4 Shows And Films Sparking The Set-Jetting Trend In France In 2025

Last updated on December 20th, 2024 at 09:40 am

Knocking the Paris off the travel trending top spot right now is the set-jetting trend in France.

It seems TV shows and films are responsible for influencing where we go on our holidays and vacations.

According to a recent survey by Expedia, the set-jetting trend, which started in 2024, is taking things up a notch in 2025.

And surprise, surprise, because of a certain TV show we’ll talk about in a minute, Paris is top of the set-jetting pile.

What Is Set-Jetting And Why Is it A Travel Trend?

There is a reason we watch certain movies and TV shows, and usually, it’s because they allow us to get away from real life and indulge in our own faraway fantasies.

Set-jetting takes this to another level by visiting the filming locations and the film or TV show becoming the reason for your travel.

Here’s what Expedia had to say about their findings from the report regarding the set-jetting trend.

More than half of travellers say they’ve researched or booked a trip to a destination after seeing it on a TV show or movie, and 1 in 4 admit that TV shows and films are even more influential on their travel plans than they were before,” the survey said. “In fact, travellers say TV shows influence their travel decisions more than Instagram, TikTok and podcasts.

EXPEDIA

So which films and shows are influencing travellers to book a flight to Paris in 2024? 

The 4 Films & TV Shows Sparking The Set-Jetting Trend in France

No 1 Emily in Paris

I only recently started watching this show because I’d been put off by people telling me how unrealistic it was, which it is. 

But, and here’s the big but, it’s escapism at its best because it is a feast for the eyes and takes you to some beautiful spots in Paris.

The show follows the life of Emily Cooper, an ambitious marketing executive from Chicago who unexpectedly lands her dream job in Paris. It weaves a tale of professional challenges and romantic entanglements as Emily navigates the cultural nuances of her new home. 

It’s a picturesque postcard of Paris, inviting viewers into the heart of French culture, fashion, and the allure of the city.  

To get your fix of the show these are the top five spots to visit:

1. Place de l’Estrapade – The real star of the show, this quaint square in the Latin Quarter of Paris, is where Emily’s apartment and her favourite bakery are located. It’s a genuine slice of Parisian life.
2. Jardin du Palais Royal – A serene escape from the city’s hustle, this garden is where Emily meets Mindy for the first time
3. Marché d’Aligre – This bustling market is where Emily explores the culinary delights of Paris, showcasing the city’s vibrant local life and gastronomy.
4. Place de Valois – Home to the Savoir office where Emily works, this elegant square is surrounded by chic boutiques and cafes.
5. Pont Alexandre III – This ornate bridge is the backdrop for several romantic scenes. Its grandeur and views over the Seine make it a must-visit.

No 2 Midnight in Paris

I think Midnight in Paris has to be my all-time favourite movie about Paris. On my last trip, I stayed in a hotel in the Latin Quarter just down the road from the famous church steps where the main character, played by Owen Wilson, is mysteriously transported back in time to the 1920s.

The movie takes you on a nostalgic journey through the streets of Paris, both in the present and the past. It tells the story of Gil Pender, a screenwriter and aspiring novelist on vacation with his fiancée and her family. 

Disenchanted with his life, Gil finds himself magically transported to the 1920s each night at midnight, mingling with the legendary artists and writers of the era. The film is a love letter to Paris and its profound impact on creative minds, blending whimsy, romance, and the allure of the city’s bygone eras.

Here are five of my favourite places to go that are featured in the movie:

1. Stairs of the Church of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont – The magical starting point of Gil’s nightly journeys, located near the Pantheon in the Latin Quarter.
2. Palais Garnier – The opulent opera house makes an appearance, highlighting Paris’s rich cultural tapestry and architectural grandeur.
3. Monet’s Gardens in Giverny – Although not in Paris itself, the film makes a scenic detour to these lush gardens that inspired Monet’s Water Lilies series.
4. Shakespeare and Company Bookstore – This legendary English-language bookstore captures the literary heart of Paris, echoing the city’s influence on writers.
5. Le Polidor – A historic restaurant that appears as a meeting place for Gil and the literary figures of the 1920s, known for its traditional French cuisine.

No 3 The Philosopher’s Stone

In “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” Nicolas Flamel is revealed as the alchemist who created the Philosopher’s Stone, a substance with the power to grant eternal life and turn any metal into pure gold. 

While the series itself doesn’t explore Flamel’s life in Paris in detail, he was a real historical figure, and you can see the house he had built and some of his other haunts.

Nicholas Flamel’s house is at 51 Rue de Montmorency, and it’s considered the oldest stone house in Paris, built by Flamel himself. On the ground floor is a restaurant aptly named Auberge Nicolas Flamel.

No 4 Julie Julia

When this movie first came out in 2009 it inspired me to start writing my first blog and the fact that so much of it was set in Paris was a bonus.

“Julie & Julia” intertwines the lives of two women, separated by time and space, who find solace and purpose through the art of cooking. 

Julie Powell, feeling aimless in her early 30s, embarks on a year-long culinary quest to cook all 524 recipes in Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” from her small apartment in Queens, New York. 

Meanwhile, the film also recounts Julia Child’s journey in the 1950s as she discovers her passion for French cuisine and embarks on her path to becoming a celebrated chef and author in Paris. 

The film beautifully captures the transformative power of cooking and its ability to inspire and connect people across generations.

These five places are some of the Paris hotspots used in the movie:

1. Les Deux Magots – This famous café in Saint-Germain-des-Prés encapsulates the spirit of the Parisian café culture that Julia Child loved.
2. Hôtel Pont Royal Paris – The hotel where Julia and her husband stayed when they first arrived in Paris. I stayed there in December last year and my room had amazing views of the Eiffel Tower.
3. E. Dehillerin – The famed cookware shop in Paris where Julia Child would have sourced her kitchen tools. It’s a treasure trove for cooking enthusiasts.
4. La Fontaine de Mars – A classic Parisian bistro where Julia Child had her first meal in Paris and famously tried Sole Meunière.
5. 81, Rue de l’Université – Rue de Loo as Julia called it is the street in Paris where the Childs lived. It’s here that she hosted her first little cooking school in her apartment with the help of Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle.

Final thoughts: The Set-Jetting Trend in France

I’m definitely guilty of set-jetting both in France and when I go back to the UK to see my Mum. 

A movie I love that’s set in France called ‘Paris Can Wait’ inspired a trip to Lyon, and last year I took my mum to Bletchley Park after seeing the TV show ‘The Bletchley Circle’.