Rekindle your love at these romantic movie locations from around the globe
Whether you fell in love with a character, melted during an iconic kiss or swooned over the picturesque backdrops, romantic movies have given us heart stopping moments for over a century. Booking.com, the global leader in connecting travellers with the widest choice of incredible places to stay, shares eight destinations you can stay that are straight out of the most popular romantic movies ever to grace the big screen.
The Notebook, 2004
Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Who could forget the awe inspiring story of Noah and Allie? Based on the romantic novel by Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook is about true love, commitment and destiny. Sparks had his wife’s grandparents in mind when writing the story of the sweet couple (played by Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling in the film), and pictured the charming South Carolina area as the perfect setting. Thanks to its picturesque cobblestone streets, beautiful architecture, charming neighbourhoods, and mesmerizing southern live oak trees, it’s easy to see how Allie and Noah fell head over heels in love while spending the summer beneath the trees.
The Belmond Charleston Place is a historic hotel located in the centre of Charleston, where much of the movie was filmed. Head down to the hotel’s restaurant, The Charleston Grill, to hear live jazz and eat modern Southern American cuisine. If you need some quality relaxing time, the hotel offers a full-service spa and indoor and outdoor saltwater pools.
Sleepless in Seattle, 1993
Lake Union, Seattle
Sleepless in Seattle is one of the most popular romantic comedies of the 20th century, and for good reason. Little eight-year-old Jonah’s determination to find his widowed father a new wife could bring a tear to even the toughest of audience members. This unapologetically romantic film starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks as the lead couple, introduced Seattle’s Lake Union floating homes to the rest of the world and changed the housing market in Seattle.
Situated on South Lake Union only two kilometres away for the iconic Space Needle, the Silver Cloud Inn – Seattle Lake Union offers spacious rooms overlooking the lake with exceptionally comfortable beds, so you don’t need to worry about being Sleepless in Seattle.
Brokeback Mountain, 2005
Alberta, Canada
Two cowboys. Longing. Regret. And, love. Brokeback mountain is the beautiful, epic Western tale of how two cowboys, Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), came to fall in love during the 1960’s. Filming took place in the Canadian Rockies in southern Alberta, so it’s full of dazzling snow-capped peaks, turquoise lakes, stunning prairies and the crystal clear waters of the Kananaskis River.
Located in Jasper National Park and surrounded by the Canadian Rockies, the Pyramid Lake Resort is an excellent choice for a romantic getaway. Featuring a private beach and rooms with gas fireplaces, this cosy accommodation is perfect for a relaxing stay surrounded by the breath-taking Canadian nature. For those looking to embrace their inner cowboy, look forward to outdoor adventures such as canoeing, fishing and hiking.
Notting Hill, 1999
Notting Hill, London, UK
Notting Hill is a sweet love story about a lonely, struggling book store owner William Thacker (Hugh Grant) falling in love with the most famous movie star in the world, Anna Scott (Julia Roberts). The film takes its name from the vibrant neighbourhood of Notting Hill in London where it is set, with the charming Portobello Road Market, the iconic Victorian townhouses, and the lively restaurants and bars in the background.
Located in the heart of the trendy, cosmopolitan neighbourhood of Notting Hill, the Portobello House is just three minutes away from Portobello Road and its famous market where much of the filming too place. The boutique hotel offers individually designed rooms with luxurious Egyptian cotton bed linens and bath towels. Notting Hill is an ideal location for travellers as Kensington Palace and Hyde Park are less than 15-minutes away by taxi.
Casablanca, 1942
Casablanca, Morocco
Who knew “Here’s looking at you, kid.”, could be one of the most romantic lines ever. Academy Award winning film Casablanca, starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid, depicts the struggles of being trapped in a hostile love triangle during a time of political power struggle and civil unrest. Although the love story is set in 1941 Morocco, the movie was filmed almost entirely at the Warner Brothers studios in Hollywood. Today, the cosmopolitan city of Casablanca is an attractive place for couples looking for romance and is home to the world’s biggest artificial port, exclusive boutiques and great restaurants.
Rated one of the best locations in Casablanca, the Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca is the perfect place for a romantic getaway with your special one. Spend your time together at the year-round outdoor pool, the Hamman, spa centre or just taking in the stunning vistas over the Atlantic Ocean.
Chocolat, 2000
Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, France
Romance seems to be abundant in quaint, French, villages and the blossoming relationship between Vianne (Juliette Binoche) and Roux (Johnny Depp) in the film Chocolat is no different. Sweeping into the town with the north wind, Vianne opens a chocolate shop, and later falls for river gypsy, Roux. Filming took place in Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, a commune that has been awarded Les Plus Beaux Villages de France or France’s most beautiful villages. Perched on the top of a limestone plateau, this medieval town is home to stone houses, sophisticated restaurants and Flavigny Abbey, a monastery founded in 717.
Embrace your inner Vianne and follow the north wind to Flavigny-sur-Ozerain. Check in at the Le Logis de L’Ozerain, a gorgeous, little, B&B. Set atop a 700-square meter garden, it offers modern rooms, garden views, a shared lounge and a terrace. To explore the rest of the village borrow one of the bikes and cycle through the cobblestone streets.
Lost in Translation, 2003
Tokyo, Japan
A washed-up movie star (Bill Murray) and a neglected young woman (Scarlett Johansson) seem an unlikely pair, but after fate crosses their paths in the vibrant city of Tokoyo the pair develop at platonic relationship, which grows as they chose to spend more time together. Directed by Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation was filmed in the lively districts of Shinjuku-ku and Shibuya alongside the famous neon signs and trendy shops.
Immerse yourself in the film while staying at the Park Hyatt Tokyo, in the Shinjuku-ku, the filming location of all the hotel scenes. At night, head up to the 52nd floor to have a drink where the famous bar scene took place at the hotels iconic New York Bar (now named The Peak Bar) on the 52nd floor. On the same floor the New York Grill offers dinner overlooking breath-taking views of the Tokyo skyline and Mount Fuji.
Out of Africa, 1985
Shaba national Game Reserve, Kenya
Academy Award winning film Out of Africa, is a romantic drama about the passionate love affair between a Danish baroness (Meryl Streep) and a free-spirited big-game hunter (Robert Redford) who fall madly in love in colonial Kenya, towards the end of the First World War. The stunning cinematography and award winning performances made audiences everywhere fall in love with the colourful flora, wild life and magical landscape of Kenya.