“Set-Jetting”: Traveling to Film and TV Locations

Years ago, I found myself on a misty morning in the Scottish Highlands, the wild landscape stretching endlessly around me. As the cold breeze whispered through the rugged peaks, I wasn’t just admiring nature—I was chasing the footsteps of Outlander. Standing where Claire Fraser once stood, feeling the weight of history and fiction collide, I experienced a profound sense of wonder. Set-jetting transforms the familiar act of sightseeing into something deeply personal, a dance of memory and discovery.

The Allure of Real Places Behind Fictional Tales

In an era where digital effects often conjure entire worlds, the power of physical locations remains undiminished. Set-jetting reconnects us with the tactile, the textured. Cobblestone streets, weathered stone castles, and cozy coffee shops become characters themselves—silent witnesses to the unfolding drama. This type of travel is a blend of nostalgia, curiosity, and adventure, inviting you to witness where fiction was born.

When I walked through Dubrovnik, Croatia, long before it became synonymous with the majestic King’s Landing in Game of Thrones, I was enchanted not only by the city’s medieval charm but by the realization that stories take their breath from real-world beauty. Every alley, every sun-dappled wall, had a story layered upon it, waiting for me to unravel. Set-jetting adds an extra dimension to travel—films and series become more than entertainment; they become a map to places yearning to be explored.

From Screen to Soul: What Set-Jetting Offers

Set-jetting invites you to wander in the footsteps of heroes and villains alike, to soak in the atmosphere where scenes unfolded. It offers:

• Emotional Connection: Standing in a filming location deepens your understanding and emotional link to the story and its characters.
• Immersive Adventure: Traveling with a story in your heart transforms every step into an immersive experience.
• Cultural Insight: Exploring filming spots often means uncovering hidden gems of local culture, architecture, and history.
• Unique Stories to Tell: It enriches your travel tales—there’s a certain magic in saying, “I touched the very stone Jon Snow once leaned on.”

These journeys often lead to unexpected serendipity: a local sharing behind-the-scenes stories, discovering off-the-map landmarks, or simply feeling a quiet reverence in a place made legendary by storytelling.

Planning Your Own Set-Jetting Adventure

To truly embrace set-jetting, I recommend weaving the essence of film and storytelling into your travel narrative rather than letting it dominate. Research locations beforehand, but also allow time to absorb the surroundings naturally. Walk beyond the scripted spots—sometimes the magic lies just outside the famous frame.

Embrace local tours that specialize in film locations, but equally cherish moments of independent exploration. Every site has a story beyond the cameras, and often it’s the unscripted encounters that stay with you forever.

“Traveling is more than seeing sights; it’s about feeling a story take root in your heart—a story that lives not just on screen, but under your very feet.”

Final Thoughts: More Than a Travel Trend

Set-jetting is not merely a trend for film buffs; it’s a portal to a deeper kind of travel where the boundaries between fiction and reality blur in the most beautiful way. It invites us to live the stories that inspire us, to see with fresh eyes the places that shaped worlds both real and imagined.

So next time you pack your bags, consider mixing your itinerary with the footsteps of cinematic legends. Let your journey be a vivid tapestry painted with scenes of emotion, history, and adventure—a story you become part of, far beyond the glowing screen.

Marco Santiago