New York City Filming Locations: 45 Iconic Movie and TV Sites to Visit

Location:

200 Central Park W
New York, NY 10024

On the Upper West Side of Manhattan, the American Museum of Natural History is a natural history museum housing more than 30 million specimens and objects. Its most recognizable exhibits are the Blue Whale model and the Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton, the latter of which inspired the dinosaur in the Night at the Museum movies starring Ben Stiller. In the films, the dinosaur — nicknamed “Rexy”— comes to life at night. While the scenes with Rexy were filmed on a soundstage, the exterior shots of the museum were filmed on location.

Locations:

Brooklyn Side Entrance
Tillary Street & Adams Street

Manhattan Side Entrance
Park Row & Centre Street

Officially opened in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge, across the East River, was the first to connect Manhattan and Brooklyn, and as the original steel-wire suspension bridge, it became a symbol of New York City’s ambition. Pedestrian walkways are accessible from both sides (noted above). Spike Lee’s latest film, Highest 2 Lowest, which reunites the director with Denzel Washington after Malcolm X, shot a scene on the bridge in which Washington’s music-mogul character walks across it while grappling with a moral conflict.

Location:

Mid-park at 72nd St., near Cross Drive

In the heart of Central Park lies Bethesda Terrace, a popular gathering spot for visitors taking in views of the Mall (see above) and the lake with its rowboats (see above). Its Arcade, with its detailed tiling, lines the walkway beneath the terrace. At its center stands the “Angel of the Waters” fountain, making it one of the park’s most photogenic locations.

Location:

Mid-park at 74th St., west of Bethesda Terrace

In the middle of Central Park, Bow Bridge offers views of the park’s lake and rowboats, as well as the surrounding skyline, including the San Remo — an apartment building with twin towers. The bridge’s Victorian-era design also makes it a perfect photo stop while strolling through the park. In a pivotal scene from Uptown Girls (2003), Molly (Brittany Murphy), overwhelmed by her trauma, jumps off the bridge into the lake below. While Murphy didn’t perform the stunt herself, she did film the scene at the real location.

Location:

E 72nd St. & Park Drive North
New York, NY 10021

Rowboats can be rented at the Central Park Boathouse on the east side of the park’s lake, with excursions offered from April through October, weather permitting. The attraction is briefly featured in Disney’s 2007 film Enchanted. In the musical number “That’s How You Know,” Amy Adams’ character, Giselle, takes Patrick Dempsey’s Robert around the park — including a moment in the rowboats — to show him how to recognize true love.

Location:

Middle of the park, from 66th St. to 72nd St., leading up to Bethesda Terrace

The Mall in Central Park is a scenic promenade that approaches Bethesda Terrace. Its canopy of overarching trees makes it one of the park’s most picturesque spots, especially in the fall. Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes filmed a scene there for the 2002 rom-com Maid in Manhattan, in which their characters take a stroll and get to know each other.

Location:

405 Lexington Ave.
New York, NY 10174

One of the most identifiable buildings in the world and a key part of NYC’s skyline, the Chrysler Building is a silver Art Deco skyscraper in Manhattan’s Midtown East that officially opened in 1930. It was featured in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), with enhanced digital effects used to showcase the Silver Surfer.

Location:

41 Seaver Way
Flushing, NY 11368

Citi Field, home of MLB’s New York Mets in Queens, NYC, also hosts concerts and festivals and features the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, honoring the legendary Brooklyn Dodgers player and the first Black MLB player. For Darren Aronofsky’s Caught Stealing, a chase scene with Austin Butler and Matt Smith was filmed at the Mets–Willets Point Subway Station and outside Citi Field, though the stadium was digitally altered to resemble Shea Stadium, its predecessor, since the film is set in the 1990s and Citi Field didn’t open until 2009. While the Citi Field logo doesn’t appear in the movie itself, it is used in the film’s still images.

Location:

117 MacDougal St.
New York, NY 10012

Opened in 1981, the Greenwich Village comedy club is known as the “Harvard of comedy clubs” for the top talent who perform there. Comedians like Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Amy Schumer, Louis C.K., Jeff Ross and Jon Stewart got their start at the club. In Bradley Cooper’s Is This Thing On? (2025), Will Arnett’s character turns to stand-up to cope with a divorce. The movie was filmed its stand-up scenes at the Comedy Cellar, and Arnett prepared by performing for six weeks.

