The Mission Impossible franchise has always taken its audience on a whirlwind tour of the world, blending breathtaking stunts with some of the most stunning locations on the planet. From the dizzying heights of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa to the historic streets of Rome, each setting has made us bite our nails and kept us at the edge of our seats.
In a world of CGI and graphics, the MI franchise favors real world locations making each missions feel even more authentic.
This article focuses on the Mission Impossible filming locations beginning with Ghost Protocol in 2011 and leading up to Dead Reckoning Part 1 in 2023. These films have transformed iconic landmarks into high-stakes battlegrounds making it feel like that no place on Earth can remain untouched by Ethan Hunt and his impossible missions.
Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol
Prague Castle, Prague
The Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol movie takes out a wild turn when the villain blows up the Kremlin in Russia. Though the heart-pumping scenes are supposed to be that of Russia, the area for filming the Kremlin’s courtyard actually takes place in the courtyard of Prague Castle.
To be exact, it was the second courtyard of the castle that was used as a stand in for the outside of Russia’s Kremlin. While you might not find IMF agents there, you’ll find a similar crowd of tourists creating a lively atmosphere in the surrounding areas.
Burj Khalifa, Dubai
No stunt in Mission Impossible raised the heartbeats of the audience and made them gasp with anxiety at the sight of Ethan Hunt plummeting down 130 floors of the Burj Khalifa.
Featured in Ghost Protocol, the world’s tallest building became the setting for one of the most daring stunts in cinematic history. Ethan Hunt climbs towards the 130th floor of Burj Khalifa from the outside using only electronic adhesive gloves – one which malfunctions halfway through.
The entire sequence from the climb to the leap of faith at the end of the sequence had audience gasping in fear. While you can’t climb outside the glass of Burj Khalifa as an IMF agent (and let’s be honest, most of us really don’t want to risk a 130 floor, one-hand suction glove climb-of-death), you can visit up to the 125th floor of Burj Khalifa via a ticket and take in the 360 degree panoramic view.
Or you can beat Ethan Hunt and go up to level 148 with a sky view access or have a VIP access to the lounge at level 152.
Zabeel Saray, Dubai
Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol featured the lobby of the beautiful Zabeel Saray hotel in a scene you wouldn’t expect—the one set during the Indian business party.
The filmmakers shot the scenes featuring Anil Kapoor—where Hunt and his team attend his lavish party in India—at the opulent Zabeel Saray on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. You can walk amidst the same golden pillars and take gorgeous pictures at the fountain shown in the scenes.
You can also snack amongst their luxury restaurants such as their Imperium restaurant or have a glorious lunch or a calm dinner at the Palm Observatory with a view of the setting sun on UAE’s horizon. Water enthusiasts can couple their visit to Zabeel Saray with a yacht ride on the island’s waters.
Mission Impossible Rogue Nation
Vienna Opera House, Austria
The filmmakers showcased the iconic Vienna State Opera in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation, staying true to the franchise’s reputation for glamorous and breathtaking locations.
Ethan Hunt moves through the opera house’s beautiful balconies and backstage to stop an assassin and it’s also where the fateful encounter with Ilsa Faust first takes place. Visit the golden interior and the elegant chandeliers booking a concert.
The Vienna State Opera House is one of the grandest and most iconic opera venues in the world, a masterpiece of Neo-Renaissance architecture that first opened in 1869 with a performance of Mozart’s Don Giovanni.
Despite being heavily damaged during World War II, it rose again, fully restored to its original glory. Its lavish interiors, majestic grand staircase, and 1,700-seat auditorium host over 300 performances a year, making it a living, breathing monument to classical music and opera.
The annual Vienna Opera Ball, held here, is a dazzling affair that even royalty doesn’t miss—it’s where elegance meets tradition, with the whole city watching.
Casablanca, Morocco
Few cities exude an air of mystery like Casablanca, and Rogue Nation takes full advantage of it. Ethan Hunt and Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg) find themselves in an intense car chasing sequence as they drift through the districts of Casablanca.
Drive through the same streets as Tom Cruise did via the Moroccan capital, Rabat, and the Derb Sultan districts. Though you can’t crash your car down the stairs like Hunt did in the movie, you can certainly walk down the same stairs of Kasbah of the Udayas and the Old Medina.
The chase sequence of the movie finishes in front of Mosque Hassan II, where the car did a backflip. The mosque is more than just a beauty spot in the movie. Built in 1993, the Hassan II Mosque stands as the largest mosque in all of Africa, making it a must-visit destination during your trip to Morocco.
