The Real-Life Filming Locations Featured in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey

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THE RUNDOWN

• Christopher Nolan’s newest film, The Odyssey, brings Odysseus’s iconic journey to the big screen.
• The cast and crew traveled all over the world to create the movie’s unique look and feel.
• Production took place in Greece, Scotland, Italy, and more.

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This weekend, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey finally hit theaters. Based on Homer’s iconic poem, one of the oldest epic stories in recorded history, it follows a man named Odysseus as he makes every effort to return home following the Trojan War. On his journey, he’s beset by giants, sirens, witches, and more, all preventing him from seeing his wife and son again. The cast is stacked with major celebrities, including Matt Damon as the titular character, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Mia Goth, Elliot Page, John Leguizamo, Benny Safdie, and newlyweds Zendaya and Tom Holland.

Naturally, with the plot centering so much on travel, the movie included many gorgeous, real-life locations around the world. Whether you’re curious about the film’s behind-the-scenes secrets or want to get inspiration for your next vacation, take a look at what we know about The Odyssey’s filming locations below.

Scotland

Matt Damon was seen in Scotland in July 2025 with both Holland and Zendaya, where he was photographed wearing a long cape over his leather armor along a local dock. Historical site Findlater Castle announced that it served as a filming location in the area as well.

Italy

The same group was photographed in Favignana, Italy in March 2025 with actor Ryan Hurst, who plays Mentor in the film. The Times reported they were also seen on the Aeolian Islands: Basiluzzo, Lipari, and Vulcano.

Greece

Of course, a fair amount of the movie was filmed in Greece, which is where the original story is primarily set. The cyclops sequence was reportedly filmed in a cave in Messenia.

“Everything about the Cyclops sequence is aimed at trying to imagine: What would this be like in real life?” Nolan told Empire of the scene. “Not approaching it from a storybook or cartoony point of view, but really trying to be in there with Odysseus and his men. It’s a horrifying situation.”

They also filmed on Voidokilia Beach, Almyrolaka Beach, the medieval Methoni Castle, and Acrocorinth, per the Hellenic Film Commission.

Iceland

Travel magazine Stuck in Iceland reported that Nolan headed to Iceland, building a large ship set in the coastal harbor of Landeyjahöfn, which is in the glacier regions.

Morocco

For the desert scenes, the crew headed to Morocco, but they also shot scenes in Marrakech, Tahnaout, El Haouz, and Essaouira, according to the BBC’s Countryfile. Aït Benhaddou, the UNESCO World Heritage site, was used as the ancient city of Troy.