Where Was Dune Filmed?

The Short Answer

Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024) were mainly filmed at Origo Film Studios in Budapest, Hungary, which hosted most interiors and sets. Key desert exteriors for Arrakis were shot in Wadi Rum, Jordan and Liwa Oasis in Abu Dhabi, while coastal Caladan scenes were filmed on the Stadlandet Peninsula in Norway, and Part Two used the Brion Tomb in Italy.

Denis Villeneuve's two Dune films take place on invented planets, yet almost every frame was captured on Earth. The production built enormous sets on soundstages in Hungary and then travelled to four countries for exteriors, choosing landscapes that could pass for alien worlds with minimal digital alteration.

The result is a set of destinations that look strikingly like the films even with no visual effects. Wadi Rum supplied Arrakis's red rock formations, Liwa Oasis its endless dunes, Stadlandet the stormy seas of House Atreides, and an Italian monument the Imperial gardens of Kaitain.

Every Location At A Glance

Location	Where	What was filmed	Access
Wadi Rum	Aqaba Governorate, Jordan	Arrakis desert rock formations and sietches	Free to see
Liwa Oasis	Liwa, United Arab Emirates	Arrakis sand dunes and desert scenes	Free to see
Stadlandet Peninsula	Stad, Norway	Caladan coastal and oceanic scenes	Free to see
Origo Film Studios	Budapest, Hungary	Interiors, sets for Caladan, Arrakis, Giedi Prime palaces and battles	Private property
Memoriale Brion	Altivole, Italy	Imperial gardens and Corrino household exteriors on Kaitain	Ticketed

Filming Locations Map

5 locations. The map loads when it scrolls into view.

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Location By Location

This UNESCO-listed desert in southern Jordan provided the rock formations and sietch settings of Arrakis in both films. Its sandstone mountains and narrow canyons appear on screen largely as they look in person. The site is publicly accessible and popular for guided desert excursions, which should be booked in advance. Visitors typically explore by jeep with a local Bedouin guide, and camping overnight under dark skies is a common add-on.

Located in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, UAE, Liwa Oasis supplied the sweeping 360-degree dunes that define Arrakis in both films, with the 2021 production spending 11 days here with more than 100 crew members. The area is remote but public, and the Qasr Al Sarab resort area offers practical access to the dunes. Most visitors arrive by car from Abu Dhabi city, usually as part of a desert excursion.

This windswept peninsula in Vestland, Norway doubled for Caladan, the oceanic homeworld of House Atreidis, chosen for its dramatic coastal light and cliffs. Beaches and rocky headlands stand in for the scenes of Paul and his father on the shore. The peninsula is publicly accessible by road and ferry, making it feasible for independent travellers exploring the Norwegian west coast. Expect raw weather even in summer.

Most of both films was shot here, a working studio complex in Budapest, Hungary. Principal photography for the 2021 film began on March 18, 2019, and the stages hosted interiors and sets for Caladan, Arrakis, Giedi Prime palaces and battles. It is a private, active production facility and not open to public tours, so film fans in Budapest should instead look to city walking tours covering movie locations.

This celebrated cemetery in Altivole, Veneto, Italy, designed by Carlo Scarpa, appears in Dune: Part Two as the Imperial gardens and Corrino household exteriors on Kaitain. The production chose it for its architectural character, which inspired the Emperor's palace gardens. Unlike most filming sites on this list, it is ticketed and run as a visiting site. Check opening hours in advance and book if required, as access can be limited.

Where It Is Set Versus Where It Was Filmed

The story unfolds on fictional planets: Arrakis, a desert world, and Caladan, an ocean world, among others. None of these places exist, so the production filmed entirely on Earth. Jordan, the UAE, Norway, Hungary and Italy together supplied the sand, sea, stages and architecture needed to make invented worlds feel real.

The Studio Side

Origo Film Studios in Budapest anchored both productions, hosting principal photography and the bulk of set construction from March 18, 2019 onward. The studio is not open to the public, but Budapest itself has a thriving film industry, and guided walking tours in the city point out real filming locations from movies and series such as Dune alongside other screen productions.

Tours That Visit These Locations

Two bookable walking tours in Budapest connect travellers to the city's screen history, including locations tied to this production. Neither is a dedicated Dune tour, so think of them as broader film-location walks that touch on the franchise while covering much more.

Budget Walk With Film Stops

Budapest: All-in-One History, Hollywood & Music Walking Tour

A low-cost option at $2.24 that pairs Hollywood filming trivia with Budapest history and music, and passes real locations connected to productions including Dune. With 9 reviews already logged, it suits travellers who want a broad, affordable city introduction rather than a film-only focus.

9 reviews

From$2Check availability

Dedicated Movie Locations Walk

Lights! Camera! Budapest! - Movie Locations Walking Tour

A $44.89 walk built entirely around Budapest's movie history, visiting film locations across the city. It fits visitors whose main interest is screen tourism and who want a guide focused on that theme rather than a mixed general tour.

From$45Check availability

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Dune filmed in a real desert?

Yes. Wadi Rum in Jordan and Liwa Oasis in Abu Dhabi served as the real-world deserts of Arrakis, with Wadi Rum providing rock formations and sietches and Liwa supplying uninterrupted dunes in every direction.

Can you visit the Dune filming locations?

Most of them. Wadi Rum, Liwa Oasis and Stadlandet are publicly accessible, and Memoriale Brion in Italy is ticketed but open to visitors. Origo Film Studios in Budapest is private and cannot be toured.

Where was Caladan filmed?

The coastal scenes for Caladan, home of House Atreides, were shot on the Stadlandet Peninsula in Norway, chosen for its dramatic coastal light and cliffs. It appears in the 2021 film and can be reached by road and ferry.

Did Dune: Part Two film in the same places as the first movie?

Largely yes. Part Two used the same main countries, Hungary, Jordan and the UAE, but different specific spots within Jordan and Abu Dhabi. It also added Memoriale Brion in Italy for scenes set on Kaitain.

Which Dune scenes were shot in Budapest?

Origo Film Studios hosted the interiors and large sets, including the palaces and battle sequences for Caladan, Arrakis and Giedi Prime. Principal photography for the first film began there on March 18, 2019.

Is there a Dune tour in Budapest?

No dedicated Dune tour exists, but Budapest walking tours covering movie locations include stops tied to the franchise. One budget tour at $2.24 mixes film locations with history and music, while a $44.89 tour focuses solely on film locations.

From the dunes of Abu Dhabi to a Norwegian headland and an Italian monument, the Dune locations span four climates and five countries, with Budapest as the production hub behind it all. Desert stops like Wadi Rum and Liwa Oasis reward the most effort to reach, while Memoriale Brion offers the easiest ticketed visit, and a Budapest film walk adds a city-based option to the itinerary.