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Filming Footprints: 10 European Series and the Cities You Can Visit This Weekend

UUnknown

2026-02-16

11 min read

Turn a weekend into a fan pilgrimage: 10 European city itineraries to visit recent TV filming locations—fast, bookable, and 2026‑ready.

Beat the planning fatigue: turn a weekend into a fan pilgrimage

Struggling to find authentic, up‑to‑date filming locations without piecing together half a dozen apps and fan forums? You’re not alone. In 2026, with streaming hubs like Disney+ EMEA ramping up local commissions and the BBC moving into short‑form YouTube partnerships, European TV production has exploded—and so has the chance to visit the real streets, cafés, and squares you’ve watched on screen. Below are 10 compact, ready‑to‑book weekend itineraries that let you walk the sets, grab an on‑set latte and sleep within easy reach of the next morning’s scene.

Why 2026 is the best year yet for TV tourism

Two big industry moves in late 2025 and early 2026 made TV tourism more accessible: Disney+ EMEA’s strategic promotions and commissioning boost, and the BBC’s landmark talks to produce bespoke content for YouTube (read lessons on pitching and platform deals). Expect more regionally filmed shows, more short‑form spin content highlighting locations, and more production teams staying local longer—good news for short‑trip planners.

Industry shifts in 2025–26 mean more local shoots, more digital behind‑the‑scenes content, and more fan‑friendly location materials surfacing online.

That translates to three practical advantages for weekend visitors: easier access to filmed spots, more guided/producer‑led mini‑tours (see our micro‑events & pop‑ups playbook for how local pop‑ups package experiences), and an explosion of verified location posts from production accounts. Use that to your advantage—below are itineraries built for minimal travel friction and maximum on‑set atmosphere.

How to use these itineraries

Timeframe: Each plan is a tight 48‑hour weekend (arrive Friday evening, leave Sunday evening).
Booking: Lock accommodations and any guided tours 6–8 weeks in advance for spring/summer weekends; 2–3 weeks may suffice off‑season. For boutique stays and direct‑book options see how boutique hosts win in 2026.
Finding exact spots: Look for official production posts, local film offices, and fan maps on Instagram/Twitter using show + "filming locations" hashtags. Short‑form reels and fan content are often indexed in pieces about short‑form video fan engagement.
Respect privacy: Many “on‑set” cafés and homes are private—observe signage and local rules. Local micro‑creators sometimes run paid mini‑tours; see trends in micro‑hospitality & creator commerce for how these offers are structured.

10 weekend itineraries — fast, filmed, and bookable

1. Belfast — How to Get to Heaven From Belfast (new series buzz)

Why go: The new Derry Girls‑creator series has renewed interest in Northern Ireland’s urban and coastal locations. Belfast’s compact size makes it ideal for a punchy fan trip.

Day 1 (Saturday): Morning walking tour of the Cathedral Quarter—many exterior scenes and pub fronts appear here. Afternoon visit to Titanic Quarter (production offices and docks are nearby). Evening: pub grub at a local spot with live music—ask for the “on‑set” table name used in location posts.
Day 2 (Sunday): Short drive (25–40 mins) to the coastal coves used for exterior sequences. Wrap up with lunch in a seaside village café that’s doubled as a location in multiple BBC productions.
Travel & tips: Belfast City Airport or rail from Dublin. Buy a two‑day Translink leap card for local buses. Best months: Apr–Oct for daylight and coastal views.

2. London — Rivals (Disney+ EMEA commission and local shoots)

Why go: Disney+ EMEA’s commission slate has seeded more London‑based productions—sports drama settings, broadcast studios and restaurants are often city‑centered and reachable by Tube.

Day 1: Start with a guided broadcast district walk (Westminster → Southbank) to see TV studios, stadium fan zones and exterior shots. Afternoon: café used in exterior scenes; check production tags for the most recent pop‑ups. Evening: West End show or stadium atmosphere depending on match schedules.
Day 2: Morning visit to a training ground or stadium exterior used in the series (many are public-facing). Afternoon: curated film locations cycle along River Thames—Southbank film office runs short themed walks.
Travel & tips: Oyster or contactless is fastest. Use production Instagram and fansites for last‑minute location confirmations. Reserve walking tours in advance; small operators often use portable payment workflows for easy booking on site.

3. Vienna — Amadeus / period pieces (Sky/European co‑productions)

Why go: Classical drama productions continue to reuse Vienna’s palaces and concert halls. These lavish period locations are perfect for history‑and‑camera fans.

