Did you know? Christopher Nolan's big-budget adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey was shot across six countries over a 91-day production. Talk about a packed schedule! From the sun-baked ksar of Aït Benhaddou standing in for Troy, to the black sand beaches of Iceland acting as the entrance to Hades, the film's real-world locations have turned into one of 2026's most-searched travel bucket lists. And we can see why!
If you're planning to follow in Odysseus's footsteps, the good news is you won't need ten years and dicey stand-offs with mythical monsters. The less perilous challenge is making sure you land with the right currency in your pocket. Here's where The Odyssey was filmed, and the money you'll need to sort out before you go.
TL; DR: what currencies do I need for The Odyssey filming locations?
For travellers ticking off every location, you'll need four currencies:
- Morocco: Moroccan Dirham (MAD)
- Greece, Italy & Malta: Euro (EUR)
- Scotland (UK): British Pound (GBP)
- Iceland: Icelandic Króna (ISK)
Moroccan Dirham, Euro, British Pound and Icelandic Króna can be ordered online at Travel Money Oz for in-store pickup or home delivery. Or, simply pop into your local Travel Money Oz store to buy currency on the spot.
Morocco: Troy's dusty streets and the Trojan Horse beach
Morocco did the heavy lifting as ancient Troy. The UNESCO-listed ksar of Aït Benhaddou near Ouarzazate (already famous from Gladiator and Game of Thrones) stood in for the besieged city, while the market town of Tahanaout, about 20 miles south of Marrakech, filled in for parts of the city too. The coastal town of Essaouira supplied the beach where the Trojan Horse was reportedly dragged ashore.
Currency you need: Moroccan Dirham (MAD)
The dirham is a ‘closed’ currency, which means it's actually illegal to take it out of Morocco and hard to buy once you're back home. That makes it one of the trickier currencies for Aussie travellers to plan around. Practical tips:
- Grab Moroccan Dirham at Travel Money Oz before you fly, so you’re not left trying to source the currency abroad with high fees.
- Budget carefully – you generally can't convert leftover dirham back into AUD once you leave the country.
- Carry some cash for markets (souks) and smaller riads, as card acceptance drops off outside Marrakech and Casablanca.
Greece: Nestor's Cave and the Cyclops
The Peloponnese region hosted several of the film's most talked-about sequences, including the Cyclops scene, filmed in a real cave (widely reported as Nestor's Cave) rather than on a set. Other locations cited include Voidokilia Beach's horseshoe-shaped cove, the Venetian-built Methoni Castle, and the clifftop fortress of Acrocorinth.
Currency you need: Euro (EUR)
Greece is part of the Eurozone, so:
- Keep physical Euro cash in your wallet for tavernas, ferries and smaller island towns where card fees or connectivity can be patchy.
- A Travel Money Oz Currency Pass loaded with EUR is a solid backup for cities like Athens or Kalamata, where card payments are widely accepted.
Italy & Malta: Ithaca, the Aeolian Islands and Aeolia
Sicily doubled as Odysseus's home island of Ithaca, with the island of Favignana (also known as ‘Goat Island’) and the clifftop ruin of Castello di Santa Caterina used for the palace exteriors. The Aeolian Islands – Lipari, Vulcano and Basiluzzo – reportedly filled in for the mythical island of Aeolia, home of the wind god. The production also shot scenes on the island nation of Malta.
Currency you need: Euro (EUR)
Both Italy and Malta use the Euro, so one currency covers this whole leg of the trip:
- Order EUR ahead of time at Travel Money Oz to avoid often steep rates at airport exchange counters in Palermo or Malta International Airport.
- If you're island-hopping between Favignana, the Aeolians and Malta, keep some euro cash on hand – ferry ticket booths and smaller harbour towns aren't always card-friendly.
Scotland: Ithaca's kingdom, the Laestrygonians and Circe's island
Scotland's Moray Firth coast, around 25 miles northeast of Inverness, provided several of the film's most dramatic scenes. The pine woodlands of Culbin Forest were used for the encounter with the giant Laestrygonians, while the ruined 15th-century Findlater Castle, perched on a cliff above the firth, stood in for the home of the sorceress Circe.
Currency you need: British Pound (GBP)
- The official currency of the United Kingdom is Great British Pounds. You can load GBP directly on a Travel Money Oz Currency Pass to use where card is accepted.
- However, have some physical pounds on hand if you’re heading to smaller towns near the Moray Coastal Trail where ATMs can be sparse.
Iceland: the gates of Hades and the Westman Islands
Iceland's black sand beaches near Vík stood in for the entrance to the underworld in the film. The remote southern coast, including the ferry departure point of Landeyjahöfn, is also the gateway to the Westman Islands, a volcanic archipelago home to the world's largest puffin colony.
Currency you need: Icelandic Króna (ISK)
- Iceland is famously card-friendly, but it's worth carrying a small amount of ISK cash for remote areas, national park entry, or the occasional cash-only stall.
- Rates on ISK can move quickly, so locking in your currency ahead of a trip with Travel Money Oz can help you budget accurately for a country known for its exchange rate swings.
Ready to embark on your odyssey? Make sure to tick these filming locations off your bucket list and have the correct currency on hand. Order online or find your nearest Travel Money Oz store to speak with our superstar foreign currency experts.
Disclaimer:
This blog is provided for information only and does not take into consideration your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the information and suggestions contained in any blog entry are appropriate for you, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs. While we take reasonable care in providing the blog, we give no warranties or representations that it is complete or accurate, or is appropriate for you. We are not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise, arising from the use of, or reliance on, the information and/or suggestions contained in this blog.
About the Author
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Amber Dorman
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