This is where you want to go: the 7 places from your favourite films and series
Atop Valletta's city wall, I suddenly saw a familiar scene before me. Cercei being chased through the city by a bunch of delusional believers. You have to have some Game of Thrones knowledge to see this (pretty important) moment in the series before you. But what about the train on the bridge in Harry Potter, the misty mountains in The Hobbit, the up and coming Greek scene in Mamma Mia!? Pretty cool locations that you might want to have seen once anyway? A few suggestions to tick off.
1. Valletta in Malta so
Not only to see where Game of Thrones was set, but also to relive The Da Vinci Code, Troy and Murder on the Orient Express. Valletta is the setting for more films and series than you might think. And besides, it's really awesome as a city trip, just read why.
2. By rail as Harry Potter
From track 9 3/4 this train may not depart, but boarding The Jacobite in Fort William and travelling by train to Mallaig is the closest you are going to get to Harry Potter and the Hogwarts Express. Over the legendary Glenfinnan viaduct where the world-famous train scene was shot. The train journey in Scotland is said to be an experience in itself through the highlands.
3. Mamma Miaaa, here we go again
This one is at the top of my list because: Greece and quite a challenge to get to too, making it fairly quiet. You fly into Skiathos and continue by ferry to Skopelos. Of course you can visit the little church of the wedding on top of the rocks, as well as the many beaches from the film. But the most fun, of course, is to cruise around on your own and stop wherever it seems nice (and tasty) to you.
4. My precious in New Zealand
For the better The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit work, New Zealand is the place to be. Where the mountains were the model for Middle Earth. Small note: the country is so stooped under film tourism that you won't be allowed to hike through Matamata all at once. But not to worry: the North Island still has 149 locations where scenes from the films were shot. Of course, tours can be booked. Misty Mountains on and go.
5. Where Game of Thrones began
Nice of course, Malta, like Croatia, but the first season really started in Northern Ireland. You'll even find most of the Seven Kingdoms' locations in Ireland. Cross the Dothraki Sea, see the home of the Starks or walk along Kingsroad? A trip to Ireland is where to start.
6. Into the jungle with Jack Sparrow
Remember when Captain Sparrow was stranded on a jungle-like island and ended up having to flee from cannibals? Pretty miraculous but true: this turns out to be the most popular location to look up from that film. You would think of that one snow-white beach or that cute port town, but no, the jungle and cannibals seem to have a magnetic effect. You have to go to the island of Dominica in (but of course) the Caribbean.
7. For old times’ sake
Do my dear, my female deer. For the ultimate pastime, travel to Salzburg, where the Von Trapps sang together on the alpine meadow in The Sound of Music. Visit the Nonnberg Monastery to see where Maria really lived and wander through the Mirabellgarten, where Do-Re-Mi was recorded. Not surprising, by the way, if you get nostalgic: around half a million tourists a year still travel to Salzburg courtesy of the film. Even if father Von Trapp's employer was rather dubious in retrospect.
8. Living like the Van Der Woodsens
Remember when Serena and family had a temporary home in a hotel? This was The Palace and so you can actually eat, drink and sleep there. The hotel even has a Gossip Girl package, so you can sip cocktails à la Serena. You do have to shell out a bit, as a room quickly costs more than six hundred dollars, but then you're in style.
And unfortunately, for Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls, you really have to go to Warner Bros.
