20 Star Wars Filming Locations to Visit in 2024

Where Was Star Wars Filmed? A Summary

The Star Wars movies came to screens in 1977 and revolutionized the film industry. Since George Lucas released the first installment, nine Episodes of the Skywalker Saga, three spin-off films, and three television films have been released.

Star Wars is a billion-dollar franchise. What is not to love about the franchise?

These films feature strong characters facing hard choices, epic battle scenes, forbidden love stories, and locations that make you want to jump on a spaceship. Even better? Many Star Wars filming locations only require you to hop on a plane. 

The original films used inspiration from the landscapes of Tunisia and parts of Europe. Yet, over the years, the Lucasfilms crew has traveled around the globe, capturing more dramatic real-life scenery to add to the sci-fi series.

Read Next: Is Tunisia Safe to Visit in 2024?

20 Star Wars Filming Locations to Visit in 2024

Star Wars fans around the world have traveled far and wide to step in the same spots as Carrie Fisher, Natalie Portman, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and many more.

Are you ready to explore the known universe? Check out 20 of the incredible Star Wars filming locations you need to see in real life below.

1. Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia

In Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, our heroes dodge enemies and ride the Millenium Falcon through a vast white tundra. At first glance, it looks like this white expanse is snow, but it is actually salt! 

The final battle on Planet Crait was filmed here on planet Earth at the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia. Uyuni is a popular tourist destination to explore out-of-this-world landscapes. 

Half the year, Uyuni appears as crusted white salt that spans for miles in every direction. The other half of the year, water reflects the sky and creates stunning 360-degree views. 

To get to Uyuni, take a flight from La Paz, Bolivia. Budget at least three days for this tour excursion to get the full expanse of the strange landscapes this part of the world offers. You can even opt to sleep in a hotel made entirely out of salt. 

Things to bring: 

• Passport 
• Comfortable shoes for walking 
• Waterproof shoes (wet season) 
• Extra change of socks (wet season) 

2. Palace of Caserta, Italy 

In Episode I: The Phantom Menace, the Star Wars cast used the Palace of Caserta in Italy in several memorable scenes. From droid attacks to royal meetings, this grande palace was used as a Star Wars filming location.

As the largest royal palace in the world, it was fit to host Queen Amidala and her protectors. Luckily, CGI creates the effects for the fight scenes, and none of the architecture took any damage. 

You can visit the Palace of Caserta and walk the grand staircase or royal hallways once occupied by movie stars and kings.

To visit, head to Naples and drive or take the metro for about one hour. Entrance tickets to the Palace of Caserta are approximately 20 euros for adults. 

Things to bring: 

• Water 
• Comfortable shoes for walking 
• Sunscreen 

3. Mount Etna, Italy

One of the most iconic scenes in the original Star Wars movies is the battle between Obi-Wan and Anakin Skywalker at the end of Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

The two battle one other on planet Mustafar around an inferno of lava that replicates their energy. Amidst flashing lightsabers, lava erupts beneath them, threatening death at any misstep.

The lava in this scene is real. Lucasfilms captured these scenes during an eruption in 2002 at Mount Etna in Italy. Mount Etna is an active volcano on the island of Sicily.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that visitors enjoy today. The closest major city is Catania, where tours of Mount Etna are easily arranged. 

Things to bring: 

• Water 
• Comfortable walking shoes 
• Hat

4. Death Valley National Park, United States 

One of the Star Wars filming locations close to home is Death Valley National Park, Califonia. Here, the danger of hidden Jawas is evident with the many nooks and crannies within the rockfaces.

Many shots of C3PO and R2D2 were captured amidst the rocky canyons and sand dunes. In Episode IV: A New Hope, the first of the Star Wars franchise, C3PO and R2D2 crash onto the planet of Tatooine.

They argue about the direction to take and split ways, inviting lurking Jawas to abduct our robotic heroes. In Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, Death Valley National Park was used to depict the scenery around Jabba the Hut’s Palace.

