Set-Jetting: Trips Inspired by Movies and TV Shows

Some trips start with a cheap flight alert. Others begin with a scene you can’t stop thinking about: a windswept cliff, a neon-lit city street, a sun-drenched piazza, a castle that made you whisper, “Yep, I’d live there.” That’s exactly where set jetting comes in: turning screen obsession into a real-world adventure, one filming location at a time.

From fantasy landscapes in New Zealand to elegant squares in Paris, travelers are increasingly choosing destinations because they have already “visited” them on screen. It’s part nostalgia, part curiosity, part main-character energy. And when done well, it can become more than a photo hunt: it can be a surprisingly meaningful way to connect with a place.

What set jetting really means

Set jetting is a form of travel inspired by movies and TV shows, where people visit real places used as filming locations or strongly associated with on-screen stories. It blends pop culture and tourism, but the best experiences go beyond selfies and famous backdrops.

In simple terms, it’s film tourism with a catchy name. Think of fans heading to Dubrovnik after watching Game of Thrones, booking a Sicilian escape because of The White Lotus, or traveling across the UK in search of Harry Potter locations. The appeal is obvious: stories create emotional connections, and travel lets you step inside them.

The trend has grown fast thanks to streaming platforms, social media, and the fact that many series now turn destinations into characters of their own. Sometimes the location is almost more famous than the cast. Sorry to the actors, but that dramatic coastline is stealing the scene.

Why set jetting has become such a big travel trend

Set jetting is popular because it adds emotion and familiarity to trip planning. Instead of choosing a place at random, travelers pick destinations they already associate with beauty, drama, romance, or adventure. The screen creates desire; the journey makes it tangible.

There’s a reason some places see a tourism boom after appearing in hit productions. A successful show can transform a destination overnight, making it feel instantly iconic. Travelers are not just booking a flight; they are chasing a mood, a memory, or a fantasy that already lives rent-free in their heads.

Here’s why the trend keeps growing:

• Streaming has expanded discovery: viewers now binge stories set all over the world.
• Visual inspiration is powerful: a single scene can sell a destination better than any brochure.
• Travel feels more personal: fans connect with places through characters and storylines.
• It creates built-in itineraries: filming locations, themed tours, and recognizable landmarks make planning easier.

Of course, reality and fiction are not always identical. The charming apartment from your favorite sitcom may be… a façade. The dreamy beach may be crowded. The glamorous city life may include traffic, queues, and one overpriced cappuccino that becomes part of your personal villain origin story. But that contrast is part of the fun, if you travel with the right expectations.

Iconic set jetting destinations around the world

Some destinations are now inseparable from the productions that featured them. These places attract travelers because they offer both cinematic recognition and strong local identity. The most memorable set-jetting trips combine famous scenes with authentic experiences beyond the camera angle.

Here are some of the most popular set jetting destinations and what makes them special.

New Zealand for The Lord of the Rings

New Zealand remains one of the clearest examples of screen-inspired travel. The country’s mountains, valleys, and lakes became the visual soul of The Lord of the Rings, and fans still travel there to experience that epic scale in person.

From Hobbiton in Matamata to the dramatic landscapes around Queenstown and Fiordland, the destination offers a strong mix of fantasy appeal and outdoor adventure. Even if you can’t speak fluent Elvish, you’ll still get the point once the scenery starts showing off.

Croatia for Game of Thrones

Dubrovnik became globally recognizable as King’s Landing, but its appeal goes well beyond one series. The walled old town, stone alleys, and Adriatic views make it a compelling stop for travelers who love history as much as HBO-level betrayal.

Nearby locations across Croatia and the Balkans add variety to a themed trip, especially if you want to combine filming sites with island hopping, local food, and cultural landmarks.

Sicily for The White Lotus

In Italy, Taormina and eastern Sicily gained a major spotlight thanks to The White Lotus. The show packaged the destination as stylish, dramatic, luxurious, and slightly chaotic, which, to be fair, is a very strong vacation pitch.

