From Screen To Street
Movies and TV love a good backlot, but sometimes nothing beats the real thing. From ancient ruins and historic castles to ordinary apartment buildings and corner diners, these famous landmarks didn’t just inspire iconic scenes—they were the set. The best part? You can still visit them today, stand where the cameras stood, and relive some truly unforgettable moments from film and television history.
Al Khazneh, Petra, Jordan—Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade
One of the most jaw-dropping reveals in adventure-movie history happens when Indiana Jones rides through a narrow canyon and the Treasury of Petra suddenly fills the frame. Al Khazneh plays the exterior of the temple housing the Holy Grail, instantly cementing Petra as one of cinema’s most iconic real-world backdrops.
Screenshot from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Paramount Pictures (1989)
Katz Delicatessen, New York City—When Harry Met Sally
The legendary deli hosted one of cinema’s most famous scenes: Sally’s fake orgasm, followed by a customer’s immortal line, “I’ll have what she’s having”. The table is now marked for fans eager to sit in rom-com history.
Screenshot from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Paramount Pictures (1989)
Apartment Building At 90 Bedford Street, New York City—Friends
While most of Friends was filmed on soundstages, the exterior shots of the gang’s apartment are real. Located in Greenwich Village, the building at 90 Bedford Street appears repeatedly between scenes, establishing the cozy, lived-in New York vibe fans associate with Central Perk and endless hallway antics.
Redlands597198, Wikimedia Commons
Mokule’ia Beach, Oahu, Hawaii—Lost
This remote Hawaiian beach doubled as the crash site of Oceanic Flight 815. Many of Lost’s earliest and most emotional scenes (survivors stumbling through wreckage, the first campfires, and tense group confrontations) were filmed right here, making it sacred ground for fans of the series.
Screenshot from Lost, ABC (2004-2010)
Café des 2 Moulins, Paris—Amélie
This charming Montmartre café served as Amélie Poulain’s workplace throughout the film. Several scenes show her quietly observing customers, playing matchmaker, and plotting small acts of kindness. The café still operates today, proudly embracing its cinematic legacy.
Dubrovnik, Croatia—Game Of Thrones
Dubrovnik famously stood in for King’s Landing. Walk its medieval walls and you’ll recognize locations from Cersei’s Walk of Atonement, Tyrion’s scheming strolls, and countless political confrontations. The city’s stone streets and fortresses became inseparable from the show’s most intense moments.
King’s Cross Station, London—Harry Potter
Platform 9¾ may be fictional, but the scene of Harry running through the barrier at King’s Cross is very real. Exterior shots were filmed at the station, which now features a permanent photo spot for fans eager to recreate the magical moment.
Matthewedwards (talk • contribs • email) at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
Oxford University, England—Harry Potter
Several Oxford locations, including Christ Church College, were used for Hogwarts interiors. The dining hall inspired the Great Hall, while staircases and courtyards appear during early school scenes, grounding the wizarding world in real academic grandeur.
Tristan Surtel, Wikimedia Commons
Bayon Temple, Cambodia—Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Angelina Jolie’s Lara Croft explores the ancient Bayon Temple in a key sequence involving hidden chambers and crumbling stone faces. The temple’s massive carved heads make the scene instantly recognizable and perfectly suited to the film’s globe-trotting, puzzle-solving energy.
Screenshot from Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Paramount (2001)
Ohio State Reformatory, Mansfield, Ohio—The Shawshank Redemption
The reformatory served as Shawshank Prison’s exterior and many interior scenes. Andy Dufresne’s arrival, the exercise yard, and climactic escape moments were filmed here. Today, visitors can tour the prison and stand in the very corridors where cinematic hope endured.
Skellig Michael, County Kerry, Ireland—Star Wars: The Force Awakens And The Last Jedi
This remote island monastery became Luke Skywalker’s secluded exile. The final shot of The Force Awakens, where Rey extends Luke’s lightsaber, and much of The Last Jedi’s training scenes were filmed on Skellig Michael’s steep stone steps.
