Prague Film Locations: Mission Impossible, Bond & More
Prague Guide
Prague Film Locations — Mission Impossible, Casino Royale and Beyond
By Uliana Formina · top-category licensed Prague guide · 17 years of experience
Share:
Prague has doubled for cities it looks nothing like — Vienna, Moscow, Paris, London, even New York. Hollywood discovered decades ago that Prague's untouched architecture, low production costs, and skilled local crews make it one of the world's most versatile back lots. Walk through the city and you are walking through hundreds of scenes you have already watched.
We guide visitors past film locations every day, often without them realising it. A courtyard in Malá Strana that doubled for 18th-century Vienna. A stretch of the Vltava embankment that stood in for a Montenegro casino. The city's film history is layered beneath its surface, and once you know where to look, Prague starts playing back scenes from memory.
Mission: Impossible (1996) — Kampa Island and Charles Bridge
Brian De Palma's original *Mission: Impossible* put Prague on the Hollywood map. The film opens in Prague, and several key sequences were shot on location — establishing the city as a Cold War thriller backdrop that still resonates.
Kampa Island — the scene where Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) meets his contact in a small riverside square was filmed on Kampa, the island between the main Vltava channel and the narrow Čertovka mill stream. The Grand Priory Square (Velkopřevorské náměstí), with its John Lennon Wall visible in the background, served as the meeting point. The square looks almost identical today.
Charles Bridge — the bridge appears in several establishing shots, with the Lesser Town Bridge Towers framing the approach from the western side. The production also used streets in the Lesser Town (Malá Strana) for pursuit sequences, including the steep lanes that climb toward the Castle.
The Estates Theatre (Stavovské divadlo) — the ornate 18th-century theatre where the embassy party scene takes place is a working venue in the Old Town. It is also where Mozart premiered *Don Giovanni* in 1787 — a detail the set designers reportedly loved.
Insider detail: The aquarium explosion scene was filmed at a purpose-built set in Barrandov Studios, Prague's legendary film production facility, which has operated since the 1930s. Barrandov remains one of Europe's busiest studios — much of the technical talent that supported *Mission: Impossible* is still working there today.
Casino Royale (2006) — Strahov Monastery Doubles as Montenegro
The James Bond reboot placed its centrepiece poker game in the fictional Hotel Splendide in Montenegro. The exterior of that hotel was actually the Strahov Monastery complex, perched above the city near Prague Castle. The monastery's long Baroque façade, overlooking a courtyard used as the hotel's entrance driveway, transforms convincingly into a luxury resort.
The National Museum staircase served as an interior for the Montenegro casino, and several street scenes were filmed along Platnéřská Street and around the Old Town. The Danube House office building in Karlín doubled for the Miami airport scenes.
The spa scenes at the Hotel Splendide used the Grandhotel Pupp in Karlovy Vary (Carlsbad), about two hours west of Prague — a location that appears frequently in Bond lore and inspired the fictional Hotel Splendid in the original Ian Fleming novel.
Insider detail: During production, Daniel Craig was spotted running across the rooftop of the National Museum at 3 AM — a stunt that briefly stopped late-night tram traffic on Wenceslas Square. Prague residents who witnessed it assumed it was a robbery in progress until they noticed the cameras.
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) — Charles Bridge and the National Museum
Marvel brought Spider-Man to Prague in one of the film's most destructive sequences — the Molten Man battle that tears through the city. The scene was built around real Prague landmarks digitally enhanced (and partially destroyed) in post-production.
Charles Bridge — Peter Parker (Tom Holland) walks across the bridge in a crowd scene filmed on location. The bridge's statues and towers are clearly identifiable. The subsequent battle scene used a combination of the actual bridge and a partial set built at Barrandov.
The National Museum — the museum's grand neo-Renaissance façade on Wenceslas Square appears in the background of several battle sequences. The building's distinctive green dome is visible in the CGI-enhanced destruction shots.
