Although the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building remain essential stops for all tourists who set foot in New York, city tour parallels are increasingly popular. Fans of various TV shows that take place in the Big Apple would love to see the places where outdoor scenes were shot.
The three series that are now featured in guided tours are Sex and the City, The Sopranos, and most recently, Gossip Girl.
In the case of Sex and the City, there is such a craze for tourists wanting to follow in the footsteps of Carrie Bradshaw and discover her Greenwich Village, that the tours run seven days week and up to 5 times a day on Saturday and Sunday.
For The Sopranos fans, everyone seems to want to see the famous Bada Bing Club, where the heroes of the series met so often.
Even the television newcomer, Gossip Girl, has a guided city tour. Obviously, the more upscale cast of characters run in the Upper East Side, where 80% of the scenes shot for the series are outside in the chic areas of New York.
According to the operators of tours focusing on various television series, the clientele is made up of about 70% international tourists.