Best of NYC: Top-Rated Gossip Girl TV Locations Pedicab Tour

The fun of this private pedicab tour is seeing Gossip Girl’s Manhattan locations from street level, then getting out for photos at places like the Met Steps and Bethesda Fountain. You can cover more ground than on foot, and the ride through New York traffic is part of the experience.

I like the mix of show locations and real city landmarks, especially Central Park and the Empire Hotel. I also like that the group is private, so you can ask questions and take time at photo stops. One thing to check before booking: the tour description highlights several places, including the Palace Hotel and the New York Public Library, that do not appear in the named route, so confirm which stops your chosen tour will include.

What to know before you book

• A pedicab ride with photo stops: You meet at 190 Central Park South and travel to named stops that include the Plaza Hotel, Ladurée, the Met, Bethesda Fountain, and the Empire Hotel.
• A private group: The tour is listed as private and led in English. The group format offers room for questions, though your experience will depend in part on your guide.
• A flexible length: Tours run from 35 to 90 minutes. Check the available start times and confirm the expected duration for your booking.
• A route with some uncertainty: The Palace Hotel and New York Public Library feature in the tour description, but not in the supplied stop-by-stop itinerary.
• A good option for fans and curious first-timers: You get series references alongside recognizable New York sights, without needing to plan every location yourself.
• Bring walking shoes and water: You will get out of the pedicab at stops, including in Central Park, and the tour is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.

From Central Park South to the Plaza

The meeting point is in front of the New York Athletic Club at 190 Central Park South, on the corner of Seventh Avenue and 59th Street, across from Central Park. Look for the pedicab at the curb and arrive 10 minutes early. There is no hotel pickup, so plan your own way to the start.

The Plaza Hotel is the first named stop. It is a natural place to begin a tour of the show’s polished Manhattan world: the building is a familiar New York landmark, and it makes for a clear photo stop. The tour description also calls out the Lotte New York Palace, known in the series as the van der Woodsen family home. However, that hotel is not listed in the supplied route sequence. If photographing the Palace is a priority, ask the operator whether it is included in your specific tour.

That small detail matters. A 35-minute version and a 90-minute version cannot be expected to cover exactly the same ground or allow the same time at each stop. Since the tour is private, you may have some flexibility, but do not assume that every place named in the description is guaranteed on every departure.

Ladurée and the Upper East Side mood

Ladurée is listed as a break and photo stop. It offers a taste of the stylish setting associated with Gossip Girl, but food and drinks are not included. If you want to buy something, budget for it separately and remember that the tour’s timing may affect how long you can linger.

The itinerary also includes St James’ Church as a photo stop. It is one of the route’s named locations, though the available details do not spell out a specific scene filmed there. Treat it as a chance to see another stop on the city route rather than expecting a long presentation about a particular episode.

Between stops, the pedicab gives you a different view of Manhattan than a walking tour. One German-speaking couple particularly liked riding through city traffic and seeing Central Park this way. That will appeal if you enjoy watching the streets unfold around you. If you prefer a quiet, slow-paced walk, traffic and the movement of the ride may be less appealing.

The Met Steps: a fan landmark with a real city backdrop

The Metropolitan Museum of Art steps are among the tour’s most recognizable Gossip Girl stops. In the series, the steps served as the regular gathering place for Blair, Serena, and their fashionable circle. You can take a photo there and use the free time to soak up the setting.

The tour is about the exterior location, not a museum visit. Admission to museums and attractions is not included, so do not count on going inside the Met as part of the price. That distinction is useful if you are planning a museum day: the pedicab tour can fit around it, but it does not replace time in the galleries.

The steps are also a good place to appreciate how the series used actual Manhattan locations to give its fictional social world a sense of place. You do not need to know every episode to enjoy the stop. A fan will recognize the details; a curious visitor can still appreciate the grand museum entrance and the people-watching.

Bethesda Fountain and a Central Park pause

The route continues into Central Park, with Bethesda Fountain named as a visit, sightseeing, photo, and break stop. The wider tour description also identifies Bethesda Terrace, Bow Bridge, and Literary Walk as locations the guide may point out. The detailed itinerary, though, specifically lists Bethesda Fountain, so ask if you want to be sure the other park locations are included.

