Top 5 Film Locations

Have you ever watched a film and thought ‘wow, I wonder where that is?’ Over the years, incredible destinations around the world have been used as the backdrop for famous movies. Here are some fabulous filming locations you can visit on a Just You guided touring holiday.

1. When Harry Met Sally

New York, USA: This late-eighties rom-com follows the story of two friends, Harry and Sally, who very slowly discover they are in love. Set against the backdrop of New York, the film was shot in locations right across the city. Book a table at The Loeb Boathouse in Central Park and you’ll be dining in the very spot where Sally met two of her friends. From here you can walk to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where the Egyptian monument, the Temple of Dendur was also used as a filming location. Die-hard fans of the movie will probably want to head to Katz’s Delicatessen in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, where Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal sat to shoot the movie’s famous ‘I’ll have what she’s having’ scene.

2. The Sound of Music

Salzburg, Austria: More than 50 years on, thousands of visitors flock to Salzburg every year to see the sights and scenery which formed the backdrop to their favourite film. Following in the footsteps of Maria Von Trapp herself, you can head to Nonnberg Convent, where the real-life Maria Von Trapp lived as a novice nun. You can also admire views of Schloss Leopoldskron, the spectacular building used as the lakeside façade of the Von Trapp home and stroll through the glorious Mirabell Gardens. Here Maria and the children sang ‘Do Re Mi’ as they danced around the Pegasus fountain.

3. Argo

Istanbul, Turkey: Argo tells the story of 6 Americans who escape a besieged embassy in Tehran during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis. It was impossible to shoot the movie on location in Iran, so some scenes were filmed in the colourful bazaars and bustling streets of Istanbul.

4. The Godfather

Savoca, Sicily: The ultimate gangster movie, The Godfather tells the story of a New York Mafia family and its patriarch Don Vito Corleone. During the film, Corleone’s son, Michael, flees to Sicily and some scenes were shot in the beautiful village of Savoca. Bar Vitelli, a rustic café at the village entrance, appeared in the film and you can still head there today to enjoy a refreshing granita.

5. Game of Thrones

Dubrovnik, Croatia: More epic series than movie, no-one can escape the popularity of Game of Thrones. Filmed in various locations across Europe, fans of the series are flocking to Dubrovnik in Croatia, the real-life home of the fictional city of King’s Landing. Explore Dubrovnik on a Game of Thrones tour, and your guide will point out some of the filming locations as you discover the city’s highlights.