Upamanyu Biswas
NBC’s ‘Destination X’ is a reality competition series where participants must embark on “a trip of a lifetime” as they travel across a variety of countries on a blacked-out “Destination X” bus with the prime objective of finding out where “X” is on the map. Hosted by Jeffrey Dean Morgan, the travel adventure show, which is adapted from a hit Belgian project, brings together a group of complete strangers for a geo-guessing contest where they must complete challenges to receive clues regarding their mysterious whereabouts. To that end, they will have to utilize their own knowledge of pop culture, history, and geography to gain an advantage over their competitors. Naturally, the backdrop plays an integral role in the central conceit of the game as we span a multitude of unfamiliar tourist spots that provide life and intrigue to the series.
Destination X Filming Locations
Filming for ‘Destination X’ takes place across the entire European continent, with major breathtaking locations playing a huge part in the show’s overall setup. Principal photography for the inaugural season of the travel competition project likely occurred during the months of September and October 2024. As per the creative team, the series is postured as a “high-stakes guessing game” where a number of key, stunning locales in European nations serve as the central mystery for the group of participants. Thus, it creatively combines the scenic beauty of its eye-catching setting with the main gamified idea driving the entire show. As a result, both contestants and the presenter were excited by the prospect of turning a travel tour idea into a competitive game with meaningful outcomes.
London, England
One of the prominent filming locales for ‘Destination X’ is the bustling city of London, England, a prime nerve point of the world’s trade, commerce, and entertainment. While the exact whereabouts of the contestants are kept a secret from them until the episode is over, London’s shadow is hard to miss in a variety of shots across the project. To that end, keen-eyed members of the audience will likely notice iconic London landmarks such as the Shard and the London Eye spread across the show. Other tourist spots in the capital city include the Palace of Westminster, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. These areas are known for their history and culture, which are vital factors when trying to guess the whereabouts of a mystery spot.
Valais, Switzerland
The alpine ranges of Switzerland are synonymous with breathtaking beauty. As such, it makes perfect sense for the production team on ‘Destination X’ to utilize the picturesque locales spread around the region as one of the central mystery spots in the show. The Jungfraujoch Sphinx Observatory is one such inclusion in the series, known for its storied past and the rocky summit it is built on. Interestingly, it is one of the highest observatories in the world, situated at Eigergletscher-Jungfraujoch, 3818 Grindelwald, which is 3,571 meters above mean sea level in the Valais canton. The building was opened years ago in 1937 and continues to serve today as an astronomical observatory, helping chart the mechanisms of the universe. Its unique heritage makes it a memorable addition to the retinue of spots in the NBC reality show.
Thoiry, France
The unorthodox tourist locales are a signature style of ‘Destination X,’ which is lensed in a zoo just outside Paris, France, known as Thoiry ZooSafari. Located at 2 Rue du Pavillon de Montreuil, the enclosed area is home to plentiful wildlife and Renaissance architecture that combines the best of both worlds. However, in the NBC series, the audience is brought in touch with a wide, all-encompassing maze nestled within the zoo’s grounds. The space extends to nearly 6,000 square meters in area, while the maze itself is built out of 15,000 meters of yew hedges grown specifically for the adventure. It intrinsically provides a challenge for the players to figure out their location as they try not to get lost in the maze’s complex routes and unending dead ends.
Salzburg, Austria
Medieval history is a large part of Europe’s allure as a continent and its vibrant tourist culture. To that end, the production team on ‘Destination X’ may have found it a perk to be able to film in such grand and majestic areas that are dripping with history and heritage. Such is also the case with the Moosham Castle in Austria, which likely serves as another mystery spot for the participants to figure out. The structure was erected in 1137 near Unternberg in the Lungau region of Salzburg. Its exact address is Moosham 12, 5585 Unternberg. Although it may be privately owned, it is intrinsically linked with Austria’s medieval roots, offering tourists and visitors alike a glimpse into what life must have been centuries ago. In the show, it offers a quandary for the players to find out their whereabouts from the clues provided to them routinely.
Rome, Italy
No travel tour of Europe is complete without visiting the home of the Roman Empire. As such, the cast and crew on ‘Destination X’ stopped by the cobblestoned pathways and sunny Mediterranean region of Rome, Italy. The capital city is home to ancient Roman architecture and numerous structures that have gone down as some of the most memorable historical spots preserved today. In the show, landmarks such as the Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Roman Forum, and Saint Peter’s Basilica make a notable appearance in the series, lending weight and gravitas to the region. More importantly, it provides the participants with a dilemma as they try to figure out where they are trapped while delving into their knowledge of ancient Roman history and pop culture artifacts. Outside Rome, shooting also likely takes place in Venice.
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