New York is a city that embodies our hopes, dreams, aspirations, fears, and fantasies. It’s beautiful and romantic, real and exciting. It’s also, apparently, hilarious. At least, that’s what some of the best sitcoms would have you believe.
So many of the best-loved sitcoms have been set in New York over the decades. People travel to New York City from all over the world to see the most recognized filming locations in real life. Now you can visit all of the most iconic locations from the top five New York City sitcoms: Friends, Seinfeld, How I Met Your Mother, Sex and the City, and 30 Rock.
NEW YORK FILMING LOCATIONS INTERACTIVE MAP
Use our interactive map to follow your favorite sitcom characters around New York City, from their too big to be real apartments to the places they worked to that one coffee shop, bar, and restaurant that seemed to always have room. Visit iconic New York City attractions, including the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty through the eyes of your favorite prime-time characters. Stop in to see what working at Rockefeller Center, the American Museum of Natural History, the Guggenheim Museum, and even Bloomingdales was like. Act like a local at their top hang out spots, such as MacLaren’s Pub and the New York Public Library. And, of course, strike a pose in front of the Friends apartment building and the inspirational fountain. Be sure to capture your memories from your sitcom tour and share them on instagram with our hashtag to engage with other sitcom fans.
To use the interactive map, click on a TV show in the key to view locations featured in the sitcom, or click on a location on the map to see which sitcoms it's featured in. Click on the image below to create your own DIY walking tour of New York, and have fun exploring the city! If you’re lucky, you may even spot one of the actors along the way.
Friends Filming Locations
Throughout the 10 seasons of "Friends", the gang makes appearances at pretty much every major attraction/museum the Big Apple has to offer. See our list of iconic "Friends" filming locations, find them in our interactive map, and explore New York City like Ross, Rachel and the gang!
American Museum of Natural History
Ross Geller works at the museum as a paleontologist, and Joey Tribiani works there briefly as a tour guide. Ross and Rachel Green have their first date in the planetarium, spending their first night together only to be woken by a Catholic school group on a field trip.
Guide to Visiting The American Museum of Natural History
Solow Building
Chandler worked in the Solow Building, which charges some of the most expensive rents in Manhattan.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Charlie wants to go to the Met (not to see the Mets, as Joey originally assumes), so Ross plans a route through the museum, coaching Joey to make sure he gets it right.
Pulitzer Fountain
The Pulitzer Fountain was the inspiration for the fountain used in the "Friends" opening credits.
Bloomingdale's
Rachel gets her first real fashion job at Bloomingdale's, and is promoted to assistant buyer before her boss dies.
Madison Square Garden
The guys head to a hockey game at Madison Square Garden to watch the Rangers play the Penguins. Ross ends up in the hospital after getting hit in the face with a hockey puck.
Phoebe Buffay dresses up to meet her husband, Duncan, at Madison Square Garden, where he performs as an ice dancer.
At a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden, Phoebe plans to propose to Mike on the big screen after Mike cancels his own proposal.
Lucille Lortel Theatre
Joey performs a play here, which is interrupted when Rachel brings a date (played by Ben Stiller) who screams.
Friends Apartment - Corner of Grove & Bedford Streets
The famous "Friends" apartment building.
9/11 Memorial & Museum
"Friends" uses The Twin Towers in many panoramic shots between scenes.
What You Need to Know Before Visiting the 9/11 Memorial & Museum
Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island
Monica and Chandler Bing take their children's birth mom, Erica, sightseeing to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Chandler decks himself out in "I Love New York" gear.
What You Need To Know About Visiting the Statue of Liberty
How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM) Filming Locations
Grabbing the best burger in New York and a drink from MacLaren’s Pub while dodging a game of "Have You Met Ted?" has never been easier than now. Follow our interactive map of HIMYM filming locations and capture the memories to share with your friends and followers.
McGee's (MacLaren’s Pub)
MacLaren's, the pub the gang frequent in the show, is based on NYC pub McGee's. The show's creators spent time there while writing for the "Late Show With David Letterman."
Gray's Papaya
Ted plans the perfect night for the gang to ring in the New Year: five parties in three hours. Between parties, they stop at Gray's Papaya for some hot dogs.
Central Park
Robin returns to the famous Central Park Carousel to look for her buried locket.
American Museum of Natural History
The gang attends a black-tie fundraiser at the Museum of Natural History, where Barney brags about knocking down the blue whale display at age six. Ted has fun experimenting with the museum's magic whisper acoustics (at the others' expense).
Insider tips and highlights at the American Museum of Natural History
Empire State Building
In the ESB lobby, the gang recounts how they lost their virginities when Robin Scherbatsky's younger sister, Katie, visits for the weekend.
As an architect, Ted Mosby admires the ESB. There are countless shots of the NYC skyline in the series, in which the skyscraper is always visible.
Visiting the Empire State Building - The World’s Most Famous Office Building
Corner Bistro (HIMYM Best Burger in New York)
On Marshall Eriksen's first night in the city, he eats the best burger in New York — but can't remember where it was. Eight years later, he embarks on a quest to track it down, and tries several places that claim to have "the best burger in New York." He stops at various restaurants, including the Corner Bistro.
Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island
Barney Stinson invites Ted to bungee jump off the Statue of Liberty — an offer he avoids.
Seinfeld Filming Locations
Whether you watched Seinfeld during its original run, reruns, or both - you will definitely enjoy visiting these locations from the iconic sitcom. Follow our interactive map through NYC and recreate some of your favorite scenes from Seinfeld or "NO SOUP FOR YOU!"
Guggenheim Museum
George Costanza portrays one of his favorite personas: a millionaire architect who designed an addition to the Guggenheim Museum, adding, "and it didn't take very long, either."
H&H Bagels
After seasons of wondering where Kramer worked, we find out he's been on strike from his job at H&H Bagels for 12 years. The shop was founded in 1972, and is the biggest bagel manufacturer in the world.
Gray's Papaya
Kramer says their hot dogs are "better than filet mignon."
West Side YMCA
Jerry Seinfeld meets his favorite baseball player, Keith Hernandez, in the YMCA locker room.
Al's Soup Kitchen
"NO SOUP FOR YOU!" is probably one of the most well-known "Seinfeld" catchphrases. The "Soup Nazi" character is actually based on a real life soup chef named Al Yeganeh of "The Original Soup Man" restaurant. He's said to have hated the "Soup Nazi" nickname, and even refused to serve soup to Jerry Seinfeld.
Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island
George gets hired at Kruger Industrial Smoothing after losing his job at Yankee Stadium. Headed by Mr. Kruger, the company is known for botching the Statue of Liberty (hence why it's still green). According to George, their motto is "we don't care, and it shows."
30 Rock Filming Locations
Re-live some of your favorite 30 Rock moments with the help of our interactive map. Visit Liz Lemon’s apartment, stop by Rockefeller Center, and visit the infamous Soho Grand Hotel!
Battery Park City
Scenes that took place in the titular city of the episode "Cleveland" — the first episode directed by Paul Feig — were actually filmed in Battery Park City.
Soho Grand Hotel
Tracy Jordan and his wife, Angie, try to spend a romantic night at the SoHo Grand Hotel on Valentine's Day, but are interrupted by Jack and a prostitute.
Rockefeller Center
Liz walks by Rockefeller Center and meets Stuart, played by Peter Dinklage, and eventually begins a relationship with him.
The Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center
American Museum of Natural History
Jack Donaghy takes Kaylie on a tour of TGS's floor, where she expresses her interest in marine biology. She freaks out when Jack tells her he knows her favorite explorer, and says Kaylie can go on a private museum tour with him.
Jack and Avery attend a black-tie gala at the museum, where Jack struggles to decide between Avery and Nancy, his high school sweetheart.
The Carlyle
Jack's mother, Colleen, moves from the luxurious Plaza Hotel to the equally luxurious Carlyle after expressing fear about the concierge.
Liz Lemon's Apartment
Liz has a spacious Upper West Side apartment in this building. She's said to live at 160 Riverside Drive, which in the real world is a pre-war co-op between 88th and 89th. The most recent rental was a two-bedroom apartment, which went for around $3,000/month. The most recent sale was also a two-bedroom apartment, priced at $1.85 million.
Sex & the City Filming Locations
Recreate the moments Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda shared from the iconic Sex & the City. Stop in at Tiffany & Co., run a marathon in a pair of Manolo Blahnik’s (or at least pretend), and grab some upscale Chinese food from Buddakan!
9/11 Memorial & Museum
"Sex and the City" uses the Twin Towers in two different opening scenes.
9/11 Museum's Expansive, Personal Look at an American Tragedy
Louis K. Meisel Gallery
Charlotte worked as an art dealer and hosted several exhibitions at the Louis K. Meisel gallery in SoHo.
Jefferson Market Garden
Miranda and Steve get married in this unassuming community park in Greenwich Village.
Buddakan
This trendy, upscale Chinese restaurant in the Meatpacking District was the scene of Carrie's rehearsal dinner in the "Sex and the City" movie. Miranda's notorious outburst here causes Big to get cold feet the night before the wedding.
New York Public Library
While lunching on the library's steps, Miranda tells two strangers "he's just not that into you." Behind the library is Bryant Park, where Carrie became "fashion roadkill" on the runway at a charity show.
Carrie picks the library as the site of her long-awaited wedding to Big, as it "houses all the world's great love stories."
Da Marino
Early in Carrie and Big's relationship, the duo visit this Italian restaurant, where Big serenades Carrie over dinner. Chris Noth, the actor who portrays Big, is a regular.
Manolo Blahnik
Sarah Jessica Parker claimed to be able to run a marathon in Carrie's favorite shoes: Manolo Blahniks, famed for sky-high stilettos (and prices).
Tiffany & Co
Trey MacDougal proposes to Charlotte in front of Tiffany's and they pick out "the most beautiful ring they have."
Central Park
The women are seen jogging on the Park's track several times throughout the series and first film. Charlotte York, the runner of the group, is especially partial to the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir.
Guggenheim Museum
Carrie decides she doesn't need to date men — she can date New York instead! For their first "date" together, she stops at the Guggenheim museum, only to find out it's closed.
See More New York City Attractions for Less
New York has an endless amount of historic attractions. To get the most out of your visit purchase New York CityPASS® tickets and save up to on your favorite NYC attractions!