Day 1: Early visit to the Stadtpark and the Ringstrasse palaces used for wide establishing shots. Afternoon: guided “on‑screen Vienna” walking tour that includes palace interiors where many period dramas film. Evening: concert at the Musikverein or an atmospheric dinner in an old coffeehouse used as an on‑set location.
Day 2: Short train hop to nearby shooting towns (if the production used extras outside the city). Stop by local film museum or visitor center for exhibit material and behind‑the‑scenes photos.
Travel & tips: Vienna’s U‑Bahn is efficient; buy a 48‑hour pass. Book concert tickets early—many productions film at popular performance venues on weekdays, so weekends offer a quieter look.

4. Paris — Call My Agent! and modern French commissions

Why go: Paris remains a perennial setting for industry dramas. Production crews often film near major studios and the city’s 6th and 8th arrondissements.

Day 1: Start at a café featured in exterior shots, then walk to a casting agency façade used in the series. Afternoon: Seine riverbank stroll to see scenes shot on the quays. Evening: theatre or dinner in a neighbourhood frequented by cast interviews.
Day 2: Morning at a studio open day or a pop‑up exhibition (seasonally common). Wrap up at a rooftop bar with views used in closing shots.
Travel & tips: Paris Metro day passes simplify travel. Many filming façades are real businesses—be respectful and avoid blocking doors when photographing.

5. Madrid & Toledo — Spanish dramas and heist series

Why go: Big Spanish hits continue to draw visitors to Madrid’s eclectic neighbourhoods and nearby historic towns like Toledo, both staples for urban interiors and sweeping historic exteriors.

Day 1: Madrid morning: central plaza shots and market scenes. Afternoon: a guided fan walk that follows a heist‑style episode’s exterior route. Evening: rooftop tapas where cast have been spotted.
Day 2: Train to Toledo (30–40 minutes). Walk the old town alleys used for key chase scenes and enjoy an afternoon museum visit.
Travel & tips: Use Spain’s AVE/Media distance trains for quick Toledo hops; regional passes save money. If you want on‑set cafés, check local listings for pop‑up promotions tied to streaming releases.

6. Naples — Gomorrah and gritty crime dramas

Why go: The compact historic centre and waterfront doubled for many crime dramas; local guides have long routes that match well with a weekend timeline.

Day 1: Morning walking tour through Spaccanapoli and the historic alleys that appear in exterior sequences. Afternoon: port-front exteriors used in pivotal scenes. Evening: authentic Neapolitan pizza where the cast reportedly ate during breaks.
Day 2: Short ferry ride to nearby islands (if used as establishing shots) or visit local film‑tour operators for a themed photo shoot in costume props.
Travel & tips: Naples is walkable; wear comfortable shoes for cobbled streets. Guided tours often include anecdotes from extras and local crew—book a small‑group option for better access.

7. Berlin & nearby towns — German thrillers (e.g., Dark‑era fans)

Why go: Berlin’s film ecosystem and surrounding small towns host many atmospheric scenes used in German-language thrillers and sci‑fi.

Day 1: Start with a film‑district walk (Kreuzberg → Mitte) to see production offices and studio exteriors. Afternoon to evening: head to the outskirts where moody forests and small towns were filmed—perfect for golden‑hour photos.
Day 2: Visit a regional visitor centre that often maintains a fan map and a list of private‑property shooting spots accessible by arrangement.
Travel & tips: Regional train passes make a one‑hour suburban leg affordable. Respect requests not to enter private lots—many crews use closed locations for big scenes.

8. Malmö / Ystad (Sweden) — Scandinavian crime and Wallander lineage

Why go: From classic Wallander settings to newer Nordic crime commissions, southern Sweden offers compact towns and coastlines that are easy to cover in a single weekend.

Day 1: Explore coastlines and harbour fronts used in establishing shots. Take a short walking tour of the town squares and police headquarters exteriors. Evening: sample local seafood in a harbour restaurant seen in the series.
Day 2: Bicycle or ferry to nearby villages used for key scenes. Local tourist offices sometimes run themed days tied to TV releases—check ahead.
Travel & tips: Fly into Copenhagen and take the Öresund train to Malmö for a fast cross‑border option. Summer is best for longer daylight; autumn brings dramatic weather ideal for moody photos.

9. Cardiff and South Wales — BBC drama hotspots

Why go: With the BBC expanding its short‑form and online commissions in recent deals, Wales has become a production hub. Cardiff studios, seafronts and valleys are often used in new BBC content for both linear and YouTube formats.

