Lombard Street
Lombard Street
4.5
About
San Francisco's most famous winding street showcases eight sharp switchbacks and stretches down a steep slope from the Presidio East to The Embarcadero.
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Top ways to experience Lombard Street
The area
Neighborhood: Russian Hill
Russian Hill has evolved into a chic residential neighborhood with outstanding views from every corner. Combined with several great cafes, restaurants, antique shops and boutiques, it’s easy to see why any visitor would gladly leave their heart in San Francisco. Cars line up day after day to drive down Lombard Street, the “crookedest” street in the world, and make the slow creep downhill past charming period homes. Polk Street is the main drag in this neighborhood, where you will find trendy bars, cafes and shops populated with locals, but for one of the most charming rides in the city, grab a cable car heading up and down Hyde Street.
Best nearby
Restaurants
3,774 within 3 miles
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1,129 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- Kevin BMount Juliet, Tennessee3,973 contributionsNice to see, not much elseThis is one of those streets that you've known about for years and you know will be a big tourist attraction. We didn't drive down it on our most recent trip to San Francisco, but we walked alongside it and got to see it, which was neat. It seems like a bit of a pain to actually drive down it since it's crazy busy and you're just sitting in traffic, but it's nice to actually see something that you've known about for years.Visited May 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten October 17, 2023
- WillieMacfanHealdsburg, California892 contributionsMust do when in SFThe alledged crookedest street in the world. One way traffic downhilled with great view of Coit Tower in front of you. Tons of tourists-some walking down the road so you need to be very careful. Glad I don't live on the street-trying to get in and out of your garage must be almost impossible. Beautiful gardening at every turn. Major photo opportunity Just know one thing- most natives know it isn't even the crookedest street in San Francisco. Vermont Street is and there are no tourists there.Visited November 2023Traveled with familyWritten November 5, 2023
- guennie3Cambridge, United Kingdom450 contributionsLombard street-short but fun.Lombard street is a San Francisco classic. Featured in many films. There is not much to it really-a one way winding street through a very pretty neighbourhood. But you’ve got to go there on a SF walk or catch the cable car.Visited November 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten November 30, 2023
- focusport22250 contributionsFun to see, not sure if it worth driving.Overall it was interesting to see. When we first arrived there were cars backed up for blocks and going to wait hours to drive down the hill. We saw it from the bottom and it was fun to see. However, I would never wait hours to drive on a bendy road. We were there on early Christmas morning and were to drive it. There was one other car there. No waiting.Visited December 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten December 27, 2023
- BannedDE5,961 contributionsBetter to Walk than DriveI grew uo just 2 blocks from the top. The traffic lineup is crazy going past Van Ness especially in summer. Better to drive up Greenwich-1 block South)- then park on Hyde or Larkin then walk the hill so you can enjoy the scenery. The smell of clutch and brake lining is a drawback on Lombard itself.Visited February 2024Traveled soloWritten March 25, 2024
- Rachel & Andy393 contributionsWorth the Climb to the top.Visited: 10/06/2023. Really pretty street filled with flowers and shrubs. Even the housing architecture is pretty. Definitely a tourist trap with lots of people there when we were, and even more going down the street in cars or hired buggies - although it caused a queue so not sure how enjoyable that was. We walked it, and despite the steep uphill climb it was a beautiful view at the top and worth it. We were there on a Saturday afternoon and was really busy, so I would recommend probably first thing in the morning when it may be less busy.Visited June 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten May 25, 2024
- DesertTripsMorocco381 contributionsTwists and Turns A Thrilling Drive Down Lombard Street!!I recently drove through Lombard Street in SF and it was such a blast! The winding zigzagging street made for a really fun drive. We did it in the morning and it was amazing However be prepared for lots of tourists It can get pretty crowded, so you have to be careful driving with all the people walking around taking pictures. Make sure your car brakes are in good shape too :) Despite the crowds driving through Lombard Street is definitely worth it We're glad we had a car and got to experience it! Absolutely I highly recommend driving through Lombard Street for a thrilling and unforgettable experience!!!Visited June 2024Traveled with familyWritten June 10, 2024
- reallylikes2travelWashington DC, District of Columbia557 contributionsOn my travel bucket listI have finally ticked this on my travel bucket list. It’s beautiful, the gardens, and the view. We used the Big Bus Hop on Hop off to stop in Lombard St. What a club!!! I felt like it was 45 degrees slant but it is 27 degrees slant. Please wear comfortable shoes. Made a stop in your climb to catch your breath. I think the climb took at least 10 mins for me. But it’s worth it!!! You’ll be on top of this Lombard St. While you’re on top of Lombard, scan the views, you could see the city, neighborhood, and wharf ahead. But I think to get a great pictures was to go down. It’s fantastic Photoshoots if there are cars using this zigzag street. Not to worry it was easier to go down as there are steps. But you had to go up those steps as that’s the way for us to return to our tour bus.Visited July 2024Traveled with friendsWritten July 19, 2024
