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May 23, 2015 at 04:20 PM

34 Fictional Places We Wish We Could Visit

Do you find yourself wishing to be taken to Hogwarts? Or Willy Wonka’s factory? Or any of those several places which you grew up reading about? You are a lover of fiction and truly understand that citylights are nothing but monotony unless interspersed between appearances by Superman. Here are some of the places from the world of fiction which you would love to visit :

1. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

From the harry potter series.

You have been waiting for your letter all this while, haven’t you? And why not! Who doesn’t want to go where photos can move and talk? Where you can meet a hippogriff? Where you can find a room which you really need? Where you can play Quidditch?

2. Willy Wonka’s Factory

From charlie and the chocolate factory.

Who doesn’t love chocolate? And all things sweet? Now imagine a place where everything seems to be made of chocolate – the floor, trees, even a waterfall! All your dreams about plucking chocolate and candies from trees come alive here. Not to forget the opportunity to enjoy the company of the wacky, eccentric owner Mr. Willy Wonka.

3. The Emerald City

From the wonderful world of oz.

Imagine the thrill of taking the yellow brick road to the emerald city. The beauty all around, not to forget the magic. Though there are evil witches, there is a lot of happiness in this place.

4. The Galaxy

From star wars.

A galaxy where space travel is commonplace. Who wouldn’t want to go there? Aren’t you always dreaming of setting foot on the moon? If you were a resident of this galaxy, you could do so much more! Not to forget the light sabers.

5. Gotham City

From the batman series.

The caped crusader’s city. Though it is a city of crime, it is also a really interesting city to be in. And imagine, you could run into Batman at any point of time! Or at least be working at Wayne Industries.

6. Xavier’s Academy

From the x-men series.

The institute for mutants is a safe haven for anyone who is different. They are taught how to harness their energy. Not to mention the fact that the likes of Wolverine and Jean will be living there.

From the Thor Series

The Kingdom of Odin, Asgard is a place of plenty. It is scientifically advanced, and the place Loki calls home. The magnificence of the place shines through in its architecture. And who hasn’t dreamt of wearing the grand clothes that Natalie Portman sports in Asgard?

8. Neverland

From peter pan.

A place where you can refuse to grow up! Who doesn’t want to live there? Also I would love to have Tinkerbell for a friend.

9. The Shire

From the hobbit and the lord of the rings.

There is food in plenty and there are happy faces everywhere you look. What more does one need? Adventure in the air! The Shire has all of this to offer.

From The Chronicles of Narnia

Aslan’s country is beautiful, though filled with dangers. Cair Paravel would be amazing to stay at. So would Mr. Tumnus’s house.

11. Hogsmeade

The place all the students from Hogwarts head to for a break. It has all interesting places to eat like the Three Broomsticks. And the candy shop Honeydukes! And the Zonko’s joke shop!

12. Malgudi

From swami and his friends.

The innocence of childhood is best re-lived here. Though people speculate that Malgudi is inspired by Coimbatore or Yadavgiri, it is difficult to pinpoint one place. R. K. Narayan built a village of memories which is so close to reality yet so far.

13. Rivendell

From the hobbit.

The beautiful city of Elves is hospitable and cheerful. All their singing and dancing can cheer up anyone. Not to forget their food. It is not called the Last Homely Home for no reason!

14. Diagon Alley

The place where all the amazing bookshops and other magical goods stores are found in the wizarding world. The best place in the world I say. Keep out of the way of knockturn alley.

15. The Gatsby Mansion

From the great gatsby.

There might be a thousand problems with this world – decadence and insensitivity. But it is still the place where Gatsby, the endearing lover, the ernest friend lives. I would love to attend one of his parties and of course to get to know him better.

16. Swallow Falls

From cloudy with a chance of meatballs.

We can only dream of a place where it rains food. And not just one kind of food. Though yes, no one wants to be buried beneath a pile of food.

17. King’s Landing

From the game of thrones series.

The beauty of the land hides the dangers from an onlooker. Though chances of survival here are difficult, it would definitely be worth it to visit the place and walk on all the roads like the Gold road, the Rose road.

18. South Park

From south park.

The highly offensive world of Stan, Kyle, Kenny and Cartman is the ideal place to find ones voice. Not every world allows that. We know for a fact that this world doesn’t.

19. Pandora

From avatar.

The beautiful colors which symbiotically come together on this moon is just magnificent. The whole place pulsates with life which is like poetry.

20. Lilliput

From gulliver’s travels.

21. Cooper Station

From interstellar.

The place where time and space come together beautifully. Cooper meets life again here. And the farm which was his home on Earth was also found by him there.

22. Pemberly

From pride and prejudice.

We know what a gentleman Darcy was. He played a gracious host to Elizabeth and her uncle and aunt when they come calling. It would be great to pay a visit to his estate.

23. Godric’s Hollow

The place where The Chosen One was born. The place where The Dark Lord was defeated by Lily. Lots of emotions are attached with this place. Not just for Harry but for all of the wizarding world.

24. Jurassic Park

From the jurassic park series.

A world where dinosaurs come alive. Danger is ever present but so is adventure.

25. Pokemon World

From pokemon.

I grew up wishing I could have taken a similar journey as Ash’s. ‘Gotta catch ’em all’ is the mantra of life in this land.

26. Capitol

From the hunger games.

The architecture is top notch. Their sense of fashion is non-pareil. Though they are a highly capitalist lot, there is a lot to look at in the Capitol.

27. Bikini Bottom

From spongebob squarepants series.

Spongebob Squarepants lives in a pineapple in the city of Bikini Bottom. The underwater city is beautifully cute.

28. Townsville

From the powerpuff girls.

The place where Blossoms, Bubbles and Buttercup fight all kinds of monsters and save the day. Mojo Jojo is the cutest villain possible. Wouldn’t you love to pay them a visit?

29. Toyland

The place which is home to all the good toys in the world. It is one thing owning a lot of toys. It would be amazing to visit a city of toys and be driven around by Noddy in his red and yellow taxi.

30. Central Perk

From f.r.i.e.n.d.s..

The service here is lousy. And the best seats are always taken. But by a group of people you would love to meet!

31. Dragonstone

The castle is so majestic that people find it hard to believe that it was not constructed magically. The prominence of dragon motifs makes the castle beautiful.

From Family Guy

The place the Griffins live in, Quahog is inspired by the place the creator MacFarlane lived in, earlier in life. Any fan would die to go visit them here.

33. The Wood Between The Worlds

The place Polly and Digory reach by using their stupid uncle’s magical rings, is the gateway to many different worlds. Imagine, not just Charn and Narnia, but countless worlds to be explored!

34. Springfield

From the simpsons.

The Simpsons are perhaps one of the most loved families. They live in Springfield where their story unfolds through the sitcom. It would be amazing to meet Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart and all the others!

All these places hold a special place in our hearts. Where would you like to go?

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Fictional places we’d love to visit (and what to visit instead)!

Home » Destination Guides » Fictional places we’d love to visit (and what to visit instead)!

Have you ever wondered how it would be to live in the world of the last movie you watched or the last historical fiction book you read? We have… always. There are a lot of fictional places we’d love to visit and, since there are so many ideas out there, we figured it’d be a good idea to make a list. BUT, this is not only a list of cool places we want to visit, after each fictional destination, you’ll find suggestions so you can satisfy that craving!

1) Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

This is a no-brainer. Who wouldn’t love to be in Hogwarts? And, who wouldn’t want to discover that they’re a witch or a wizerd ? The appeal of Hogwarts, besides the fact that it’s full of magic, is the castle (and surroundings) in itself. It’d be so cool to visit the common rooms, sleep in the dormitories, go to the dungeons, and have a stroll in the Forbidden Forest (with Hagrid, of course).

Where to go instead

You can go to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios , Florida or you can take the tour around the studios where the movie was shot near London. The last one is a bit expensive but we tell you how to get the most of it (and save some bucks) here . For a  real-life location, go to Alnwick Castle in England.

2) Rivendell

Going from one franchise to another! Who wouldn’t want to visit this paradise in the Middle-earth? Rivendell is a hidden valley full of green, great weather, and elves. From the sights we get of it in The Hobbit, we just want to take strolls around the forest, jump in the crystal-clear rivers, and take some cool photos of al the waterfalls. And what about the architecture? Come on! This would be a dream place for architecture lovers .

It is believed that Rivendell is based in Lauterbrunnental in Switzerland. From the photos we just saw, it’s the perfect place to visit if you want to experience something like Rivendell (minus the elves).

Wakanda FOREVEEEEEEER! In the Marvel Universe, Wakanda is a fictional place in Africa. Although outsiders don’t know it, Wakanda is home to some of the most technological advanced artifacts. And this is the main reason we’d love to go, to see all those things in real life! What is also very interesting about Wakanda is that it truly mixes African culture with everything futuristic, Afrofuturism.

We read this interview with the production designer of Black Panther and from that, we suggest you should visit South Africa , Zambia, or Uganda if you want to see the real places that inspired the movie.

One of the reasons we want to visit Narnia is because of the talking animals. Just imagine having a conversation with a rabbit… or lion… or any other animal! But, besides the awesome animals, we believe Narnia would be a perfect destination for all those who love nature. Narnia is mostly green with forests and valleys. As a side note, we’d only like to visit during the Golden Age when the Pevensies are the rulers.

The movie was shot in several places like the UK, Czech Republic, and Australia. But, if we could suggest New Zealand. In this post , you can find all the filming locations of Narnia in that country.

According to Princess Leia, “Naboo represents the best of the old Republic.” It’s worth a visit. Part of the reason we’d love to visit is because of its pastures and green areas. The buildings are also interesting, no? But beyond that, another interesting thing to explore is its  core . As you know if you’re a Star Wars fan, this planet has no molten core. Instead, it has tunnels and caves. Wouldn’t it be exciting to explore?

Sevilla to see the Plaza de España (which is the Palace in Naboo) and the Blue Grotto in Italy for interesting caves to explore.

Straight from the mind of Gabriel García Márquez, one of the most important authors in the world. Macondo is the fictional town where A Hundred Years of Solitude happens. In the world of the book, Macondo is a place between the mountains and a pristine river with white stones. What we’d love to visit is the house of the Buendía and the Alchemy Laboratory of José Arcadio Buendía.

Gabriel García Márquez is Colombian and he based his description of Macondo in his hometown, Aracataca . It’s a beautiful Colombian town where you can also visit the house where Gabriel García Márquez was born!

7) Gotham City

For the brave ones! Gotham City might not seem like the safest, most attractive city in the world but wouldn’t you want to live in a world where superheroes and supervillains actually exist? Imagine reading the newspaper and finding out about a new superheroine called Poison Ivy! I mean… wow! Not the safest city but very exciting.

New York, of course. But, also there are other cities that have inspired the depiction of Gotham City in pop culture, like Chicago, Los Angeles , London, Hong Kong , and Detroit.

8) Atlantis

There are a lot of references to Atlantis in pop culture so you already know about this mythical city. It’s a mythical island Plato mentioned once and we’re sure he wasn’t expecting for it to blow up like this! According to pop culture, Atlantis was a super technologically advanced island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. So, cool technology + island = perfect holidays!

Santorini, Greece.

The one in Avengers is just one interpretation of Asgard, of course. But, if we’re being honest, the reason we’d like to visit Asgard is to meet the Norse Gods. Thor? Odin? Count us in! Also, what’s interesting and we’d love to see is that this is a flat place as in… it’s not round like planet Earth, it’s just suspended in space. It doesn’t move or orbit around anything else. Interesting, no?

Norway, of course. And if you’re there to watch Northern Lights , better!

10) Pemberley

If you’ve read Pride and Prejudice and you’ve fallen in love with Mr. Darcy, you’d want to visit Pemberley ASAP. This is a typical English manor but the way Jane Austen describes it as  handsome. .. come on! We want to go to a handsome manor and meet our own Mr. Darcy there. Pemberley is surrounded by woody hills and a stream. It’s, as Jane Austin would say, “a place where nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste.”

Go to Derbyshire, England, and visit Renishaw Hall or Chatsworth Hall , these places are just how we imagine Pemberley to be.

11) Pandora

We don’t remember much about Avatar but we perfectly remember the lushness of Pandora! Imagine having your own avatar and being able to experience Pandora first hand. One of the main attractions of this place would be its creatures like the direhorse (the horse-like animals the Na’vi ride). Although some creatures are definitely dangerous, we count on the Na’vi to keep us safe.

To the Discover Pandora exhibition or to the Pandora theme park in Disney World.

12) King’s Landing

Or so many other places from Game of Thrones, for that matter. The good thing about this is that many places in Game of Thrones actually exist and you can actually visit so… without further ado:

We already wrote a whole post on this, so check out 6 countries where Game of Thrones was shot .

13) Hobbiton

First of all, we’d like to be friends with hobbits. They’re so cool, relaxed, and nice, that’d be one of the main reasons to visit Hobbiton. We’d party with them, dance with them, and maybe even get a bit tipsy… why not? The beauty of Hobbiton is that it’s almost literally one with nature! The houses are carved inside the hills and everything is so green it’s surreal!

You can  actually go to Hobbiton  in New Zealand.

14) Arendelle

If you have little kids in your life you’re probably waaaaay over Frozen but that doesn’t mean you wouldn’t want to visit the kingdom of Arendelle. First of all, we’d meet Sven. Maybe also Anna and Elsa! And, if we’re visiting during the winter, we’d skate and… build a snowman. The cobbled streets of Arendelle and the nature surrounding it make it a fictional place we’d very much enjoy!

There’s no date yet but there will exist a Kingdom of Arendelle attraction in Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Tokyo DisneySea. Take a first look here . On the other hand, if you don’t want to wait for this attraction to open, you can also go to Arendal , the town where Arendelle is based on.

15) Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

All the things we’d just eat in this place! It’d be so unhygienic, we’re down to it. The appeal of Willy Wonka’s Factory is that you get to discover how your favorite candies are created. And, if we’ve learned something from How it’s Made is that we love to know how things are made. Especially important would be to go into the chocolate river and to see the squirrels doing their important jobs.

One of our favorite places in the world: Zotter’s Chocolate Factory . This is a chocolate factory some minutes away from Graz, Austria . There are no chocolate rivers but you can eat ALL the chocolate you want (and it’s delicious).

16) Westworld

A bit controversial but super interesting at the same time. Ever wanted to experience the cowboy lifestyle without any repercussions or fear of actually getting killed in a shooting? Or fall in love with a cute robot (?). Everything is possible in Westworld. What we love about this place is that everything is planned to the detail… to every scary detail. But, the question is… would we completely let go and just try our wildest fantasies in Westworld?

There are a lot of Old West-themed parks that you can check here .

17) Jurassic Park

Are there any fans of dinosaurs out there? If not, at least you’re a fan of the movie. Imagine seeing dinosaurs in real life? Ignoring the ethical dilemmas around it, it would be an experience of a lifetime! Yes, a bit scary but an experience. What we don’t know yet is which Jurassic Park we’d like to visit, if the one from the trailer you see above, or the one from the movie with Chris Pratt.

To Universal Studios in Orlando! There’s a whole new ride that seems super scary and real.

18) Stars Hollow

Oy with the poodles, already! Stars Hollow is an idyllic small town in the US. The famous Gilmore Girls live there. The reason we’d like to visit Star Hollows is because of their very quirky and unique festivals like the Winter Carnival, The Revolutionary War Reenactment, the Knit-A-Thon, or the Snowman building contest… gee, we’d even want to attend a town meeting to vote for any nonsensical thing that’s going on in town. Of course, it’d also be a dream to stay at the Dragonfly Inn and meet Lorelai Gilmore!

If you’re lucky, you can actually visit the sets where Stars Hollow was shot in the Warner Bros. studios . But, if you’re looking for places that look similar, go to Washington Depot, West Hartford, New Milford, or Mayflower Grace, all of them in the US.

19) Genovia

We want Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo to be our Queen! This could only happen in Genovia. As you know, from the Princess Diaries, Genovia is a small country in Europe. In the movie, we learn that it’s between France and Spain and on their official tourism website , we also learn that it has a beach and great weather! What we love about Genovia is its cobbled streets and how friendly people seem to be. We’d love to be there during the Genovian Independence Day.

Genovia is definitely inspired by small villages and towns in Europe. From the looks, we’d recommend any small town in Austria , France , or Germany.

20) San Fransokyo

*in Baymax voice* From 1 to 10 how much do you want to go to San Fransokio? A LOT. San Fransokyo looks SO cool. It’s a mix between all the things you know from San Francisco but with Japanese details. It’s such an interesting mix! The reason behind this, according to the art director of Big Hero 6, is that the movie happens in an alternate universe where San Francisco is hit by an earthquake in 1906. After that, Japanese immigrants rebuild the city (with all their seismic knowledge). The result is a combination of Japanese and American architecture.

Well, to San Francisco or Tokyo , hehe.

Which places would you love to visit in real life? Tell us in the comments!

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Fictional Locations: 12 Made-Up Destinations We Wish We Could Visit

By Dane Cobain

Updated March 13, 2020

Thanks to various forms of fiction, popular culture is rife with different fictional locations from Hogwarts to the Mushroom Kingdom.

These fictional locations range from the hidden country of Wakanda to that place a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away where we met the Skywalkers.

Overview: Fictional Locations

Unfortunately, none are real. Some of them are almost inhospitable. Others are a paradise. Most of them fall somewhere in the middle.

These places exist in our imagination as much as they do in our favorite stories and works of fiction. They’re every bit as real as real life, except for the not existing part.

But curling up with a good book or watching a good film allow people to travel through space and time. It even allows us to step outside of reality. At least, mentally.

But have you ever wondered what it might be like to actually walk around in some of the amazing locations that you’ve read about?

Downsides of Visiting Fictional Locations

Perhaps you’ve even weighed up some of the pros and cons of actually visiting these sites.

For example, as cool as it might be to visit the Shire in Middle Earth, it would suck to be captured by orcs and roasted alive for their dinner. And it would really not do to get lost in an enchanted forest , of which there are several from myriad movies and books. Or maybe you’d like to spend a long weekend in one of many fictional cities and towns, such as Gotham City or Derry .

No harm so long as you don’t run afoul of the Joker or Stephen King’s It.

