You’ve Seen These Places on Screen—Now You Should Visit Them: 10 Thai Locations Made Famous by Movies & TV

Some places are beautiful. Some places are meaningful. And then there are places that make you say, “Wait one gosh darn, bovine hootin' minute… I’ve seen this before!” 😍

In Thailand, movies and TV shows don’t just entertain, they quietly whisper to the world, “Come visit me.” From dreamy islands to ancient temples and cozy neighborhoods, on-screen stories have turned real locations into must-visit destinations, boosting tourism and putting Thailand’s culture front and center.

Let’s take a chillaxed look-see through 10 Thai locations made famous by content shot in Thailand.

1. Maya Bay — The Beach (2000)

📍 Ko Phi Phi Leh, Krabi

This is the classic example. After The Beach hit cinemas worldwide, Maya Bay transformed from a hidden paradise into one of the most famous beaches on Earth. Travelers flocked from every corner of the globe, eager to swim in the same turquoise waters they saw on screen.

2. Wat Chaiwatthanaram — Love Destiny (2018)

📍 Ayutthaya

This beloved historical drama breathed new life into Thai historical fiction and did it by introducing an interestingly Thai concept, it made temple visits romantic. Fans traveled to Ayutthaya dressed in traditional costumes, posing in the exact spots where their favorite characters fell in love. To Thais, visiting temples is a very normal, ordinary thing to do and is often a weekend activity. Couple that with couples (see what we did there?) and it makes temples locations a place to share the joy of being with someone.

3. Koh Samui Resorts — The White Lotus (Season 3)

📍 Koh Samui

Luxury, mystery, and tropical beauty collided in this global HBO hit. The resorts used in filming quickly became bucket-list destinations, especially for international travelers seeking “that White Lotus vibe.”

4. Phang Nga Bay — James Bond: The Man with the Golden Gun (1974)

📍 Phang Nga

Long before Instagram, James Bond turned this dramatic limestone island into a global icon. “James Bond Island” remains one of Thailand’s most visited landmarks decades later.

5. Chiang Mai Old City — Thai Romance & Slice-of-Life Dramas

📍 Chiang Mai

Countless, and we mean countless, Thai dramas have used Chiang Mai as a backdrop for slow love stories, self-discovery arcs, and cozy café moments. Tourism surged as fans came seeking calm, creativity, and cooler air.

6. Bangkok Chinatown (Yaowarat) — Ong-Bak, Lost in Thailand, Lalisa MV

📍 Bangkok

From fast-paced action scenes to Lisa's MV to hilarious travel films, the content showed Yaowarat as vibrant, chaotic, and full of flavor. As the second largest Chinatown in the world, Yaowarat's Food tourism exploded as visitors wanted to eat and visit what they saw on screen.

7. Phuket Beaches — Thai & International TV Series

📍 Phuket

From Thai dramas to international productions, Phuket has been portrayed as everything from a honeymoon escape to a dramatic turning point in characters’ lives. Resorts, beaches, and old town locations all benefited.

8. Rama VIII Bridge — Modern Thai TV Dramas

📍 Bangkok

Often featured in emotional confession scenes for late-night drives, this bridge Gen Z coming-of-age location became a subtle landmark for drama fans, especially local tourism and photo spots.

9. Khao Yai National Park — Thai Films & Series

📍 Nakhon Ratchasima

Used frequently in coming-of-age stories and emotional road-trip films, Khao Yai became a favorite for travelers seeking nature with a cinematic soul.

10. University Campuses & Cafés — Thai BL Series

📍 Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket

Thai BL (Boys’ Love) series have created a whole new tourism behavior. Fans visit exact filming locations — campuses, cafés, bridges, and neighborhoods — often recreating scenes shot-by-shot.