Explore the real-world places that appear in Exit West by Mohsin Hamid. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Unnamed Middle Eastern City, University Campus Cafe, Saeed's Family Apartment, Mykonos Beach, Mykonos Town Port and 6 more.
Based on Damascus/Aleppo region — Saeed and Nadia's homeland
This is where Saeed and Nadia first meet at an evening class on corporate identity and product branding. Their unnamed city becomes increasingly dangerous as civil war erupts, with militants setting up checkpoints and bombs exploding in familiar neighborhoods. Saeed's mother is killed by a stray bullet while searching for a lost earring on their balcony. The couple huddles in apartments as the violence escalates, eventually hearing whispers about magical doors that can transport people to safety.
Aleppo is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, serving as a major trading hub for millennia. The Syrian civil war that began in 2011 devastated the city, with intense fighting between government forces and rebel groups causing massive destruction and displacement.
Much of Aleppo remains in ruins, though some reconstruction efforts are underway. The old city, once a UNESCO World Heritage site, suffered severe damage during the conflict.
Damascus University area — Where love begins
Saeed and Nadia meet here during an evening class on corporate identity and product branding. Saeed is immediately drawn to Nadia's fierce independence and the way she wears her flowing black robe not out of religious devotion but as armor against the world. They share their first conversation about music and dreams while sipping coffee, beginning a courtship that will be cut short by war.
Damascus University, founded in 1923, is Syria's oldest and largest university. The campus has long been a hub of intellectual and cultural life in Damascus, though it has been affected by the ongoing conflict.
The university continues to operate despite the challenges of war, though many students and faculty have fled the country. The campus shows signs of the conflict's impact.
Damascus residential district — Tragedy strikes
Saeed lives here with his parents, a astronomy-loving father and nurturing mother. The apartment becomes a refuge as the city descends into chaos. Saeed's mother is killed by a stray bullet while looking for her lost earring on the balcony, a random act of violence that devastates the family. Saeed's father chooses to stay behind when the young couple decides to flee through one of the mysterious doors.
Damascus residential neighborhoods like this one have housed families for generations, with apartment buildings constructed during Syria's post-independence boom years of the mid-20th century.
Many residential areas of Damascus show damage from the conflict, with some neighborhoods abandoned and others slowly rebuilding as residents return.
Greek island — First door destination
Saeed and Nadia emerge from their first magical door onto this Greek island beach, joining thousands of other migrants in a sprawling temporary camp. They sleep on the beach under the stars, their relationship strained by the trauma of leaving everything behind. The island becomes overcrowded with refugees, and tensions rise as local authorities struggle to manage the humanitarian crisis.
Mykonos has been a waystation for travelers for centuries, known for its windmills and traditional Cycladic architecture. During the 2015 refugee crisis, Greek islands became major transit points for migrants fleeing conflict in the Middle East.
Mykonos remains a popular tourist destination, though it still occasionally receives migrant boats. The contrast between luxury tourism and humanitarian crisis continues to define many Greek islands.
Visit: Mykonos Beaches (landmark)
Chora harbor — Migrant processing point
The port becomes a processing center for the thousands of migrants arriving through doors and by boat. Saeed and Nadia wait here with crowds of displaced people, watching as authorities try to organize the chaos. Food and medical supplies are distributed, and rumors spread about which countries might accept them and where the next doors might lead.
Mykonos port has served as a commercial and passenger hub for the Cyclades for centuries. The traditional harbor with its iconic windmills has welcomed ships carrying everything from ancient traders to modern cruise passengers.
The port continues to serve tourists and locals, though it's also equipped to handle humanitarian emergencies when migrant boats arrive. The infrastructure reflects both its tourist economy and refugee crisis history.
Visit: Mykonos Old Port (landmark)
London — Tent city emerges
Saeed and Nadia pass through another door and find themselves in London, where Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens have been transformed into a vast migrant encampment. They pitch a small tent among thousands of others, creating a temporary city within the city. Here their relationship continues to fray as they adapt to their new reality, with Nadia exploring her independence while Saeed clings to their shared past.
