Lancaster's Goot Essa Walking Tour

$9.99

Estimated Time

Distance

Works Offline

Tours & Maps Included

Tour Highlights

Lancaster Sweet Shoppe & Square One Coffee Roasters

Try the Stroopie, Lancaster's own spin on the Dutch stroopwafel, then grab an award-winning cup of coffee roasted right next door.

Ewell Plaza & the Ewell Statue

Meet Barney Ewell, the Lancaster sprinter once called the fastest man in the world, honored with a statue three decades after his death.

Yorgos, The Urban Farmhouse

A Greek-owned restaurant that's fed this same corner since 1959—first as Zimmerman's, now as Yorgos.

Lancaster Central Market

Step into the oldest continuously operating public farmers market in the United States, running on the same Tuesday-Friday-Saturday schedule since 1730.

The W.W. Griest Building

Lancaster's first skyscraper, designed by local architect C. Emlen Urban and completed in 1925.

C'est La Vie Bistro

A French-inspired bistro inside the historic Hager Arcade, sourcing produce from Amish farms just miles away.

The Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy

The preserved home of the congressman who helped drive the 13th and 14th Amendments, including an Underground Railroad cistern.

Southern Market

A modern food hall inside an 1888 building, with ten chef stations and a central bar.

Is This Tour Right for You?

Perfect if you:

Love history and fascinating stories

What To explore at your own pace

prefer a private experience

What to avoid expensive group tours

Maybe not if you:

Don't have a phone

Like to follow the tour guide

Don't like stories

Don't like to go at your own pace

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Lancaster food tour take?

The route covers just over half a mile and takes 30 to 40 minutes at a walking pace, not counting stops.

Does the tour work without cell service?

Yes. Download the tour before you go, and it runs completely offline using your phone's GPS.

Can I pause the tour or explore at my own pace?

Yes. This is a fully self-guided tour—pause anytime to eat, shop, or explore, and press play when you're ready to continue.

Is this a good tour for foodies?

Yes. This is built specifically as a Lancaster food tour, covering candy shops, a historic farmers market, a French bistro, and a modern food hall.

Are there admission fees at any of the stops?

One. The Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center charges around $20 for adults. Everything else on the route is free to walk.

What days is Lancaster Central Market open?

Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday—the same schedule it's run on since 1730.

Is this tour appropriate for kids?

Yes, this tour is family-friendly and food-focused, with no difficult historical content.

Is the walk easy for all fitness levels?

Yes. The full route covers just over half a mile of flat, downtown sidewalks.

Can I actually eat at the stops along the way?

Yes—the tour is built around real, current restaurants and market stalls, including Central Market and Southern Market, so you can eat as you go.

What makes this different from a typical restaurant guide?

This tour covers the 300-year history behind Lancaster's food scene, not just where to eat—including the Amish and Mennonite farmers who founded it and the architect who built much of downtown around it.