Salar De Uyuni, Bolivia
When choosing a crucial location for _The Last Jedi_, what would your criteria be? You’d definitely go with a place that looks otherworldly, right? Especially if the scene which is going to be filmed there consists of a legendary battle.
Well, the imposing Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia was undoubtedly the perfect pick. The largest salt flat in the world (4000 square miles approximately) is used in the movie as an epic setting for the planet Crait. If you have the chance to visit this awesome place, don’t miss the mesmerizing red saltwater of the nearby Laguna Colorada.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
While we’re talking about The Last Jedi, which was released in 2017 and would later become the ninth highest-grossing film in history, we just have to mention Dubrovnik. If you still haven’t seen the sequel to _The Force Awakens_, don’t worry. There are no major spoilers over here.
What we can mention without giving away an important part of the plot, however, is that a brand new city appears in _The Last Jedi_. The city that’s called Canto Bight in the movie, which would end earning four Academy Award nominations, is actually Dubrovnik in real life.
Malin Head, Ireland
The mysterious Ahch-To planet, located in the Unknown Regions, is the place Luke Skywalker chooses when he decides to go into exile. Wondering where the Ahch-To scenes were filmed? Some of them were shot in Malin Head, the northernmost point in Ireland.
Though some moments take place here and on Ceann Sibeal, another place in Ireland was the spot chosen for most of the scenes. Although Ireland is full of beautiful landscapes, these have risen in popularity due to the movie’s success.
Laamu Atoll, Maldives
Think about what a pleasant experience would be to travel to some of these places and to meet a bunch of Star Wars fans over there! Your Star Wars stan soulmate might be waiting in one of those Irish sites… or maybe in the Maldives.
That’s right; this charming paradise was selected by Gareth Edwards to film part of Rogue One. Can you guess which Rogue One location corresponds here? The answer is the planet Scarif, which appears as a heavenly oasis until a ruthless battle completely changes the landscape.
London, UK
So far, our list has mostly mentioned stunning natural sites like salt flats or tropical paradises, which were carefully chosen to portray different planets or cities. However, here’s a surprising exception. Did you know that the London Tube station at Canary Wharf was used for a Star Wars movie?
If you already know where the station makes an appearance, then congratulations, you’re a level 100 fan. For those of you who don’t know, the super busy underground station appears in _Rogue One_, and it’s used as the Imperial Military Base on Scarif.
Jordan
You're going to need an epic desert with a lot of history to do a holy Jedi site some justice, don't you think so? The director and producers, after a heated discussion, finally agreed that the massive desert in Jordan would be the best option for the desert moon Jedha.
Whoever suggested this option deserves a prize if you ask me! Jordan is home to an abundance of desert, an ideal place for wild adventures and magical jeep rides. Most people often think of a desert as a remote place, but what they don't know is that the city of Aqaba is a short distance away from this one, so don't worry about that if you visit this place!
Myrdalssandur Beach, Iceland
_Rogue One_, released in 2016, is the first film of the Star Wars franchise set outside the main storyline. The movie received two Academy Awards nominations for its amazing visual effects and sound mixing, and the fans obviously loved it.
Amongst other new settings and characters, we get to know Galen Erso and his daughter, Jyn Erso. This revelation occurs on the planet Eadu, and Iceland’s dazzling Myrdalssandur Beach was chosen to film this part. Now that’s a name you won’t forget!
Skellig Michael, Ireland
I bet you were dying to know the third place where the distant planet of Ahch-To was filmed at! The mystery is finally solved: most of those scenes were shot in Skellig Michael. Skellig Michael is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
After rejoicing in this tremendous mountain, you’ll surely understand why. However, its World Heritage Status is also due to its history: you’re actually looking at a monastic complex which dates back to the 17th Century. Isn’t that impressive? I think so!
Krafla Volcano, Iceland
Don’t worry; it’s not an illusion; this image is really a photograph. I mean, there’s no Instagram filter that will give you this result. Good skills, a great camera and a stunning landscape, are all required to obtain such a wonderful picture.
If by any chance you’ve got some photography skills and some love for snowy places, you’ll be as happy as a child with a new toy when visiting the Myvatn Lakes and the Krafla Volcano in Iceland. It does look as it was taken from a fairytale! No wonder it was used for _The Force Awakens_.
Berkshire, England
After observing this picture, some might dare to assert that the director chose a pretty ordinary place for the mighty Rebel base of the D’Qar planet. But if I were you, I wouldn’t trust my intuition so strongly… because the picture is actually showing Greenham Common.
Greenham Common, situated in Berkshire, England, is a former airbase with a rich history. It was used by the Air Forces of the US Army during the Cold War, and it’s also known for being the place where the Women’s Peace Camp was held in the 1980s. Since 1997, it was again appointed as public parkland.
Derwentwater, England
Do you consider yourself a Star Wars expert? If that’s the case, then you better guess when and where the Puzzlewood forest near Gloucestershire is used! Can’ figure it out? The answer is the planet Takodana. Yes, the place where the wicked Kylo Ren meets Rey.
