Hopping On The Set-Jetting Travel Trend? Here Are 5 Popular Filming Locations To Visit IRL
Live your "Emily In Paris" dreams in the City of Lights
There’s always been a curiosity for places that appear on screen, be it the wonderfully preserved Dubrovnik in Croatia (made popular by Game of Thrones) or the Park Hyatt Shinjuku in Tokyo, the setting for Lost in Translation.
With the constant churn of content and viewers around the world binge-watching at the same time, arrives an emerging travel trend — set-jetting. It’s exactly as it sounds: travelling to destinations where films or shows were made.
Pop culture shaping the world is nothing new, but its influence on travel habits has shown how persuasive it can be when it comes to decision-making. This year’s American Express Travel Trends Report states that “70% of Gen-Z and Millennial respondents agree that they have been inspired to visit a destination after seeing it featured in a TV show, news source, or movie. 61% of these younger travellers say they have chosen a destination because it looks great in photos/videos — compared to just 49% of respondents overall.”
So, we’re sharing five of the most popular set-jetting destinations and a real-life tip, should you decide to go on a blockbuster-inspired holiday.
When it was released on Netflix at the height of the pandemic, Emily in Paris was just the type of escapism we needed. Now that travel is back, throngs of fans are heading to the City of Light with their equally colourful outfits, sometimes not to the delight of locals. From Jardin du Palais Royal to the pretty rue de l’Abreuvoir in Montmartre, there are tours and guides (like this one) catering to the strong demand of Emily wannabes.
Tip: If you fancy a baguette over a pain au chocolat, head to Au levain des Pyrénées boulangerie in the 20th arrondissement. Its baker, Tharshan Selvarajah, has just created the winning baguette at the Baguette Grand Prix 2023.
The second season of The White Lotus was mesmerising for many reasons, but perhaps mostly for the stunning setting: Sicily. Front and centre was the San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel, a 14-century convent turned luxury hotel whose suites are etched in memory. This summer, the cliffside pool is home to a DG Resort collaboration, with its beautiful umbrellas and sun loungers bedecked in blue and white Dolce & Gabbana fabrics.
Tip: If you can’t nab a room at San Domenico Palace, try your luck at another iconic Taormina property, Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo. The hotel has a pop-up Dior Spa treehouse, open until October.
There are so many films and series done in the Big Apple that the city sometimes feels like a giant set. But for Sex and the City, New York was not just a location but a character in itself. It’s a show that couldn’t have been done anywhere, a fact that we’re revelling in again with HBO Max’s And Just Like That. With the second season of AJLT in full swing, both original and new viewers are enjoying seeing Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda (and reportedly Samantha) traipse around NYC in their showstopping outfits.
Tip: Magnolia Bakery rose to fame thanks to SATC, but there are plenty of other pastry havens in NYC. For one: Dominique Ansel, inventor of the cronut, which has released the trending What-a-Melon Soft Serve only available this summer at their Soho location.
Downton Abbey may have piqued interest in England’s historic buildings, but it was Bridgerton that cemented it. Most of this fun, period-themed show was filmed in the historic city of Bath, which is already a tourist darling. Don’t miss the Abbey Green’s cobbled streets and unique, irregularly shaped square, which appears extensively in Season 1.
Tip: Itching to stay in a Regency-inspired hotel or bed and breakfast? The tourism department of Bath has done the hard work for you.
When you think of the raw, lush Irish countryside, the image on your mind is probably close to Achill Island. This, as well as the equally stunning Aran Islands, were chosen as the locations of Martin McDonagh’s award-winning film The Banshees Of Inisherin. It can take a while to get to these islands, but the journey is worth it for the incredible views and rural isolation that every urbanite craves.
Tip: You’re actually able to enjoy a pint at JJ Devine’s Pub, which was recently rebuilt and opened in Galway. Slainte!
Text: Kissa Castaneda/HerWorld