review.

© 2021 American Express Company. All rights reserved. Departures® is published by Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group, a subsidiary of Meredith Corporation. Departures is a trademark of
American Express Marketing & Development Corp. and is used under limited license. Meredith Corporation Travel & Leisure Group is not affiliated with American Express Company or its subsidiaries.

  • RSS
  • Advertise
  • Advertise
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Promotions
  • Site Map

Member Login

The current issue of DEPARTURES is available exclusively to American Express Platinum Card® Members.

Cancel