Set-Jetting in 2026: 10 TV & Film Locations That Belong on Your Travel List

Travel has always been about storytelling — the tales we hear before we go, the ones we create while we’re there, and the memories we bring home. But in recent years, a new kind of storytelling has taken over our screens and our suitcases: set-jetting.

This is the art of travelling to places you’ve first fallen in love with through film, TV, or even books. Think of it as travel with an extra layer of magic — because when you stand on a street where your favourite character once walked, or look out across a landscape you’ve only ever seen framed in a cinema shot, it’s as if the story suddenly becomes your own.

In 2026, set-jetting is one of the most exciting travel trends. From Parisian romance to volcanic adventures in New Zealand, these destinations are luring fans not just with familiar backdrops, but with the promise of culture, cuisine, and experiences that go far beyond the credits.

Here are 10 film and TV-inspired destinations where you can step inside the story.

Paris has always been a dream for travellers, but Netflix’s Emily in Paris reignited the city’s allure for a new generation. It painted a picture of Paris as whimsical, romantic, and impossibly chic — and while the reality is less filtered, it’s just as captivating.

Yes, you can snap a photo outside Emily’s apartment in Place de l’Estrapade, but the real magic is in lingering over café crème in a Montmartre bistro, getting lost in the narrow lanes of Le Marais, or stepping into the Palais Garnier to marvel at its golden opulence. Paris is not just a set — it’s a living, breathing city of layers.

Cultural Layer: Paris has always been at the crossroads of art, politics, and philosophy. Strolling through Saint-Germain, you’re following in the footsteps of Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Hemingway. The city thrives on reinvention, yet its soul never changes.

Insider Tip: Avoid peak summer if you can. Autumn is enchanting, with fewer crowds and golden leaves in the Jardin du Luxembourg. A travel consultant can secure boutique stays that feel authentically Parisian, far from the tourist churn.

Emily’s Roman holiday is about to put the Eternal City on a whole new pedestal. While Paris was about whimsy, Rome will no doubt showcase grandeur, drama, and timelessness. For travellers, Rome offers the intoxicating mix of ancient ruins, Renaissance splendour, and trattorias where recipes have barely changed in a century.

On-Screen Meets Real Life: Imagine Emily tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain, but picture yourself there at dawn, with the marble glowing pink in the first light and barely another soul around. The Colosseum, often buzzing with thousands of tourists, can feel entirely different with a private guide who takes you into its underground chambers where gladiators once waited for battle.

Cultural Layer: Rome is a city built in layers — pagan temples beneath Christian basilicas, Renaissance piazzas atop Roman forums. Each stone tells a story of reinvention.

Insider Tip: Rome rewards pacing yourself. Stay in Trastevere, a neighbourhood alive with ivy-clad alleys and trattorias, then let a consultant curate experiences like after-hours tours of the Vatican Museums or cooking classes with a Roman nonna.

The success of Outlander sparked an influx of travellers to the Scottish Highlands, but the truth is: the Highlands need no TV show to prove their cinematic worth. Rolling moors, misty lochs, and craggy castles feel like they’ve been waiting for centuries to be filmed.

Walking through Glencoe, where the valley floor seems to swallow you whole, you understand why the show chose it as a backdrop for passion and drama. Doune Castle — a medieval fortress in Stirling — might be familiar from the screen, but in person, it’s the echoes of history that stay with you.

Cultural Layer: Scotland’s landscapes are more than scenery — they’re woven into folklore, from selkies to giants. Outlander tours often weave these myths in, adding texture to what you see.

Insider Tip: Pair your Outlander itinerary with whisky tastings, ceilidhs in village pubs, and perhaps a stay in a country house hotel. A consultant can arrange guides who are not just drivers but storytellers, bringing the past alive.

Dubrovnik has gone from a well-kept secret to the beating heart of Game of Thrones tourism. Known on-screen as King’s Landing, its marble streets and mighty walls are unmistakable. But the magic isn’t just about what you’ve seen on TV — it’s about how it feels to wander the walls at sunset, sea breeze on your face, church bells echoing below.

On-Screen Meets Real Life: Jesuit Stairs, where Cersei made her “walk of shame,” lead down to a lively square with cafés and gelato stands. Fort Lovrijenac, the Red Keep, towers above turquoise waters where kayakers glide past.

Cultural Layer: Dubrovnik has been an independent republic, a maritime superpower, and a UNESCO treasure. Its resilience, much like its walls, is legendary.

Insider Tip: Cruise crowds can overwhelm in summer. Consultants often recommend staying in Cavtat, a quieter seaside town, with easy boat access to Dubrovnik — and can book early-access tours to film sites before the rush.

Few movies have showcased nature like Jurassic Park. Kualoa Ranch on Oahu is the real star, with its sweeping valleys and cliffs — a landscape so prehistoric it barely needed Hollywood’s help. Visiting the ranch, you can see the famous “Gallimimus stampede” valley, or take an ATV through jungle trails where film sets still stand.

