33 Big Bang Theory Locations To Visit In California

If You’re As Huge Of A Fan Of The Big Bang Theory As Me, These Are All The Best Locations You Should Visit In California To Bring The Show To Life!

As an expert Big Bang Theory fan (I watch it on repeat) and a frequent California traveler, these are all the locations associated with the show that I think are worth visiting, and although a majority of the show was shot on set, there are plenty of places to visit that were mentioned, some on location spots, and actual sets on a Warner Bros Studio Tour.

⚛️ Big Bang Theory Locations: Pasadena

While there are a few mentions or fictional trips to locations outside of California (Texas, Princeton, the North Sea, etc.), most of The Big Bang Theory takes place in Southern California, specifically in Pasadena where the gang lives and works.

While none of The Big Bang Theory was actually filmed in Pasadena, these are the real life locations that are mentioned on or related to the show:

1. Caltech

Caltech is the epicenter of this show and a must see for fans.

When driving in from Los Angeles, the first stop to make is at Caltech, since this is the real life science and engineering institute that was the epicenter of The Big Bang Theory (aside from their apartment).

2. Comics Factory

The Comics Factory is the real life version of Stuarts store on the Big Bang Theory and its one of the locations the show used for inspiration.

Stuart’s comic book store isn’t a real life location in Pasadena, but the Comics Factory is thought to be the inspiration for this fictional store. Step inside and imagine the guys arguing over Bat Man and Man-Bat.

*️⃣ Update: The Comics Factory has closed down 😔

3. Richard Feynman’s Grave

Richard Feynman's grave is really located in Altadena.

In “The Retraction Reaction” episode (season 11, episode 2) the guys visit Richard Feynman’s grave, and it really is located in Mountain View Mortuary & Cemetery in Altadena (north Pasadena).

I didn’t see remnants of Sheldon’s blue vomit, but I did easily find Feynman’s grave through find a grave and a cemetery map.

4. Pasadena City Hall

You can see the Pasadena city hall building from Leonard and Sheldon's apartment window.

When looking out of Sheldon and Leonard’s apartment window, a building appears in the background image, that view is the dome of Pasadena’s City Hall.

5. JPL

Multiple times in The Big Bang Theory, Howard works with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) which is run by Caltech for NASA, but it’s not one of the easiest visited locations.

JPL is northwest of Pasadena (just above the Rose Bowl) and while it can only be visited on an official tour, it’s possible to drive up to the front gate.

6. The Cheesecake Factory

Penny’s work at the Cheesecake Factory is mentioned often, and Pasadena really has one (the Colorado Blvd and Fair Oaks Ave location is the most likely). Stop in and imagine the gang discussing something scientific or science fiction.

7. Big Bang Theory Way

Although this isn't one of the locations directly mentioned or visited on the show, Big Bang Theory way is worth a stop to get a picture at the street honoring the show.

One of the most essential Pasadena locations to visit that has nothing to do with filming locations (real or fictitious) is the alley, “Big Bang Theory Way“. The Big Bang Theory street was given by the city of Pasadena in 2016 to celebrate the shows’ successful run on television.

8. Brookmore Apartments

The Brookmore apartments are thought to be the inspiration for the BBT show.

The fictional Big Bang Theory apartment building, located at 2311 North Los Robles Avenue, is a real street in Pasadena, but neither the apartment nor this address is real. However, a real apartment building does exist that’s said to be the inspiration.

The Brookmore Apartments supposedly housed many Caltech scientists, they have a similar staircase with apartments on both sides, and a notoriously broken elevator.

9. The Original Whistle Stop

We know Sheldon is nuts about trains and he often mentions a train store in Pasadena, so the real life Original Whistle Stop is the likely train store for Sheldon.

*️⃣ FAQ: When Howard “goes to space”, these scenes were filmed at a production company in Southern California that specializes in space filming

10. Altadena

Altadena is the likely neighborhood of Howard and Bernadette's house.

Just north of Pasadena, Altadena is the likely neighborhood of the Wolowitz home. There isn’t anything specific to see, but it’s fun to imagine where Howard and Bernadette live.

11. Colorado Boulevard

Colorado Boulevard is often mentioned on the Big Bang Theory when the guys are talking about locations around Pasadena.

When the guys describe locations on The Big Bang Theory, Colorado Boulevard is often mentioned by name as its the main street that runs through the center of Pasadena.

12. Lucky Baldwins

One of the real life locations in Pasadena that's talked about or "visited" on the Big Bang Theory is the pub, Lucky Baldwins.

