Lombard Street (San Francisco) Church

Address: Lombard Street (between Hyde St & Leavenworth St), San Francisco, CA 94133, USA

Hours: Open 24/7

Admission: Free

Lombard Street in San Francisco is the steep, famously crooked one-block section on Russian Hill, noted for its tight hairpin turns and brick paving. It is a short urban street that has become a major tourist photo stop and driving attraction.

The signature stretch contains eight hairpin turns between Hyde and Leavenworth and is lined with planted flowerbeds and private residences. From the top and bottom of the block there are views down Russian Hill and across portions of the city and bay.

Originally created to reduce the hill’s steep grade for horse-drawn carriages, the switchback design and brick surfacing remain its defining features. The street sits within the dense urban fabric of northern San Francisco and is easily reached from nearby cable car lines and major tourist routes.

Located in the Russian Hill neighborhood, the crooked block is inside San Francisco proper and a short drive or walk from Fisherman’s Wharf and North Beach.

• Curvy section: The famous zigzag section has eight sharp hairpin turns and is paved with red bricks; it occupies one steep, one-block stretch between Hyde and Leavenworth streets.
• When to visit: Best experienced early morning or late evening to avoid heavy tourist foot traffic and visitor coach congestion on the narrow roadway.

The famous crooked section of Lombard Street is on Russian Hill between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets. Take the Powell-Hyde or Powell-Mason cable car to the Hyde & Lombard/Hyde & Leavenworth stops and walk a couple of minutes to the switchback section; it is a very short walk downhill from the cable car stops.

Driving is possible (Lombard Street connects with Van Ness/Hyde/Leavenworth), but street parking is limited and the area is often busy with tourists, so public transit or walking from nearby neighborhoods is recommended.

• Go before sunrise or in the very early morning (weekday if possible) for the clearest photo opportunities and the fewest pedestrians and cars on the switchbacks.
• Approach from the top (Hyde Street viewpoint) for the classic framed view down the full switchback and city backdrop; the bottom viewpoint gives a different angle but is more crowded.
• If you're driving, avoid attempting to descend in peak tourist hours - the lane is one-way and often has long queues; consider walking the stretch instead and viewing from the designated pedestrian areas.