There are many famous filming locations in NYC that are a lot of fun to visit when you’re in the city.
Whether you like watching rom-coms, comedy series, action movies, or something else, you’ve most likely seen a lot of scenes in which New York City is featured, as the city starred in countless TV shows and movies. From the hotel in which Kevin stays in “Home Alone 2” to a restaurant that often appeared in the TV show “Seinfeld”, there’s a large variety of locations you can see.
These are the most iconic and famous filming locations in New York City!
Famous Filming Locations in NYC
The Plaza Hotel
Some movies that were filmed here: Home Alone 2, North by Northwest, and The Great Gatsby Neighborhood: Midtown Manhattan
The Plaza Hotel, which is one of the best historic hotels in NYC, appeared in various movies and TV series.
It is a luxury hotel that you can find on Fifth Avenue, next to Central Park. The hotel dates back to the year 1907 and was built in the chateau architectural style.
One of the movies that the hotel appears in is “Home Alone 2”, in which Kevin stays at The Plaza. Many scenes of the movie were filmed here.
The first movie in which The Plaza appeared is the 1959 movie “North by Northwest”, which was directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The exterior of the hotel and some parts of the hotel’s interior appear in the movie.
Some other movies that were filmed at the hotel are “Sleepless in Seattle” and “The Great Gatsby”.
Address: 768 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019
Grand Central Terminal
Some movies and TV shows that feature Grand Central Terminal: Gossip Girl, The Avengers, I Am Legend, and Going Hollywood Neighborhood: Midtown East
Grand Central Terminal, one of the busiest train stations in North America, is one of the city’s most popular filming locations. Many TV series and films include scenes that were shot at the train station.
Because of its role as a train station, Grand Central Terminal is often included in scenes to depict transportation or the arrival in the city.
Both the exterior and interior of the train station appear in various scenes, especially Track 34 appears in lots of scenes because the platform has no columns.
Some movies that were shot here include “The Avengers”, “Going Hollywood”, “I Am Legend”, and “The Girl on the Train”.
A popular TV series that was filmed at Grand Central Terminal is “Gossip Girl”. The train station appears in the first episode of this TV series and during a scene, you can see the main character Serena van der Woodsen arriving at the train station.
Address: 89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017
Wall Street
Some movies that were filmed here: The Wolf of Wall Street, Independence Day, and The Dark Knight Rises Neighborhood: Financial District
Wall Street is one of the most famous streets in New York City, which you can find in Manhattan’s Financial District.
The street is known for being the center of America’s financial industry, and the name “Wall Street” is used to refer to the country’s financial markets. The street is the home of various well-known buildings, such as the New York Stock Exchange.
Wall Street is also one of the most famous filming locations in NYC as it appears in many movies that are about the financial industry or trading.
One of the most famous ones is “The Wolf of Wall Street” by Martin Scorsese, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie, Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey, and several others. The New York Stock Exchange appeared in the movie, and various places near Wall Street are also near the street.
Other films that were shot on the street include “The Dark Knight Rises” and “Independence Day”.
Ghostbusters Headquarters
Known for: The 1984 Ghostbusters movie Neighborhood: Tribeca
The Ghostbusters Headquarters, which appears in the 1984 Ghostbusters movie, is an actual building that can be found in the Tribeca neighborhood.
The fictional headquarters from the movie is a historical fire station that is still in use by the New York City Fire Department. This building has a Beaux-Arts style and was constructed in the year 1903.
The building’s exterior is visible in several scenes in the movie, but scenes in which the interior of the headquarters appears were not shot at the building.
Besides appearing in the Ghostbusters movie, the building also appears in other movies and TV series. For example, it is visible in the TV series “How I Met Your Mother” and “Seinfeld”.
Visiting the Ghostbusters Headquarters is one of the best things to do in Tribeca.
Address: 14 N Moore St, New York, NY 10013
Katz’s Deli
Some movies and TV series in which Katz’s Deli appears: When Harry Met Sally, The Jim Gaffigan Show, and We Own the Night Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Katz’s Deli is the oldest deli in New York City and was founded in 1888. You can find the deli in the Lower East Side of Manhattan and it has an iconic exterior that features a large sign that reads “Katz’s”. You can get many different types of food at Katz’s Deli, including bagels, soups, and desserts.
The deli appears in many different movies and TV series.
One of the most famous scenes that was filmed here is from the romantic comedy movie “When Harry Met Sally”.
Some other movies of which scenes were filmed at the deli are “We Own the Night”, “Enchanted”, and “Donnie Brasco”.
In addition to that, Katz’s Deli appeared in TV shows, including The Jim Gaffigan Show.
Address: 205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
The Met
Some TV series and movies that were filmed at the Met: Gossip Girl, Hitch, and When Harry Met Sally Neighborhood: The Upper East Side
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the best museums in New York City and one of the largest art museums in the world. The museum is located on Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side and has a collection of objects that spans more than 5,000 years.
