Following the series: 7 destinations for 2026
Filming locations from beloved TV series have long become part of tourist itineraries. Some travel for Lukiškės Prison from "Stranger Things," others want to recreate the shot on a Paris bridge from "Sex and the City."
The problem is that old guidebooks are outdated. They lead to closed sites and repeat prices from 2021. This guide is compiled from official data as of September 2026: what is open and where to stay overnight.
We covered seven destinations: Vilnius, Romania, Istanbul, Seoul, Spain, London, and Paris. For each location you will find the specific filming site, the season without crowds, and a nearby hotel.
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Filming locations: what you need to know
💡 In short:
- Seven series and seven destinations: Vilnius, Bușteni, Istanbul, Seoul, Seville, London, and Paris.
- Each location notes what was filmed there and when there are fewer tourists.
Series | Destination | Key location |
|---|---|---|
"Stranger Things" | Vilnius, Lithuania | Lukiškės Prison |
"Wednesday" | Romania | Cantacuzino Castle in Bușteni |
"Magnificent Century" | Istanbul, Turkey | Topkapı Palace |
"Squid Game" | Seoul, South Korea | Sangbong Intercity Bus Terminal and Namsan |
"Game of Thrones" | Spain | San Juan de Gaztelugatxe |
"Sherlock" | London, United Kingdom | North Gower Street |
"Sex and the City" | Paris, France | Pont des Arts |
1. "Stranger Things"
© Juliux · CC BY-SAPhoto: Juliux, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsWhere to go: Vilnius, Lithuania.
The fourth season was filmed near Vilnius, and the main location was Lukiškės Prison in the city center. The facility closed in 2019, and now the cultural center Lukiškių kalėjimas 2.0 operates here with tours and concerts (Visit Vilnius, 09/2026).
The tour runs 1.5 to 2 hours in English. You will walk through the corridors where the Kamchatka scenes were filmed and see the cells that held inmates before the closure.
The second stop on the route: the old Church of St. Nicholas in the town of Semeliškės. In the script, it housed a Soviet warehouse. And 20 km from the capital lies Kiviškės Airfield, which played the landing strip in Alaska. Today it is used for skydiving.
Book the tour for a weekday morning. On weekends, groups run back to back, and the lines at the entrance are noticeably longer.
2. "Wednesday"
© Costea Stefan · CC BY-SAPhoto: Costea Stefan, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ro/deed.en), Wikimedia CommonsWhere to go: Romania.
The gothic walls of Nevermore Academy were filmed not in Vermont but in Transylvania. Cantacuzino Castle in the town of Bușteni gave the series its academy facade, and since "Wednesday" premiered, crowds of fans have been coming here.
The castle is open to visitors year-round, and tickets are sold at the entrance (castle guide, 09/2026). Interior scenes, such as the courtyard and the principal's office, were filmed separately: the production chose Casa Monteoru in central Bucharest for those.
Ms. Thornhill's greenhouse was the Bucharest Botanical Garden. It is open every day, and you can walk the same paths as the film crew. Another location for fans is an old estate in Dâmbovița County: in the series, it is the abandoned Gates family house.
The Brănești and Știrbei lakes deserve special attention. The Poe Cup competition scenes were filmed on their smooth water, and the lakes themselves are considered among the cleanest in the country.
Hotels in Bucharest on Trip.com
3. "Magnificent Century"
© Jorge Láscar from Australia · CC BYPhoto: Jorge Láscar from Australia, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsWhere to go: Istanbul, Turkey.
Turkish series have long dominated European screens, and Magnificent Century was one of the first to break into the international market. The plot is based on real events from the reign of Sultan Suleiman and the power struggles at court.
Filming took place in Istanbul, in a purpose-built replica of Topkapi Palace. Recreating an entire quarter was so expensive that critics predicted the show would flop. But the series became a hit, and the real museum got its share of attention.
Topkapi Palace served as the Ottoman residence until the mid-19th century, and today it is a museum complex with harems, courtyards, and a treasury. Fans of the series come here to see the palace halls in person.
You are unlikely to travel to Turkey for a single location, but Istanbul itself works as one big film set. Get your museum ticket for the morning: by midday, tour groups pile up at the main gates.
Hotels in Istanbul on Trip.com
4. Squid Game
© Eugene Lim · CC BYPhoto: Eugene Lim, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), Wikimedia CommonsWhere to go: Seoul, South Korea.
Korean series are following the same path as Turkish ones, and Squid Game has become the loudest example. To see the show's locations in person, you need Seoul.
The scene where the main character bets on horse races was filmed near Sangbong bus terminal in northeast Seoul, in the Jungnang-gu district. The episode where Gi-hun is thrown out of a car was filmed near Namsan Park. From there you get a clear view of Seoul Tower.
The amusement park from the footage is on Wolmido Island in Incheon: it is My Land park with its Ferris wheel. And the rocky island where the game itself takes place is called Seongapdo. It lies off the city of Ongjin on the western side of the peninsula, is uninhabited, and the only people you might meet there are fishermen.
