10 TV & movie locations in New York City
No one doubts that New York is a city of films. If you want to know the corners that have served as locations and sets for the most famous films and series, read on...
The Empire State Building of "King Kong | ©Hellotickets
Hollywood has captured it like no one else on screen, but seeing some of these locations in person is a blast. Are you ready? 3, 2, 1... action!
New York City TV and Film Tour
Discover where your favourite films and series were filmed
With an expert guide, you will learn about the main scenes and locations of your favourite films and series in detail.
If you're a lover of the seventh art and series, book a TV and film tour of New York. This tour is one of the most fun you can have in the Big Apple. You'll have a blast following the trail of your favourite characters through the streets of the city and seeing in person the locations where these films were shot.
You'll be able to visit each location at your own pace, but the experience is much more fun with the tour, as you'll be accompanied at all times by a local guide/actor who'll fill you in on the behind-the-scenes trivia.
At the end of this 3-hour tour you'll see New York through new eyes and learn lots of anecdotes about films and series, which is what it's all about: Friends, Ghostbusters, Girls, Seinfeld, Spiderman, I Am Legend, Glee or How I Met Your Mother, among many others.
Recommended if... you are a lover of the seventh art and series.
Now, I'll tell you which are the best locations in New York of the most legendary films and series in the history of cinema and TV...
1. The Friends flat in the West Village
Since its premiere in 1994, the legendary series Friends has never stopped adding new fans to its ranks, who are totally hooked on the adventures of this group of friends in their twenties who find themselves in all sorts of funny situations as they try to find their place in New York.
It's been almost twenty years since the series ended, but it has managed to make its way into the hearts of viewers and we fans haven't forgotten Chandler, Monica, Ross, Rachel, Joey and Phoebe. In fact, it is still very much alive today.
Those who still remember the episodes of this legendary series or revisit the fantastic episodes of Friends, will enjoy the opportunity to see some of the locations where it was filmed in New York with this TV and film tour of New York City. This is the case of the building where Monica, Rachel, Chandler and Joey used to live and where most of the action takes place in the series.
Where is it?
It is located in the Greenwich Village neighbourhood, specifically on the corner of Grove Street and Bedford Street. As you will see, the exterior of the real building differs slightly from the fictional one, as it does not have the terraces from which the group spied on their famous nudist neighbour.
Unfortunately, you can't see the inside of the protas' flats, as Friends was filmed in studios in Los Angeles. Even so, the TV and Film Tour of New York is still one of the best tours you can do in New York City during your trip - you'll love it!
2. The Ghostbusters Firehouse in Tribeca
*Ghostbusters is one of those '80s movies that never goes out of style. We all remember the team of parapsychologists who roamed the streets of New York looking for pesky ectoplasms that got trapped in this world and went on a rampage.
Over time Ghostbusters became a cult film and has so many fans that in fact a remake with an all-female cast was made in 2016 and two new films are being released in 2021 and 2024.
In New York you can relive the nostalgia of this film by visiting some of its locations. The most iconic of these is the Ghostbusters headquarters in Tribeca, another stop on the TV and film tour of New York.
Where is it?
It's located at 14 N Moore Street, in one of New York's trendiest neighbourhoods known for its old industrial buildings that have been converted into residential lofts and trendy cafes and boutiques.
The famous Ghostbusters headquarters is a building that has served as the firehouse for Tribeca's Hook & Ladder Company 8 since 1903. You'll identify it by its distinctive red door.
The offices featured in the film were a set, so the interior of the building is not open to visitors. However, the firefighters who work at Hook & Ladder are aware of the fame of the place so they live with the flashbulbs of onlookers who come here for a souvenir photo.
3. Carrie Bradshaw's Sex and the City flat on the Upper East Side
Between 1998 and 2004, Sex in New York was broadcast, the unforgettable sitcom that, with a fresh and funny look, showed the universe of dating in New York through a group of friends in their thirties who had all sorts of ups and downs in their quest to find love.
Such was its success that a few years after the series ended, three more films were made, and nostalgia for Sex and the City is so strong that a sequel to the series has recently been released under the title And Just Like That...which explores the reality of life and friendship for these women in their fifties.
The miniseries promises to add new locations to the Sex and the City location tour for fans to enjoy, the most iconic of which is Carrie Bradshaw's Upper East Side flat. However, in real life her flat is located in a different neighbourhood.
Where is it?
Carrie's flat is actually at 66 Perry Street in the West Village. In the series she lives on a much less photogenic Upper East Side street, E73rd Street. No wonder they chose the West Village to film!
You'll recognise it by its brownstone façade and the little staircase Carrie Bradshaw used to climb to enter her home. If you were a Sex and the City fan, you'll definitely want a souvenir photo at the legendary entrance. However, the influx of curious onlookers is such that the neighbours had to put up a chain to keep people out.