The building of The Met has a Beaux-Arts style and features lots of stone columns, decorations, and sculptures, and the building also has a large and iconic staircase in front of it.
Lots of movies and TV shows were shot at the museum.
For example, in the series “Gossip Girl”, many characters hang out on the staircase of The Met.
The movie “Hitch” was also filmed at the staircase in front of The Met. Other movies that were filmed at the museum include “When Harry Met Sally” and “A Late Quartet”.
Address: 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028
Brooklyn Museum
Some TV shows that were filmed here: Mr. Robot and Gotham Where to find the Brooklyn Museum: Brooklyn (next to Grand Army Plaza)
The Brooklyn Museum is one of the largest museums in the city and one of the best museums in Brooklyn. It’s located close to Grand Army Plaza.
The museum’s collection consists of about 500,000 objects from many periods in time and from all around the world.
The museum is housed inside a historic Beaux-Arts building that was constructed in 1897. It features a beautiful facade, and the interior consists of many large, modern, and classical spaces.
It’s an amazing filming location in New York City to see as both the interior and exterior of the museum have been featured in several films and TV shows.
One TV show for which scenes were filmed at the museum is “Mr. Robot”. In the TV shows, you can see the beautiful Beaux-Arts Court of the museum, which features a glass-tile floor, a large chandelier, and archways.
Some other movies and TV shows that were filmed here include the movie “New Year’s Eve” and the show “Gotham”.
Address: 200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11238
Bethesda Terrace
Some movies that were filmed at this place: The Avengers, Home Alone 2, Elf, and John Wick: Chapter 2 Where to find Bethesda Terrace: In Central Park
Bethesda Terrace is an iconic place that appears in many movies and TV series.
For example, it appears in Home Alone 2, when the movie’s main character Kevin runs through Central Park.
This location also appears in the movie “The Avengers”. During the scene that takes place here, Thor leaves Earth together with Loki and the Tesseract.
Other movies that were filmed at the park include “Elf”, “John Wick: Chapter 2”, and “Enchanted”.
The popular TV show “Gossip Girl” also has scenes that were filmed at Bethesda Terrace.
Bethesda Terrace is an iconic place in the center of Central Park. It consists of a fountain with a statue, a large terrace, and an arcade. The arcade features beautiful arches and thousands of tiles, as well as other decorations.
Times Square
Some TV shows and movies that feature Times Square: Captain America, Law & Order, and Birdman Neighborhood: Midtown Manhattan
Times Square is one of the most famous sights in the city, and you can find the intersection in Midtown Manhattan. Times Square is known for its many billboards.
The place is one of the busiest pedestrian areas in the world and Times Square is the center of Broadway.
Because the intersection is very well-known, Times Square appears in many movies and TV shows.
One of the movies in which you can see Times Square is the first “Captain America” movie. In one of the first scenes of the movie, you can see the main character of the movie run out of a hospital after waking up after 70 years. He gets stopped in Times Square.
Times Square is also featured in the TV show “Law & Order”, the movie “Taxi Driver”, and “Birdman”.
The Lotte New York Palace
Some TV series that were shot at The Lotte New York Palace: 30 Rock, Limitless, Law & Order, and Gossip Girl Neighborhood: Midtown Manhattan
The Lotte New York Palace is a five-star hotel that is located at 455 Madison Avenue in Midtown East, which offers a lot of luxury amenities.
It is one of the most iconic hotels in the city and has a beautiful exterior and interior design, which includes many elegant decorations. Because of the beautiful design of the hotel, it has appeared in many films and TV shows.
For example, several scenes of the TV series Gossip Girl were filmed at the hotel.
Other TV series that were shot here include 30 Rock, Will & Grace, Mr. Robot, Limitless, and Law & Order.
Address: 455 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10022
The New York Public Library
Some movies in which The New York Public Library appears: Spider-Man and the original 1984 Ghostbusters movie Neighborhood: Midtown Manhattan
The main branch of the New York Public Library, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, is one of the most famous buildings in NYC that features a Beaux-Arts architectural style. The exterior also features various sculptures, including a pair of two lions. Inside, there are many beautiful, historic rooms.
Both the exterior and the interior of the library appeared in various movies and TV series, making it an amazing place to check out if you want to visit filming locations in New York City.
The exterior of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building appears in the original “Spider-Man” movies with Tobey Maguire.
Various scenes of the original 1984 Ghostbusters movie were shot at the library, including in the Main Reading Room.
The New York Public Library also appears in the 2004 movie The Day After Tomorrow, although this is a digital version of the library building.
Address: 476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018
Empire State Building
Some movies that were filmed at the Empire State Building: King Kong, Independence Day, and Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief Neighborhood: Midtown Manhattan
The Empire State Building is one of the most famous buildings in the city, and the building is located at 350 Fifth Avenue. The building was built in 1931.
The skyscraper has an Art Deco architectural style, and a height of about 1500 feet, making it one of the tallest buildings in the city. There’s an observation deck from where you can get an incredible view of the city, which is also one of the most fun things to do at night in New York City.