As a matter of fact, this image shows the Forest of Dean, near Gloucestershire, as we’ve mentioned already. This forest is used for the planet, but the scene in which the Millennium Falcon lands on the planet was actually filmed in Derwentwater.
Khali, Abu Dhabi
I hope you’ve already seen _The Force Awakens_, which was released in 2015 because it was a worldwide sensation. If you have ticked this film off your list, then you’ll immediately start reminiscing about the desert planet of Jakku.
This arid planet, where the audience encounters heroine Rey, was filmed in Abu Dhabi’s Rub’al Khali desert. The image doesn’t lie; this desert is incredibly massive, covering about 250,000 square miles. Imagine getting lost over there! Keep sliding to discover more amazing sites used for Star Wars movies.
Seville, Spain
If there’s a worth-mentioning moment from the prequel trilogy, it’s definitely when Queen Padmé Amidala and Anakin land on Naboo. This epic scene occurs in _Attack of the Clones_, and the actors are actually walking through Seville’s Plaza de España.
Tourists who visit Spain tend to visit Madrid and Barcelona but often overlook nearby beautiful cities with magnificent plazas like Seville. That’s a shame if you ask me! Just picture yourself taking a calm stroll through that bridge while the sun sets… what an unforgettable experience!
Lake Como, Italy
We mentioned Queen Padmé Amidala and Anakin and their grand arrival at Naboo in_ Attack of the Clones_, which turns out to be Seville in real life. Well, remember when they seal their love with a secret wedding on this planet?
This wedding takes place at the Villa del Balbianello, located in Italy. Villa del Balbianello overlooks Lake Como, and couples who fancy a luxurious wedding with a splendid panorama can book the place. In fact, Villa del Balbaniello is widely known as Lake Como’s most exclusive venue for weddings.
Grindelwald, Switzerland
Have you ever wondered if Princess Leia Organa’s condemned home-planet, Alderaan, was a real place or an artificially designed one? Don’t worry; we have the answer to this enigma. What we see as Alderaan on-screen is Grindelwald, Switzerland on our planet.
Well, to be precise, it’s not Grindelwald itself, but the gigantic, snowy peaks near the village. This village is located in the Bernese Alps, and it’s under an intimidating mammoth-like wall of rock called North Face of Eiger. If you consider yourself a skilled hiker, get ready for the Eiger trail, a route that has been climbed since the 30s!
Tikal, Guatemala
Have you ever heard of Tikal? No? This site holds great historical value, and here’s a hint of the reason: Mayans. Yes, Tikal was a city of the Mayan civilization, reaching its apogee during the period 200 to 900 AD. If you ever take a trip to Guatemala, the ruins are a must-see.
The ruins show the remains of the stunning Tika Temple, which boasts a height of 154 ft. I feel sorry for the men who had to build this! In the Star Wars universe, the Millenium Falcon passes by these ruins when it’s landing at the Rebels base on the jungle of Yavin.
Finse, Norway
From mysterious ruins located in a tropical landscape to a freezing cold glacier, the Star Wars movies used all kinds of sets; even glaciers!
It’s the Hardangerjøkulen glacier, which can be found near the mountainous village area of Finse, Norway. This glacier appears in the battle of Hoth, in _The Empire Strikes Back_, released in 1980\. This battle is nothing short of legendary since it showed the Imperial walkers from the picture for the first time.
Del Norte County, California
Ewoks are perhaps the most adorable creatures from the whole Star Wars universe. I mean, nobody can help but feel delighted when an Ewok appears; its cute similarity to a teddy bear is too much. Well, every fan knows that they live on the Endor forest moon.
But what they usually don’t know is that Endor, home of the Ewoks, was filmed in Del Norte County, California. Just observe that magical landscape, the director definitely chose a great option, it looks exactly like the type of place where I’d expect a fairytale creature to appear!
Death Valley, California
The forests of Del Norte County weren’t the only places from California which were used for Star Wars films, however. Another western location was Death Valley. Wondering where the mesmerizing multi-colored canyons appeared?
The rocky landscape can be seen in_ A New Hope_, released in 1977 to critical acclaim, where the Sand People and the Jawas hanged around. Continue sliding to discover more amazing places that appeared in these movies!
Matmata, Tunisia
Tunisia makes more than one appearance on Star Wars. What you’re observing in this image is the Hotel Sidi Driss, which can be found in the town of Matmata. This town is incredibly small (no more than 2200 people live there), and its structure is quite rare.
This village is known for its underground homes, built by digging large pits. These were later remodeled as rooms and connected through different passageways. This place was specifically used to show where Luke Skywalker was raised by his aunt Bery and uncle Owen.
Onk Jemal, Tunisia
As we’ve mentioned before, Tunisia was used for filming several scenes from more than one movie. As a matter of fact, the first two trilogies all used different locations throughout this country. That’s a real Star Wars fan paradise right there, huh?
In this photograph, you can observe Onk Jemal, a tourist favorite for various tours. But Onk Jemal is also the setting for the town of Mos Espa on Tatooine. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, just remember that Mos Espa is Anakin Skywalker’s hometown.