Location 01Exorcist Steps (Hitchcock Steps)
District of Columbia, Washington, United States Free to see
Filmed here: Climax scene where Father Karras falls down the stairs
These steep stone stairs connecting Prospect Street to M Street were the site of the film's climax, where Father Karras falls to his death. They are public and free to visit, and remain a popular tourist attraction that gets busy with visitors. Fans often run up and down them, though the climb is steeper than it looks on screen.
Location 02MacNeil Residence (3600 Prospect Street)
District of Columbia, Washington, United States Outside only
Filmed here: Exterior of the MacNeil family home
The exterior of the MacNeil family home is a real house at 3600 Prospect Street, at the top of the famous steps. A temporary mansard roof and wing were added for the attic and jump scenes. It remains a private residence, so viewing is exterior only from the street. Respect the occupants and do not approach the door or windows.
Location 03Georgetown University
District of Columbia, Washington, United States Free to see
Filmed here: Campus scenes including student protest, Dahlgren Chapel desecration, Healy Hall, quadrangle, Kehoe Field
The university's campus stood in for itself in the film, hosting the student protest scene, the desecration in Dahlgren Chapel, and scenes at Healy Hall, the quadrangle and Kehoe Field. It is an active campus with public access, and many of the specific buildings seen on screen can be visited directly, making it one of the easiest sites for fans to explore.
Location 04Hatra archaeological site
Nineveh Governorate, near Mosul, Iraq Ticketed
Filmed here: Opening excavation scene with Father Merrin and Pazuzu statue
The film's opening excavation scene, with Father Merrin facing the Pazuzu statue, was shot among the ruins of Hatra near Mosul in Iraq. Now a UNESCO site, it sits in remote desert country, and the production faced extreme heat historically, which limited work to dawn and dusk. Access is by ticket, and reaching it requires serious planning given its distance from major cities.
Location 05Bellevue Hospital
New York, United States Private property
Filmed here: Hospital scenes
Hospital scenes were filmed at Bellevue Hospital in New York. It remains an active hospital with no public access to the areas used for filming, so there is little reason to make a special trip. Fans passing through Manhattan can see the building from outside, but the interiors that appeared on screen are off limits to visitors.
Location 06Goldwater Memorial Hospital (Roosevelt Island)
New York, United States Closed
Filmed here: Father Karras visits his mother
This Roosevelt Island hospital stood in for the facility where Father Karras visits his mother. The original building no longer stands, as the site has since been redeveloped, so nothing from the film can be seen there today. Roosevelt Island itself is a pleasant place to walk, but anyone hoping to find the hospital will come away disappointed.
Location 07Warner Brothers Burbank Studios
California, Burbank, United States Private property
Filmed here: Studio scenes
Additional studio scenes were shot on the Warner Brothers lot in Burbank, California. The lot is private and still an active studio, and general tours are available, though nothing on them is specific to this film. Visitors with a broad interest in Hollywood history may enjoy a stop here, but Exorcist fans should not expect sets or props from the 1973 production.
Location 08Fordham University
New York, United States Free to see
Filmed here: Basement scene where Karras listens to Regan's recordings
The basement scene, in which Karras listens back to recordings of Regan, was filmed at Fordham University in the Bronx. It is an active university with public access to the campus, though access to specific interior areas is limited. The campus is easy to reach by public transport from Manhattan and makes a quick add-on for completists.
Location 09The Tombs
District of Columbia, Washington, United States Free to see
Filmed here: Bar scene across from the house
The bar scene across from the MacNeil house was filmed in The Tombs, a bar and restaurant on Prospect Street that is still operating. It is public, popular with fans and conveniently located steps from the house and the staircase, making it the natural place to end a self-guided tour of the Georgetown locations.
Location 10Alexandria Aqueduct Footbridge
District of Columbia, Washington, United States Free to see
Filmed here: Karras and Chris discussing on the bridge
The bridge where Karras and Chris talk during the film is a public walkway near Key Bridge, a short stroll from the Exorcist steps. Nothing has changed dramatically about the spot, and it costs nothing to stand where the conversation was filmed. It pairs well with the other Georgetown locations on a single walking loop.
