Teas, Temples, and Beatniks - Small Group Tour

San Francisco is famous for its colourful neighbourhoods and interesting residents, and here's your chance to experience first-hand two of its best neighbourhoods. Immerse yourself in the cultural and aesthetic contrasts between one of the largest and oldest Chinese communities outside of Asia, and the European charm of the Beatniks birthplace, North Beach.

On this San Francisco tour, you'll explore both Chinatown and North Beach, where the exotic East borders the birthplace of the Beat Generation culture. Spend a few hours with your local guide discovering places you never knew existed, whether down unassuming alleys or in plain sight!

Starting at the beautiful Chinatown Gate, your local guide will lead you through the bustling streets of this vibrant area. Learn about the history of this Chinese community during San Francisco's gold rush, as well as America's train-building boom. Stop by one of Chinatowns oldest bakeries for an authentic mooncake pastry - the traditional Chinese delicacies served there are so good even former President Bill Clinton has stopped by to try one!

From there, make your way over to Waverly Place to visit the acclaimed oldest Chinese temple in America, where you'll have your fortune read as the smell of incense fills the air in this picturesque historic temple. Moving on, weave your way between performing street artists to taste fortune cookies hot off the press (and see if this fortune matches the one from the temple!). You'll then wash down all these sweet treats with an in-depth tea tasting session where you will learn about the different types and flavours of traditional Chinese tea.

Next, it's on to North Beach to see the famous hangouts of Beat poets Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsburg, like the City Lights Bookstore, which still publishes the works of local poets in San Francisco. Get a feel for North Beach and the vibe of Little Italy as you wind your way through the cute shops and cafes of the Barbary Coast.

You'll finish up your San Francisco walking tour at the gorgeous Washington Square Park, adjacent to excellent Italian restaurants, Coit Tower, and within easy access to public transport. Its only been a few hours, but you'll see this San Fran tour is jam-packed with the hidden gems of two of San Francisco's most famous neighbourhoods. It's amazing what you can see when you've got a local to show you!