Supergirl Filming Locations
Overview
Vancouver’s Supergirl locations are simply stunning. Check out our location guide here to dive in.
Spoiler alert! This post covers show locations up to the end of season 2, so be on the lookout for spoilers.
Supergirl follows the adventures of Kara Danvers, cousin to Clark Kent (aka Superman). Kara struggles to balance her ordinary life as a reporter with her very extraordinary alter-ego: Supergirl. When we found out we’d be returning to Vancouver, I started watching the show purely for scene-framing purposes, but it ended up becoming my favourite of the CW’s superhero shows.
Supergirl stars Melissa Benoist as Kara and Chyler Leigh, David Harewood, Mehcad Brooks, Katie McGrath and Jeremy Jordan as her colourful group of friends and family. The show admirably achieves the perfect amount of warm-heartedness without falling into overt sappiness. The relationship between the main characters are easily the best part of the show.
Where is Supergirl filmed?
The show’s first season was shot in and around L.A., but the second season onward has been filmed in Vancouver—the same neighbourhood that hosts the CW’s other superhero shows Arrow, The Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow.
I find the biggest problem of visiting Vancouver is narrowing down which film locations to see – there are so many to pack into one trip! Most of the locations we’ve picked for this guide are inside the downtown core.
Vancouver Central Library
Located in downtown Vancouver’s Library Square district, the elegant Vancouver Public Library’s Central Branch is hard to miss. You’ll see the building’s impressive elliptical facade in a ton of shows and movies – and it’s even more grand and beautiful in person!
Episode: 2×05
Scene: This is the site of Lena Luthor’s gala to which she invites both Kara and Supergirl. However, the gala is a trap for criminals who have been terrorizing the city. In the same episode, Alex and Maggie investigate a crime scene outside the library.
4 Homer Street
Situated a few blocks away from Vancouver Central Library, this stretch of Homer Street was used as a filming site for both Supergirl and The Flash.
Episode: 2×01
Scene: As murderous drones wreak havoc on the city, Superman saves a family on this street.
305 Bute Street
This building doubles as the exterior of L Corp, headquarters to Lena Luthor’s renamed company.
Episode: 2×01
Scene: After a visit with Lena, Kara and Clark Kent have a heartfelt discussion outside the building.
Harbour Green Park
Just outside “L Corp”, Harbour Green Park is the longest continuous park on Vancouver’s waterfront. Boasting direct access to the 22-km seawall that circles around the city, the park is a perfect venue for taking a break from the buzz of downtown.
Episode: 2×01
Scene: Lena announces she intends to rebrand her company to “L Corp”, but her announcement is interrupted by an assassin attack.
Bloedel Conservatory
Situated 152 metres above sea level, Queen Elizabeth Park is the highest point in Vancouver and home to the exotic Bloedel Conservatory. The domed venue houses more than 120 birds and 500 species of plants and flowers, and is a wonderful place to take a placid stroll. Thanks to its futuristic appearance, the conservatory is a popular filming location particularly among sci-fi and superhot shows.
Episode: 2×03
Scene: The President hosts a press conference here to sign the Alien Amnesty Act, but—as often happens to poor Supergirl—the event is interrupted by a vicious attack. We were happy to have the opportunity to frame this scene since President Marsdin is played by none other than Lynda Carter, the original Wonder Woman!
West Cordova Street (opposite the Fairmont Pacific Rim)
Downtown Vancouver’s MNP Tower plays the part of West National City Bank. The location is a short walk from Vancouver’s spectacular waterfront and all the attractions in and around Canada Place.
Episode: 2×05
Scene: Kara and James try to foil a group of bank robbers, but their efforts are thwarted by the baddies whipping out some serious alien technology.
Seawall
The Vancouver Seawall is one of the city’s top attractions, and it’s easy to see why. Starting at the Vancouver Convention Centre (north side of the city), 22 kilometers of paved walkway stretches all the way to the trendy, beach-friendly Kitsilano neighbourhood. The seawall is mostly flat, so it’s easy to walk or bike and the entire journey offers beautiful views of the city skyline, Pacific Ocean and Coast Mountains.
Episode: 2×06
Scene: On the south side of the city (opposite Vancouver’s artisan hub Granville Island), Alex and Kara wander along the Seawall. Alex comes out to Kara in an emotional moment between the sisters.
534 Cambie Street
When selecting sites to feature, we try to unearth places that are interesting in themselves. This is not one of those places. Sometimes a location is conveniently located adjacent to other places and features a character we want to include in our sceneframes. Thus, we enter slightly less appealing alleyways such as this.
Episode: 2×06
Scene: The character we so desperately wanted to sceneframe was Chris Wood’s Mon-El, the Daxamite who finds it hard to adjust to earthly customs. Responding to an alien attack, Kara finds Mon-El in the alley roughing up another alien in a shabby attempt to use his powers for his own selfish reasons.
855 W Hastings Street (next to Hornby Plaza)
Hornby Plaza is an extremely popular filming location. Supergirl scenes have been filmed here as well as next door on West Hastings Street.
Episode: 2×13
Scene: Parasite reappears to wreak more destruction on the city. Kara and Mon-El try to stop the creature, only to discover it was conjured by Mr. Mxyzptlk, who shows up to “help” dressed as a superhero.