10 Splendid Star Wars Filming Locations You Should Visit in Real Life

A Star Wars fan need not travel far, far away galaxies to experience the otherworldly landscapes featured in its sci-fi movies. That’s because many locations have been filmed on our planet itself, and no fantastical film sets were created to shoot some of the incredibly striking scenes. 

Here are some of the magnificent destinations where “Star Wars” has been brought into life.

1. Laamu Atoll, Maldives

Out of all the 1192 Maldivian islands, Laamu Atoll is made up of 82 Islands. One of the largest inhabited islands in the Maldives, Gan became the remote tropical planet Scarif. It turns into the site of a massive battle. As the filmmaker George Lucas drew inspiration from World War II for his battle scenes, Rogue One’s director Gareth Edwards looked for inspiration toward the war's Pacific theater and filmed at Laamu Atoll in the Maldives.

2. Whippendell Woods, England

In the “Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace”, the actual setting of the Sacred forest of Naboo where Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn meet with Jar Jar Binks is ancient woodland ‘Whippendell woods’. It is near the Leavesden Film Studios in England. The Gungans like Jar-Jar dwell in underwater cities, but as there is no lake in Whippendell Woods, the scenes with water were produced with digital effects.

3. Hardangerjøkulen Glacier, Finse, Norway

Did you know that the exteriors of the remote, icy planet ‘Hoth’ in "Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back" were shot in the small village of Finse, Norway? The battlefield scenes were pictured in the Hardangerjøkulen glacier. Staying at the Finse 1222 Hotel, the cast and crew filmed the snowstorm scenes from the back door.

In the months of March and April, there are clear skies usually with a lot of snow. The explorers can visit new places with the help of guides.

4. Salar De Uyuni, Bolivia

The Battle of Crait between the Resistance and the First Order in “Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi” was shot at the spectacular and largest salt flat on Earth that is located in Bolivia. The movie features the white-salt barren terrain covered by blood-red minerals. The violent bursts of color are produced with each explosion and footprint.

5. Plaza De España in Seville

For the scenes in "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones" and "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace," the real half-circle plaza ‘Plaza de Espana’ was dramatically expanded to a full circle and the building was modified to include the towers and green domes of Naboo.

In the movie, Padme and Anakin arrived in Theed at this plaza; the plaza actually being constructed for the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition. It is ringed by a moat with four bridges.

6. Phang Nga Bay, Near Phuket

The favorite of one and all, Wookie was born on the planet Kashyyyk as viewed in “Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith”. Most of the images were captured in real life as plate photography near Phuket in Thailand. Some of these were even composited with places in Guilin, China. Later on, the aerial footage of limestone karst mountains was composited into the film for the Battle of Kashyyyk.

7. Rub’ al Khali Desert, Abu Dhabi, UAE

For the movie "Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens", its director J.J. Abrams picked the Rub’ al Khali desert of Abu Dhabi, UAE. As the desert planet of Jakku, the heroine Rey appears in the cinematic sandy expanses.

8. Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy

During the filming of the “Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith”, the frightening active volcano Mt. Etna erupted, and the film’s camera crews were sent to capture it from different angles. Later on, the footage was composited into the backdrop of the scene on Mustafar including the lightsaber battle between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.

9. Royal Palace of Caserta, Napoli, Italy

In movies ‘The Phantom of Menace’ and ‘Attack of Clones’ from the Star Wars Universe, the interiors of the Theed Royal Palace on the planet Naboo were shot in the Palace of Caserta in southern Italy, just northeast of Napoli.

The world’s largest royal residence, this palace was originally built for Bourbon King Charles III back in the 1750s.

10. Grindelwald, Switzerland

The real setting for snowy mountain peaks of doomed planet Alderaan in ‘Star Wars: Episode IV - New Hope’ was composited at Grindelwald, Switzerland. It served as the backdrop to the home of Princess Leia Organa.

And if you have a thing for fancy decoratives and this marvelous fantasy sci-fi flick, try out these cool stencils and show your love to Star Wars Universe.

Ever had a chance to visit any of these spectacular exotic Star Wars locations? If you have, then tell us here in the comments what was your experience like.