Beaches from Movies: Where To Find Them In Reality

by Sophie She

Beaches from Movies: Where To Find Them In Reality

7 May 2024

Beaches have long served as captivating settings in cinema, transporting spectators to idyllic landscapes of adventure, romance, and escapism. While these picturesque locales have graced the silver screen, they are not merely figments of cinematic imagination but real-world destinations awaiting exploration.

So, let’s discover the legendary beaches featured in iconic films and embark on our own unforgettable vacations.

Agia Anna beach, Amorgos island, Greece — The Big Blue (1988)

Featured in the film The Big Blue (1988), this is one of the most beautiful beaches in Greece. Small and cute, close to the Hozoviotissa Monastery, which was also a cameo in the legendary Jean Reno film. Disclaimer: there will be many, many, many French people, so don’t forget to warm up your bonjours with Duolingo.

The Big Blue (1988)

How to get there? Fly to Naxos (JNX), Santorini (JTR) or Antiparos (PAS) and then take a ferry to Amorgós Katapola. To navigate among ferries, which are the most common way of commuting in Greece, use vrisko.gr. And here is the location.

Photo: Sebastiano Corti

The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, French Polynesia — Couples Retreat (2009)

Honestly, this is heaven in real life. Crystal clear, blue water paired with gorgeous mountains and cute overwater bungalows — tropical paradise at The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, a five-star luxury resort on French Polynesia's iconic island, shown in Couples Retreat (2009). Just as the movie shows, it is a great place to enjoy an awkward family vacation, starting with approximately 10k a night.

Couples Retreat (2009)

How to get there? Easy! Fly to Bora Bora (BOB) and then catch a transfer to your resort.

Source: www.marriott.com

Koca Çalış, Fethiye, Turkey — Skyfall (2012)

Taking a stroll around the beautiful scenery of Fethiye, just like James Bond (Daniel Craig) is possible. Unfortunately, the actual set was demolished, but a bar next to this area speaks for itself. Koca Çalış offers a 5 km of sandy beach accompanied by the gentle waves of the Aegean Sea and many seaside cafes and dining spots. Nearby, you can uncover the ancient wonders of the Lycian Rock Tombs etched into the mountainside, offering breathtaking vistas of the coastline. Important to note that when you are in the area — look for Karataş Plajı to get to the beach specifically.

Skyfall (2012)

How to get there? Fly straight to Dalman (DLM) and get a cab or catch a plane to Bodrum (BJV) or Antalya (AYT) and then hop on a Flixbus to Fethiye bus station and you will reach a spot in 3–4 hours!

Photo: Lauren Price

Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi Leh, Thailand — The Beach (2000)

Located on Phi Phi Leh island within the Andaman Sea, Maya Bay's natural splendour is as beautiful as shown in the iconic film. You will find tall cliffs, soft white sand, and great snorkelling with shallow waters and colourful coral. Though there are no bungalows for rent, you can camp overnight like DiCaprio did.

The Beach (2000)

How to get there? Fly to Phuket or Krabi and then catch a ferry or a one-day trip boat to Koh Nakha Yai.

Photo: Kiran Mistry

Abalone Cove Shoreline Park, California, USA — Inception (2010)

Leonardo DiCaprio frequently finds himself in beach or ocean settings, and even in this list, we must mention the second fantastic beach Leo starred on. Inception’s (2010) opening scene featured DiCaprio lying on Abalone Beach, setting the stage for this science fiction epic.

Abalone Cove Shoreline Park is a haven for hikers, boasting trails that lead to beautiful cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island.

Inception (2010)

How to get there? Catch a plane to Los Angeles (LAX) or to Burbank (BUR) and grab a cab to the Abalone Cove Shoreline Park to get to the stunning views.

Bagno Antoni, Ischia, Bay of Naples, Italy — Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

Both posed as an imaginary resort of "Mongibello" (where characters of Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow are vacationing); the crew filmed on the stunning island of Ischia (by the way, the largest of the three volcanic islands in the Bay of Naples). Some sources also mention the film being shot at Ischia’s cute tiny neighbour — Procida — but we are mentioning it here because it is incredibly cute, and if you are planning on visiting the Bay of Naples and enjoying sun and food just like Mr Ripley did — then you should definitely drop by to see these views in real life.

Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

How to get there? Both islands can be reached by ferry from Naples itself. So, first, fly to Naples (NAP). From one of Naples’ ports, called Naples Beverello, a ferry will take you to Ischia Porto (no translation needed), and then you can either stay or catch a bus to go to the Bango Antoni. Or in Napoli, go to Naples Massa and take a ferry to Procida. Ferries are working on an hourly schedule, so you will have time to visit that pizzeria from Eat, Pray, Love. However, the queue is usually ridiculous, and we recommend having a bite at any other pizzeria right next to that place, as they all serve fabulous food. It is Napoli!

Photo: Giovanni Di Meglio

Lastly, a hot tip: no matter where you go, for a smoother road, use the Rome2Rio service. It is a treasure for all travellers, helping you plan your vacation efficiently in advance.

by Sophie She