Star Wars spots within the Death Valley National Park include the Mesquite Sand Dunes, Artist’s Pallet, Golden Canyon, and Towering-Mule Team Canyon. We recommend renting a car and hiking these scenic spots at your own pace while hunting for Star Wars locations. 

Things to bring: 

• Water 
• Comfortable walking shoes 
• Sunscreen and hat 

5. Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park, United States

In Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, our heroes find themselves on planet Endor. Giant trees with thick trunks surrounded by ferns and foliage fly past as Leia and Luke try to dodge stormtroopers. 

Redwood trees rise like skyscrapers with thick trunks that depict their thousand years of existence.

Amidst these mammoth trees, we see an epic battle erupt between storm troopers, Ewoks, and Jedi. We learn of the wrath and adorableness of the furry Ewok species in this part of the movie.

While you are not likely to find Ewoks here any longer, the scenes of Endor were filmed in northern California. The Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park is now part of the Star Wars film locations pilgrimage. 

Things to bring: 

• Camping gear 
• Water 
• Sunscreen 
• Bug repellant 
• Comfortable waterproof shoes 

6. Krafla, Iceland

Ominous snow-capped mountains and a hazy white wasteland house Starkiller Base on the frozen planet of Ilum. In Episode VII: The Force Awakens, our heroes fly through these foreboding mountains and attack the base.

Explosions and gunfire are the only sources of heat in this snowy tundra. Despite looking like a scary far-off planet, this scene was filmed at Krafla in Iceland. 

Star Wars fans can visit this and other Iceland Star Wars filming locations, that is, if you can handle the cold. Fans can also visit Lake Myvatn and the black beaches of Reynisfjara in Iceland to see other iconic Star Wars filming locations. 

Things to bring: 

• Warm clothes 
• Winter boots 
• Water

7. Ajim, Tunisia

The small North African country of Tunisia is widely seen in the original Star Wars films. George Lucas placed his characters in Tunisia for its other-worldly desert landscapes and unique structures. 

On Djerba Island, the city of Ajim depicts scenes of Mos Eisley Spaceport on planet Tatooine. An old mosque on Djerba Island was once Obi-Wan Kenobi’s house.

In Episode IV: A New Hope, we get a glimpse into the living conditions of Tatooine residences. The real-life location is much more pleasant than the dusty wasteland portrayed in the movie and is well worth visiting. 

Things to bring: 

• Water 
• Sunscreen 
• Comfortable shoes 
• Modest clothing

8. La Grande Dune, Tunisia

The majority of Tatooine scenes were filmed in Tunisia, like in Episode IV: A New Hope when C3PO and R2D2 crash land into a giant dune. Aptly named La Grande Dune is that dune.

When visiting La Grande Dune, add a visit to Chott el Djerid. This is another nearby Star Wars filming location where the Lucasfilms team captured footage of the Lars homestead.

The remote control mechanisms for R2D2 did not function optimally in the sandy deserts of Africa.

Many shots of Tatooine are a combination of Tunisia locations and Death Valley National Park. It is worthwhile to consult a travel agent for organized trips through Tunisia that feature Star Wars spots worth visiting. 

Things to bring: 

• Water 
• Sunscreen 
• Comfortable shoes 
• Modest clothing

9. Hotel Sidi Idriss, Tunisia 

Hotel Sidi Idriss is otherwise known as Luke Skywalkers home on the desert planet of Tatooine. In real life, you can see the Meditteranean Sea instead of the desert wasteland depicted in Episode IV: A New Hope. 

Hotel Sidi Idriss is essentially an underground structure. It is a traditional Berber house where the entrance looks like a crater in the Earth, and the house is built into the surrounding ground. 

You can sleep at Hotel Sidi Driss, even in Luke Skywalker’s childhood bedroom, while touring other Star Wars filming locations in Tunisia. 