Kensington Gardens, created in the late 17th century as the private gardens of Kensington Palace, became a public park in the 1840s. The gardens have long been a green refuge in central London, home to the Diana Memorial and Peter Pan statue.
Kensington Gardens remains one of London's Royal Parks, carefully maintained and popular with both locals and tourists. The contrast between its manicured lawns and Hamid's imagined tent city highlights the novel's themes of displacement.
Visit: Kensington Gardens (park)
London protest point — Tensions escalate
This area becomes a focal point for both anti-migrant protests and counter-demonstrations. Saeed and Nadia witness clashes between nativists who want the migrants expelled and London residents who support them. The famous Speaker's Corner tradition takes on new meaning as different groups vie to have their voices heard about the migration crisis.
Hyde Park Corner has been a site of public assembly and protest for over 150 years. Speaker's Corner, established in 1872, became a symbol of free speech where anyone could stand and address crowds on any topic.
Hyde Park Corner remains an active site for demonstrations and public speaking. The area around Wellington Arch continues to host rallies and protests on various political issues.
Visit: Speaker's Corner, Hyde Park (historic site)
Oxford Street junction — Dividing lines
The area around Marble Arch becomes a symbolic border between the migrant encampment in the parks and the rest of London. Saeed and Nadia cross this threshold daily as they venture into the city proper, feeling the weight of being unwelcome. The arch itself becomes a meeting point for migrants seeking news, work, or simply human connection.
Marble Arch was designed by John Nash in 1827 as a grand entrance to Buckingham Palace, later moved to its current location in 1851. The neoclassical arch has served as a London landmark and gathering point for over 150 years.
Marble Arch remains a major London landmark and transport hub, surrounded by busy shopping streets and serving as the entrance to Hyde Park's Speaker's Corner.
Visit: Marble Arch (monument)
North of San Francisco — Final destination
Through their final door, Saeed and Nadia arrive in Marin County, where they join a community of migrants in the hills overlooking San Francisco Bay. Here they begin to build separate lives, with Nadia finding work and independence while Saeed connects with a community of refugees from their homeland. Their relationship finally ends as they realize they've grown into different people, but they part with love and understanding.
Marin County has long been known for its natural beauty and progressive politics, attracting both wealthy residents and alternative communities. The hills have provided refuge for various groups seeking escape from urban pressures since the 1960s counterculture movement.
Marin County remains one of California's most expensive areas, known for its hiking trails, environmental consciousness, and proximity to San Francisco. The hills offer stunning views of the Bay Area.
Visit: Marin Headlands (park)
Marin side overlook — New beginnings
Saeed and Nadia often come to this viewpoint to look across the bay at San Francisco, contemplating their journey and their future. The vista represents both the beauty of their new home and the distance they've traveled from their war-torn city. Here they have some of their final conversations as a couple, recognizing that they've become different people through their migration experience.
The Golden Gate Vista Point was established to provide visitors with spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco skyline. It became an iconic stop for travelers and immigrants arriving by car from the north.
The Vista Point remains one of the most photographed locations in the Bay Area, offering panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, and Alcatraz Island.
Visit: Golden Gate Vista Point (landmark)
Marin County — Community and separation
In their final phase together, Saeed and Nadia spend time in Sausalito, where Saeed finds community with other refugees from their homeland while Nadia pursues her own interests and friendships. The picturesque waterfront becomes the backdrop for their gentle but inevitable separation, as they realize they want different things from their new life in America.
Sausalito evolved from a 19th-century ferry terminal and shipbuilding center into an artistic community and wealthy enclave. Its Mediterranean climate and bay views have long attracted both artists and affluent residents.
Sausalito remains an upscale tourist destination and residential community, known for its houseboats, art galleries, and ferry connections to San Francisco.
Visit: Sausalito Waterfront (landmark)
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