NBC Studio Tour in New York

Take a peek behind the scenes

Have you ever wondered how your favorite shows are being made? You can find out at the NBC Studio Tour that gives you behind-the-scenes access to many well-known shows. We participated in the TV and Movie Locations tour, including the NBC Studio Tour inside Rockefeller Center and learned about every step of the TV production process. Oh, and we also got to see some celebrities on the way!

NBC Studio Tour Details

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Movie Locations & NBC Studio Tour Details

NBC Studio Tour Ticket Counter

The Movie Locations and NBC Studio Tour in New York is a guided walk that consists of two different parts:

1. TV and Movie Locations Tour

First, your guide will show your around Midtown Manhattan to see some popular TV and Movie locations located in proximity to NBC Studios. These include film locations known from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Friends, Seinfeld, Sex and the City, Home Alone, Gossip Girl, and a few others. Your guide will share some interesting facts with you, many of which actually surprised us! You’ll also have enough time to take photos at each of the locations. It’s a lot of fun trying to reproduce a few famous scenes!

2. NBC Studio Tour

In the second part of the tour, you head on over to Rockefeller Center to take the official NBC Studio Tour. During the NBC Studio Tour, you’ll get insights into the entire TV production process, starting from scriptwriting and producing to broadcasting and controlling. The tour highlight for most people, however, is seeing the film studios of the Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, the Today Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers and Saturday Night Live (SNL). Which sets you will actually get to visit depends on whether the studio is available. Sometimes it might be the case that the studio is being prepared for the next show. That’s exactly what happened when we walked past the Saturday Night Live Studio. Did you know that they create every scene for SNL from scratch?

The good news is that the SNL studio has large windows that don’t even require you to go in to see the set!

Even when just walking through the hallway, you’ll see that everything is nicely decorated with plenty of photos and other memories from NBC’s history. The entire NBC Studios reach over several floors. It’s huge!

If you’re lucky you may even catch a glimpse of one of the shows or celebrities!

However, there is obviously no guarantee for that. During our tour, we happened to walk by Today Show host Al Roker.

At the end of the NBC Studio Tour, a unique interactive experience is awaiting you: you and your group are invited to produce your own TV segment. Another great thing about it is that you’ll get to keep the video of your show! It will be sent to you via email after the tour. This is the ultimate way of testing whether you’ve got what it takes to host your own talk show!

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What You Need to Know 

NBC News Outside

We recommend planning your trip ahead of time as the NBC tour is a very popular attraction with limited availability to ensure a great experience for all visitors. The hallways are quite narrow, allowing only small groups to enter.

When does the NBC Studio Tour depart?

The NBC Studio Tour departs regularly throughout the week. It always starts at 12 pm, but the tour days differ from season to season.

March through April: Mondays & Saturdays
May through September: Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays
October: Mondays, Thursdays & Saturdays

How much does the NBC Studio Tour cost?

NBC Studio Tour tickets cost $84 for adults and $79 for kids under the age of 12.

How long is the NBC Studio Tour?

Expect to spend about 3 hours in total,  about 90 minutes on the guided walking tour and 75 minutes on the NBC Studio tour.

Where does the NBC Studio Tour take place?

The first part of your Your TV and Movie Locations Tour starts at Pulitzer Fountain (in Front of Plaza Hotel) at 59th St and 5th Ave.

The NBC Studio is located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. However, when taking the tour you are asked to use the entrance on Avenue of the Americas (6th Ave) between 49th & 50th. Your guide will take you there, so you don’t have to worry about finding the right place.

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FAQ

What does NBC stand for?
NBC stands for the National Broadcasting Company.

Where is NBC located?
NBC Studios is located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York.

What shows are filmed at NBC studios?
NBC is home to many known shows, including:

  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
  • The Today Show
  • Late Night with Seth Meyers
  • Saturday Night Live
  • America’s Got Talent
  • The Voice
  • Ninja Warrior
  • Little Big Shots

How do I get tickets to NBC shows?
If you would like to see a TV show taping in New York, whether it is The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, Saturday Night Live or non-NBC shows such as The Daily Show with Trevor Noah or Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, take a look at our TV Show Ticket Guide.

Is the NBC Studio Tour wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The entire tour is wheelchair accessible!

Is the NBC Studio Tour included in the New York Pass?
No. The NBC Studio Tour is not included in any attraction pass. You need separate tickets to attend the tour.

Is photography at the NBC Studio Tour allowed?
No, unfortunately, you won’t be able to take photos during the tour inside NBC Studios. You can, however, take photos during the TV and Movie Locations part of the tour which takes place outside.

 

Profilbild Steffen Kneist
About the author

I'm a true New York fan! Not only have I visited the city over 25 times but also have I spent several months here at a time. On my blog I show you the best and most beautiful spots of the city, so that you have a really good time! You can also find lots of insider tips in our New York travel guide. Also check out my hotel finder for New York!

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