The real life local Pasadena pub, Lucky Baldwins, is often mentioned on the show, most notably in “The Irish Pub Formulation” (season 4, episode 6) when Sheldon makes Leonards lie un-unravelable.

13. The Apartment View

Despite the guys apartment building being fictional, there’s a real life location where the photo was taken for the view, 799 E Green St in Pasadena, California (on top of the parking structure looking west).

*️⃣ Tip: Ubering around the Los Angeles area can get quite expensive, so I think renting a car and driving yourself is the easiest way to visit all these Big Bang Theory locations

🎥 Big Bang Theory Locations: Studio Tour

Almost all Big Bang Theory filming locations took place at Stage 25 or on the Warner Bros Studio lot in Burbank, California. Get tickets for a Warner Bros Studio tour to see some permanent sets from the show.

14. Stage 25

Seeing all the Big Bang Theory locations on the Warner Bros studio lot was incredible for a huge fan like me.

Stage 25 is where all the magic of The Big Bang Theory happened and due to its incredible success, the show has a permanent plaque outside this stage.

15. Apartment 4A

At the Warner Bros Studio, there are permanent sets of The Big Bang Theory that you can see and actually go inside of, and even sit in Sheldon’s spot!

16. Caltech Cafeteria

You can't go in the cafeteria set, but you can take pictures and see real costumes and props.

Unlike the apartment set, you can’t go inside the cafeteria and sit with the guys, but you can take pictures and see real props and costumes from the show.

17. The Broken Elevator + Apartment Exterior

Getting to knock on Penny's door like Sheldon was fun!

Although I wasn’t allowed to video, I did get to knock knock knock on Penny’s (and Sheldon/Leonard’s) door as well as see the broken elevator and “go up” the fake stairs.

18. Leonard Nimoy’s Napkin

In one of the prop locations on the Warner Bros Studio tour, you don't want to miss Leonard Nimoy's napkin Penny gave to Sheldon on one Big Bang Theory episode.

I almost missed it at the end of the self guided part of the tour, but there’s a small display with the Leonard Nimoy napkin Penny gave Sheldon in “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis” (season 2, episode 11).

19. Indiana Jones Movie Theater

Most of the off the set scene in the Big Bang Theory are just locations around the Warner Bros Studio.

In “The 21-Second Excitation” (episode 8, season 4), the guys are late to get in line at the movie theater to watch Indiana Jones and Sheldon looses his mind because they don’t make it in.

The movie theater in the Indiana Jones episode is just a street on the Warner Bros Studio.

It looks a little different all dressed up for the show, but it’s right where Sheldon runs with the film as the whole theatre chases him.

20. Tesla New York Tour

When Amy and Sheldon go on their honeymoon in the Big Bang Theory, they don't actually go to New York, but they do go to one of the New York locations on the Warner Bros Studio.

On Sheldon and Amy’s honeymoon in “The Conjugal Configuration” (season 12, episode 1), they don’t actually visit New York, but they’re on the Warner Bros Studio lot that’s made to look like New York City.

The Tesla tour, Amy and Sheldon take in "New York".

21. 2311 North Los Robles Avenue

The outside of the guys apartment is not shown much, but when they do, it is just a street on the Warner Bros Studio.

It’s not shown often on the show, but there are some shots of “the outside” of Penny, Sheldon, and Leonard’s apartment building. “The Viewing Party Combustion” episode (season 9, episode 21) has one of the best views when Stuart gets on his bike after the Game Of Thrones watch party.

On the Game of Thrones episode in the BBT, you can see a shot of the outside of the guys apartment building when Stuart gets on his bike.

22. Steam Town Hobbies

Although it's not technically one of the Big Bang Theory locations, Sheldon does visit it on Young Sheldon.

Though not technically one of The Big Bang Theory locations, Sheldon Cooper visits Steam Town Hobbies in Young Sheldon on “A Docent, A Little Lady and a Bouncer Named Dalton” (season 4, episode 2).

🧬 Big Bang Theory Locations: Other California

23. The Griffith Observatory

Raj fictionally works at the real life Griffith Observatory.

In “The Confidence Erosion” (season 11, episode 10), Raj asks for help with a job interview at the Griffith Observatory, and he eventually gets the job there.

The Griffith Observatory is great to visit day or night, but it’s typically very crowded (especially at night and on weekends).

24. Union Station

Union Stations is one of the few locations that were actually visited on the Big Bang Theory, though it was never confirmed.

When Sheldon throws a fit and runs away on the train in “The Status Quo Combustion” (season 7, episode 24), he goes to Union Station.

