Here’s where to stay in Europe for the ultimate cinematic wanderlust.
Europe is dreamy in so many ways–there are magical cities, stunning landscapes, and endless beaches. And, throughout the years, a handful of films have managed to capture the continent’s food, culture, and history to a T. Whether it’s making the City of Light shine brighter, the English countryside look more regal, or the cliffside bluffs feel more epic, Hollywood movies have always done Europe right. One of the highlights of these movies is usually the incredible hotels that are just as much of a character as the actors inhabiting them. The good news for you is that you don’t have to live vicariously—you can actually stay in some of the best properties in Europe from your favorite films.
Hotel degli Orafi in Florence – 'Room With a View'
There’s no movie that inspires a trip to Florence, Italy, quite like A Room with a View. Not only does the film show off classic Florentine sites like Piazza della Signoria and Piazza Santa Croce, but features the Hotel degli Orafi with jaw-dropping vistas of the Arno River below it. Fans of the flick can book the actual room from the movie which boasts one of the most romantic terraces in the city. Tutto bene!
St. Regis in Venice, Italy – 'The Talented Mr. Ripley'
The Talented Mr. Ripley is basically a giant advertisement for Italy with shooting locations in Naples, Positano, and Rome. Venice is also prominently featured, and you can even stay in the same hotel suite as Jude Law’s character inside the St. Regis. Formerly the Europa and Regina, the St. Regis sits right on the Grand Canal and has a front-row seat to the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute just across the water. Just keep your eyes peeled for Dickie Greenleaf.
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Juvet Landscape Hotel in Norway – 'Ex Machina'
In the film Ex Machina, billionaire recluse Nathan Bateman (played by Oscar Isaac) creates a female humanoid robot and tests one of his programmers on whether she could pass for human. The entire sci-fi drama takes place at Bateman’s house, which is actually the Juvet Landscape Hotel in Norway. The hotel is known for its architecturally stunning design that blends seamlessly into the surrounding forest and gives guests unfettered views of the Norwegian countryside.
Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce – 'In Bruges'
The most picturesque spot in all of Bruges, Belgium belongs to the Relais Bourgondisch Cruyce boutique hotel that sits on a canal corner with waterfront views and is walking distance to all major Bruges attractions. In the movie In Bruges, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson’s hitmen characters hole up in the hotel after their latest job and explore the medieval city along the way.
Hôtel Le Bristol – 'Midnight in Paris'
Opened in 1925, Hôtel Le Bristol in Paris is set along the super chic Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, home to high-end boutiques and pricy art galleries. It’s also the hotel Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams stay at in the dreamy movie Midnight in Paris. In addition to making the streets of the City of Light come alive, director Woody Allen transports audiences to 1920s Paris where luminaries like F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, and Pablo Picasso drank, ate, and created iconic works of art.
Headland Hotel in Cornwall – 'The Witches'
The Headland Hotel in Cornwall, England, first opened its doors in 1900 and has housed kings, queens, movie stars, and more. The Victorian-style hotel sets atop a stunning bluff that looks out over the Newquay Bay. The hotel is also the setting for the 1990 film The Witches, starring Anjelica Huston who is running a witch’s convention inside the property. Request rooms 223, 227, or 205 if you want to stay in rooms that were actually used in the movie and concoct some potions of your own.
Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort – 'GoldenEye'
In the annals of James Bond movies, there’s always a plot to take over the world, the martinis are shaken (not stirred), and gambling in lavish casinos is a rite of passage. In the movie Goldeneye, with Pierce Brosnan in the titular role, 007 finds himself in Monte Carlo, where he gambles at the famed Monte-Carlo casino and drives through the ritzy streets in front of the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel. If this doesn’t make you want to visit the French Riviera, nothing will.
Parknasilla Hotel and Resort in Ireland – 'The Lobster'
Starring Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, and John C. Reilly, The Lobster is a dystopian film about single people who get sent to a hotel to find a mate—and if they don’t, they’re turned into an animal of their choice after 45 days. The entire movie takes place in and around the Parknasilla Hotel and Resort in southwest Ireland. The hotel itself is over 120 years old and looks over Kenmare Bay. In addition to luxury accommodations, there’s fine dining, a golf course, and a spa and there’s no chance you’ll be turned into a fish during your stay.
Luton Hoo Hotel in England – 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'
About an hour north of London, the Luton Hoo Hotel is a five-star getaway that dates to the 17th Century and has been featured in dozens of movies like Eyes Wide Shut, War Horse, The World’s End, Sexy Beast, multiple Bond films, and—one of its biggest claims to fame—Four Weddings and a Funeral. Fans of the Hugh Grant flick will recognize various rooms and spaces on the estate, including the scene where he’s caught in a closet while the newlyweds consummate the marriage.
Hotel Schloss Leopoldskron in Salzburg – 'The Sound of Music'
Known as The Sound of Music hotel, Schloss Leopoldskron was one of the main locations where many of the 1965 movie’s scenes were shot as the home of the Von Trapp family. The hotel itself is on the outskirts of Salzburg, Austria, and features lush gardens, a 17-acre park, and a stunning lake. Fans of the movie can book a special package that includes a walk through the private park, mountainous panoramas, and a four-hour Sound of Music bus tour to see the hills come alive for themselves.