Lombard Street

Why go

Lombard Street is defined by brick paving, hydrangea beds, and tight switchbacks. Another layer comes from the long eastward view toward Coit Tower and the bay. Plan Lombard Street by remembering to approach on foot and respect the residential block. After Lombard Street, choose Russian Hill or Ghirardelli Square; this keeps Lombard Street geographically coherent and avoids forcing Lombard Street into an unrelated crossing.

What to look for

• Look closely at brick paving, hydrangea beds, and tight switchbacks.
• Notice the long eastward view toward Coit Tower and the bay.

The full story

Lombard Street is an east–west street in San Francisco, California that is famous for a steep, one-block section with eight hairpin turns. Stretching from The Presidio east to The Embarcadero , most of the street's western segment is a major thoroughfare designated as part of U.S. Route 101. The famous one-block section, claimed as "the most crooked street in the world", is located along the eastern segment in the Russian Hill neighborhood. The street was named after Lombard Street in Philadelphia by San Francisco surveyor Jasper O'Farrell. Lombard Street's west end is at Presidio Boulevard inside The Presidio; it then heads east through the Cow Hollow neighborhood. For twelve blocks, between Broderick Street and Van Ness Avenue, it is an arterial road that is co-signed as U.S. Route 101. Lombard Street continues through the Russian Hill neighborhood and to the Telegraph Hill neighborhood. At Telegraph Hill it turns south, becoming Telegraph Hill Boulevard to Pioneer Park and Coit Tower. Lombard Street starts again at Winthrop Street and ends at The Embarcadero as a collector road.

Useful to know

• For Lombard Street, approach on foot and respect the residential block.
• Pair Lombard Street with Russian Hill or Ghirardelli Square when the route and opening conditions align.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.