The Places From The Odyssey You Can Visit In Real Life

Fancy following in the footsteps of Odysseus? You don't need to sail the seven seas. Here are six epic locations from Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey that you can actually visit IRL.

There are films that make you want to visit a place. And then there's The Odyssey, which takes that idea and launches it directly into the Mediterranean.

Christopher Nolan's epic retelling of Homer's legendary tale takes audiences on a journey spanning ancient cities, mythical caves, mysterious underworlds and windswept beaches. The best bit? Many of the jaw-dropping locations you see on screen are very much real – meaning you can add a little cinematic magic to your next adventure.

From Morocco to Italy, Greece to Iceland and Scotland, here are six The Odyssey filming locations you can visit in real life. Just don't expect us to provide a magical compass for finding your way home.

And if you're feeling inspired to start planning your own odyssey, don't forget to check out the travel discounts available with TOTUM. From savings on car hire and airport transfers to travel insurance and airport parking, we've got plenty of ways to help you spend less on getting there – leaving you with more money for the important stuff, like gelato.

1. Aït Benhaddou, Morocco – Troy

Rising dramatically from the Moroccan landscape, the ancient fortified village of Aït Benhaddou was transformed into the legendary city of Troy for The Odyssey. Its distinctive earthen buildings and winding pathways provide the perfect backdrop for an epic tale of warriors, heroes and one particularly famous wooden horse. The location has already starred in plenty of big-screen adventures, but Nolan's production reportedly went all-out, creating an enormous practical set around the historic site.

2. Essaouira, Morocco – Trojan Horse Beach

Swap ancient Greece for the Atlantic coast of Morocco and you've got the setting for one of The Odyssey's most spectacular sequences. Essaouira's sweeping beach provided the backdrop for the Trojan Horse scene, where Nolan's production brought the legendary war machine to life on an epic scale. Thousands of extras were reportedly involved in the production, helping to create a scene that feels every bit as enormous as the story itself.

3. Favignana Island, Italy – Ithaca

The sun-drenched Italian island of Favignana plays the part of Ithaca, the home Odysseus is desperately trying to return to after years of adventures, monsters and general mythological chaos. The island's dramatic Castello di Santa Caterina, perched high above the Mediterranean, helps create the film's vision of Odysseus's homeland. It's a pretty spectacular place to visit even without a legendary Greek hero waiting to come home.

4. Nestor's Cave, Greece – The Cyclops's Cave

If you've ever fancied exploring a cave that looks like it could house a mythical one-eyed giant, Nestor's Cave should probably be on your list. Tucked into the dramatic Greek landscape, this real cavern was used for the Cyclops sequence in The Odyssey, bringing one of Homer's most famous encounters to life. It's the sort of place where you can almost imagine Odysseus and his crew emerging from the shadows – although we'd recommend leaving the giant-hunting to the professionals.

5. Hjörleifshöfði, Iceland – The Underworld Journey

For a journey into the underworld, you need somewhere that looks suitably otherworldly. Enter Hjörleifshöfði. This dramatic Icelandic landmark rises from the surrounding landscape, creating the kind of stark, volcanic scenery that looks like it belongs in a myth. Nolan's production used Iceland's distinctive terrain to create the film's darker, more mysterious sequences, giving Odysseus's journey into the underworld a suitably epic backdrop.

6. Culbin Forest, Scotland – Land of the Laestrygonian Giants

You don't necessarily need to travel to the ends of the Earth to find a cinematic landscape. Sometimes, it's hiding in Scotland. Culbin Forest, on the Moray coast, provided the setting for the land of the Laestrygonians – the formidable giant inhabitants Odysseus encounters on his journey. With its dense woodland and atmospheric surroundings, it's easy to see why this corner of Scotland could be transformed into somewhere altogether more mythical for the big screen.

Ready for your own epic adventure?

You might not have to battle a Cyclops, outwit a sea monster or spend 20 years trying to get home, but that doesn't mean your next holiday can't be an adventure.

Whether you're planning a Mediterranean island escape, a Moroccan adventure or a road trip around Scotland, your own odyssey can start with a little help from TOTUM's travel discounts. Members can find savings on everything from car hire and airport transfers to travel insurance and airport parking, plus discounts on hotels and holidays to help make your travel budget stretch further.

So, grab your passport, pick your destination and start planning. Because if The Odyssey has taught us anything, it's that the journey is half the fun.

Explore TOTUM's travel discounts and start planning your next adventure.