London, UK
No city in the Mission: Impossible films has appeared as much as London. Various parts of the city have set the stage for key scenes throughout the franchise, shaping its tone, and Mission: Impossible 6 continues this tradition
In Rogue Nation, after escaping from the dungeon, Ethan Hunt makes his way to Great Windmill Street, just north of Piccadilly Circus, where he contacts the IMF from one of the red phone booths near Shaftesbury Avenue. These booths exist in real life and are popular to the area.
Later in the film, London takes center stage as Ilsa Faust crosses Westminster Bridge, heading toward the Thames Embankment, where she meets Atlee, the head of British Intelligence, with the iconic Houses of Parliament looming across the river.
After handing over the information, Atlee instructs her to go undercover once more. She soon finds herself back in contact with Solomon Lane, meeting him in Brompton Cemetery on Old Brompton Road in Earl’s Court. The Brompton Cemetery was also used in the 2009 Sherlock Holmes (starring Robert Downey Jr) for Blackwood’s grave.
London comes into play again when the IMF is impossibly tasked with needing the voice authentication of the British Prime Minister. The nail-biting sequence of this scene takes place during a prestigious charity ball at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.
The palace, a striking example of Baroque architecture, serves as the residence of the Dukes of Marlborough and was the birthplace of Winston Churchill.
Not only is the palace a place of pop culture it also has its depth in history, depicting the Duke of Marlborough’s victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704.
Mission Impossible Fallout
Hôtel de Soubise, Paris
In the movie, Hôtel de Soubise, belonging to the White Widow, serves as her lavish residence where she strikes a deal with Hunt.
This 18th-century mansion, originally built for Prince and Princess de Soubise, is one of the finest private mansions in the Marais, with salons designed by Germain Boffrand and adorned with paintings by Boucher, Van Loo, and Trémolières.
Visitors can explore the mansion and its exquisite rooms through an admission fee. The Musée des Archives Nationales is also hosted in the mansion every year.
Pulpit Rock, Norway
The cold, freezing atmosphere of Kashmir in Fallout where the IMF rushes to stop Lane from bombing the area and destroying the world was actually shot partially in New Zealand and in Norway.
The part of the fight where Hunt fights Walker (Henry Cavill) on a dramatic cliff end is shot on Pulpit Rock, locally known as Preikestolen, in Norway. The beauty of the dramatic fjords is impossible to miss and the sequence of Hunt climbing the side of the cliff to stop the bomb from detonating happens on Pulpit Rock.
The sheer drop of the cliff, with the Norwegian fjords stretching below, made for a breathtaking backdrop to their brutal fight. Travelers can hike Pulpit Rock and reach the dramatic cliff via guided hike or by yourself.
Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1
North Yorkshire Moors Railway, UK
Riding through the breathtaking landscapes of the North York Moors National Park, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway has long been a favourite for filmmakers.
Thanks to the surrounding natural beauty, the train has been used for numerous action sequences with different productions, including Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
Which is why it comes as no surprise that the railway played a key role in Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1, where it stood in for Norway during an adrenaline-fueled showdown between Ethan Hunt and the villainous Gabriele on top of a speeding steam train.
Though you can’t fight on top of a moving train so effortlessly like Tom Cruise, you can definitely take a ride on the same train and appreciate the countryside as well as the film crews keen eyes for beauty.
Rome, Italy
Mission Impossible is no stranger to outrageous car and bike chasing sequences and Dead Reckoning Part 1, plays on this fan favourite.
The movie transformed Rome into an obstacle course for one of the wildest car chases in the franchise.
Ethan Hunt and Grace (Hayley Atwell) tear through the city in a tiny yellow Fiat, sliding through Piazza Venezia, past the Colosseum, and through the winding cobblestone streets. The contrast of ancient architecture with modern high-speed mayhem made for a visually stunning and hilariously intense sequence.
Venice, Italy
But it’s not only Rome. The IMF team makes their way to Venice in one of the most “NO!” screaming sequences of the film.
The agents walk, run and fight through the alley between piazza San Marco and Palazzo Ducale.
While Widow, one of the returning characters from Fallout, also hosts her party in the beautiful Ducal Palace, illuminated by hundreds of candles for the occasion.
The candles zoom past the screen as Hunt runs through the palace and into the alley and across the bridge of the Conzafelzi, where he learns about the tragic sacrifice made by Ilsa (Rebecca Ferguson) as she tried to save Grace (Hayley Atwell).