
10 Famous Places in Dan Brown’s Books
Do you love playing a character in famous books or movies? In novels such as “Angels and Demons“, “The Da Vinci Code“, “The Lost Symbol“, “Inferno“, and “Origin“, Professor Robert Langdon visited many famous places to solve the world’s most mysterious questions. Sounds interesting to you? How about we play as Robert Langdon and explore the places in Dan Brown’s books?
If your answer is yes, let’s follow me to visit the places in Dan Brown’s books in order.
Angels & Demons, 2000
Vatican City – Vatican City

Vatican City, a mesmerizing enclave in Rome, Italy, is one of the most iconic places in Dan Brown’s books, renowned as the spiritual heart of the Catholic Church. Spanning just 44 hectares, this sovereign state boasts St. Peter’s Basilica, with its awe-inspiring dome designed by Michelangelo, the vast St. Peter’s Square framed by Bernini’s colonnades, and the Sistine Chapel, adorned with Michelangelo’s legendary frescoes.
In Dan Brown’s 2000 thriller Angels & Demons, Robert Langdon explores its sacred archives and ancient Necropolis to foil an Illuminati plot. The novel’s 2009 film adaptation boosted tourism, inspiring Angels & Demons-themed tours that draw millions to this historic marvel annually.
Fountain of the Four Rivers – Rome, Italy

The fountain of the Four Rivers is located in Piazza Navona in Rome, Italy. Lorenzo Bernini designed the fountain, made of marble in the Baroque style, in 1651. Especially, the fountain depicts the gods of the 4 major rivers. They are the Nile in Africa, the Danube in Europe, the Ganges in Asia, and the river La Plata in the Americas. You will find the fountain of the Four Rivers in “Angels and Demons” – the 2000 bestselling mystery-thriller novel by Dan Brown.
Read more: Best Things to Do in Rome: An Ultimate Guide for Every Visitor
The Da Vinci Code, 2003
Westminster Abbey – London, England

Westminster Abbey is a Gothic-style cathedral in London. It was recognized by UNESCO as one of the World Heritage Sites in 1987. Since 1066, Westminster Abbey has been the site of coronation ceremonies of the monarchs of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Also, it is the resting place of kings, queens, and many influential people in British history. After the release of “The Da Vinci Code“, the monastic leaders objected to the novel’s content because it was “theologically incorrect”.
Louvre Museum – Paris, France

The Louvre is a museum located in the historic centre of Paris, on the banks of the Seine. The museum was established in 1793 with three wings – Denon, Sully, and Richelieu, in a space of about 73,000 m2. In particular, each wing has more than 70 rooms and large halls displaying artistic masterpieces such as the Statue of Venus, the Mona Lisa, the Statue of Liberty leading the people, etc. Especially, the museum now provides free virtual museum tours so that you can see its online exhibitions right at home. It was once the palace of the kings of France. Thanks to “The Da Vinci Code“, the number of visitors who come to the Louvre Museum has increased, in search of the Holy Grail.
Rosslyn Chapel – Roslin, Scotland

Rosslyn Chapel, a 15th-century Gothic treasure in Roslin, Scotland, just minutes from Edinburgh, is among the most captivating places in Dan Brown’s books. Founded in 1446 by William Sinclair, this compact chapel dazzles with intricate stone carvings, including the ornate Apprentice Pillar and cryptic symbols hinting at Knights Templar and Masonic lore. Its mystical ambiance and detailed craftsmanship make it a must-visit for history and art lovers.
In The Da Vinci Code (2003), Robert Langdon decodes its secrets in pursuit of the Holy Grail. The book’s success, amplified by the 2006 film, doubled visitor numbers, cementing Rosslyn’s status as a global pilgrimage site.
The Lost Symbol, 2009
Washington Monument – Washington, D.C., United States

