Lombard Street
4.6(3.4K)google
4.2(855)yelp
Must-SeeFree
Overview
Lombard Street is celebrated globally as 'the crookedest street in the world', specifically referring to a highly famous one-block section traversing the steep eastern incline of Russian Hill. Designed in 1922 to reduce the hill's dangerous 27 percent natural grade for early motorcars, the brick-paved roadway features eight incredibly sharp, breathtaking hairpin turns. The crooked street is beautifully lined with multimillion-dollar mansions, manicured hydrangea gardens, and offers sweeping lookouts toward Coit Tower.
Practical Info
Every dayOpen all day
Suggested DurationAbout 30-60 minutes
Best TimeThe absolute best season is summer (June to August) when the massive hydrangeas along the brick road bloom in full, vibrant colors. Arrive between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM for the best front-lit photo angles looking up from the bottom of the street.
Getting ThereTo explore on foot, take the Powell-Hyde Cable Car from Union Square and get off exactly at the Lombard St stop (the top of the street). To drive down the crooked path, approach from Hyde St; note it is a one-way downhill street with a 5 mph limit.
Travel Tips
- • 【Native Operational Manual】To drive the iconic 8-hairpin brick switchbacks down the slope, you must input the exact crest coordinate entry point '1099 Lombard St' into your navigation system; routing generic 'Lombard St' sends vehicles directly to the one-way exit terminal at the bottom, short-circuiting the run.
- Speed limits down the brick-paved grade are legally frozen at 5 mph by SFPD radar; stopping your vehicle midway down the active single-lane switchbacks to discharge passengers or snap photos is heavily restricted and monitored via dynamic camera arrays.
Photo Tips
Best LightTo capture the complete symmetrical ascending floral matrix from the Hyde Street baseline, set your wide-angle setups before 07:00 AM; this early window guarantees uniform front-lit coverage across the brick lane before long tourist car queues introduce brake-light lens flares.
Reviews
Positive
- Dubbed the world's most crooked street, packing eight sharp hairpin turns into a single block, an engineering marvel.
- The brick turns are flanked by manicured, blooming hydrangeas and flora, crafting a classic European fairytale backdrop.
- Safe pedestrian staircases run along both sides; climbing up rewards you with sweeping views of Coit Tower and the bay.
- Completely free to access; whether navigating the curves at 5 mph or gazing up from the base, the visual angles are highly dynamic.
Heads up
- As a primary photo hub, it is perpetually swarmed by crowds, making a solitary, human-free shot almost impossible.
- Driving down requires queuing in long car lines on Hyde St; frequent stopping on an incredibly steep slope tests your hill-start skill.
- Sightseeing is brief; it's strictly a 200-meter hillside street segment lacking benches, visitor centers, or public restrooms.
- Flanked entirely by luxury residential homes with strict 'Quiet Please' signs, giving the photo-taking a somewhat restrictive vibe.