Chinatown to Telegraph Hill
Chinatown, North Beach and Coit Tower in one day
Coit Tower, Chinatown, North Beach and Lombard Street on one walk, plus the food tours that cover them: here is how to plan the day, with honest advice on safety at night, what is worth paying for and the steep climbs.
See our 6 picks
Coit Tower is a 1933 tower on Telegraph Hill with free murals inside. The ride to the top costs $11 for adults, and the view takes in the whole city. Walk there from Chinatown through North Beach in a morning. Or join a food walk from €75 that covers the same streets.
Our 6 food walks in Chinatown and North Beach
Every tour here is a guided food walk. Tips are not included on any of them.
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from €75 per person Our top pick 3 hours 4.8 (305) reviews on GetYourGuide
Chinatown culinary walk with dim sum
A 3-hour walk through the markets, tea shops, bakeries and temples of Chinatown. All the food and drink tastings are included, with dim sum at an old Chinese bakery.
Best for First-timers who want Chinatown
Check availability: Chinatown culinary walk with dim sum on GetYourGuide -
from €75 per person 3 hours 4.8 (213) reviews on GetYourGuide
North Beach and Little Italy food walk
A 3-hour walk through North Beach with coffee, chocolate, fresh bread, pizza and olive oil. You hear the story of the Italian neighborhood as you go.
Best for Coffee and Italian food fans
Check availability: North Beach and Little Italy food walk on GetYourGuide -
from €84 per person 4 hours 4.8 (192) reviews on GetYourGuide
Chinatown and North Beach in one walk
A 4-hour walk that covers both areas. You taste dim sum and pizza, watch fortune cookies being made by hand and see where "The Godfather" was written.
Best for People who want both areas in one go
Check availability: Chinatown and North Beach in one walk on GetYourGuide -
from €76 per person 2.5 hours 4.9 (34) reviews on GetYourGuide
Chinatown food and history walk
A 2.5-hour walk from Dragon Gate with dim sum, a fortune cookie from the cookie factory and Chinese biscuits or pork buns. Groups are small, up to 12 people.
Best for Small-group fans and history lovers
Check availability: Chinatown food and history walk on GetYourGuide -
from €76 per person 3 hours 4.6 (24) reviews on GetYourGuide
Little Italy and Chinatown five-tasting walk
A 3-hour walk with five or more tastings: coffee, pizza, gelato, dumplings and a secret dish. It starts at the Cable Car Museum and is not suited to wheelchair users.
Best for Curious eaters who like a surprise
Check availability: Little Italy and Chinatown five-tasting walk on GetYourGuide -
from €88 per person 3 hours 5.0 (6) reviews on GetYourGuide
North Beach sit-down multi-course walk
A 3-hour walk where each course is served at a different restaurant, at a reserved table. Groups are limited to 4 people, and it is for adults only.
Best for Couples who want a full meal
Check availability: North Beach sit-down multi-course walk on GetYourGuide
Chinatown and North Beach food walks compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Group size | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinatown culinary walk with dim sum | €75 per person | 3 hours | Up to 14 | First-timers who want Chinatown | The most-reviewed food walk here: 4.8 from 305 reviews. |
| North Beach and Little Italy food walk | €75 per person | 3 hours | Up to 14 | Coffee and Italian food fans | The best-reviewed walk in Little Italy: 4.8 from 213 reviews. |
| Chinatown and North Beach in one walk | €84 per person | 4 hours | Up to 14 | People who want both areas in one go | Both neighborhoods in one tour: 4.8 from 192 reviews. |
| Chinatown food and history walk | €76 per person | 2.5 hours | Not stated | Small-group fans and history lovers | The highest-rated Chinatown walk: 4.9 from 34 reviews. |
| Little Italy and Chinatown five-tasting walk | €76 per person | 3 hours | Private option | Curious eaters who like a surprise | Mixes both areas with Gold Rush stories: 4.6 from 24 reviews. |
| North Beach sit-down multi-course walk | €88 per person | 3 hours | Up to 4 | Couples who want a full meal | The smallest group here, rated 5.0, but from only 6 reviews. |
Chinatown culinary walk with dim sum
€75 per person3 hours 4.8 (305)
More details
- Group size
- Up to 14
- Who it suits
- First-timers who want Chinatown
- Why we picked it
- The most-reviewed food walk here: 4.8 from 305 reviews.
North Beach and Little Italy food walk
€75 per person3 hours 4.8 (213)
More details
- Group size
- Up to 14
- Who it suits
- Coffee and Italian food fans
- Why we picked it
- The best-reviewed walk in Little Italy: 4.8 from 213 reviews.
Chinatown and North Beach in one walk
€84 per person4 hours 4.8 (192)
More details
- Group size
- Up to 14
- Who it suits
- People who want both areas in one go
- Why we picked it
- Both neighborhoods in one tour: 4.8 from 192 reviews.
Chinatown food and history walk
€76 per person2.5 hours 4.9 (34)
More details
- Group size
- Not stated
- Who it suits
- Small-group fans and history lovers
- Why we picked it
- The highest-rated Chinatown walk: 4.9 from 34 reviews.
Little Italy and Chinatown five-tasting walk
€76 per person3 hours 4.6 (24)
More details
- Group size
- Private option
- Who it suits
- Curious eaters who like a surprise
- Why we picked it
- Mixes both areas with Gold Rush stories: 4.6 from 24 reviews.