Although, perhaps you could avoid the worst if you take a decent tour guide. Maybe even your favorite in-world character. Batman’s not typically busy during the day, right?

Today, we’re aiming to dodge a few of those pit falls. We put together the best possible travel itinerary for our favorite fictional locations across movies, novels, and more.

If only they were real. Sit back and buckle up. It’s time to go traveling. 

12 Fictional Locations We Wish We Could Visit

1) oxford (his dark materials).

We’ve always loved Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, but the recent adaptation along with his new Book of Dust tie-ins have rekindled our love for Pullman’s worlds and world building.

In it, he creates a sort of steampunk take on Victorian England while depicting a version of the city of Oxford, England , that’s similar to ours and yet subtly different.

One of the downsides of going to Pullman’s Oxford is that they don’t have the same level of technology, but they do have blimps and armored bears. And of course, daemons.

In Pullman’s world, daemons are essentially visible representations of the other half of our souls. They take the form of animals, and we can talk to them and ask them for advice. Although, we also can’t stray too far from them.

Be warned, though, that even in a setting as civilized as Jordan College in Oxford, the long arm of the church can still be felt.

Be sure not to say anything against them or you risk running up against the wrath of the magisterium – and if they can get away with Bolvangar, they can get away with anything.

2) Pallet Town (Pokemon)

We want to be the very best, like no one ever was.

That’s why we’d like to travel to Pallet Town in the Pokemon universe. We could stop by Professor Oak’s laboratory and learn whatever he’ll teach us about catching and training Pokemon. With a bit of luck, he’ll even give us a starter Pokemon to help us to get started.

Sure, it’s not the most spacious city if you’re going off game screens alone, but we’d love to imagine a sprawling town full of delightful Pokemon hi-jinks.

Plus, we figure once we’re there, what would be the harm in exploring the rest of the Pokemon universe? After all, we do have to catch them all.

3) Springfield (The Simpsons)

Springfield is the home of the Simpson family, as well as their ensemble cast of friends and neighbors.

This one would be a great place to visit because you’d get to keep all of your home comforts (like electricity and the internet) while still experiencing a little slice of cultural history.

And think of the people you’d meet!

For us, we’d probably try to catch one of Krusty’s shows or pay tribute at Bleeding Gums Murphy’s grave before going for a drink or two at Moe’s Tavern .

And perhaps the following day you can pay a visit to Shelbyville – although it may be best not to let on while you’re spending time in Springfield. Maybe when we’re in the area we could finally learn what state it’s in.

4) Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory

Even if you’re vegan and you can’t sample the milk chocolate or any of the sweets containing gelatin, you’d still be crazy to pass this one up.

Part of the reason for that is that Wonka’s chocolate factory is magical even if you don’t eat any of the candy. We’d settle for just taking a ride in his great glass elevator.

But of course, it’s the chocolate that’s the main attraction here and during your trip you’ll be able to tuck into such delectable treats as Wonka’s Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight, Swudge, Everlasting Gobstoppers, Fizzy Lifting Drinks, Lickable Wallpaper and the rare (but recently revealed in an unpublished chapter) Vanilla Fudge Mountain.

You can even float down the Chocolate River, although we’d warn you against trying the Chewing Gum Meal in case you end up like Violet Beauregarde.

Whether it’s the original film, the remake, or the novel on which it was all based, we like to imagine what the world of pure imagination would be like to visit.

5) Wonderland (Alice in Wonderland)

Introduced to us by Lewis Carroll in his phenomenal Alice in Wonderland books, this fictional location is the land where one pill makes you larger and one pill makes you small.

There’s no telling what might happen when you go down the rabbit hole, but perhaps it’s just the thing you need to start seeing the world from a different perspective.

If you’re new to the area or if you’re trying to keep a low profile, be sure not to interfere with the Queen of Hearts and her retinue or to eat or drink anything suspicious.

Oh, and don’t be alarmed if you meet Mad Hatters, Cheshire Cats, and other curious creatures during your journey.

This location gives you the charm of Disney but with so much more devilishly good danger and intrigue, regardless of which version(s) you choose to visit–book or movie.

6) The Island of Sodor (Thomas the Tank Engine)

Home to the Fat Controller, Thomas and his friends, the Island of Sodor has a thriving local tourism scene and a cute (if old-fashioned) way of life that’s sure to make you feel nostalgic for the good old days.

The transport links here are fantastic, and there’s the added bonus that you’ll get to take a ride in a talking train.

The talking train population on the Island of Sodor has gone through something of a boom in recent years, and if you can remember everyone’s name then you’ve got a better memory than we do.

Just a few of the friendly faces that you can expect to see include Bert, Henry, Edward, Emily, Mike, Gordon, Thomas, Toby, Annie and Clarabel.

7) The Land of Take-What-You-Want (Faraway Tree)

Introduced in The Enchanted Wood, the first novel in Enid Blyton’s stunning Faraway Tree series of children’s books, the Land of Take-What-You-Want is at the top of the Faraway Tree.

The tree itself is worth a visit, because it’s home to a range of friendly inhabitants including Moon-Face, Silky the Fairy and the Saucepan Man.

You can even slide down the inside of the tree to get down to the bottom in a hurry.

This is all pretty cool in itself, but it’s also only the beginning. Right at the top of the Faraway Tree, its branches reach into the clouds and allow the kids in the books to climb through into a different new land.

Some of them are unpleasant, such as the Rocking Land, where you can’t take one step forward without taking ten steps back.

As for us, we’d quite like to visit the Land of Do-As-You-Please, but we’d like to visit the Land of Take-What-You-Want even more. But perhaps that’s just because we’re greedy.

8) Thugz Mansion (Tupac)

This one might be a bit of a stretch as a fictional location. Although strangely enough, depending on your religious beliefs, it’s the location on this list most likely to be real.

Tupac’s Thugz Mansion is essentially an alternative version of heaven which sounds way more fun.

Notable residents include Marvin Gaye, Jackie Wilson and Billie Holiday, and we hear that their house band is phenomenal. We imagine Tupac is up there now, too. And while it may be a stretch, maybe even The Notorious B.I.G.

If you can catch a live show, you’re in for a treat that you’ll remember forever. Although we expect it’s pretty difficult to get there. The price of admission alone is deathly expensive.

9) Discworld (Terry Pratchett)

Visiting Pratchett’s Discworld might be a bit of a risk, but we’ll take it as it appears in the later books when there’s a little more stability and such modern conveniences. For example, the Disc’s first train and the clacks towers for sending messages at long distances.

Okay, there might be problems with poverty and some areas, such as The Shades in Ankh Morpork . They’re effectively out of bounds. But there’s still plenty to see.

For example, there are the Pyramids in Ephebe , Unseen University in Ankh Morpork and the vast plains of Sto Lat .

Immortality even beckons if you’re lucky/unlucky enough to be turned into a vampire. Just be sure to become a member of the temperance movement and to wear a black ribbon to show that you only drink animal blood.

The Disc itself is also interesting, especially if you happen to be a flat Earther. That’s because the Disc is flat and suspended on the back of four elephants, who themselves are stood on the back of a giant space turtle called the Great A’Tuin.

If you head to the rim, you might even be able to head off on a mission into outer space over the edge of the giant water fall named Rimfall .

10) The TARDIS (Doctor Who)

Okay, perhaps this one is cheating a bit.

It’s true that we’ve love to see the inside of the TARDIS so it could blow our minds with its relative time dilation. You could get lost in there, depending on how big it really is, which somewhat depends on which Doctor is piloting it. But that’s not the only reason.

But if we could visit the TARDIS, we could commandeer it to take us anywhere we wanted at any point in history, whether it’s a fictional location or a real location. All with the click of a few buttons.

What’s really great is that you can park it and know it’s not going anywhere. Even in the worst of conditions like lava or space, its passengers are completely safe. That’s partly why we think this one gets a pass, because we’d be willing to stick to the inside of the police box walls.

Of course, this is all assuming that we’d be able to get The Doctor to agree to take us.

11) Bedrock (The Flintstones)

We were thinking about including Jurassic Park on this list so that we could go and see some dinosaurs. But the more we thought about it, the more a day in the park started to seem like a really bad idea.

Bedrock makes for a good alternative, because you get to see dinosaurs up close and personal without risking being torn limb from limb.

First introduced in 1960, Bedrock is the prehistoric town in which The Flintstones is set. If you want to see the city in style, you can hire a car. Although you’ll have to power it with your feet. Or just ask one of the locals to show you around.

We’re sure if you offer Barney Rubble a beer or two, he’ll be more than happy to take on the job.

Bedrock is a great choice if you’ve always wondered what a dinosaur steak tastes like or if you want to take a break away from technology. We just hope you don’t have nomophobia, because there aren’t any electrical outlets in Bedrock.

12) Milliways: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy)

Located in Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series , this five-star restaurant is located exactly where it sounds – right at the end of the universe, where time and matter no longer exists.

Don’t worry too much about reserving a seat or paying your bill, because you can make a reservation after you’ve visited when you return to your own time. You can also pay the bill by opening a bank account and putting a penny in there, because compound interest will take care of the rest for you.

Of course, one downside of visiting Milliways, as the restaurant is officially known, is that you’ll need a TARDIS or a ship with an infinite improbability drive to get there.

The good news is that if you do make it, they do a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster that’s to die for.

Conclusion: Fictional Locations

This list of locations that we wish we could visit is far from complete, but we think it’s a pretty good start.

With that said, with so many fictional worlds and fictional locations out there for us to explore from books, movies and TV shows to legends, mythos and folklore, there was no way that we could ever hope to cover everything.

We certainly missed Atlantis , Gravity Falls , Twin Peaks , all of Lord of the Rings (despite mentioning the Shire in passing), and countless other locales from your favorite movie, TV show, comic book, game, or work of literature.

Then there’s the fact that there are plenty of fictional locations that would be interesting to visit, but only if you knew that you couldn’t die. The continent of Westeros would be fascinating to explore, for example. However, it and Essos are not exactly the safest place to go for a holiday.

At the very least, you wouldn’t want to take the kids.

Come to think of it, they wouldn’t even be entirely safe in Narnia with all the fighting and so forth.

Plus, there are multiple planet, city, and even city-planet options in Star Wars. And we wouldn’t mind a castle or two from King Arthur myths or any number of fairy tale kingdoms , castle or not.

Where To Next?

By now, you’ve read our list of the 12 fictional locations that we wish we could visit, and so now it’s your turn.

Whether you want to spend Christmas playing a game of Quidditch at Hogwarts with Harry Potter or whether you want to rub shoulders with the locals in the lost country/city of El Dorado , we want to know. Narnia , anyone?

Be sure to drop by our Facebook page and leave us a comment to let us know where you most want to go. Happy travels!

Dane Cobain is an indie author, book blogger and BookTuber, as well as a freelance writer, editor and proofreader. When he’s not working on his clients or creating content, he can usually be found with a book in his hand or with his flashcard app open to improve his written and spoken French. His books are available at danecobain.com/amazon .

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Just look at this place. The lush greenery, the surrounding sea, the fact that Wonder Woman lives here, along with other amazing women, all of it is simply amazing. Yes, we are concluding this list of fictional places with this one, and we are letting the world know that we would love to visit Themyscira. From a tiny Texas town of 300, I made my way to the University of Texas at Austin to study journalism, which spurred me on to write for publications like New York’s Resident Magazine, Austin Home and Us Weekly and to cover events such as South by Southwest, Austin Film Festival and New York Fashion Week. Now, I have my own side gig, where I’m able to create social media posts, press releases, news pitches and more. When I’m not writing, I’m probably playing with my cat, vacationing with my family or watching Netflix with my husband.

Hill valley from back to the future and maybe drive a deloreon around up to 88mph

14 Fictional Movie Locations We'd Love To Visit

If you could visit any fictional location from a movie, what would it be? We recently found out that Tony Stark’s lakeside cabin from Avengers: Endgame is listed on Airbnb , and that got me thinking about all the fictional movie locations we can’t visit, or the ones that in the real world that don’t match their cinematic counterparts. But if you could visit these places, if you could pull them up on Airbnb and book a trip to visit them within the worlds of the movies they’re from, where would you go?

There are likely countless answers to this question, but some places that stand out above the rest. Now, for the purposes of this exercise, we are talking specific locations. Sure we all want to go to the worlds of Middle Earth and Narnia, but where in those worlds would we stay and what sight would be at the top of our ‘to see’ list? You can only pick one location per franchise, although different superheroes we'll count as different franchises.

Also, lest this list be entirely populated by spaceships, no transportation vessels are allowed. So no Enterprise, no Millennium Falcon, no Serenity and sadly, no cruise ship on Fhloston Paradise. In addition, no TV locations, but for the record, the answer is Arnold’s room from Hey Arnold! Anyway, here are 14 fictional movie locations that'd be great to visit.

Golden City, Wakanda – Black Panther

Following the wildly successful release of Black Panther , people were apparently trying to book trips to the fictional African nation of Wakanda from the film. This may have occurred in part because of people’s nonexistent knowledge of world geography, but also because of how appealing the technological utopia immaculately realized in the film was.

The opulence of Golden City is a sight to behold, but unlike the dehumanizing fictional urban centers in movies like Blade Runner or The Hunger Games , this Afrofuturist city is a place you’d actually want to visit. It is rich with culture and history, but does not eschew modern conveniences, like the fantastic public transportation on Maglev trains.

The Toretto House – The Fast And The Furious Franchise

Olive Garden’s slogan may be “When you’re here, you’re family” but that could also be the slogan on the Airbnb page for the Toretto house, because Dom only lets real family crash at his place. This is where the family comes together to have movie nights watching Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story and summer cookouts in the backyard.

It may not be as fancy as some of the other places on this list, but it’s homey and has character that you can’t fake. Plus, you can have any brew you want. I repeat, any brew you want. Folks, that is an incredible value, literally any brew you want… as long as it’s a Corona.

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Bag End – The Hobbit/The Lord Of The Rings

This is one of the few places on this list that you can sort of visit. In New Zealand, where The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings movies were filmed, the Hobbiton set is now a tourist attraction . But, while awesome, that’s only a small sampling of the magic of Bag End that you would get in the real Middle Earth.

If you could visit the fictional Shire, you could enjoy the quaint, quiet life of living in a beautiful hole in the ground, surrounded by immaculate gardens and the greenest green you’ve ever seen. Sure, you’d have cousins trying to steal the place and every once in a while you’d be roped into adventures, but you can also throw a killer birthday party and enjoy some pipe-weed with the wizard who comes around and brings fireworks.

The Continental- The John Wick Franchise

There are 5-star hotels and then there is The Continental from the John Wick franchise. The level of service The Continental offers for members of the criminal underworld are beyond compare. Beyond just being a lavish hotel, the concierge offers a wide array of services, including weapons supply, an onsite tailor specializing in bulletproof garments and even medical treatment.

Sure, like all great hotels, The Continental is expensive. You have to pay for your stay in actual gold, but it’s worth it, as long as everyone follows the rules, of course. The world of John Wick is a fascinating one and we’d love to visit one of this establishment’s locations around the world. Oh yeah, and it’s dog friendly!

The Bathhouse-Spirited Away

Hayao Miyazaki’s films are full of fantastical locations we’d love to visit, but perhaps none is more iconic than the Bathhouse from his Oscar-winning 2001 film Spirited Away . The Bathhouse is located in the spirit world that 10-year-old Chihiro finds herself trapped in.

Owned by the witch Yubaba, the Bathhouse has lavish baths and dining areas. Here is where the spirits of the world come to replenish themselves, and it is quite the sight to see. Humans get discriminated against and your parents might turn into pigs, but it is still worth visiting for the people, or more accurately, spirit-watching.

Beast’s Castle – Beauty And The Beast

Whether it's animated or in live-action, this castle from Beauty and the Beast is a gorgeous gothic structure in France that is literally right out of a fairy tale. If you’re a foodie or a reader, this is the fictional movie location that should be at the top of your list to visit.

Rather than sitting on some crowded beach reading, Beast’s incredible library can immerse you in countless incredible stories all from the comfort of a gorgeous castle. Better yet, like a great hotel the service here is incredible. The servants only live to serve, they say so themselves. They’ll give you dinner and a show like you’ve never had or seen before. Try the grey stuff, it’s delicious.

The X-Mansion – The X-Men Franchise

Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters is one of film and fiction’s most iconic learning institutions, and one of those places we wish we could have spent our school years at. The school itself is founded on the idea of being welcoming to all, so you can let your freak flag fly. This mansion in upstate New York is surrounded by gorgeous grounds and there’s plenty to do, including playing a few games on a basketball court.

Also, if you can get access, The Danger Room, while dangerous, would be a great place to get some training in, and if you can keep it on a low setting, it could almost be like a really advanced and fun obstacle course. The X-Mansion is where our favorite mutants in multiple X-Men films discovered who they are and were accepted for it and it would be a blast to visit.

Cloud City – Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back

There are lots of places we’d love to visit in a galaxy far, far away, and to be fair, Tatooine is the most important and storied Star Wars planet. But you wouldn’t really want to stay there; it’s full of sand, which is coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere.

Dagobah is a swamp and Coruscant is too crowded and likely filthy, so it's better to visit Cloud City on Bespin and enjoy the beauty of living in the clouds. Maybe you can rent out at room at the Administrator’s Palace and that magical feeling you get while flying in a plane would be right outside your window in Cloud City.

The Grand Budapest Hotel – The Grand Budapest Hotel

Do you possess an attention to detail and an appreciation for symmetry? Or, in lieu of that, are you a hipster? If you answered yes to any of that, then you definitely want to visit The Grand Budapest Hotel from Wes Anderson’s 2014 film of the same name. Wes Anderson creates incredible quirky and comedic worlds, and the famed Grand Budapest Hotel in the Republic of Zubrowka is one of his most immaculately crafted locations.

It’s an architectural marvel and a feast for the eyes. And like some of the other locations on this list, the service at the Grand Budapest is top notch, as evidenced by the rigorous process it takes for someone to become a Lobby Boy. Just don’t get framed for murder and you’ll have a splendid time.

The Gryffindor Common Room – Harry Potter

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from Harry Potter is obviously a top 5 fictional place to visit, but it’s also a big castle, so where are you staying while studying for potions classes, celebrating Quidditch victories and contemplating the wetness of kisses? Why the Gryffindor dormitories and Common Room, of course.

