Cover Zakynthos appeared in the 2016 Korean drama, Descendants of the Sun. Photo: Dimitris Mourousiadis from Pexels

These Instagrammable destinations that you might have seen on movies or television shows are worth a trip when it's safe to travel again

It’s been more than a year since the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic. We were all forced to stay home, wear masks and face shields, practice physical distancing and follow minimum health and safety protocols. Our once jet-setting selves were forcibly restrained from leisure travel, and if at all allowed, had to go through a labyrinth of requirements—from uncomfortable swab tests to quarantine rules that vary from place to place.

So while we're waiting for the world to heal and countries to welcome tourists again, we've rounded up some popular travel destinations from your favourite shows that you can add to your post-pandemic bucket list.

Read also: Discover The Top 5 Malaysian Destinations To Visit In 2021

1. Malta (Game of Thrones and Vincenzo)

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Above Scenes from Game of Thrones. Photo: HBO
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Above Daenerys Targaryen and Khal Drogo's wedding at the Azure Window on Gozo Island. Photo: HBO
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Above An island off Malta in a postcard sent by Vincenzo Cassano to Hong Cha-young. Photo: Netflix

Some southern scenes of the first season of HBO’s award-winning American fantasy drama television series, Game of Thrones were shot in Malta, particularly in Mdina (used for King’s Landing) and at Fort Manoel (representing the Sept of Baelor). It can also be recalled that the wedding of Daenerys Targaryen and the Dothraki king Khal Drogo was held at the Azure Window on the island of Gozo, although sadly, this beautiful rock formation collapsed due to a storm in 2017. Also used for scenes in Red Keep are San Anton Palace, Fort Ricasoli, Fort St Angelo and St Dominic monastery. The filming of the southern scenes in the second season moved from Malta to the city of Dubrovnik in Croatia. The series ran for eight seasons and bagged 59 Emmy Awards, eight Screen Actors Guild Awards and a Peabody Award.

Early in 2021, Malta was all abuzz again when it was featured in the finale episode of the hit Korean drama Vincenzo, which stars Song Joong-ki as Vincenzo Cassano and Jeon Yeo-bin as Hong Cha-young. It is where the most loved mafia consigliere flees after escaping South Korea.

Read also: Tatler Exclusive: Song Joong Ki Opens Up About His Vincenzo Experience

2. Zakynthos, Greece (Descendants of the Sun)

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Above Zakynthos appeared in the 2016 Korean drama, Descendants of the Sun. Photo: Dimitris Mourousiadis from Pexels
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Above Descendants of the Sun. Photo: Netflix
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Above Descendants of the Sun. Photo: Netflix
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Above Descendants of the Sun. Photo: Netflix
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Above Descendants of the Sun. Photo: Netflix

In episode 3 of the hit Korean drama Descendants of the Sun, Captain Yoo Si-jin (Song Joong-ki) and Dr Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo) were seen on a speedboat to the breathtaking secluded cove of Navagio Beach. The cove surrounded by pristine cerulean waters can be found on the coast of Zakynthos, the third largest of the Ionian Islands in Greece. It is also known as the Shipwreck Beach because it still has the old ship, the MV Panagiotis, which ran aground around Zakynthos Island on Navagio Beach during a storm in 1980. The ex-SongSong couple returned to this stunning beauty in the finale episode of the series. Besides Zakynthos, the series also filmed in Arachova, Lemnos in Greece.

From Song Joong Ki To Gong Yoo: 10 Famous Korean Stars Who Served In The Military

 

 

3. Spain (Memories of Alhambra)

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Above Memories of Alhambra. Photo: Netflix
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Above Hyun Bin and Park Shin-ye in Memories of Alhambra. Photo: Netflix
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Above Hyun Bin and Park Shin-ye in Memories of Alhambra. Photo: Netflix

As the title suggests, this South Korean sci-fi action romance is set in Spain, with most of the shots filmed in Granada, Barcelona and Girona. The story revolves around Yoo Jin-woo (Hyun Bin), the CEO of the investment company J One Holdings. He is a genius, fearless and cynical game developer whose mission is to simulate and test an augmented reality game. He meets Jung Hee-joo (Park Shin-ye), a South Korean woman whose family owns a hostel in Granada where Yoo Jin-woo stayed during his business trip to Spain.

The 16-episode series was filmed at the Estacio de França train station, Gavà railway station, the Stone Bridge in Girona, Calle Calderería Nueva, Mirador San Nicolás, San Miguel Alto Shrine, Realejo-San Matias, Alhambra, San Pedro, Hail Mary Motherhouse School and Street Puente Espinosa in Granada. Outside Spain, the production continued on through Hungary and Slovenia.

Read also: 5 Richest Korean Celebrity Couples In 2021

4. Budapest, Hungary (Doctor Stranger)

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Above Budapest, Chain Bridge. Photo: Pixabay
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Above Doctor Stranger. Photo: Netflix
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Above Lee Jong-suk in Doctor Stranger. Photo: Netflix

In episode 2, Park Hoon (Lee Jong-suk), a cardiothoracic surgeon, escapes on a motorcycle with Song Jae-hee (Jin Se-yeon), a North Korean woman whom he fell deeply in love with. The breathtaking chase scene was filmed in Budapest with the city’s arresting buildings and architecture as a backdrop. Also spotted in some clips is the Hungarian National Gallery, which houses an impressive collection of Hungarian artworks since the 10th century. This medical drama also stars Kang So-ra (Misaeng: Incomplete Life; Warm and Cozy) and Park Hae-jin (Kkondae Intern; My Love from the Star).