There’s no confirmation of the filming location, but when looking at the walls, floors, and chairs in the episode, they’re identical to the real Union Station, so it was probably filmed on location here.

25. The Queen Mary

The Queen Mary is fun to visit on a ghost tour.

In Long Beach (a little south of LAX), the Queen Mary is fictionally visited by the guys in “The Loobenfeld Decay” (season 1, episode 10).

They don't actually visit the Queen Mary in real life, but it is mentioned in the show.

Sheldon concocts a cover for Leonards lie, but the guys still do a murder mystery dinner on The Queen Mary. We only see their t-shirt purchases, but The Queen Mary is definitely still worth a visit, especially on a ghost tour!

26. Comic-Con

The guys always talk about comic con and the actual cast even went to some in the past.

Both fictionally in the show and in real life, The Big Bang Theory cast visit Comic-Con in San Diego.

It’s most notably mentioned in “The Convention Conundrum” (season 7, episode 14) and “The Comic-Con Conundrum” (season 10, episode 17). The cast also participated in many actual Comic-Con panels.

27. La Brea Tar Pits

The La Brea Tar Pits aren't one of the locations actually visited by the Big Bang Theory cast but they're talked about and they're fun to visit anyway.

When Raj gets mad at Howard for ditching him, the two fictionally visit the La Brea Tar Pits in “The Cornhusker Vortex” (season 3, episode 6).

They sit on a bench at the “tar pits”, but they’re not really there. Nevertheless, the tar pits are definitely still worth visiting for fans of history and paleontology.

28. Angels Stadium

The Angels stadium is one of the Big Bang Theory locations that some of the cast actually visited to film.

“The First Pitch Insufficiency” (season 8, episode 3) brings the group to the Angles Stadium when Howard throws out the first pitch.

Both Howard and Bernadette actually attended an Angles game in 2014 to film this episode, while the rest of the cast shot at the studio. This is one of the few Big Bang Theory episodes where one of the locations is actually visited.

29. Disneyland

Disneyland is mentioned multiple times on the show, though they never actually visit to film in real life.

Anaheim is home to theme parks like Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland (also nearby Orange County Beaches), and while they’re never shown in real life on the show, Disney is visited by many characters a few times.

Penny takes Sheldon to Disney in “The Spaghetti Catalyst” (season 3, episode 20), but we only see Sheldon wearing Disney merch, and Penny, Bernadette, and Amy visit in “The Contractual Obligation Implementation” (season 6, episode 18) and get dressed up like princesses.

Disneyland’s always worth a visit in California, and there are discounts through ticket operators like aRes.

30. The Magic Castle

Howard didn't visit the real life Magic Castle, but in one of the Big Bang Theory episodes he auditions at some fictional Magic Castle locations.

Howard often performs magic tricks on the show, but it’s not until “The VCR Illumination” (season 12, episode 10) that he expresses his desire to become a member of the Magic Castle.

Only members or guests of members are allowed in the Magic Castle, but you can still see it from Franklin Avenue.

31. Rodeo Drive

Raj doesn't get filmed at the real Rodeo Drive, but he does talk about this fancy area often.

Before Raj gets cut off in “The Allowance Evaporation” (season 10, episode 16), he talks about buying expensive things or getting expensive haircuts on the famous Rodeo Drive street.

He never visibly visits this famed street on The Big Bang Theory, but it’s still worth a visit as it’s one of Los Angeles’ must see locations.

32. LucasFilm

The Lucasfilm Lobby would definitely be on Sheldons San Francisco list.

Sheldon’s obsession over Star Wars reaches it’s peak when he and Leonard drive to Berkley and take a detour to Skywalker Ranch in “The Skywalker Incursion” (season 8, episode 19).

Skywalker Ranch isn’t open to the public, but there’s one Lucasfilm location in San Francisco you can visit. The SF Expeditions tour visits the Yoda fountain and the lobby to see memorabilia like R2D2 and Darth Vader.

33. San Francisco

Sheldon gives Penny and Leonard a wedding gift trip to San Francisco in “The Separation Oscillation” (season 9, episode 2). He includes himself and talks about visiting Fisherman’s Wharf, riding cable cars, and going to Alcatraz, all of which I think are fantastic places to visit and things to do.

🔁 Sum Up: Big Bang Theory Locations

Despite most of The Big Bang Theory being shot on set in Burbank, there are still plenty of locations to visit all around Pasadena and California in general (to bring the show to life) that were mentioned or actually visited on the show, and it’s even possible to sit in Sheldons spot on the permanent set on the Warner Bros Studio lot!