With Valentine’s Day approaching, now is the perfect time to decide where to take your other half on a romantic vacation. There are plenty of cities within the USA to choose from, many which have several unique locations for romance, that have been featured in some of the best movie and TV scenes of all time.
As keen movie buffs, researchers at TourScanner delved into the cities most used as a backdrop for movies and TV shows in the romance genre.
So, get ready for some serious inspo. And don’t just stop at one – why go to the set of one romance film this Valentine’s Day when you can live (and love) like your favorite character all year round?
Most Romantic Cities for Filming Locations in the USA
The city with the most romantic filming locations is New York, featured in 2,187 romance movies and TV shows. With many recognizable landmarks, from the greenery in Central Park to the towering skyscrapers in Times Square, it’s the setting for iconic TV series such as Sex and the City (1998 – 2004) and romance dramas such as The Great Gatsby (2013).
The most romantic filming location in New York is Central Park, featured in 165 productions, including classic Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), romance comedy Friends with Benefits (2011) and Disney production Enchanted (2007).
View our list of New York Movie Tours and find out where your favorite movies were filmed. Want to know which tour to pick? Read our blog about the Best TV & Movie Locations Tours in New York.
Another great city for romantic movie buffs is San Francisco, California, featured in 320 films and TV shows. Most well-known for the Golden Gate Bridge, the iconic attraction can be spotted in films such as The Princess Diaries (2001), 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002) and Blue Jasmin (2013).
Other iconic landmarks include the SS Jeromiah O’Brian whose engine room featured in the Titanic (1997), and Lombard Street, famous for having eight hairpin turns in one block, can be seen in the Alfred Hitchcock classic Vertigo (1958).
Our San Francisco Movie Tours are perfect for film buffs!
Our third city to visit for romance lovers is Chicago, Illinois, featured in 276 films and TV shows. Chicago has been featured in TV shows such as The Vampire Diaries (2009 – 2017) and ER (1994 – 2009). Movies filmed in the city include romance classics such as When Harry Met Sally (1989) and Sixteen Candles (1984).
Why not read our blog on Fun Things to Do in Chicago or discover Chicago through our range of tours.
Conclusion
New York emerges as the ultimate romantic backdrop, with 2,187 love stories played out onscreen featuring its iconic skyline and landmarks. Meanwhile, San Francisco, with 320 cinematic tales, displays the Golden Gate Bridge and other landmarks as silent witnesses to love’s drama. And Chicago, a city with 276 romance films, sets the stage for both classic and modern romance against its vibrant backdrop.
Whether strolling through Central Park, gazing at the Golden Gate Bridge, or navigating Chicago’s bustling streets, each city is immortalized through romance. So, as Valentine’s Day beckons, consider these cities not just as locations, but as immersive sets where love isn’t scripted; it’s a living, breathing tale, inviting you to become a part of its enchanting narrative.
Planning to venture overseas for a romantic break? Here are the most romantic filming locations the UK has to offer.
Methodology
A seed list of 1,000 largest U.S. cities by population size was collected. Next, each city’s IMDb location page was scraped using the Screaming Frog SEO Spider and the number of titles which were included in the “Romantic” genre was recorded.
As Los Angeles is made up of several smaller cities, we’ve combined all cities within Los Angeles County to make a combined figure for the city. We then removed Los Angeles because most films are created in production studios, rather than featuring the iconic LA landscape.