Ah yes, romantic comedies. You’d be lying if you said you never wished your life could be just like a rom-com. While the storylines may be a tad bit cheesy, and we can make no promises about a soulmate coming to fruition before your very eyes, we can provide you with some travel inspiration!

Get inspired by the locations that act as the backdrops for some of your favourite romantic comedies with this list below.

NEW YORK CITY

New York City is one of the archetypal settings of the romantic comedy genre. It has and continues to be the playground of many actors and actresses starring in some of your favourites including the below.

When Harry Met Sally

https://www.nytimes.com/watching/recommendations/watching-film-when-harry-met-sally

One of the most famous American romcoms ever just turned 30 years old this year. After its 1989 release, When Harry Met Sally has blossomed into a cult classic. The movie plays around the classic fear of what becoming “more than friends” might do to a friendship.

Film-Inspired Must-Do: If you’re looking to “have what she had,” then head to the place where one of the most famous scenes of the movie was filmed: Katz Delicatessen. This is an iconic Jewish deli on Houston Street in the Lower East Side.

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

https://www.sky.com/watch/title/programme/3b961b19-0832-4bd5-aba8-a70c73f6fdaa

When an advertising buff and a magazine columnist with competing intentions collide, things sure get interesting. Kate Hudson and Matthew
McConaughey’s chemistry is in full force in this classic rom-com based in New York City.

Film-Inspired Must-Do: Visit One World Trade. Andie Anderson, played by Kate Hudson, worked at the fictional Composure magazine. Most of the scenes were filmed at Condé Nast, an American media company. The company’s headquarters have since moved out of the building where those scenes were filmed to newer luxurious glossy offices at One World Trade Centre.

13 Going on 30

https://www.bustle.com/articles/21244-10-things-you-never-knew-about-13-going-on-30

Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Garner combine in this adorably cheesy coming-of-age storyline where a 13-year-old makes a wish and wakes up as a “thirty, flirty, and thriving” adult.

Film-Inspired Must-Do: Go Dancing. The Lower East Side is perfect for this. The Thriller dancing scene where Garner and Ruffalo relive their glory days and bust a move to the Michael Jackson classic is one of the most iconic scenes of the movie.

Friends With Benefits

http://www.zimbio.com/

When an NYC-based executive recruiter sets up an LA art director with a job at the GQ offices, a friendship blossoms. Naturally, when certain dynamics make themselves present, the relationship gets complicated.

Film-Inspired Must-Do: See Grand Central station. In the movie, there are multiple flash mob scenes. However, the quintessential one happens in the beautiful Grand Central Station, a world-famous landmark and transportation hub in Midtown Manhattan. There are plenty of dining and shopping options in this stunning building that first opened in 1913.

West Side Story

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/west-side-story-remake-casting-latino-characters_n_5a6b9cd6e4b0ddb658c67435

West Side Story is a 1961 adaptation of a widely successful musical about New York gang dynamics with a Romeo & Juliet twist. It received the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1962 and has endured as a classic. Since then, it has been the subject of numerous remakes and continues to be a Broadway sensation.

Film-Inspired Must-Do: Venture uptown. Downtown Manhattan is buzzing and likely the playground for all your New York holiday adventures. However, uptown Manhattan has plenty to offer. The Upper West Side highlights include Lincoln Centre, Columbus Circle, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Ivy League campus of Columbia University.

Sex and the City

https://www.vogue.com.au/

The S.A.T.C. film is a sequel to the incredibly successful show of the same name. It follows the same four friends, Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte, as they continue to navigate their lives as women in the Big Apple.

Film-Inspired Must-Do: Shop ’til you drop. Many say that New York City is the fifth character of this franchise. So if you’re interested in channelling Carrie Bradshaw and living the S.A.T.C life in the greatest city in the world, we recommend taking advantage of the shopping opportunities. From Soho, NYC’s premier neighbourhood for shopping, to strolling along New York’s famous 5th Avenue, there are plenty of options.

LONDON

London is an incredibly romantic city and it is no surprise that it is the setting of some of the most famous romcoms. Also, it is no surprise that Hugh Grant stars in almost every single one of them.

Notting Hill

http://mentalfloss.com/article/80512/15-facts-about-notting-hill-are-standing-front-you

Bookshop owner, Will Thacker (Hugh Grant), shares a modest home with Welshman, Spike, and has a close group of friends. His life is seemingly normal until he meets famous actress, Anna Scott (Julia Roberts), when she wanders into his bookstore by chance. They develop feelings for one another but are forced to navigate class differences and the pressures of fame.

Film-Inspired Must-Do: If it isn’t already obvious, visit Notting Hill. This adorable London neighbourhood is just north of Kensington and has a reputation as an artistic, affluent, and fashionable area. It is absolutely worth a wander around.