This is the part of the tour where getting out and walking matters most. Comfortable shoes are sensible, even though you are traveling by pedicab for much of the route. Bring water, and check the weather before you go. The tour notes recommend dressing for conditions, and there is no need to make a park stop less enjoyable by arriving unprepared.

Central Park adds a welcome change of pace from the hotel and shopping references. It also helps explain why the show returned to the park for emotional scenes and romantic moments: the setting gives its characters room to move beyond the city’s streets and interiors. Your guide may share episode references and behind-the-scenes stories along the way, though the exact commentary will vary.

The Empire Hotel and the tour’s finale

The Empire Hotel is a key Gossip Girl stop, linked to Chuck Bass in the series. It is listed as a photo stop, and the tour description presents the rooftop bar as a possible way to end the outing with a drink and a view of Manhattan.

Keep that last part in perspective. Drinks are not included, and the route lists the Empire Hotel as a photo stop rather than promising a rooftop visit. If the bar matters to you, ask whether you can end there and whether the rooftop is open during your tour time. The tour returns to 190 Central Park South, so check how the Empire stop fits with the end point before you make plans afterward.

The supplied tour description also identifies the New York Public Library as the setting of Blair and Chuck’s wedding in the series finale. It is not included in the route’s named stops, so treat it as a possible location to confirm rather than a guaranteed stop. That is especially important if you are booking primarily for the wedding setting.

Guide style, timing, and value

The tour costs $50 per person and lasts between 35 and 90 minutes. At the short end, that is a quick overview with photo stops; at the longer end, it can become a more relaxed outing. The price makes the most sense if you value having a guide connect the locations to the show and prefer a ride between sites to figuring out the route on your own.

Guide experiences have varied. Baris is a name to look for: he has been described as friendly, chatty, and enthusiastic, with both Gossip Girl stories and broader New York facts. Merek has also led a tour, and one outing with him ran much longer than the scheduled 35 minutes. That extra time was appreciated, but the guide was not initially a dedicated Gossip Girl guide. This points to a practical question worth asking when you book: can the operator confirm a guide who knows the series locations and the length you have reserved?

The tour is listed as a private group, which is a plus if you want to ask questions or take photos without keeping pace with a large group. It is also advertised as wheelchair accessible in one section, but elsewhere says it is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. Those statements conflict. If access is a concern, contact the provider before paying rather than relying on either description.

Food, drinks, attraction entry, and hotel transfers are not included. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option can help if your plans are still changing. Smoking is not allowed. The tour is in English.

Who should book this pedicab tour?

I would consider it if Gossip Girl is part of what makes New York exciting for you, or if you want a light, guided way to connect TV locations with city landmarks. It suits couples, friends, and private groups who enjoy photo stops and do not mind riding in city traffic. It can also work for a parent and child: a mother and daughter had fun seeing the filming locations together, and their driver even made videos for them.

It is less suited to anyone who needs a guaranteed visit to every location named in the description, wants a full Central Park walk, or expects the rooftop bar and museum entry to be included. The itinerary and tour description do not line up perfectly, so confirm the Palace Hotel, New York Public Library, and any requested park stops before booking.

My verdict: Book if the pedicab ride and a guided look at several Gossip Girl landmarks are the main appeal. Ask about the exact route, guide, and duration first. If one specific location is the whole reason you are going, get confirmation that it is on your tour.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

Meet the driver in front of the New York Athletic Club at 190 Central Park South, at the corner of Seventh Avenue and 59th Street, across from Central Park. Arrive 10 minutes before departure.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts between 35 and 90 minutes. Check the available start times and confirm the duration for the option you book.

What locations are named on the route?

The route names the Plaza Hotel, Ladurée, St James’ Church, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Bethesda Fountain in Central Park, and the Empire Hotel. It returns to 190 Central Park South.

Are the Palace Hotel and New York Public Library included?

They are highlighted in the tour description, but they do not appear in the supplied stop-by-stop route. Ask the operator to confirm whether they are included in your tour.

Is food or drink included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. The tour description mentions the Empire Hotel rooftop bar as a possible place to have a drink, but a drink is not part of the price.

Is the tour private and what language is it in?

Yes. It is listed as a private group tour, with an English-language guide.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

The information is contradictory: one part says wheelchair accessible, while another says the activity is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. Contact the operator to confirm before booking.

What should I bring?

Wear comfortable shoes, bring a camera and water, and check the weather so you can dress appropriately. Smoking is not allowed.