Things to bring: 

• Water 
• Sunscreen and hat 
• Modest clothing

10. Tikal, Guatemala

Tikal is an ancient Mayan ruin that was featured in the 1977 Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. For a brief moment, before the movie’s final scene, you get an establishing shot of planet Yavin IV.

You see the jungle landscapes and ancient ruins peeking out through the lush foliage before joining the celebrations for our heroes. It is here that Princess Leia awards Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan with medals ending the movie on a high note. 

You can visit Tikal in Guatemala today for roughly $20 to learn about its ancient history and get a glimpse of Yavin IV in real life. 

Things to bring: 

• Passport 
• Water 
• Bug spray 
• Sunscreen 
• Comfortable shoes 

11. Hardangerjøkulen Glacier, Norway

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back begins with an epic battle scene on planet Hoth. Luke flies through the legs of AT-AT walkers with crisp snow-capped mountains and a wintry tundra in the windows of his ship.

Blasts from gunfire explode in the snow of a desolate and cold landscape. The Battle of Hoth scene could have been filmed on an ice planet in a galaxy far, far away, but it was not.

This epic scene was filmed at the Hardangerjøkulen Glacier in Norway and can be visited today. Hardangerjøkulen Glacier is a glacier outside of the small and isolated town Finse in Norway.

Take a four-hour train ride west of Oslo to Finse and explore the glacier and panoramic landscapes. When is the best time to go to Hardangerjøkulen Glacier?

The months between May and September are relatively mild compared to other times of the year. While filming, the Star Wars crew stayed at the Finse 1222 Hotel.

Snowstorms in the area led to them using the hotel in the scene where Luke escapes the Wampa. The hotel still showcases memorabilia and is worth checking out while visiting Hardangerjøkulen Glacier. 

Things to bring: 

• Warm clothes 
• Hiking boots
• Sunscreen 

12. Puzzlewood, United Kingdom 

Many Star Wars filming locations were captured in the United Kingdom. Several production studios used in the making of the film have headquarters in England. Other locations are real-life ones that Star Wars fans visit today. 

The Forest of Dean in Puzzlewood, England, was used in Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Visitors can enjoy strolling through the forests today without the fear of stormtroopers lurking behind trees. 

These thick forests with lush foliage made the ideal setting for an out-of-this-world scene. We see Rey and BB-8 running through the forests of planet Takodana before meeting Kylo Ren. 

Things to bring: 

• Bug spray 
• Water 
• Comfortable hiking shoes 

13. Cumbria, United Kingdom 

The forested planet of Takadona is featured in Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Inside of this forested landscape is Maz Kanata’s Castle, which gets attacked by dark forces.

Rey stands amidst the trees and almost gets shot by a stormtrooper before running off into the woods with BB-8. Some of these Takadona forest scenes were filmed in Puzzlewood at the Forest of Dean, while others were filmed in areas around Cumbria.

Derwentwater lake in England is the real-life location for Maz Kanata’s Castle, while Thirlmere reservoir is the actual location used to film X-Wing flight scenes. 

Cumbria is considered to be England’s lake district, so visitors will find many places to stay and things to do in the region, especially during the summer months. 

Things to bring: 

• Bug spray 
• Water
• Comfortable hiking shoes 

14. Wadi Rum, Jordan

Wadi Rum is one of the Star Wars filming locations that will take your breath away when you visit. This epic desert in Jordan seems to go on forever.

It makes the perfect backdrop for desert scenes in both Rogue One and Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. Wadi Rum was used as planet Jedha in Rogue One and as planet Pasaana in Episode IX. 

Tours to this location can include camping in the desert and camel rides through the dunes. Keep in mind that blowing sand can get into clothes and your eyes, so come prepared with sunglasses and clothing that covers your skin. 

Things to bring: 

• Water 
• Sunglasses 
• Sunscreen 
• Hat 
• Comfortable, closed-toe shoes

15. Dubrovnik, Croatia 

Canto Bight is “a terrible place filled with the worst people of the galaxy,” according to Rose in Episode VIII: The Last Jedi.