4. The famous Tiffany & CO jewellery store from Breakfast at Tiffany's on Fifth Avenue
Based on the novel of the same name by journalist Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany's became an immediate critical and box-office success on its release in 1961 and a cult film ever since. It is a loose adaptation of the story of Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn), a somewhat eccentric young woman who dreams of success and an idealised world that doesn't exist.
She eats breakfast every day in front of a stunning jewellery store and her life is turned upside down when Paul Varjack, a failed writer who also craves success, arrives in her building. When their paths cross, nothing is ever the same again.
Where is he?
The first time we see Holly Golightly is dressed in her iconic Givenchy black dress and pearl necklace having a coffee and croissant for breakfast in front of the window of the famous Tiffany&Co jewellery store at 727 5th Avenue.
During your trip to New York you can book a TV and film tour of New York and recreate the scene with one of Midtown's most delicious croissants very close by, at the Eclair Bakery on 53rd Street.
Other Breakfast at Tiffany's New York locations
- Holly's Apartment: Although the film claims that Holly lives at 167 71st Street, it's actually number 169 in this Upper East Side building. You'll recognise it from the scene where Holly hails a taxi with a loud whistle.
- Central Park: New York's most famous park is featured in the film when Holly's old husband travels to the city to see her and has a frank conversation with Paul about her and how he met her. The scene was shot at The Bandshell gazebo and Conservatory Water Lake. Central Park is located between 5th and 8th Avenues and 59th and 110th Streets. Book a tour of Central Park with film locations and discover it.
- Seagram Building: This office tower designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is the setting where Holly tells Paul that she loves New York while sitting in front of the fountain of this 1950s building. You'll find it at 375 Park Avenue, between 52nd and 53rd streets, not far from the Tiffany jewellers.
5. On the trail of Kevin from Home Alone 2 at the Plaza Hotel
One of the films of our childhood and a Christmas classic, who doesn't remember the mischievous Kevin McCallister? Two years have passed since he used his wits to defeat two clumsy burglars who were trying to rob his Chicago home. This time, the boy is again separated from his family during the holidays and ends up in New York where he is reunited with the thieves.
From this point on, the film presents us with the Big Apple on the eve of 25 December, so it looks spectacular. I recommend you take the Home Alone 2 tour at Christmas, when it looks just like in the film. You also have the option of booking a TV and film tour of New York and discovering some of the locations in comfort.
Where is he staying?
Kevin stays at the luxurious Plaza Hotel in New York, located next to Central Park and Fifth Avenue. A symbol of the city with more than a century of history. With his father's credit card, Kevin books a suite where he has a movie marathon while gorging on ice cream and having fun in the hotel pool making bombs.
Other Home Alone 2 New York locations
- Statue of Liberty: The symbol of American freedom and New York's most famous landmark. In fact, a key activity is to book a tour of the Statue of Liberty. In the film, the scene where the statue appears is very significant because it represents Kevin's independence from his family and his willingness to have a good time. It's on Liberty Island, southwest of Manhattan.
- Wollman Rink: This is Central Park's ice rink, which is located in the southeast corner of the park near 59th Street. This is where thieves Marv and Harry plan their next heist on Christmas Eve.
- Duncan's Toy Chest: Although this shop is featured in the film, it does not exist as such in New York. If you're looking for a toy store of this style, FAO Schwarz at 767 5th Avenue is the closest. In Home Alone 2 it is here that Kevin and the robbers meet again and... the chase begins.
- Times Square: It has become the best known image of the city thanks to its billboards and flashy lights. In the film, when the McAllisters arrive in New York, the mother runs desperately to Times Square to try to locate her son. It is located at the intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue. Did you know that you have the possibility to book a horse-drawn carriage tour of Central Park, Rockefeller and Times Square? An unforgettable experience.
- Rockefeller Center: Every year, New York inaugurates Christmas with the lighting of the huge Rockefeller Center tree. A tradition that dates back to the 1930s. In Home Alone 2 this is the emotional reunion of Kevin and his mother after so many days apart. One of the most tender scenes in the film. It is located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and 49th and 50th Streets and the best way to get to know it in depth is to book a guided tour of Rockefeller Center
6. *The Avengers at Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan
The streets of New York have served as inspiration for the recreation of Metropolis or Gotham City, fictional cities where the adventures of superheroes like Batman or Superman took place, so we can say that New York is a city of superheroes.
If you love Marvel or DC comics, you can't miss the locations of some of the most famous superhero movies in New York. For example, book a visit to Grand Central Terminal, one of the largest train stations in the United States that was featured in the first part of The Avengers.