The Ravenclaw Common Room is posh enough to also be an option, but Slytherin and Hufflepuff? Come on, Slytherin’s is under the lake and is probably riddled with mold and Hufflepuff’s is right next to the kitchens, and thus probably smells like the back of a restaurant. In Gryffindor’s Common Room you can crash in the four-poster bed, relax by the warm fire while surrounded by the glorious scarlet and gold of Gryffindor.

The Lambda Epsilon Omega Fraternity House – Old School

There are some colleges that you go to just to party and there are some fictional movie locations that you visit to do the same exact thing: test your liver’s ability to process alcohol. This location isn’t so much about the building itself, it’s the people that make it special. and the people are open-minded and accepting, no matter who you are.

Concerts from iconic rap artists, legendary parties, hilarious games and likely illegal pledge initiation rituals are just icing on the cake for hanging out with friends and being reminded that we’re all young at heart and it’s the people that make a place special.

The Batcave – The Batman Franchise

In Shazam! , Billy Batson and Freddy Freeman inquire with a real estate agent about acquiring a lair, and if there is one fictional lair we could visit, it is unquestionably the Batcave. The Batcave is an iconic movie location and definitely a must visit if you could. And while it wouldn’t necessarily be the most comfortable place to stay, you’d want to go upstairs to Wayne Manor; it is still an unbelievably cool place seen in many Batman movies.

Here you could check out all of Batman’s clever gadgets, sit in the Batmobile (and maybe take it for a spin,)and try on the many Batsuits, including the iconic Batman & Robin one, of course. Where else can you sit alone, in the dark, spying on the citizens of a city, while still enjoying the benefits of wealth, like having a butler on standby?

The Maitland/Deetz House – Beetlejuice

Who doesn’t want to visit a properly haunted house, right? In Beetlejuice , this Connecticut house originally belonged to Barbara and Adam Maitland. When they died, the insufferable Deetz family purchased it and moved in. That’s the time when we would want to visit it though because the Deetz turn the quaint country home into a modern art piece, and it is wild, absurd and actually really fun.

The real selling point to visiting this house, though, is the opportunity to be haunted by the Maitlands and Betelgeuse who are trying to get you to leave. It might be scary and disturbing, but impromptu performances of Harry Belafonte’s “Banana Boat Song” make it worth the trip. This is a real house, but sans the hauntings it doesn’t seem nearly as appealing.

Hometree – Avatar

There is a reason that audiences experienced what was dubbed Avatar blues or the Avatar depression syndrome after seeing James Cameron ’s 2009 box office king . The world of Pandora is an environmental utopia; an Eden teeming with fantastical life and the splendor of natural beauty. You know, like Earth used to be. Pandora – The World of Avatar at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom is cool, but there’s no substitute for the real thing.

If we could escape to Pandora, we’d ideally stay at cinema’s greatest treehouse: Hometree. There aren’t many, if any, cooler, more blissful places to visit and from Hometree you could explore Pandora’s other wonders like the floating mountains and the bioluminescent forest. I don't doubt that the many Avatar sequels will provide even more amazing locations that could take up a few spots on this list.

The beauty of cinema is that the worlds we can visit on the big screen are limited only by the imagination of the filmmakers. This is just a small sampling of the amazing, fantastical locations from our favorite movies that we’d love to visit and no doubt there are a near infinite number of places I left out. Be sure to let us know where you’d like to go in the poll and comments below.

To see what amazing worlds are coming to the big screen this year, Check out our 2019 Release Schedule .

This poll is no longer available.

Nick grew up in Maryland has degrees in Film Studies and Communications. His life goal is to walk the earth, meet people and get into adventures. He’s also still looking for The Adventures of Pete and Pete season 3 on DVD if anyone has a lead.

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Alot Travel > Themes

30 Fictional Places You Can Actually Visit

Fictional places you can actually visit?! Nowadays, people are able to travel much easier than they ever have before! We all know of friends that are going somewhere during the summer (and maybe also the winter). While some people go overseas to visit another country, others take a fun drive across the country to visit dozens of American landmarks. How people choose where they want to go is usually incredibly personal.

Some people are very patriotic and want to visit places where America was made the country we know today. We’re talking about Mount Rushmore, Statue of Liberty, Pearl Harbor, and several areas in Massachusetts. Other people choose to go for thrills! They’re all about skydiving, zip lining, and activities that would make the rest of us have a heart attack.

If you’re like us, one of the top places on your list to visit is where your favorite TV or movie was filmed. We don’t know why, but we’re a sucker for these places. Famous people stood there and created a series that are unforgettable even years later. Surprisingly enough, there are tons of places that you can visit that were featured in a television show or film.

Even if it seems like your favorite characters’ stomping grounds are worlds away, we’re here to say that this may not be the case. We’ve made a list of 30 fictional places you can visit. Some of these places are given, like filming locations of Breaking Bad. However, we also have places that may seem like a world away but are a flight away. Yes, we’re talking about places where Star Wars were filmed. So, if you want to visit Tatooine or take a ride in the Tardis, sit back and enjoy the slideshow. Personally, our favorite place to visit would have to be Kings Landing. Do you know where it was filmed? If not, we’ll tell you.

Los Pollos Hermanos ('Breaking Bad')

South Valley, New Mexico

Los Pollos Hermanos was the business empire of drug kingpin and Walter White nemesis Gus Fring on the TV show  Breaking Bad . While the chain was a wholly invented creation for the series, it was filmed at Albuquerque-based chain Twisters. Unfortunately, if you're trying to recreate a meal from the show, you'll be out of luck. Twisters' main claim to fame are their burgers and burritos.

(image via Google Maps )

Dom and Ariadne's Shared Dream ('Inception')

Paris, France

The Pont de Bir-Hakeim wasn't so much a fictional   location in  Inception , it was that the scene took place in a shared dream that made it notable. Ariadne's first lesson in building dream worlds leads them to the bridge where she creates mirrors out of thin air. The result is an endless row of their reflections that seems to stretch out of sight. You'll have to use a little photo magic to create your own version, however.

(image via  DXR , CC )

Olivia Pope & Associates ('Scandal')

Los Angeles, California

The Palace Theatre, at over 100 years old, was originally built as a movie palace during the golden age of Hollywood. Today it functions as a concert and live theatre venue, but gladiators might recognize it as the office building of Olivia Pope & Associates from the TV show  Scandal . The tell-tale feature is the arched windows on the top floor of the building; most shots on the show conveniently crop out the ground floor-level and theatre marquee.

(image via  Los Angeles , CC )

Fangtasia ('True Blood')

Long Beach, California

Fangtasia may be located in northern Louisiana, but Alex's Bar , the filming location, is in Long Beach, California. Fangtasia was never the classiest of places to grab a drink, and we're happy to report that the real location keeps that hole-in-the-wall atmosphere. The punk rock flair aren't set pieces; those hang on the wall daily. If you think it looks a little off in person, try heading around back. The rear entrance is used for filming, not the front of the building.

Clanton ('A Time to Kill')

Canton, Mississippi

Kill three birds with one stone. Canton may be most well-known as the fictional town of "Clanton" from A Time to Kill , but it also served as the backdrop for scenes in  O Brother, Where Art Thou?   and  My Dog Skip . While you're there, you can have coffee in the diner where Matthew McConaughey and Sandra Bullock's characters had a heated encounter. The city also hosts one of the region's largest flea markets and craft shows every May and October.

(image via  James Case , CC )

Tatooine ('Star Wars')

Matmata, Tunisia

The desert planet of Tatooine is perhaps the most well-known of all the planets in the  Star Wars  universe, being the home of Anakin and Luke Skywalker. While many areas of the city served as settings for scenes in the films, the most recognizable may be the Hotel Sidi Driss, used as the home for the Skywalker family. Built in the traditional style of the Berber people, the hotel is operational throughout the year and brings together  Star Wars  fans from the world over.

(image via  Bernard Gagnon , CC )

Downton ('Downton Abbey')

West Berkshire, England

If you arrive at Downton Abbey expecting to see Lord Grantham and company, you'll be in for a rude awakening. Instead, you'll find Lady and Lord Carnavarvon who make Highclere Castle, it's actual name, their winter home. When the residence is open to the public during the summer, visitors can tour the grounds and see the interior where the great hall and bedrooms are used for filming. Alas, the downstairs quarters are part of a set created in London.

(image via  JB + UK_Planet , CC )

The Tardis ('Doctor Who')

London, England

In the long-running BBC series  Doctor Who , the titular character travels through time in a time machine known as a TARDIS. How does one make a time machine inconspicuous? Design it in the shape of a police box, of course! Famous across Britain, police boxes were once ubiquitous, allowing citizens to make emergency calls and serving as mini stations for officers. With the rise of the cell phone, police boxes have gone the way of the dodo, relegating the site of a large blue box to Doctor Who  connotations. One of the final few left, and no longer operational, the "TARDIS" at Earl's Court tube station has become a popular tourist destination for the show's fandom.

(image via greyhobbit , CC )

The Overlook Hotel ('The Shining')

Estes Park, Colorado

The Stanley Hotel in Colorado served as Stephen King's inspiration for his iconic book  The Shining . While visiting the area in 1974, King and his wife stayed one night in the hotel as they were preparing to close down for the summer. Being the lone occupants in the expansive corridors and dining hall gave rise to the eerie creations of the future setting. While the hotel was used as a filming location for a T.V. miniseries adaptation, the famous Kubrick film chose instead to use exterior shots of the Timberline Lodge in Oregon. This film is shown on a continuous loop on the Stanley's hotel T.V. channel.

Twin Peaks, Washington ('Twin Peaks')

North Bend, Washington

Cult series  Twin Peaks  put North Bend on the map. Though it aired 25 years ago, passionate fans still come to North Bend hoping to catch a glimpse of locations in the fictional town of Twin Peaks, Washington. Twede's Cafe, a diner that was featured prominently in the show still looks the same all these years later—from the outside at least. The interior has never been the same since a fire in 2000, but the cherry pie and coffee are just as good as ever.

(image via  Steven Pavlov , CC )

Paradise Falls ('Up')

Canaima National Park, Venezuela

The final resting place of Carl Fredricksen's floating house in Up was atop the fictional waterfall of Paradise Falls. Visitors to Angel Falls in Venezuela will notice an almost identical resemblance between the two. The journey to see it is a difficult one, however, as the falls lie deep in the isolated jungle. Yet, the sights of the world's tallest uninterrupted waterfall make the complicated trek worth it.

(image via  timsnell , CC )

Mordor ('Lord of the Rings')

Tongariro National Park, New Zealand

Follow in Frodo and Sam's footsteps by taking the Tongariro Alpine Crossing hiking trail through New Zealand's oldest national park, one of the oldest national parks in the world. It's not hard to image that you're in the fictional region of Mordor. The volcanic terrain of Mount Tongariro is completely devoid of vegetation and is open to the harsh winds year round and heavy snow in the winter. You'll swear Saruman was casting a weather spell along your path.

(image via  russellstreet , CC )

The Grounds of Hogwarts ('Harry Potter')

Glencoe, Scotland

There's no Hogwarts castle in the highlands of Glencoe, but visitors can explore the village and roam the hilly countryside as the characters of  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban  did. Standing on the hillside, you can look out on Loch Leven, which served as the role of Hogwart's Great Lake, and almost see the Giant Squid waving back at you. The village was also seen as the setting of Skyfall, James Bond's childhood estate, in the film of the same name.

(image via  dannynic , CC )

Arendelle ('Frozen')

Nærøyfjord, Norway

Nærøyfjord (pronounced Nur-if-fyord) served as the inspiration for the fictional Disney kingdom of Arendelle, home of Queen Elsa and Princess Anna in the film  Frozen . The dramatic landscape was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the area was listed as the world's best natural site by the National Geographic Society. After Frozen  's release, demand for Norwegian tourism increased so dramatically that Disney now offers fjord cruises and Norwegian land excursions of their own.

(image via  Frédéric de Goldschmidt , CC )

King's Landing ('Game of Thrones')

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Thanks to  Game of Thrones , this Mediterranean seaport is now world-famous as the filming location for both King's Landing and Qarth on the show. In real life, 42,000 people cram into the 8.5 square miles of this Croation city, but the most famous feature is the 80-foot wall surrounding the majority of the historic old city. Since the show's premiere, tourism has ballooned, and there are now specially organized trips just for fans .

(image via  Flickr )

Canyon of the Crescent Moon ('Indiana Jones')

In  Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,  our adventurers find themselves in the temple where the Holy Grail is hiding. While your chances of finding the Grail are slim, you can see the inspiration for the front of the temple in Petra, Jordan. This ancient stone city is a sight to behold--if you can stand the trek through the desert to get there. 

Pandora ('Avatar')

In the movie  Avatar,  Pandora may be an alien world, but you can actually see its beauty here on earth. Producers took inspiration for the mountain shots of Pandora from a real-world place--the South Pillar of Heaven in the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in China. 

Silent Hill ('Silent Hill')

Silent Hill is the mysterious and terrifying setting for the video game and movie series of the same name. While you (thankfully) can't experience the true horrors of Silent Hill, you can see its inspiration in Centralia, Pennsylvania. This creepy place sits on top of a coal fire that has been burning since 1962--which means you won't see many people, but you'll see plenty of ominous smoke rising from the earth. 

Arkham Asylum ('Batman')

In the  Batman  universe, Arkham Asylum has been home to many of Batman's biggest enemies--including the Joker, Poison Ivy, and Mr. Freeze. The real-life inspiration for this place came from Danvers State Hospital in Massachusetts. While most of this psychiatric hospital was demolished, some of it was preserved in the form of apartments that still retain that Arkham creepiness. 

The Hundred Acre Wood ('Winnie the Pooh')

If you ever find yourself in Ashdown Forest in Sussex, England, be on the lookout for any unusual bear or tiger sightings because this place served as the inspiration for the Hundre Acre Wood in  Winnie the Pooh . Author A.A. Milne is said to have spent time in Ashdown with his son, Christopher Robin--who was also an inspiration for the book. 

The Island ('Lost')

The Island is the mysterious setting for the TV series  Lost . But in real life, there's nothing mysterious about it--filming for the show took place across the island of Oahu in Hawaii. 

The Cheers Bar ('Cheers')

Cheers  may have ended in 1993, but if you find yourself in Boston, you can still take a trip to the place where everybody knows your name. Originally known as the Bull & Fitch Pub, the real-life bar now goes by Cheers, and it's a must-see spot for any fans of the show. 

Brady Bunch House ('The Brady Bunch')

When it comes to iconic homes in television, not many are more famous than the house where  The Brady Bunch  was filmed. These days, the house still stands in North Hollywood, and it's recently got a makeover thanks to the HGTV show  A Very Brady Renovation . The show follows the original Brady "kids" as they give the home some updated Brady touches. 

Avonlea ('Anne of Green Gables')

If you're a fan of  Anne of Green Gables,  buy yourself a ticket to Prince Edward Island, Canada ASAP! There, you can tour Avonlea Village which is a recreation of the fictional town from the book. 

Cathedral Cove ('Prince Caspian')

In the movie  The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian , the children enter the magical world via Cathedral Cove. In the real world, this was actually filmed at Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand. Whether you're a fan of the books and movies or not, this is a beautiful place to relax and unwind on vacation! 

Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters ('X-Men')

Fans of  X-Men  know that Xavier's School of Gifted Youngsters is an important location in the series. And while you might not be able to enroll as a student, you can get a glimpse of the iconic exterior shots from the movies--they were filmed at Hatley Castle in Canada. 

Warrior Falls ('Black Panther')

Warrior Falls is the location of Black Panther's coronation as king of Wakanda. But if you'd like to visit, it won't require interplanetary travel. These scenes were filmed at Iguazu Falls in Argentina. 

Port Royal ('Pirates of the Caribbean')

In the original  Pirates of the Caribbean , Port Royal is the home of Elizabeth Swann and Will Turner. These scenes were filmed at Wallilabou Bay on the island of St. Vincent, but once shooting was done, the island's residents decided to preserve the pirate-y fun. 

Sweethaven ('Popeye')

In order to film the 1970s live-action Popeye  movie, crews constructed the town of Sweethaven in Malta. These days, it still draws plenty of tourists to the region--although now it's known appropriately as Popeye Village. It's a must-see spot for fans of the spinach-eating sailor man. 

Mars ('The Martian')

Okay, so Mars isn't technically fictional, but you won't be seeing the real thing any time soon. You can, however, visit Wadi Rum, Jordan, where scenes of the Red Planet were filmed for  The Martian . 

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15 Fictional Places We Wish We Could Visit

August 15, 2019

Our bucket list of places to visit may already be a mile long but we can’t help adding a few more fantasy spots and fictional locations to the map. From hearty lunches in Hobbiton to swanning around the social soirees of Pride and Prejudice, sipping coffee in Central Perk, and clicking our heels two times for the land of oz, there are tons of dream worlds that we wish we could visit. In the spirit of tapping into our inner child and swapping everyday life for fictional lands, we decided to celebrate every favorite book or tv show that swept us away to a magical place. For all of you pop culture enthusiasts out there and all you dreamers, let's delve in and lose ourselves in all of our favorite fictional places...

Stars Hollow

Who doesn’t want to live in America’s happiest little nook? The hometown of the Gilmore Girls seems to make us forget our dreams to live in the bright lights of the big city and instead want to jack it all in and move to a wholesome community where the holiday season seems to last all year. From endless cheeseburgers at Luke’s Diner to ballet lessons at Ms. Patty’s, a romantic first kiss under the gorgeous gazebo, and the fact that everyone lives in flora strewn dream homes. Where do we sign up?

As long as we don’t need to battle he who shall not be named, we are forever awaiting our Hogwarts letters. Endless feasts in the Great Hall, Dumbledore, epic train rides, magical beasts and books, and weekend trips to down Butterbeer and visit Honeyduke’s in the fictional town of Hogsmeade with Harry Potter and Hermione (Ron won't be missed). If you want us we will be waiting eagerly by the mailbox.

