Season 5

Season 5 – Yes, Then Zero to Return of the Ring

2011–2012 24 Episodes 7 Key Locations

Season Overview

Blair's royal wedding to Prince Louis, Chuck's recovery, and Dan's rise as a literary sensation drive the drama. The season features a dramatic car accident, Blair's pact with God, and the love triangle between Blair, Chuck, and Dan. Manhattan's grandest locations provide the backdrop for the show's most emotionally complex season.

Key Filming Scenes

S5E10 – Riding in Town Cars with Boys

The devastating car accident near Central Park

Central Park

S5E11 – The End of the Affair?

Blair's hospital scenes and her pact with God

The Palace Hotel

S5E13 – G.G.

Blair and Dan's unexpected first kiss

The Humphrey Loft

S5E24 – Return of the Ring

Blair finally chooses Chuck at The Empire

The Empire Hotel

Season 5 Filming Locations

Location

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G4.8(53,000)

The Met Steps

The most iconic Gossip Girl location of all time. The steps of The Metropolitan Museum of Art became the social epicenter of Constance Billard School, where Blair Waldorf and her minions held court during lunch in nearly every episode. The grand staircase became synonymous with Upper East Side prep school culture, and in real life visitors still recreate Blair's signature yogurt-eating pose. The Met Steps represent everything Gossip Girl stands for — power, status, and the ruthless social hierarchy of Manhattan's elite.

1000 5th Ave

Grand Central Terminal at 89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017 - Gossip Girl Tours NYC filming location

Landmark

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G4.7(42,000)

Grand Central Terminal

The majestic Beaux-Arts station served as the arrival and departure point for many dramatic moments throughout all six seasons. Grand Central Terminal's iconic main concourse, with its celestial ceiling mural and grand windows, provided a cinematic backdrop that perfectly captured the grandeur of the Upper East Side world. The famous four-faced clock atop the information booth was featured in numerous pivotal scenes, and the Whispering Gallery became a location for secret exchanges. Grand Central represents transitions — characters arriving, departing, and the constant movement of Manhattan life.

89 E 42nd St

Park

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G4.7(4,500)

Bethesda Terrace & Fountain

The Angel of the Waters fountain and ornate Bethesda Terrace provided the romantic heart of Gossip Girl. This is where the iconic Serena and Blair reconciliation took place in Season 1, Episode 3 — and fun fact: the bench they sat on in that scene was actually brought in by the production team and doesn't normally exist there! The intricate Minton tile ceiling of the arcade and sweeping views of The Lake made this one of the most visually stunning locations used throughout the series. In the Season 6 finale, Chuck and Blair chose this exact spot for their intimate wedding ceremony, bringing their epic love story full circle. Bethesda Terrace represented where characters could reveal their true feelings, away from the scheming and social climbing of the Upper East Side.

Mid-Park at 72nd St

Hotel

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G4(2,800)

The Empire Hotel

Chuck Bass's personal kingdom from Season 3 onward. In Season 3, Episode 3, Chuck purchases The Empire Hotel on the Upper West Side, making it both his home and business headquarters. The Empire Hotel became his base of operations, hosting countless schemes and soirées on its iconic rooftop bar. Located directly across from Lincoln Center, this real boutique hotel saw its popularity skyrocket after being featured on the show. Fun fact: The Empire Hotel was also used as a filming location for Sex and the City 2. The rooftop bar, with its stunning views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline, became one of NYC's most sought-after nightlife destinations thanks to its Gossip Girl fame.

44 W 63rd St

Park

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G4.8(134,000)

Central Park

Manhattan's 843-acre green heart served as the ultimate backdrop for Gossip Girl, appearing in nearly every episode as establishing shots and scene settings. Various locations within the park were used throughout all six seasons, including the Bow Bridge, the Conservatory Garden, the Boathouse, the Great Lawn, and Sheep Meadow. Central Park represented neutral ground where Upper East Siders and Brooklyn outsiders could meet on equal footing, and its changing seasons mirrored the emotional arcs of the characters.

Central Park

Columbia University at 116th St & Broadway, New York, NY 10027 - Gossip Girl Tours NYC filming location

School

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G4.6(5,200)

Columbia University

Columbia University's Morningside Heights campus served as a filming location during the college years storyline of Gossip Girl. The prestigious Ivy League university's beautiful campus, with its iconic Low Memorial Library and green lawns, provided the academic backdrop for the characters' transition from high school to college life. Blair's initial rejection from Yale led her to Columbia, where she eventually found her footing and continued her social reign in a new setting.

116th St & Broadway

Blair Waldorf's Penthouse (1136 5th Ave) at 1136 5th Ave, New York, NY 10128 - Gossip Girl Tours NYC filming location

Residential

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Blair Waldorf's Penthouse (1136 5th Ave)

The exterior of Blair Waldorf's iconic penthouse apartment was filmed at 1136 Fifth Avenue, a prestigious pre-war co-op building in Carnegie Hill — the most exclusive neighborhood within the Upper East Side. Located directly across from Central Park and conveniently between The Met and Constance Billard School, it's entirely believable that Blair would have lived here. This elegant limestone building, with its classic awning and uniformed doorman, became one of the most recognizable addresses in television history. Blair's home was the setting for countless schemes, sleepovers, and dramatic confrontations, and represented the pinnacle of Upper East Side residential luxury.

1136 5th Ave

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Season 5 – Yes, Then Zero to Return of the Ring

Season Overview

Key Filming Scenes

Season 5 Filming Locations

The Met Steps

Grand Central Terminal

Bethesda Terrace & Fountain

The Empire Hotel

Central Park

Columbia University

Blair Waldorf's Penthouse (1136 5th Ave)

Visit These Locations In Person

Gossip Girl Tours

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