Liberec — portions of the Prague carnival sequence were actually filmed in Liberec, a city in northern Bohemia. The production used Liberec's main square as a stand-in for a Prague neighbourhood, mixing in Prague landmarks digitally.
Insider detail: The film's "Prague" hotel where Peter Parker stays was a purpose-built set at Barrandov Studios. But the street scenes showing the group walking through the city used actual Old Town locations — you can spot the Powder Tower, Celetná Street, and the entrance to the Estates Theatre in background shots.
Amadeus (1984) — Malá Strana Doubles as Vienna
Miloš Forman's *Amadeus* — winner of eight Academy Awards — was filmed almost entirely in Prague, standing in for 18th-century Vienna. Forman, a Czech-born director, chose Prague partly because the Lesser Town's Baroque architecture had survived the 20th century more intact than Vienna's own.
The Estates Theatre is the only theatre in the world where Mozart actually performed that is still in operation. The film used it for the opera scenes, and the auditorium appears exactly as it did in Mozart's era — the same gilded balconies, the same stage proportions. This was not a set; it was the real thing.
Malá Strana streets — the narrow lanes between Malostranské náměstí and the river served as Vienna's streets throughout the film. The Baroque façades, cobbled surfaces, and absence of modern signage made the area a near-perfect period set.
The Archbishop's Palace on Hradčanské náměstí (the square in front of Prague Castle) served as the exterior of Emperor Joseph II's court. The palace's ornate Rococo façade remains unchanged.
Insider detail: Forman insisted on shooting in natural light wherever possible, using candlelight for interior scenes. The Estates Theatre's original 18th-century chandeliers were relit with real candles for the production — a detail that contributed to the film's distinctive golden palette.
The Illusionist (2006) — Prague Castle Gardens
Neil Burger's *The Illusionist*, starring Edward Norton and Jessica Biel, is set in turn-of-the-century Vienna but was filmed primarily in Prague and the surrounding Bohemian countryside.
Prague Castle's South Gardens — the terraced gardens below the Castle provided the setting for several key outdoor scenes. The formal hedgerows, stone balustrades, and views over the red rooftops of Malá Strana created a convincing late-Habsburg atmosphere.
Barrandov Studios hosted the interior magic-show scenes, including the ornate theatre where Eisenheim performs. The production design drew heavily on Prague's Art Nouveau interiors, particularly the Municipal House (Obecní dům), for visual reference.
The Průhonice Castle estate, just southeast of Prague, served as the aristocratic country residence in the film. Its English-style park and neo-Renaissance château are open to the public — and look remarkably similar to their on-screen appearance.
Insider detail: The street magic scenes, where Eisenheim performs for a crowd on a cobbled lane, were filmed on Thunovská Street — the narrow passage that climbs from Malostranské náměstí up toward Prague Castle. The same street appears in several other films; its steep gradient and unbroken 18th-century façades make it one of the most-filmed 200 metres in the Czech Republic.
A private guide makes all the difference when exploring this part of Prague.
Other Notable Films Shot in Prague
Prague's role as a film location extends far beyond the titles above. A partial list of notable productions:
Anthropoid (2016) — the true story of Operation Anthropoid, the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich in Prague during World War II. Filmed on location throughout the city, including the Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius on Resslova Street, where the actual paratroopers made their last stand. The bullet holes in the church wall are still visible. This is one of the few films set in Prague that was actually filmed there — and the locations carry genuine historical weight.
Jojo Rabbit (2019) — Taika Waititi's satirical comedy about a boy in Nazi Germany was filmed partly in Prague and the nearby town of Žatec (known for its hop fields and well-preserved historic centre). Prague's Barrandov Studios hosted the studio scenes, while Žatec's unchanged streetscapes provided the German small-town exteriors.