Middle Earth has plenty of spots we’d love to call home from the magic of Rivendell to the white tree of Gondor, but The Shire is synonymous with all we love about Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and has to be top of the list. Famed for its pantries stuffed full of food (cold chicken, pork pies, seed cake, cheese, pickles, and raspberry jam), they are also famed for adding a few more meals into their daily schedule. When the hobbits aren’t feasting they seem to be drunkenly dancing on tables, downing hand-crafted ales, and smoking pipe weed. If that doesn't sound like somewhere we would love to visit, what does!

The Gatsby Mansion

While we wouldn’t want to live the languid lives of the rich and heartbroken, we wouldn’t turn our noses up at a party invite to Jay Gatsby’s mansion. While the mega blowout parties may serve as a metaphor for the scramble for wealth and the gaudy culture this can breed, we love any excuse to dress in our best roaring twenties flapper dresses, ride classic cars across sculpted lawns, and lavish in champagne-soaked nights splashed with gossip and gold.

While some may hole up with Cersei Lannister in the Red Keep of King's Landing and others may head north to Winterfell, we would certainly be heading for Highgarden. Out of all the seven kingdoms, Highgarden seems to have it all. The Game of Thrones location is described by George R R Martin as being the heart of chivalry, with rolling fields of golden roses, singers and fiddlers at every turn, glorious wine, and all the money you could need. Not to mention it’s the home of the Queen of Thorns herself – all hail Olenna Tyrell.

Yeah, you may have to battle with maple syrup mysteries, weird tree monsters, and drug smugglers bringing jingle-jangle into the neighborhood, but Riverdale has a lot going for it. Those kids from the Archie Comics never seem to be in school, Pops clearly does the best chocolate shakes known to man, Archie himself always has his abs on display, and there’s an underground speakeasy ran by teenagers. Life is never monotonous in Riverdale.

Of all the magical make-believe places out there, Narnia has to be up there with one of the best spots to visit. Home of magic, sentient and wise animals who love to give advice, snowy roads, whimsical wonders, and jaw-dropping surroundings - not to mention the great Aslan, even the thought of those stories make us swoon. We know there are a few bad witches knocking about, but we will take our chances if we can climb that royal ladder.

Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory

You had us at the chocolate river if the truth be told. However, there are a thousand reasons to visit the chocolate factory and they all have something in common. Yep - chocolate. While we may have to toe the line to make sure that we don't get turned into blueberries and we would deffo want to check on Willy Wonka and his working conditions for the Oompa Loompas, we are here mainly for the ability to pick candy and chocolate from trees. As for that river – go ahead and push us in.

Jurassic Park

Ok, hear us out. We know that things didn't quite go to plan on Jurassic Park and that dinosaurs and humans aren't the best at cohabiting, but that island looks pretty lush and if we stay close to the herbivores and away from the T-rex what could go wrong? It would be like the Galapagos (kind of). Imagine if they made Jurassic Park, it would be a fancy five-star resort and you could hike in primaeval forests, canoe down ancient waterways where long necks lap at the waters and considering we are writing the script of this magical world - you can even fly on the back of a pterodactyl. Worth the selfie risk?

All Jane Austen fans out there would surely swoon to get the chance to live at Pemberley. Also known as the estate of Mr. Darcy, we too would be charmed by the rolling gentle English countryside, the high teas, and those lofty handsome rooms that Elizabeth describes. We have no trouble imagining ourselves strolling the ornate grounds beneath a parasol and waiting for the movie star version of Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth) to emerge fully clothed from the lake.

The Emerald City

Ruby slippers, yellow brick roads, a bunch of friends, and we'll leave the flying monkeys out of it thanks - Oz is home to the imperial city from the wild imagination of L Frank Baum. Glowing in (ahem) green and the home of the impressive palace of the Wizard of Oz, we envy Dorothy Gale and her green lemonade, her glorious band of merry travelers, and her ease and heroic energy in the face of a great adventure. We'll even don those green-tinted glasses for that.

The Norse version of Mount Olympus, show us the rainbow bridge and we will get our shoes on. This fictional city is a fantasy epic and guarantees a good time. The Asgard from the Marvel movies is a must. Not only do you get castles, epic technology, and to hang out with Thor and Loki, but you can also skip winter and head to the part of town where the eternal summer sits. You get to age slowly, live in a land where science and magic coexist, and when you get sick of the place you can simply take the Bifrost bridge to one of the other dimensions.

Springfield

Home of The Simpsons, if we could take one animated fictional location it would have to be Springfield over South Park or the pineapple home of SpongeBob SquarePants. Simply put, Springfield is pure comfort food of a place. We would totally raise a glass at Moe’s, catch a Krusty Show, cackle in the corner with Selma and Patty, and get our fill of squishees at the Kwik-E-Mart.

New York (the fake one)

While we all agree that New York City is one of the world’s most exhilarating cities, we would LOVE to be transported to a socialite safe haven that seems to be featured in television series like Friends and Sex in the City. Yes, we are here for that fictional place in the United States where you can get grandfather rent on a lusciously large apartment in Manhattan, where columnist jobs still exist, where everyone can afford endless cocktails and coffee in New York's hottest spots, and where there isn't a dating app in sight only an endless stream of cuties everywhere. WE WANT TO GO.

In a galaxy far far away there are a thousand planets and places to visit but Naboo is the one that gets our Star Wars vote first. We know that if you are a hardcore fan you may argue against us picking a prequel film series spot but the variety of landscapes makes Naboo a keeper. You get lush grasslands dotted with ancient monoliths, shimmering lakes, gorgeous jungles dripping with flora, romantic renaissance architecture, and vistas to die for.

Here are some honorable fictional world spots that we would also like to visit...

Avonlea from Anne of Green Gables (pretty pasture lands, quaint charm, enchanted bookcases, and haunted woods - sign us up).

Gotham City (yes we know it would be dicey as hell, but for a glimpse of Batman it may be worth it).

Themyscira (a fictional island, home of Wonder Woman, and a feminist utopia what are we all waiting for!).

From dreaming of dressing up for a make-believe tea party to packing our elvish bread for the journey home to The Shire, these are the imaginary places we would love to wave a magic wand and make come to life. Which fictional setting is calling your name? Share with us in the comments and let's escape real life a little bit longer.

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22 Fictional Places You Can Actually Visit!

If you still haven’t planned your summer vacation, why not go to Middle Earth? Or perhaps you’d prefer Hogwarts, Narnia, or even Westeros? Movies, TV, and books transport us to fantastic locations, but some of them exist in real life. Whether your favourite show was filmed there, or it was a location that inspired fictional places, it is actually quite easy to escape to landscapes from your favourite fictional universe.

While There May Not Be Any Wizards, Hobbits, Or Dragons, Here Are 22 Fascinating Locations Where Fantasy Comes To Life

1 king’s landing from ‘game of thrones’ – dubrovnik, croatia.

Scenes in King’s Landing were initially filmed in Mdina, Malta. However, it was relocated to Dubrovnik, Croatia , where the red roofs became instantly recognizable as the capital of the fictional Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. Many locations in and around the city were also used as Qarth and Slaver’s Bay.

2 The Shire From ‘The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings’ – Matamata, New Zealand

The sets used for Hobbiton in the Shire for both ‘The Lord of the Rings’ and ‘The Hobbit trilogies remains intact just outside Matamata, New Zealand. You can even pay a visit to the Green Dragon pub, where the hobbits meet Aragorn in the first installment.

3 Arendelle From ‘Frozen’ – Nærøyfjord, Norway

The breathtaking Nærøyfjord in Norway inspired the animators who created the fictional kingdom of Arendelle in Disney’s ‘Frozen ‘.

4 Hogwarts Castle From ‘Harry Potter ‘  – Alnwick Castle, England

The fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was actually filmed in many locations across the UK. Alnwick Castle is perhaps the most iconic of these, being used extensively in the first two films. Gloucester Cathedral and Durham Cathedral were also used for interior shots.

Also Read: 11 Harry Potter filming locations in Britain you can visit

5 Cair Paravel From ‘Narnia’ – Cathedral Cove, New Zealand

In ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian ‘ , they reenter the world of Narnia through Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand. It serves as the location of their now ruined castle of Cair Paravel.

6 Tatooine From ‘Star Wars ‘  – Tozeur, Tunisia

While it is likely that Tatouine in Tunisia gave Luke Skywalker’s home planet, Tatooine, its name, it was actually filmed in nearby Matmata and Tozeur. Located in the Sahara Desert, this Tunisian town still has the film sets from the movies.

7 Downton Abbey From ‘Downton Abbey’ – Highclere Castle, England

Highclere Castle in Hampshire, England, was used as the location of the house of the Earl of Grantham in the period drama Downton Abbey. However, Bampton in the Cotswolds served as the rural town.

8 Winterfell From ‘Game of Thrones’ – Castle Ward, Northern Ireland

Castle Ward in County Down, Northern Ireland was used as the home of the Stark family in ‘Game of Thrones’ ,  Winterfell.

9 The Black Lake At Hogwarts From ‘Harry Potter ‘  – Loch Elit, Scotland

Like the castle itself, Hogwart’s Black Lake was cobbled together using shots from many different Scottish lochs, including Loch Shiel, Loch Arkaig, and Loch Morar. However the most iconic is Loch Elit and Eilean na Moine which served as the final resting place of Albus Dumbledore, from which Voldemort steals the Elder Wand.

10 Mordor From ‘The Lord of the Rings’ – Mount Ngauruhoe, New Zealand

Tongariro National Park, New Zealand was used as Mordor in ‘The Lord of the Rings’, though shots were edited to make it seem darker and sinister.   Mount Ngauruhoe, in particular, was used as Mount Doom, where Frodo must go to destroy the One Ring.

11 Beruna River From ‘Narnia’ – Soča River, Slovenia

The Soča River in Bovec, Slovenia was used in ‘The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian ‘ as the site of the Beruna Ford, and the final defeat of the Telmarines.

12 Gotham City From ‘Batman’ – New York City, USA

New York City has long stood in for Batman’s fictional Gotham City, even earning it as a nickname for itself. While legendary ‘Batman’ writer claimed that Gothan was “New York at night” others say that it is based on all the seedier locations in the city, or even that it is an amalgamation of Chicago and New York.

13 The Kingsroad From ‘Game Of Thrones’ – Bregagh Road, Northern Ireland

Bregagh Road in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, popularly known as the Dark Hedges thanks to its tunnel of beech trees, is used as the longest and grandest highway in the Seven Kingdoms. The Kingsroad runs from the Wall in the north, all the way to the capital city of King’s Landing.

14 Canyon Of The Crescent Moon From ‘Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade’ – Petra, Jordan

Al Khazneh, the Treasury at the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, stood in for the temple that housed the Holy Grail in the third ‘Indiana Jones’ movie.

15 Paradise Falls From ‘Up’ – Angel Falls, Venezuela

Paradise Falls from Pixar’s ‘Up’ was based on Angel Falls in Canaima National Park, Venezuela. At a height of 979 meters, it is the tallest uninterrupted waterfall in the world.

16 Great Hall At Hogwarts From Harry Potter – Christ Church College, England

Though the real set of the Great Hall can be found at Leavesden Studios, and its Harry Potter Studio Tour, the set designers of the ‘Harry Potter’ franchise were inspired by the iconic dining hall of Christ Church College in Oxford.

17 Camelot From ‘King Arthur’ – Wales

There are many locations across the UK claiming to be the true Camelot of Arthurian legend. However, the most promising of these is Wales and the city of Caerleon.

18 Xavier’s School For Gifted Youngsters From ‘X-Men’ – Hatley Castle, Canada

Hatley Castle in British Columbia, Canada, was used as the exterior of Xavier’s School in multiple X-Men films, and even in Deadpool . As fans will undoubtedly know, the school serves as the base for the superhero team, the X-Men.

19 The Water Gardens Of Dorne From ‘Game of Thrones’ – Alcázar, Seville

In southern Westeros, Dorne is far warmer than the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. It is then fitting that the capital city, Sunspear, and its Water Gardens were filmed at the Alcázar of Seville. Also in Seville is Roman Amphitheater of Italica which was used as the Dragon Pit of King’s Landing.

20 Yunkai From ‘Game Of Thrones’ – Aït Ben Haddou, Morocco

Ouarzazate and the fortified village of Aït Ben Haddou were used as the city of Yunkai in Slavers Bay. Daenerys Targaryen liberates the city from its masters. Located in Morocco, Ouarzazate is a famous film location and is used in many other films, such as Lawrence of Arabia (1962), The Mummy (1999), Gladiator (2000), Kingdom of Heaven (2005), and Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)

21 Warrior Falls From ‘Black Panther’ – Iguazu Falls, Argentina

Warrior Falls in the fictional African country of Wakanda is where King T’Challa of Wakanda’s (the Black Panther) coronation takes place. However, the falls from the recent film are not actually in Africa but are the spectacular Iguazu Falls in Argentina.

22 Glenfinnan Viaduct From ‘Harry Potter’ – Scotland

This spectacular railway is perhaps one of the most instantly recognizable fictional places. Featured in four of the ‘Harry Potter’ films on the journey the Hogwarts Express makes from King’s Cross Station to the school, it has become known as the ‘Harry Potter’ bridge.

Which Of These Fictional Places Do You Want To Visit? 

There are so many amazing places in the world. Some of them have inspired aspects of the work of fiction themselves while others have served as locations for various fictional places. Regardless, there is no doubt that each of these “fictional places” is absolutely amazing to see and visit. So, if we’ve left out any of your favourite fiction-turned-reality places from around the world, please do let us know in the comments below.

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50 Fictional Destinations You Can Actually Visit

Dara Continenza

Dara Continenza has been exploring the world and writing about it since 2010. Her writing has appeared on Hopper, SmarterTravel, USA Today, Money, U.S. News and World Report, Yahoo, Business Insider, TripAdvisor, Huffington Post, Boston.com, and others.

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The fantastic, beautiful, or simply strange places in art are often inspired by real-life destinations. The best part is that you can visit these locations, from Glencoe village in Scotland (which played the part of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter franchise) to the isle of Kauai on Hawaii (you may know it as the stomping grounds of Jurassic Park).

The U.K.-based website Just the Flight created a cool infographic of some famous destinations around the world that inspired books, movies, video games, and more.

Click on the infographic below to expand it.

Readers, what’s your favorite imaginary destination? Have you ever traveled to its real-life counterpart? Tell us in the comments below!

(Photo: Just the Flight)

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10 fictional places you can actually visit

February 24, 2017 // By Lydia Schrandt

By Lydia Schrandt February 24, 2017

Memorable books and movies transport us to faraway places where our imaginations are free to run wild. Sometimes when we turn that last page or watch the credits scroll past, we long to spend more time in these vivid fictional worlds.

Here are 10 places from books and movies we wish were real, as well as alternative destinations in the realm of reality where you can get your fix.

1. Hogsmeade

It's hard to imagine there's a single person out there who's read the Harry Potter series and hasn't wanted to cozy up inside The Three Broomsticks with a warming butterbeer or sample some sweets — including the infamous Every Flavor Beans — from Honeydukes.

Go here instead: Universal's Islands of Adventure, Orlando

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While Hogsmeade started out as a place only in our imaginations, the folks at Universal Orlando have brought the wizarding town to life within the Islands of Adventure Theme Park. It's not quite the same as the real thing — your chocolate frog isn't going to hop away anytime soon — but it's close enough!

2. Stars Hollow, Connecticut

There's something undeniably charming about Stars Hollow, the close-knit community where Rory and Lorelai fall in and out of love in the TV series Gilmore Girls . The town calendar seems packed with events and festivities, and there's always a cup of hot coffee and fluffy pancakes waiting at Luke's Diner.

  A post shared by gilmore girls {fcp} (@loganhuntzberger_) on Sep 22, 2015 at 10:04am PDT

Go here instead: Washington Depot, Conn.

While much of the series was filmed on the Warner Bros. backlot in Burbank, Calif., the show's creators took inspiration from the community of Washington Depot, Conn. While you won't find a gazebo or town square, Washington does boast a cute local market, similar to Doose's, as well as The Mayflower Grace inn, comparable to The Independence from the show. Come in October and you can even attend the Gilmore Girls Fan Fest.

3. Arendelle

Arendelle, home to Queen Elsa and Princess Anna from the Disney animated feature Frozen , sits on the banks of a tranquil fjord with snow-capped mountains as its backdrop. This fictional kingdom looked just as beautiful in the middle of an icy winter as it did in summer — year-round travel appeal!

Go here instead: Bergen, Norway

Inspired by the Western fjords of Norway, Arendelle most closely resembles the UNESCO World Heritage-listed town of Bergen, where colorful Hanseatic houses line the waterfront and towering peaks rise beyond a bustling harbor. 

4. The Water Gardens of Dorne

There are many locations in the world of the Seven Kingdoms ( Game of Thrones ) we'd be more than happy to pass up, but the Water Gardens of Dorne sounds simply sublime. Situated in the southernmost of the Seven Kingdoms, this private palace of the House Martell features pink marble terraces overlooking fountains and pools, shaded by fragrant blood orange trees. 

Go here instead: Alcazar of Seville, Spain

The Water Gardens might not exist in this world (and they probably wouldn't let us in anyway), but the filming location for the Dornish estate used in the HBO TV adaptation is open to visitors. The Alcazar of Seville is a Moorish palace in Southern Spain, dating back to the 1300s. The grounds of this UNESCO World Heritage site encompass formal gardens dotted with pools and fountains, just like the Water Gardens of Dorne.

Director James Cameron once described the moon of Pandora — the main setting in the movie Avatar — as "the Garden of Eden with teeth and claws." Setting aside the 'teeth and claws' bit, Pandora is seriously stunning. Brimming with technicolor life, this lunar landscape would be any photographer's dream, and thrill seekers would pay a pretty penny for the chance to ride a mountain banshee. 

Go here instead: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China

The quartz-sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park were rumored to be the inspiration for the floating Hallelujah Mountains depicted in the film. Whether or not those rumors are true, this UNESCO Global Geopark in China is certainly otherworldly.

6. The Shire, Middle Earth

Pastoral tranquility, stunning scenery and a cozy, if not somewhat meddlesome, community; it's no wonder Frodo and Samwise were reluctant to leave the Shire. And while Rivendell is undeniably beautiful, hobbits know how to eat well and party, and that sounds like a fantastic trip!

