Walking to Chinatown and Little Italy From the Financial District
By 17John ·
Quick answer
You can walk from the Financial District to Chinatown in about 15 to 20 minutes. From John Street, head up Broadway past St. Paul's Chapel, cut through City Hall Park, follow Park Row to Worth Street, and you're at Columbus Park at Mulberry and Bayard, which is the southern edge of Chinatown. From there it's a five-minute stroll to Doyers Street, ten to Canal, and another five up Mulberry into Little Italy. If you'd rather ride, the 6 from Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall goes one stop to Canal Street.
People staying down here are often surprised how close Chinatown is. From our door on John Street it's about 15 minutes on foot to Columbus Park, and the walk itself is one of the better ones in the city: 18th-century churchyards, City Hall Park, then the street grid loosens up and you're in Chinatown before you've really noticed the change.
This is a half day, not a full one. Go in the late morning, eat twice, buy something to cook later, and be back by mid-afternoon. We've written it as a route rather than a list, because the walking is half the point. If it's raining or the kids are done, the 6 train from Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall gets you to Canal Street in one stop.
A note on hours: small shops down here keep their own schedules and some are cash-preferred. Worth a quick check before you build your day around any one place.
Half a day on foot, John Street to Grand Street and back