Location:

Corbin Place to W 37th St.
Coney Island Boardwalk
Brooklyn, NY 11224

In Brooklyn’s Coney Island neighborhood lies the Coney Island Beach & Boardwalk, a three-mile stretch of sandy shoreline lined with classic rides like the Cyclone, the Wonder Wheel and the Parachute Jump. Sean Baker’s Oscar-winning Anora (2024) shot several 35mm scenes here including key moments where Ani (Mikey Madison) searches for her fiancé, Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn).

Location:

W 47th St. between Fifth and Sixth Avenues

This Midtown Manhattan hub of the global diamond and jewelry trade sits on 47th St., between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It’s famous for its wide selection of diamonds, gemstones and jewelry — often at more competitive prices than traditional retailers. In the Safdie brothers’ 2019 thriller Uncut Gems, Adam Sandler’s character, Howard, works as a jeweler here, and the production filmed on location to capture the district’s authentic atmosphere.

Location:

20 W 34th St.
New York, NY 10118

Observatory Visitor Entrance — 20 W 34th St.

One of New York’s top attractions, the Empire State Building — often called the world’s most famous skyscraper — offers panoramic city views from its observation decks. It’s appeared in countless films and TV shows, but its most recognizable moment comes from the 1933 classic King Kong, when the giant ape climbs to the top to escape his captors and protect Ann Darrow. While the scene was obviously fictional, it has long been associated with the landmark, helping turn the building into a movie star. The Empire State Building was also only two years old when the film was released.

Location:

30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10111

FAO Schwarz, the oldest toy store in the U.S., is best known for its iconic floor piano — famously featured in the 1988 film Big, where Tom Hanks’ character, Josh, dances and plays on it. The movie was filmed at the New York location on Fifth Avenue, which closed in 2015. However, the brand returned in 2018 with a new store at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

Location:

14 N Moore St.
New York, NY 10013

Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters (1984), Ghostbusters II (1989), the 2016 reboot and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024) all feature the FDNY Hook & Ladder Company 8. The real-life firehouse is located in the Tribeca neighborhood of Lower Manhattan, where it serves as the Ghostbusters’ headquarters in the franchise.

Location:

175 Fifth Ave.
New York, NY 10010

Completed in 1902, the Flatiron Building is one of New York City’s oldest skyscrapers and a symbol of the city’s architectural ambition. The distinctive triangle-shaped landmark in the Flatiron District is currently being converted from offices into luxury condos, with completion expected by late 2026, according to The New York Times. It also appeared as a backdrop in Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s 2004 film New York Minute, which follows the twins’ chaotic day in the city.

Location:

90 Bedford St.
New York, NY 10014

In Greenwich Village, at the corner of Grove Street, stands the apartment building featured in NBC’s Friends. Rachel (Jennifer Aniston), Monica (Courteney Cox), Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow), Joey (Matt LeBlanc), Chandler (Matthew Perry) and Ross (David Schwimmer) all lived there at some point. However, only the exterior footage was shot on location; the interior scenes of the friends hanging out were filmed on a soundstage at Warner Bros. Studios in Los Angeles.

Location:

89 E 42nd St.
New York, NY 10017

Grand Central Terminal is a hub used by millions of passengers for train travel. It’s also a famous meeting spot, with shopping, restaurants and iconic Beaux-Arts architecture, including the well-known four-faced Tiffany clock. The main concourse was used as a filming location in the penultimate episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, where Miriam (Rachel Brosnahan) and Susie (Alex Borstein) have an argument.

Location:

300 W 57th St.
New York, NY 10019

One of the city’s most unique skyscrapers, Hearst Tower is known for its striking glass architecture and was designed by Norman Foster and opened in 2006. It serves as the headquarters of Hearst Communications — publisher of magazines like Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle and Esquire — making it a fun stop for fans of its brands. Inside the main lobby are the building’s famous escalators, which appeared as the Oscorp Industries lobby in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), starring Andrew Garfield.