Read also: 5 Reasons Why Korean Drama 'Nevertheless' Will Make You Swoon

5. Istanbul, Turkey (Inferno)

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Above Istanbul as seen in Inferno. Photo: Netflix
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Above Basilica Cistern. Photo: Wikipedia

Inferno is the final instalment in the Robert Langdon action thriller film trilogy that is loosely based on the novels of author Dan Brown, which also includes The Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons. It tells the story of Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), a Harvard University professor, who wakes up confined in a hospital in Florence. The film tours us virtually around the majestic Istanbul, highlighting the imposing Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern, among others. 

Read also: Dr Fazliana Abd Rashid & Dr Farid Razali Explore The Wintertime Charms Of Turkey

6. Cuba (Encounter)

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Above Havana as seen in Encounter. Photo: Viu

Daughter of a politician and CEO of Dongwa Hotel Cha Soo-hyun (Song Hye-kyo) meets free-spirited Kim Jin-hyuk (Park Bo-gum) on a business trip to Cuba. The short but serendipitous encounter on the vibrant streets of Havana, later on, transpired into a complicated romantic relationship between the two. Prepare to shed buckets of tears in this melodrama which ranked second-highest premiere rating of the South Korean network, tvN after Mr Sunshine.

7. Switzerland and Mongolia (Crash Landing On You)

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Above Lake Lungern in Obwalden. Photo: Netflix
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Above First Flieger, Grindelwald. Photo: Netflix
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Above Lake Lungern in Obwalden. Photo: tvN
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Above Shot in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Photo: tvN

The highest rated tvN drama and the third highest-rated South Korean TV drama in cable television history, Crash Landing On You, which stars South Korean heartthrob Hyun Bin as North Korean soldier Ri Jeong-hyeok and his now real-life partner Son Ye-jin as South Korean chaebol Yoon Se-ri, was filmed in several locations in South Korea, Switzerland and Mongolia. But of all its filming locations, viewers fell in love with the captivating Lake Lungern in Obwalden, which was the backdrop of the finale episode where the couple reunites after being separated by obvious circumstances. While the Swiss chalet where they filmed is a private residence, there are plenty other chalets that you can rent through online booking platforms that will give you almost, if not the same, magnificent views of Lake Lungern. 

Other filming destinations include First Flieger in Grindelwald where Yoon Se-ri fell while sky diving and serendipitously met Captain Ri again; Sigriswil Panorama Bridge; and Lake Brienz in Isetwald where Captain Ri played the piano.  

Besides Switzerland, some of the North Korea scenes were shot in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia including the memorable train journey to Pyongyang. 

Read also: 8 Spectacular Routes On A Grand Train Tour Of Switzerland

8. New Zealand (Lord of the Rings)

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Above Photo: www.hobbitontours.com

Lord of the Rings fanatics will enjoy a visit to the Hobbiton Movie Set, a family-run farm about 8 kilometres west of Hinuera and 10 kilometres southwest of Matamata, in Waikato, New Zealand, where the film trilogy was filmed. From 2002 to this day, the 5.5-hectare estate started to offer guided tours, which highlights the Bagshot Row, the Party Tree and Bilbo's Bag End home.

Read also: How New Zealand Became A Hot Destination For Property Investment

 

 

9. Penang, Malaysia (Crazy Rich Asians)

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Above Blue Mansion in Penang. Photo courtesy of Blue Mansion
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Above Crazy Rich Asians. Photo: Netflix
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Above Crazy Rich Asians. Photo: Netflix

The film adaptation of the first book in Kevin Kwan's bestselling trilogy revolves around a Chinese-American professor named Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) who travels to Singapore to meet the family of her boyfriend Nicholas "Nick" Young (Henry Golding). She then discovers they are among the richest in Singapore. Towards the end, there's a scene where Nick Young's mother, Eleanor strides through archways in Ann Siang Hill near Singapore's Chinatown before arriving for a mahjong showdown (more like confrontation) with Rachel Chu. This scene was not filmed in Singapore but rather in Georgetown, Penang, at the historic Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, also known as the Blue Mansion. 

Read also: Penang & 3 Other Best Asian Islands For A Happy Retirement In 2021

10. Quebec, Canada (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God a.k.a. Goblin)

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Above Quebec. Photo: Pixabay
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Above Guardian: The Lonely and Great God. Photo: Netflix
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Above Guardian: The Lonely and Great God. Photo: Netflix

The fifth highest-rated drama in Korean cable television history, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, which stars 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards Best Actor Gong Yoo and South Korean singer-actress Kim Go-eun, filmed overseas using locations such as the Château Frontenac, Parc du Bastion-de-la-Reine (the Yoo family cemetery), Petit Champlain (Goblin's door to Canada), and the Fontaine de Tourny. When you go for a visit, make sure to take a photo by the iconic red door, which is the emergency exit of the Théâtre Petit Champlain in real life. 

Read also: Can't Travel? No Problem. These Scents Bring Luxury Destinations To You

 

 

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