10 Best New York TV and Movies Tours

Discover New York behind the scenes. Check out these tours and explore the iconic sets of your favorite movies and series in the Big Apple. Action!

10 Best New York TV and Movies Tours

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If you visit this city, it is essential to decide what to do in New York because the variety can overwhelm you. How about starting with the best tours about series and movies that will make you feel like a movie star? This theme is present in a wide range of tours, and you will be able to choose the one you like the most.

New York City is a huge and varied setting for movies and series. Producers and directors have been able to take advantage of every corner of this city found in the neighborhoods, bridges, renowned stores, monuments, museums, art galleries, universities, ports, parks, restaurants and many other sites.

1. Bus tour through the places that were the scenes of series and movies

New York City Sightseeing Bus| ©CarDun78
New York City Sightseeing Bus| ©CarDun78

In a guided tour that lasts approximately 3 hours, you will visit a wide variety of sites in New York that have become iconic in the entertainment world thanks to having been the setting for several famous series and movies. The tour is conducted by bus.

The guides are actors who are very knowledgeable about the artistic medium and know how to convey the information to make the tour fun and informative.

They are in charge of taking groups to each of the destinations including the offices of the Daily Bugle (Spiderman), the sets of Friends, the apartments, cafes and restaurants of the series Girl, and the Broadway of the second season of Glee, among others.

Interesting details

  • Price: starting at $50.
  • Duration: approximately 3 hours.
  • Means of transportation: the tour takes place by bus.
  • Advantages of this option: an organized way to visit several of the best artistic scenes in New York.
  • Disadvantages of this option: you will probably want to do another tour on New York sets in series and movies to visit more places of interest.

Book a movie and series tour in New York City

2. The Sopranos real-life set tour

Visiting Holsten's Diner| ©ses7
Visiting Holsten's Diner| ©ses7

Such is the relevance of The Sopranos series even today that customized tours are organized to tour those New York sites that became authentic settings for the family that is the backbone of the story and all the other characters in the series.

The Sopranos dedicated tours are conducted by bus with a guide who is a professional supporting actor or actress. The tour includes at least 40 sites that were part of the series, including the restaurant that serves as the set design for the final scene of the last episode.

The Sopranos series generated a profound change in the way series were created and developed in the United States. It was arguably the first series that made audiences want to know more about the lives of the characters and become interested in an antihero.

Details of interest

  • Price: starting at 64 €.
  • Duration: approximately 4 hours.
  • Means of transportation: The tour takes place by bus.
  • Advantages of this option: The best tour to remember that family that changed the history of the series.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Maybe if you are not a fan of the series, the tour may seem a little long. However, it can be a good idea to get to know New York with an eye on The Sopranos.

Book a tour of The Sopranos sets in New York City

3. No Boredom Tour: Classic Cinema in New York City

Empire State Building from the streets of New York| ©Hellotickets
Empire State Building from the streets of New York| ©Hellotickets

There are tours in New York City that take you to various sites that were the setting for films that are now classed ascinema classics.

These tours, now called TCM tours (Turner Classic Movies tours), offer you to see the sites in New York that were the setting of movies (for example, Rosemary's Baby and Superman in all its versions).

Several of these sites are tourist attractions such as the Empire State Building, the West Side, subway stations that were part of movies (including the subway grate made famous by Marylin Monroe), the Plaza Hotel and Rockefeller Center, among others.

The guide will be a professional actor who will share the most interesting details of each stop of the tour.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 30 €.
  • Duration: approximately 3 hours.
  • Means of transportation: The tour takes place by bus.
  • Advantages of this option: A tour with an excellent choice of sites of interest to the show business world.
  • Disadvantages of this option: It does not usually include drinks or food.

4. Movie Tour of the magnificent scenery of Central Park

The Lake at Central Pak| ©Jeannie
The Lake at Central Pak| ©Jeannie

Numerous movies were filmed in New York. However, some have remained in the memory of moviegoers forever.

Those are the ones that are never missing from specialized tours, especially those with Central Park as a backdrop, so guided walking tours through numerous sites related to the art of movies and serials can be a lot of fun.