Closely Watched Trains (1966) — Jiří Menzel's Oscar-winning Czech New Wave film was shot at the Loděnice railway station, 30 km southwest of Prague. While not a Prague film per se, it represents the golden age of Czech cinema that established the country's filmmaking reputation — the same reputation that later attracted Hollywood.
Knives Out: Glass Onion (2022) — portions of the production used Prague locations and Barrandov Studios for interior sets. The city's role was less visible than in other films, but the production infrastructure — crews, equipment, post-production — was Prague-based.
Blade II (2002) — Guillermo del Toro used Prague's industrial architecture and underground passages for the vampire-noir aesthetic. Locations included the Karlín viaduct area and several Prague Metro stations.
Insider detail: Prague's attractiveness to film productions is not just architectural. The Czech Republic offers a 20% cash rebate on qualifying film expenditures through the Czech Film Fund, and Barrandov Studios' sound stages, backlots, and post-production facilities rival those of Pinewood or Cinecittà at lower cost.
Film Location Walking Tour
You can cover the most significant film locations in a single walk through the city centre:
Start at the Estates Theatre on Ovocný trh — *Amadeus* and *Mission: Impossible*. Walk through Old Town Square toward Charles Bridge — *Spider-Man: Far From Home* and *Mission: Impossible*. Cross to Kampa Island and Velkopřevorské náměstí — *Mission: Impossible*. Continue through Malá Strana's Baroque streets — *Amadeus* and *The Illusionist*. Climb Thunovská Street toward Prague Castle — *The Illusionist*. Finish at the Strahov Monastery — *Casino Royale*.
The full walk covers roughly 4 kilometres and takes 2–3 hours at a comfortable pace with stops. It traces a natural path through Prague's most photogenic districts, connecting film history with architectural history at every turn.
For deeper context, our Charles Bridge and Old Town walking tour covers several of these locations with stories that go far beyond what appeared on screen. And our Prague Castle and Lesser Town tour passes through the Malá Strana streets and Castle gardens that served as Vienna, Montenegro, and Gilded Age fantasy — all in a single afternoon.
Experience It With a Private Guide
Prague's film locations are scattered across the city, and without context, most of them look like ordinary streets and buildings. With a guide who knows the production history, every corner has a story — why this particular courtyard was chosen, what the director saw that others missed, and how a 14th-century bridge became a 21st-century action set.
Our All Prague in One Day tour passes through the majority of major film locations naturally, because the filming happened in the same places visitors want to see. The Castle, the bridge, the Old Town, Malá Strana — it all overlaps.
For an evening after your film-location walk, our medieval dinner experience offers its own kind of cinematic atmosphere — fire shows, period costumes, and a vaulted cellar that looks like it belongs in a Guillermo del Toro film.
Barrandov Studios does not offer regular public tours. Occasionally, special events or open days allow access, but these are infrequent. The studios are an active production facility, and security is tight during filming periods.
Where was the poker scene in Casino Royale filmed?
The poker room interiors were filmed at a purpose-built set, but the Hotel Splendide exterior was the Strahov Monastery in Prague. Additional casino interiors used the National Museum staircase. The spa scenes were filmed at the Grandhotel Pupp in Karlovy Vary.
Is the Estates Theatre open to visitors?
Yes. The Estates Theatre hosts regular opera, ballet, and theatre performances and can be visited during scheduled shows. Guided tours of the building are available on select days — check the National Theatre website for current schedules.
How many films have been shot in Prague?
Hundreds. Since the early 1990s, Prague has hosted major Hollywood productions nearly continuously. The combination of untouched historic architecture, the Barrandov Studios complex, competitive production costs, and Czech Film Fund rebates has made the city one of Europe's busiest filming locations.
Was Mission: Impossible actually filmed on Charles Bridge?
Yes. Several exterior scenes and establishing shots used the actual Charles Bridge. The bridge's distinctive statues, towers, and stone arches are clearly visible in the film. Interior and effects-heavy scenes were filmed at Barrandov Studios.
-6-640x430.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
