One of the top emerging trends in travel is "set-jetting," or traveling to filming locations for popular movies, TV shows and other entertainment.
Whether it's the backdrop for an Oscar-nominated film or a binge-able Netflix series, these impressive locales will inspire viewers to go from the couch to the real thing.
Here are some of the hottest destinations around the world for travelers embracing the set-jetting trend in 2025.
Thailand
The White Lotus will return for a third season this February, and that's positive news for Thailand's tourism industry after the hit HBO series' first two seasons sparked significant interest in Hawaii's Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea and Sicily's San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel.
Season 3 was filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui as well as other sites in Phuket and Bangkok.
Wadi Rum, Jordan
Hiker in Wadi Rum, Jordan (Photo Credit: Goway Travel/george/Adobe Stock)
From David Lean's 1962 epic Lawrence of Arabia to Denis Villeneuve’s hit Dune films and blockbusters like Star Wars and modern projects from Ridley Scott—including The Martian, Prometheus and All the Money in the World—in between, Wadi Rum is an eye-popping desert valley in southern Jordan that has been drawing film crews and thus movie fans for decades.
Italy
Italy is another popular set-jetting location abroad, boasting can't-miss sites such as Villa del Balbianello on Lake Como. The sprawling property has been featured in both the Star Wars and James Bond franchises, specifically Attack of the Clones and Casino Royale.
Agent 007 has also appeared in other famous places around Italy, including Matera, Venice and Rome.
Paris, France
The Netflix hit rom-com series Emily in Paris has only boosted the City of Light's reputation as a premier international destination. Place de l'Estrapade in the 5th Arrondissement features heavily in the series. Still, viewers will also notice famous sites like Le Grand Véfour, the Pont Alexandre III, Palais Garnier and Atelier des Lumières, among others.
The Seine River in Paris (Photo Credit: Adobe)
Paris has also served as the backdrop for a long list of beloved films, including Before Sunset, Taken and Mission: Impossible - Fallout.
London, UK
London has hosted so many classic films (Notting Hill, anyone?) and boasts a plethora of iconic landmarks that have graced the silver screen, including Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square and Wembley Stadium, to name a few.
While fans of the Harry Potter and James Bond franchises can't afford to miss out on a tour of the city's many filming locations, London has served as the backdrop for a wide range of hit films, including thrillers like A Clockwork Orange and 28 Days Later, comedies such as Bridget Jones’s Diary and Shaun of the Dead in addition to historical dramas and musicals like Napoleon, Darkest Hour and Mary Poppins.
New York City
The Big Apple is no stranger to the camera lens as it has been featured in countless movies and TV shows, including classics like When Harry Met Sally, Ghostbusters, Kramer vs. Kramer and Home Alone 2. Beloved television series like Sex and the City and Gossip Girl have also relied on New York City to help tell their stories.
People ice skating in Central Park, New York City. (Photo Credit: travnikovstudio/Adobe)
Whether it's Central Park, Times Square or the famous Plaza Hotel, New York boasts a seemingly endless list of can't-miss pop culture sites.
Nashville and Sumner County, Tennessee
Nashville continues to pump out talented artists, with many returning to the city, specifically the honky tonks of Broadway, to perform live and even shoot music videos. Post Malone and Luke Combs recently ventured downtown to record the video for "Guy for That."
Just outside of the Music City, Tennessee's Sumner County has been featured in numerous high-profile music videos, including Johnny Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt." Meanwhile, sites like Rock Castle State Historic Site and Pope John Paul II High School have been used in music videos by Miranda Lambert (White Liar) and Taylor Swift (You Belong With Me).
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