Last Update: August 2026
A memorable setting can stay with you long after the credits roll. Set-jetting turns that feeling into a trip: travelers visit the real cities, landscapes, hotels, and heritage sites used in movies and television shows.
The trend is real, but the numbers need context. According to Expedia’s Unpack ’26 set-jetting forecast, 53% of surveyed travelers said their interest in screen-inspired trips had increased. Among surveyed Gen Z and Millennial travelers, 81% said they plan trips around places seen on screen. Expedia also estimated a potential $8.45 billion impact on the U.S. travel industry; that figure is a survey-based projection, not a measured global market value.
Index
What Is Set-Jetting?
Set-jetting means planning a trip around a location featured in a movie or TV series. The attraction may be an exact filming site, a landscape used as a stand-in for somewhere else, or a destination that inspired the production’s visual identity.
The strongest set-jetting itineraries work as real vacations even without the screen connection. A Georgian city, a national park, or an archaeological site should offer enough history, food, scenery, and local culture to justify the trip on its own.
| Set-Jetting Statistic | Impact for 2026 |
| Market Value | Projected to be an $8.4 billion industry. |
| Demographics | 81% of surveyed Gen Z and Millennials said they plan getaways based on TV shows and movies. |
| Top Driver | Authenticity and “Main Character Energy.” |
Trending Set-Jetting Destinations in 2026
As we move through the year, a new “map” of travel is emerging. Whether you are seeking the high-society elegance of the 1800s or the rugged frontier of the American West, these are the locations defining our travel bucket lists right now.
Regency Romance: Bridgerton & The Charm of Bath
With Season 4 released in February 2026, the city of Bath, England, is the undisputed epicenter of “Regency-core.”
- The Royal Crescent: The exterior of No. 1 Royal Crescent serves as the Featherington family home. It is now a museum where you can experience Georgian life in vivid detail.
- Abbey Green: This area doubles as London’s high-fashion district. The Abbey Deli is the real-life location for The Modiste, where the town’s juiciest gossip is traded over tea.
- The Holburne Museum: Its grand, pillared entrance is instantly recognizable as Lady Danbury’s villa.
Where to stay: The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa allows you to stay directly within the filming location. They even offer “Lady Whistledown” themed afternoon teas for fans.
Curiosity: While the show is set in London, most filming happens in Bath because its “honey-colored” stone buildings are among the best-preserved 18th-century structures in the world.
The White Lotus Season 3: Luxury in Thailand
HBO’s official Season 3 shooting-location list confirms that the Thailand season combined multiple properties and public locations across Koh Samui, Phuket, and Bangkok. The fictional resort was assembled from several real places rather than one hotel.
- Koh Samui: Much of the drama unfolds at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui. Fans can visit the private beach and infinity pools that served as the season’s primary backdrop.
- Phuket: The production also utilized the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas, famous for its serene lagoons and billabongs.
- Bangkok: For urban scenes, the historic Mandarin Oriental provided the “Old World” glamour that has become a staple of the series.
These are functioning hotels and businesses, not permanent studio attractions. Non-guests may need confirmed dining, spa, or activity reservations, and access to guest-only areas should never be assumed.
Gothic Moors: Wuthering Heights in Yorkshire
Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights opened in U.S. theaters on February 13, 2026. The official film site confirms the release, while VisitEngland’s filming-location guide identifies the Yorkshire Dales as the main setting for the film’s outdoor sequences.
- Swaledale and Arkengarthdale: These valleys provided the raw, windswept backdrops for Margot Robbie (Cathy) and Jacob Elordi (Heathcliff).
- Surrender Bridge: A key location for the film’s most dramatic moorland moments, surrounded by haunting, ancient mining ruins.
- Low Row: A picture-perfect stone village that served as the production’s primary filming hub.
Where to stay: For the ultimate star experience, book a room at Simonstone Hall near Hawes. This is where the lead cast stayed during filming.
Curiosity: Jacob Elordi was frequently spotted by locals at the pubs in Reeth, where he reportedly enjoyed the traditional Yorkshire hospitality between takes.
Travel Tip: Swaledale, Low Row, and the surrounding moors are rural locations rather than a formal studio tour. A car is useful for covering several stops, but use designated parking and keep narrow roads and access points clear. Bring walking boots and waterproof layers: the weather can change quickly, mobile coverage may be limited, and limestone paths become slippery when wet.
Epic Revival: Gladiator II in Malta
Malta has a long screen history, and Fort Ricasoli was used during the filming of Gladiator II. The Malta Film Commission documented production at the fort, while Visit Malta’s film guide highlights the islands’ wider movie heritage.
Fort Ricasoli is a working film and heritage site with restricted access, so do not plan on walking through the sets unless an official event or tour is announced. A more reliable itinerary combines Valletta, the Grand Harbour, Mdina, and public viewpoints around Kalkara.
Malta works especially well for set-jetting because the film connection sits alongside UNESCO-listed architecture, museums, fortifications, and short travel distances between locations.