North Beach sit-down multi-course walk
€88 per person3 hours 5.0 (6)
More details
- Group size
- Up to 4
- Who it suits
- Couples who want a full meal
- Why we picked it
- The smallest group here, rated 5.0, but from only 6 reviews.
None of the 6 includes hotel pickup: you meet on site. All 6 offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 22 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Coit Tower in a nutshell: why go, cost and time
Go to Coit Tower for the 360-degree view and the free murals. The tower opened in 1933 on top of Telegraph Hill. The murals on the ground floor are free to see.
The elevator to the top costs $11 for adults who do not live in the city. Seniors and teens aged 12 to 17 pay $8, and children aged 5 to 11 pay $3. Children under 5 ride free.
You buy tickets only on site, in the gift shop. Sales stop one hour before closing. Plan about an hour at the tower, plus the climb.
Coit Tower opening hours
The city parks department lists 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April to October, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November to March. The city tourism office says 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. Go before 4 p.m. to be safe.
Chinatown and North Beach by food tour: choose your walk
Pick the Chinatown culinary walk if it is your first time. It is the most-reviewed tour, and it includes all the tastings. To see every San Francisco food tour we list, including the Mission, see our full guide.
- Chinatown only: the culinary walk (3 hours) or the smaller food and history walk (2.5 hours).
- North Beach only: the Little Italy walk (3 hours) or the sit-down meal for up to 4 people.
- Both areas: the 4-hour combined walk, or the five-tasting walk from the Cable Car Museum.
Chinatown: what to see and eat
Start at Dragon Gate, on Grant Avenue at Bush Street. It is the main entrance to Chinatown and was dedicated in 1970. From there, walk north on Grant Avenue past shops, temples and bakeries.
Things to do in Chinatown include the tea shops, the herb stores and the fortune cookie factory. A guided walk explains what you see in the markets.
Dim sum and Chinese food in Chinatown
Dim sum is the classic Chinatown food. These are small dumplings and buns, often steamed in bamboo baskets. All our Chinatown walks include dim sum, so a tour is an easy way to try the best spots.
Getting to Coit Tower: Filbert Steps, bus or car
The easiest way up is the Muni 39 bus. It stops at the top of Telegraph Hill. Parking at the tower is very limited, so do not plan to drive.
You can also walk up. The stairs from Greenwich Street and the Filbert Steps climb the hill through gardens. They are steep, so bring good shoes and take breaks.
Is Coit Tower accessible?
The elevator and the top deck are not wheelchair accessible. The elevator can also be out of service. The murals on the ground floor are the easiest part to visit.
North Beach and Little Italy
North Beach is San Francisco's Little Italy. It centers on Columbus Avenue and Washington Square. Come for coffee, pizza and bakeries.
It is also the home of the Beat writers. City Lights bookstore opened here in 1953. From Washington Square, it is a short, steep walk up to Coit Tower.
The murals and the history of the tower
The murals are fresco paintings from the 1930s. They show working life in California at the time. Coit Tower was the first site of a federal art program for artists without work.
Some panels caused a fight when they were new. Critics said a few scenes carried left-wing messages. Today you can see them all for free.
Many people say the tower looks like a fire hose nozzle. That is a story, not a confirmed fact.
Lombard Street and how it fits into your day
Lombard Street fits best at the end of the day. Its famous crooked block is between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets. It has eight hairpin turns and was built in the 1920s.
Cars drive it one way, downhill from Hyde Street. The Powell-Hyde cable car stops at the top. There is no toll and no booking to drive it.
A one-day walking route from Union Square
Start at Union Square, the shopping square in the middle of downtown. Most things to do in Union Square are shops and cafés, so it is an easy meeting point. Head up Grant Avenue to Dragon Gate and through Chinatown. Then walk up Columbus Avenue into North Beach.
After lunch at Washington Square, climb to Coit Tower. End the day with the Powell-Hyde cable car and the top of Lombard Street.
Is Chinatown safe at night?
Yes, the main streets of Chinatown are fine at night for most visitors. Stay on busy, well-lit streets such as Grant Avenue and Stockton Street. Keep your phone and bag close, as you would in any big city.
Never leave bags in a parked car. To see how the other areas compare, look at the San Francisco neighborhoods.
Tips for Coit Tower, Chinatown and North Beach
Take the bus up, walk down
Ride the Muni 39 up Telegraph Hill. Then walk down the stairs into North Beach.
Buy tower tickets on site
Elevator tickets are sold only at the tower gift shop. Sales stop one hour before closing.
Come hungry
Food walks serve a lot of small dishes. Skip a big breakfast before a morning tour.
Check the cancellation line
All six walks can be cancelled up to 24 hours before for a full refund. Check the exact rule on the booking page.
Coit Tower, Chinatown and North Beach: questions and answers
Is Chinatown in San Francisco safe at night?
Are the Coit Tower murals free to see?
How long should I spend in Chinatown?
Where can I get dim sum in Chinatown?
How do I get to Coit Tower?
More Chinatown and North Beach tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
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Facts checked on 23 October 2026 against: SF Recreation and Parks: Coit Tower · SF Travel: Coit Tower · SF Public Works: Dragon Gate · SF Travel: North Beach · SF Travel: Lombard Street · SFCTA: Lombard crooked street.
Written by the Things to Do in San Francisco editorial team.