Genie, Make a Wish Filming Locations Worth Visiting: A Self-Guided Seoul and Dubai Travel Guide
Genie, Make a Wish (다 이루어질지니) is a 2025 Netflix fantasy romantic comedy available in many regions. This guide does not list every reported filming location. Instead, it focuses only on places that are actually worth visiting — locations that have real travel value for international visitors traveling on their own.
Note: Genie, Make a Wish was filmed in both South Korea and Dubai, UAE. This guide covers filming locations in both countries.
Drama Info
| Director | Ahn Gil-ho |
| Writer | Kim Eun-sook |
| Genre | Fantasy, Romantic Comedy |
| Episodes | 13 |
| Released | October 3, 2025 (Netflix) |
| Cast | Kim Woo-bin, Bae Suzy, Ahn Eun-jin, Noh Sang-hyun |
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
After nearly a thousand years trapped inside a lamp, a flamboyant genie named Iblis is freed by Ki Ka-young — a young woman who has spent her entire life suppressing her emotions and following strict routines. As Iblis's new master, Ka-young is granted three wishes. What neither of them expects is how much the process of making — and reckoning with — those wishes will change them both. Genie, Make a Wish blends ancient myth with contemporary Seoul life and a vivid fantasy aesthetic rooted in Middle Eastern imagery.
Why This Drama Works for Travelers
Genie, Make a Wish is one of the few recent K-dramas to use Dubai as a primary filming location alongside Korea, giving it a visual range that most K-dramas do not have. The Korean locations are centered in Seoul, while the Dubai locations include some of the city's most recognizable landmarks. Both sets of locations are accessible to international visitors and can be incorporated into existing travel itineraries.
Filming Locations Worth Visiting
The locations below are associated with the drama and are real places that travelers can visit or consider adding to an itinerary.
Korea
1. Cheonggyecheon Stream (청계천)
About this location: An urban stream running through central Seoul, associated with key emotional scenes in the drama. Cheonggyecheon was restored in 2005 as part of a major urban renewal project, transforming a former elevated highway into a 10.9 km walkable waterway through the heart of the city. The stream is flanked by walking paths, stepping stones, public art, and seasonal light installations. It connects the Gwanghwamun area in the west to eastern Seoul and is one of the most pleasant urban walks the city offers.
Region: Jung-gu / Jongno-gu, Seoul
Can you visit? Yes — open year-round, 24 hours.
Worth visiting without a car? Yes — accessible from multiple subway stations along the route.
Public transport access: Take Line 1 to Jonggak Station or Line 5 to Gwanghwamun Station. Multiple entry points exist along the stream. Routes and travel times may vary, so check Naver Map or Google Maps before traveling.
Best time to visit: Spring for cherry blossoms at the western end / Winter evenings for the Seoul Lantern Festival illuminations.
Self-guided tip: The stream walk from Cheonggye Plaza toward Dongdaemun takes about 1 to 2 hours at a relaxed pace. Combine with a visit to Gwanghwamun Square or Insadong nearby.
Local food tip: The Gwanghwamun and Insadong areas near the western end of the stream have a wide range of dining options, from traditional Korean restaurants to modern cafes.
2. Itaewon (이태원)
About this location: A multicultural neighborhood in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, associated with Ka-young's cafe scenes and daily life sequences in the drama. Itaewon has long been one of Seoul's most internationally diverse neighborhoods, known for its concentration of international restaurants, independent bars, fashion boutiques, and a cosmopolitan street atmosphere. The area around Itaewon-ro and the surrounding streets offers a distinctly different character from other Seoul neighborhoods, making it a natural fit for a drama about cultural collision.
Region: Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Can you visit? Yes — a public neighborhood, open at all hours.
Worth visiting without a car? Yes — direct subway access.
Public transport access: Take Line 6 to Itaewon Station, Exit 1 or 2. The main Itaewon street area is a short walk from the exit. Routes and travel times may vary, so check Naver Map or Google Maps before traveling.
Best time to visit: Evening for the full atmosphere. Weekend afternoons are busier.
Self-guided tip: The Haebangchon (HBC) area just uphill from the main Itaewon street has a quieter, more neighborhood feel with independent cafes and restaurants. Nearby Noksapyeong is also worth exploring.