Where is it?
Grand Central Terminal is the most important railway station to see in Manhattan and one of the architectural gems of the 19th century. It is located at 15 Vanderbilt Avenue and you will recognise it by its exterior façade designed as a Greco-Roman triumphal arch and its main concourse called the Main Concourse, decorated with frescoes of constellations, three large arched windows and its iconic clock.
In The Avengers movie, the team of Thor, Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Hawkeye and Black Widow defend New York from an attack by the Chitauri fleet and Grand Central Terminal is razed to the ground.
If you book a visit to Grand Central Terminal you will see how it was the location of the lair of Superman's enemy Lex Luthor in the first film starring Christopher Reeve. The building is also featured in the Gotham series.
Other superhero movie and series locations in New York City
- Midtown Comics: Although not a film location, it is the temple of the comic book world. Since 1997, this shop near Times Square has been a reference point for fans of the genre and a source of inspiration, so if you're excited about the subject you have to go to Midtown Comics at 200 W. 40th Street (corner of 7th Avenue).
- Times Square: It has been the scene of several superhero battles. For example, Spiderman against the Green Goblin in the Tobey Maguire movie or against Electro in the version with Andrew Garfield. This square also appeared in Captain America with Chris Evans.
- Flatiron Building: One of the most emblematic buildings in New York was used to recreate the editorial office of the Daily Bugle, the newspaper where Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) works as a photographer in the first Spiderman film.
- Brooklyn Bridge: Appears in The Fantastic Four when the Thing tries to prevent a suicide and results in a major accident that destroys part of the famous bridge that crosses the East River connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn.
- Financial District: In this neighbourhood takes place one of the most amazing pitched battles that closes the trilogy of The Dark Knight. At the foot of the steps of Federal Hall, on Wall Street, Batman and Bane fist-fight.
7. The Museum of Natural History where Night at the Museum takes place.
The little ones may remember the movie Night at the Museum, where a night watchman named Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) had to deal with the creatures and objects inside the Natural History Museum as they were brought to life each night by a magical Egyptian artifact.
Although in real life his collection doesn't come to life at nightfall, it's worth booking tickets to the Natural History Museum and checking it out, because it's considered the most extensive on the planet and a must-see in New York.
Where is it located?
The Museum of Natural History is located on 79th Street just west of Central Park. Here you can visit its ten permanent exhibits spread over forty rooms, some of which are featured in the film.
Locations of Night at the Museum in New York City
- Theodore Roosevelt Memorial: This room at the museum's most famous entrance, Central Park West, houses the official memorial to Theodore Roosevelt, Governor of New York State and President of the United States. In addition, it also displays the giant skeleton of a Barosaurus.
- Mammal Halls: The exhibition dedicated to mammals is a carefully staged display of the characteristics of small mammals, Asian mammals, African mammals, North American mammals, New York mammals and the primate hall. His dioramas are among the most famous on the planet.
- Human Origins and Cultural Halls: This exhibition explores the history of human evolution, as well as the different cultures of peoples in Africa, Asia, North and South America and the Pacific.
8. Columbia University, birthplace of Spiderman, in Morningside Heights
The Spiderman franchise has spawned several films over the past couple of decades with New York as the setting for them. And it's one of the starring films on the TV and movie tour of New York.
The story begins when student Peter Parker takes a field trip to Columbia University's genetics lab, where he is bitten by a genetically modified spider and accidentally acquires superhuman powers that will help him fight crime.
Where is he?
Columbia University is located at 116th Street & Broadway, in the Morningside Heights neighbourhood that borders Harlem to the north. It is one of the most prestigious universities in the United States and the fifth oldest in the country.
It was founded in the 18th century as King's College but changed its name to Columbia College after independence. In the early 20th century, the university was a pioneer in scientific and medical research and is now one of the most important research centres on the continent.
Other Spiderman locations in New York City
- Midtown Comics: As mentioned above, while not a location in the films, it is the sanctuary of the comics. This shop near Times Square has been a source of inspiration and a reference for fans of this genre since 1997 so if you love comics you have to go to 200 W. 40th Street (corner of 7th Avenue).
- Flatiron Building: This iconic New York City building was used to recreate the headquarters of the Daily Bugle newspaper, where Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) works as the superhero's photographer in the first Spider-Man film.
- Joe's Pizza: This is the pizzeria where Peter works as a delivery boy in the second film. It is located at 233 Bleecker Street, but is now actually three doors down at 7 Carmine Street. According to Woody Allen, the best pizza place in New York.
- New York Public Library: The place where a thief kills Uncle Ben. The tragic event changes Peter's life forever. It is located on Fifth Avenue, between 41st and 52nd Streets.
