Movies give us a great view of some iconic locations around the world. Let's explore some of the vacation spots that feature in the latest Marvel blockbuster movie, Doctor Strange.

Doctor Strange will be one of the biggest films of the year, with a dramatic and magical story played out against an eye-catching backdrop of international locations. It was perhaps unexpected that one of the main cultural forces in world film in the 21st Century would be American comic books. This rich seem of stories and characters has been spun into a yearly diet of blockbuster films that has created a cinema powerhouse. Each film gravitates towards recognizable destination to frame the superhero action and Doctor Strange is no different.

Increasingly film production is split between traditional US studio locations like New York and Los Angeles, with other production expertise in Europe encouraging studios to venture to Europe. A keenness to exploit burgeoning cinema markets in China and the Far East has also led to several major studio releases including major cities in this region for important set-pieces in films. This all leads to more diverse and intriguing storytelling. For Marvel fans there is also the opportunity to glimpse exciting travel destinations and gain some ideas for your next vacation.

Kathmandu

Some of the most atmospheric scenes in the movie were shot among the patchwork of temples and imposing historic structures in Kathmandu, the enigmatic capital city of Nepal. A bearded Benedict Cumberbatch was the focus for the production here as he filmed alongside a troop of local extras at the Swayambhunath Temple, perched on a hill overlooking Kathmandu valley.

He was also spotted in the tourist area of Thamel within the city which is popular with visitors who are planning further adventures in the nearby mountains of the Himalayas. Nepal’s Hindu and Buddhist temples provide some of the country’s most striking architecture. Don’t miss the series of royal palaces within Kathmandu which feature distinctive pagoda buildings and ornate structures that create an ethereal backdrop. Fly to Kathmandu to explore some of the sites that invoke the mystical aspects of the Doctor Strange story.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong was not only one of the main shooting locations for the movie Doctor Strange, it was where the world premiere of the film took place with a glamorous red carpet event. Stars Tilda Swinton, and Benedict Cumberbatch, director Scott Derrickson and Marvel Studios executive producer Kevin Feige returned to Hong Kong to show the film after capturing prominent scenes with the city’s distinctive skyline as a backdrop. China features as an influential part of the Doctor Strange character’s journey in what is believed to be the first of a series of films in a new Marvel franchise.

Movie fans will be very familiar with the sights of Hong Kong if they have been paying attention to recent blockbuster movies including Fast & Furious 6, Pacific Rim and Transformers: Age of Extinction.

New York

Like so many movies, Doctor Strange features scenes filmed on the streets of New York. The Big Apple has proven to be fertile ground for Marvel location scouts. The scene of a devastating battle during the Avengers, New York will see Doctor Strange in his original role as a surgeon before his life takes a different direction after he embarks on a journey to seek a solution to physical problems after an accident that has blighted his career.

Manhattan is also home to many of the most well-stocked comic book stores in the United States. In fact, when Benedict Cumberbatch was filming in Midtown he took the opportunity to surprise customers in a nearby comic book store by walking inside in his full Doctor Strange costume. Needless to say, they were impressed.

London

The majority of the sets and special effects filming for Doctor Strange took place on soundstages in London in the United Kingdom. Some street scenes were filmed in London while it masqueraded for the streets of New York with the addition of American street furniture and yellow taxis on the road. If you are a fan of Benedict Cumberbatch then you will need no encouragement to book a flight to London, a city already synonymous with the talented actor’s breakout role as Sherlock Holmes in the BBC series Sherlock.

Doctor Strange’s mystical and supernatural storyline introduces a number of new aspects to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but more importantly it takes cinema-goers on a dynamic journey around the world. If you want to make that journey for real then it’s time to start looking for some cheap flights with Skyscanner.

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