Lombard Street
Landmark Street · San Francisco, California
Lombard Street is a famous one-block stretch of a San Francisco street on Russian Hill, between Hyde and Leavenworth, where eight hairpin turns zigzag down a steep slope. The brick-paved, one-way downhill street is lined with hydrangeas and private homes, and is often called the crookedest street in the world, although other streets claim to be more crooked. Walking or looking costs nothing, and driving it is currently free, but a reservation or fee system may apply on busy days, so confirm before you go. Cars queue at the top, often for a long time on summer weekends, while steep public stairs on both sides give a quicker view. From the bottom you can see Coit Tower and, on a clear day, the bay and Alcatraz. It is a short, crowded stop, and residents have complained about traffic and visitors. It suits photographers, first-time San Francisco visitors and anyone already on Russian Hill; skip the car queue if time is short, and confirm any current rules.
Lombard Street between Hyde and Leavenworth, San Francisco, California, 94133, United States
Lombard Street is a public street and is physically open at all hours, every day, with no gate or ticket booth; the sidewalks and stairs on either side can be used at any time. Daylight is best for the view and for photos, and the street is quiet very early in the morning and busiest in the afternoon and on weekends. A reservation or fee system for driving the curves may apply on busy days or periods, so confirm the current rules before you drive. Cable cars on the nearby Powell-Hyde line run on their own schedule, and fog can hide the view for hours.