Villa Balbianello is also known as Lake Como Star Wars Villa. — LEWIS J. GOETZ/Unsplash
The pun is always strong on May 4: It is the day when Star Wars fans band together to celebrate the popular franchise.
Its existence wasn’t an intentional move on creator George Lucas’ part, it only came about because fans were making a pun out of the famous quote “May the force be with you” (first uttered by Obi-Wan Kenobi in 1977’s Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope), replacing the word “force” with “fourth”.
The modified phrase “May the fourth be with you” gained traction and became associated with May 4, to the point that even Lucas’ production company Lucasfilm and its parent company Disney acknowledged this, the date was eventually recognised as Star Wars Day.
Anything Star Wars related is a go on this day, so don’t be surprised to see fans walking around in decidedly out-of-this-world garbs – they’re just cosplaying their favourite characters from the media franchise. Yes, even if it means enduring a sauna-like environment while confined in their Chewbacca costume.
To the wanderlusters in the fandom, making a pilgrimage to the locations where the franchise’s films and series were shot can be a fun way to celebrate the day.
Tunisia may be the most well-known of these filming locations, due to the popularity of Hotel Sidi Driss in Matmata that served as the interior setting for Luke Skywalker’s Tatooine home.
In fact, Lucas’ decision to bestow the name Tatooine to the fictional desert planet that the main character lives on was influenced by the fact that he and his crew were based in an actual Tunisian city called Tataouine while filming in the North African country.
For a franchise spanning 12 movies and 13 series (both animated and live-action), the production crew unsurprisingly has travelled to every corner of the world identifying places to use as sets. Far or near, there’s no shortage of Star Wars filming locations to visit.
No travelling “across the stars” (Anidala fans might appreciate this), just across the seas. Here we’ll suggest a few locations that are more accessible to us from Malaysia. So, if you’re a Star Wars fan and a travel bug, this one’s for you.
Phang Nga Bay has an otherworldly charm. — OLIVIER BERGERON/Unsplash
Phang Nga Bay, Thailand
The next time you visit our neighbouring country Thailand, you might want to make a detour to Phang Nga Bay.
With its limestone cliffs and turquoise waters, it has served as scenic backdrops for various Hollywood blockbusters. Among these movies was Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, in which it was used as the background shots for Kashyyyk, the homeworld of the franchise’s hirsute humanoid species known as Wookiee.
It might not be immediately recognisable thanks to Hollywood’s heavy use of CGI, but postproduction filming for the 2005 movie was done here and the area’s stately tower karst can be seen during the Battle of Kashyyyk scenes.
The best way to visit the bay would be to book a boat tour from Phuket or Krabi; either city is accessible by direct flight from Kuala Lumpur that will take roughly one hour and 30 minutes.
You can then spend the day hopping from one island to another, one of which is actually the island that propelled the bay to global fame back in the 1970s. The island, Khao Phing Kan, was the setting for two James Bond movies, leading to it being nicknamed James Bond Island.
A bonus if you’re both a Star Wars and a James Bond fan really, as this is the best destination to unleash your inner Wookiee or suave martini-shaking spy.
Tower karst lend an ethereal feel to Guilin. — WILLIAM ZHANG/Unsplash
Guilin, China
Speaking of Revenge of the Sith, there was another Asian location used to create Kashyyyk’s ethereal landscape.
It’s none other than the city of Guilin in China’s autonomous region Guangxi, which borders Vietnam. This proximity to South-East Asia explains its geological features that bear a striking resemblance to Phang Nga Bay, with its towering limestone hills and serene lakes.
Similar to its Thai “twin”, shots of Guilin’s stunning vista can be spotted in the background during scenes set on Kashyyyk.
Visiting the city is easy enough, since we have two local airlines with direct flights to it from Kuala Lumpur. AirAsia launched its Guilin route in May last year, while Batik Air will be commencing its Guilin flights this June 4.
When you visit the city, it is recommended that you take in its natural wonders with a leisurely cruise down Li River. Winding through Guilin to Yangshuo, the over 80km-long river passes through various attractions, including Elephant Trunk Hill (climb this to be rewarded with a sprawling view of Guilin) and Yellow Cloth Shoal (whip out a 20-yuan banknote and see if you can find the perfect angle to capture the exact scenery immortalised on the cash).
Tower karst lend an ethereal feel to Guilin. — ZHIMAI ZHANG/Unsplash 
Laamu Atoll’s tall trees appeared briefly in Rogue One. — ABDULLA FAIZ/Unsplash
Laamu Atoll, Maldives
Maldives’ crystal-clear waters and white sandy beaches, specifically the ones at Laamu Atoll, provided the perfect setting as the tropical Planet Scarif that appeared in 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Usually only two of the Laamu Atoll islands would be named when filming locations are mentioned, when in actuality five islands were utilised in the production. The first one is Gan (not to be confused with the Gan islands at Addu Atoll and Huvadhu Atoll).
Then there’s Baresdhoo, the uninhabited island that appeared briefly in the scene where the rebels were seen passing through a thick jungle. Another uninhabited island, Kudarah, was used for the promotional shot showing the Stormtroopers knee-deep in the turquoise waters.