- Lindsey MEdmonton, Canada84 contributionsA must seeSuch a cool, unique spot to visit. We walked here at around 8:30 am and it was already quite busy, for sure go early. If your hope is to drive down, double check the hours as during the day it is only for people who live here. (Nice to see for the residents!) The views from the top are beautiful. Like nothing I have seen before. Please be respectful as people live here.Visited August 2024Traveled with familyWritten August 17, 2024
- Eva TUnited Kingdom4,986 contributionsTo see it once is enoughYes, it's different to any street we saw and it's one of the spots everybody want to visit. But it's full of tourists and I feel sorry for the people who are living there. The gardens in the curve are beautiful with lots of flowers. People are walking up and down and crowd is everywhere. Many drivers in the cars were stupidly driving having mobile in one hand to take video and the other on the steering wheel. I wondered that no policeman was there - this is waiting for not good accident. Well we saw it, it was interesting but if we will visit San Francisco again we will miss it.Visited June 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten September 13, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
18,422 reviews
Excellent
8,752
Very good
6,430
Average
2,702
Poor
405
Terrible
137
CopperLeah
Loveland, CO1,496 contributions
Mar 2020
Well known from movies and media, Lombard St feels smaller in person than I always expect. However it's unique, beautiful, and most of the time the drivers on it pay attention to pedestrians.
Definitely worth a walk over, down, and back up (or vice versa if you're staying downhill from it).
Definitely worth a walk over, down, and back up (or vice versa if you're staying downhill from it).
Written July 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wendy L
Evanston, IL482 contributions
Jul 2021
My brother in law was the only one willing to attempt this drive, and even though it only lasts @ 2 1/2 minutes, it is one of the craziest drives in a city of crazy drives! It is literally switchback upon switchback down one of the steepest hills in town. What makes it crazier is that flowers line the street, and crowds of people are walking up and down while you are driving. At the bottom, the previous driver or passengers pop out of their car for some quick snapshots up the street, but because of the flowers obscuring the contours of the street it just looks like a field of flowers in the middle of a street. Suffice to say this is an experience you need to just DO. No video or photo will do it justice. Beware of the lines as well. We had about a 7-10 car wait, but it moves fast, and you can swing around the block and go again if you enjoyed the ride!
Written July 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alfred O
Amsterdam, The Netherlands32 contributions
Jul 2019 • Friends
This street was put together by a San Francisco developer back in the 1920"s . The reason was Two Fold . First it would be advertised as the Crookest street in the world . Number Two reason was that the street was really sterp for normal traffic to dtive down .And of course to give this City another Tourist Trap for making money on.You see The old quaint Sanfrancisco is dead . It used to have the Gold Rush Bars in the Tenderloin district and in the South of Market area.This was 50 years ago .And the Fishermans Wharf area was made up of 150 year old one story buildings where the floors creaked when you walked on them .And these buildings sold some historic Ships brass fittings and Vintsge sea shells and Fish Nets . Now its made up of Cheap t-shirt shops snd Mega Expensive electronic stores that charge 5 times overpriced Crap .
Written May 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anthony S
Coombabah, Australia1,172 contributions
Oct 2019
An easy place to get too via cable car. And an easy walk up and down the street via a path. Heaps of place to be able to take pictures, but watch oout for traffic. Also good to people ad car watch. Afterwards from here you can walk or take the cable car back into the city or down to fishermans wharf
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Isak H
Rome, Italy37 contributions
Jul 2022
This is just one of those classical tourist attractions that is a must, no matter how cliché or "mainstream" it may seem. The view to the east is amazing, and from the top of the street you get a great look over the iconic hills and roads of San Francisco. Either driving or walking down the street is a fun experience. Personally I recommend renting electric scooters and driving down (Lime offer daypass with unlimited miles for $20). 10/10 attraction!
Written August 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ransicka35
Liberty Township, OH9 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
Probably the most incredible views of the city from the top of Lombard st. We were able to take pictures on the top and bottom. Good thing is not a busy street so easy to take pics on front of it. A runner stopped and asked us if she could take the picture for us. Alcatraz is to the left at the top and a beautiful view. The flowers are beautiful and so much fun to walk to the top! We also drove down and it wasn’t so bad!
Written August 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Indiana_Jonesse
San Francisco, CA7,050 contributions
Feb 2020
I come here regularly. There has never been a time that I can without tourists. There are several signs suggesting how to conduct yourself in consideration to the local residents. Such signs like walk on sidewalk. People are either ignorant or inconsiderate because those signs are ignored; too bad! There were tourists walking right on the streets/road where the vehicles drive through instead of the side stairs. This is also for your safety folks. The hydrangeas are dormant and not blooming for the winter. It is best to come while in full bloom. But this place is busy year round.
