Breaking Bad
in Albuquerque
As most fans know, the AMC hit series Breaking Bad is filmed and set in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The show, now in its fifth and final season, has
won six Emmy Awards with three consecutive wins for Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Cranston, one win for Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Aaron Paul, and
two nominations for Outstanding Drama Series. The series has 13 nominations in 2012.
The city of Albuquerque stars as a character in the series with film locations throughout the metro area. We have compiled a snapshot of film locations
along with nearby tourist destinations to help visitors discover what Albuquerque is really about – 300+ years of history, diverse arts and culture,
delectable New Mexican cuisine, spectacular weather and abundant outdoor recreation opportunities.
“Albuquerque itself has become a character in our show. A really important character in our show,” said Bryan Cranston, who plays Walter White, in a recent radio interview. “It gave it a justifiable location. A sound, solid place that not many people have related to. They’ve seen Los Angeles, they’ve seen New York, but they haven’t really seen Albuquerque and New Mexico.”
Ways to explore Breaking Bad locations
Self-guided tour
Use the interactive map below to find your way around the city to public locations that are featured in Breaking Bad. And, while you're at it, check out some of our nearby attractions.
What the actors say about Albuquerque
The following excerpts were pulled from several interviews with members of the cast and crew:
Q: Breaking Bad was originally planned to be set in California, but was moved to Albuquerque. What has Albuquerque been for the show?
"Albuquerque has meant the world for Breaking Bad. I can’t imagine Breaking Bad being anywhere else. I can’t imagine the show would be nearly as interesting as it is if it were set anywhere else. Just the cinematography and the look of the show. When I think of Albuquerque, I think of clouds, just those beautiful floating cumulus clouds. The skies. These are skies you just don’t see in Southern California. You really get the depth and the sense of scale in the desert in Albuquerque. On days when I’m out there on the set, the first thing I do is look out the window. If it’s a day with no clouds, I get really upset! I think about the Sandias and about this great city that I’ve grown to love."
- Vince Gilligan, creator of Breaking Bad in an interview by Local IQ
Read the complete interviews with Breaking Bad cast and crew in the Local IQ from March 2013.
Q: Is there any part of New Mexico that you will miss when filming wraps up?
A: “There are a lot of parts of New Mexico that I'm going to miss. I fell in love with that city during the first season and fell in love with the entire
state in the seasons after that. I own a place there and I'm going to keep it, so I'll go back.”
- Aaron Paul who plays Jesse Pinkman on blogs.amctv.com/breaking-bad
Q: Do you plan to maintain a residence in Albuquerque after the show wraps? What's your favorite Albuquerque restaurant?
A: “I do. I own a house there and greatly enjoy my time there. I may be able to come back and visit and also work some more in Albuquerque. I've developed
a lot of friendships and places I like to go, so it's been great for me. In terms of restaurant, I think for dinner I enjoy going out to El Pinto because of the food and the guys who
own the restaurant and the general manager. I enjoy the atmosphere, the food and the drinks and it's pretty festive. And as a great standby, you can't beat Flying Star.”
- Bryan Cranston who plays Walter White on blogs.amctv.com/breaking-bad
“There’s something very wonderful to be surrounded by the mountains and good air (in Albuquerque),” Esposito says. “It’s a wonderful place to work and it feels like home.”
- Giancarlo Esposito who plays “Gus” Fring in the Albuquerque Journal
View Breaking Bad Film Locations in a larger map