Location:

222 W 23rd St.
New York, NY 10011

The historic Hotel Chelsea has been part of the neighborhood since the 1800s, first as a co-op before becoming a hotel in 1905. It later became a hub for artists such as Bob Dylan, Andy Warhol, Arthur Miller and Patti Smith. After closing for major renovations in 2011, it reopened in 2022. As with many NYC productions, only the exterior was used for filming, including in the Oscar-nominated Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown (2024), starring Timothée Chalamet.

Location:

W 167th St. stairs, connecting Shakespeare Avenue and Anderson Avenue
1165 Shakespeare Ave.
Bronx, NY 10452

While it may seem like just a staircase, the steps in the Bronx borough of NYC became an important part of cinema history in 2019’s Joker, marking a turning point for Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) as he sheds his timid self and fully embraces the madness and confidence of becoming the Joker. The sequence shows the iconic comic book villain dancing down the stairs, and the performance won Phoenix an Oscar for best actor in 2020.

Location:

205 E Houston St.
New York, NY 10002

In the heart of the Lower East Side, this iconic Jewish deli serves one of the city’s top pastrami sandwiches, along with other menu favorites. Inside, the walls are lined with photos of celebrity visitors, and its fame grew after late director Rob Reiner filmed the unforgettable “I’ll have what she’s having” scene from When Harry Met Sally (1989) here, starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal.

Pro tip: try to avoid visiting on weekends — lines often run out the door and down the block.

Location:

1575 York Ave.
New York, NY 10028

Logos Bookstore on the Upper East Side is the real-life inspiration for the fictional “Mooney’s Bookstore” in the thriller series You, where protagonist Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) works. In both the first and final seasons of the Netflix show, the store’s exterior and front interior scenes were filmed at Logos, while the basement scenes were shot on a separate set.

Location:

4 Pennsylvania Plaza
New York, NY 10001

Madison Square Garden — known as “The World’s Most Famous Arena” — is home to the NBA’s New York Knicks, the NHL’s New York Rangers and countless major events, including concerts. The venue has appeared onscreen in the 2003 rom-com How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson filmed some of the Knicks game scenes on location, but not the interior of the arena. If you visit MSG, specifically for a Knicks game, you might even spot one of its famous regulars, like Spike Lee, Ben Stiller or Timothée Chalamet.

Location:

151 W 34th St.
New York, NY 10001

Macy’s Herald Square, the Manhattan flagship, opened in 1902 and is known as America’s largest department store. It also serves as the finishing point for the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The 1947 holiday classic Miracle on 34th Street was filmed on location during the real 1946 parade, with actor Edmund Gwenn appearing as Santa Claus and interacting with the crowd. The footage helped boost the parade’s popularity, leading to its national television broadcast beginning in 1948. That same year, Gwenn won an Academy Award for best supporting actor.

Locations:

Manhattan Side Entrance
Canal Street & Bowery Street

Brooklyn Side Entrance
Sands Street & Jay Street

Opened in 1909, the Manhattan Bridge over the East River is known as the first modern suspension bridge. With entrances on both the Manhattan and Brooklyn sides, it connects Lower Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn for drivers and pedestrians. It’s also famous for its stunning views — particularly the spot at the intersection of Water and Washington streets in DUMBO, Brooklyn, which was featured in the 1984 crime thriller Once Upon a Time in America and its poster, showing a group of young boys walking along the street. The film stars Robert De Niro, James Woods and Joe Pesci.

Location:

1310 Surf Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11224

Often called “Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs,” the original restaurant opened in 1916 in Coney Island near the amusement rides, with another location right on the boardwalk. Across New York City — especially in Manhattan — the brand is well known for its many hot dog stands. The 2003 film Uptown Girls shot a scene at the original spot, where Ray (Dakota Fanning) tries a hot dog for the first time.

Location:

476 Fifth Ave. (at 42nd St.)
New York, NY 10018

The main branch of the New York Public Library is a New York City landmark located right next to Bryant Park. Known for its Beaux-Arts architecture and the signature marble lions at the entrance, it was designed by John Merven Carrère and Thomas Hastings and completed in 1911. The Muppets Take Manhattan and Ghostbusters (both released in 1984) filmed at the real location.

Location:

11 Wall St.
New York, NY 10005

In the Financial District of Lower Manhattan sits the New York Stock Exchange, the largest stock exchange in the world by the market capitalization of its listed companies. Located on iconic Wall Street, the building’s exterior is frequently visited and widely regarded as a symbol of American finance. The 1983 comedy Trading Places, starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, filmed inside the real NYSE during trading hours. “The stars distracted business so much, they actually halted $6 billion dollars in trading one day during filming. They had to switch to weekend shoots after that,” Netflix revealed in 2018.

