United States of America · Walking Tours

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

2 Hours Round trip from New York Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Guided walking tour through Chinatown and Little Italy
  • 02 Learn about New York’s Chinese, Irish, and Italian immigrant history
  • 03 See local landmarks including Mahayana Temple and Columbus Park
  • 04 Discover cultural stops such as the Museum of Chinese in America
  • 05 Explore the history and character of Little Italy
  • 06 Get recommendations on where to go and what to do after the tour

Explore two of Manhattan’s most storied neighborhoods on a guided walking tour through Chinatown and Little Italy. Ideal for first-time visitors and anyone curious about New York’s immigrant history, this experience offers a lively introduction to the people, places, and traditions that helped shape the city.

Along the way, discover historic streets, local landmarks, cultural institutions, and beloved food spots while learning how Chinese, Irish, and Italian communities built new lives in New York. From temples and parks to museums and classic eateries, this tour brings together neighborhood character, local history, and everyday city life.

Explore two of Manhattan’s most storied neighborhoods on a guided walking tour through Chinatown and Little Italy.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 2 Hours
Tour type Shared
Activity level Moderate
Accommodation Not included
Transport Not included
Wheelchair access No
City New York
Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

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.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!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!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!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.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 visitLittle 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.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.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 visitThis 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!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.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!

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Friendly local guide
  • Must see and off the beaten path
  • Iconic places for photoshoot
  • Expert advice where to go and what to do after the tour

What's Not Included

  • Gratuities (optional)
  • Food and drink

Know before you go

  • STROLLER OR PRAM ACCESSIBLE
  • PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION NEARBY
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • Infants must not sit on laps
  • Infant seats unavailable

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
New York, US
Tour start
New York, US
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 2 hours finish where they began, in New York.

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