Where Was Star Wars Filmed? A Planet‑by‑Planet Guide to Real Locations
- Jedi Master
- Feb 16
- 5 min read
If you’re asking “Where was Star Wars filmed?” this guide maps every major planet to its real‑world filming locations, with practical tips for fans who want to visit.
Main Star Wars Filming Countries
Star Wars was filmed across Tunisia, the UK, the USA, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Jordan, Guatemala, Croatia, Bolivia, Thailand, Iceland, and more, mixing studio sets with real landscapes .Key planets like Tatooine, Hoth, Naboo, Endor and Ahch‑To were created from deserts, glaciers, forests and islands you can still explore today.
Star Wars Planets and Real‑World Filming Locations
Tatooine – Tunisia, USA & More
Where was Tatooine filmed?
Tatooine was filmed mainly in Tunisia, with some scenes in California’s deserts and Death Valley in the USA.
Matmata, Tunisia – Underground homes (Hotel Sidi Driss) were used as the Lars Homestead in A New Hope and Attack of the Clones.
Chott el Jerid, Tunisia – Salt flats became the Dune Sea and sunset vistas for Luke’s iconic twin‑sun moment.
Tataouine area, Tunisia – Ksour like Ksar Ouled Soltane stood in for Mos Espa slave quarters in The Phantom Menace.
Death Valley & Buttercup Valley, USA – Sand dunes and canyons in California doubled as extra Tatooine desert and the Great Pit of Carkoon.
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Hoth – Finse, Norway
Where was Hoth filmed?
Hoth’s frozen battlefield was filmed around Finse and the Hardangerjøkulen glacier in Norway for The Empire Strikes Back.
The cast and crew stayed at the local Finse 1222 hotel while filming exterior battle scenes in deep snow.
Severe blizzards meant some shots were taken just outside the hotel, adding natural whiteouts to the movie.
Naboo – Italy & Spain
Where was Naboo filmed?
Naboo combined Italian and Spanish landmarks into one royal world.
Palace of Caserta, Italy – Theed Royal Palace interiors in The Phantom Menace.
Villa del Balbianello, Lake Como – Lakeside villa where Anakin and Padmé’s romance scenes were filmed in Attack of the Clones.
Plaza de España, Seville, Spain – Grand exterior plaza of Theed in Attack of the Clones.
Ahch‑To – Skellig Michael, Ireland
Where was Ahch‑To filmed?
Luke Skywalker’s island sanctuary was filmed on Skellig Michael, a UNESCO World Heritage site off County Kerry, Ireland.
The beehive huts and steep stone steps are real monastic remains dating back over a thousand years.
Additional coastal shots for Ahch‑To in The Last Jedi used Wild Atlantic Way locations on mainland Ireland.
Endor – California & UK Forests
Where was Endor filmed?
Endor’s forests were primarily filmed in Northern California’s redwood parks, with inspiration and later shoots in UK woodland.
Jedediah Smith & Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks, USA – Soaring redwoods for speeder bike chases in Return of the Jedi.
Puzzlewood, Forest of Dean, UK – Twisted roots and mossy paths influenced later forest visuals and appeared in Disney‑era Star Wars content.
Jedha & Pasaana – Wadi Rum, Jordan
Where were Jedha and Pasaana filmed?
The rust‑red rock valleys of Wadi Rum in Jordan became Jedha in Rogue One and Pasaana in The Rise of Skywalker.
Towering sandstone cliffs and arches give the planets their mythic, alien feel without heavy CGI.
Wadi Rum also appears in many other sci‑fi films, making it a popular stop on film‑location tours.
Yavin 4 – Tikal, Guatemala
Where was Yavin 4 filmed?
The Rebel base on Yavin 4 used the ancient Mayan ruins at Tikal, Guatemala, in A New Hope.
The temples seen from above as the Millennium Falcon lands are genuine pyramids surrounded by jungle.
Visitors can still climb some structures and look out over the same canopy shot in the movie.
