What was once a niche market experience has now become a mainstream way to spend leisure time. Set-jetting, or on-location vacations, is a growing travel trend where people visit destinations featured in popular movies and television shows.
Thanks to a mix of factors, travelers from all walks of life are flocking to small towns, resorts, and even remote, off-the-beaten-path locations to immerse themselves in the settings of their favorite films or series. These destinations allow them to step into the world of beloved characters, creating a unique connection to the stories they love.
While the concept might seem unfamiliar to some, most of us have been influenced by characters from TV shows, movies, or even books. Although book-inspired vacations are less common today—since many popular literary works are eventually adapted into films—they once greatly influenced travel. Authors like Jane Austen and Charles Dickens inspired themed vacations and festivals, drawing crowds eager to experience a Dickensian Christmas or the romantic allure of Misters Darcy and Bingley at Netherfield Park.
For luxury travelers, exclusive tours offer access to iconic locations from classic films like The Sound of Music. These trips don’t always include reenactments but provide the chance to walk in the literal footsteps of beloved characters. Travelers can even hire a private jet to Salzburg, Austria, to visit the Von Trapp family’s cinematic home. While you can’t traverse the mountaintop where Maria sang—it’s on private property—you can still admire it from the comfort of your private air charter.
Other popular set-jetting destinations include New Zealand, where The Lord of the Rings was filmed, and locations in London, Oxford, and Northumberland, where Harry Potter scenes were shot. Fans can also visit the studios where the magic was brought to life. TV series like Game of Thrones have sparked interest in tours of Scotland, Malta, and Iceland, while shows like Downton Abbey, The Walking Dead, and even retro classics like Friends and Seinfeld have inspired their own travel itineraries.
For those who can afford it, a set-jetting vacation offers more than just stunning scenery—it can be a deeply cathartic experience. Many of us feel a sense of emptiness when a beloved series or film ends, as though we’ve lost a connection to characters who feel like friends or reflections of ourselves. Visiting these locations provides a sense of closure, allowing us to walk, figuratively or literally, in our favorite characters’ shoes and move on from the separation anxiety we feel when their stories conclude.
For those unable to afford a set-jetting trip, there’s always Netflix. While it may not offer the same immersive experience, it’s a more accessible way to revisit the worlds and characters we love.