I once booked a flight to Sicily because a fictional millionaire’s wife threw a champagne glass off a hotel terrace in a TV show. I regret nothing. In fact, that is set-jetting in its purest form. And if you think that’s niche, think again. After all, the set-jetting travel guide 2026 you need isn’t just for obsessive fans. It’s for anyone who’s looked at a screen and thought, “I want to breathe that air.” In other words, that’s all of us now.
Essentially, set-jetting—travelling specifically to visit the filming locations of your favourite shows and films—has crossed from a quirky hobby into mainstream travel planning. More importantly, streaming is changing not just what we watch, but quite literally where we go.
National Geographic on Set-Jetting
What Is Set-Jetting and Why Is It Exploding in 2026?
Set-jetting is simply booking a trip based on a TV show or film’s shooting location. It sounds impulsive. It absolutely is. However, there’s psychology behind it too. We form deep emotional attachments to stories. As a result, visiting the places where they unfolded transforms passive viewing into active memory. You’re not just a tourist; you’re a participant in the narrative.
In fact, according to Expedia’s travel trends data, streamed movies and TV shows are now the top source of travel inspiration at 44%, far outpacing social media’s 15%. Meanwhile, fandom culture and BookTok’s visual cousin—the “WatchTok” phenomenon—have turbocharged this even further.
What’s more, set-jetting is becoming a permanent fixture rather than a passing trend. For instance, a March 2026 industry report noted that it is no longer tied to short-lived premiere moments; instead, it has become a standard part of how destinations gain and hold attention over time.
Closer to home, there’s a fascinating local dimension unfolding in India as well. Bollywood has been an accidental set-jetting machine for decades. For example, ask any North Indian why they wanted to visit Switzerland in the 1990s. The answer is Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge—the wheat field that launched a thousand honeymoons. Today, OTT productions are creating a similar effect for Goa, Rajasthan, and the Northeast, albeit with even more cinematic visuals.
Travel Guide 2026: Top Filming Destinations to Visit
Here’s your shortlist — ranked by fan frenzy and actual visitability:
- Taormina, Sicily (The White Lotus Season 2) — The Four Seasons San Domenico Palace here is the crown jewel. After the show aired, travel demand for Sicily jumped by roughly 300%, and hotel inquiries at filming locations more than doubled. The good news: Taormina’s Greek Theatre, clifftop restaurants, and Mount Etna views are worth the trip entirely on their own. Budget option: skip the four-star resort, stay in a local B&B, and eat arancini like a local.
- Koh Samui, Thailand (The White Lotus Season 3) — The White Lotus effect hit Thailand hard. The Four Seasons Koh Samui served as the primary backdrop. If that’s a stretch budget-wise, The Library hotel with its iconic red pool channels the same “artsy guest” energy. Bangkok’s Mandarin Oriental also features in urban scenes.
- Bucharest and Sinaia, Romania (Wednesday) — Netflix’s Wednesday turned Romania into a gothic pilgrimage site. The Cantacuzino Castle in Sinaia, Peleș Castle, and Bucharest’s Old Town collectively become Nevermore Academy in your imagination. Romania remains one of Europe’s most affordable destinations, which makes the FOMO completely unnecessary.
- Dubrovnik, Croatia (Game of Thrones / House of the Dragon) — King’s Landing never gets old. The Old Town walls, Fort Lovrijenac, and Rector’s Palace are all walkable. A word of caution though: peak summer turns this into an elbow-to-elbow experience. Visit in April or October for the same views with your sanity intact.
- Yorkshire Moors, England (Happy Valley / All Creatures Great and Small) — Quieter, cheaper than London, and genuinely gorgeous. The Moors feel like a different country.
- Malta (Game of Thrones / Gladiator 2) — Valletta and Mdina have stood in for everything from Westeros to ancient Rome. Malta is small enough to cover in 4–5 days and surprisingly affordable compared to mainland Europe.
Planning Your Set-Jetting Trip Without Paying Tourist-Trap Prices
First, separate the filming location from the fictional setting. These are often different. “Wednesday’s Romania” is actually a blend of several locations across the country. Similarly, parts of Game of Thrones’ “King’s Landing” were filmed in Seville, Spain, not Croatia. Knowing this means you can pick the more affordable filming country. Second, group nearby sets. The Wicklow Mountains and Dublin both feature in multiple productions. One trip covers several destinations. Similarly, a Sicily trip can fold in Catania, Palermo, and Mount Etna without blowing a separate budget.
Third, book early. Iconic stays like the Royal Crescent in Bath (Bridgerton) or the Chief Joseph Ranch in Montana (Yellowstone) book out over a year in advance. Regular hotels near filming sites, however, don’t have that luxury — and are significantly cheaper. Fourth, always check public access. Some filming locations are private property. The Chief Joseph Ranch, for instance, requires a specific visitor tour. Others, like the Dark Hedges in Northern Ireland (Game of Thrones’ Kingsroad), are just a public road you walk down for free.
Bollywood Set-Jetting: India’s Growing Film Tourism Map
Here’s where it gets particularly exciting for Indian travellers. Bollywood and Indian OTT productions are quietly building a set-jetting circuit right here at home.
Mirzapur has made Purvanchal, UP a pilgrimage for web series fans. Kantara’s shooting in Karnataka’s Karavali coast drew actual tourism uptick after the film’s release. Delhi Crime sent international viewers hunting for Old Delhi’s lanes on Google Maps. And The Kashmir Files reportedly contributed to a measurable spike in Kashmiri tourism in 2022–23, which continues. For international Bollywood fans — and there are 40 million of them across Southeast Asia, West Asia, and the diaspora — India itself is one giant set-jetting destination. We just haven’t packaged it that way. Yet.
Explore more on The World Times Travel for India-specific itineraries.
Quick Packing and Safety Tips
- Carry comfortable walking shoes. Most filming locations involve cobblestones, castle ruins, or coastal cliffs. All of them punish bad footwear.
- Download offline maps before you head to remote sites. Romanian mountain castles and Yorkshire moors do not have reliable cell coverage.
- Respect local communities. Many “sets” are quiet villages where real people live. Don’t knock on doors, don’t block lanes for photos, and tip your guides well.
- For Sicily and coastal Croatia in summer, book accommodation at least four months ahead. The White Lotus effect is still very real on hotel inventory.
Set-jetting is one of those rare travel trends that actually improves your trip rather than just labelling it. You arrive with a story already in your head. What the place does to that story is entirely its own magic.
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