You can visit these 8 filming locations of The Odyssey

Christopher Nolan? He doesn't do anything halfway. For The Odyssey he didn't go to a green screen studio, but to the most impressive locations around the Mediterranean. Matt Damon really sailed over the open sea. The cyclops scenes were filmed in a real Greek cave and that moment in the Trojan Horse? They were really all inside a life-sized horse. So it's no wonder that this film is seen as one of Nolan's best projects ever. And you know what the best part is? You don't need a Hollywood budget to follow the same route as Odysseus. Many of these locations you can simply visit (hopefully without monsters and sea gods). Get ready for your trip, because these will definitely be on your bucket list.

1. Peloponnese, Greece

A large part of the film was shot in the Messinia region of the Peloponnese. This is an area with rugged coastlines, turquoise bays, and historical sites that show at a glance why Nolan chose them. For example, in the coastal town of Pylos, Nolan built a life-sized Trojan Horse. This is also the first stop of Odysseus’ son, Telemachus (Tom Holland), during his quest for his father. Here lives the wise old king Nestor, who fought with Odysseus in the Trojan War.

The famous cyclops scene was also filmed here, in Nestor's Cave, above the crescent-shaped Voidokilia beach. Nolan deliberately chose this location because of the surroundings. It is a large open cave filled with limestone and giant stalagmite-like stones that rise from the ground. You can already book tours that go past this cave and various other places around Mycenae – a.k.a. the ancient cultural center of the Mycenaean civilization – related to Odysseus and the Trojan War.

Do you prefer to see a castle? Then you can still go to Methoni Castle in Messinia (not to be confused with Messina in Italy). Here, scenes from Sparta were filmed, including with Lupita Nyong'o.

2. Favignana, Sicily

For the sea scenes, the cast traveled to Favignana. This is an Italian island off the west coast of Sicily. This island has been associated with Odysseus' journey for centuries (staying true to the myths, Nolan). If you really want to walk through Ithaca, the home of Odysseus, you should go to Santa Caterina Castle. Various scenes with Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland were filmed here.

Want to see more than just the water? Then you can go near Aci Trezza to the Faraglioni dei Ciclopi This is a local tradition at the stones where Polyphemus the Cyclops is said to have sat when Odysseus escaped. And the Archaeological Museum in Syracuse is really a must, if you're already here.

3. The Strait of Messina, Italy

We're still in Italy. Because Odysseus hardly leaves the country. Or rather, the seas around it. After the hero escapes from Circe, he ends up at a narrow channel filled with dangers. He can go past Scylla: a four-meter-high, six-headed dog that would love to gobble up a sailor like him. On the other side of the channel, he can go past Charybdis. That is a mysterious whirlpool that swallows the entire sea three times a day. Circe says that if he goes past Scylla, six men will die. If he goes past Charybdis, he will almost certainly lose everything. In the film, this dilemma was filmed in the Strait of Messina. This is a strait that separates Sicily from Calabria.

Of course, you can also go here. By the water, there is also a port city: Messina. It's not a typical tourist city like Taormina, but you can certainly wander around here. At the cathedral Duomo di Messina for example, which has the largest and most famous astronomical clock in the whole world.

Malta, Valletta, skyline with St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral and Carmelite Church from Sliema,

4. Gozo, Malta

After Odysseus loses all his manpower to the sun god Helios, he is the only one who survives. He washes up on the island of Ogygia, where the nymph Calypso lives. She falls in love and does everything in her power to help him recover. She feeds him, gives him shelter. She even offers him immortality, but he doesn't want that. Odysseus wants to return to his wife. And Calypso doesn't agree with that. The scenes with her were most likely filmed on the island of Gozo in Malta.

Want to visit it? Then you can take the ferry from Malta to the island. Here you have villages that are immensely quieter than on the mainland. But boring? It's not boring there. Especially if you want to see old architecture, you're in the right place. For example, visit the village of Qala, where you can see the island of Comino and the Blue Lagoon. And in the capital of Gozo, Rabat (which is commonly referred to as Victoria), you can experience the tourist dream of your life: everything you want is here, without the terrible crowds.

5. Morocco

This may not be the easiest place to visit, but everything from the Trojan War was filmed in Morocco. The recordings spread across Tahanaoute in Marrakech, El Haouz, Essaouira, and Dakhla in the south. The moments in the city of Troy were filmed in the historic center Aït Benhaddou. This area with red clay buildings is well-known, as scenes for The Mummy and Gladiator were also filmed here. The medieval city with tall towers, alleys as far as you can see, shops, and rooftop terraces is definitely worth a visit. Enjoy stepping back in time by booking a tour.

6. Iceland

Not everything in The Odyssey takes place under the Greek sun. For the roughest scenes, Christopher Nolan went to Iceland. Think of black beaches, volcanic landscapes, waterfalls, and glaciers that make you feel like you're on another planet rather than on Earth. According to the creators, the landscape had to feel just as unpredictable as Odysseus' journey itself. Mission accomplished.

The recordings took place, among other places, on the Reykjanes Peninsula, where lava fields and steaming geothermal areas alternate. If you're there, take a road trip along the waterfalls, black beaches, and hot springs. You don't have to be a Greek hero to do it, but a windproof jacket is recommended.

7. Scotland

The Scottish Highlands also played a role in the film. Here, Nolan exchanged the Mediterranean coast for green valleys, misty mountains, and mirror-smooth lakes. The landscape gives the film a completely different atmosphere, but fits perfectly with Odysseus' long, unpredictable journey.

The production settled in the area of Moray, on the northeast coast of Scotland. This is a region where rugged cliffs, deserted beaches, and ancient castles alternate. Put on your hiking boots, visit a whisky distillery, or drive the famous North Coast 500 route. There's a good chance you'll understand along the way why Nolan added this place to his epic adventure.

8. Corfu, Greece

The journey ends on Corfu. This is a green Greek island that is often associated with Scheria, the land of the Phaeacians. According to the heroic poem about Odysseus, the man washed up here before he finally returned to Ithaca. In the film, we see this UNESCO heritage site as, indeed, the place Scheria. The green nature and the old Venetian city look exactly as Homer described it. There is even a palace built as a monument to the Greek hero Achilles. This is an absolute must-see. Want to sail to the island like Odysseus? You can do that via this tour.

And yes, if you're already in Corfu, you might as well go to Corfu town. This is filled with atmospheric streets and historic buildings. After that, you can head straight to one of the many beaches or into the green hinterlands and mountains.

It will cost you a world trip, but then you will have something. Absolutely add these places and areas to your bucket list, because once you see these... Your life is truly complete.