New York City Chinatown Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience New York City Chinatown. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown Walking Tour in New York

• NYC: Chinatown and Little Italy Food Tour With 7 Flavorful Tastings

• Original NYC Guided Food Tour of Chinatown and Little Italy

• Half-Day Bus Tour of NYC Top Highlights

• Lower East Side Food Tour: Iconic Eats and the American Dream

It's free to visit New York City's Chinatown neighborhood independently. If you want to learn more about its history and culture, and perhaps sample some food, many fun tours are available. Group walking tours start at around US$35, while private tours or those with food samples cost more—around US$75.

Yes, New York City's Chinatown is definitely worth visiting. It's one of Lower Manhattan's most ethnically diverse neighborhoods and a great place to learn more about Chinese-American culture, New York City history, and diverse cuisine. You can wander around on your own or take a walking tour to learn more; many tours focus on food as Chinatown is right next to Little Italy, another culinary hot spot.

Per one customer who booked the NYC: Chinatown and Little Italy Food Tour With 7 Flavorful Tastings, "The food was great and more than ample. We had dumplings, a barbecue pork bun, pizza, and other tasty delights. There was a good variety and we were completely full by the end even if we didn't finish every bite. Grace was a fun and knowledgeable tour guide."

Chinatown in New York City is known for its souvenir shops, restaurants, and tea rooms. Its popular attractions include the Museum of Chinese in America and the Mahayana Buddhist Temple. Visitors also flock to historic sites such as the Nom Wah Tea Parlor (one of New York's oldest dim sum restaurants) and the Edward Mooney House. Historians believe it’s the city’s oldest surviving row house.

There are many amazing restaurants in New York City’s Chinatown, including one of its oldest, Nom Wah Tea Parlor on Doyers Street. Local favorites that are also popular with visitors include Shanghai 21, Noodle Village, Wo Hop, Joe's Shanghai, Great NY Noodletown, Ping's, and Uncle Lou, to name a few.

If you’re looking to avoid the colder temperatures, summer is the best time to visit Chinatown in New York City. However, if you don’t mind the winter chill, the best time to go is for Chinese New Year. It’s held either at the end of January or early February.

Fall is also a great time to visit Chinatown if you’re looking for moderate temperatures. There’s less foot traffic, but still a lot going on, including the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival usually held in September or October. May, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, is also a nice time to visit.

Yes, guides lead tours in New York City’s Chinatown. Many tours are walking cultural tours or food tours focusing on Chinatown, but some of the Manhattan sightseeing tours or New York City bus tours also stop at certain attractions.

Some cultural events worth checking out in Chinatown in NYC include the Lunar New Year celebrations (with the Lantern Festival) and the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. You don’t need New York City Chinatown tickets to attend these events. Chinatown is a public neighborhood, so admission is always free. Lunar New Year occurs annually in either late January or early February, while the Moon Festival is in September or October.

Chinese and English are the most commonly spoken languages in New York City’s Chinatown. Cantonese is the most common Chinese dialect spoken. That said, groups frequently speak Taishanese and Mandarin. To better understand the area's culture and history, go with a tour guide who is a local.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting Chinatown. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in New York City:

• Statue of Liberty

• Empire State Building

• Central Park

• Ellis Island

• National September 11 Memorial and Museum

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in New York City.