Beyond the Movies: Hawaii is about more than film nostalgia. It’s about black-sand beaches, fiery volcanoes, and Aloha culture. On Kauai, the Na Pali Coast is so stunning it feels almost otherworldly; on Maui, the sunrise from Haleakalā Crater will leave you speechless.

Cultural Layer: Hawaiian culture is rich with traditions of hula, storytelling, and navigation by stars — layers often missed by casual visitors.

Insider Tip: Each island has its own personality. A consultant can help you choose: Oahu for buzz, Kauai for raw beauty, Maui for luxury, or Big Island for adventure.

New York has long been a co-star in its own right, but Sex and the City turned the city into a fantasy of friendship, fashion, and fabulousness. Fans flock to Carrie’s West Village stoop, sip Cosmos at rooftop bars, and linger in Magnolia Bakery over cupcakes.

Beyond Carrie’s Heels: New York is a city of neighbourhoods. Uptown jazz clubs, Brooklyn flea markets, Queens’ food stalls — each borough feels like a different world.

Cultural Layer: New York embodies reinvention. Every wave of immigrants has left its mark, from Little Italy’s trattorias to Chinatown’s dim sum halls.

Insider Tip: Consultants can plan a themed SATC tour but balance it with tickets to Broadway, gallery openings in Chelsea, or foodie experiences in Brooklyn.

New Zealand is arguably the holy grail of set-jetting. The rolling green hills of Hobbiton, the volcanic deserts of Mordor, and the fjords of Milford Sound — it’s all here, larger than life. Hobbiton in Matamata is the star, where you can stroll past Bag End, pint in hand at The Green Dragon Inn.

Beyond Middle-earth: New Zealand is a playground of adventure: bungy-jumping in Queenstown, wine tours in Marlborough, glow-worm caves in Waitomo.

Cultural Layer: The Maori connection to land is deep and spiritual — experiencing a haka or visiting a marae gives you context beyond the films.

Insider Tip: Distances are vast. A consultant can build a self-drive itinerary with the right pacing — or even book private helicopter flights over those landscapes you’ve only seen on screen.

Seoul’s rise as a global cultural capital is nothing short of meteoric. Squid Game brought it to the world stage, but it’s K-dramas and K-pop that keep travellers coming. You’ll find neon-lit shopping streets in Myeongdong, ancient palaces like Gyeongbokgung, and entire theme tours around filming sites.

Beyond the Screen: Seoul is about contrasts — a temple garden tucked behind skyscrapers, or a centuries-old market buzzing beside high-tech boutiques.

Cultural Layer: South Korea’s heritage is inseparable from its food — try kimchi-making classes or hanbok dress-up experiences.

Insider Tip: A consultant can help pair Seoul with Jeju Island, Korea’s volcanic escape, or secure guides who speak both Korean and English, opening doors you might not find alone.

Ireland wears its cinematic roles well, whether it’s the intimate coming-of-age moments in Normal People or the galactic drama of Star Wars on Skellig Michael. Both highlight Ireland’s unique blend of raw beauty and storytelling culture.

Don’t Miss: Skellig Michael requires a boat trip and a steep climb — but the views are otherworldly. In Sligo, beaches stretch for miles, and pubs resound with music that feels like it’s been played for centuries.

Cultural Layer: Ireland’s strength is its people — storytellers, musicians, and warm hosts. Every pint poured comes with a tale.

Insider Tip: Consultants can book limited Skellig Michael landing permits (which sell out quickly) and weave in Wild Atlantic Way road trips with boutique castle stays.

Morocco’s Ait Ben Haddou has doubled as everything from ancient Rome in Gladiator to Essos in Game of Thrones. Its mud-brick kasbahs glow red in the desert sun, a vision that feels timeless. But Morocco offers far more: the energy of Marrakesh’s souks, the calm of Atlas Mountain villages, and the stillness of Sahara nights under endless stars.

Cultural Layer: Moroccan hospitality is legendary. Staying in a riad means mornings with mint tea in mosaic courtyards and evenings with tagines served by candlelight.

Insider Tip: A consultant can arrange a private driver to weave together Morocco’s diverse regions — crucial in a country where distances are long and journeys can be complex.

Set-jetting isn’t just about seeing a location — it’s about experiencing it in the right way. But behind the glamour of filming spots are real-life challenges: tickets that sell out months ahead, attractions swamped with fans, and tours that can feel generic.

That’s where a travel consultant makes all the difference.

I'll:

• Unlock private and after-hours experiences.
• Tailor itineraries to balance filming sites with cultural depth.
• Handle logistics, from transfers to guides to hard-to-get reservations.
• Be there if things change — a delayed boat to Skellig Michael or a cancelled train in Italy doesn’t ruin your trip when you have backup plans ready.

Set-jetting is about walking into the worlds you’ve seen on screen. With me, it becomes more than that: it becomes the holiday of a lifetime, crafted to your story.