From Chinatown to Little Italy: A Journey Across Continents!
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH · Starts: 6:00 PM
- Pay-what-you-wish
- Chinatown & Little Italy
- Stroller and wheelchair accessible
Dragon Gate, 500 Bush St (at Grant Ave)
Look for the orange and white umbrella!
Click here to view the location on Google Maps →Little Italy
Our grand finale awaits us at the city’s finest pizzeria.
Click here to view the location on Google Maps →Embark on a fascinating journey connecting San Francisco’s Asian and European heritage, exploring the cultural wonders of Chinatown and Little Italy.
Imitation Tours out there!
We’ve noticed that some tours have recently appeared nearby, mimicking our routes, stories, and starting times. While imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, there’s only one original San Francisco Walking Tour that has been trusted by tens of thousands of visitors. We are a local initiative that works with people that truly love San Francisco and created our stories.
Please note that if you’re not booking through our official website, we cannot guarantee the quality or authenticity of the experience.
Why choose us?
- 5-star rated with over 2,000 glowing reviews on Google Maps and TripAdvisor
- 80,000+ happy guests have walked with us since we began almost 10 years ago. This year we are celebrating our first decade
- Featured in the Mercury News and the TV show Localish
- Led by passionate, trained local guides—not copycats using borrowed stories
Make sure you’re joining the original tour! Look for our trusted logos, meeting point (Dragon Gate, Bush St and Grant Ave), and real local team that tells their stories. Thank you for supporting a true small business that takes pride in every step of the journey since October 12, 2015.
About the tour
Join us as we wind through charming alleyways, delve into the intriguing world of Chinese Tongs, and uncover the secrets of hidden gambling dens, before gradually making our way into the Italian District. Discover why every Chinatown in the U.S. is located right next to a Little Italy, and learn about the cultural traditions of these two vibrant neighborhoods!
The tour lasts 2 hours and covers the majority of both Chinatown and Little Italy. Venture into hidden alleyways—where stories of past generations are etched into the walls—before arriving at the renowned Italian quarter: Little Italy. Experience a fascinating cultural juxtaposition as Chinese and Italian traditions blend together in perfect harmony. We will share stories about the places, people, art, historical events, and current affairs that define these districts.
We will visit
- Dragon Gate
- Chinese Lanterns
- Old St. Mary’s Cathedral
- Ancient Pagodas
- Ross Lane
- Gambling Streets
- The Bohemian Place
- Banksy’s street art
- San Francisco’s Little Italy
- The city’s best pizzeria
- and many other off-the-beaten-path spots along the way
The tour concludes at 8:00 PM. Our grand finale awaits us at the city’s finest pizzeria. Savor delicious flavors that reflect the local cultural diversity, and raise a glass to new connections and friendships.
Pay-what-you-wish
All guides are volunteers and receive no compensation from the City Council or any other institution. We appreciate your contribution, which helps keep this tour running!
Route: 1.2 miles or 1.9 km
Stroller and wheelchair accessible
Book Your Tour from Chinatown to Little Italy Here
Choose an available date—and don’t forget to leave your phone number, just in case! No dates available? You can request a private tour.
Better doing this tour before everything else, so that you can actually use all the hints you're gonna receive! (or at least try;))
Filip was awesome I really felt to learn to know the feeling of San Francisco.
This tour is a must. I learnt so much about San Francisco and are looking more of this type of tour
I had 4 walking tours with different companies. All the tours I had were good, but this one was the best! Filip, the guide, is really passionate about the city and is very good in conveying it.
Thank God for guys like Filip who love this City and love to share their experience & knowledge. I highly recommend this Tour before making other plans because he gives you lots of good tips to take full advantage of what SF has to offer.
FAQ
The tour concludes at 8:00 PM in Little Italy, at the city’s finest pizzeria. From there it is about a 15–20 minute walk back to the Dragon Gate and Union Square, and buses, taxis and ride-shares are easy to find in the neighborhood. Your guide will gladly point you in the right direction.
Yes, the tour is child-friendly, and babies in strollers or carriers are welcome too. Just keep in mind that this is an evening tour, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Yes, we have dogs on tours all the time:) Just make sure your pet is securely leashed.
From SFO airport, catch the BART train going in the direction of San Francisco. It will be about a 30-minute ride to the Montgomery Street station. From there, it is only a 5–10 minute walk to the Dragon Gate at Bush St and Grant Ave, where the tour starts.
From OAK airport it takes about 45 minutes on the BART. After your arrival, take the BART connector to the Oakland Coliseum station. There you change to a train in the direction of San Francisco / Daly City and get off at the Montgomery Street station. From there, it is only a 5–10 minute walk to the Dragon Gate at Bush St and Grant Ave, where the tour starts. To return to OAK, take a Berryessa or Dublin/Pleasanton-bound train to the Coliseum station and go upstairs to transfer to an OAK train at Platform 3.
Yes, we make a bathroom/toilet stop halfway through the route. No worries!
This is a pay-as-you-wish tour: you determine the price at the end. The suggested donation is $15–$20 per person, or more if you really felt inspired and this was one of the better experiences you had. This way you directly support locals in what they love doing.
No. The Free SF Tour happens rain or shine. Plus, it’s San Francisco – one minute it’s raining, the next you are enjoying glorious sunshine. Bring layers and nevermind the weather.
Of course the tour will happen! It’s just going to feel like a private tour with a knowledgeable, friendly guide all to yourself 🙂
It’s a bit tight with parking spaces around Chinatown, but you can still get lucky and park in the street. Alternatively, there are convenient car parks close to the meeting point: the Sutter-Stockton Garage is about a block from the Dragon Gate, and the underground garage under Union Square is a few minutes’ walk away. Most charge around $6 per hour but you can find places for as low as $3-3.50.
Yes! The route is wheelchair- and stroller-friendly. We walk through Chinatown and Little Italy at a relaxed pace. There might be a gentle slope or a ramp here and there, but nothing to worry about.
There are cashless options, yes. While we don't take credit cards directly, Paypal transfers are available. Also, Venmo app is growing in popularity among travelers.
Find us in Union Square
389 Post Street (corner of Powell and Post), Union Square
San Francisco, California ( MAP )
@ 10:00 AM the Free Walking Tour in English
@ 10:30 AM the Free Walking Tour in Spanish
@ 06:00 PM Night Tour from Asia to Europe: Chinatown and Little Italy
Drop us a line, we can help
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