Ever notice how one killer TV scene can make you want to grab your passport? TV does that! The magic of “location, location, location” goes above and beyond real estate — it’s catnip for travel lovers and pop culture junkies alike. Production crews drop into sleepy towns or historic cities, and suddenly, millions want what the camera sees. Want to walk in the footsteps of your favorite character? Great news: You actually can. Let’s pack our (imaginary) suitcases and take a globe-spanning, ticket-grabbing look at iconic TV show filming spots you can actually visit.
Dubrovnik, Croatia – King’s Landing, Reimagined
If you watched Game of Thrones and didn’t fall for Dubrovnik’s dramatic stone walls, you may need to rewatch. HBO’s mega-hit draped this gorgeous Croatian city in medieval intrigue. Dubrovnik wasn’t just another filming backdrop. It was King’s Landing, home to backstabbers, schemers, and those dragons everyone kept talking about.
- The city’s 13th-century ramparts became the Red Keep.
- Fort Lovrijenac doubled as the fortress.
- The Jesuit Staircase? That infamous “walk of shame.”
Tourism boomed. In fact, bookings jumped an eye-opening 120% between 2014 and 2016, according to well-documented travel data and byarcadia.org.
Fans pour in by the thousands. You’ll spot dozens every day patiently reenacting Cersei’s slow, painful walk down the Old Town stairs. But there’s more! Dozens of walking tours weave through those recognizable alleys, and a handful of self-guided apps let you take your own throne — er, time. Don’t forget ice cream breaks along Stradun.
Even so, Dubrovnik wrestles with its fame. City officials now meter crowds and limit cruise-ship traffic, aiming to keep the Old Town intact for future generations of — let’s be real — TV nerds.
Albuquerque, New Mexico – Land of Walter White
Breaking Bad didn’t just break TV rules. It made Albuquerque a pilgrimage site. Walter White, Jesse Pinkman, Gus Fring — they all hustled across the city’s sun-baked streets. Viewers got big drama and a tantalizing window into the American Southwest.
Now, fans can soak it all up in real life.
Here’s the rundown:
- Twisters (a.k.a. Los Pollos Hermanos): Grab a burrito, snap a selfie, channel your inner kingpin.
- Walter White’s car wash: Yes, you can drive through it.
- Saul Goodman’s strip-mall office: The local shops still buzz nearby.
You’ll find official Breaking Bad tours winding through favorite haunts and corners. Or, for the renegade, why not DIY your own dusty odyssey? Albuquerque’s tourism board even leans into the fame — Google Maps can point you to every blue-rock candy shop in town.
The “Heisenberg Effect” paid off. City officials happily credit the show for sparking international curiosity and a hefty boost in local tourism reports. And that’s not just spin. There’s numbers to back it up. So, death-defying science teachers aside, this New Mexico town enjoys its rep as TV’s baddest — and baddest — backdrop.
Highclere Castle, England – Downton Abbey Royalty
Care for high tea with your binge-watch? Highclere Castle, home to the real-world Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, served as Downton Abbey during ITV’s global hit. Those lush lawns and baroque interiors weren’t CGI. Hundreds of episodes unfolded right on this English estate.
There’s more:
- Step up the grand staircase from the show’s opening credits.
- Peer into Lady Mary’s bedroom.
- Enjoy the downtime at a café in the rolling gardens.
The castle remains open for much of the year, but book early. Tours sell out — sometimes months in advance. Occasionally, themed events across the year transform Highclere into a playground for costume-clad superfans. And eager to squeeze more from its fame, the estate frequently mounts Downton-flavored exhibits showing how fiction meets historical fact.
Downton Abbey busted Lord Grantham’s financial woes, too. Admission money helped fund major repairs for the historic property. TV, it seems, pays in more ways than one.
Katz’s Delicatessen, New York – Seinfeld and So Much Salami
Katz’s Deli may have landed its biggest Hollywood moment with When Harry Met Sally, but Larry, Jerry, Elaine, and George added to its legend. The more you dig, the more you realize — Katz’s pretty much is New York in sandwich form.
The “Seinfeld” effect lives on:
- You can literally point out your table (“That one! Right there!”).
- The décor still screams classic Manhattan kitsch.
- Pastrami on rye? As delicious as ever.