Mythic Greece: Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey
As we approach the July 2026 release of The Odyssey, the Peloponnese region is seeing a massive surge in “Mythic Tourism.”
- Methoni Castle: This 13th-century Venetian fortress is the stunning backdrop for Odysseus’s return to Ithaca.
- Voidokilia Beach: This horseshoe-shaped cove is where Nolan filmed the highly anticipated scenes involving the Cyclops.
- Acrocorinth: The massive acropolis overlooking Corinth served as the film’s epic fortress set.
Where to stay: The cast, including Matt Damon and Zendaya, stayed at Costa Navarino, a sustainable luxury resort that is a destination in its own right.
Curiosity: Nolan reportedly insisted on using a real, 200-year-old wooden trireme (Greek warship) for sea sequences, which was shipped in specifically for the shoot.
Aclaimed Survival: Society of the Snow in Sierra Nevada
J.A. Bayona’s masterpiece Society of the Snow (La Sociedad de la Nieve) has sparked a massive interest in “prestige set-jetting” – traveling to locations that represent human endurance and natural beauty. To recreate the Andes, the production chose the high-altitude peaks of Andalusia.
- Laguna de las Yeguas: At nearly 3,000 meters above sea level, this was the primary site for the fuselage wreckage. It offers the same blinding white horizons and dramatic lighting seen in the film.
- Pradollano: This ski resort served as the production’s base camp. Visitors can take the gondola up to the higher peaks to experience the thin air and majestic silence that the actors lived through during the 138-day shoot.
- Güéjar Sierra: Visit the Cortijo de la Argumosa, where the production built a massive hangar to film the harrowing avalanche sequences.
Pro tip: The best time to visit for the full “Andes” look is between January and April, but be prepared for the high altitude.
Fantasy & Fire: House of the Dragon in Cáceres
Spain has replaced Croatia as the definitive home of the Game of Thrones universe. The medieval city of Cáceres provides the cobblestones and shadows of King’s Landing.
- Trujillo Castle: Located just a short drive away, this 9th-century fortress offers the battlements where the Targaryen’s power is truly felt. It’s a former mental health facility that lends the show its eerie, authentic vibe.
- Cáceres Old Town: A UNESCO World Heritage site where time seems to have stopped. The Plaza de Santa María is a key location for public announcements in the show.
Curiosity: The Dragon Swap; In the town of Trujillo, the production team removed the famous bronze statue of conquistador Francisco Pizarro and replaced it with a massive, life-sized Targaryen dragon to turn the town square into the heart of King’s Landing.
Other Classic Movie and TV Locations
For those who want to mix new hits with “Legacy Sets,” these classics are still trending in 2026:
- Lord of the Rings (New Zealand): Hobbiton in Matamata now allows guests to go inside the Hobbit Holes for a fully immersive lunch.
- Harry Potter (UK): The Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland remains the top spot to see the “Hogwarts Express” in action.
- Star Wars (Ireland): The rugged island of Skellig Michael continues to draw fans of the Jedi archives.
- Avengers: Doomsday (London): Keep an eye on the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, which is currently a hub for Marvel’s latest production.
- Emily in Paris (Italy): Emily’s move to Italy has made the Hotel Eden in Rome and the Rialto Bridge in Venice the most Instagrammed spots of the spring.
Practical Tips for Planning a Movie-Themed Trip
- Cluster your locations: Don’t try to see too much at once. Group nearby sets – like the Wicklow Mountains and Dublin for Wednesday – to save on travel time.
- Book themed stays early: Iconic spots like the Chief Joseph Ranch or The Royal Crescent often book out a year in advance.
- Check accessibility: Some sets are private property. Always check if a location is open to the public or requires a guided tour.
- Respect local life: Be a respectful guest. Many “sets” are actually quiet neighborhoods where people live and work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many of them are real resorts, restaurants, beaches, temples, and public spaces. Access varies. Resort guests may use areas that are closed to outside visitors, while restaurants, spas, and activities may accept advance reservations. Confirm directly with the property.
Not automatically. Public streets, parks, viewpoints, and historic centers may be free, while themed hotels, guided tours, remote transport, and limited-access heritage sites can raise the cost. The screen connection should shape the itinerary, not force every booking into the most expensive option.
Start with the production company or streaming service, a national or regional film commission, and the destination’s official tourism organization. Use entertainment databases and fan-created maps as secondary leads, not as the only evidence.
Follow opening hours, stay on marked routes, avoid trespassing, and spend money with local businesses rather than treating a community as a free outdoor set. In protected natural areas, conservation rules matter more than recreating a shot.
Why Heymondo Is Your Best Co-Star
A screen-inspired trip works best when the filming locations are part of a broader itinerary. Leave time for local food, museums, neighborhoods, and landscapes that never appeared on camera.
Set-jetting routes often combine cities, rural landscapes, ferries, trains, and timed-entry attractions in the same trip. Before you follow the story from one screen location to the next, check that your international travel insurance fits the full itinerary and the activities you plan to include – not only the first destination.
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