Visitors come for the glamorous hotel views and stay for the beaches, baroque towns, volcanic landscapes, and food that can ruin all future standards. One granita in the wrong place back home and suddenly you’re emotionally unavailable.

United Kingdom for Harry Potter and period drama lovers

The UK offers one of the richest set-jetting experiences because so many films and series were shot there. Harry Potter fans can explore locations in London, Oxford, Scotland, and Northumberland, while period drama lovers can chase manor houses, castles, and rolling countryside.

This is the kind of trip where one day you’re posing at a train platform and the next you’re pretending you’ve inherited an estate. Fully normal behavior.

Harry Potter filming locations: magical places you can visit in real life

Paris and New York for modern screen fantasies

Paris and New York City are classic examples of cities shaped by film and TV imagination. They attract set-jetters looking for romance, fashion, comedy, glamour, and a sense of urban mythology that has been built across decades of storytelling.

In Paris, visitors often seek out stylish cafés, river views, and elegant streets seen in contemporary series. In New York, the draw ranges from Sex and the City and Friends to countless rom-coms. Just remember: the giant TV apartment is fictional, but the tiny real rent is very much not.

How to plan a better set-jetting trip

A good set-jetting trip balances filming locations with the real culture of the destination. The goal is not only to recreate scenes, but also to understand the place beyond the screen. This approach makes the experience more enjoyable and more respectful.

To make your trip work in practice, focus on a few simple planning principles:

1. Choose one screen universe or region rather than cramming too many references into one itinerary.
2. Check what was filmed on location and what was shot in studio sets.
3. Travel off-season when possible to avoid crowds at popular sites.
4. Book local tours selectively if they add context rather than just photo stops.
5. Leave room for unscripted moments like markets, neighborhoods, and meals that reveal the destination’s real character.

This matters because the most satisfying set-jetting experiences do not feel like theme parks. They feel like real travel with an extra layer of meaning. You came for the movie magic, yes, but maybe you stay for the bakery around the corner, the local guide’s stories, or that viewpoint no director ever managed to improve.

Set jetting expectations vs reality

Screen-inspired travel works best when you treat fiction as inspiration, not a guarantee. Filmmaking edits, stylizes, and compresses reality. A destination may be more complex, busier, or less polished than it appears on screen, and that does not make it less worth visiting.

In fact, this gap between image and reality is one of the most interesting parts of the trend. A city can be romantic and messy. A beach can be beautiful and fragile. A glamorous location can also be a place where people actually live, work, commute, and buy boring groceries.

Here is a quick comparison to keep expectations grounded:

That’s also why responsible travel matters. Some filming locations are under pressure from overtourism, especially small towns, islands, or natural areas. Be respectful, support local businesses, and remember that not every staircase needs a full dramatic monologue reenactment. Some, sure. Not every one.

Who set jetting is perfect for

Set jetting is ideal for travelers who want a strong emotional hook for their trip. It suits film lovers, TV fans, pop-culture enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys traveling through stories, not just checklists. It also works well for couples, friends, and group travel.

It can be especially fun if you are the kind of person who:

• Remembers destinations by scenes rather than maps
• Builds playlists, moods, and aesthetics around a trip
• Likes mixing famous highlights with local discoveries
• Enjoys travel with a shared theme or narrative

And honestly, it’s not only for superfans. You don’t need to know every quote, subplot, or costume detail. Sometimes all it takes is loving the atmosphere of a place you saw on screen and deciding, very reasonably, that your next holiday should look a little more cinematic.

Travel like the credits are about to roll

Set jetting turns screen time into travel inspiration, but the best trips happen when cinematic curiosity meets real-world openness. Famous filming locations may get you there, yet it’s the local food, landscapes, conversations, and surprises that make the destination truly memorable.

So yes, chase the castle, the piazza, the cliff, the café, the tiny alley where your favorite scene happened. Take the photo. Enjoy the reference. But also let the place interrupt the script a little. That’s usually where the best part begins.

If a film or TV series has put a destination on your radar, it might be the perfect time to discover the WeRoad group trips for that place and experience it with people ready for their own unforgettable plot twist.