Glenfinnan Viaduct, Inverness-shire, Scotland—Harry Potter
The Hogwarts Express crossing the viaduct is one of the franchise’s most beloved recurring visuals. The sweeping shot of the steam train curving across the bridge appears in multiple films, turning this real railway landmark into a pilgrimage site for fans.
Baseball Field, Dyersville, Iowa—Field Of Dreams
“If you build it, he will come” was filmed right here. The baseball field carved into a cornfield remains intact, allowing visitors to walk the bases and relive the emotional final game that defined the film’s enduring magic.
IowaPolitics.com, Wikimedia Commons
Painted Ladies, San Francisco—Full House
The show’s iconic opening credits feature the Tanner family running through Alamo Square with the Painted Ladies behind them. While the interior wasn’t filmed here, the colorful Victorian houses became forever linked with sitcom nostalgia.
Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, Wikimedia Commons
Hanapepe Valley, Kauai, Hawaii—Jurassic Park And Jurassic World
This lush valley appears in several dinosaur-filled scenes, including early helicopter flyovers and tense jungle moments. The dramatic cliffs and dense greenery helped sell the illusion of Isla Nublar long before CGI took over completely.
Cyril Fluck from San Francisco, United States, Wikimedia Commons
3828 Piermont Dr, Albuquerque, New Mexico—Breaking Bad
Walter White’s family home became one of TV’s most infamous addresses. Numerous domestic scenes—including arguments, family dinners, and that unforgettable pizza-on-the-roof moment—were filmed here, making it a pilgrimage site for fans.
Doune Castle, Doune, Scotland—Monty Python And The Holy Grail
Doune Castle played multiple locations thanks to the film’s tiny budget. It appears as Camelot, the French castle, and others, often reused in absurdly obvious ways that only enhanced the comedy.
Robert Cutts, UK, CC BY 2.0,Wikimedia Commons
Point Dume, Malibu—Planet Of The Apes
The film’s shocking final scene reveals the Statue of Liberty half-buried in sand. That haunting beach moment was filmed at Point Dume, turning the natural landmark into one of the most famous twist endings in movie history.
Screenshot from Planet of the Apes, Twentieth Century (1968)
Carrie Bradshaw’s Apartment, New York City—Sex And The City
The exterior of Carrie’s apartment appears constantly as she heads out for dates, disasters, and late-night walks. Located in the West Village, the stoop remains one of the most photographed TV locations in New York.
Rob Young from United Kingdom, Wikimedia Commons
Varda Viaduct, Adana, Turkey—Skyfall
James Bond’s motorcycle chase across the top of a moving train was filmed on this dramatic viaduct. The scene blends real stunt work with breathtaking scenery, making the bridge an unexpected Bond landmark.
Hanifi.suna, Wikimedia Commons
Tom’s Restaurant, New York City—Seinfeld
Although most diner scenes were shot on a set, the exterior of Monk’s Café is actually Tom’s Restaurant in Morningside Heights. Establishing shots throughout the series made it inseparable from Jerry and the gang’s endless coffee debates.
Christophe Gevrey, Wikimedia Commons
Pike Place Market, Seattle—Sleepless In Seattle
The bustling market appears during key scenes that establish the film’s sense of place. Characters wander through the stalls, grounding the romantic story in one of Seattle’s most recognizable—and still-thriving—locations.
Daniel Schwen, Wikimedia Commons
Stairs To The Philadelphia Museum Of Art—Rocky
Rocky Balboa’s triumphant run up these steps is pure cinematic motivation. The scene has been recreated endlessly, and visitors still race to the top, arms raised, channeling their inner underdog.
Apartment Building At 455 Water Street, Brooklyn—Gossip Girl
This building served as the exterior of the Humphrey family loft. Establishing shots anchored Dan and Jenny’s “outsider” status within Manhattan’s elite, making the real location a quiet but meaningful part of the show’s visual language.
Belvoir Castle, Wilton House, Burghley House, And Hatfield House, England—The Crown
These grand estates doubled as Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and other royal residences across multiple seasons. Key scenes involving Queen Elizabeth II’s private and public life were filmed here, blending real aristocratic architecture with royal drama.
Anthony Masi from UK, Wikimedia Commons
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