Your Next Trip, Inspired by the Movies: Europe’s Best Film-Worthy Destinations for 2026
Remember when booking a hotel just because it looked good on *The White Lotus* was the peak of travel inspiration? That was only the beginning. The latest wave of set-jetting takes you deeper—into volcanic wine country, a members-only whisky room in Edinburgh, and a Slovenian cellar where salami is aged by the moon. Here are the European spots that deserve a spot on your itinerary, and the films to watch before you go.
Start in Sicily, where Francis Ford Coppola’s *The Godfather* accidentally gave the island its cinematic soul. Visit Bar Vitelli in Savoca, where Michael Corleone first saw Apollonia, then head to the slopes of Mount Etna. Wineries like Benanti and Tornatore grow grapes in volcanic soil you won’t find anywhere else. Stay at Monaci delle Terre Nere, a 17th-century monastery turned wine estate, and don’t skip lunch at Anciovi—the poolside spot at San Domenico Palace where *The White Lotus* actually filmed.
Venice calls for art lovers. Steven Spielberg’s *Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade* used the canals, but the 2026 Biennale is the real draw. The Giardini and Arsenale host the main event, while hidden exhibitions in old churches across the city offer the best surprises. Book into the St. Regis Venice for butler service that makes navigating the city feel effortless, and dine at ABC Kitchen in Airelles Venezia.
For food, head to Ljubljana. Ana Ros’s Jaz restaurant, inside the AS Boutique Hotel, serves shared plates that change daily based on what’s fresh at the market. Then drive 45 minutes south to the Ribnica Valley, where David Lesar cures bear and deer salami in clay-lined chambers, timed to the lunar cycle. His tasting, paired with a 10,000-bottle private wine collection, is pure theater.
Puglia’s agritourism shines at Tenuta Negroamaro, a 10-suite estate near Gallipoli with private plunge pools and a kitchen that uses estate-grown ingredients. Amsterdam’s Rosewood, in the former Palace of Justice, is a design lover’s dream with nearly 1,000 curated artworks. Belgrade’s Bristol, reopened in 2025 after a meticulous restoration, offers Art Nouveau elegance and a library perfect for long evenings. And Scotland’s Balvenie distillery in Dufftown lets you taste 30-year-old whisky in a setting that turns casual drinkers into connoisseurs. In Edinburgh, the private room at Johnnie Walker Princes Street—invitation only—is the prize worth chasing.