Filmed on Location: Award-Winning Movies & the Places That Inspired Them
You’ve seen these dreamy destinations in your favorite films, though you might not have realized it. Yacht the idyllic coastlines & sandy shores of the Mediterranean and Caribbean to see the hidden stars behind the camera.
Picturesque locations have long captured the hearts of filmmakers for their aura of mystery, romance, and otherworldly settings. Shot on location or serving as inspiration for fictional locations, these films shine a spotlight in and along Italy’s Amalfi Coast, the Greek Isles, Croatia, the Adriatic—and all the islands throughout the Caribbean. When SeaDream Yacht Club drops anchor in secluded bays and yachting harbors along these storied seaside coastlines, we invite you to experience the difference that yachting brings beyond a traditional island escape. Ready to write your own travel story? Set sail to the places that lit up the big screen—and now await your arrival.
The Amalfi Coast, Italy
Few places in the world can rival the almost indescribable beauty of the Amalfi Coast, known as Costiera Amalfitana to locals. It’s here that Daniel Craig made his debut as James Bond in Casino Royal (2006), cruising along the picturesque coastline in his Aston Martin.
The 34-mile-long region spans the coastline on the northern coast of the Salerno Gulf on the Tyrrhenian Sea, located in the Province of Salerno of southern Italy. Accented by 500-foot-tall cliffs, dozens of endless white-sand beaches, and abundant charming seaside towns, the coastline offers an unprecedented appeal to discerning travelers. In the pathway of 007, SeaDream drops anchors in iconic destinations like Amalfi, Capri, and Positano, and ventures into colorful towns, providing an unsurpassed yachting experience highlighted by intimate discoveries ashore.
Positano, Italy
The beach scene in the film Under the Tuscan Sun (2003) was shot in Positano, and you can yacht here with SeaDream on an Amalfi Coast voyage. One of the most charming villages along the UNESCO-awarded Amalfi Coast in Campania, Italy, Positano is perched on the face of a hill and winds down toward the sea. Besides the incredibly romantic atmosphere, the seaside retreat offers beautiful beaches and scenic hiking trails.
The Greek Isles
Beyond the marquee isles of Santorini and Mykonos, the smaller, secluded Greek Isles have long caught the gaze of filmmakers. Most of the outdoor scenes in Mamma Mia! The Movie (2008) were filmed on location at the beaches and small towns of Skopelos, one of the lushest Greek islands of the Sporades island group. On a Yachting Land Adventure with SeaDream, you can tour the famous filming locations and dive into the crystal-clear waters of Kastani Beach, experiencing firsthand why this enchanting beach was chosen as the ideal film location.
Fiskardo, Greece
The film Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001) was filmed on Kefalonia, placing the beauty of the island and its beaches on stunning display. Scenes were shot in the village of Sami, partly reconstructed to resemble a bygone era, at idyllic Antisamos Beach, and in the fishing village of Fiskardo. If you have ever dreamed of commanding your own vessel along the coastline of a Greek Island, SeaDream provides the opportunity to do just that, right off the Fiskardo coastline near where the film was shot.
Mykonos, Greece
Other notable films that have looked to the Greek Isles for inspiration and idyllic backdrops include The Bourne Identity (2002), with scenes shot in Mykonos, showcasing the island’s vibrant ambiance and breathtaking coastline; My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2023), shot in Athens and on the island of Corfu; and the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only (1981), filmed in Velos and Mykonos.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Jutting into the southern Adriatic Sea coast, the walled city of Dubrovnik—dubbed the “Pearl of the Adriatic”—is perhaps the most picturesque city on the Dalmatian Coast. It's no wonder Dubrovnik’s UNESCO-awarded Old Town has served as a backdrop for several famous films and TV series, most notably King’s Landing in Game of Thrones (2011-2019) and the casino city of Canto Bight in Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017). SeaDream yachts anchor off the walled city of Dubrovnik and tender guests directly to the town gate, where they can walk in the footsteps of medieval knights and kings of a bygone era.
The Grenadines & Beyond
The filming locations of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise wrap a ring around the secluded islands and sandy shores of the Caribbean perhaps more than any other in popular culture. Rather than being shot on one particular island, the movies were shot in the best of the Caribbean. Notable amongst these were the picturesque islands of St. Vincent, St. Lucia, and Tobago Cays, as well as the Bahamas and Puerto Rico.
Antigua
Beyond pirates, the Academy Award-nominated film Wendy (2012), reimagines the classic Peter Pan tale through the eyes of its leading protagonist. The film’s cinematic beauty is second only to its main filming locale of Monserrat, nestled in the Leeward Islands chain of the West Indies, and Antigua.
The Bahamas
The Bahamas burst with their abundant stunning beaches, untouched nature, and distinct biodiversity—nestled in an archipelago of sheltered cays and islets. Into the Blue (2005) provides an insider’s view of these gems as the storyline follows a group of divers who discover a sunken treasure. Although you may not spot bootleggers, mermaids or arch-villains off these sandy shores, they were the site of filming locations for romantic comedies such as Splash (1984) and thrillers like Silence of the Lambs (1991).
Get an insider’s view of these cinematic locations as SeaDream’s elegant twin yachts drop anchor along the coastline, where you discover more secluded beaches, tranquil lagoons, and cozy coves than you imagined possible.
U.S. Virgin Islands
You might not expect the U.S. Virgin Islands—St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, and about 50 smaller islets and cays surrounding the main islands—to provide the backdrop for many varied films. Whether as a cameo or center stage, the U.S. Virgin Islands shine through in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008); The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part I (2011), where the famous protagonists Bella and Edward get away for their honeymoon; and the final scene of the Shawshank Redemption (2025).
Every great story begins with a setting. Let these cinematic destinations be the opening scene of your next yachting adventure. Click here to check availability and reserve your next voyage.