Go here instead: Hobbiton, New Zealand

You probably know by now that New Zealand served as the filming location for Middle Earth in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and those dying for a chance to visit the Shire are in luck. The Hobbiton movie set in Matamata has been maintained, giving fans an opportunity to wander the paths, have a beer at the Green Dragon Inn or even pop inside a Hobbit hole for a look at what life was like for Bilbo and company.

7. Bikini Bottom

In Bikini Bottom, you can live in a pineapple under the sea, dine on crave-worthy Krabby Patties at the Krusty Krab, catch a film at the Reef Cinema or snap a photo with the Golden Spatula inside the Fry Cook Museum. SpongeBob and his friends seem to have a good thing going in this fictional underwater city.

  Breathtaking view from our Underwater Suite 📷 by @ioanarucareanu #atlantisthepalm A post shared by Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai (@atlantisthepalm) on Jan 29, 2017 at 5:45am PST Advertisement Advertisement

Go here instead: Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai

You won't get to stay in a hollowed-out pineapple, but at Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai, you can spend the night with the fishes. Hotel rooms set alongside a massive aquarium allow visitors to gaze at marine life from the Persian Gulf gliding by the floor-to-ceiling windows, right from the comfort of a warm (and dry) bed.

8. Avonlea, Prince Edward Island

The novel Anne of Green Gables is set in the fictional town of Avonlea on Canada's Prince Edward Island. The sleepy community comprises mostly farmers and lobster fishermen, making it a charming and friendly coastal destination where we'd love to get off the grid for a spell.

Go here instead: Avonlea Village, Prince Edward Island

The Avonlea of the beloved novel might be fictional, but Prince Edward Island is very real (and full of quaint seaside communities). Fans of the series will find a recreated version of the setting, called Avonlea Village, complete with replica houses and shops, and the original schoolhouse L.M. Montgomery taught in.

9. Bluebell, Alabama

It says a lot about a place when a New York doctor pulls into town and doesn't want to leave, as happened in Hart of Dixie . Southern hospitality, a lively social calendar filled with festivals and events, a romantic gazebo and historic plantations might have something to do with it, or maybe it's the easy-on-the-eyes neighbors who seem to come out of the woodwork. 

  A post shared by Dahlonega, GA (@visitdahlonega) on Jul 14, 2016 at 9:21am PDT

Go here instead: Dahlonega, Ga.

If you want a close approximation to Bluebell, cross the border into Georgia. The historic town of Dahlonega in the northern part of the state has a quaint town square, excellent food, foothill charm and its own lineup of festivals celebrating its heritage, including Gold Rush Days each October.

10. Neverland

Ask just about any adult on a Monday morning if they'd like to escape to a land where they never get old, and you'd be met with a resounding "yes." Add pirates, fairies and mermaids to the mix, and Peter Pan's Neverland sounds like a pretty sweet place to spend some time.

Go here instead: Halong Bay, Vietnam

What UNESCO-listed Halong Bay lacks in eternal youth (and mermaids), it makes up for in its spectacular natural beauty. Sail between the lush karst formations through turquoise water, and it's easy to imagine a pirate ship laying in wait around the next turn. So stunning is the scenery that it was used to create a 3D rendering of Neverland for the 2015 film Pan .

So there you have it. Did your favorite fictional place make the list? What city of the imagination do you wish you could visit? Tell us in the comments.

About Lydia Schrandt

Lydia, Senior Photo Editor and Readers' Choice Production Manager for USA TODAY 10Best, has traveled to more than 40 countries in Europe, Asia and North and South America, and has lived in Albuquerque, Galveston, Austin, Thailand, Korea, China, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Spain and now Houston. When she's not at her computer in a cafe, she's out photographing the city, writing fiction or cheering on Barça.

Read more about Lydia Schrandt here.

Connect with Lydia via: Website | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest

Fictional Places: 9 Epic Travel Destinations

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to visit the fictional places you’ve seen on screen or read about? I know I have. Since books and movies have always been my inspiration for travel, I’ve decided to put together a list of fantasy places that I would love to visit.

You can explore real-life filming locations for some of them, while others were created with the magic of CGI. That doesn’t mean you can’t imagine what it would be like to visit. I mean, sure, with a quick trip to Disney, you can experience recreations of many movies, but no matter how close it comes to reality, it’s not the real deal.

Affiliate Disclosure – This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a commission. This doesn’t affect your purchases or any fees you may pay for the product or service. Read more in my DISCLAIMER .

I selected the fictional places that appealed to me. Things like magic, interesting characters and epic landscapes are what speak to me. It’s also the creativity that went into creating whole worlds, storylines and quests that intrigues me. Would I want to live in those worlds, even if that was possible? No, but I would love to explore them if there was even a slight possibility of such a thing coming true.

My list of fictional places to visit

Like in real-life places in the world, everyone has their preferences , and there are enough of them to make everyone happy. The fictional places in books and movies on this list are ones I would love to visit. That’s not to say that there aren’t others that might appeal to you more or less.

The wizarding world of Harry Potter

The popularity of the Harry Potter world hasn’t diminished since the book came out. There is no denying that this world is a highly desired fictional destination. Who wouldn’t want to go to a school like the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft to learn magic, witchcraft and wizardry while dealing with mythical creatures?

The fact that the school looks like a castle doesn’t hurt either. JK Rowling created a world filled with magic, complex and relatable characters, and exciting storylines that play to every fantasy-lover, especially if they grew up with the books.

The movie adaptations brought the wizarding world to screens and helped fans visualize the places in the books. No matter how you feel about the author, there is no denying the appeal of this imaginary world. Thanks to its popularity, you can visit actual set locations and imagine yourself as part of that world. There are numerous Harry Potter tours and experiences, including this Harry Potter film locations guide by Visit Britain for your enjoyment.

The fictional city of Asgard is home to Norse gods and has towering skyscrapers, dramatic fjords, giant statues and stunning landscapes. Accessible by the rainbow-colored Bifrost Bridge, Asgard comes across as an idyllic destination for an adventure. The Marvel movies did a great job bringing Asgard’s appeal on screen with details only CGI can produce. It doesn’t take away from the spectacular beauty of Asgard’s floating hills, and it’s the reason it makes it on this list.

Of course, Asgard isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. There is plenty of invasion and destruction. But as this is a fictional place, you can imagine your visit as idyllic as you like. Unless, of course, you prefer to visit when there is a battle afoot. Then you can opt to join Thor, Loki and their friends as they battle against their enemies.

The fictional African nation of Wakanda captured the imaginations of moviegoers in MCU’s Black Panther . Wakanda is the most technologically advanced place on earth thanks to an abundance of vibranium (also fictional), a mineral deposit extracted from a crashed meteorite. Wakandans have cool gadgets, advanced weaponry and innovations that we all envy.

Wakanda is led by King T’Challa, who is also the superhero Black Panther, who gets plenty of assistance from his kick-ass warriors (many of them fierce females) and armoured rhinos. It’s also filled with stunning scenery and natural beauty, making it a perfect blend of technology and nature. Here you can mix learning with relaxation and fun. Who wouldn’t want to visit?

Pandora (Avatar)

Avatar introduced us to the fascinating world of Pandora. This tropical moon, filled with lush vegetation, floating planets, alien wildlife and bioluminescent plants, is an experience for the senses. Here you’ll find the blue-skinned Na’vi inhabitants, the six-legged Direhorses and the Mountain Banshees. This makes Pandora one of the most unusual and fascinating fictional places on this list.

The fictional world of Pandora captured many imaginations, and it still reigns high on many people’s wish lists. If you’re after the landscapes of Avatar, you can hike the Tianzi Mountain in the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park located in the Hunan Province of China that inspired the film. There was even a theme park based around the Avatar experience built in Disney’s Animal Kingdon.

The world of the Witcher

Netflix megahit The Witcher brought to life the fantasy world that came from a series of fantasy novels and video games. While it centers on the monster-hunter Geralt of Rivia, one of a handful of Witchers left in this world, there is a solid cast of characters that includes powerful sorceresses, elves, warriors, monsters and mythical creatures.

The fictional Cintra, Nilfgard, Aretuza and others came to life with some help from the CGI geniuses in the studios. The show was filmed across Europe, including locations in the United Kingdom, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Spain. So if you’re a Witcher fan, you can explore the show’s locations with this handy guide.

One of the best things about playing video games is becoming someone else, like a character with a particular set of skills and abilities. Jumanji takes that idea to another level by transporting players directly inside the game. No consoles, just your own skills. I don’t know about you, but that’s pretty cool.

Jumanji is fake, but it feels real. With lush jungles, snow-covered mountains, wild animals and plenty of bad guys to keep you on your toes, it’s an adventure like no other. In the game, you are on a quest to save Jumanji and have to rely on your game-designed abilities to complete it. Well, you have to stay alive, but as it’s your fantasy, you can have as many lives as you want.

Jumanji was filmed in Hawaii, California, Georgia, New Mexico and Alberta (Canada). Here is a handy guide to the locations used to recreate the fictional destinations in the movie.

Middle-earth (Lord of the Rings)

When it comes to fictional places, you can’t dismiss the imaginary world created by J.R.R. Tolkien. Middle-earth offers something for everyone. From the elegant Rivendell, home to the elves, to the Hobbiton in the lush pastures of the Shire that is home to the Hobbits. If you’re looking for something to match your cold, evil heart, then Mordor is where you’ll feel at home.

The entire Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed entirely in New Zealand. The country’s natural beauty and stunning landscapes brought Middle-earth to life. So, if you love the outdoors and want to live out your best Lord of the Rings life, head over to New Zealand and check out the real places that stood in for these amazing locations in the movie.

Journey to the Centre of the Earth

The science-fiction writer Jules Verne was so good at creating fictional places many believed his works were actual scientific manuals. Whether you believe some mysterious powers inspired Verne or not, you have to admit that he was a master at creating adventures in the most amazing places. His books inspired adventurous travellers and moviegoers thanks to numerous movie adaptations.

In Journey to the Centre of the Earth (2008), a professor, his nephew and their guide descend a volcano in Iceland . The further down they go, the more ancient and fascinating the world around them becomes. The idea that there is a land untouched by time somewhere under our feet is intriguing and captivating. Who wouldn’t want to explore that?

Of all the fictional places on my list, the fabled underwater city of Atlantis has been here the longest. A mythical city that sank to the bottom of the ocean has fascinated many since Plato first wrote about it around 360 BC. Was it real or did it come from Plato’s imagination as a morality tale for audiences?

Atlantis could have been a utopian society or one that indulged in many vices and was punished for them. One thing is certain, it was home to a highly advanced civilization whose technology, power and wealth were unmatched by anyone else in the world. I think I’m not alone in wanting to see what that actually looks like.

Many books and movies have created their own interpretations of the lost city. There is Disney’s Atlantis: The Lost Empire , DC’s Aquaman, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island (based on Jules Verne’s books and a sequel to Journey to the Centre of the Earth ) and countless others. It doesn’t matter which one you choose, a journey to a place like Atlantis would be the ultimate adventure.

Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park offers an unparalleled journey into the realm of the extraordinary – a world where dinosaurs once again roam the earth. How cool would that be? This island-based amusement park captures our imaginations with the awe-inspiring possibility of coming face-to-face with extinct creatures.

The sheer thrill and suspense that permeate every corner of this dinosaur-inhabited island make it an irresistible fictional destination. It offers a perfect blend of adventure, danger and scientific wonderment that would make any visit (albeit fictional) an unforgettable experience.

The expansive universe of Star Wars has captured the hearts and minds of millions worldwide. It offers all the elements of adventure, fantasy and mythology. This universe, with its array of distinctive planets like Tatooine, Hoth and Endor, is teeming with diverse alien species, futuristic technologies, and the age-old eternal struggle between good and evil.

What appeals to me about this particular fantasy world is that it seamlessly mixes the impossible with the ordinary. Each planet has its unique ecosystem, culture and inhabitants, creating a universe that feels real and tangible. The series’ iconic elements – from lightsabers to the Force, from droids to iconic characters like Darth Vader and Yoda – make it a richly textured world that continually fuels imaginations.

Indiana Jones

The world of Indiana Jones has always been a thrill for me. The idea of uncovering ancient relics and embarking on edge-of-your-seat adventures is what makes this fictional universe an enthralling escape.

From the Lost Ark to the Temple of Doom and the Last Crusade, each adventure is a nod to the mysteries and wonders that history holds. The intrigue of lost civilizations, the charm of hidden treasures and the adrenaline rush of daring escapades is a dream for history and travel nerds like me.

Even though it takes inspiration from real-life archaeological feats and historical timelines, it’s purely a fictional universe. The blend of real-world historical events, coupled with the excitement of adventure and danger, is a no-brainer.

Game of Thrones

The Game of Thrones was as fascinating as it was gory. The series has created a multi-faceted world filled with fictional tales and geography, making it a compelling universe to explore.

Westeros, with its seven distinct kingdoms, each with its own unique customs and landscapes, has a tangible sense of realism that draws viewers in. From the frozen expanses of Beyond the Wall to the sun-soaked Water Gardens of Dorne, the sheer diversity of settings is intriguing.

Personally, I would love to visit the austere beauty of Winterfell, the bustling streets of King’s Landing, and the mystical Isle of Faces in God’s Eye Lake, places that have been pivotal in the series’ storyline. However, it’s also worth noting that I would only visit any fictional town here as an observer.

Impact of fictional places on popular culture

Fictional places serve as a canvas on which creators project their wildest dreams and deepest fears. These imaginary locales, like the dinosaur-ridden islands or fantasy planets inhabited by gods and monsters, have the power to transport us away from the ordinary.

These fictional locations act as mirrors, reflecting societal issues and trends, and act as magnifying glasses, amplifying our understanding of human nature and our place in the cosmos. The characters, narratives and moral dilemmas reflect our shared experiences, shaping our collective consciousness and sparking meaningful discussions about morality, identity, and the nature of power.

These fictional destinations are more than just settings—they often inspire real-world pursuits, creating a symbiotic relationship between fiction and reality that enriches our cultural milieu.

Final thoughts on fictional places

The fictional places on this list centre around epic stories, great adventures and often improbable quests. They came from someone’s imagination and were brought to life with the magic of cinema. I have a deep appreciation for the level of creativity and attention to detail that went into putting them together, even if the stories themselves are somewhat interchangeable.

I can’t write this post without stating the obvious. Most of the movies and shows with these fictional places centre around the main hero, usually white and male. Women and people of colour appear as background characters or in supportive roles. They are either the villains or the helpers, there to aid the hero in his quest.

A conscious effort is needed to increase diversity in these imaginary realms, leading to a richer array of stories that are more reflective of the world we live in. This would not only contribute to a more inclusive culture but also cultivate empathy, understanding, and appreciation of diversity among readers and viewers.

As I put this list together, I wondered if that issue made a difference in my selection. Separating the location from the storyline works in some cases, while in others, the characters are what makes the location unique. If we could really travel to a fictional place, I’d be the first in line!

Travel Resources

Planning your next trip? Check out the resources I use and start planning your perfect getaway today!

• Flights: Find the best flight deals on Kiwi.com (my new go-to for flights)
• Book your accommodations: Find the best prices on hotels with Booking.com
• What to do: Find the perfect tour with Viator
• Need a car? Book your ride with Rentalcars.com

Check out my travel resource guide for more resources to help you plan your trip.

Kasia is an avid traveller, a self-professed castle, architecture and art lover, and an outdoor enthusiast. She takes readers on journeys to ancient ruins, cultural sites and museums to inspire others to embrace the magic of travel.

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25 fictional places you can actually visit in real life.

Published by 500px Blog • 10 years ago

Longing to escape into your favorite films or books? Now you actually can! From Middle Earth to Jurassic Park—we rounded up the real-life locations behind 25 fictional places , with photos from 500px and video clips.

Scroll down and get inspired to plan your next getaway!

Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit 1. Bilbo Baggins’ home in Hobbiton can be found in Matamata, New Zealand .

2. “One does not simply walk into Mordor…” But you sure can walk into Tongariro National Park, New Zealand , where the scenes in Mordor were filmed.

Though the movie adaptation wasn’t filmed here, Passu Lake in Gilgit, Pakistan is a dead ringer for Mordor.

Harry Potter 3. Hogwarts Express , the train that takes Harry Potter and his classmates to Hogwarts, can be seen speeding across Glenfinnan Viaduct in Lochaber, Scotland .

This railway viaduct appears in this unnerving Dementor attack scene:

4. Hogwarts Dining Hall was inspired by The Great Hall in Christ Church, Oxford University .

5. You can visit a recreation of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry yourself in Universal Studios, Florida .

The Shining 6. Dare to check into the haunted Overlook Hotel ? Stanley Kubrick and Jack Nicholson filmed the exterior scenes for the movie adaptation in Timberline Lodge in Mount Hood, Oregon .

7. But what really beckoned Stephen King to write The Shining in the first place was The Stanley Hotel in Colorado .

8. Remember these badass fights atop towering bamboo trees in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and House of Flying Daggers ?

You can visit Arashiyama Forest in Kyoto, Japan to see this forest for yourself:

9. The mountains of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in China bear a striking resemblance to the fictional planet Pandora in James Cameron’s Avatar .

10. The real-life ghost town Centralia, Pennsylvania was the basis for the blood-curdling Silent Hill .

When the strip mine beneath the town of Centralia caught fire, its 1,000 residents were evacuated. The fire continues to burn—even to this day, creating steaming pits, carbon monoxide vents, and sink holes all over.

11. The creepy church in Silent Hill exists too.

12. Remember that remote landmark, Paradise Falls in the Pixar movie UP ? Check out Angel Falls in Venezuela .

13. In Doctor Who , the TARDIS is a time machine that is bigger on the inside. In real life, this Police Box in Earls Court Station is one of the last few mobile police stations left in the U.K.

14. In Inception , the bridge where Leonardo DiCaprio gives Ellen Page a mind-bending lesson in dream-sharing is real. It’s the Pont de Bir Hakeim in Paris .

15. James Joyce’s celebrated novel Ulysses spans an entire day in Dublin, Ireland. The story opens here in Martello Tower in Sandy Cove, Dublin . This spot is now known as The James Joyce Tower and Museum where the writer’s memorabilia is stored.

16. Deep in the jungles of Cambodia , the ruins of Ta Prohm Temple were the setting of Lara Croft’s adventures in Tomb Raider .

