If you watch FBI on CBS, you probably wonder how much of it is real. I wondered the same thing, so I went looking for answers myself.
In this post, I'll walk you through every major FBI filming location, from the Jacob Javits Federal Building to Central Park and beyond.
You'll learn which spots are real, which ones are stand-ins, and how the crew pulls off filming across New York City every week.
I've spent time researching this show's locations closely, so you're getting facts, not guesses. By the end, you'll know exactly where each scene comes to life, and maybe even plan a visit of your own.
Where is the FBI Filmed?
A quick look at how New York City becomes the real world set for CBS's hit crime drama FBI, from courthouses to diners.
If you watch FBI on CBS, you already know the show moves fast. What you might not know is that almost every scene is shot on real streets, in real buildings, across New York City. FBI takes place at the New York City FBI headquarters, and it films all over the city too.
The show comes from Dick Wolf, the producer behind the Law & Order franchise, and it stars Zeeko Zaki, Missy Peregrym, and Katherine Renee Turner as the agents chasing cases every week.
I went through the show's location history and pulled together everything worth knowing. You'll find the real spots behind the fictional ones, plus a few surprises about how the crew pulls it off week after week.
Complete List of FBI Filming Locations
Here's the full rundown of buildings, parks, and streets that show up on screen once you know where to look.
Jacob Javits Federal Building
The Jacob Javits Federal Building in downtown Manhattan plays the FBI headquarters on the show. That makes sense, because the real Federal Bureau of Investigation actually has offices inside that building.
A lot of the exterior shots showing agents walking in and out get filmed right outside it.
Central Park
Central Park shows up a lot on the FBI, and it's easy to see why. The park stretches over 50 blocks and covers 843 acres, which gives the crew plenty of room to work with.
Keep an eye out and you'll spot Belvedere Castle, Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, and the Gapstow Bridge in different episodes.
City College of New York (Paul Revere University)
On the show, Paul Revere University is fictional. In real life, it's City College of New York. The clock tower on top of the building can be spotted in several episodes.
The campus has that classic academic look, which is probably why the writers picked it for a university stand in.
New York County Courthouse
Every good crime show needs a courthouse, and the FBI is no different. The New York County Courthouse steps in for courtroom scenes.
Its columns and steps give the show that classic legal drama feel, without needing any set dressing at all.
Roosevelt Hotel
The Roosevelt Hotel has made appearances in the show as well, standing in for hotel scenes that call for a bit of old New York character.
Its lobby and exterior give off a formal, slightly old fashioned vibe that fits certain storylines.
Lincoln Technical Institute (FBI Academy)
Whenever the show needs to reference the actual FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, it doesn't send the crew to Virginia at all.
The Lincoln Institute in New York City stands in as the FBI Academy, and its front entrance shows up often.
Castle Gould at Sands Point Preserve
This one surprises a lot of viewers. Castle Gould, located at Sands Point Preserve in Nassau County, has served as a filming location for the show across multiple seasons.
It's a historic estate on Long Island, and it gives certain episodes a completely different look from the usual city streets.
Motel 6, Elmsford
For scenes that need a roadside motel, the crew heads to a Motel 6 in Elmsford, in Westchester County.
The location has been used as a set for the show, standing in for the kind of motel where a plot twist tends to happen.
Town House Diner, White Plains
Several scenes have been filmed at the Town House Diner and along Virginia Road in White Plains.
Diner scenes are common in procedural dramas, and this one gives the show a quieter, more small town setting outside the city.
Nanuet Explosion Set
Not every scene needs a real building. For an explosion scene set in a residential neighborhood, the crew used a location in Nanuet, in Rockland County, filming along Lexow Avenue.
It's a good example of how the show picks quieter areas for scenes that need controlled chaos.
Other Notable NYC Filming Locations
The list doesn't stop there. The show has also filmed in Queens, including Queens Plaza and the Bronx Beer Hall, and at a savings bank location in Astoria. Another Queens spot, the Clinton Diner in Maspeth, has also hosted the crew.
The Bronx gets screen time too, with scenes shot at Gould Memorial Library on the Bronx Community College campus. Bedford Park in the Bronx has also hosted the crew, with scenes filmed around Botanical Square and inside a public garage on Webster Avenue.
Where else is the FBI Filmed?
New York does most of the heavy lifting, but a few scenes and related shows step outside the city limits.