Plan your trip for spring or autumn. In summer, Seoul is humid and hot, and long walks around the city become exhausting.
5. Game of Thrones
© Malenaban · CC BY-SAPhoto: Malenaban, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/es/deed.en), Wikimedia CommonsWhere to go: Spain.
Over eight seasons, the crew traveled halfway around the world, and Spain collected the most locations for the series. Start in the north of the country.
Dragonstone, Daenerys's ancestral seat, stands on the rocky islet of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe in the Bay of Biscay. Visiting is free, but a mandatory online reservation is required (official Biscay platform, 09/2026). A total of 241 steps lead to the chapel at the top, and the climb takes about half an hour.
The Royal Alcazar in Seville played the home of House Martell in Dorne. It was closed to tourists during filming, and today it is one of the most visited palaces in Andalusia. The dragon pit, where the main characters met at the end of season seven, was the ruins of the Roman amphitheater of Italica near Seville.
For the Dothraki Sea, the production used two locations: the Bardenas Reales semi-desert in Navarre and Pechina in Almeria. The castle of House Tyrell, Highgarden, stands in the province of Cordoba and is actually called Castillo de Almodovar del Rio. One of the episodes was filmed at the bullring in the town of Osuna, and the Long Bridge of Volantis is recognizable in the Roman bridge of Cordoba. Catalan Girona served as the free city of Braavos.
Plan your route for spring or autumn. In summer, Bardenas Reales hits nearly 40 degrees, and a walk through the semi-desert wears you out quickly.
6. Sherlock
© No Swan So Fine · CC BY-SAPhoto: No Swan So Fine, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsWhere to go: London, United Kingdom.
To enter the United Kingdom, travelers from the EU and Switzerland need an electronic travel authorization (ETA). The series is set in London, and most locations are reachable on foot or by tube.
The most recognizable address: 221B Baker Street. But the BBC chose a quieter spot, and filming took place at 187 North Gower Street. Nearby is Speedy's Cafe, whose sign and interior constantly appear on screen.
From there, the route continues through Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square to the National Gallery. The list includes the Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, and the Millennium Bridge.
Do not miss St Bartholomew's Hospital, from whose roof Sherlock faked his fall. Stop by Chinatown and New Scotland Yard, the headquarters of the city police. Wear comfortable shoes for the whole route: you will cover more than a few kilometers in a day.
7. "Sex and the City"
Where to go: Paris, France.
The main character flies to Paris to be with her love interest, and the city became its own set piece for the series. This is where Carrie meets Alexander Petrovsky's ex-wife at the Kong restaurant.
The Pont des Arts over the Seine became an iconic location for the series. But the locks that once covered the railings were removed back in June 2015. The city replaced the metal grilles with glass panels to keep the bridge from collapsing under the weight of hundreds of thousands of locks (France24, 09/2026). Today, attaching locks to the railings is not allowed.
Visit the bridge in the morning or at sunset. During the day it is crowded with tourists, and the best shots of the Seine are taken right at the water's edge.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit filming locations to avoid crowds?
Most locations are quietest in the shoulder season: April through May and September through October. Arrive at opening time, within the first 30 to 60 minutes. Lukiškės Prison and Cantacuzino Castle get tour buses in summer, so in July and August pick a weekday.
Can you visit Gaztelugatxe without a reservation?
No. San Juan de Gaztelugatxe only admits visitors with a free online reservation (official platform, 09/2026). Book your slot in advance, especially on weekends and during peak season. Without confirmation, access to the chapel is closed.
How many days do you need for one location?
One or two days is enough for a city. A route through Spain, if you want to see Gaztelugatxe, Seville, Italica, and Cordoba, takes four to five days. For the Paris bridge and the Kong restaurant, one day in Paris is enough.
What should you see in Istanbul besides Topkapi Palace?
Istanbul itself works as one big set: gardens, courtyards, and old streets near Topkapi. Plan at least a day to walk through the museum halls and go down to the Bosphorus. Buy your museum ticket online and you will not stand in line at the gate.
Where can you find current prices and opening hours?
Only on the official websites of the sites and tourist offices. We verified the data as of 09/2026, but schedules change by season. Before your trip, open the location's website and check admission, the day off, and the last entry time.
In short: what to book
Seven destinations cover different scenarios. If you need an escape from the daily grind, start with Vilnius. If you want Netflix vibes, choose Romania. For warm sea and city life at the same time, Istanbul works well, and for urban thrills, Seoul fits the bill.
- For fan atmosphere: Vilnius, Romania, Seoul.
- For nature shots: San Juan de Gaztelugatxe and Almeria.
- For classic Europe: London and Paris.
Look for hotels in each of these cities in advance: prices rise in summer, and central areas get booked up a couple of weeks ahead. See hotels on Trip.com
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.