For fans of Gilmore Girls, the dream of stepping into the show's charming Connecticut town is becoming a reality. Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood has announced a seasonal holiday event, running from 12 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 (excluding Christmas Day), that transforms its Burbank lot into the most expansive Gilmore Girls fan experience ever created.
Visitors will wander through familiar sets: Lorelai Gilmore's house, Luke's Diner, the Dragonfly Inn, and Miss Patty's School of Ballet. Iconic storefronts will house gift shops, while themed food includes Luke's cold brew, Jojo's burgers, Caesar's chilaquiles nachos, and Gazebo pretzels. The series, which first aired in 2000 and earned a spot on The New York Times list of the 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century, continues to resonate with audiences.
Set-jetting: a growing travel trend
The phenomenon of planning holidays around film and TV locations—known as set-jetting—has been gaining momentum. Warner Bros.' expansion of its Gilmore Girls themed events taps into this desire to turn on-screen scenes into tangible experiences. While the Hollywood studio offers an American escape, Europe's cinematic landscapes have long been a magnet for productions and travellers alike.
Dubrovnik, Croatia, became a pilgrimage site for Game of Thrones fans after doubling as King's Landing. The city's medieval walls and Adriatic vistas now draw thousands of visitors eager to walk in the footsteps of their favourite characters.
In England, the 15th-century Vere House in Lavenham—featured in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part One—is available on Airbnb, offering guests a stay in Harry Potter's 'childhood home' with four en-suite bedrooms, a log fire, and a courtyard garden.
This year's cinematic release of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has inspired travellers to plan their own odysseys across the Mediterranean. Filming locations span Sardinia and the Strait of Messina in Italy, Ithaca in Greece, Troy in Türkiye, and Gozo in Malta—each offering a blend of myth and natural beauty.
Madrid has also cemented its status as a sought-after filming destination. The Spanish capital has hosted scenes for Netflix's La Casa de Papel (Money Heist), The Cold Light of Day, and Terminator: Dark Fate. Woody Allen's upcoming project, 'WASP 26' (Woody Allen Summer Project), is set to shoot in and around Madrid, with completion expected by the end of 2027. In 2025, the Madrid Regional Government pledged €1.5 million in three payments to support the production, part of a broader push to promote local tourism.
Beyond Europe, Netflix's adaptation of John Steinbeck's East of Eden was filmed entirely in New Zealand, despite being set in California, San Francisco, Connecticut, and Washington—a reminder that set-jetting can sometimes lead to unexpected destinations.
For European travellers, the trend offers a chance to explore both familiar and far-flung locales through the lens of beloved stories. Whether it's a weekend in Dubrovnik or a longer journey to the Mediterranean, set-jetting turns holidays into immersive narratives.
As the travel industry evolves, set-jetting is likely to remain a key driver of tourism, blending pop culture with real-world exploration. For those inspired by Gilmore Girls, the Warner Bros. event may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience—but Europe's own cinematic treasures are just as compelling.