The lesser-known Maafushi and Kudafushi, two crescent-shaped islands forming a unique enclosed area between them, featured more prominently in both promotional materials and in the final battles. Yet, both islands are not as widely recognised.
It could be because they’re small, uninhabited islands. It could also be due to the fact that their existence is overshadowed by other islands sharing the same names – there are four other islands named Maafushi and three others named Kudafushi in Maldives.
A good pre-planning task to do if you plan to visit these filming locations is to look up the video done by married couple Aishath Naj and Daniel Bosley (a Maldivian photographer and a British writer, respectively), which detailed their exploration of the places.
Getting to Laamu Atoll requires flying in to Maldives’ capital Malé first. Both AirAsia and Batik Air currently operate non-stop flights to Malé, while Malaysia Airlines will commence its Malé flights on Aug 1. Flying will take around four-and-a-half hours each way, just half an hour longer than the flight duration to Guilin.
From the Malé-Velana International Airport, you will need to take a 45-minute domestic flight to Kadhdhoo Airport. Once you’ve reached Kadhdhoo, which is Laamu Atoll’s main island, you’ll be transported to your accommodation by van or speedboat.
Canary Wharf Station, London
The Canary Wharf station has a futuristic look. — PATRICK ROBERT DOYLE/Unsplash
Still on Rogue One, the next filming location is found in East London, England. It is at the Jubilee Line’s Canary Wharf station (cover image), to be exact.
A stark contrast to Maldives’ tropical vibe, the station’s futuristic design fits the bill as an Imperial complex, which was why it was chosen to portray the interior of the Citadel Tower.
The location was later revisited in 2021 for another Star Wars production, namely the acclaimed series Andor. With the help of green screens on some parts, it was transformed into the exterior of the ISB Central Office or the Imperial Security Bureau Headquarters, which made its onscreen debut in the series’ first season in 2022.
The production crew was once again spotted at the station in 2023, this time for the filming of the series’ second season, which is set to premiere in 2025.
Hop on a Malaysia Airlines flight, which will take 13 hours or so from Kuala Lumpur to London, to begin your journey to Canary Wharf. Once in London, you’ll need to take the underground train on the Jubilee Line Extension, which will take you to the Canary Wharf station that is frequently used for filming.
Note that Canary Wharf is also served by the Docklands Light Railway and Elizabeth Line. All three lines have separate stations, but within walking distance from each other. It is just outside the Elizabeth Line that you will find Adams Place Bridge, also an Andor filming location.
The Brunswick Centre and Barbican Estate, London
Since you’re already in London, might as well continue on your hunt for a couple more Andor filming locations.
The Brutalist architecture of the Brunswick Centre and Barbican Estate once again fits the futuristic aesthetics that the space opera spin-off calls for, perfectly representing the sci-fi landscape of the city-planet of Coruscant.
Both are popular filming locations for other movies too, especially the latter. They are located about 15 minutes from each other by car, or roughly 40 minutes on foot.
If you’re willing to travel a little further beyond London, Andor was additionally filmed in Black Park Country Park in Buckinghamshire. Located to the north-east of the capital city, the county has also featured in various blockbusters, including Marvel and Harry Potter movies.
Then there is also the Coryton refinery in Corringham, Essex. Reportedly, another Essex location, West Hanningfield Waterworks near Chelmsford, was also used for the series’ filming.
From Essex you can make your way to Whippendell Wood. The 67ha woodland near Watford made brief appearances in Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, portraying the forest on the planet Naboo.
Lake Como, Italy
Moving on to the more romantic side of Naboo, you can visit the Varykino Villa where Anakin and Padmé Amidala (or Anidala, as some might refer to this couple) had their wedding in Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones. Ever since its appearance in the movie, Italy’s Villa Balbianello has come to be known as Lake Como Star Wars Villa.
You can even reenact this moment by holding your own wedding there (hopefully not secretly like the star-crossed lovers did). It can be rented for weddings and private events, though not for overnight stays. As expected, there have been plenty of Star Wars-themed weddings held at this elegant villa that overlooks Lake Como’s western shore.
Originally a monastery when it was built in the 13th century, expansion over the centuries eventually led to it transformation into a mansion for Cardinal Angelo Maria Durini during the 18th century.
After a lengthy period of serving as a dwelling for cardinals and noble families, it is now in the care of the Italian Environmental Fund, a non-profit organisation that is dedicated to protecting Italy’s historical, artistic and landscape heritage.
The website mylakecomo.co provides info on the opening hours and entrance fees to visit the villa or its garden or both. Guided tours are also provided if you wish to learn more about the place rather than just dropping by for a photo-op.
Malaysia Airlines operates flights to Rome, and from there you can take a train to Lake Como. Once at the lake, you’ll need to either take a taxi-boat or walk to the villa, as it is not accessible by any other modes of transportation.
Other than visiting the villa, you can additionally make a stop at the Picnic Meadow that’s not far from it, which appeared in Attack of the Clones as the spot where Anakin and Padmé had a picnic.