The deli’s kept its musty, meat-market vibe. It even offers “Send a salami to your boy in the Army” gift packs. The queues snake out the door, especially after an episode rerun.
Katz’s isn’t just a tourist trap. Locals eat here. Hardcore food fans worship here. And every so often, a cosplaying Elaine tries her best little kicks by the soda fountain. The magic of TV, folks.
Malibu Creek State Park, California – MAS*H’s Unlikely Korea
Another day, another iconic transformation. Malibu Creek State Park, tucked in the rolling hills outside Los Angeles, became the Korean front line in MASH*. The choppers, the swamps, the dirt paths — they’re all there, minus the gunfire and Hawkeye’s wisecracks.
Adventurous fans can hike marked trails to the old shooting ground. Drop into the main clearing, and you’ll spot:
- The battered signpost from the 4077th,
- Rusted vehicles, remnants from filming days gone by,
- Plenty of interpretative plaques telling behind-the-scenes stories.
If you squint (and ignore the Malibu sunshine) you’ll feel plugged directly into TV’s most-watched finale. Plus, it’s nearly free — just the price of park admission and some sturdy boots.
Over 30 years have passed, yet fans still come to take a selfie with that signpost. Some things — like Trapper John’s jokes — never get old.
Taormina, Sicily – The White Lotus Season 2 Glamour
Sicily had its moment in the TV sun with The White Lotus season two. Most scenes were shot at the glamorous San Domenico Palace in Taormina. The drama on-screen: wild. The rooms in real life: even wilder.
Book a stay (if you dare — this hotel became one of Europe’s hottest tickets after HBO aired the season). Or just stroll the town’s winding lanes, uncovering:
- Ancient Greek amphitheaters,
- Bustling Sicilian piazzas,
- Lemon trees and perfect sea views.
After The White Lotus’s debut, the hotel reported a six-month block of full bookings. Tour groups now run “White Lotus sightseeing walks” throughout Taormina, and fans crowd the piazza for selfies, Aperol spritz in hand.
It’s not just a boom for luxury hotels. Local restaurants doubled down on Sicilian specialties, eager to feed fans arriving with dollar signs in their eyes. Travel and TV? Always a delicious match.
Pohang, South Korea – Breezy Vibes from Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
Next, pack your imaginary surfboard. The seaside town of Pohang, South Korea, isn’t just scenic — it’s the heart of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. Locals watched as the Netflix K-drama catapulted their humble fishing port into international must-see status.
Key stops for fans:
- The red lighthouse at Cheongjin Port, now a social media superstar.
- Coastal walks that show off the series’ endless blue skies.
- Cozy seafood bistros, exactly like those on-screen.
Since the show’s 2021 debut, local travel boards saw record numbers. According to The Korea Herald and series-related tourist reports, hotels booked up across the region. Now, integrated tours mix food tastings and romantic set visits, pulling visitors from every corner of the globe.
Locals play along, too. Many now offer “Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha” guided walks. If you’re lucky, you’ll even run into some of the fishermen who watched filming up close.
Nashville, Tennessee – Where Music Meets the Screen
You can’t talk set-jetting without a little country twang. ABC’s Nashville didn’t need to fake location magic. The real city unfolded as a series regular, with all the lights, guitars, heartbreak, and honky-tonk paint.
Essential spots for the hopeful:
- The Bluebird Café, ground zero for heart-wrenching performances and unexpected plot twists.
- Broadway’s bars and music halls.
Visit during festival season, and you’ll bump elbows with country’s rising stars. City tours make sure to include all the best Nashville references, with plenty of real-life music mixed in.
After the show’s successful run, travel authorities credited it with a measurable spike. More visitors now plan their trip specifically for those bluegrass-laced walking tours. Even after the last curtain on TV, the legacy lingers, picked out one guitar note at a time.
And There You Have It…
TV transforms ordinary spaces into shrines, and fans gobble it up. Every trip to Dubrovnik’s city walls, a sandwich at Katz’s, or a hike in Malibu Creek — these moments deliver both the fantasy and the flesh-and-blood proof we crave.
What’s next? Maybe your next big trip. Or maybe you just found your new bucket-list spot. TV tourism is here to stay, turning casual fans into globe-trotting, trivia-rich explorers. And honestly, who could blame you for wanting just one more travel selfie with a side of small-screen magic? Keep those bags half-packed — you never know which TV world will pull you in next.
