European islands have always had a flair for the dramatic — sweeping cliffs, sun-drenched villages, and windswept ruins that seem plucked from a storyboard. In 2025, that natural charisma is being leveraged like never before as Spain joins Denmark, Ireland, Malta, and Scotland in luring U.S. and U.K. tourists away from predictable vacation paths and into travel packages inspired by the silver screen.
Forget all-inclusive resorts and overcrowded capitals — this year, it’s about Cinematic Island Getaways, where fantasy collides with reality. With travel companies rolling out curated trips that mimic movie settings, these five island nations are tapping into a growing wanderlust for storytelling, escapism, and screen-worthy landscapes.
And travelers are eating it up.
Screen-Ready Islands Take Center Stage
What’s driving this wave? Hollywood and high-budget streaming shows have quietly turned Europe’s rugged isles into household names. These aren’t just destinations — they’re characters in their own right.
Some standout examples:
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Malta: The island’s ancient forts and honey-colored architecture have doubled for King’s Landing in Game of Thrones, while its coastal caves and medieval streets recently featured in Ridley Scott’s Napoleon.
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Skye & Orkney, Scotland: From The Banshees of Inisherin to the Outlander series, Scotland’s islands bring haunting beauty to the big screen. VisitScotland reports a surge in island tourism, with many travelers referencing specific scenes as motivation.
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Ireland’s Achill Island: A star of The Banshees as well, this rugged, rain-swept destination is now hosting themed tours with local actors re-enacting film moments against its stark Atlantic backdrop.
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Denmark’s Bornholm: Featured in the Nordic noir series Darkness Falls, this Baltic island is drawing mystery lovers for its foggy forests, sea cliffs, and quiet villages that feel straight out of a thriller.
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Spain’s La Palma (Canary Islands): Once known mainly for its beaches and volcanoes, La Palma now attracts fans of the sci-fi epic Foundation, where parts of the series were filmed. The local tourism board recently partnered with Apple TV+ for co-branded travel promotions.
Curated Packages: Live the Plot, Not Just the Postcard
Tour operators are racing to meet demand with themed itineraries.
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“Shoot Like a Star” in Malta offers a behind-the-scenes tour of historic Valletta studios, plus a sunset boat ride past filming locations used in Troy and Gladiator.
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“Outlander Immersion” by Highland Escapes in Scotland includes costumed dinners, castle stays, and horseback treks through heather-covered glens.
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La Palma’s Sci-Fi Stargazer Week includes guided hikes to volcanic craters used as alien landscapes and evenings at world-class observatories.
Each package blends cultural immersion with a touch of fantasy. Travelers aren’t just visiting — they’re stepping into a scene.
Americans and Brits Lead the Shift
According to travel platform Skysail, bookings to these islands from the U.S. and U.K. have jumped 39% in the first five months of 2025, compared to the same period last year.
“Our customers are craving more than just beaches or shopping streets,” said Maria Peña, content manager at Skysail. “They want stories. They want goosebumps. They want to stand where the actor stood and say, ‘This is where it happened.’”
The age group most drawn to these cinematic escapes? Millennials and Gen Z travelers, many of whom grew up binging international series on Netflix or Disney+ and are now eager to explore the real-world settings behind their favorites.
Economic and Environmental Ripples
This film-fueled tourism boom has sparked economic gains — but also raised questions about sustainability.
The Upsides:
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Local economies benefit, especially in remote areas that typically see fewer visitors.
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Jobs in guiding, hospitality, and transport have increased — many film extras now work as tour hosts.
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Governments are reinvesting profits into infrastructure and preservation.
The Challenges:
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Over-tourism fears on smaller islands like Gozo (Malta) or Staffa (Scotland) are rising.
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Environmental degradation risks are leading some regions to cap visitor numbers or introduce booking permits.
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Authenticity concerns are emerging as some locals worry about losing cultural identity to “filmification.”
Still, local officials see cinematic tourism as a manageable and strategic avenue for post-pandemic recovery.
“We’re not turning the island into a theme park,” said Petra Lange, a cultural heritage officer in Bornholm. “We’re using storytelling to connect visitors to the soul of the place.”
Looking Ahead: More Films, More Fuel
With Europe’s tax incentives and dramatic scenery continuing to attract big productions, the trend shows no signs of slowing. Upcoming titles filmed on these islands include a spy thriller on Ireland’s Skellig Michael, a Viking saga off the coast of Denmark, and a supernatural drama set in Mallorca.
Expect more travel companies to pivot toward immersive, story-based experiences — blending cinema, culture, and coastlines into vacations that feel like feature films.
Because in 2025, it’s not just about where you go. It’s about the plot you live through when you get there.