Love Actually

https://christmasfm.com/love-actually-superfan/

Love Actually follows eight loosely related stories about one unifying humanizing topic: love. Set in the month leading up to the Christmas holiday, this movie is adorably relatable and has evolved into a Christmas classic.

Film-Inspired Must-Do: Christmas in London. The holiday season in London is absolutely remarkable. From Christmas shopping to ice skating and other magical events, London is the perfect setting for a Christmas holiday getaway.

Bridget Jones’s Diary

https://aux.avclub.com/bridget-jones-became-the-patron-saint-of-singletons-eve-1798244193

Bridget Jones (Renee Zellweger), is a self-proclaimed lunatic and the patron saint of single people everywhere. After enduring some parental hovering and horrible past relationships, she finally makes the decision to take control of her own destiny. Naturally, she decides that the only way to do this is to start writing in a diary. Her quirky antics, opinion on everything, and awkward lovable nature make her instantly relatable and solidifies this movie as a classic.

Film-Inspired Must-Do: Harry Potter anything. Just bear with us on this one… Bridget Jones’ good friend, Jude, is played by Shirley Henderson, who is none other than Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter series. Plus, the first time we see Jude, she is crying in the bathroom. Coincidence? I think not. So, there are plenty of Harry Potter things to do in London including seeing Platform 9 3/4 at London’s King’s Cross Station.

LOS ANGELES

Los Angeles is where many movies are made, so it makes sense that it is the setting of some of them. Experience the California sunshine and movie madness for yourself by re-watching the below.

Pretty Woman

http://time.com/3745374/pretty-woman-julia-roberts/

When wealthy businessman, Edward Lewis (Richard Gere), hires an escort, Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts), a relationship blossoms. Pretty Woman was one of the most successful romantic comedies released in 1990 and just another example of Julia Roberts’ success in the romcom genre.

Film-Inspired Must-Do: Stay at the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel. This immaculate 5* hotel is within Click&Go’s Los Angeles hotel portfolio, in a prime setting on Rodeo Drive and Wilshire Boulevard, and was the setting of Pretty Woman. It will usher you into a world of incredible luxury and sophistication. From the incredible dining to the stunning spa, it will offer an unparalleled experience.

ITALY

Holidays in Italy are second-to-none. It is a dramatic, romantic, and enchanting country, making it perfect for a holiday. Therefore, it is no surprise it is the location for many films.

Under the Tuscan Sun

https://www.departures.com/travel/rent-under-tuscan-sun-villa-diane-lane

Trying to get over her husband’s adulterous behaviour and subsequent painful divorce, Frances Mayes (Diane Lane) decides to travel to Italy on a whim and purchases a villa in Tuscany. She begins to rewrite her life and her path crosses with many benevolent characters.

Film-Inspired Must-Do: Positano. Frances spends part of the film in Positano where she had a romantic affair with an Italian man named Marcello. From the white-washed buildings to the crystal clear waters, the Amalfi Coast is a land of unsurpassed beauty and an absolute must-visit in Italy.

When in Rome

http://www.fanpop.com/

Beth (Kristen Bell) is a New Yorker who has never had much luck with love. She takes an impulsive trip to Rome and she steals some coins from the fountain of love in fulfillment of a legend. Her sister told her that when coins are stolen from the fountain, the coin’s owner will fall in love with her. Chaos ensues and a band of suitors pursue.

Film-Inspired Must-Do: Trevi Fountain. It is likely that the “fountain of love” from the film is based on Trevi Fountain. In the Trevi district of Rome sits this famous Baroque fountain. It is customary to throw coins into the fountain with the right hand backwards over the left shoulder.

Roman Holiday

http://mentalfloss.com/article/75062/12-royal-facts-about-roman-holiday

Gregory Peck stars as Joe Bradley, a reporter, alongside Audrey Hepburn who plays Ann, a royal princess out to explore Rome after escaping from her duties and tight royal schedule. Hepburn won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her depiction of Ann in this classic rom-com.

Film-Inspired Must-Do: The Mask of Truth. This is a marble mask in Rome which is located at the Santa Maria in Cosmedin church. The mask was used as a backdrop for a scene where the main characters come to realize they must be truthful with each other.

CHICAGO

Chicago’s skyline emerges as a jagged scattering of buildings from the shores of Lake Michigan. It is a charming American city and the perfect place for some of the best romcoms to take place.

