5 Stunning Filming Locations Around the World That You Can Actually Afford to Visit
“Set jetting” — traveling to destinations made famous by film and TV — has exploded in popularity, and these five spots deliver maximum fandom energy without draining your savings.
Traveling to places you’ve seen on screen, doesn’t have to mean blockbuster prices. The trick is knowing which filming locations double as genuinely affordable travel destinations and timing your visit to dodge peak crowds that inflate costs.
Whether you’re planning a couples’ trip, a solo adventure, or trying to corral the family somewhere cool that isn’t another theme park, these five destinations are worth a serious look.
Dubrovnik, Croatia: Walk the Streets of King’s Landing
If you ever watched Cersei’s walk of shame and thought “Wow, that city is stunning though,” Dubrovnik is calling your name. Best known as the real-world King’s Landing from Game of Thrones, Dubrovnik’s medieval walled city is one of the most dramatic urban landscapes in Europe — and it’s far more accessible than you’d expect.
The move is to visit during shoulder season in April or October. You’ll get a fraction of the summer crowds and significantly lower hotel rates, while the ancient walls, sea views, and filming sites remain just as cinematic.
Walk the City Walls, spot Fort Lovrijenac (which doubled as the Red Keep), and grab a cheap lunch at a konoba — a Croatian tavern — tucked away from the main tourist drag. Your Instagram grid will never be the same, and your wallet will thank you for skipping the July rush.
Vilnius, Lithuania: The Hidden Gem You Didn’t Know You Needed
This one’s for the “I want to go somewhere no one else on my feed has been” crowd. Vilnius, the underrated Eastern European capital, has quietly doubled as medieval England, Cold War-era Eastern Europe, and more in dozens of productions from Stranger Things to Catherine the Great, thanks to its remarkably preserved Gothic and Baroque old town.
What makes Vilnius especially appealing for traveling on a budget? It’s consistently ranked among the most affordable capitals in Europe, with cheap flights from major hubs, budget-friendly accommodation, and a food scene that punches well above its price point.
Think incredible meals at prices that feel almost suspicious if you’re used to paying $18 for a sad desk salad.
Don’t miss the bohemian Užupis district, which feels like a film set in its own right. It’s visually stunning, culturally rich, and practically begging to be discovered.
Cliffs of Moher, Ireland: Harry Potter Vibes, Minus the Dublin Price Tag
Those sweeping, impossibly dramatic cliffs in Harry Potter? That’s County Clare’s rugged coastline, and the wider Wild Atlantic Way has doubled as everything from fantasy kingdoms to period dramas.
Here’s where it gets even better for your budget: Ireland’s rural west is far cheaper to explore than Dublin. Self-catering cottages, scenic drives, and free access to most of the sweeping clifftop landscapes that make it so irresistible on screen — that’s the formula.
Rent a car, pack light, and follow the coast. The visuals are genuinely jaw-dropping, the kind of content that basically shoots itself whether you’re going for moody Reels or panoramic photo dumps.
Albuquerque, New Mexico: The Breaking Bad Pilgrimage You Can Actually Afford
For fans of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, Albuquerque is a pilgrimage destination hiding in plain sight. Unlike a lot of fan-favorite filming locations, this is an American road trip stop that’s remarkably easy on the wallet.
Self-guided tours of filming locations are entirely free. Zero dollars to stand where Heisenberg stood.
Old Town is walkable and full of affordable New Mexican food, and the city’s hotels and motels offer some of the best value of any destination in the Southwest. This is the kind of trip you can pull off on a long weekend without having to do mental math about your next paycheck.
Don’t forget to try the green chile — consider it part of the experience. For those who grew up watching Walter White’s descent and Saul Goodman’s hustle, walking these streets hits different. It’s one of the most accessible and budget-friendly set-jetting destinations in the country.
Matera, Italy: Ancient Caves, Bond Vibes, and Prices That Aren’t Roman
If you want Italy without the Rome-level price gouging, meet Matera. This ancient cave city in southern Italy has appeared in No Time to Die, The Passion of the Christ, and Wonder Woman — yet it remains far cheaper to visit than Rome or the Amalfi Coast.
The ancient cave dwellings carved into the ravine called the sassi can be explored on foot for free, and the region’s food and wine is outstanding at a fraction of northern Italy’s prices.
The visuals are otherworldly — carved stone, winding paths, and golden light that looks like it was designed by a cinematographer. Because multiple cinematographers clearly agreed.
The logistics are simple: fly into Bari, rent a car, and make a weekend of it. It’s the kind of destination that makes people ask “Wait, where IS that?” in your Instagram comments.
The Takeaway
Set jetting doesn’t require a trust fund or a brand deal. Whether you’re standing on the walls of King’s Landing in Dubrovnik during shoulder season, wandering Albuquerque’s filming spots for free, or discovering Vilnius before everyone else catches on, these destinations prove that fandom-fueled travel dreams are genuinely within reach.
The key is knowing which filming locations double as affordable travel destinations and timing your visit to avoid the peak crowds that drive up costs.
BOTTOM LINE: Your favorite fictional worlds are real, visitable places — and all five of these destinations are budget-friendly enough that you can start planning now rather than someday.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
