San Francisco Chinatown Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience San Francisco's Chinatown. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Chinatown & North Beach/Little Italy: 7 Tastings & History

• San Francisco Chinatown & North Beach Food Tour With 5 Dishes

• Chinatown Walking Tour: Food, History & Flavor

• SF's Chinatown: Tea & Dim Sum Food Tour - Includes Full Meal, 3Hr

• Ghost Hunt in SF Chinatown With a Professional Investigator

While it’s free to visit Chinatown on your own, there are plenty of affordable tours led by local experts who can help you learn more about the district while having fun along the way. Guided walking tours of San Francisco’s Chinatown start from US$55. Prices for tours that include food tastings start at US$96 and include tastings at numerous local eateries.

Yes, Chinatown is worth visiting as it's the oldest Chinatown in North America and one of the most historically rich neighborhoods in the city. Stroll down Grant Avenue to browse shops selling jade jewelry, silk goods, and herbal remedies, or delight in one of the neighborhood's beloved dim sum spots. Guided walking tours are a great way to dig deeper into the neighborhood's history and culture, as local experts point out hidden passages, share stories of the gold rush era, and lead you to tucked-away temples you might otherwise miss.

Per one customer who booked the Chinatown & North Beach/Little Italy: 7 Tastings & History, "Had a great time exploring and trying some delicious foods on this tour. It covers a lot of territory, and there is so much amazing history to be learned. Andre was an awesome guide and so passionate and knowledgeable about the areas. Would recommend for sure. Wear comfortable shoes!"

As one of the oldest Chinatowns in North America, San Francisco Chinatown has a long history. Wander through the streets of the nearly 30-block area to find Taoist temples, dragon sculptures, pagodas, dim sum, and other Chinese restaurants. You’ll hear lots of languages, too.

San Francisco’s Chinatown dates back to 1853 when one of the first Chinese laundries was set up. From here, it began to grow exponentially. Chinese pioneers were drawn to California during the gold rush and settled in San Francisco. Here, they retained their culture, including food, to this day.

Plan on spending the day in Chinatown if you have that much time. There is plenty to do, from just wandering the streets and people-watching to visiting the Taoist temple and doing souvenir shopping. Plus, there is so much good food in the area it’s worth staying for a few meals.

Grant Avenue is Chinatown’s main drag, so you’ve got to check it out. Do some shopping for Chinese-style paper lanterns before working up an appetite for authentic Chinese food at a restaurant on the street. It’s named after Ulysses S. Grant, so there’s some history in the name, too.

Plenty of San Francisco tours run through Chinatown, both group and private, or you can get a local guide to concentrate just on Chinatown itself. Greater San Francisco tours will often stop at Muir Woods, Sausalito, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, North Park, and more for a well-rounded San Fran experience.

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 San Francisco:

• Alcatraz

• Golden Gate Bridge

• San Francisco Bay

• Golden Gate Park

• Bay Bridge

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in San Francisco.