My Best Friend’s Wedding

https://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/2000394/my-best-friend-s-wedding-cast-reunion-interview/

Julia Roberts plays Julianne Potter, an NYC-based restaurant critic. She gets a call from her friend, Michael (Dermot Mulroney) with news that he will be marrying a 20-year-old University of Chicago student, Kimmie Wallace (Cameron Diaz). Julianne heads to Chicago with ill intentions and plans a last-ditch grand gesture after realizing she loves Michael, only to be asked to be Kimmie’s maid of honour.

Film-Inspired Must-Do: Take a boat ride down the Chicago River. One of the most famous scenes in the movie is when Julianne and Michael are on a ferry ride together down the river where Julianne almost tells Michael how she feels. While the scene’s result might have been fruitless, a boat tour down the Chicago River will not disappoint.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

https://ew.com/movies/my-big-fat-greek-wedding-where-are-they-now/

Toula is a 30-year-old, middle-class, unmarried woman from a large Greek family who works in her family’s Chicago restaurant. Her life is ordinary until she falls for a non-Greek high school teacher, Ian, and a relationship blossoms. However, it is complicated by Ian’s inability to seamlessly integrate into Toula’s large Greek family and their traditions.

Film-Inspired Must-Do: Chicago’s Greektown. One mile west of downtown Chicago sits Greektown. There is a plethora of family-owned restaurants that serve amazing Mediterranean cuisine and even better hospitality.

SAN FRANCISCO

San Francisco is a city that really has a wow factor. It has several iconic symbols including the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf and is an eccentric location to set a romcom.

The Wedding Planner

https://www.empireonline.com/movies/wedding-planner/review/

Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey combine in this endearing story about a wedding planner, Mary, whose path crosses with one of her clients who is about to get married, to Steve. Their chemistry complicates their professional relationship.

Film-Inspired Must-Do: Napa Valley. There is a scene where Mary heads to a potential wedding venue with Steve and his fiance in Napa Valley. Napa is the quintessential wine region in California and because it sits just north of San Francisco, it is easy to visit for an amazing getaway and the opportunity to sip on some award-winning wines.

Princess Diaries

http://mentalfloss.com/article/83811/12-regal-facts-about-princess-diaries

This teenage coming-of-age story is based on a book series by Meg Cabot. Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews play an estranged granddaughter-grandmother duo. Their relationship rekindles when Hathaway’s character, Mia, learns she is the sole heir to the throne of the fictional European kingdom of Genovia and must transform into a princess, shedding her San Franciscan awkward schoolgirl vibe.

Film-Inspired Must-Do: Take a cable car ride. A simple drive in Mia’s classic car through the city goes awry when she tries to drive the stick shift car up one of San Francisco’s large hills, but she ends up colliding with one of the classic San Franciscan cable cars. Trust us when we say collisions don’t happen often, but riding in one of the classic cable cars is an absolute must when in San Francisco.

PARIS

There are not many cities more romantic than Paris. Everyone, including a Phantom and a showgirl, gets in the spirit of this city of love.

Phantom of the Opera

https://letterboxd.com/film/the-phantom-of-the-opera-2004/

Gerard Butler starred as the Phantom in this 2004 adaptation of the famous French novel. The scene is set in the opera’s vaults which are thought to be the home of a mysterious figure. This disfigured man is a murderous musician who becomes obsessed with one of the women in the opera.

Film-Inspired Must-Do: Visit the catacombs. The Phantom lived in the catacombs below this opera house. There are catacombs in Paris that you can also visit. It is a tunnel complex that was former quarries. It holds millions of skeletons and shares a complex perspective on the history of Paris.

Moulin Rouge

https://www.tribecafilm.com/stories/moulin-rouge-baz-luhrmann-great-gatsby

Christian, an English writer (Ewan McGregor), falls head over heels in love with the star of Moulin Rouge, Satine (Nicole Kidman). It is set in the Montmartre district of Paris. Unsurprisingly, the film was nominated for 8 Oscars, winning two.

Film-Inspired Must-Do: Obviously, see the Moulin Rouge. In the 18th arrondissement, sits a building with a red windmill on its roof. This is the Moulin Rouge. It is an incredible tourist attraction which offers music and dancing entertainment to over 600,000 people every year.

GREECE

Greece is a unique country with a rich and entrancing history. Holidays here are simply unforgettable, just like some of ABBA’s most popular songs.

Mama Mia

https://www.empireonline.com/movies/mamma-mia/

Mama Mia is a film adaptation of the famous musical that is based on the songs of the popular group, ABBA. The film is about a bride-to-be (Amanda Seyfried) who invites three men, all of who might be her father, to her wedding.

Film-Inspired Must-Do: Make it a girl’s trip! Be like Donna and the Dynamos by visiting this amazing country with a group of your best friends. We promise it will be one for the ages.

Maybe you need to grab some popcorn and have a movie night, but if we have you itching to take a romcom-inspired holiday…