17. The make-believe town of Amity Island in Steven Spielberg’s Jaws is actually Menemsha Harbor, Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts .

18. One of the climactic scenes in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is Canyon City. In real life, it is actually an ancient Treasury called Al Khazneh , found in Petra, Jordan .

19. Remember that scene in Forrest Gump where he just keeps on running, crossing state lines across America? One of the actual landmarks he reaches during his run is the Marshall Point Lighthouse in Point Clyde, Maine .

And three years after start of his run, Gump stops at Monument Valley in Utah and decides to return home.

20. The desert planet Tatooine is home to Luke Skywalker and Anakin Skywalker. Tatooine, in real life, is Tunisia . Some sets, including Luke’s home and Mos Eisley Cantina, remain to this day in Matmata, Tunisia .

It’s also where this awesome, viral fan-made video was shot:

21. From Dubrovnik to Iceland , there are just too many awesome real-life locations in Game Of Thrones that we gave them their own feature. Click here to find out!

22. Highclere Castle in West Berkshire, U.K. is the home and filming location of the period drama, Downton Abbey .

23. In Da Vinci Code , all is finally revealed in Scotland’s Rosslyn Chapel .

24. These pastel-hued buildings in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic inspired Wes Anderson’s dreamy production design in The Grand Budapest Hotel .

25. While most scenes in Jurassic Park were shot on soundstages, the exterior shots of Isla Nublar (a.k.a site of Jurassic Park) were of Na Pali Coast in Kauai, Hawaii .

Enjoyed your trip to these not-so make-believe lands so far? Go ahead and explore more lovely landscapes !

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15 Fictional Places You Wish You Could Visit

If you could visit any imaginary location in a book — where would you go? Our friends at Goodreads asked their members that very question, and they've rounded up 15 of the most popular spots. Next stop, Wonderland!

What if books came with magical passports that could transport you to the worlds they described? You could relax for days in Rivendell — the rest of the Fellowship can destroy the One Ring without you, right? — or spend a fun afternoon hiding from Jane Eyre in the Thornfield Hall attic (just watch out for Bertha).

Last week we asked on Facebook and on Twitter : which fictional place would you visit? Today we've got your top answers. Did your literary vacation destination make the list?

Book : Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Tour guide : Mr. Darcy Suggested activities : A swim in the lake, a fencing class, an unexpected reunion with a suitor you just rejected

The Chatsworth House, a stately home in Derbyshire, England, was used for the original inspiration for Pemberley and has been used a film location for Pride and Prejudice .

Ankh-Morpork

Book : Discworld series by Terry Pratchett Tour guide : Samuel Vimes or Rincewind Suggested activities : Drinks at the Mended Drum, a lecture at the Unseen University (if you can find it), a visit to the Dwarf Bread Museum

Terry Pratchett has said that Ankh-Morpork was inspired by Tallinn, Estonia, and central Prague.

Book : The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Tour guide : Frodo Baggins or Samwise Gamgee Suggested activities : Boat rides down the Brandywine River, singing on tables at the Green Dragon Inn, a Gandalf firework show

You actually can visit The Shire — and have a drink at The Green Dragon Inn — at the Hobbiton movie set in Waikato, New Zealand.

Thornfield Hall

Book : Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë Tour guide : Edward Rochester Suggested activities : A walk around the grounds, reading in the library, a hunt for violently insane ex-wives locked in the attic

Haddon Hall, near Bakewell, Derbyshire, has been used in several adaptations of Jane Eyre , and some even believe it's what Charlotte Brontë based Thornfield on.

Book : The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis Tour guide : Aslan or Reepicheep Suggested activities : Afternoon tea with Mr. Tumnus, a ride on the Dawn Treader, dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Beaver

This shot is from the 2005 film version of the first book in the series, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe .

Book : Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery Tour guide : Anne Shirley Suggested activities : A poem reenactment by the river, hair makeovers (black or green?), drinks with Diana

L.M. Montgomery's fictional community is located on Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Book : The Magicians by Lev Grossman Tour guide : Quentin Coldwater or Dean Fogg Suggested activities : A game of Welters, simple charm lessons with Professor March, lunch at the Physical Kids' bungalow

Author Lev Grossman shared this illustration of Brakebills by artist Christopher Shy on his blog.

Book : Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll Tour guide : The Mad Hatter Suggested activities : A chat with the Caterpillar, a Mad Tea Party, croquet with the Queen of Hearts

We got a glimpse into what Wonderland would look like in Tim Burton's 2010 live-action and computer-animated film.

Book : The Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey Tour guide : Lessa Suggested activities : Impression of a dragon, destroying deadly Thread, traveling backward and forward through time

Here's a book cover illustration from the series by Michael Whelan .

Book : A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin Tour guide : Tyrion Lannister or Arya Stark Suggested activities : Construction, scaling the walls of the Broken Tower, paying your respects at the crypt of Winterfell

Thanks to the Game of Thrones HBO series we have a good idea of what Winterfell would look like.

Book : The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Tour guide : Katniss Everdeen Suggested activities : Volunteering as tribute, joining a rebellion, rethinking your decision to go to Panem

This is what the Capitol looks like in the 2012 film.

Book : Redwall by Brian Jacques Tour guide : Matthias Suggested activities : A delicious feast in the Great Hall, fishing at the Redwall Abbey Pond, fighting off an evil army of anthropomorphic rats

This book cover illustration is by artist David Wyatt .

Book : Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie Tour guide : Peter Pan or Tinker Bell Suggested activities : A dip in Mermaids' Lagoon, campfire parties with the Lost Boys, pirate treasure hunts at Skull Rock

Pan , set to come out later this year, will be the newest — and most stunning — film portraying Neverland.

Book : Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling Tour guide : Hagrid Suggested activities : Playing Quidditch, taking a few classes, using a Time-Turner to relive your visit over and over again

Besides the castles and churches that served as filming locations for Hogwarts, the life-size replica at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Universal Studios (both the Orlando, FL, and Osaka, Japan, locations) is your next best bet for the real deal.

Book : The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum Tour guide : Glinda the Good Witch Suggested activities : Following the Yellow Brick Road, landing houses on wicked witches, paying no attention to the man behind the curtain

This imagined Oz setting is from the 2013 film Oz the Great and Powerful .

Don't see your favorite fictional land? Then share it with us in the comments! And add more fantastical stories to your to-read shelf with these book lists: Magical World Books and Alternate Universe Books .

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8 Fictional Places We Would Love to Visit

The world has a lot of beautiful and wondrous places to visit, but sometimes the best places we’ve heard about are only found within works of fiction.

Here are eight places we would love to visit if they actually existed.

Asgard – Marvel’s Thor Series

Okay, I understand that Marvel’s Thor is based on Norse mythology. But after watching the movies and seeing the design and beauty of its version of Asgard , it’s one place I would absolutely love to visit at least once.

Cloud City – Star Wars Series

It’s a city that hovers in and above the clouds of the planet Bespin. Seriously, who wouldn’t want to visit an entire city in the clouds? Just remember to avoid the soldiers in white armor.

Springfield – The Simpsons

Imagine our world without the influence of The Simpsons ? There aren’t many cities and places in fiction that are as fleshed out with stories as the city of Springfield . I’m also rather curious what Duff Beer would taste like.

Jurassic Park – Jurassic Park

“Welcome to Jurassic Park!” Obviously, before things went to shit.

I think every kid, at some point has a fascination with dinosaurs and wants to see what they really look like, how big they are and if Mom and Dad would allow them to take one home as a pet. Sure, they were a bit mutated from scientists screwing with their DNA, but they’re still based on the multi-million year old animals.

The Citadel – Mass Effect Series

For those of you familiar with Mass Effect , the city needs no introduction. For those who skipped this series of games, it’s a massive space station with a population of of 13 million humanoid species and seen as the center of government for the galaxy.

The Shire – The Hobbit Series, The Lord of the Rings Series

It’s quiet and beautiful that rarely sees change. If you’re looking to get away from the noise and busy life of the rest of the world, this would be the best place to go and relax for a bit.

Hogwarts – Harry Potter Series

This exclusive, invite only, castle and school consists of wizards and witches learning how to use their magical gifts. Imagine a life where magic gives you everything you could want or need? Plus, it’s a sweet looking castle that’s worth checking out.

King’s Landing – Game of Thrones

Okay sure, this seems to be an odd selection given the other places on this list. It’s a violent place filled with corruption and near lawlessness. But, it’s still a beautiful looking place and it wouldn’t hurt to check it out at least once, right?

20 Fictional Places That All Travelers Need To Visit Now

There are fictional destinations that you can actually visit in real life, even if they seem so far-fetched that we can’t possibly imagine they exist.

Writers and directors of novels and films have a unique ability to create remarkable stories that have the ability to entertain and delight us, but not all of the magical worlds and interesting places that exist within these bodies of work have been created entirely from their imaginations. In fact, there are some fictional destinations that you can actually visit in real life, even if they seem so far-fetched that we can’t possibly imagine they exist (and in some cases, like the town which served as the inspiration for Silent Hill , we don’t want to imagine that they do).

Whether it is historic man-made structures from an ancient world, the natural scenery which inspired a fantasy land, or abandoned film sets, there are a number of places which fans can visit and retrace the footsteps of their favorite character or work of fiction. Or simply use the destination as an opportunity to take an out-of-this-world selfie. From childhood favorites like Winnie the Pooh , and the forest that inspired the setting for where the adventures took place, to the filming locations of Game of Thrones and Star Wars . Below are 20 fictional places that you thought only existed in fantasy realms.

20 'Game of Thrones' Pentos Can Be Found In A Beautiful Spot In Malta

If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, in the series you would have seen Pentos, one of the free cities, and the place where Daenerys Targaryen lived for a time before her marriage to Khal Drogo, Fandom reports. But this place doesn’t just exist within the fantasy realm, and fans could actually see this spot in real-life, too, if they journeyed to the Azure Window in Malta. According to The Whole World Is A Playground , The Azure Window in Gozo was the scene for the wedding of these two Game of Thrones characters.

RELATED: You May Soon Be Able To Stay In Game Of Thrones' Riverrun Castle Thanks To AirBnB  

But be warned, this tourist attraction has been altered after heavy storms in 2017, which the Irish Times reports caused the 28 meter Azure Window to collapse into the Mediterranean.

19 Canyon City Is Not Just A Place From 'Indiana Jones'

The Canyon of the Crescent Moon is yet another place that people may have thought only existed in fictional works, but the place that housed Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade ’s Temple of the Sun, or Grail Temple, can actually be found in Petra, Jordan. Well, sort of, because the fictional city was reportedly modeled on the eastern entrance to Petra.

According to National Geographic , for hundreds of years this prehistoric city, which can be found amid the desert canyons, was lost to the Western world, but in 1985, the Petra Archaeological Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

18 Our Favorite 'Harry Potter' Castle, Hogwarts, Was Inspired By Alnwick Castle

Parts of the scenes for Hogwarts, Harry Potter’s famous school of witchcraft and wizardry, were filmed in Alnwick Castle, which is located in Northumberland, England.

According to a website for the castle, the first two films ( Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ) used the castle as a location for filming. Among the most memorable landmarks are The Lion Arch, which was used as a way in and out of Hogwarts, and The Outer Bailey, which is recognized as the place were Harry Potter and other students learned to fly broomsticks as part of the sport, Quidditch.

17 The Beautiful Pandora From 'Avatar' Is The South Pillar of Heaven In The WuLingYuan National Park

The fantasy/science fiction film Avatar was set in the mythical land of Pandora, where the alien species Na'vi can be found, and although this Bioluminescence creature and planet does not exist in real-life, you can see the inspiration for the mountain scenes if you travel to China.

The inspirations were the pillars called South Pillar of Heaven, located in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in the Hunan Province, South Morning China Post reports. Tourists to this region are able to marvel at the natural beauty of this iconic mountain and have the opportunity to take their own photos at the eastern entrance to the park -- where they can take the tourist hop-on bus to the Bailong Elevator, and then ascend the mountain in a glass lift.

16 'The Great Gatsby's' West Egg Was Modeled After Oheka Castle In Huntington, New York

When F. Scott Fitzgerald penned The Great Gatsby , he is believed to have been inspired by a sprawling residence in Huntington, New York. This location, according to Medium , was The Oheka Castle, which was built in 1919 and was home to Otto Hermann Kahn (the website for the residence notes that at the time of construction, the home was the second-largest private residence ever built in America).

Kahn was apparently known for his lavish parties and celebrity connections during this time, and the publication claims that he and his home inspired Fitzgerald’s character, Jay Gatsby, and his fictional home on the West Egg of Long Island.

15 'Silent Hill' Was Based On The Eery Location Of Centralia In Pennsylvania

It may freak you out to learn that the Silent Hill town was actually based on a real-life place called Centralia in Pennsylvania. According to The 13th Floor , the town was a coal-mining town, with around 2,000 people calling it their home in the 1950s, but in May of 1962, the mine located underneath the town caught fire and for 16 years the inhabitants of the town tried to extinguish the fire that was still burning beneath their feet. But after multiple failed attempts and severe effects on their health, the people of the town were forced to abandon their homes and relocate.

In fact, according to Ranker , this fire is still ongoing and shows no signs of stopping, and smoke is constantly seeping out of cracks in the ground.

14 'Star Wars' Planet Tatooine Can Be Found Near Tozeur In Tunisia

Tatooine was the home planet of Star Wars ’ Luke Skywalker, and fans of the film franchise can actually visit this desert world during a trip to Tunisia. According to Express , the film set still remains, preserved by the hot and dry climate (as well as nostalgic fans who have worked to restore the set) of this North African country.

As remarkable as this is, and as tempting as it may be for fans of the franchise to make a pilgrimage, in recent years the town has reportedly become increasingly unsafe, with The Guardian reporting in 2015, that it had become a waypoint for Isis fighters traveling to and from Libya.

13 The Shire Village, Hobbitton, Can Be Toured On A Visit To Matamata, New Zealand

While the film location for Tatooine may be a potential safety risk, there is no issue with visiting Hobbitton and experiencing the wooden homes lived in by the hobbits of the Peter Jackson directed films (from the adaptations of J. R. R. Tolkien’s books), The Lord of the Rings , and The Hobbit .

Located in Matamata, in the small agricultural town in the Waikato region of New Zealand, fans can embark on a daily tour to the movie set, with some of the top sites including Bag End, the Green Dragon Inn, the mill and the Party Tree, Hamilton and Waikato reports.

12 'Frozen’s' Arendelle Was Inspired By Norway’s Nærøyfjord

Disney’s animated film,  Frozen , was a huge success, and apparently, the Arendelle kingdom was inspired by the drama and beauty of a Norwegian fjord. According to The Globe and Mail , Arendelle was inspired by the UNESCO world heritage site, Nærøyfjord.

Nærøyfjord is part of a branch of the Sognefjord, and is 17 km long, with the narrowest point being just 250 meters wide, Visit Norway reports. Huffington Post reports that the success of the film increased tourism to Norway, and probably not just for adults because the publication notes that Nærøyfjord is on the Frozen -inspired Adventures by Disney Norway cruise.

11 'Batmans' Arkham Asylum Can Also Be Known As Danvers State Hospital In Massachusetts

Arkham Asylum is a fictional psychiatric hospital commonly featuring as part of Batman ’s storyline, and it was reportedly based on Danvers State Hospital in Massachusetts. According to Atlas Obscura , Danvers State Hospital opened in 1878, but by the 1930s the hospital was struggling to accurately treat its patients because of overcrowding and disrepair. In 1992, the hospital closed down, but not before serving as inspiration for horror writer H. P. Lovecraft’s Arkham Sanitarium, and later Batman ’s Arkham Asylum.

As for the state of the building now? History of Massachusetts says it was turned into an apartment building, and then later sold to a real estate developer.

10 Winterfell, The Home Of The Starks, Can Be Found In Northern Ireland

There is a Game of Thrones tourist attraction located in Northern Ireland.

Castle Ward is found in the west of the village of Strangford, in County Down (just 40 minutes from Belfast), and this is the place where  Game of Thrones built the set of Winterfell. The location now offers fans an opportunity to see some of the most memorable locations of the Stark’s homeland. And according to Visit Belfast , these include the Whispering Wood, Winterfell Archery Range (which has been recreated in the courtyard, where fans can practice their own archery), and the place where Bran Stark had a fall from Winterfell Castle.

9 Paradise Falls From The Adorable Animated Film 'Up' Was Inspired By Venezuela's Tepui

The heartwarming animated film, Up , focuses on the journey of an old man trying to fulfill one of his life-long dreams: to visit South America and see Paradise Falls. The destination was reportedly inspired by a real plane in Venezuela. According to ScoopWhoop while Paradise Falls doesn’t exist, the team who worked on the Pixar film visited the tepui of Canaima National Park in Venezuela -- and it wasn’t an easy journey, even if it was a worthwhile one.

As for the name Paradise Falls, Fandom reports that this name may have been taken from Angel Falls, which is the highest waterfall in Venezuela.

8 Radiator Springs In 'Cars' Was Inspired By Real Places On Route 66

Radiator Springs from the animated film Cars was created by the team who worked on the film, but is based off real locations from Route 66 in the United States -- one of the original highways within the U.S. Highway System. Interestingly, the buildings and even some of the characters have been based off real places and people, with Route 66 News noting that Sally’s Cozy Cone Motel is the real-life historic Blue Swallow Motel, and The Cadillac Range of mountains is inspired by the real-life Amarillo landmark, Cadillac Ranch.

And as for characters? Well, the publication claims that these include Fillmore, the VW microbus, who was inspired by Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire, and Sally the Porsche, who was based on a woman named Dawn Welch, owner of the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma.

7 'Jaws' Fans Can Visit Martha's Vineyard If They Want To Be Closer To Amity Island

In Jaws , Amity Island is located on Long Island in New York, but Martha's Vineyard, which lies off the coast of Massachusetts, was the place that director Steven Spielberg chose to portray Amity.

Apart from the idyllic beaches that were filmed, Curbed notes that there are many places Jaws fans can visit, including the Amity Town Hall, which was filmed at Edgartown's actual Town Hall, and the wooden Jaws Bridge is located between Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. Actually, fans can go on a one-hour walking tour to revisit places from some of their favorite scenes, and this tour is offered by the Edgartown Tour Company.

