Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed
The story is set in Lagos, Vienna, Berlin, Leipzig, Siberia, and the United States, but almost none of it was filmed where it takes place. Lagos was played by San Juan, Vienna by the Sony Center in Berlin, and Siberia by the volcanic landscapes of southern Iceland. Germany does appear as Germany for the Berlin and Leipzig scenes, while most American-set interiors were built on stages in Georgia.
The Studio Side
Two studios anchored the production. Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Fayetteville, Georgia, now Trilith Studios, handled the bulk of the work but is a private, working facility closed to visitors. Studio Babelsberg in Potsdam, Germany also supported the film, and unlike Pinewood it is visitable, with studio tours available. For travelers, Babelsberg offers the only chance to step inside a studio connected to the film.
Tours That Visit These Locations
For travelers who want a guided connection to the film's Georgia roots, one option stands out.
Private Atlanta Film Locations Tour
Atlanta: MCU in the ATL Film Locations Private Tour
This private Atlanta tour covers the city's Marvel filming heritage and includes a stop at the Nigerian marketplace site from Civil War's opening sequence. With 13 reviews and a $175 price, it suits fans who want a local guide to connect the real streets to the screen.
★ 13 reviews
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you visit the studios where Civil War was filmed?
Pinewood Atlanta Studios, now Trilith Studios, is a private working studio with no public access. Studio Babelsberg in Potsdam, Germany, however, is visitable and offers studio tours.
Where was the airport battle actually filmed?
Mostly on a backlot concrete slab at Pinewood Atlanta Studios using green screen, because the safety and complexity of staging it at a real airport were prohibitive. Second unit work and some shots did take place at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany.
Was the Lagos opening really filmed in Nigeria?
No. The Lagos street scenes and backgrounds were filmed in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which stood in for the Nigerian city.
How did they film the Siberia scenes?
The 1991 prologue with Bucky was shot in the volcanic landscapes near Vík in South Iceland, which convincingly doubled for a frozen Siberian setting.
Can you see the Avengers headquarters in Atlanta?
Yes, in part. The exterior was filmed at the Porsche Experience Center, which is open to visitors with ticketed entry and offers tours.
Was the motorcycle chase in Berlin a real stunt?
Yes. The chase through the Messedamm Underpass, where Bucky commandeers a moving motorcycle, was performed practically with no CGI. The underpass is a public road you can still drive or walk through.
Civil War rewards location hunters more than most superhero films: Berlin doubles, Puerto Rican streets playing Lagos, Icelandic lava fields standing in for Siberia, and an Atlanta facility you can actually enter. German visitors get the richest itinerary, with Babelsberg tours, Potsdamer Platz, and the Messedamm Underpass within one city. Atlanta-based fans, meanwhile, can pair the Porsche Experience Center with a guided film tour for the fullest connection to the production.
