Barcelona: Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Javier Bardem, Scarlett Johansson, and Penélope Cruz—who won an Oscar for her fierce portrayal of Maria Elena—wander through Passeig de Gràcia, Santa Maria del Mar Church, El Raval, La Pedrera, and Park Güell as they fall in love with each other, with the art of Catalan artist Agustí Puig, and, above all, with the city itself. The whole world fell in love with them, too, and will forever remember Barcelona just as Woody Allen captured it: bohemian, anarchic, and visceral. Vicky Cristina Barcelona did more to enhance the allure and global fame of the Catalan capital than any tourism campaign ever could. After all, everyone wants to feel part of Barcelona. And, by the way, it’s right on Passeig de Gràcia where Iberostar’s 4-star hotel in the heart of the city awaits—so if you’re passing by, stop in and say hello!
Budapest: The Golden Compass
For years, Hungary’s castles have been the setting of choice for Hollywood’s grand fantasy productions. The Golden Compass, based on the cult literary saga His Dark Materials, made the most of the fairy-tale atmosphere that defines Budapest’s architecture—from Buda Castle to the Royal Palace—as well as the generous tax incentives that have helped Hungary surpass its Czech neighbors as Hollywood’s favorite filming destination.
It’s also one of our favorites, because right there you’ll find the luxury hotel in Budapest that Iberostar offers for a truly cinematic vacation.
Morocco: Gladiator
Achieving glory feels far more epic when it happens in Morocco. The Oscar-winning film for Best Picture and Best Actor, among other awards, filmed the exile of hero Maximus Decimus Meridius (father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife, who will have his vengeance in this life or the next) in Ouarzazate, known as the Gateway to the Desert. Surrounded by mountains and famous for its kasbahs, including the iconic Aït Ben Haddou, it offers a landscape as cinematic as it is unforgettable. Driving the 197 kilometers from Ouarzazate to Marrakech along a fairly accessible road is one of the most thrilling experiences any traveler can have.
Andalusia and Morocco: Lawrence of Arabia
The defining masterpiece of epic cinema, winner of eight Oscars, transformed Spain during its filming in Carboneras, San José, Cabo de Gata, and Tabernas (Almería), as well as in Seville—at landmarks such as the Casino, Plaza de España, Plaza de Pilatos, Plaza de América, the Palacio Español, and María Luisa Park.
The production later moved to Morocco, where scenes were shot in Aït Ben Haddou, a fortified village of clay and stone and the country’s most famous ksar (a traditional pre-Saharan dwelling), located beside the Ounila River on the ancient camel route. It’s an essential stop for anyone wanting to discover Moroccan culture, architecture, and history—a place that stands in the middle of the desert, perfectly preserved, as if time itself had stood still.
Tunisia: The English Patient
The most melancholic, grand, and passionate romance of 1990s cinema needed to unfold in some of the world’s most beautiful places. Tunisia has never captivated the senses quite like it did in The English Patient, winner of nine Oscars in 1997. Together with the lovers, we traverse timeless landscapes such as the Chebika Oasis, Mahdia—a fishing and silk-weaving village that embodies traditional Tunisian culture—the immense and haunting Sidi Bouhlel Canyon (also a legendary Star Wars filming location), and of course Tunis, the capital: the most romantic and vibrant city in North Africa, and a longtime favorite among Spanish travelers. And of course, you’ll also find a selection of Iberostar hotels in Tunisia that are sure to leave a lasting impression.
Montego Bay: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
The groundbreaking technical achievement of this film required 400 crew members and earned two Oscars—for Art Direction and Visual Effects. Today, Montego Bay is renowned for its white-sand beaches and duty-free shopping, but 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea continues to prove, even 64 years later, that it is above all a natural setting so extraordinary it must be seen to be believed. Some lucky ones have walked those beaches; the rest will have to settle for watching this timeless film that, against all odds, has aged beautifully. You can be among the fortunate, too, by staying at one of our five-star hotels in Montego Bay, sure to take your breath away.
Cuba: The Motorcycle Diaries
That journey changed Che Guevara’s life — and now you can experience it too. The company La Poderosa Tours (named after La Poderosa, the Norton 500 motorcycle Che rode across the island) offers six- or nine-day guided routes that visit the places which shaped his life and, by extension, Latin American history — from Che’s Command Headquarters in La Cabaña Fortress in Havana to Santa Clara. The director of La Poderosa Tours is Ernesto Guevara, Che’s youngest son — keeping it all in the family, quite literally. And to make you feel at home, we recommend staying at one of our hotels in the center of Havana.
New York: Manhattan
Woody Allen chose to shoot the film in black and white because that’s how he remembered the city as a child. There isn’t a single corner of New York left unseen in this cinematic, emotional, and sightseeing tour through the city: Fifth Avenue, the MoMA, Bloomingdale’s, Broadway, Central Park, Greenwich Village, Lincoln Center, Madison Avenue, the harbor, Park Avenue, the Staten Island Ferry, and the Upper East Side.
Manhattan officially crowned the city that never sleeps as the most cinematic in the world, where something exciting is always happening on every street. For the now-legendary scene overlooking the Queensboro Bridge, Allen had to bring in a bench because there wasn’t one — but after the film’s release, benches were installed, and people still line up to sit there and recreate the shot with a photo. Sometimes, movie magic really does come to life.
New York: Kramer vs. Kramer
Barcelona-born cinematographer Néstor Almendros, one of Hollywood’s most influential directors of photography, captured the harsh beauty of New York with far less romanticism than Manhattan. The Chrysler Building, City Hall, and Wall Street serve as the corporate backdrop for this poignant drama about a divorced couple who replace love with bureaucracy.
The New York that still lives in the collective imagination is undoubtedly the one portrayed by 1970s cinema — and together, Manhattan and Kramer vs. Kramer, winner of five Oscars (Best Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actress, and Screenplay), form a perfect cinematic diptych.
Miami: Moonlight
Director Barry Jenkins chose to tell his story in Liberty City, the neighborhood where he grew up, with the entire community proudly taking part in the filming. The protagonist, Chiron, learns to swim at one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Virginia Key, where he later experiences his first intimate encounter. The quintessentially American diner where he reunites with his friend Kevin — Jimmy’s Eastside Diner (located at 7201 Biscayne Boulevard) — has since become an iconic landmark of modern cinema, as memorable as the film’s three Oscars and the unforgettable mix-up during its announcement as Best Picture.