An establishing shot of the gambling city on planet Cantonica shows a futuristic terraced kingdom aided by modern graphics, but the cobblestone bridges are not all fictional. This Star Wars scene was filmed in Dubrovnik in Croatia.

This location has also been made famous for its setting in the Game of the Thrones series. You can visit Dubrovnik and walk down the picturesque streets of this small medieval Eastern European city year-round. 

Things to bring: 

• Water
• Sunscreen 
• Comfortable walking shoes

16. Skellig Michael, Ireland 

Skellig Michael is featured in the newest Star Wars films as the dramatic backdrop to an even more dramatic interaction. This other-worldly landscape comes into view as Rey arrives on Planet Ahch-To at the very end of Episode VII: The Force Awakens. 

We see Rey climb the rocky mountain with lush greenery poking out between the cracks. She arrives at the top of an old Gaelic monastery to find who she has been seeking: Luke Skywalker.

Rey hands Luke’s lightsaber out towards him, hoping he will accept the mission. We waited two years to return to this scene and see Luke Skywalker take the lightsaber from Rey’s hand.

In 2017, Episode VIII: The Last Jedi was released, and Skellig Michael appeared once again on big screens around the world. You can reenact this cinematic moment with a visit to Skellig Michael Island in Ireland.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and only permits 180 visitors per day. Ireland is well known for its rainy conditions, so be prepared to visit this site with misty backgrounds and drizzling rain. 

Things to bring: 

• Passport 
• Water 
• Hiking boots 
• Rain poncho 

17. Plaza de España, Spain 

In Episode II: Attack of the Clones, a young Anakin Skywalker and Queen Padmé Amidala arrive in the city of Theed on planet Naboo and discuss politics. The two walk through the hallways of a royal palace lined with regal pillars and views of domes in the distance. 

This scene was filmed in Seville, Spain, at the Plaza de España. This real place is one of the Star Wars filming locations that you can visit free of cost.

The Plaza de España was built in 1929 and is a vision of Baroque, Renaissance, and Moorish Revival architecture. It is a popular destination visited by many to learn about its history and architecture and to step in the footsteps of the Star Wars characters. 

Things to bring: 

• Water 
• Comfortable walking shoes 

18. RAF Cardington, United Kingdom

One of the Star Wars filming locations in the UK is the Royal Air Force Cardington. This former World War II military base was for US and UK soldiers and appeared in a Star Wars film as planet Yavin IV. 

Closed to military purposes since 1993, the RAF Cardington is now a public area that can be visited year-round.

Though it did reserve its former purpose training X-Wing Fighters in Episode VII: The Force Awakens and VIII: The Last Jedi as a base camp for the Resistance. 

Things to bring: 

• Water bottle 
• Sunscreen 
• Comfortable walking shoes 

19. Rub’ al Khali, United Arab Emirates

Early Star Wars films used desert scenes from Tunisia for Tatooine. However, in Episode VII: The Force Awakens, director J.J. Abrams used the desert dunes of Rub’ al Khali in Abu Dhabi to depict planet Jakku. 

This expansive area is part of the Arabian Desert, and its dunes are visited by adventurous travelers year-round. Tours include ATV and camel rides through the desert. 

Things to bring: 

• Water
• Sunglasses 
• Sunscreen

20. Villa del Balbianello, Italy 

In Episode II: Attack of the Clones, Anakin and Princess Amidala find refuge on a beautiful retreat on planet Naboo. The iconic scene, where Anakin and the princess share a forbidden kiss, is backdropped by a serene lake and peaceful castle. 

The Star Wars crew filmed this scene at the Villa del Balbianello in Italy. You can visit this 18th-century retreat and stand on the balcony overlooking Lake Como.

