Need fresh ideas to satisfy your urge to travel this 2017? Gratify both your wanderlust and your love of movies by traveling to some of this year's movies' filming locations. You won't just visit and see breathtaking locales; you might also discover off the beaten path destinations where not many have been.
Let this year's biggest films-from new superhero flicks to epic dramas to a space opera-inspire your travels this year. You'll find yourself in epic landscapes; quiet, idyllic towns; or European cities that have long been settings for some of your favorite films and TV shows.
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
The third installment of Marvel's Thor series may have been mostly filmed at Village Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast, but that doesn't mean that the rest of the city isn't worth exploring.
This breathtaking Queensland city along the coast is home to beautiful beaches, surfing spots, a subtropical rainforest, a world-class gastronomy scene, and several amusement and wildlife parks. While there, remember to visit nearby Brisbane, which doubled as New York City in the movie.
Fiordland National Park, Southland, New Zealand
Alien fans will want to head to New Zealand as "Alien Covenant," sequel to 2012's dark and unsettling Prometheus, was filmed in the spectacular Fiordland National Park last year. The 4,800-square-mile rainforest paradise boasts fiords, lakes, mountain peaks, islands and lush forests, the perfect destination for the adventurous set.
Be sure to spend a lot of time at Milford Sound. It served as the principal setting for the movie. More importantly, it's one of New Zealand's most famous attractions.
Namib Desert, Namibia
Oxford, England has a number of movies in its portfolio, including three Harry Potter movies. It's southern Africa's coastal desert of Namib Desert, however, that we find more appealing as far as filming locations for "The Mummy" reboot are concerned. Running along the coasts of Angola, Namibia and South Africa, Namib is home to many endemic species like welwitschia as well as one of Africa's largest game parks. More compelling reasons to visit: it's also where "Mad Max: Fury Road" was filmed and it's only the world's oldest desert.
Ninh Binh/Quang Ninh/Quang Binh, Vietnam
With its vast tropical forests and intricate cave systems, it makes sense that Vietnam was chosen as a filming location for the upcoming King Kong reboot. "Kong: Skull Island" was filmed all over Vietnam, giving us another reason to explore the amazing country whose merits include an unforgettable cuisine and the friendliest people. Kong-related must visit spots are the famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Ha Long Bay, Trang An and Tam Coc, as well as Quang Binh's Tu Lan Cave System.
Skellig Michael, County Kerry, Ireland
That incredible rock island where Rey found Luke Skywalker in that last scene in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" may seem like the stuff of movie magic. It is, however, a real place-a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ireland, in fact-and "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" used it as well, presumably to pick up where Episode 7 left off.
Legendary Skellig Michael boasts the ruins of a 6th-century Christian monastery, impressive views, and territories of several bird species including gannets and puffins. The island is protected territory, but some licensed tour operators can take you on a guided tour.
[READMORE] READ MORE James Bond Filming Locations You Must Visit [/READMORE]
Sassi di Matera and Castel del Monte, Italy
If you're excited about the upcoming "Wonder Woman" movie, you might consider heading to Southern Italy where the superhero movie was shot in several locales. The best of them are arguably Sassi di Matera, home to cascading 9,000-year-old cave dwellings that are still being used today, and Castel del Monte, a 13th century citadel set atop a lovely hill in Andria. Both are beautiful and important World Heritage sites, which means they're worth adding and ticking off your bucket list in their own right.
Dunkirk, France
History buffs might consider a visit to Dunkirk in Hauts-de-France. It's the site of a historic evacuation of British troops during the Second World War, the same place that was used as one of the filming locations for Christopher Nolan's war thriller of the same name. Today, it offers visitors many draws. These include historic buildings, museums, a boardwalk, a zoo, several World Heritage Sites, and the Carnival of Dunkirk. While there, be sure to sample the town's coq la bire.
Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
The details on "The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara" may be hazy, but with both Steven Spielberg and Oscar Isaac involved in the project, it's become one of this year's most anticipated films. The movie was shot in picturesque Bologna, Italy, where the historical event it is based on took place.
Not that you would need a Spielberg movie to justify visiting this city. Bologna is not only embedded with handsome architecture and piazzas, but it also holds many festivals and was once declared the European capital of culture.
Norfolk, England
Alicia Vikander and Christoph Waltz's upcoming drama "Tulip Fever" may be set in the Netherlands, but it was actually shot in Norfolk County in Holkham and Norwich.
That isn't necessarily a bad thing. Norwich, first of all, is a UNESCO City of Literature, and boasts a castle, the Norwich Cathedral where some scenes in the movie were filmed, and a history that traces back to the Roman Empire. Holkham, on the other hand, is home to Holkham Hall, Holkham Gap and Holkham Beach, all of which saw the making of several other movies.
Budapest, Hungary
While Jennifer Lawrence's spy thriller "Red Sparrow" is still in production, it's set to be released later this year so we had to add it to the list. Especially because it's being filmed in Budapest, a regular fixture in many travelers' bucket lists. Hungary's capital city is one of Eastern Europe's most formidable destinations, with glorious architecture and urban scenes that are worth photographing. Must see sights include the Buda Castle, the Chain Bridge, Vajdahunyad Castle, the Museum of Applied Arts, and the Heroes Square.
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