Experience Lombard Street - San Francisco

Lombard Street is one of the crookedest streets in the world, as well as the most beautiful.

Thousands of tourists come here to see this spectacle and to experience the hair raising ride to the bottom. Whether you walk or drive Lombard Street is an essential item on your San Francisco to do list!

Lombard Street has several sharp hairpin bends that are a navigational nightmare for cars. Because this area is so popular, there are often traffic jams down the length of this small section of the road. This section of the road was not always so crooked. The switchback design was added in 1922 to compensate for the hill’s original 27% grade. The new design made it safer for motorists and pedestrians.

The houses on either side of this street are beautiful pastel mansions which are some of the most expensive properties in San Francisco. The sides are lined with a variety of flowers which line the sides. There are two sets of pedestrian stairs on either side. For many visitors walking this route is enough – and provides excellent photo opportunities. From on top you can see Coit Tower and beyond, from the bottom you have a great view of this peculiar site.

The rest of Lombard Street continues in both directions and passes Coit Tower on Telegraph hill before passing through the Marina and eventually onto Golden Gate Bridge. For the more adrenaline focused a late night cab drive down this section of Lombard is guaranteed to thrill.

Come see Lombard Street for yourself!