Visitors, unfortunately, cannot stay overnight at the Villa, but there are ample accommodations nearby. The prices to view both the gardens and the Villa are 22 euros. We recommend booking tickets at least one day in advance. 

Things to bring: 

• Water 
• Comfortable shoes for walking 
• Sunscreen and hat 

Bonus Locations

Star Wars uses many filming techniques to capture alien planets and strange machines. Miniatures were often used alongside forced perspective to make things appear larger than life.

The crew at Lucasfilms also took footage of scenery that they used for plates to create background imagery. Some real-life locations depicted in the movies were filmed by Lucasfilms without the Star Wars cast ever stepping foot there. 

Guilin, China

Footage of limestone mountains taken from Guilin, China, was incorporated into Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. This real-life location was used for the background scenery for planet Kashyyk. 

Grindelwald, Switzerland 

The snow-capped mountains and wintry landscapes of Grindelwald, Switzerland, were used by Lucasfilms in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Grindelwald was used for the establishing shots of planet Alderaan.

Phang Nga Bay, Thailand 

Like footage taken in China, the limestone mountains of Phang Nga Bay in Thailand can be seen in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The film crew used the scenery of Phang Nga Bay to add more background scenery to planet Kashyyk. 

Star Wars Filming Locations FAQ

Where was Star Wars filmed?

The Star Wars films were shot in several different parts of the world and various film studios. Tunisia, a country in North Africa, is a Star Wars filming location frequented by the camera crew of Lucasfilms. 

Where was Hoth filmed?

The Battle of Hoth in Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back was filmed at Hardangerjøkulen Glacier in Norway. Visitors can tour the glacier year-round and stay at the hotel Finse 1222, where the crew stayed during filming.  

Where was The Return of the Jedi filmed?

Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi was filmed both on location and at the Elstree Studios in England. Some of the Star Wars filming locations for The Return of the Jedi include: 

• Death Valley National Park, California, USA
• Buttercup Valley, California, USA
• Yuma, Arizona, USA
• Blue Canyon, Hopi Indian Reservation, Arizona, USA
• Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park, Carlotta, California, USA
• White Pocket, Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona, USA
• Imperial County, California, USA

Where was Naboo filmed? 

The Naboo scenes were filmed in Italy at the Royal Palace of Caserta and the Villa del Balbianello. 

Where did they film Endor?

The planet Endor in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi was filmed in Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park amongst the redwood trees in Northern California. 

Where was Tatooine filmed?

The desert scenes of Tatooine were filmed in Tunisia and the United States. Tunisia desert scenes were filmed in Ksar Hadada, Ksar Ouled Soltane, Onk Jemal, Matmata, Chott el Djerid, La Grande Dune, and on the Island of Djerba. The US scenes were done in the Death Valley National Park and the Yuma Desert. 

Where was the Starwars forest scene filmed?

The Starwars forest scene on the planet Endor, famous for the Ewoks that live there, was filmed in Northern California at The Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park. Other forest scenes were shot in areas around England, such as the Forest of Dean and surrounding areas of Derwentwater. 

What is the order of the Star Wars films?

The main Star Wars films follow the Skywalker Saga and were released as follows: 

• Episode IV: A New Hope, 1977 
• Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, 1980 
• Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, 1983
• Episode I: The Phantom Menace, 1999
• Episode II: Attack of the Clones, 2002
• Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, 2005
• Episode VII: The Force Awakens, 2015
• Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, 2017
• Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker, 2019 

Star Wars Filming Locations: Not Too Far Away 

The Star Wars world is set in a galaxy far, far away, but fans of the franchise need not travel too far to visit sites depicted in the major motion pictures.

Star Wars takes some of the most impressive spots on Earth and incorporates them into the fantasy world. With locations in the United States, Europe, Africa, South America, and Asia, fans can visit spots from their favorite Star Wars movie here on planet Earth. 

Star Wars filming locations are popular tourist spots among fans. Reserve tickets and hotels in advance to ensure you visit every place on your Star Wars filming locations list.