On Central Park movie and serial tours, you will walk through about 30 sites (Wollman Skating Rink, the Bow Bridge, etc.) in the park that were the perfect backdrop for filming scenes from movies like If I Were 30, Serendipity, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Bride Wars, Home Alone, When Harry Met Sally and series like Gossip Girl and The Avengers, among many others.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 30 ¤.
  • Duration: approximately 2 hours.
  • Means of transportation: bus lines, subway (it is important to have a guide for this means of transportation) and train to get to the meeting point.
  • Advantages of this option: A very fun and motivating tour to remember favorite series and movies and get to know Central Park.
  • Disadvantages of this option: A long walk, so it is necessary to wear comfortable shoes.

Movies in Central Park

Did you know that Central Park hosts outdoor movie screenings during the summer season? Before the movie, you can have a picnic in the field (the gates open at 5:30 pm and the broadcast starts around 8 pm).

If you want to check the schedule of upcoming movies you can see in the park if you visit New York this summer, just visit Central Park's official website and look for the corresponding section.

5. Sex and the City tour

Carrie's building in Sex and the City| ©Angie C
Carrie's building in Sex and the City| ©Angie C

Some series and movies have aroused great admiration and enthusiasm that has been maintained no matter how much time has passed. Below, I detail a tour focused on a series that continues to be very popular and with several movies already filmed.

The personalized tour on Sex and the City focuses on visiting between 30 and 40 places that were the setting for some of the memorable scenes and even entire episodes of the series.

The ones that are always included in the tours are Carrie's building, the bars that have been the ideal setting for a variety of situations, Bigand Carrie' s favorite restaurants and some of the stores most visited by the main characters.

The tour is guided by a professional actor or actress who will tell you stories you haven't seen or read anywhere else. Definitely a glamorous and fun tour.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 60 €.
  • Duration: approximately 3 hours.
  • Means of transportation: The tour takes place by bus.
  • Advantages of this option: A tour with an excellent choice of sites of interest about the Sex and the City series.
  • Disadvantages of this option: This is one of the most popular tours of this type. It is essential to book your ticket well in advance.

6. Tour for die-hard Gossip Girl fans

Getting to know Gossip Girl places| ©anfin
Getting to know Gossip Girl places| ©anfin

Are you one of those enthusiasts and fans of the Gossip Girl series and were waiting for its revival? Can't find comfort because the first series ended in 2012?

No worries. Nowadays, fun tours are organized through the real places that were scenes of this series.

The tour about Gossip Girl is also done by bus with a specialized guide who will tell you not only facts and anecdotes about the series, but will also reveal some things that happened behind the scenes.

The places that are visited almost obligatory in all tours about this series are Blair's house, Fifth Avenue (that renowned New York avenue for the best shopping), and the place of residence of the van der Woodsen and Blass families (which in reality is a hotel), among other places.

Gossip Girl (La Reina cotilla o Chica indiscreta depending on the country) is a series that was a hit among young people from 2007 to 2012. Despite its end, it continues to be famous and inspiring for its followers. Therefore, tour agencies owed a debt to the series and finally the series has its own tour.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 60 €.
  • Duration: approximately 3 hours.
  • Means of transportation: The tour takes place by bus.
  • Advantages of this option: Relive the best moments of the series in the scenery of New York.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Drinks and meals are not included.

7. A tour full of heroes and superpowers!

Grand Central Terminal| ©Angie C
Grand Central Terminal| ©Angie C

Undoubtedly, you will remember that several superhero stories take place in New York, so you could not miss a tour on this theme that can become one of the most fun you choose.

One of the most entertaining tour formats about superheroes is the walking tour. The tours usually last about 2 hours and usually start at 42nd Street.

Some of the places visited are the Green Goblin apartment building, Grand Central Terminal, the Chrysler Building and the Daily News Building (Christopher Reeve's Superman worked there).

The tours include a walk through the sites where several scenes from Gotham, Spider-Man andThe Avengers Mansion on Fifth Avenue were filmed.

You can't miss the behind-the-scenes, so the tour also includes a visit to restaurants and bars where the artists and the rest of the crew usually gather to eat and relax.