Location:

Lower East Side — between E Houston St. and Division St.
New York, NY 10002

Known for its trendy boutiques, gritty charm and great restaurants, Orchard Street is one of the Lower East Side’s most popular stretches — even landing on Secret NYC’s list of the world’s top 10 streets in November. When Josh Safdie’s A24 film Marty Supreme shot there in October 2024, the block was transformed into the 1950s with vintage cars, props and period shop signs, including the shoe store where Timothée Chalamet’s Marty works. The street also hosted the chase sequence, with Marty fleeing his uncle’s home, jumping down a fire escape and landing in his childhood sweetheart Rachel’s (Odessa A’zion) pet store.

Location:

1260 Sixth Ave.
New York, NY 10020

Since opening in 1932, Radio City Music Hall — the world’s largest indoor theater — has been one of New York City’s most historic venues, hosting the Tony Awards, Grammy Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, Daytime Emmy Awards, concerts and movie premieres. Above all, it’s home to the Rockettes and their annual Christmas Spectacular, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2025. In Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Kevin stops by the iconic exterior while exploring the city, making it one of his many sightseeing spots.

Location:

30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
(Between 49th and 50th St)

Close to the Diamond District is 30 Rockefeller Plaza, home to NBC shows including Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night With Seth Meyers, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Today Show, MSNBC, Dateline and NBC Nightly News. At the top of the skyscraper is the Top of the Rock observation deck, while outside at ground level sits the famous ice-skating rink, which transforms into the site of the Christmas tree lighting each winter. Amazon’s original series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel also filmed at the rink for a scene featuring Rachel Brosnahan and Reid Scott sharing a kiss.

Location:

225 E 60th St.
New York, NY 10022

Serendipity 3 opened its original Upper East Side location in 1954 and became known for its signature Frrrozen Hot Chocolate. The restaurant later expanded with a second location in Times Square. The 2001 movie Serendipity filmed several scenes at the Upper East Side café, including the memorable moment when Kate Beckinsale and John Cusack’s characters enjoy the famous dessert on their date.

Location:

64 & 66 Perry St.

Specifically, Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment — the charming brownstone with its famous stoops seen in Sex and the City — is set on the Upper East Side in the show, but the real location is in the West Village. For the first three seasons, exterior filming took place at 64 Perry St., while later seasons — and the follow-up series, And Just Like That… — used the neighboring building at 66 Perry St. Interior scenes, however, were shot on a set at Silvercup Studios in Queens. Many fans still visit the stoops to take photos, though the 66 Perry St., building’s owner, Barbara Lorber, simply asks that visitors “please don’t climb into our space.”

Locations:

Manhattan Side — Whitehall Terminal
4 Whitehall St.
New York, NY 10004

Staten Island Side — St. George Terminal
1 Bay St.
Staten Island, NY 10301

This 24/7 free ferry transports passengers between Manhattan and Staten Island. Beyond its practicality, the bright orange ride offers a close-up view of the Statue of Liberty, with boats departing every 15 to 20 minutes. A romantic scene in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, featuring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey cozying up on the ferry, included some shots filmed on the actual boat and others created using green screens.

Location:

Liberty Island (Access via ferry)
New York, NY 10004

The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of both New York City and the United States. Visitors can view Lady Liberty by taking a ferry from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan or Liberty State Park in Jersey City, either to see her from the water or to visit Liberty Island itself. The 2008 comedy Meet Dave starring Eddie Murphy, included real shots of the National Monument.

Location:

Everywhere

Besides walking, the most common way to get around New York City is by train — aka the subway. It’s the cheapest way to travel and reaches four of the five boroughs (Staten Island requires a ferry). While most trains run underground, some travel above ground. In Spider-Man 2 (2004), Spider-Man (Tobey Maguire) and Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina) battle on top of a train — until, of course, Spider-Man saves all the passengers from plunging into the river. Though this scene blends practical effects, stunts and CGI, no NYC list would be complete without a nod to your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

Pro tip: call it a train, not a subway, to sound like a local.

