Over the years, Marvel Studios has introduced a string of fictional locations from the Marvel comics to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The MCU has been thriving since 2008 and it doesn't show any signs of slowing down. After its first three Phases, collectively known as the Infinity Saga, ended, it's now building a brand new narrative, including the Multiverse-creating Loki and Phase 4.
Marvel is known for using real-world locations in its narratives. This can help heroes feel grounded in reality, and bring readers closer to their favourite characters. Spider-Man is from Queens and the Fantastic Four's Baxter Building is in Manhattan, while the X-Mansion is in Upstate New York. This concept was adapted in the MCU with the Avengers' adventures mostly taking place in various locations on Earth. Battle of New York.
This doesn't mean that Marvel doesn't have fictional locations, however; it does. Since Marvel Studios tends to look to print for inspiration, naturally, they have lifted some of those settings from the comics and introduced them into the MCU.
Knowhere
First unveiled at the end of Reality Stone, respectively.
Morag
The original Guardians of the Galaxy film opened in contemporary times with Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) dancing and singing on his way to the temple that housed the Orb in Morag. Once a flourishing civilization, the planet was wiped out by global warming, leaving it entirely covered in oceans. But once every three hundred years, the water lowers down, allowing the Temple to be accessed. The oceanic planet was once again featured in Avengers: Endgame as part of the time heist. Rhodey/War Machine (Don Cheadle) and Nebula (Karen Gillan) were dropped off in the location to grab the Power Stone for the reverse snap.
Xandar
Guardians of the Galaxy introduced the planet of Xandar. The homeworld of the Xandarians and other beings, it's the capital of the Nova Empire. The rag-tag team of cosmic beings first gathered here as Gamora (Zoe Saldana) as well as, Rocket Racoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper) and Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) all tried to go after Peter Quill who had the Orb. After a public tussle, the Nova Corps arrested and put them in prison where they eventually met Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista). In the third act battle of the film, Ronan the Acc (Lee Pace), attempted to destroy Xandar using the Orb. Marking the first collective mission for the Guardians of the Galaxy, the team, ultimately, saved the planet. Later on, it's revealed in Avengers: Infinity War that Thanos (Josh Brolin) decimated Xandar to get the Power Stone.
Sokovia
The fictional European nation of Sokovia, from which the WandaVision revisited Sokovia through some flashback sequences, including the revelation of how Scarlet Witch's parents died.
Quantum Realm
Unlike the previous entries, the Ant-Man and the Wasp through the rescue of Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) who had been trapped there for decades. The Quantum Realm was also instrumental in making the time heist possible in Avengers: Endgame.
Kamar-Taj
After a life-changing accident left Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) unable to continue his medical practice, he resorted to other ways to help him heal his hands. That led him to the discovery of the Masters of Mystic Arts, who were based in Kamar-Taj. Strange traveled to Kathmandu, Nepal to find the magical training grounds in the hopes of seeking help from the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton). Instead, however, he was recruited into the team as he is set to become the MCU's next Sorcerer Supreme.
Sanctum Sanctorum
The Masters of the Mystic Arts have headquarters all around the world. While Kamar-Taj functions as their training facility, the Sanctum Sanctorum serves as their base. In the MCU, there are the London Sanctum, Hong Kong Sanctum, and New York Sanctum — the last one being Doctor Strange's command post. Located in Greenwich Village in New York, only a handful of characters have been in it. In Smart Hulk, Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) crashes in the New York Sanctum at the beginning of Avengers: Infinity War, meanwhile, that kicked off the events of the film.
Ego The Living Planet
A Celestial and a living planet, Ego had a humanoid extension of himself played by Kurt Russell in Star-Lord, however — his only offspring who inherited his Celestial DNA to move forward with his plan. Once Peter realized the error of his father's ways, he teamed up with the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy to kill his father once and for all.
Midtown High School
Following his introduction in Captain America: Civil War, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) embarked on his first s0lo MCU film in Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Sakaar
Following the death of Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and the escape of Hela (Cate Blanchett), Thor found himself in Sakaar in Taika Waititi's Thor: Ragnarok. Ruled by the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum), the trash planet hosted the Battle of the Champions where the God of Thunder accidentally encountered the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). This was the first sighting of the green-rage monster since Avengers: Age of Ultron. At the end of Thor: Ragnarok, Sakaar was eventually liberated from the Grandmaster's reign by a coup.
