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Lombard Street, San Francisco, CA

Photo: Gaurav1146, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicFreeQuirky Fun

Lombard Street

Lombard St between Hyde and Leavenworth Sts · San Francisco, CA

Why you should go…

The crooked block of Lombard Street drops down Russian Hill between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets in eight sharp turns. The switchbacks were built in 1922 to tame a 27 percent grade, and the roadway is paved in red brick and lined with planted gardens. You can drive it one way downhill or take the stairs on either side. The top looks out to the bay, Alcatraz and Coit Tower, and the Powell-Hyde cable car stops right at Hyde Street.

  • #crooked street
  • #russian hill
  • #photo spot
  • #scenic drive

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Lombard Street, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals and Tours

    $25–$50

    Fisherman's Wharf bike rental shop known for sending riders across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito.

    0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Museums
    Free

    Truhlsen-Marmor Museum of the Eye

    Free

    Free interactive museum in Fisherman's Wharf exploring the science of sight and the history of eye care.

    0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Shopping
    Quirky Fun

    International Spy Shop

    Free

    Fisherman's Wharf shop selling spy gadgets and surveillance gear, with an on-site airsoft range.

    0.3 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Blue & Gold Fleet

    $25–$50

    San Francisco Bay sightseeing cruises past Alcatraz, the sea lions, and under the Golden Gate Bridge.

    0.6 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Coit Tower

    Under $25

    Ride the elevator up this 210-foot Art Deco tower on Telegraph Hill for 360-degree views of the city and bay.

    0.7 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    San Francisco Cable Cars

    Under $25

    Ride an open-sided cable car up and over the hills on three historic lines pulled by underground cables.

    0.8 mi awayMore like this