Top 10 filming locations from around the world

Not only did the real Von Trapp family live in this storybook town, the movie classic was also filmed in and around the city. Highlights to see are The Sound of Music pavilion (the famous gazebo), Mirabell Palace and Gardens (where the children sing Do, Re, Mi), and Leopoldskron Palace (where the lakeside terrace scenes were filmed). These are a few of our favourite things …

Petra – a fascinating 10,000-year-old city hidden in the desert – was made famous thanks to its appearance in the film. Indiana Jones found the Holy Grail here, and Petra’s carved rose-red sandstone rock facades, tombs, and temples were featured. 

The charming walled city of Dubrovnik was one of the top filming locations for King's Landing, a fictional city in the TV series. The Pile Gate Entrance to Old Town was used many times, as well as Dubrovnik West Pier, Dubrovnik West Harbour and Pile Harbour.

Ta Prohm, near Angkor Wat – also known as the Tomb Raider temple – was thrust into the spotlight after the 2001 hit starring Angelina Jolie was filmed there. Visitors still queue to see the Tomb Raider tree, where Jolie’s Lara Croft picked a jasmine flower before falling through the earth. It’s found in the central sanctuary of this 12th century, jungle-engulfed temple. 

Pretty and photographic Amsterdam, with its canals and quirky architecture, has starred in many blockbusters, making it one of the best movie locations in the world. Spots from tearjerker The Fault in Our Stars are popular with visitors, including ‘the bench’ near the Koningsplein area of Amsterdam and Anne Frank House, which had its exterior used in the film. 

Prague is one of the top filming locations in the world, thanks to its Gothic architecture and cobblestone streets. The opening scenes of the 1996 Tom Cruise thriller were shot here, taking in the moonlit Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square in the city.

It’s not hard to see why fairy-tale Bruges is one of the best movie locations on earth. Cult crime comedy In Bruges, starring Colin Farrell, highlights the medieval city’s charm. Locations include Minnewater Bridge, where you see Harry, Ken and Ray's boss, arrive in the city, the Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce, the hotel where Ray and Ken are forced to share a room, and Koningin Astridpark, the spot where Ray goes to think about his life during the park scene.

Thanks to its monolithic rockscapes and golden dunes, World Heritage Site Wadi Rum is one of the best movie locations for desert films, and it made the perfect setting for David Lean’s classic 1962 flick – much of it was filmed on location there. If you plan to find some of the spots, hire a local guide to help you – you don’t want to end up lost in the desert!

If you’ve seen the Oscar award-winning film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, you’ll have noticed the wild beauty of the rugged landscapes. Canada is one of the top filming locations for movies in nature, and filming took place in multiple locations in Canada (as well as Argentina and Montana). Notable sites are Stoney First Nations Reserve near Morley Alberta, the scene of the opening battle, and Fortress Mountain in a remote corner of Alberta, where a lot of the high-elevation mountain scenes were shot.

The 2009 science-fiction movie was filmed during a winter in Soweto, on the outskirts of Johannesburg. The location was a real impoverished neighborhood and the small, metal houses depicted in the film can still be found there. While in Soweto, you can also visit Nelson Mandela’s former home, a National Heritage Site. Several scenes were also shot at Ponte City, Africa’s tallest apartment block. Watch out for UFOs!