Day 1: Morning studio frontage photos and a walk around Cardiff Bay where many exteriors are shot. Afternoon: visit a local café that doubles as a rehearsal spot. Evening: take a short evening tour focused on on‑screen locations and production anecdotes.
Day 2: Head into the valleys for landscape shots used in establishing sequences—great for drone footage if you have permits. Wrap up with a trip to a local film office exhibit where props may be displayed.
Travel & tips: Trains to Cardiff are frequent from London; local buses serve bay and valley routes. Check for BBC/YouTube content drops that often highlight specific accessible locations; see lessons on collaborative badges and how platforms surface content.

10. Edinburgh — historical series and new commissions

Why go: Edinburgh’s compact Old Town and Georgian New Town provide ready‑made backdrops for period and modern dramas alike. It’s an easy city to cover on foot and a great option for a cinematic weekend.

Day 1: Walk the Royal Mile and Old Town closes—many scenes use the cobbles and close alleys. Afternoon at a café with a view of the Castle used in skyline shots. Evening: attend a ghost walk that often includes production anecdotes and filming locations.
Day 2: Visit Georgian terraces used as interior/exterior locations; look for pop‑up exhibits during festival months that showcase local film activity.
Travel & tips: Edinburgh is compact—wear layers and pack for quick weather changes. Weekend festivals cause spikes in accommodation prices; book early.

Actionable tools & next steps for every trip

Make these itineraries seamless with a few simple tools and habits:

Follow official channels: Production companies, regional film offices and the show’s social accounts often post set‑access notices and pop‑up events. Platform teams increasingly use structured snippets and live badges to mark live or time‑sensitive content.
Use dedicated fans maps: Search for verified Google My Maps, fan‑compiled KMLs and Instagram Reels tagged with show + "filming locations". Cross‑check with official posts and short‑form reels covered in fan engagement guides.
Book short guided tours: Many cities now offer 90–120 minute themed walks timed for weekend arrivals—reserve small‑group slots to guarantee access to popular photo spots. For operator best practices on micro‑events see our micro‑events playbook.
Respect boundaries: Always observe private property and production signage. Request permissions for photos that might block access or enter restricted areas.
Budget planning: Expect city weekend costs to range from budget (€120–€220) to mid (€220–€450) per person depending on accommodation and tours. Use local transport day passes to save. For market trends and local retail flow see Q1 2026 market notes.
Tech tips: Save offline maps, screenshot fan maps, and use a screenshot of any production‑issued access passes or QR codes. If you’re distributing one‑page itineraries or cheat sheets, consider edge storage and performance for media‑heavy PDFs (read on storage trade‑offs).

2026 trends you can use right now

As production landscapes shift, here’s what to expect and plan for in 2026:

More regional shoots: Disney+ EMEA’s commissioning push means more series filmed outside capitals—look for secondary cities to become new hot spots.
Short‑form location content: BBC‑YouTube collaborations are likely to push quick behind‑the‑scenes clips and location lists directly to fans, ideal for last‑minute weekend planning. See how creators package vertical episodes and short reels in the microdrama/vertical‑episode playbook.
AR & app guides: Expect more augmented reality overlays in 2026 helping you match on‑screen frames to real locations—install any official app before you go.
Creator monetization: Local guides and micro‑creators are packaging paid mini‑tours and reels; follow trusted creator accounts for insider access, but vet reviews first. See neighborhood strategies and creator commerce examples at Neighborhood 2.0, and consider hybrid pop‑up monetization models (hybrid pop‑up playbook).

Quick checklist before you go

Confirm train/flight times and buy refundable tickets when tight on schedule.
Book any official guided walks or studio pop‑ups in advance.
Download offline maps and take screenshots of location coordinates.
Check local film office pages for closures or private‑property notices.
Pack a camera, portable charger, and comfortable shoes for cobbled streets.

Final notes from a local guide

TV tourism in 2026 is less about standing where a star once stood and more about experiencing the place that shaped the story. Weekend trips let you combine the thrill of on‑screen discovery with local cafés, museums and food scenes—fast, affordable, and perfect for repeat visits. Use the industry shifts of 2025–26 to your advantage: follow production channels, book short guided tours, and respect filming protocols so these locations remain accessible for fans.

Ready to plan your weekend pilgrimage?

Download our one‑page cheat sheet for each itinerary (packing list, transit tips, key hashtags) and get a curated queue of weekend trips based on new 2026 commissions. Click through to book guided walks and get notified when a production releases official location content—turn inspiration into a booked trip in minutes.

Call to action: Head to discovers.app to grab your itinerary PDF, book a local guided walk, or subscribe for new weekend drops tied to Disney+ EMEA and BBC location releases in 2026.

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Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.