Chinatown and Little Italy Tour in New York City with Local Expert

3.5
(11 reviews)

2 hours (approximately)
Offered in: English

Take a walking tour through Manhattan’s most storied neighborhoods with an informative guide. Perfect for first-time visitors and anyone who loves New York history, this fully-narrated excursion offers a fascinating overview of Little Italy and Chinatown. You have a chance to see the life of the various groups of immigrants who settled here and learn about the political and social influences they have had on the city.

This tour details what motivated the Chinese, Irish, and Italians to immigrant to New York in the 1800's. In addition, it focuses on how the Chinese, Irish, and Italian exiles became the backbone of New York. The men would build New York's bridges and the tunnels. The women would be cooks and maids. And their children, raised in the values and language of their new country, would weave themselves into the tapestry of America. This is the story of America.

What's Included

Iconic places for photoshoot
Must see and off the beaten path
All Fees and Taxes
Expert advice where to go and what to do after the tour
Friendly local guide
Gratuities (optional)
Food and drink

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Meet your guide at the SW corner of Spring Street and 6th Avenue at Spring Street Park (the corner across from Aqua Grill). Please arrive 10 minutes before the start time to check in.

End point

Columbus Park in Chinatown

Itinerary

Duration: 2 hours (approximately)
  • 1

    It is probably the best place to visit in Chinatown NYC if you are looking for some authentic and great quality noodles. The amazing food is reason alone to visit but with the amazing prices on offer, this is a no-brainer to get a quick and delicious bite to eat on your way through Chinatown.

    15 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 2
    SoHo

    Look out for celebrities as SoHo is a place where movie stars and models regularly hang out. SoHo is also one of the top neighborhoods in NYC to see street art, so have your cameras ready.

    20 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 3

    SoHo is widely known for its magnificent cast-iron architecture. With over 200 cast-iron buildings in the district, SoHo's Cast Iron District has the largest concentration of these buildings in the world. Perfect area for photo ops!

    20 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 4

    Listen to your guide's stories about Italian mobsters and immigrants, and find out what difficulties they faced when they first arrived here

    20 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 5

    It was the first pizzeria in the United States – it also happens to sell one of the best pizzas in NYC! This pizza is as traditional and as tasty as it gets. Definitely worth a try if you are looking for a lunch break when walking around Little Italy. This crusty coal oven fried pizza with tomato sauce and basil might look simple but the depth of flavors from its fresh ingredients is a real culinary experience.

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 6

    Rubirosa is another great restaurant in Little Italy that offers traditional Italian food of the best quality. If you are looking for a late afternoon glass of wine with some snacks or a quality evening meal this is definitely a good choice. There is also a pizza hour, where – you guessed it – they sell 2 pizzas for $16!

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 7

    Here you have a perfect photo opportunity. Take a shot of busy New York street surrounded by tall old buildings and impressing skyscrapers with lines of Chinese lamps above them!

    5 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 8

    Former Police HQ Building – This building used to house the police headquarters from 1909-1973 and is a true piece of NYC history. Not only is its architecture very impressive, it is the home today of a few very wealthily individuals looking for immense privacy.

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 9
    Little Italy

    Little Italy used to be much bigger than it is today. This part of Manhattan has a lot of history. For example, there is a brick house located on 247 Mulberry Street, between Prince and Spring St. This house used to be a meeting place of the Italian Mafia bosses. Today, that area is a shoe store. Also, if you’re in the area around September, there are street festivals that close down the roads. Here you’ll find pop-up stands and street vendors that sell delicious food.

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 10

    Italian American Museum was opened in Little Italy in 2007 to exhibit the story of the Italian Americans in NYC. With the largest population of Italian Americans in NYC and the whole of North America, the museum discusses a huge part of the local culture. The museum is located in an old bank building that used to be the link between immigrants and their families back home through the many services that they offered. If you are interested in the local history & culture, this museum is well worth the visit

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 11

    This restaurant offers homemade pasta with a great ambiance. With its amazing food and rustic atmosphere it is definitely restaurant you must visit when in Little Italy. Must tries are the Burrata Salad, anything from the grill menu, as well as the homemade pasta of course!

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 12
    Chinatown

    Chinatown provides rich cultural experience with a lot of authenticity and local flavors. It's one of the oldest neighborhoods in Manhattan. It is also home to one of the largest concentrations of Chinese people in the Western Hemisphere. Perfect place to sample some unique local foods in this historic neighborhood

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 13

    The family-run Chinatown Ice Cream Factory has some of the best ice cream in the whole of NYC. From adventurous flavors like Thai Iced Tea, Zen Butter, and Taro to more conventional yet equally delicious flavors like Coconut and Cherry Vanilla, everyone will find something here for their particular taste. This is a must-visit!

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 14

    In Museum of Chinese in America at 215 Centre St you can earn more about the Chinese culture and Chinese history in NYC. The main and permanent exhibition With a Single Step: Stories in the Making of America is a great place to find out more about the last 160 years of Chinese history in NYC. With 2+ rotating exhibitions on top of this, the MoCa is definitely worth a visit

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 15

    The next stop is Mahayana Temple Buddhist Association at 133 Canal St. This is the oldest Chinese temple on the east coast of the united states. It is a beautiful expression of Chinese culture and architecture and is open to the public year-round. On the weekends you will also find Buddhist services taking place here often completely in Mandarin. Bring a dollar for a fortune!

    10 minutes Admission ticket free
  • 16
    Columbus Park

    Then you have a chance to visit Columbus Park, which is the biggest park in Chinatown and is a great place to have a seat and watch life unfold around you. You will see that many of the locals meet here to do everything from play chess and exercise to just sitting down reading a book. It is a well known social hangout in the city and is a great place to sit down and have some of the street food you picked up in the nearby streets.

    15 minutes Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Supplied by Friendly Local Guides

Tags

Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Walking Tours
Likely to Sell Out
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Show more

Rating

3.5 Based on 11 11 reviews
5 stars
5
4 stars
1
3 stars
2
2 stars
1
1 star
2
Likely to sell out
from per person
Was {{currencySymbol}}{{ summaryFromPriceBeforeDiscount }}