Location:

Everywhere

Yellow taxi cabs are among the most recognizable symbols of New York in film and television. But in Martin Scorsese’s 1976 classic Taxi Driver, they take center stage as Robert De Niro plays a cab driver navigating the city’s streets. The film follows Travis Bickle’s (De Niro) struggle with isolation and growing paranoia, ultimately driving him toward violence in his misguided attempt to clean up 1970s New York.

Location:

Nucleus, Times Square (Broadway and Seventh Ave. at 42nd St.)
Bounded by W 40th–54th St. and Sixth–Eighth Avenues

When one thinks of New York City, Broadway often comes to mind. In Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Oscar-winning film Birdman (2014), Michael Keaton plays Riggan Thomson, a former movie star attempting to revive his career by creating and starring in a Broadway play. Midtown Manhattan’s Theater District, near Times Square, is home to Broadway’s productions. For Birdman, filming took place at the St. James Theatre, which has hosted shows such as Oklahoma!, Hello, Dolly!, Frozen, Illinoise and Sunset Blvd. Both the interior and exterior were used to create a play-within-a-film atmosphere.

Location:

42nd to 47th Streets between Broadway and Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10036

As crowded as it is, Times Square — nicknamed “The Center of the Universe” — is a packed area, known for its towering billboards, street performers and proximity to the Broadway Theater District. It’s also home to the famous New Year’s Eve ball drop. In the dream sequence opening of Vanilla Sky (2001), Tom Cruise’s character, David, drives through an eerily empty Times Square. Surprisingly, the scene wasn’t CGI — the area was actually closed for three hours on a Sunday morning in 2000 to capture the moment authentically.

Location:

2880 Broadway
New York, NY 10025

Tom’s Restaurant is the real-life location on which the fictional Monk’s Café in Seinfeld is based. It is located near Columbia University in Manhattan’s Morningside Heights neighborhood. In Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld’s beloved sitcom, Monk’s Café serves as a frequent social gathering spot for the characters. While the interior scenes were filmed on a soundstage in Los Angeles, the exterior shots were filmed on location, similar to another popular series, Friends.

Location:

727 Fifth Ave.
New York, NY 10022

The Tiffany & Co. location on Fifth Avenue is one of Manhattan’s most iconic jewelry stores. Its fame soared after Audrey Hepburn’s 1961 starrer Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The film’s opening scene shows Holly Golightly (Hepburn) enjoying a pastry and coffee while admiring the jewels from the store’s window. The store also features the sixth-floor Blue Box Café, where guests can sit down for a full meal.

Location:

1 Washington Square East
New York 10012

The public space in Greenwich Village has a rich history, serving as a hub for political activism and artistic movements. Around the Washington Square Arch and fountain is a popular gathering spot for people-watching and street performances. In Aziz Ansari’s Netflix series Master of None, Francesca (Alessandra Mastronardi) and Dev (Ansari) have a scene in the park — filmed on location — where they yell out outrageous things, and a fan recognizes Ansari. The scene was inspired by a real experience Ansari shared with Vulture in 2017.

Location:

1 E 161st St.
Bronx, NY 10451

Yankee Stadium is home to Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees. The 27-time World Series champions’ original stadium is located next to the current one, which opened in 2009 in the Bronx. The 2003 buddy comedy Anger Management, starring Adam Sandler, Jack Nicholson and Marisa Tomei, was filmed at the old stadium.

Location:

1000 Fifth Ave.
New York, NY 10028

In addition to the Metropolitan Museum of Art itself, the steps outside have become famous in their own right, thanks in part to fashion’s biggest night — the Met Gala. Each year, A-listers pose on the steps in designer looks that match the event’s theme. The steps are featured in CW’s Gossip Girl (2007–12) and its 2021 reboot, where Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) and her friends frequently hang out on the Upper East Side before school.

Location:

768 Fifth Ave.
New York, NY 10019

The high-class hotel is famous for hosting royalty, celebrities and political leaders, including the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Its proximity to Central Park South and elegant decor have also made it a popular filming location. In Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992), Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) checks into the Plaza after getting stranded in the city — and briefly runs into future President Donald Trump.

Director Chris Columbus has since said he regrets including the cameo, telling the San Francisco Chronicle in April that it has “become this curse” and “this thing that I wish was not there.”