Lombard Street (San Francisco)

The famous block on Russian Hill

Lombard Street crosses San Francisco from west to east, but the section that draws visitors is only one residential block in the Russian Hill neighborhood. Between Hyde and Leavenworth streets, the steep road bends through eight tight turns, with landscaped planting beds and homes close to the sidewalk. San Francisco Travel presents the block as an iconic city landmark; its appeal is not just the curves, but the way the road reveals the city’s dramatic hills in a compact, walkable setting.

The name “the crookedest street in the world” is a familiar nickname, not a precise geographic ranking. San Francisco has other winding streets, and the famous block is one segment of a much longer Lombard Street. The distinction matters: visitors often arrive expecting an entire route of switchbacks, when the celebrated feature is the short stretch between Hyde and Leavenworth. The neighborhood remains residential, so the gardens and house fronts are part of a lived-in street, not a theme-park set. The celebrated curves are concentrated in a single block, which makes the contrast between the steep approach and the carefully landscaped descent especially easy to see.

How to see the eight turns

Walking gives the clearest sense of the street’s slope and layout. From the upper end, the view opens toward the bay and city landmarks; from below, the switchbacks rise in front of you and make the geometry easy to read. San Francisco Travel notes that visitors come both to walk the block and to drive down it. If you choose to walk, stay on the sidewalks, use marked crossings and avoid stepping into planted areas or residents’ entrances for photographs.

Driving the block is a different experience: cars descend a narrow one-way segment among pedestrians, parked vehicles and tight corners. It can be slow when visitor demand is high, and the road is still a neighborhood street with people entering homes and moving through the area. Do not stop in the traffic lane to take pictures. The San Francisco County Transportation Authority has documented congestion and crowd-management concerns around the block, which is a useful reminder to plan for delays and to consider arriving on foot or by transit instead.

Getting there by cable car or transit

The Powell/Hyde cable car is a convenient way to reach the upper part of the crooked block: SFMTA lists a stop at Hyde Street and Lombard Street. As checked on October 5, 2026, the agency lists daily service from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and advises passengers to check route status and detailed arrivals before travelling. The cable car is a working public-transit line as well as a popular ride, so queues and service changes can affect the journey.

San Francisco Travel also points visitors to city bus connections through North Beach. The best choice depends on where you are staying and whether you want to approach from the top or bottom of the hill. Expect a steep walk in either direction, and allow extra time if you are travelling with luggage, children or anyone who finds hills difficult. Consult SFMTA’s current map and service alerts on the day; construction, special events or temporary stop relocations can change the easiest route.

A residential attraction and a busy public street

The block is both a tourist landmark and part of a residential neighborhood. SFCTA’s project overview cites approximately two million visitors a year and describes crowding, vehicle queues and effects on nearby streets. That estimate is associated with the authority’s access studies, not a live daily counter. The same studies considered reservations and pricing for cars, but proposals are not the same as an active visitor rule. Check current city notices rather than relying on old news about a possible toll or reservation system.

For a considerate visit, keep sidewalks and driveways clear, do not touch landscaping, and remember that windows and front doors belong to residents. Visit at a quieter time if your schedule allows, and avoid adding an unnecessary car queue to the block. The curves are most interesting when viewed as a solution to a steep urban street and as part of Russian Hill’s built landscape. A few minutes of care for the neighborhood can make the stop better for visitors and the people who live there.