When Was National Lampoon’s European Vacation Filmed?

By Alice Nichols

If you’re a fan of the National Lampoon’s Vacation series, you’re probably curious about the filming dates of each movie. In this article, we’ll be focusing on National Lampoon’s European Vacation and when it was filmed.

Background

National Lampoon’s European Vacation is a 1985 comedy film directed by Amy Heckerling and written by John Hughes. It is the second installment in the National Lampoon’s Vacation series and follows the Griswold family as they travel across Europe.

Filming Dates

National Lampoon’s European Vacation was filmed from May 28 to August 31, 1984. The movie was primarily shot on location in various European countries including England, France, Germany, Italy, and Austria.

England

The production crew began filming in England in late May. They shot scenes in London at landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and the Tower Bridge. They also filmed at Heathrow Airport where the Griswold family arrives for their European adventure.

France

In early June, filming moved to France where scenes were shot in Paris at locations including the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame Cathedral. The cast and crew also traveled to other French cities such as Versailles and Cannes for additional scenes.

Germany

The production team then traveled to Germany where they filmed in Frankfurt, Bavaria, and Munich. The famous Oktoberfest scene was shot in Munich at Theresienwiese.

Italy

In July, filming moved to Italy where scenes were shot in Rome at landmarks like the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain. They also traveled to other Italian cities such as Venice and Florence for additional scenes.

Austria

The final leg of filming took place in Austria where the cast and crew shot scenes in Vienna and Salzburg. The famous scene where Clark Griswold accidentally drives the family car off a mountain was filmed in Krimml, Austria.

Conclusion

National Lampoon’s European Vacation was filmed over the course of three months in various locations across Europe. The movie was released in 1985 and remains a classic comedy to this day. If you’re planning on re-watching this classic movie, now you know when it was filmed and where some of your favorite scenes were shot!