The Empire State Building appears in several movies and TV series.
The most famous appearance of the building is in the movie King Kong, in which the giant ape in the movie climbs the building.
The skyscraper also appears in the movie “Independence Day”. In that movie, the building is destroyed.
The Empire State Building appears in the original Spider-Man trilogy that stars Toby Maguire.
The romantic movie “An Affair to Remember” is about a couple that agrees to meet at the top of the building in six months time.
Some other notable movies that show the Empire State Building include “Ready Player One”, “Sleepless in Seattle”, and “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief”.
Address: 20 W 34th St., New York, NY 10001
Tom’s Restaurant
Known for: The TV show “Seinfeld” Where to find Tom’s Restaurant: Upper Manhattan
Tom’s Restaurant is a diner in Manhattan that is located at 2880 Broadway. You can find the diner on the campus of Columbia University, and it dates back to the 1940s.
The diner is a famous place that well-known people, including Barack Obama, visited in the past.
The exterior of the diner features in the TV show Seinfeld as a place where Jerry Seinfeld and others often have food. The interior of the restaurant in the series was filmed at another place.
Address: 2880 Broadway, New York, NY 10025
Brooklyn Bridge
Some TV shows and movies in which the Brooklyn Bridge appears: House of Gucci, John Wick, and Past Lives Where to find the bridge: It’s located between Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the best and most famous bridges in New York City.
The bridge is a suspension bridge that dates back to the year 1883 and connects Brooklyn to Lower Manhattan. The bridge has a recognizable design and you can get great views of the Manhattan skyline from the bridge.
The Brooklyn Bridge appears in a variety of movies and TV shows.
For example, the bridge appears in the TV show “House of Gucci”.
In the movie “John Wick”, you can see the movie’s main character walk across the bridge.
The 2023 movie “Past Lives”, which was directed by Celine Song, also shows the Brooklyn Bridge. It appears as a backdrop together with the skyline of Manhattan”. In this film, you can also see the historic Jane’s Carousel, which you can find in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Flatiron Building
Some movies that feature the Flatiron Building: Spider-Man, Armageddon, and The Usual Suspects Neighborhood: Midtown Manhattan
The Flatiron Building is a very iconic building that you can find at 175 Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District. The building has a unique triangular shape and the building was built in 1902. It features a Renaissance Revival architectural style.
Because the building is very famous, it is shown in several movies and shows as a backdrop.
For example, it appears in the 2002 “Spider-Man” movie, in which the building is the headquarters for the Daily Bugle, a local newspaper.
Scenes of “The Usual Suspects” and “Armageddon” were also filmed at the Flatiron Building.
Address: 175 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010
Rockefeller Center
Some movies and TV series that were filmed at Rockefeller Center: 30 Rock, Elf, and Empire Neighborhood: Midtown Manhattan
Rockefeller Center is an iconic building that you can find at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. It was built in the 1930s and is a great example of the Art Deco style. You can go to the top of the building, which is called “Top of the Rock”, to enjoy a view of the city.
It’s also an iconic filming location in NYC and one of the most famous TV shows that was filmed here is the sitcom “30 Rock”. This series is based on the TV series Saturday Night Live and focuses on a fictional live sketch comedy show that is aired by NBC. It takes place at 30 Rockefeller Plaza because that’s where the NBC studios are located.
The building can also be seen in the movie “Elf”, in which the main character skates on the ice rink in front of the building.
Some other TV series with scenes that were filmed at Rockefeller Center include “Hawkeye”, “Empire”, and “Person of Interest”.
Address: 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111
St. Regis New York
Some movies that feature St. Regis New York: The Godfather and Taxi Driver Neighborhood: Midtown Manhattan
The St. Regis New York is a luxury 5-star hotel in Midtown Manhattan with rooms and spaces that are beautifully decorated. The hotel also has a grand exterior design and a beautiful awning.
One of the movies that were filmed at the hotel is “The Godfather”. Several scenes of the movie were filmed here. For example, the hotel appears in a scene in which the characters Michael and Kay stay at the hotel.
Some other movies in which you can see the hotel are “Taxi Driver”, in which you can see the exterior of the hotel, and “The Devil Wears Prada”, which features the interior of the hotel.
Address: Two E 55th St, New York, NY 10022
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Famous Filming Locations in New York City Tips
I recommend rewatching the scenes in which the filming locations in New York City you want to visit appear right before going there. This makes visiting the places much more fun as you’ll recognize them better.
In addition to that, many of the movies and TV shows that were filmed at the locations that I mentioned in this article also have scenes that were filmed at other places in New York City. If there’s a particular film or series that you like, you can consider doing a guided tour that will take you to specific filming locations of that film or series. There are many tour companies in the city that organize these types of tours.
NYC Filming Locations Map
As you see, there are a lot of famous filming locations in NYC. I hope you liked these places!