There is a profound shift happening in the global travel landscape. The days of traveling somewhere simply to check a generic monument off a bucket list are fading. Instead, modern travelers are chasing something far more personal, emotional, and visual.
Welcome to the era of “set-jetting”, the definitive travel trend of 2026.
Set-jetting is the practice of planning vacations entirely around the filming locations of your favorite television shows and cinematic blockbusters. Rather than standard, uninspired sightseeing, travelers are choosing to walk directly in the footsteps of the characters they spend hours binging on screen. From the sun-drenched, high-drama coastlines of Italy to the historic, windswept streets of Croatia, our living rooms have officially become our travel agencies.
If you have ever stared at a breathtaking overhead drone shot during a season finale and thought, “I need to be exactly there,” you are part of the movement. And when it comes to turning those on-screen fantasies into real-world itineraries, Viator has emerged as the ultimate gateway for booking curated film and television location tours.
The Rise of Cinematic Tourism: Why We Swap Icons for Frames
Why has set-jetting captured the collective imagination so fiercely? The answer lies in the deep emotional connection we form with modern storytelling.
When we watch a masterpiece series develop over multiple seasons, those backdrops cease to be mere scenery, they become characters in their own right. Visiting the Eiffel Tower is iconic, but tracing the exact path of a character’s chaotic romantic life through a Parisian arrondissement feels like an insider adventure. It provides a ready-made itinerary of hyper-visual, highly shareable spots, wrapped in behind-the-scenes trivia that standard history tours simply cannot provide.
Because these locations are tied to massive global media properties, the demand to see them in person has skyrocketed. Tourism boards worldwide are experiencing unprecedented surges, often referred to as the “White Lotus Effect”, where a single television season can put a previously quiet coastal village permanently on the global map.
The Ultimate 2026 Set-Jetting Itinerary
If you are ready to trade your couch for a passport, Viator offers specialized excursions tailored to every major fandom. Here are the top cinematic destinations drawing massive crowds this year and the exact experiences you should be looking for.
1. The White Lotus Infused Luxury (Sicily, Italy & Thailand)
The dark-comedy anthology series The White Lotus is single-handedly responsible for shifting Mediterranean and Southeast Asian travel patterns. Season 2 turned the rocky cliffs and historic palazzos of Taormina, Sicily, into an international sensation.
On Viator’s highly rated Sicily film tours, you can skip the generic history lectures and head straight to the stunning beach clubs and historic villas where the show’s elite characters sipped drinks and plotted downfalls. Local guides who worked adjacent to the production share stories about the cast, all while you look out over the Ionian Sea.
2. High Fashion and Romance: Emily in Paris Walking Tours
For those who prefer cobblestones, cafes, and immaculate wardrobes, Paris remains a top destination. The enduring popularity of Emily in Paris has transformed the quiet square of Place de l’Estrapade into a pilgrimage site.
Viator’s specialized Paris television walking tours take you out of the massive lines of the Louvre and guide you through the hidden gems of the Left Bank. You can snap a photo outside Emily’s fictional apartment building, grab a pastry at the real-life bakery down the street, and dine at the actual restaurant that serves as the backdrop for the show’s signature culinary drama. It is a highly aesthetic way to experience the city through a distinctly modern lens.
3. The Epic Fantasy Realms: Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon (Croatia & Spain)
Even years after its conclusion, the cultural footprint of Westeros remains monumental, especially with spin-offs keeping the lore alive. Dubrovnik, Croatia, known to fans worldwide as King’s Landing, continues to be a premier destination for set-jetters.
Viator’s premium Game of Thrones walking tours in Dubrovnik are led by guides who frequently worked as extras on the actual set. They carry massive binders of screenshots, allowing you to stand on the stone steps of the Jesuit Staircase and compare the real-world architecture with the CGI-enhanced scenes from the show. You’ll walk the historic city walls and visit Fort Lovrijenac (The Red Keep) with an entirely new appreciation for how cinematic magic is made.
The Strategy: How to Build Your Film & TV Itinerary on Viator
Navigating a massive travel platform can be overwhelming if you don’t know what to look for. To plan the perfect pop-culture vacation, follow this simple framework:
- Step 1: Focus the Search: Instead of searching generally for a city, navigate directly to specialized activity hubs. You can find completely dedicated excursions by checking out the Viator Film & TV Tours category, which aggregates pop-culture experiences globally.
- Step 2: Vet the Guides: Read the reviews specifically looking for mentions of “behind-the-scenes stories” or “production insights.” The best set-jetting tours are hosted by local experts who possess deep insider knowledge of the filming process.
- Step 3: Pair Fiction with History: The best part of these tours is that they inherently cover local history. While you are busy looking at the spot where a famous battle scene was filmed, you are also exploring a 9th-century fortress or a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Pro-Traveler Dilemma: The Dreaded “Sold Out” Screen
Because set-jetting is a massive macro-trend, these highly specialized tours are no longer niche secrets. They are prime targets for travelers worldwide. A boutique boat tour around the Sicilian cliffs or an exclusive look at historical filming structures in Croatia might only accommodate 10 to 12 people per day.
As a result, these high-demand experiences routinely sell out months in advance. There is nothing more frustrating than booking your flights and hotels, only to realize the one specific tour that inspired the entire trip is completely booked up.
This is where weaponizing Viator’s booking architecture becomes essential.
Lock It In Early With “Reserve Now, Pay Later”
To combat the stress of peak travel season, you should actively utilize Viator’s “Reserve Now & Pay Later” feature. This tool allows you to secure your exact time slot and date on highly competitive tours up to four months in advance without handing over a single dollar upfront.
- Commitment-Free Flexibility: Your credit card isn’t charged until exactly two days before the experience begins.
- Adaptable Itineraries: If the weather changes, if your flight gets rescheduled, or if you simply change your mind, you can cancel the reservation for free up to 48 hours before the tour starts.
- Financial Peace of Mind: You can map out your entire dream vacation, lock down every highly competitive television and movie location tour, and manage your cash flow seamlessly as the trip approaches.
Step Through the Screen
We spend so much of our lives absorbing beautiful worlds through our screens. In 2026, travel is all about breaking down that digital barrier and experiencing those environments with our own senses.
Whether you want to feel the coastal breeze of a luxury Mediterranean resort, enjoy a pastry in a hidden Parisian square, or look down from the stone battlements of a medieval fortress, these locations are waiting for you in the real world.
Don’t leave your dream itinerary to chance. Lock in your spots, protect your schedule, and get ready to experience your favorite stories from the inside out.
Ready to walk the sets of your favorite stories?
Secure your destination spots today by exploring the Viator Film & TV Tours marketplace and lock in your itinerary risk-free.