Canto Bight – Dubrovnik, Croatia
Where was Canto Bight filmed?
The casino city Canto Bight came to life in Dubrovnik’s Old Town, Croatia, for The Last Jedi.
The marble‑paved Stradun street was turned into the main chase route filled with alien gamblers and fathiers.
Dubrovnik’s medieval walls and baroque facades were enhanced with digital elements to create the luxury resort feel.
Other Notable Star Wars Filming Locations
Star Wars also used a long list of other real‑world places across films and series.
Bolivia – Salar de Uyuni: Inspired the white‑salt world of Crait in The Last Jedi.
Thailand – Phang Nga Bay: Limestone islands influenced prequel‑era water and island worlds.
Iceland & Greenland: Glacial and volcanic landscapes for sequel‑trilogy planets and standalone stories.
UK sites like Black Park and Fawley Power Station: Forests for Takodana and industrial backdrops for Corellia in Solo.
Star Wars Filming Locations Table (Planet vs Real Place)
Star Wars planet | Film(s) / era | Real‑world location(s) |
Tatooine | OT, prequels, extras | Tunisia (Matmata, Chott el Jerid, Tataouine), USA deserts (Death Valley, Buttercup Valley) |
Hoth | The Empire Strikes Back | Finse & Hardangerjøkulen glacier, Norway |
Naboo | Prequels | Palace of Caserta, Villa del Balbianello, Plaza de España |
Ahch‑To | Sequel trilogy | Skellig Michael & Irish west coast, Ireland |
Endor | Original trilogy, expanded | California redwoods, Puzzlewood UK |
Jedha & Pasaana | Rogue One, The Rise of Skywalker | Wadi Rum desert, Jordan |
Yavin 4 | A New Hope | Tikal, Guatemala |
Canto Bight | The Last Jedi | Dubrovnik Old Town, Croatia |
Planning Your Own Star Wars Filming Locations Tour
You can structure a Star Wars trip by region and film era.
North Africa: Tunisia’s Tatooine circuit – Matmata, Tataouine, Chott el Jerid.
UK & Ireland: Pinewood‑area sites, Puzzlewood, and Skellig Michael for Ahch‑To.
Europe: Italy and Spain for Naboo, Norway for Hoth, Croatia for Canto Bight.
Middle East: Wadi Rum for Jedha and Pasaana.
Americas: Tikal for Yavin 4 and California redwoods for Endor.
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Why Real Locations Make Star Wars Feel So Authentic
Using real deserts, temples and coastlines gives Star Wars a grounded look that pure CGI struggles to replicate. From Mayan pyramids to Irish monasteries, the saga borrows Earth’s history and geography to make a galaxy that feels lived‑in and believable.
FAQ
Where was the first Star Wars movie filmed?
The original 1977 Star Wars was filmed mainly in Tunisia (for Tatooine), England (Elstree & Shepperton studios), and California/Arizona deserts for additional exterior shots.
Can you visit Star Wars filming locations in real life?
Yes, many Star Wars filming locations are open to visitors, including Hotel Sidi Driss in Tunisia, Villa del Balbianello in Italy, Skellig Michael in Ireland (seasonal access), Wadi Rum tours in Jordan, and Tikal in Guatemala.
Where is Tatooine in real life?
Tatooine’s main real‑world home is southern Tunisia, around Matmata, Chott el Jerid, and Tataouine, with extra scenes filmed in California’s deserts.
Were any Star Wars movies filmed entirely on green screen?
No; even the most CGI‑heavy entries mix soundstage work with real landscapes such as Wadi Rum, Dubrovnik, Iceland, and Skellig Michael to keep environments grounded.
What is the most famous Star Wars filming location?
For many fans, the most iconic filming locations are Tatooine sites in Tunisia and Skellig Michael in Ireland, thanks to Luke Skywalker’s story beginning and ending in these landscapes.
Excellent. Thank you for this. I wondered where they were filmed as i'm looking to visit some of the places on this list next year