Gaming vacations are the new travel trend. Find out which real-life locations from Assassin’s Creed, GTA, The Witcher and Ghost of Tsushima are worth visiting in France, the USA, Japan and Norway

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Video games have long gone beyond the screens and have become a source of inspiration for travel. From the streets of Paris to the neon districts of Tokyo, gamers are increasingly planning their routes based not on guidebooks, but on their favorite game worlds.

This is how a new travel trend has emerged – gaming or game vacations, when travelers go to real locations that inspired the developers of Assassin’s Creed, GTA, The Witcher, Ghost of Tsushima and other legendary games.

We will tell you about the best locations in this article.

Discovering a new country for yourself without travel agents and intermediaries is easy with a travel guide from Visit World. This is a convenient checklist for a traveler, which contains all the relevant information for the trip: visa requirements, visa-free travel rules, permitted periods of stay and a list of necessary documents.

After completing the guide, it will be sent to your email in PDF format in just a few minutes, so you can immediately start preparing for the trip.

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Why are gaming vacations a trend?

Modern tourists are increasingly looking for emotional experiences and immersion rather than standard excursions. Generation Z and Alpha prefer thematic trips related to their hobbies - music, cinema or video games.

Gamers already have a “virtual experience” of these places - dozens or hundreds of hours in the game create the effect of familiarity. It is not surprising that tourist offices cooperate with gaming influencers, and cities are launching Assassin’s Creed routes, AR quests and interactive guides.

France: Paris and the worlds of Assassin’s Creed and Pokémon

Paris is one of the most popular destinations for gaming tourism. It is here that the events of Assassin’s Creed Unity unfold, where the city is recreated in detail during the French Revolution. Gamers will recognize Notre Dame Cathedral, the Palais de la Cité, and the Seine embankments.

In the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: The Siege of Paris expansion, the city appears in a 9th-century version, and Pokémon Legends Z-A offers a fantasy vision of Paris with rooftop walks.

In addition to the capital, game fans travel to:

- To the south of France – locations that inspired Toussaint from The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine.

- To the Dordogne region – the atmosphere of the indie game of the same name.

- To the French Alps – settings for Steep and Syberia

USA: cities that became the basis of GTA and Spider-Man

The USA is a real mecca for gamer travelers.

- San Francisco is known for Watch Dogs 2 and Driver: San Francisco. Tourists visit the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Fisherman’s Wharf.

- Los Angeles became the prototype of Los Santos in GTA V. Santa Monica Pier, Hollywood and Griffith Observatory are easily recognizable by fans of the series.

- New York appears in Spider-Man, The Division, Max Payne and GTA. Times Square, Central Park and the Statue of Liberty are must-sees for fans of gaming metropolises.

Oregon, which inspired Life is Strange, and Glacier National Park in Montana, familiar to fans of Far Cry 5, deserve special attention.

Italy: Assassin’s Creed, Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy

Italy is the perfect destination for combining history and gaming. Rome, Florence, Venice, San Gimignano appear in the Assassin’s Creed series.

Venice also served as the prototype for Altissia in Final Fantasy XV and the location for Tomb Raider 2.

Special places to visit:

- Palmanova – a star-studded fortified city that inspired Gears of War 4

- Capri – the setting for the puzzle game Anacapri: The Dream

Norway: God of War and The Witcher landscapes

Norwegian nature has become the basis for many game worlds.

The Jotunheim mountains appear in God of War Ragnarök, and the fjords, Flörli and the island of Karmei – in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

The Lofoten Islands inspired the creation of the kingdom of Skellige from The Witcher 3. Here you can go kayaking and surfing, explore fishing villages, get acquainted with the Viking heritage

Japan: The Worlds of Yakuza, Zelda, and Ghost of Tsushima

Japan is one of the most popular destinations among gamers.

Tokyo is familiar to fans of the Yakuza, Persona 5, and Digimon Cyber ​​Sleuth series. The districts of Shibuya, Akihabara, and Shinjuku look almost exactly like in the game.

Osaka with its Dotonbori inspired the atmosphere of Yakuza, and the landscapes of Honshu and Hokkaido became the basis for the world of The Legend of Zelda.

Tsushima Island, where the events of Ghost of Tsushima take place, attracts travelers with temples, landscapes, and kayaking in Aso Bay.

Gaming travel is more than tourism. It is an opportunity to bring your favorite worlds to life, walk familiar routes, and experience emotions that were previously only available in a game.

Gaming vacations have already become part of modern travel culture - and this trend is only gaining momentum.

Planning a gaming vacation to Paris, Tokyo, Rome or New York? The travel guide from Visit World will help you prepare for your trip without unnecessary hassle and surprises at the border.

The guide contains all the important information for independent travelers: visa rules, visa-free conditions, permitted periods of stay and a list of documents for traveling to countries where iconic gaming locations from Assassin’s Creed, GTA, The Witcher and other games are located.

Prepare for your gaming trip in advance with the travel guide from Visit World.

Reminder! Popular tourist destinations can become a trap. We have already told you which 8 places in the world Fodor’s recommends avoiding in 2026 due to overtourism, environmental risks and social tension – and what alternatives to choose instead.

Photo – generated by Gemini