Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, starring Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside a star-studded cast, has arrived in cinemas. Shot entirely on IMAX 70mm film, the nearly three-hour epic is already driving a surge in travel to its real-world locations. According to a survey by GetYourGuide, 77% of respondents said they would visit a destination after seeing it in a film or series, with Americans (84%), Brits (81%), Germans (78%), and the French (65%) leading the trend.
“Movies don't just entertain – they inspire people to pack their bags,” said Maren Schullerus, GetYourGuide's Regional Manager for Central and Eastern Europe. “Destinations such as Greece make that easy – it's a country where the mythology, the landscape, and the culture are so intertwined that you feel the story the moment you arrive.”
Nolan himself emphasized the importance of real locations: “For me, being on a real location, shooting certain things like when the crew is out setting sail on that boat, or going through a storm, I want it to feel almost like a documentary. I want to just put the audience there, like they’re really there.”
Key Destinations for an Odyssey Summer
GetYourGuide has compiled a list of top tips for travelers seeking to follow in Odysseus's footsteps. Among them:
- Troy, Çanakkale, Türkiye: The Trojan War is Odysseus's backstory. Visitors can explore the archaeological site, climb inside the replica Trojan Horse, and visit the Troy Museum.
- Ithaca, Greece: Odysseus spent ten years trying to reach this island. Today, hikers can tackle the Odysseus Trail and visit the Cave of the Nymphs.
- Favignana, Italy: This island off Sicily was a major filming location. Travelers are encouraged to read Emily Wilson's translation of The Odyssey on its coast.
- Athens, Greece: The Mythopraxis Athens Living Museum offers a theatrical retelling of the complete Odyssey in just over an hour, complete with wine.
- Zakynthos, Greece: Known for wine production since antiquity, the island offers guided winery tours. Odysseus famously used wine to incapacitate the Cyclops.
- Delphi, Greece: The ancient oracle site on Mount Parnassus, where Tiresias foretold Odysseus's hardships, remains a pilgrimage for modern visitors.
- Mycenae, Greece: Explore the Bronze Age citadel, the Lion Gate, and the kingdom of Agamemnon.
Will Sarson, Product Director at Riviera Travel, highlighted additional destinations that bring the story to life: Pylos, on the Peloponnese, where visitors can explore the remains of Nestor's Palace; Taormina in Sicily, perched above the Ionian Sea; and Aït Benhaddou in Morocco, a UNESCO World Heritage site that served as a backdrop for the film's desert scenes.
Google Trends data shows growing interest in searches for “The Odyssey filming locations,” reflecting a broader trend of set-jetting that has boosted tourism in regions featured in major productions. For those planning a trip, the summer of 2026 may well be remembered as the Odyssey Summer.