Written February 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
seetheWow
Irvine, CA210 contributions
Jul 2021 • Family
Interesting activity. Fun to see the drivers’ reactions while controlling their vehicles. We didn’t drive down. We walked up from near Ghirardelli square (tiring walk). Then walked down the stairs on Lombard. I think the drive down is doable. But it won’t be as much fun as walking down and watching. That’s what we did. The stairs on both sides are surrounded by flowers, which is what makes this place attractive. A lot of people didn’t file the instructions and jumped onto the street to take pictures. Avoid doing this. Make it pleasurable for both yourselves and the drivers.
Written August 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christina K
Waterbury, CT36 contributions
Jul 2021
Drove down the hill. Very interesting for a first timer. I only saw cars driving down it and never up it. People can walk up or down the hill, but there are stairs to the side so people are not walking on the actual street. People actually are not allowed to walk in the street, there is a sign. I went in the evening, maybe around 7pm and it was windy and cold! Maybe it just happened to be that day. And on the way to Lombard St, you'll also drive over other very hilly hills to get there! So cool!
Written August 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel & Andy
393 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
Visited: 10/06/2023.
Really pretty street filled with flowers and shrubs. Even the housing architecture is pretty. Definitely a tourist trap with lots of people there when we were, and even more going down the street in cars or hired buggies - although it caused a queue so not sure how enjoyable that was.
We walked it, and despite the steep uphill climb it was a beautiful view at the top and worth it.
We were there on a Saturday afternoon and was really busy, so I would recommend probably first thing in the morning when it may be less busy.
Really pretty street filled with flowers and shrubs. Even the housing architecture is pretty. Definitely a tourist trap with lots of people there when we were, and even more going down the street in cars or hired buggies - although it caused a queue so not sure how enjoyable that was.
We walked it, and despite the steep uphill climb it was a beautiful view at the top and worth it.
We were there on a Saturday afternoon and was really busy, so I would recommend probably first thing in the morning when it may be less busy.
Written May 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have a scooter will I be able to go up the street w\o a problem?
Written October 21, 2019
No, You can only go down. It is a one way street.
Written August 28, 2020
Yes you can
As at April 2019.
Written September 12, 2020
Igazából azt szeretném tudni, hogy van Internetem ? Kell vennem extra kártyát?
Written February 27, 2019
Én Los Angelesben a Hollywood hotelben laktam. Ott volt ingyenes wi-fi és internet is. Vodafonos a kártyám a férjemé t- homos. Gond nélkül néztük a híreket . Rengeteg helyen rá tudtunk kapcsolódni az ingyenes hálózatokra is menet - séta közben . Semmilyen más kártyánk nem volt. Gondtalanul beszélgettünk az otthoniakkal is! A férjem többször csinált utalásokat a bankján keresztül !!!! A Google remekül működött !
Written February 28, 2019
Iris Juarez
Mountain View, California
Is any parking garage near to Lombard st??
Written February 13, 2019
Ciao a tutti,
Quanto ci vuole più o meno per percorrere a piedi tutto il percorso?
Grazie
Laura.
Written January 23, 2019
La strada è breve, pendente e turistica; il tempo di percorrenza dipende anche, se la pecurri dal basso verso la cima o al contrario. In ogni modo essendo molto carina e affollata, io pianificherei una permanenza tra mezz’ora e 45 minuti.
Written January 24, 2019
Ciao a tutti,
Quanto ci vuole più o meno per percorrere a piedi tutto il percorso?
Grazie
Laura.
Written January 23, 2019
Ciao Laura in discesa in 5 minuti fai il percorso mentre in salita ci vorrà un quarto d'ora. È molto corta Lombard Street.
Written January 24, 2019
Hi we are coming to San Francisco next April and staying at fisherman wharf. Does the cable car go from fisherman’s wharf up to the top of Lombard street or do you need to walk from F.W.? I have wanted to see the road for years, so intend on visiting it along with some of the other sites S F has to offer.
Lyn
Written September 4, 2018
Hi, yes the street cars run along Hyde Street and there is a stop at the top of Lombard Street. There is a path down the right hand side of Lombard Street you can walk on, there is no actually footpath that twists with the road itself. Best views are from the top.
Written September 4, 2018
Whats the best way to see Lombard street & is it close to a central area?.. should we just get a taxi to drop us there? The SF city tour I am doing sadly does not go here
Written July 29, 2018
The Powell and Hayes cable car stops at Lombard Street. You can catch the cable car at Powell and Market Street or Fishermans Wharf. You can then walk to Chinatown which is about a 10 minute walk afterwards.
Written July 29, 2018
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