Local food tip: Itaewon is one of the best areas in Seoul for international cuisine — Lebanese, Indian, Mexican, Ethiopian, and more are all available within a short walk. For Korean food, the area around Gyeongnidan-gil has a number of well-regarded casual restaurants.
Dubai, UAE
3. Al Seef District (알시프 지구)
About this location: A heritage waterfront district along the Dubai Creek in Bur Dubai, associated with scenes depicting the world Iblis comes from. Al Seef blends restored traditional architecture — wind towers, coral-stone facades, wooden souq-style market lanes — with modern hotels and restaurants along a creek promenade. It is one of the most walkable and visually distinctive areas in Dubai, offering a sense of the city's pre-skyscraper past alongside its contemporary hospitality infrastructure.
Region: Bur Dubai, Dubai, UAE
Can you visit? Yes — it is a public waterfront district with shops, cafes, and restaurants.
Worth visiting without a car? Yes — accessible by Dubai Metro.
Public transport access: Take the Dubai Metro Red Line to Al Fahidi Station. Al Seef is a short walk from the station along the creek. Routes and travel times may vary, so check Google Maps before traveling.
Best time to visit: October to April (cooler months). Evening for the creek lights and promenade atmosphere.
Self-guided tip: Combine with the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood (also known as Al Bastakiya) — Dubai's best-preserved historic quarter — which is a short walk away and offers a deeper look at traditional Emirati architecture.
Local food tip: Al Seef has a variety of cafes and restaurants along the creek promenade, including traditional Emirati dishes and international options. The nearby Al Fahidi area has several well-regarded Arabic coffee and food spots.
4. BohoX Restaurant, Downtown Dubai (보호X 레스토랑)
About this location: A contemporary restaurant and lounge in Downtown Dubai, associated with character interaction scenes in the drama. BohoX is located near the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, with a bohemian-luxury interior design — earthy tones, greenery, high ceilings — and a terrace that overlooks the Dubai skyline. The restaurant serves fusion cuisine drawing from Mediterranean, Asian, and Middle Eastern influences. Its design and location made it a natural fit for the drama's blend of fantasy and modern urban life.
Region: Downtown Dubai, Dubai, UAE
Can you visit? Yes — it is an operating restaurant. Reservations are recommended, particularly for terrace seating. Opening hours and seating availability may change, so check the restaurant's official channels before visiting.
Worth visiting without a car? Yes — accessible by Dubai Metro.
Public transport access: Take the Dubai Metro Red Line to Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall Station. BohoX is within walking distance. Routes and travel times may vary, so check Google Maps before traveling.
Best time to visit: Evening for the skyline views. October to April for outdoor terrace dining.
Self-guided tip: Combine with the Burj Khalifa observation deck and Dubai Fountain nearby for a full Downtown Dubai evening.
Local food tip: BohoX itself is a dining destination. Downtown Dubai also has a large variety of restaurants inside the Dubai Mall and along the Burj Khalifa boulevard.
How to Watch Outside Korea
Genie, Make a Wish is available on Netflix in many regions. Search by both the English title and the Korean title, 다 이루어질지니, if it does not appear in your local library. Availability and subtitle options may vary by country.
Final Travel Summary
| Location | Region | Visitable? | Without a Car? | Best Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheonggyecheon Stream | Seoul, Korea | Yes | Yes | Spring / Winter |
| Itaewon | Seoul, Korea | Yes | Yes | Year-round |
| Al Seef District | Dubai, UAE | Yes | Yes | Oct – Apr |
| BohoX Restaurant | Dubai, UAE | Yes | Yes | Oct – Apr |
Genie, Make a Wish spans two very different cities — Seoul and Dubai — and the contrast between them is part of what makes the drama visually distinctive. For travelers who are already planning a visit to either city, the filming locations here slot naturally into existing itineraries without requiring detours.
Sources and Notes
This guide was compiled using Korean travel media, international travel platforms, and location-based travel resources. Filming location details may vary by source, so some locations are described as "associated with" or "reported as" filming locations.
- Travel + Leisure Asia — Explore the locations where Genie, Make a Wish was shot
- VVIPTimes — Where was Genie, Make a Wish shot?
- K-Drama Locations — 15 filming locations from Genie, Make a Wish
- Visit Korea — Seoul travel information
Travel information such as opening hours, admission fees, and public transport access may change. Please check Google Maps, Naver Map, and official tourism pages before traveling.
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