Travel like Odysseus and see all five filming locations in The Odyssey, from the plains of Iceland to Greece’s Peloponnese Peninsula.&nbsp;

Christopher Nolan is known for his commitment to immersive filmmaking, and The Odyssey is no different. On top of the star-studded performances from Matt Damon, Zendaya, and Anne Hathaway,&nbsp;The Odyssey's stunning landscapes have captivated fans since the film landed in theatres on Friday.
Bringing the legendary epic poem to life for the big screen with a $250 million budget, Nolan filmed&nbsp;The Odyssey almost entirely on location over a 91-day shoot with 70mm IMAX cameras. Instead of using green screens and CGI, the cast and crew traveled to Morocco, Greece, Italy, Iceland, and Scotland to make Homer's mythical world as vivid as possible.&nbsp;
Nolan acknowledged that this was a difficult feat to pull off—when previewing the film at CinemaCon in April, he said The Odyssey was "[An] absolute nightmare to film, but in all the right ways. We had an amazing time doing it."
These spectacular real-world locations recreated Odysseus's decade-long trek across Ancient Greece to return home to Ithaca after the Trojan War, facing the open seas, witches, gods, and monsters along the way. Nolan even used a fully operational and built-to-scale traditional Viking longship from Norway, called the <a href="https://www.drakenhh.com/theodyssey">Draken Harald Hårfagre</a>, for the open-water scenes.&nbsp;
If you're curious about where your favorite scenes in&nbsp;The Odyssey were filmed, or if you're looking for an epic adventure without encountering a Cyclops, we've rounded up all the gorgeous filming locations that you can visit on your next vacation.&nbsp;

Filming in Morocco took place across Marrakech, Tahnaout, El Haouz, Essaouira, and Ouarzazate. To recreate the ancient city of Troy, The Odyssey filmed in Ouarzazate's Aït Benhaddou, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near the Atlas Mountains. Aït Benhaddou is an 11th-century&nbsp;ksar, or fortified village, that features windswept earthen-clay architecture. To film the iconic scene when the Trojan Horse was discovered, Nolan filmed on the beaches of Essaouira by the Atlantic coast. Visitors to Marrakech can drive through the Atlas Mountains to visit the historical site of Aït Benhaddou, or take a day trip to the Essaouira beaches—a hub for windsurfing and kitesurfing.&nbsp;

Filming in Greece occurred all across the Peloponnese region, including Messenia, Voidokilia Beach, Almyrolaka Beach, Methoni Castle, and Acrocorinth, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://filmcommission.gr/2025/02/25/greece-welcomes-christopher-nolan-for-the-filming-of-the-odyssey-a-cinematic-adaptation-of-homers-legendary-greek-epic/">The Hellenic Film Commission</a>. The famous confrontation between Odysseus and Polyphemus, the one-eyed Cyclops, was filmed in Nestor's Cave.&nbsp;A hidden limestone cavern from the Neolithic period, Nestor's Cave has been featured in many Greek myths besides The Odyssey, and is located directly above Voidokilia Beach. A truly mythic spot and a must-see when visiting Pylos, visitors can brave a steep hiking trail from Voidokilia Beach to reach Nestor's Cave.&nbsp;

Italy's dramatic coastline served as an important filming location for The Odyssey, including both Favignana Island and the volcanic Aeolian Islands (Basiluzzo, Lipari, and Vulcano) off the coast of Sicily. To recreate the Palace of Ithaca, home to Odysseus, his wife Penelope, and his son Telemachus, Nolan filmed in a 15th-century castle, Castello di Santa Caterina. However, Castello di Santa Caterina sits upon a 1,030-foot hill, which has no roads to access by car—so be prepared to hike up to the medieval fortress just like The Odyssey's cast and crew. Other scenes at sea were filmed in the Aeolian Islands, depicting the mythical island of Aeolia where Odysseus visited as a guest of King Aeolus, the keeper of the winds. When visiting the seven Aeolian Islands, don't miss the archipelago's famous black-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters.&nbsp;

Iceland's plains, highlands, and glacier regions were the perfect backdrop for Odysseus's journey to Hades' underworld to visit the blind prophet Tiresias. Nolan filmed in the Landeyjahöfn harbor, the Markarfljót river, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, and the towering Hjörleifshöfði mountain. To visit Hjörleifshöfði, it's best to start in Iceland's capital,&nbsp;Reykjavík, and drive to Vík, where the mountain and famous cave are located. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Nolan chose Moray Firth, the largest inlet on the North Sea with more than 500 miles of coastline, as the main filming location in Scotland. Additional filming took place at the historic ruins of Findlater Castle to depict the home of the goddess Circe, and the ancient pines of Culbin Forest for a battle between Odysseus' men and giants. Both sites are dramatic, atmospheric backdrops for The Odyssey. To visit the medieval fortress of Findlater Castle, which sits on a 50-foot cliff overlooking Moray Firth, you can take the 2-mile Moray Coastal Trail from the nearby town of Cullen.

Charlize Theron, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong'o, Samantha Morton, and Mia Goth at the world premiere of 'The Odyssey' in London on July 6, 2026. Getty Images.

Yes, You Can Visit the Epic Locations Where 'The Odyssey' Was Filmed

Tags

Related Articles

Fashion

Zendaya Embraces Grecian Glamour For 'The Odyssey' Press Tour

Film & TV

Who’s Who in 'The Odyssey'?

Film & TV

Everything to Know About Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey'

Recommended posts for you

Film & TV