The final season attracted 59.6 million views globally
within the first five days after its release on Netflix. Although the series is set in the fictional town of
Hawkins, Indiana, attention has shifted to a filming location in southern Iceland.
According to data shared by Bókun, a a Tripadvisor tour booking
management company, Google searches for “Haifoss
waterfall” and “Haifoss twin waterfalls” increased by approximately 5000% following
the release of the finale. The waterfall, located near the Hekla volcano,
appeared in one of the final scenes of the series.
The location has generated discussion among viewers
due to its distinctive landscape, which features two prominent waterfalls and,
according to some interpretations, a smaller third cascade. This visual element
has been linked by fans to aspects of the series storyline.
Broader travel-related interest has also increased. Google searches for “the best time to visit Iceland” rose by around 5000% during the last 30 days, indicating heightened destination awareness following the series’ conclusion.
Social media activity has contributed to this trend,
with videos of visitors at Haifoss attracting hundreds of thousands of views.
The volume of user-generated content highlights the role of digital platforms
in influencing travel awareness and destination discovery.
“The influence pop
culture has on tourism is a fascinating phenomenon that continues to shape
travel trends globally,” said Samuel
Jefferies, Senior Growth Marketing Manager at Bókun.
“As searches for
Haifoss Waterfalls surge, following the Stranger Things finale, we’re seeing
on-screen storytelling translate into real-world tourism and breathing new life
into destinations, attractions and experiences,” he added.
“As reflected in the surge in Google searches for ‘the best time to visit
Iceland’ – increasing by 5000% since the Stranger Things finale was released –
we predict the show to have a significant impact on travel choices in 2026,” Jefferies stated.
The data suggests that television and film productions
continue to play a measurable role in shaping destination awareness, with
Iceland emerging as a focal point of interest following the conclusion of the
series.
Tags: Samuel Jefferies, Bókun Iceland Netflix