6 The Hundred Acre Wood From 'Winnie The Pooh' Was Created Thanks To Ashdown Forest

If you take a trip to Ashdown Forest in the in the High Weald Area of Sussex, England, you may feel as though you have taken a trip down memory lane, because this is the forest that is said to have inspired the setting for childhood favorite Winnie the Pooh . The author of the books, A. A. Milne, is said to have lived on the outskirts of Ashdown Forest (a 6,500-acre wood) and watched his son, Christopher Robin play with toys there, which inspired him to create the Winnie the Pooh books, and the Hundred Acre Wood, where the adventures of the characters took place.

5 'Game Of Thrones' Fans Want To Visit Dubrovnik To See King’s Landing

King’s Landing, the capital of the seven kingdoms in HBO's Game Of Thrones , is a unique place, and producers found the perfect spot to film it. Elite Daily reports that much of the filming was in the UNESCO World Heritage site, the city of Dubrovnik, in Croatia. Actually, fans of the series are able to go on a walking tour of the Old City walls of Dubrovnik and admire the spectacular views, but also see places where scenes were filmed, including the Lovrijenac Fortress.

According to King’s Landing Dubrovnik , the fortress is located just outside the Western wall of the Old Town.

4 Overlook Hotel From 'The Shining' Was Inspired By The Stanley In Colorado

Stephen King’s The Shining is a cult classic, and the main setting in this book (which was adapted to film by Stanley Kubrick) is the fictional Overlook Hotel, a secluded hotel which is located in the Rocky Mountains. But it turns out this place was not entirely imagined by King, and he is believed to have drawn inspiration from The Stanley in Estes Park, Colorado, which is located approximately five miles from the entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park, Fandom reports.

King and his wife reportedly spent a night in the hotel in 1974, and they were the only guests who stayed overnight. In the dining room, they ate, just the two of them, while the chairs of the other tables were up on tables, and canned orchestra music echoed through the empty halls.

3 The Island The Characters In 'Lost' Were Stranded In Can Be Found In Oahu, Hawai

When the survivors of a plane crash found themselves lost on a mysterious island, strange things start to happen, and this was the premise of the hit series, Lost . However, the island actually exists, and the filming took place in Oahu, Hawaii, with some of the more memorable sites on the island including Papailoa Beach, where the survivors camped for most of the show, and Waimea Valley Audubon Center, the place which Honolulu Magazine , reports is the waterfall and pool where part of the plane crashed. It was also to be the place Kate and Sawyer went swimming and found a locked case.

2 You Can Become A Duke Or Duchess Of 'Downton Abbey' In Highclere Castle

Downton Abbey is the drama series about the Crawley family, their domestic servants, and their beautiful home located in the fictional Yorkshire country estate of Downton Abbey. But in actual fact, the filming for this series was done on the 1,000-acre estate, Highclere Castle, located in Hampshire, England.

The magnificent Victorian castle is closed for much of the year, only opening to the general public for around 65 days a year. But, during this time, visitors (and probably many Downton Abbey fans) are welcome to take a self-guided tour of the castle and the gardens, the Highclere Castle website reports.

1 Swan House in Atlanta, Georgia, Made An Appearance In 'The Hunger Games: Catching Fire'

The Swan House in Atlanta, Georgia, was built in 1928 by architect Phillip Trammell Shutze, one of America’s most celebrated classicists, Huffington Post reports. It was home to the wealthy Inman family, who, after the Civil War helped rebuild the city of Atlanta with their businesses and industries.

But more importantly, the publication notes that it served as the set for President Snow's house in Hunger Games: Catching Fire , and this was done because of the classic architecture, and the original antiques.

According to the Atlanta History Center , visitors can enjoy a behind the scenes Swan House tour, which takes approximately 45 minutes and gives you a chance to explore the rooms of this historic mansion.

References:   Irish Times , National Geographic , Alnwick Castle ,  The Guardian ,  The Globe and Mail ,  Huffington Post , Atlas Obscura , The Telegraph , Elite Daily

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• 20 Fictional Places That You Can Visit In Real Life

23 Mar 2023

Books and movies teleport you to a dreamy fantasy land. We bet there have been times when you wished to escape to landscapes from your favorite films or books – from Hogwarts and Hogsmeade to the Shire; and from Pandora to Arkham. If you’ve dreamt of them to exist for real, we’ve got good new for you!

Scroll down to see a list of 20 places (among many others), from the fantasy world that you thought never existed, but they actually do. While some of these have been used as it is, others have been digitally created in the settings of the mentioned destinations.

Straight from the Dreamy Disneyland

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1. Elsa’s Ice Palace from Frozen VS Hotel de Glace in Canada

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2. Kingdom of Arendelle from Frozen VS Nærøyfjord in Norway

3. Paradise Falls from Up VS Angel Falls in Venezuela

4. Pride Rock from Lion King VS Pride Rock in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania

Must Read: 10 Real World Destinations That All Disney Lovers Must Travel To

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5. Great Black Lake VS Loch Shiel at Lochaber in Scotland

6. Hogwarts Castle in Sorcerer’s Stone VS Alnwick Castle in Northumberland

7. Hogwarts Express VS Glenfinnan Viaduct at Lochaber in Scotland

8. Great Hall VS Dining Hall of Christ Church at Oxford University

Thou Shalt Not Miss LOTR

9. Mordor – Black Volcanic Plain occupied by Sauron VS Tongariro National Park in New Zealand

10. Hobbiton – the Shire Village VS Matamata in New Zealand

11. Rivendell – the Elvish Capital VS Kaitoke Regional Park in New Zealand

Okay! It doesn’t look similar. Sorry to break it to you, but Rivendell was created digitally in the settings of Kaitoke Regional Park. Or at least most of it was. But, nonetheless, you can get the feel of the Elvish Capital in the regional park of New Zealand.

Game. Of. Thrones. – It’s in a game (a bloody one)

12. Winterfell VS Castle Ward in Northern Ireland

Different roads, after all, lead to the same castle. This one. Winterfell has been depicted by various castles from UK – Doune Castle in Scotland, Castle Ward in Northern Ireland, and Audley’s Castle & Woods in Northern Ireland.

13. Pentos VS Azure Window in Malta

Other Notable Mentions

14. hallelujah mountain from avatar vs wulingyuan mountains in hunan district of china.

15. Arkham Asylum from DC’s Batman VS Danvers State Hospital in Massachusetts

16. Canyon City from Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade VS Al Khazneh at Petra in Jordan

17. Flintstones House at Bedrock from the Hanna Barbera’s animated series VS Stone House built by Dick Clark in Malibu

18. Isla De Muerta from Pirates of the Caribbean VS Haiti

19. Tatooine – Luke and Anakin Skywalker desolate planet from Star Wars VS Matmata in Tunisia

20. TARDIS time machine from BBC’s Doctor Who VS the mobile Police Box in Earls Court Station in UK

Fun Fact: The Mobile Police Box at Earls Court Station is one of the very few, perhaps the only, existing mobile police box in UK

These fictional places that you can visit in reality are sure to make-up for a fantasy-filled holiday. Let us know your pick from the lot.

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2024-02-01T08:34:26.524Z

Sometimes the best adventures happen in our imagination. Whether it’s the setting of a magical book or a thrilling TV show, fictional worlds are often even more exciting than reality.

Since real life travel is currently on hold, there’s never been a better time to let your daydreams run wild.

Imagination Travel Ideas: Fictional Worlds We Want to Visit

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to study at Hogwarts, gorge on chocolate with Willy Wonka or take a trip through Middle Earth? We have! To fire up your imagination even more, we’ve put together a list of 10 fictional travel ideas:

1) HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZADRY (Harry Potter)

From its towering turrets to its talking paintings, Hogwarts is the most iconic fictional school to have ever existed. Hogwarts is a major part of the Harry Potter series and it’s jam-packed with magic. Even the entrance exam is like no other – just put the sorting hat on and it’ll tell you whether you’re a Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin. And who doesn’t want to learn how to cast spells, brew potions and play Quidditch on a speedy broomstick?

2)   WONDERLAND (Alice in Wonderland)

We can’t imagine a crazier adventure than a trip to Wonderland. In this weird and wonderful place, one sip from a bottle could make you shrink, while a slice of cake could make you taller. You’ll probably bump into the Mad Hatter and make friends with a grinning Cheshire Cat, but just remember not to annoy the terrifying Queen of Hearts. Wonderland is full of Disney charm, but with enough danger to keep you on your toes. Anything can happen when you go down the rabbit hole, making this one unforgettable adventure. 

3) THE GALAXY (Star Wars)

The Star Wars Galaxy is a place far, far away, where space travel is totally normal. This famous fictional world is home to all kinds of strange species, as well over 400 billion stars – all orbiting around a supermassive black hole. In the Galaxy, you can walk on the moon and battle with lightsabers, all in one afternoon. 

4)   NARNIA (Chronicles of Narnia)

“Once a King in Narnia, always a King in Narnia. But don't go trying to use the same route twice. Indeed, don't try to get there at all. It'll happen when you're not looking for it.”                        

                                                   – Professor Digory Kirke, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

If you read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as a child, then you’ll know all about Narnia. If you love magic and mayhem, then this is the place for you. The mystical world of Narnia has a sky like a huge dome, and is filled with magical beings called Star People, talking animals and underground worlds to explore.

5)   MIDDLE EARTH (The Lord of the Rings)

One of the most detailed imaginary places ever created is Middle Earth , and it is the setting for some of history’s most famous fantasy fiction. Tolkien drew detailed maps of his magical world and there’s lots to explore. For an enjoyable adventure, skip through the lush, green fields of the Shire with its friendly hobbits or visit the breathtaking wood elves in the golden kingdom of Lórian. If you’re in the mood for danger, head to the terrifyingly dark Mordor. Home to the evil Sauron, it’s surrounded by rocky mountains and swampland. 

6)  THE EMERALD CITY (The Wizard of Oz)

Home to the mysterious Wizard of Oz, the Emerald City has to be one of the strangest places in all of fantasy land. For starters, you need to follow the yellow brick road to reach its emerald-encrusted walls. Plus, everyone is forced to wear green-tinted glasses within the city walls, including the animals. The Emerald City is apparently so green that you still see its glow far off into the distance. 

7) LAND OF OZ (Wizard of Oz)

You can’t go to the Emerald City without spending some time in the Land of Oz. In this fairy kingdom, talking animals rule. Look out for friendly creatures with big personalities, like the Cowardly Lion, the Comfortable Camel and the Hungry Tiger. Or head to the Unicorner in Munchkin Country for a chance to see the unicorns. There are also Bun People, made entirely of baked treats, and living paper dolls to meet while you explore this strange world. 

8) WILLY WONKA'S CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Known as the greatest factory in the world for good reason, Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory would satisfy even the biggest sugar-lover. Delicious treats on offer include Wonka’s Whipple-Scrumptious Fudgemallow Delight , Everlasting Gobstoppers and even lickable wallpaper. You could try floating down the Chocolate River or swimming in a pool of fizzy lemonade. Even if you’re not a fan of chocolate, the great glass elevator makes this factory worth a visit. 

9) THE GAME OF THRONES WORLD

Game of Thrones is one of the most popular TV shows ever made. When it comes to this fantasy realm, even the guided tour can’t match the thrill of your imagination. The novels the show is based on were written by George R. R. Martin, and the world he created is made up of three continents and numerous islands. King’s Landing, although dangerous, seems particularly lovely with its Gold Road and Rose Road. But watch out for the seasons, because winter’s been known to last for a long time in this world. 

10) NEVERLAND (Peter Pan)

If you never want to grow up, then Neverland is the place for you. You can expect to meet Captain Hook and his pirate crew, Tinker Bell and a whole host of other fairies and The Lost Boys – a tribe of brave children who live in treehouses and caves. But be warned: the longer people stay in Neverland, the more they forget about their former lives. 

Pop culture is full of thrilling fantasy worlds and we’d love to experience all of them. When you feel like switching daydreams for some real world holiday inspiration, you can still check out our travel-related blog posts . In the meantime, happy imaginative travels!

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10 Coolest Movie Fantasy Worlds Everyone Wants to Visit

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The 10 Best Kathleen Turner Movies, Ranked

The 10 most underrated quotes from the lord of the rings movies, ranked, 15 very long movies that didn't earn their epic runtimes, ranked by length, read update.

Disney is about to bring one of the most famous fantasy worlds back to life, this time on the small screen, through the Percy Jackson and the Olympians TV series. The highly-anticipated upcoming show is expected to premiere in 2024, and will hopefully depict Camps Half-Blood and Jupiter in a satisfying way for fans of the books and original movies.

The heart of the fantasy genre is escapism from the humdrum of daily life into a place often full of wish-fulfilling purpose through magic, prophecy, gods and goddesses, and a wide selection of heroic Chosen Ones. Adoring fans of the most beloved fantasy stories can follow the protagonists into their fantastical settings and indulge in the wonders of what it would be like to venture there.

When it comes to fantasy worlds, however, not all are created equal, and not all are idyllic settings one would make an adventure or vacation out of. These best fictional from movies draw audiences time and again.

Updated on May 22, 2023, by Hannah Saab:

10 atlantis, 'atlantis: the lost empire' (2001).

Atlantis, a mythological ancient city, has been adapted into Greek mythology movies and other works of fiction before and after Disney’s approach in 2001. Right up there with its spin on Treasure Island , blending the 18th century aesthetic with space colonies and solar-powered galleons, this version of Atlantis is much more an alien world than an ancient city swallowed by the sea.

The writers put much effort into making Atlantis feel lived in, more effort than Disney put into marketing Atlantis: The Lost Empire , developing the skeleton of its language and the culture of Atlanteans previously untouched until Milo’s expedition. Its Princess Kida, portrayed by the legendary Cree Summer ​​​​​​, was snubbed for the princess lineup by the movie's box office bomb.

9 Wonderland

'alice in wonderland' (1951).

A drug-induced hallucination or an alternate dimension? Alice in Wonderland has been in many adaptations, most famously in the 1951 Disney animated classic and its 2010 live-action reboot . It's a world made of psychedelics. Potions to grow and shrink, the Mad Hatter’s quagmire of queries, and the kingdoms of the Red and White queens of cards and chess all feature in one of few fantasy worlds less concerned with heroes and prophecies and more concerned with spontaneous adventure.

Fall down the rabbit hole chasing the perpetually anxious white rabbit, trade hypnotic grins with the Cheshire cat, and annoy the snooty, hookah-smoking Absolem, the blue caterpillar. Whether a loyal book fan or a connoisseur of the myriad of adaptations, Wonderland is as mystifying as it is unique, and is one of the fictional lands that fans would love to get lost in.

8 Camps Half-Blood and Jupiter

'percy jackson and the olympians' film series (2010 - 2013).

Though neither movie adaptation appreciates nor accurately portrays Camp Half-Blood and the world of modernized mythology, there is hope in Disney’s upcoming Percy Jackson series . Nevertheless, some kids wanted to be wizards growing up, others wanted to be demigods, and many adore both. The world of Percy Jackson is very much a hidden fantasy world, superimposed over real-world cities and hidden by the Mist.

That’s not to say it doesn’t have its fantastical settings. Camp Half-Blood, for Greek demigods, sits on Long Island, while the rival Camp Jupiter, for Roman demigods, is outside San Francisco. Both are seemingly places out of time, havens for the children of the gods from monsters and abusive mortals, where they can hone their godly abilities.

'Black Panther' (2018)

Comics have many alternate realities, far-off planets, and world-bending dimensions to pick from. The MCU and its miniseries have Asgard, the TVA, and the rest of the Multiverse. Still, Black Panther 's Wakanda takes the prize for a hidden world of advanced technology that might as well be indistinguishable from magic itself.

With the seemingly limitless uses for the material vibranium, Wakanda balances highly advanced technology with an ageless, unique aesthetic not often seen in Western media.

6 Neverland

'peter pan' (1953).

The appeal of Neverland lies more in its promise of never growing up or, in Peter Pan 's case, never landing. Beyond the scope of Pan’s original animated movie, 1991’s Hook with Robin Williams , or the more recent Pan (2015), the universe also includes all the animated Tinker Bell films.

Neverland features the exploits of the Lost Boys, Captain Hook, and his crew’s ceaseless quest against all of Peter Pan’s mischievous antics, alongside fairies, mermaids, and one determined crocodile. If one only looks up at the night sky, Neverland is the “second star to the right,” only reachable if one believes they can fly.

'The Chronicles of Narnia' Film Series (2005 - 2010)

A world in part built on the ventures of regular humans becoming Kings and Queens of the realm, Narnia’s world extends far beyond the limited scope of the Chronicles of Narnia films. C.S. Lewis explored the depth of Narnia in seven books, the stories surrounding the Pevensie children only the tip of the iceberg.

Narnia is rich with mythical creatures like fauns, minotaurs, centaurs, talking animals, sentient trees, Santa Claus, and the wisest mentor in their world and in the films , Aslan. They’re children’s books at heart, and though not devoid of war and conflict, the Narnia world and one of its entrances in the Wardrobe are the definition of escapist fantasy.

'The Wizard of Oz' (1939)

1939’s The Wizard of Oz contains some of cinema’s most famous shots of a magical world – live in Technicolor. The movie and first stage adaptations came from The Wonderful World of Oz , the first of a fourteen-book long anthology later continued with an additional twenty-one books by writer L. Frank Baum ’s successor, championed by millions of children eager for more.

Oz is a sprawling fantasy realm, and one need only start their journey on the yellow brick road to explore it. The Munchkin village, the Wicked Witch’s castle and flying monkey armada, and the Emerald City and its horse of many colors are all part of what makes Oz a timelessly classic escapist fantasy, one tornado ride away.

3 A Galaxy Far, Far Away

'star wars' cinematic universe (1977 - ).

Depending on the era, one might not want to brave the famous planets of the Star Wars universe. Star Wars is the dystopia that Star Trek is not, by comparison. However, there remain pockets of some of sci-fi’s most creative landscapes between all of Star Wars ’ mediums. Coruscant, Naboo, (perhaps not the monotonous deserts of Tatooine or Jakku), and the hundreds of planets explored in The Clone Wars cartoon and video games are each iconic in their own ways.