In “The Lost Symbol”, Robert Langdon finds himself incarcerated at the Washington Monument when he sees the Capitol in front of his eyes. In fact, the Washington Monument is a monument to the first President of the United States. It was built in two periods, 1848-1854 and 1876-1884, in Washington, D.C. As a result, visitors can now notice the difference in gloss on the surface of the marble structure. When completed in 1885, the masterpiece designed by architect Robert Mills was the tallest building in the world, with 169m in height.
Read more: Istanbul Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting the City of Two Continents
Inferno, 2013
The Boboli Gardens – Florence, Italy

The Boboli Gardens are located just behind the Pitti Palace. Actually, this park in Florence is an outdoor museum with large green spaces and a collection of sculptures. Above all, the most important is the famous cave made by Buontalenti. In addition, this place still holds the beautiful fountain of the Ocean, the fountain of Neptune, the steps at The Kaffeehaus, etc. In the “Inferno“, Robert Langdon discovered the first clue on the Botticelli map in the Boboli garden.
Read more: Visit Florence: How to Plan Your Perfect Trip to the Birthplace of the Renaissance
Hagia Sophia – Istanbul, Turkey

Hagia Sophia’s complicated history began when the emperor of Byzantine Justinian I built a magnificent church that overlooked the Golden Horn harbor in the 6th century. Later, it became a mosque under the Ottomans and a Turkish museum for the period 1934 to 2020. In 2020, it turned into a mosque again at the direction of the 12th President of Turkey.
Today, with its splendid dome and four ornate watchtowers, Hagia Sophia is the most popular tourist attraction in Turkey. Hagia Sophia, also called the Church of Divine Wisdom, is the location of the end of Robert Langdon’s journey in “Inferno“.
Origin, 2017
The Basílica de la Sagrada Família – Barcelona, Spain

Basilica de la Sagrada Familia is a masterpiece of postmodernist art in Barcelona (Catalunya, Spain). The church was designed by the genius architect Antony Gaudí. However, nearly 100 years after his death, this magnificent 170-meter-tall structure has yet to be completed. Basilica Sagrada Familia was designated by UNESCO to be a World Heritage Site in 1984. In the “Origin“, this is the site where Robert Langdon found the password thanks to the last paragraph of the prophetic book The Four Zoas.
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao – Bilbao, Spain

Another famous place in Spain that appears in the novel “Origin” is the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Biscay. The architect Frank Gehry designed this work with inspiration from cliffs, outcrops, ship shapes, and flowing water. Furthermore, the architecture of this titanium museum also reflects the historical development of the shipbuilding and fishing industries in Bilbao. In addition to the Guggenheim Bilbao Museum, visitors can admire the installations, fountains, and many beautiful sculptures.
Finally, are you interested in playing Robert Langdon and visiting places in Dan Brown’s books? With so many attractive destinations around the world, this could be an interesting bucket list for your next trip idea and plan. Enjoy, and have great trips ahead!
Craving more wanderlust? The Broad Life unveils epic travel books to fuel your next adventure. These aren’t just guides—they’re tales of authors exploring new worlds, uncovering hidden gems, and soaking up wild cultures. Dive into the best travel reads now!
> READ MORE: THE BEST TRAVEL BOOKS OF ALL TIME
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18 Comments
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Abida
All of the places in the book were amazing. But the place I really loved it Westminster Abbey, London. I would love to go there for at least one time in my life🙂
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Abida
The Boboli Gardens of Italy felt the most amazing place to me. I loved your article overall
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Thena Franssen
My husband loves his books! I’ve read a few and would love to visit these places. He always has the books set in a lovely place somewhere in the world!
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Rosey
I spent the better part of the day in Louvre once and still always wished I could go back. Now I will be able to, albeit virtually. Thank you for the link.
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Gladys Nava
Those places are so beautiful ❤️ I want to see those places personally
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Caroline
Great collection you have compiled here. These places are iconic. I would love to be able to visit all of them in my lifetime.
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Taunya Chieng
Have a great day!
Abzstylz
I’m so glad I was able to visit Westminster Abbey. Would love to visit the Louvre museum one day!