There is no doubt that New York is described in numerous ways and here it is possible to add that it is a city where superheroes with superpowers are easily found.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 30 €.
  • Duration: approximately 2 hours.
  • Means of transport: bus, train and subway to reach the meeting point.
  • Advantages of this option: experience the fantasy of superhero stories in New York.
  • Disadvantages of this option: you'll want the tour to be longer.

8. Exclusive Mafia Movie Tour

Vito Corleone's Stone House| ©boaski
Vito Corleone's Stone House| ©boaski

If we're talking about mob movie related sightseeing tours, tours about The Godfather have to be at the top of the list. These Corleone family tours can include bus tours and even a ferry ride to Staten Island to see the stone house of Vito Corleone, the patriarch of the family.

It is a trilogy of unforgettable films that began with The Godfather, whose original screenplay was written by Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo, and continues to be chosen by millions of people today.

There are also guided tours that focus only on specific locations such as the Queens Cemetery, the restaurant in the Bronx and Little Italy. On the other hand, there are also tours that include filming locations of other movies about the mafia in New York such as Cotton Club, American Gangster, the French Connection, etc.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 150 €.
  • Duration: approximately 3 hours.
  • Means of transportation: bus and ferry.
  • Advantages of this option: to know the most chilling stories about the mafia in New York reflected in the movies and the anecdotes of each filming.
  • Disadvantages of this option: an interesting but intense tour. It is important to be prepared for a lot of information.

9. A wonderful tour about the incredible Mrs. Maisel

The Gaslight Café| ©Ann Oro
The Gaslight Café| ©Ann Oro

The series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has 4 seasons and has caused a major stir in the world of series aired in many countries. It is a different story and its main character has an overwhelming personality. Do you know Mrs. Maisel? Now you can do it through an exclusive tour of this series in New York.

The tour dedicated to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel takes place in a vintage car from the decade in which the series takes place (for example, a 1957 Chevy). Some of the stops include Café Reggio for a coffee or cappuccino, the City Spoon Diner and the famous The Gaslight Café.

The series is set in the late 1950s and there is great production in everything from costumes, makeup and sets. However, one thing that is constantly highlighted in the series is New York City.

Details of interest

  • Price: starting at $400.
  • Duration: approximately 2 hours.
  • Means of transportation: a 1950's rental car.
  • Advantages of this option: feel like you are in Mrs. Maisel's world.
  • Disadvantages of this option: You may need to bring your own period costume for an even more fun experience.

10. Tour of the Friends set designs

The famous Friends apartment| ©Hellotickets
The famous Friends apartment| ©Hellotickets

There is no doubt that friends are the family we choose on our own and are always with us in good times and bad.

For this reason, it doesn't seem strange that the series Friends still arouses so much love and loyalty in millions of people around the world. Are you up for a sightseeing tour of the series and the New York sets that were used to film its episodes?

Surely, your answer is yes. Today, a tour is offered with a professional guide through the exhibits that include all the sets that are part of this story of great friends.

These exhibits arose from the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the series. It is important to clarify that although the series takes place in New York, it was filmed in Los Angeles.

This experience consists of exhibits specially prepared with the typical scenery of the series such as the orange couch, the Central Perk café, Joey and Chandler's apartment and Rachel and Monica's kitchen so that you can take pictures and feel like one more friend in the series.

Interesting details

  • Price: from 50 €.
  • Duration: approximately 1 hour.
  • Means of transportation: bus, subway and train to the exhibition.
  • Advantages of this option: experience the story of Friends as if you were a friend of the group.
  • Disadvantages of this option: They are not real scenarios of the series, they are only representative.

Reviews from other travellers

4.8
· 147 Reviews
  • I
    I. D.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The experience was unique, immersing you in the world of horror films, but it would be ideal to have more variety in the points of interest.
  • Z
    Z. T.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The experience of touring New York's iconic horror locations with a private guide was simply spectacular. A must for fans of scary movies.
  • D
    D. K.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    I loved this tour because I am a fan of horror films. I learned a lot about the movies that were filmed in New York.
  • S
    S. N.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    The horror tour was scary, I've never seen anything like it. The guides are very knowledgeable and make you feel like you are in the movies.
  • K
    K. V.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    A great tour, we discovered corners of films and series. Passionate guide, made the experience unique, highly recommended!