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| Where Was Nuremberg Filmed? All Real Shooting Locations Behind the Historical Film. (Image via: Netflix) |
Netflix historical drama Nuremberg doesn’t just rely on powerful performances and tense courtroom drama. The film’s locations play a major role in building its atmosphere, recreating the uneasy mood of post-Second World War Europe. While the real trials took place in Germany, the production quietly transformed parts of Hungary into convincing stand-ins for 1940s Germany.
Not every filming site was publicly disclosed during production. That decision was deliberate. Studios often limit location information during filming to avoid disruptions from crowds or overly eager fans. Even so, several confirmed locations have emerged, offering a glimpse into where the film was crafted and why these places were chosen
Confirmed Nuremberg Filming Locations
For viewers captivated by the world of Nuremberg, some of these locations are real cultural landmarks open to visitors today — making them intriguing stops for travellers curious to see where the historical drama came to life.
Main Filming Location: Budapest, Hungary
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The majority of filming for Nuremberg took place in Budapest, Hungary, between February and May 2024. The Hungarian capital has become a favourite for international productions because its architecture can convincingly resemble many European cities from different historical periods.
Budapest’s preserved historic districts, grand administrative buildings, and flexible studio infrastructure allowed the production team to recreate the austere environment of post-war Germany.
Rather than filming across several countries, the crew concentrated production in Hungary, giving them tighter control over sets such as interrogation rooms, court chambers, and prison interiors central to the film’s narrative.
The city has already proven itself capable of doubling for other locations in major films, and its visual range made it an ideal stand-in for Germany in the late 1940s.
Duna Palota (Danube Palace)
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One of the most recognisable filming sites is Duna Palota, also known as the Danube Palace, located in central Budapest.
Built in the late 19th century, the palace is a cultural venue often used for concerts, performances, and historic events. Its ornate interiors and classical European architecture made it perfect for scenes requiring elegant yet formal settings.
In Nuremberg, the building was adapted to portray interior locations such as social meeting spaces and bar scenes where key characters interact away from the courtroom. Its polished halls and period décor helped reinforce the film’s historical tone.
For visitors today, Duna Palota remains open to the public and continues to host cultural events, making it one of the few confirmed filming sites fans can actually step inside.
Budapest Historic District Streets
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Several street sequences were filmed across Budapest’s historic districts, where carefully chosen blocks and façades helped recreate the atmosphere of devastated post-war Germany.
Production designers worked closely with historians to adjust signage, vehicles, and architectural details to match the 1940s period. Narrow alleys, government-style buildings, and stone façades allowed filmmakers to construct scenes depicting military checkpoints, administrative offices, and the uneasy calm of cities recovering from conflict.
These street locations added authenticity to the film’s exterior scenes without requiring extensive digital reconstruction.
Budapest Soundstages and Studio Sets
Beyond real-world locations, Nuremberg also relied heavily on Budapest soundstages.
Purpose-built sets were created to depict key locations tied to the story, including:
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Courtroom interiors for the trial sequences
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Interrogation rooms where psychological exchanges unfold
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Military detention corridors housing captured officials
By building these environments inside controlled studio spaces, the production team could carefully design every detail — from wood-panelled walls to dim interrogation lighting — ensuring the tense dialogue scenes between characters felt historically grounded.
The Danube River Promenade
Close to several filming areas is the Danube River promenade, one of Budapest’s most recognisable waterfront zones.
While not officially confirmed for specific scenes, the area’s historic surroundings and government-style architecture make it visually consistent with the film’s aesthetic. Productions frequently use the riverside districts for atmospheric establishing shots, and the nearby landmarks helped anchor the film’s recreated European setting.
For visitors, the promenade offers sweeping views of Budapest’s historic skyline and sits just a short walk from several confirmed filming sites used by the production.
Why Hungary Was Chosen for Nuremberg
Hungary has become increasingly popular for large international productions due to several advantages:
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Competitive film incentives that attract global studios
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Experienced local crews familiar with historical productions
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Flexible studio facilities capable of building complex sets
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Historic architecture that resembles multiple European eras
These factors allowed director James Vanderbilt to craft a historically convincing environment without moving production across multiple countries.
Working alongside historians and production designers, the team focused on recreating the restrained, formal spaces where much of the story unfolds — particularly the intense psychological exchanges between Rami Malek as psychiatrist Douglas Kelley and Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring.
What Nuremberg Is About
Nuremberg explores the aftermath of the Second World War through the perspective of American Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley, played by Rami Malek.
Kelley is tasked with evaluating detained officials awaiting trial for their role in wartime atrocities. His psychological assessments bring him into a tense intellectual duel with Hermann Göring, portrayed by Russell Crowe, one of the most powerful figures in the defeated regime.
The film also features an ensemble cast including Michael Shannon, Richard E. Grant, John Slattery, Colin Hanks, Leo Woodall, Lydia Peckham, and Wrenn Schmidt.
Written and directed by James Vanderbilt, the film blends historical courtroom drama with psychological tension, focusing on the moral and legal questions surrounding the trials. Online reactions to the film’s locations have been varied but largely positive.
Many viewers praised the way Budapest convincingly captured the look of post-war Europe, noting that the architecture and muted colour palette helped build a believable historical atmosphere.
Some fans were surprised that the film was not shot in Germany itself. Others argued that Hungary’s preserved architecture arguably makes it easier to recreate the era accurately.
Travel-minded viewers have also begun sharing discussions about visiting Duna Palota and surrounding areas in Budapest, curious to see where scenes from the film were created.
At the same time, a few netizens pointed out that some locations remain undisclosed — something that often happens with major productions where studios prefer to keep certain filming sites private.
Can Fans Visit the Filming Locations?
Yes, at least some of them.
Locations such as Duna Palota and many of the surrounding historic districts in Budapest are open to the public. That means visitors can explore the same streets and buildings used to recreate the tense world of Nuremberg.
While the film’s studio sets are not accessible, the city itself offers plenty of recognisable architecture that played a role in shaping the film’s visual identity.
From historic palaces to carefully designed studio sets, the filming locations of Nuremberg show how modern productions recreate complex historical moments through a mix of real architecture and meticulous design. Budapest’s versatility allowed the filmmakers to rebuild a world shaped by legal confrontation, political reckoning, and intense psychological exchanges.
As more behind-the-scenes details emerge, additional filming locations may still surface. If you have spotted a place in the film that looks familiar or believe you recognise another Budapest landmark used in Nuremberg