Twilight Filming Locations And Tours

The Short Answer

The Twilight franchise was mainly filmed in Oregon for the first movie and British Columbia, Canada for the sequels, rather than the story's setting of Forks, Washington. Additional international locations included Italy and Brazil. Fans can visit real sites including the Cullen house in Portland, Bella's house in St. Helens, and Montepulciano in Tuscany, which stood in for Volterra in New Moon.

The Twilight films tell a story set in the rainy town of Forks, Washington, but the cameras rarely went there. The 2008 original was shot largely in Oregon, in and around Portland, St. Helens, Kalama and several state parks. The sequels moved north to Vancouver and British Columbia, with detours to Tuscany and Brazil for key scenes.

The franchise earned over $3.3 billion worldwide across five films released between 2008 and 2012, and its filming locations still draw fans more than a decade later. Many sites are public parks or towns that require no special access, while a couple of the most famous houses are private residences with their own rules.

Every Location At A Glance

Location	Where	What was filmed	Access
Hoke House (Cullen House)	Portland, United States	Cullen family home exteriors and interiors, piano scene, family meeting	Outside only
Swan House (Bella's House)	St. Helens, United States	Bella and Charlie Swan's home, exteriors and interiors	Ticketed
Kalama High School	Kalama, United States	Forks High School exteriors, parking lot van scene, cafeteria and corridors	Free to see
Indian Beach, Ecola State Park	Cannon Beach, United States	La Push beach scenes, Jacob telling Quileute legends	Free to see
Silver Falls State Park	Silverton, United States	Forest running scenes, meadow and tree canopy sequences	Free to see
Montepulciano	Montepulciano, Italy	Volterra town square, festival scenes, streets for Volturi city	Free to see
Paraty	Paraty, Brazil	Isle Esme honeymoon beach and house scenes	Free to see
Carver Cafe	Damascus, United States	The Lodge diner scenes with Bella and Charlie	Free to see

Filming Locations Map

8 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Location By Location

This modern residence in Portland's Forest Park area, completed in 2007 by Skylab Architecture, served as the Cullen family home in Twilight (2008). Exteriors, interiors, the piano scene and the family meeting were filmed here. It remains a private home, so viewing is exterior only, from the street or driveway edge, with no trespassing. The owners welcome respectful photos from a distance.

Bella and Charlie Swan's house in Twilight (2008) is a private residence in St. Helens, Oregon, used for both exteriors and interiors. Unusually for a filming location, it is available as an Airbnb rental for fans, so the most dedicated visitors can sleep in Bella's bedroom. Booking in advance is recommended since demand from the fandom remains steady years after release.

Kalama High School in Washington stood in for Forks High School in Twilight (2008). The parking lot van scene, cafeteria and corridors were filmed here, along with the school exteriors. It is an active school, so visitors should come during non-school hours or events and respect students and staff. It is one of the few Twilight sites actually located in Washington.

The La Push beach scenes in Twilight (2008), including Jacob telling Quileute legends, were shot at Indian Beach in Ecola State Park near Cannon Beach, Oregon, rather than the real La Push in Washington. The beach is public, with a state park entry fee, parking, trails and coastal views. It is a popular spot in its own right, so arrive early in summer.

Silver Falls State Park near Silverton, Oregon, provided the forest running scenes, meadow and tree canopy sequences in Twilight (2008). The park is public with a day-use fee and parking, and its Trail of Ten Falls makes it one of the most rewarding Twilight locations for a full day out. Waterfalls and mossy forest give the scenery an appropriately moody Pacific Northwest feel.

Montepulciano in Tuscany stood in for Volterra in The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009), hosting the town square, festival scenes and streets used for the Volturi city. The real Volterra was never used. The historic hill town is open to visitors, and Twilight tours and signs are available at the tourist office, making it the easiest international location for a themed visit.

Paraty, a coastal town in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, provided the Isle Esme honeymoon beach and house scenes in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011). The town is public and accessible, with some sites reachable by boat. Beyond the Twilight connection, visitors come for the scenic beaches and the well-preserved historic center, which pairs well with a few days on the coast.

Carver Cafe in Damascus, Oregon, played The Lodge diner in Twilight (2008), where Bella and Charlie shared several scenes. It has been an operating diner since the 1950s and remains open to the public, with Twilight-themed menu items available. It is one of the simplest locations to visit: no fees, no restrictions, just a meal in a recognizable setting about half an hour from Portland.

Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed

The story is set in Forks, Washington, with side trips to La Push and, in New Moon, Volterra in Italy. Filming told a different story. Twilight (2008) was shot primarily in Oregon, using St. Helens, Portland, Silver Falls, Vernonia and Ecola State Park, with Kalama High School in Washington supplying the school scenes. The sequels moved to Vancouver and British Columbia, while Montepulciano in Tuscany doubled for Volterra and Paraty in Brazil stood in for the Isle Esme honeymoon. Forks itself embraces the fandom but appears little on screen.

The Studio Side

Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge, United States, served as a production base for the franchise. It is not open to public visits and no studio tour is offered there, so travelers should focus on the practical locations listed above.

Tours That Visit These Locations

Only one dedicated Twilight tour appears among bookable options: a guided New Moon tour in Montepulciano, the Italian hill town that doubled for Volterra. Elsewhere, most locations are self-guided and free or low cost, so a rental car and a little planning go a long way.

Volterra Stand-In Walk, Montepulciano

Twilight Saga: the New Moon tour in Montepulciano

At $128.62, this guided tour walks the actual New Moon locations in Montepulciano, including the town square and festival streets, with a 3.8 rating from 5 reviews. It suits travelers already in Tuscany who want the Volturi city explained on the ground.

3.8 out of 5 · 5 reviewsMontepulciano

From$129Check availability

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Twilight filmed in Forks, Washington?

No. Although the story is set in Forks, the first film was shot mainly in Oregon, in places like St. Helens, Portland, Silver Falls, Vernonia and Ecola State Park, with some school scenes at Kalama High School in Washington. The sequels were filmed in and around Vancouver, British Columbia.

Can you visit the Cullen house?

Only from the outside. The Hoke House in Portland is a private residence completed in 2007 by Skylab Architecture. Visitors can view it from the street or driveway edge, and the owners welcome respectful photos, but trespassing is not permitted.

Can you stay in Bella's house?

Yes. The Swan house in St. Helens, Oregon, is a private residence available as an Airbnb rental for fans. Booking in advance is recommended.

Where were the Volterra scenes in New Moon filmed?

In Montepulciano, Tuscany, not the actual Volterra. The town square, festival scenes and Volturi city streets were all shot there, and the town offers Twilight tours and signs through its tourist office.

Where was the honeymoon in Breaking Dawn filmed?

The Isle Esme honeymoon beach and house scenes in Breaking Dawn Part 1 were filmed in and around Paraty, in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The coastal town is open to visitors, with some sites reachable by boat.

Is there an official Twilight tour?

No single official franchise tour exists. A guided New Moon tour operates in Montepulciano, and the Oregon locations can be visited independently by car, since most are public parks, a diner, or viewable private homes.

For most travelers, the practical Twilight trip is an Oregon road trip: Portland for the Cullen house, St. Helens for Bella's, Damascus for the diner, and the state parks for the forest and beach scenery, with Kalama a short detour into Washington. Tuscany adds the Volterra stand-in with a guided option, and Brazil suits travelers combining the fandom with a coastal itinerary. Book the Montepulciano tour ahead in peak season, and always respect the private homes along the way.