One can imagine themselves a Jedi in the height of Old Republic, or the twilight hours of the Clone Wars, a rebel X-wing pilot or Sith apprentice. Disney’s Galaxy’s Edge is the closest this world comes to a galaxy far, far away, and at least while there, one can have a drink at the Mos Eisley cantina.

2 The Wizarding World

'harry potter' film series (2001 - 2011).

Envisioned as the exact kind of protagonist readers are meant to live vicariously through, the eponymous boy-who-lived brings audiences into the realm of witches and wizardry just beyond our own in Harry Potter . Everyone wants their wand, pet owl, or flying broomstick, and to be sorted into their favorite Hogwarts House . Everyone waited for their letter of admission to come in the mail.

Ride the moving staircases, the train at platform 9 3/4 or buy butterbeer at Hogsmeade, or walk the hallowed halls of Hogwarts castle and beyond. Or, trace Newt Scamader’s steps in America’s own wizarding world. Either way, the world of Harry Potter is a fantastical place to visit (and Universal knows it).

1 Middle-Earth

'the lord of the rings' film series (2001 - 2003).

J.R.R. Tolkien famously spent decades crafting his epic fantasy, meant to be the rich mythology the English people had lost. Middle Earth began simply with The Hobbit , a children’s book filled with Dwarves, dragons, and a magical adventure. Tolkien’s world bloomed in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and grew its roots in The Silmarillion , the appendices from which Amazon has drawn inspiration for Rings of Power .

Whether visitors envision themselves as ethereal Elves, common Men, the simple Hobbit folk of the Shire, seeking riches in the mines of the Dwarves, or even a Wizard, one could spend a lifetime exploring Tolkien’s world and still not see everything.

NEXT: The Best Fantasy Movies of All Time, Ranked

The best fictional pizza places

Posted: March 8, 2024 | Last updated: March 8, 2024

Who doesn't love pizza? Yes, we know there are plenty out there who don't. But even some naysayers of this comfort-food staple might want to visit some of the most notable fictional pizza places from television and film. Here's a look at the best.

Antonioli's Restaurant and Pizzeria ('Gilmore Girls')

Antonioli's  hardly played a prominent role in the long run of the Gilmore Girls . However, its window was often visible from the streets of the Stars Hollow. Antonioli's 15 minutes of fame remains one of the most memorable moments in the series' history. In celebration of Lorelai's 35th birthday, Rory (Alexis Bledel) asks Pete, Antonioli's apparent manager, to create and cook up the "world's largest pizza." Or at least one that's bigger than that made in nearby Woodbridge. The task is quite Herculean. So much so that lovable helper Kirk (Sean Gunn) is severely burned in the process.

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Beacon Street Pizza ('Two Guys and a Girl')

From 1998-2001, Beacon Street Pizza was the setting for ABC sitcom Two Guys and a Girl.  During its first two seasons, it was was dubbed Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place.  The show was a launching pad of sorts for Ryan Reynolds, whose character "Berg," worked at the pizza parlor along with good friend Pete (Richard Ruccolo) while they both attended Tufts University. The show was witty enough. Various characters with odd personalities came and went through the pizza place. The setting might have been the only consistently good thing about the sitcom.

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Nemo's Pizza ('Everybody Loves Raymond')

A favorite of the Barone family eventually became Marco's Pizza. We prefer Nemo's — especially the banter between Ray (Ray Romano) and Nemo himself. Nemo wasn't the most hygienic person, which is why it was joked throughout the run of the series that the restaurant, even when Marco took over, wasn't exactly up to health code standards. Still, the pizza and pasta were good enough to keep the Barones coming back.  

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Panucci’s ('Futurama')

Panucci's might not be the most appropriate or cleanest place to grab a slice. The décor is rather dated — or even dilapidated, one might say — and Mr. Panucci isn't too pleasant. That's what gives it the charm that made this pizza parlor a favorite in Manhattan, Old New York. Philip J. Fry is probably its most popular delivery boy, along with another character, who apparently wasn't all that good at his job, named Barack Obama.

Perry's Pizza ('Fast Times at Ridgemont High')

The first of two times we'll visit Ridgemont, California. This stop takes us to what Perry's employee Linda Barrett (Phoebe Cates) calls the "best food stand at the mall." The famed Ridgemont Mall. While we expect the pizza is pretty good, considering there seemed to be a steady crowd moving in an out, we also know the meatball sandwich and medium Coke is a solid order while hitting on a Perry's waitress. 

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“Little Nero’s Pizza” ('Home Alone')

There are plenty of memorable moments from Home Alone , but one of the lasting memories of the film is Kevin's creative genius when it came to ordering a pizza from Little Nero's Pizza. Leave it to Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) to have a little fun with the unassuming delivery boy by manipulating the dialogue to the old movie Angels with Filthy Souls, from a gangster-like figure. The scene was contactless delivery before its time.

Mario's Pizza Parlor ('Seinfeld')

A favorite hangout of George and Jerry from high school was about to close for good. So, the pair decided to visit Mario for one last slice. That's where George realizes he still holds the high score on the Frogger  arcade game and goes to great lengths to take the machine home. Mario, meanwhile, is a surly owner who isn't too welcoming when George and Jerry stop by — reminding them why they stopped going there years ago.

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The Pink Pizza ('The Last American Virgin')

Film protagonist Gary (Lawrence Monoson) is a high school student searching for love. Or at least lose his virginity . Gary is somewhat of an outcast, but he means well. He's also a delivery boy for The Pink Pizza, which has him dishing out pies from a pink station wagon with a figure of an Italian man standing on the roof. While Gary might be unlucky in love, he's able to tool around Los Angeles in a sweet ride.

Pizza Guy ('Fast Times at Ridgemont High')

Back to Ridgemont, and this time, we're going to the local high school. One of the highlights of this hilarious film is when stoner Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn) orders a pizza to his history class with hard-nosed teacher Mr. Hand (Ray Walston). Even better, the Pizza Guy delivery man is played by the late, great Taylor Negron, who seems none to happy with the tip Spicoli gives him. Needless to say, Mr. Hand was not happy with the situation, but he did reward some of his best students with a slice — also a punishment to Mr. Spicoli. That double cheese with sausage looked pretty good.

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Pizza King ('Daria')

A popular Lawndale hangout. Even bitter and jaded Daria found it sufficient enough to spend time there, quite frequently with Jane. There has been some confusion over the years as to what exactly this pizza place is called, but one of Jane's notebooks references Pizza King. So, that's been the name most associated with a place, other than her room, that Daria actually seems comfortable visiting.

Pizza Planet ('Toy Story')

The preferred pizza stop for the Pixar universe , and most notably, for the gang from Toy Story . Buzz Lightyear and Woody are big fans of the pizza place built in the shape of the planet Saturn. If the Pixar folks don't want to dine in, there is always delivery. Fun fact: According to Pixar film lore, the Planet Pizza truck has been seen in every movie made by the company — with the exception of The Incredibles.

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Playtime Pizza Theater ('Arrested Development')

When you're trying to resurrect a magic career and looking to move on from a ban by The Alliance of Magicians, one takes what he can get. G.O.B. (Will Arnett) was relegated to working here: a Chuck E. Cheese knock-off that featured rubbery pizza, overpriced arcade amusement, and someone named Spinny the Clown. G.O.B., though, was desperate and brought his saw-the-lady-in-half illusion to this below-average food and entertainment venue.

Sal’s Famous Pizza ('Do The Right Thing')

Sal's," located in Brooklyn's rough Bedford–Stuyvesant, might be the most famous fictional pizza spot of all time . The pizzeria has been a staple of the neighborhood for decades and Sal (Danny Aiello) doesn't want to move out, much to the chagrin of his son, Pino (John Turturro), who is not fond of Mookie (Spike Lee). Let's just say the tensions between Sal and his boys and the Black residents of the neighborhood are as hot as the pizza that's served. 

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Sal's Pizza ('Brooklyn Nine-Nine')

Not related to the famed pie shop from Do The Right Thing , but it does have something in common with that pizzeria. This Sal's was a favorite of Det. Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg), and when it burned down, Jake intended to find out why. He believed the fire department was in on the incident. Apparently, Sal's was like a second home to Jake, but his  colleague Charles Boyle (Joe Lo Truglio) ranked it No. 8 in his weekly Brooklyn pizza e-mail blast.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise

It's nearly impossible to pick a favorite among all the varieties of pizzas — and where they came from — throughout the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise of films, television shows, and video games. Among the favorite pizza haunts we've come to know thanks to these crime-fighting heroes in a half-shell: Lou Mike Tony's Pizza and Tony Lou's Pizza. Not to mention, some of the more unique pizzas the boys have eaten, including Peanut Butter and Avocado Pizza (with Extra Pickles), Tuna, Peanut Butter, and Grape Jelly Pizza, and Anchovy and Hot Fudge Pizza. Yum!

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What you need to know before you go to the Netherlands

May 26, 2024 • 9 min read

Everywhere in the Netherlands is easily accessible, like Rotterdam with its mix of architecture © Victor Maschek / Shutterstock

With its beautiful cities and countryside of polders, dykes, windmills and canals connected by superb, sustainable infrastructure, the Netherlands is one of the easiest places to travel. As a visitor, you won’t find too many potential pitfalls, but there are still a few things to be aware of (starting with getting its name right!). Having written about this charming and fascinating country for almost two decades (and experienced it over a lifetime), these are my key tips for a smooth trip.

1. It’s the Netherlands (not Holland)

You’ll come across plenty of references to “Holland” as a synonym for the entire country (it’s only recently started transitioning out of use by the Dutch tourism authority ) but in fact Holland refers to just two of the country’s 12 provinces: Noord-Holland (North Holland; Haarlem is the provincial capital, while Amsterdam is the largest city and national capital) and Zuid-Holland (South Holland; Den Haag is the provincial capital and seat of government and royalty, with Rotterdam the largest city). The rest of the country is not Holland, and the nation as a whole is the Netherlands.

You might also hear references to the Randstad, the conurbation that takes in the Netherlands’ biggest cities in Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland and Utrecht, which forms the country’s economic engine and is home to almost half of its population.

2. Remember there’s more to Amsterdam than the city center – and more to the Netherlands than Amsterdam

Amsterdam is where most people arrive, and for many it’s their only destination. With visitor numbers skyrocketing, the Dutch capital is balancing overtourism through measures such as raising tourist taxes; restricting short-stay apartment rental and house swaps; capping the number of annual overnight visitors; halving river cruises; and closing its ocean-liner cruise ship port completely. It is also deterring raucous, hard-partying “nuisance tourists” (by banning organized pub crawls and curbing central bar and club opening hours) while still welcoming respectful visitors.

You don’t have to go far from the center to discover fantastic, often under-the-radar neighborhoods, such as Amsterdam’s West, Oost (East) and Noord (North), where you’ll get a deeper insight into local life. Positive-impact tours run by Tours That Matter are also a great way to get off the tourist track.

Added to that, the Netherlands’ compact size and excellent transport puts the country’s grand cities, classic landscapes and exhilarating things to do (and invariably cheaper prices) right on Amsterdam’s doorstep.

3. Decide how long to spend in the Netherlands

Crossing the country takes just a few hours but there’s a lot to see. A week will give you time to experience Amsterdam and surrounding destinations (such as Haarlem , Utrecht , Leiden , Delft , Den Haag and Rotterdam ). The longer you have, the more you can explore all corners of the country, from the Frisian coast and islands to superbly preserved Hanseatic cities such as Deventer and Zwolle, and the hilly southeast around vibrant Maastricht .

When you’re putting together your itinerary, you can get a good sense of travel times on journey planner 9292.nl , which calculates the most efficient public transport routes throughout the country. Traveling by bike, using the country’s extensive system of short- and long-distance cycleways, is also entirely viable and an enjoyable way to get around. Cycling is part of the Dutch DNA (locals ride literally everywhere: work, dinner, the opera, you name it), so you’ll be in good company.

Discover the best ways to get around the Netherlands

4. Book museum time-slots in advance to avoid missing out

As the home turf of artistic masters from Rembrandt and Vermeer to Van Gogh, Mondrian and MC Escher, the Netherlands brims with incredible art, and hundreds of museums also showcase the country’s rich history, traditions and diversity. Increasingly, museum entry requires you to reserve a time slot online. These can quickly fill up in advance, so book them a few weeks ahead (even earlier for the Anne Frank Huis ), so you have a framework for the rest of your schedule.

5. Lock in accommodation and popular restaurant bookings ahead of time, too

Especially if you’re traveling in the high summer season or during festivals, events and holidays, you should make sure you have your accommodation booked ahead. High-end and/or popular restaurants should also be reserved well in advance.

6. Pack practically and plan for fickle weather

There’s a reason windmills are a fixture across the flat landscape: it can get distinctly breezy here (the uniquely Dutch verb uitwaaien means “to clear one's head by taking a walk outdoors in the windy fresh air”), and the maritime climate also means plenty of rain, so pack waterproofs, no matter the season. You’ll also be glad of comfortable, sturdy footwear for walking on all terrains, a slimline daypack and layers you can quickly put on if things turn chilly. Warm clothes, gloves and a woolen hat are essential in winter.

The Dutch cycling culture means fashion is not only stylish (Dutch design is big here) but practical (such as flat soles and clothing that won’t get caught in bicycle spokes).

Consider traveling to the Netherlands outside the summer peak: here’s the best time to go

 7. Anticipate what to expect at your accommodation

Accommodation in the Netherlands can spring a few surprises on the uninitiated. In older buildings especially, there might not be air conditioning and elevators might be tiny or non-existent (and Dutch staircases can be precipitously steep, often more akin to ships’ ladders). Attitudes tend to be quite liberal and straightforward, and bathrooms can be more open-plan than you might expect and/or have limited screening (yes, often even the toilets). If modesty is important to you, this is something you’ll want to look into when booking; once you check in, alternative rooms might not be available.

To let natural light in, hotels and residential homes and apartments often have large windows without blinds or drapes, but in a small, densely populated country, people respect each other’s privacy.

8. Get to grips with Dutch communication

The Dutch are clear, concise communicators, favoring directness over small talk. To visitors, this might come across as bracingly frank but it’s simply intended to be pragmatic, open and honest. Punctuality is expected in formal and social situations.

Excellent, fluent English is widely spoken, but a few words of Dutch can help grease the wheels of communication, such as goedemorgen/goedendag/goedenavond (good morning/day/evening), tot ziens (goodbye), alstublieft/alsjeblieft (formal/informal for please), and dank u wel/dank je wel (formal/informal for thank you). Toast a frothy beer or jenever (aka genever; Dutch gin) with proost (cheers) while making eye contact with everyone you’re toasting. Dutch drinking culture is social, revolving around food and friends, starting with borrel (“drinks”) before uitgaan (going out).

9. Embrace sustainability

In a country lying mostly below sea level, environmental concerns have long been top of mind, and the Dutch are blazing the way on sustainability. The Netherlands is aiming for a circular economy by 2050 , reusing, repairing and recycling renewable materials to eliminate waste, and rapid progress is being achieved across day-to-day life. Everything you can do as a visitor (using eco-friendly transport, minimizing energy consumption, packaging and food waste, dining on local and organic produce and shopping sustainably) will help.

10. Understand tipping etiquette

In the Netherlands, remuneration in hospitality professions includes service, so staff here aren’t working for tips. That being said, many people do tip moderately (up to around 10%) for excellent service, especially in restaurants and bars where drinks are brought to the table.  

11. Carry both cards and cash

Contactless cards and app-based ”smart wallet” digital payments are becoming increasingly common (such as the public transport system), and many businesses such as cafes, restaurants and shops (even some supermarkets) in larger cities especially are entirely cashless. On the flipside, many traditional establishments don’t take cards and only accept cash. It’s handy to have a mix of cash and cards to cover your bases.

12. Beware of bike lanes

Bike-lane traffic can move much faster, and in much higher volumes, than you might expect. Along with speedy cyclists, beware of motorized electric bikes and larger cargo bikes. As a pedestrian, be vigilant when crossing the road. Wandering into a bike lane without looking in both directions can cause serious accidents. Drivers should be extra mindful.

If you’re joining the locals and cycling yourself, watch out for other cyclists and oblivious pedestrians as well as vehicles, and ring your bicycle bell as a warning as often as necessary. Cross tram tracks at a sharp angle to avoid your wheels getting stuck. Before heading out, familiarize yourself with the rules of participating in Dutch traffic .

Save this guide to the best cycling routes in the Netherlands

13. Take care on and around canals

The Netherlands’ picturesque waterways in its cities, towns and countryside are rarely if ever fenced or protected by barriers. Keep an eye out, especially if you’re traveling with young children. If you’re renting a boat to explore (one of the best things you can do in the Netherlands), ensure life jackets are provided for all passengers, including for kids.

14. Drink the tap water freely

Tap water is high quality and safe to drink throughout the Netherlands (any exceptions will be clearly indicated).

15. Don’t be alarmed by the signal testing of sirens (but do take them seriously in an emergency)

If you’re here at noon on the first Monday of the month (public holidays excepted), you’ll hear the Netherlands’ public warning sirens sound for an uninterrupted one minute and 26 seconds, when they’re simultaneously tested across the country. If you hear them at any other time, you should assume it’s an emergency (such as a fire or flood) and follow local instructions.

16. Stay safe and know how to find help if you need it

The Netherlands is an extremely safe country, but you should take the usual precautions in big cities, and watch out for pickpockets in areas where tourists congregate (such as main railway stations). Protect against bicycle theft by parking in secure bike-parking stations where possible, and always use two locks (one should be attached to a fixed structure like a bike rack).

For a minor illness or injury, an apotheek (pharmacy) can provide advice and sell over-the-counter medication, and advise where to get more specialized help.

It’s important to be aware that cannabis is illegal in the Netherlands, and while small quantities (up to 5g) are generally tolerated by authorities, it’s policed differently by municipalities across the country, and some areas enforce cannabis-smoking bans in public places. (Government policies are also apt to change.) Never buy any drugs on the streets – fatalities can and do occur.

In a serious emergency, contact the police, fire and ambulance services by dialing 112. If things do go wrong during your trip, it will help to have easily accessed back-up copies of your travel insurance policy.

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