Top 5 'The Odyssey' Filming Locations to Visit

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Christopher Nolan’s cinematic adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey brings the ancient myth to life across some of the world's most breathtaking real-world landscapes. Shot over 91 days using IMAX cameras, the production bypassed studio sets to shoot on location across Europe and North Africa.

"Every location on this movie would have been the toughest location on any film I’ve ever done," Nolan told Empire, recalling a conversation with filmmaker Ben Affleck.

Lead actor Matt Damon, who plays Odysseus, echoed the sentiment to People, remarking that the production "felt more like an expedition than a movie."

According to data from travel company GetYourGuide, over 77 percent of travelers report visiting destinations inspired by movies and television. If you want to follow in the footsteps of Odysseus (Matt Damon) and Athena (Zendaya), here are the top five real-world filming locations you can visit, as cited by TimeOut.

Real-World Filming Locations of 'The Odyssey'

1. Favignana, Sicily (Italy) – The Kingdom of Ithaca

While the legendary island of Ithaca sits in the Ionian Sea, Nolan selected the Egadi Islands off the northwest coast of Sicily to represent Odysseus’s homeland.

What to See: The 15th-century Castello di Santa Caterina, perched 1,030 feet above the Mediterranean on Favignana, served as the exterior of the royal palace.

Visitor Experience: Take a ferry from Trapani to reach the island. The hike up to the castle offers 360-degree views of the sea. Beyond the film site, the island is famous for quiet fishing villages, crystal-clear swimming coves like Cala Rossa, and local seafood.

2. Aït Benhaddou & Essaouira (Morocco) – Ancient Troy and the Trojan Beach

Morocco’s iconic landscapes doubled as the ancient city of Troy and the coastal staging grounds for the Greek fleet.

What to See: Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage site near Ouarzazate, stood in for Troy. Meanwhile, the coastal ramparts and beaches of Essaouira served as the backdrop for the Trojan Horse sequences.

Visitor Experience: Travelers can walk through Aït Benhaddou’s ancient earthen clay towers, which have hosted films like Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia. In Essaouira, you can stroll along the wind-swept Atlantic coastline, visit fish markets along the harbor, and walk the historic stone ramparts.

3. Voidokilia Beach & Nestor's Cave, Messenia (Greece) – The Cyclops' Cave

Greece’s Peloponnese region provided authentic Mycenaean landscapes for several key legs of Odysseus's journey.

What to See: Nestor's Cave, situated directly above the crescent-shaped Voidokilia Beach near Pylos, served as the setting for the Cyclops Polyphemus.

Visitor Experience: Voidokilia is widely considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean, famous for its symmetrical, horseshoe-shaped bay. Visitors can hike up from the sand dunes to explore Nestor’s Cave, then drive a short distance to explore the sea-facing battlements of Methoni Castle, which also features in the film.

4. Hjörleifshöfði & Landeyjahöfn (Iceland) – The Underworld of Hades

To portray the Underworld, the production traded Mediterranean sun for the moody, volcanic terrain of southern Iceland.

What to See: The black sand beaches and sea caves surrounding the Hjörleifshöfði mountain promontory near Vík.

Visitor Experience: Located along Iceland’s popular South Coast, Hjörleifshöfði features dramatic black sand dunes, sea stacks, and dark basalt caves. Easily accessible via Route 1, it makes a striking, otherworldly stop on any Icelandic road trip.

5. Findlater Castle & Culbin Forest (Scotland) – Circe’s Cliffside Realm

The rugged Moray Firth coastline in northern Scotland channels the isolated, unpredictable nature of the open seas.

What to See: The ruins of Findlater Castle, precariously perched on a rocky cliff above the sea, doubled as the secluded dwelling of the sorceress Circe (Samantha Morton).

Visitor Experience: A short coastal walking path links Sunnyside Beach to the castle ruins, offering sweeping views of the North Sea. Nearby, Culbin Forest provides miles of pine-scented walking trails through coastal sand dunes and ancient woodlands.

Read: Who Is Odysseus, the Greek Hero Behind Nolan's 'The Odyssey'?

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