Money Heist took the world by storm, becoming Netflix’s most-watched non-English series and turning everyday Spanish locations into global landmarks. The show’s creators chose their filming spots with the precision of the Professor himself, mixing real architectural gems with clever visual tricks that deceived millions of viewers.
From the bustling streets of Madrid to the charming neighborhoods of Lisbon, these locations became as iconic as the red jumpsuits and Dalí masks. The series transformed ordinary buildings into symbols of rebellion, turning government offices into banks and research centers into mints.
Here is a list of 16 Money Heist locations across Madrid and Lisbon that you can visit today.
CSIC Headquarters
The building at 117 Serrano Street served as the exterior of the Royal Mint throughout the first two seasons. This impressive structure houses Spain’s largest scientific research institution, chosen specifically because its architecture resembles the actual mint.
The facade inspired the iconic paper model that appears in the show’s opening credits, making it one of the most recognizable spots from the series.
Plaza del Callao
The famous money drop scene from season three was filmed at this central Madrid square. This location serves as Madrid’s mini Times Square, complete with giant screens and the iconic Callao cinemas.
The square’s bustling atmosphere and massive digital displays made it perfect for the Professor’s dramatic public announcements.
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Ministry of Development
The building at 67 Castellana serves as the Bank of Spain’s exterior in seasons three and four. This majestic early 20th-century construction resembles El Escorial in its architectural style.
The production team chose this location over the real Bank of Spain for both security reasons and better filming access.
Finca El Gasco
Located in Torrelodones at Tijuana Street 6, this estate served as the gang’s planning headquarters. The property sits in the Regional Park near the Guadarrama River, surrounded by protected natural areas.
Today, this historic manor house operates as a sought-after wedding venue, though visitors would need to attend an event to experience the Professor’s meeting spot.
School of Aeronautical Engineers
The rooftop scenes were filmed at 3 Cardenal Cisneros Square, part of the Technical University of Madrid. The production team used this location because the CSIC headquarters lacked a suitable rooftop for filming.
The building provided the perfect backdrop for the tense moments when characters needed elevated vantage points.
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ABC Printing Site
The money printing workshops were filmed at this newspaper printing facility in Torrejón de Ardoz. The location’s heavy-duty printing machines made it ideal for Nairobi’s money-making scenes.
The real printing presses added authenticity to the billions of euros being produced on screen.
Four Towers Business Area
These skyscrapers on Paseo de la Castellana provided the backdrop for the money-filled zeppelin scenes. The towers represent Madrid’s modern business district, creating a striking contrast with the historical buildings used elsewhere in the series.
The towering structures perfectly captured the scale of the Professor’s ambitious plans.
San Frutos Hermitage
This chapel in Carrascal del Río served as the exterior of the Italian monastery where Berlin develops his theology cover story. Located 87 miles from Madrid in Segovia province, the hermitage sits within the Natural Park of Hoces del Duratón.
The remote location and stunning river views made it perfect for the gang’s secret planning sessions.
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Las Salinas Beaches
The deserted beaches in Almería provided the setting for the Professor and Lisbon’s motorhome scenes. These remote coastal locations were chosen to give audiences the feeling that the characters were safely hidden from the police.
The isolated beaches perfectly captured the tension of characters living in constant fear of discovery.
Madrid Content City
Netflix’s production hub in Tres Cantos housed the elaborate interior sets for the Bank of Spain. The facility featured sets three times larger than those used in the first two seasons.
Production designers recreated Spanish architecture from the Francisco Franco era, complete with bronze sculptures and over 50 specially painted artworks.
Colmenar Viejo Studios
The Royal Mint’s interior scenes were filmed at these studios in the Madrid suburbs. The production team built detailed sets here because filming inside the actual mint was impossible for security reasons.
The studio work allowed for the complex heist sequences that would have been impossible in a real government facility.
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Desguaces El Choque
This scrapyard in San Martín de la Vega was the location for scenes involving the 1992 Seat Ibiza. The automotive graveyard provided the perfect gritty backdrop for the show’s more desperate moments.
Located south of Madrid, this working scrapyard added an element of realism to the series’ portrayal of the characters’ resourcefulness.
Abadía de Párraces
This 16th-century abbey in Segovia served as the interior location for Berlin’s wedding flashback scenes. The historic abbey provided the elegant atmosphere needed for the dramatic family moments that revealed Berlin’s complex character.
The ancient stone walls and religious architecture perfectly captured the solemnity of the occasion.
Puerta del Sol
Madrid’s most famous square served as another filming location for the series’ Madrid sequences. This central plaza represents the heart of Spain, with the country’s kilometer zero marker located here.
The square’s significance as a gathering place for protests and celebrations made it symbolically perfect for a series about rebellion.
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Real Royal Mint
While the actual Royal Mint at Calle Jorge Juan wasn’t used for filming due to security concerns, it remains the inspiration for the entire series. The building houses Spain’s currency production and represents everything the Professor’s plan challenged.
Visitors can explore the Royal Mint Museum to understand the real-world institution behind the fiction.
Rua da Bica
This lively Lisbon street served as a key filming location for the fifth season’s Portuguese scenes. The area is known for its vibrant atmosphere and authentic local character, including the famous Bica funicular.
The narrow, sloping street provided an intimate setting that contrasted beautifully with Madrid’s grander architectural locations.
Where Fiction Meets Reality
These locations prove that Money Heist’s genius lies not just in its storytelling, but in its ability to transform everyday places into symbols of rebellion and hope. The series was filmed across multiple countries, including Panama, Thailand, Italy, and Denmark, but Madrid and Lisbon remained the emotional heart of the story.
Today, fans from around the world visit these spots to relive their favorite moments, turning a fictional heist into real tourism gold. The Professor may have stolen hearts instead of money, but these locations continue to pay dividends in the memories they’ve created for millions of viewers worldwide.
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