Filming Locations Outside New York City
While New York City handles almost all of the filming, the crew does step outside city limits sometimes. Westchester County, Nassau County, and Rockland County have all hosted scenes, mostly for storylines that need a suburban or small town setting instead of a city backdrop.
Does the FBI Film in Toronto?
This question comes up a lot, and there's a small answer to it. The pilot episode used Toronto, Ontario for some of its street scenes. Outside of that, though, the regular series sticks close to New York for its filming.
Does the FBI Film in Canada?
Not really, at least not for the main show. The Toronto street footage from the pilot is more of an exception than a pattern. That said, the wider Dick Wolf universe has strong Canadian ties.
The franchise works with a number of Canadian directors, and its casts often include Canadian actors as well. So while the cameras mostly stay in New York, the talent behind and in front of them often comes from north of the border.
Behind the Scenes of FBI Filming
A look at the studio work, the location scouting, and the reasons New York works so well as the show's setting.
TV-1 Studios in Manhattan
Not every scene happens outdoors. For indoor shots, the crew uses TV-1 Studios at 311 West 34th Street, one of the more popular filming studios in the city.
The space gives them close to 3,800 square feet of production room to build out interior sets, which explains how office scenes and interrogation rooms come together without needing a real government building every time.
How Real Locations Become Fictional Settings
The show has a pattern. Take a real building, give it a new name, and let the audience fill in the rest. City College becomes Paul Revere University. Gotham City Collision, an auto body shop in Queens, becomes the front for a stakeout.
The exterior of a shop on 44th Road in Long Island City even served as a stakeout location for an antifascist bar in season one. It's a simple trick, but it works because New York already has so many buildings that look the part.
Why New York is the Perfect Backdrop for FBI
New York gives the show everything it needs in one place. Government buildings, courthouses, parks, diners, and quiet residential streets all sit within driving distance of each other.
That saves time and money, and it also keeps the show grounded, since the real FBI's New York office is the one the story is actually about.
Can You Visit the FBI Filming Locations?
Yes, and most of them are open to the public. Central Park, the courthouse steps, City College, and the Roosevelt Hotel are all places you can walk up to any day of the week.
Castle Gould at Sands Point Preserve is open too, though it runs on preserve hours, so it's worth checking before you go.
The studio space and a few working businesses used for filming are private, so those are better appreciated from the outside.
Fun Facts About FBI Filming Locations
The FBI turns real New York buildings, from the Jacob Javits Federal Building to Central Park's landmarks, into the fictional backdrops fans see every week.
- The Jacob Javits Federal Building isn't just a stand in. It actually houses the real FBI's offices, so its use in the show feels less like a coincidence and more like a natural fit.
- Not every big scene happens on a real street corner. The explosion scene filmed in Nanuet took over a residential neighborhood specifically for that purpose.
- Central Park shows up so often that regular viewers start to recognize its landmarks, including Belvedere Castle, Bethesda Terrace, and the Gapstow Bridge.
- City College's clock tower doubles as the fictional Paul Revere University, proving how easily a real campus can become a completely different setting on screen.
- The courthouse steps used in the show belong to the New York County Courthouse, a location that shows up again and again across procedural dramas set in the city.
Conclusion
So that's the full rundown of FBI filming locations across New York City. I still remember walking past Central Park one afternoon and spotting a film crew setup, only to realize later it was an FBI episode in the works. It made the show feel a lot closer to home.
Next time you're in the city, keep an eye out. You might be standing right where a scene was shot.
Have you spotted any FBI filming locations yourself? Drop a comment below, and share this post with a fellow fan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is FBI International filmed?
FBI International films mainly in Budapest, Hungary, using local streets and studios to double for various countries around the world where the task force operates.
Where is FBI Most Wanted filmed?
FBI Most Wanted also films primarily in and around New York City, with additional scenes shot in New Jersey to capture the fugitive task force's constant travel. The spinoff has also used Wartburg, a senior care facility in Mount Vernon, as a location.
Is the FBI based on a true story?
The FBI isn't based on one true story. It's a fictional procedural drama inspired by real FBI operations, cases, and the general structure of its New York field office.
How many seasons of the FBI have been filmed so far?
As of 2026, FBI has filmed multiple seasons since its 2018 premiere, with CBS renewing the show yearly due to its steady ratings and fanbase. Season 8 premiered in October 2025 and is still airing.
