Chinatown Travel Guide

New York
Chinatown
One of the largest Chinatown’s in the USA features every kind of Chinese cuisine, grocery store and herbalist, and a history rich in Asian, as well as European, heritage.

New York City’s Chinatown is one of the largest of its kind in the United States. The sights and smells of herbal shops, grocers and noodle cafés selling fare from every province in China make this part of Manhattan a sensory feast. With a history that stretches back to the first Irish, Italian and Jewish immigrants, Chinatown-Manhattan is also one of the oldest neighbourhoods in New York City.

In the 1840s this area was home to Irish, Jewish, German and Italian immigrants. While Chinese immigrants began coming to the Lower East Side in the 1870s, it was not until the late 1960s that the community began to establish itself.

Chinatown is best explored on foot. Stroll along the streets and enjoy the atmosphere. On Mott, Canal and Grand streets are Chinese groceries that display mountains of dried fish, beans, spices, fruits and vegetables. Visit the herbal pharmacies with their long wooden drawers filled with Chinese medicines made from recipes that date back thousands of years.

Follow your nose to discover some of New York's most inexpensive and tastiest meals. The small shops, street carts and hole-in-the-wall cafés offer the best choices with their noodle and dumplings specialties. Pick up a plate of steamed rice rolls, steamed pork buns or a bowel of noodle soup. For dessert, sample the flakey egg custard tarts.

Walk down historic Pell Street and see the Church of the Transfiguration, established in 1801 for Lutheran immigrants. Visit Edward Mooney House, the oldest townhouse in Manhattan, and the oldest Jewish cemetery in New York, the Shearith Israel Cemetery, built in 1683. View the golden Buddha at the Mahayana Buddhist temple, explore the archives of the Museum of Chinese in America and see the first tenements at Five Points, made famous by the Martin Scorsese film Gangs of New York. Many of the streets in Chinatown lead in to Chatham Square where the Kim Lau Memorial Arch stands. When your feet need a break, relax in Columbus Park where you can watch locals practicing tai chi or playing a game of checkers. 

Located in Lower Manhattan, Chinatown’s closest subways are Canal, Grand and East Broadway.


Popular places to visit


Top hotels in Chinatown

The Manhattan at Times Square Hotel
The Manhattan at Times Square Hotel
4 out of 5
790 7th Ave, New York, NY
The price is ₹6,681 per night from 1 Apr to 2 Apr
₹6,681
per night
1 Apr - 2 Apr
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in New York. Enjoy breakfast, a 24-hour fitness centre and on-site parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
5.4/10 (4,127 reviews)
"I loved the location! Minutes walk to Times Square, close to restaurants and subway."

Reviewed on 27 Mar 2024

The Manhattan at Times Square Hotel
Hyatt Grand Central New York
Hyatt Grand Central New York
4 out of 5
109 East 42nd Street, at Grand Central Terminal, New York, NY
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ₹19,767 per night from 31 Mar to 1 Apr
₹19,767
per night
31 Mar - 1 Apr
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in New York. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
7.8/10 Good! (3,150 reviews)
"I like this place."

Reviewed on 28 Mar 2024

Hyatt Grand Central New York
The New Yorker A Wyndham Hotel
The New Yorker A Wyndham Hotel
4 out of 5
481 Eighth Ave., New York, NY
The price is ₹11,183 per night from 7 Apr to 8 Apr
₹11,183
per night
7 Apr - 8 Apr
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in New York. Enjoy 2 restaurants, breakfast and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant ...
8/10 Very Good! (4,184 reviews)
"The best place to stay in New York is The New Yorker. Everything is close by"

Reviewed on 28 Mar 2024

The New Yorker A Wyndham Hotel
Paramount Times Square
Paramount Times Square
4 out of 5
235 West 46th Street, New York, NY
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ₹9,091 per night from 31 Mar to 1 Apr
₹9,091
per night
31 Mar - 1 Apr
Stay at this hotel in New York. Enjoy WiFi, a 24-hour fitness centre and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their ...
7/10 Good! (1,990 reviews)
"Good location"

Reviewed on 28 Mar 2024

Paramount Times Square
Park Central Hotel New York
Park Central Hotel New York
4 out of 5
870 7th Ave, New York, NY
The price is ₹13,437 per night from 21 Apr to 22 Apr
₹13,437
per night
21 Apr - 22 Apr
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in New York. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast and a 24-hour health club. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
7.6/10 Good! (2,819 reviews)
"Nice and clean and close to all"

Reviewed on 27 Mar 2024

Park Central Hotel New York
Tempo by Hilton New York Times Square
Tempo by Hilton New York Times Square
4 out of 5
1568 Broadway, New York, NY
The price is ₹19,427 per night from 14 Apr to 15 Apr
₹19,427
per night
14 Apr - 15 Apr
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in New York. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,708 reviews)
"Absolutely amazing experience in Tempo. We had a room with Time Square view, the windows are very beautiful on all sides and you can enjoy this view. I warn you that it is very noisy from the street even on the 25th floor, so you need earplugs to sleep. It’s a little inconvenient that there is no ..."

Reviewed on 28 Mar 2024

Tempo by Hilton New York Times Square
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Chinatown

SoHo - Tribeca featuring street scenes and a city as well as a large group of people

SoHo

4.5/5(11 area reviews)

You might take some time to check out the abundant dining options in SoHo. Spend some time visiting top spots like Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, and catch the metro at Prince St. Station or Spring St. Station to see more of the area.

SoHo
Default Image

Financial District

4.5/5(112 area reviews)

Enjoy the important monuments in Financial District. Brooklyn Bridge is a worthwhile stop, and you can jump on the metro at Wall St. Station (William St.) or Broad St. Station to see more of New York.

Financial District
Default Image

East Village

4.5/5(8 area reviews)

If you're spending time in East Village, you might enjoy attractions like Tompkins Square Park and St. Marks Place. You might also enjoy the neighbourhood's ample dining options before hopping on the metro at 1 Av. Station to see more of the city.

East Village
Greenwich Village which includes a fountain

Greenwich Village

4.5/5(41 area reviews)

Spend some time visiting places like 5th Avenue while getting to know Greenwich Village, and be sure to check out the abundant dining options. You can hop aboard the metro at Christopher St. - Sheridan Sq. Station or W 4 St. Station to see more of the area.

Greenwich Village
Downtown Brooklyn showing heritage elements and a bridge

Downtown Brooklyn

4/5(23 area reviews)

Spend some time visiting places like Brooklyn Bridge while getting to know Downtown Brooklyn, and be sure to check out the abundant dining options. You can hop aboard the metro at Jay St. - Tech Station or York St. Station to see more of the area.

Downtown Brooklyn
The High Line Park showing a garden, street scenes and a city

Chelsea

4/5(111 area reviews)

Chelsea is highly notable for its popular shops, and you might want to visit top sights like Madison Square Garden and Chelsea Hotel. See more of New York by jumping on the metro at 23 St. Station (8th Av.) or 23 St. Station (7th Av.).

Chelsea


Chinatown Travel Guide