- Staten Island Ferry: In this scene Spider-Man tries to fight Vulture and breaks the Staten Island Ferry in half. Things get ugly, but thanks to Iron Man's intervention everyone is saved.
- Brooklyn Bridge: In The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Peter proposes to Gwen with a big spider web on the bridge that says "I love you" and she sees him from a taxi.
9. The New York Stock Exchange, from The Wolf of Wall Street, in the Financial District
With its distinctive skyscrapers and suits, Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange Building is the heart of the Financial District and another of the highlights of the TV and film tour of New York It is precisely what goes on in this environment that has been used to tell stories in films such as The Wolf of Wall Street.
Based on a true story, The Wolf of Wall Street tells the story of the rise of broker Jordan Belfort, who makes his fortune by fraudulently buying and selling shares on the US investment market in the 1980s. His extravagant life, marked by excess, was a turning point in the history of Wall Street.
Where is it?
This narrow street in lower Manhattan is one of the most famous in New York and the most important street in the Financial District. If you want to see the atmosphere of Federal Hall and the Stock Exchange Building, the most important buildings in the area, I suggest you visit Wall Street during business hours from Monday to Friday. On weekends the landscape is completely different.
Other locations of The Wolf of Wall Street in New York City
- Equitable Building: This building houses the offices of the New York State Attorney General's Office, but in the film it represents the offices of LF Rothschild Bank. It is located at 120 Broadway.
- World Financial Center: Belfort had his yacht Naomi moored near the World Financial Center when the police take it into custody and he is visited by agent Patrick Denham.
- West 30th St Heliport: The location where Agent Denham arrests Belfort in the middle of filming his TV commercial.
- Milan Building: After achieving success, Belfort and his wife Naomi move into a luxury apartment complex at 300 E 55th Street, between First and Second Avenues.
10. Serena's return to Grand Central Terminal from Gossip Girl
It's been almost a decade since Gossip Girl ended, but fans haven't been able to forget this series that left its mark on both the fashion and TV worlds. In fact, there's a modern-day reboot that once again features Kristen Bell as the show's narrator, much to the delight of fans.
The plot revolves around the lives of a group of wealthy Upper East Side teens whose affairs, betrayals and secrets are exposed on the Internet by a blogger named Gossip Girl. All set against the backdrop of New York's swankiest luxury.
The first episode premiered in 2007 and begins with the unexpected return to the city of Upper East Side queen Serena van der Woodsen from boarding school in Cornwall. Her reappearance surprises her former friends and not everyone will be happy to see her.
Where is she?
The first scene of the series shows Serena arriving at a busy train station after a long and mysterious absence, something Gossip Girl spreads the word to her fans. It's Grand Central Terminal, one of the most famous train stations in the United States because of its impressive Main Concourse.
You can take advantage of your trip to book a guided tour of New York's Grand Central Terminal and take a few souvenir photos and snacks in one of its cafes or restaurants. The most famous and oldest of these is the Oyster Bar, which dates back to 1913. It is located at 15 Vanderbilt Avenue.
Other Gossip Girl locations in New York City
If you want to see all the locations where the Gossip Girl Queen did her thing, you can join a Gossip Girl location tour On this bus tour you can have your photo taken at some of the locations from the series.
- The MET: The stairs of this museum were a favourite place for Blair, Serena and their friends to sit after class. This is where the tension brews when Blair doesn't invite Serena to her party after her return. Located at 82nd Street and Fifth Avenue.
- Museum of the City of New York: The façade of this building was used to recreate the Constance Billard School of Girls. The museum looks at the history of the city, its present and its future. You'll find it at 1220 Fifth Avenue and 103rd Street.
- Bethesda Terrace: The place where Blair and Chuck got married! It is considered the heart of Central Park. The ensemble is dominated by the Bethesda Fountain, but the upper part of the terrace and the beautiful lower passageway decorated with tiles and arches is a highly recommended place to see as well.
- Dan Humphrey's house: Unlike his peers, Dan did not live on the exclusive Upper East Side but in the Brooklyn neighbourhood of DUMBO, which was not bad either. It is said that his house was at 455 Water Street.
- Serena's House: The Van der Woodsen family lived in the Milan Building, a luxury apartment complex at 300 E 55th Street. In the series they were said to live on the Upper East Side, but the skyscraper is actually located in another part of New York.
- Bass family residence: The residence of Bart Bass, Chuck's father, is the Lotte New York Palace Hotel, where one of the most beautiful trees in the city is set up every Christmas. It is located at 455 Madison Avenue.
- Columbia College: This private university is one of the most illustrious in the United States. Serena and Nate are enrolled here and, as a curiosity, it is also where Barack Obama studied. It is located in the Morningside Heights neighbourhood, at 116th Street & Broadway.