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

3.5 (12 reviews) 2 hours Free cancellation

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12 reviews

3.5

Chinatown and Little Italy Tour in New York City with Local Expert — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Chinatown and Little Italy Tour in New York City with Local Expert Guide — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

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.

Private and Luxury Cultural Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours Short term availability Weather Dependent - Moderate Agent Low Quality Product

At a glance

Duration: 2 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 20 people
People per booking: 1–20
Guide: English
Operated by: Friendly Local Guides

Ages: Adults (0–99 years)

What is included

Included

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

Not included

Not included: Gratuities (optional)
Not included: Food and drink

Itinerary

Stop 1

15 min

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.
SoHo

20 min

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.
Stop 3

20 min

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!
Stop 4

20 min

Listen to your guide's stories about Italian mobsters and immigrants, and find out what difficulties they faced when they first arrived here
Stop 5

10 min

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.
Stop 6

10 min

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!
Stop 7

5 min

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!
Stop 8

10 min

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.
Little Italy

10 min

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.
Italian American Museum

10 min

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
Stop 11

10 min

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!
Chinatown

10 min

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
Stop 13

10 min

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!
Museum of Chinese in America

10 min

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
Mahayana Buddhist Temple

10 min

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!
Columbus Park

15 min

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.