Looking for a fun behind-the-scenes movie tour in New York City?

New York City is well-known for having acted as the backdrop to thousands of stories over the years. Whether it’s the classic sitcoms of the 1980’s and 1990’s to the grand, sweeping superhero narratives of recent years, NYC has had plenty of time in the spot light.

It’s no wonder that New York, a city full of characters, is home to so many different stories! If you’re looking to explore the locations that have served as the backdrop to shows like Friends, Seinfeld and Mad Men, and movies like When Harry Met Sally and Breakfast at Tiffany’s, where do you begin when it comes to a city as big as New York?

That’s where we come in. Below, we’ve rounded up our favorite TV and movie tours in New York City, so you can tour the most glamorous side of the city that never sleeps…

When Harry Met Seinfeld Tour – $50

Are you a fan of classic comedy?

You can’t go wrong with this When Harry Met Seinfeld tour of New York City. Your friendly, pop-culture-savvy guide will meet you at McGee’s Pub, the inspiration for How I Met Your Mother’s MacLaren’s.

Gather with your fellow movie fanatics, and you’ll be given a brief introduction to the tour before setting off on a journey through the stories that have entertained movie-goers and TV watchers alike over the years.

This tour prides itself on lesser-known spots, away from the tightly-packed hustle and bustle of Times Square and other touristy areas often visited on similar tours. You’ll get real behind-the-scenes insights and knowledge from your expert guide, as you visit locations from films like You’ve Got Mail, Men in Black, and Pitch Perfect.

More of a drama fan? Your needs will be met with locations from films like Black Swan and Cruel Intentions.

Mad Men Cocktail Tour – $150

If you’ve ever watched Mad Men and wondered what it’d be like to sip a Manhattan while Don Draper broods quietly in the corner… you can never really do that, because he’s a fictional character from the 1960’s and Jon Hamm is very expensive to hire – but you can come pretty close!

This Mad Men cocktails tour treats participants to the authentic feeling of 1960’s New York City, complete with expertly made cocktails and vintage get-up – but excluding the oppressive atmosphere of a 1960’s advertising agency run exclusively by greying men who make questionable life choices.

Experience the best parts of the semi-fictional world of Mad Men, starting with your authentic costume! Get dressed up in your best vintage attire, curl your hair or slick it back, and get ready to party like Don Draper (again, just the fun parts, not all the sad stuff.)

Your expert guide will meet you in a central location, and guide you through the same footsteps as the guys and gals of Mad Men, treating you to drinks in their favorite watering holes across the city.

As you explore the classy bars of Manhattan, sipping cocktails favored by the ad men of the 60’s, your guide will teach you all about the history of the ad industry and take you on a full tour through Madison Avenue.

Skip through the city in your finery, and feel like a real ad man or gal with this classic tour.

Gossip Girl Locations Tour – $58

And now for something completely different!

If the glitzy, catty, hair-swishing world of Gossip Girl is more your thing than the dark and brooding world of Mad Men, check out this in-depth locations tour of everyone’s favorite internet enigma.

Where else would you meet for a Gossip Girl tour than the affluent Upper East Side? There, you’ll gather with your guide and fellow fans for an introduction to the tour. The group will then be chauffeured around the neighborhood in a luxury coach bus as your guide teaches you facts about the show.

With over 40 on-site locations, highlights include infamous Hotel home to the Bass and Van der Woodsen Families, The Constance Billard School for Girls/St. Jude School for Boys where you may be “spotted” by Manhattan’s most omnipresent blogger, the Upper East Side Mansion, The Luxurious Fifth Avenue Home of Blair Waldorf, and more!

For fans of this enduring show, it really doesn’t get any better than this filming locations tour!

TCM Classic Film Tour – $56

If you’re less of a TV person and more of a fan of the classic movies New York is best known for, this TCM Classic Film Tour is the one for you.

From the comfort of a bus with air conditioning or heating (depending on what the New York weather is doing that day!), you’ll tour over 60 famous filming locations in New York, while a movie-savvy guide tells you behind-the-scenes stories, and quizzes you with trivia to test your own knowledge!

Not only are you touring famous filming locations, but you’ll also get a great tour of the sights themselves.

You’ll see the Empire State Building as scaled by the misunderstood King Kong, shop in the same market from You’ve Got Mail and Manhattan, and go to Grand Central Terminal as seen in movies like Superman and North By Northwest – plus many more locations and sights to be discovered!

Sopranos Sites New York Metro Tour – $64

For those who prefer their television shows on the grittier side, this Sopranos New York tour treats fans to an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at their favorite show.

This exciting Soprano Sites Tour features over 40 real-life locations from the show, including peeking inside Bada Bing’s, seeing Father Phil’s Parish, sitting on the steps of the diner where Chris was shot, visiting the spot where Big Pussy spoke with the FBI, visiting the high school where A.J. dumped pizza boxes into the pool, Pizzaland, the Muffler Man, and other sites from the opening credits, and sitting at the booth where Tony sat in the restaurant where the final scene of the series was filmed!

Your knowledge will even be tested by an in-depth trivia quiz led by your guide, so be sure to polish up on your Sopranos expertise so you can show off in front of your fellow fans!

NYC TV and Movie Locations Official NBC Studios Tour – $85 +

For a completely in-depth behind-the-scenes tour of where the magic truly happens in New York television, check out this NBC Studio tour!

TV fans will love this incredible studio tour inside the very building that houses shows like SNL and the Today Show. During your 3 hour tour, you’ll get to see how your favorite TV shows get made, and jump in front of the camera yourself to let out your inner Jimmy Kimmel while you film your very own talk show segment!

After touring the studio, you’ll head out into the streets of New York to see famous landmarks like Radio City Music Hall, and popular shooting locations.

Thanks for reading!

We hope you enjoyed our guide to the best filming locations tours in New York. If you’ve got a question, don’t forget to leave a comment… we’d love to hear from you. Happy exploring!