{"id":25933,"date":"2020-09-29T18:35:03","date_gmt":"2020-09-29T22:35:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/?p=25933"},"modified":"2023-06-07T13:54:41","modified_gmt":"2023-06-07T13:54:41","slug":"lombard-street-visiting-san-francisco-crookedest-street","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/lombard-street-visiting-san-francisco-crookedest-street\/","title":{"rendered":"Lombard Street: Visiting San Francisco\u2019s Crookedest Street\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

San Francisco is known for a few things: the Golden Gate Bridge<\/a>, Alcatraz<\/a>, and its twisty, turny, steep roads. One of the best places to knock out views of all three? Lombard Street, sometimes known as \u201cThe Crookedest Street in the World\u201d or \u201cThe Crookedest Street in San Francisco.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With eight hairpin turns winding through just one city block, this picturesque section of Lombard Street is a popular spot for millions of tourists a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this guide, I\u2019ll tell you everything you need to know about visiting Lombard Street \u2014 walking, driving, or riding \u2014 and what to do in the area. Buckle up, you\u2019re in for a trip!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The crookedest street in San Francisco<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Aerial<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

You may have seen Lombard Street billed as \u201cThe Crookedest Street in San Francisco,\u201d but did you ever wonder why it\u2019s designed that way? The road was built in the 1920s, when cars \u2014 which had just become popular, keep in mind \u2014 couldn\u2019t make it up and down the steep hills. So the neighbors banded together and decided eight turns would do the trick!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Lombard Street\u2019s claim to fame isn\u2019t totally accurate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our experts say the actual crookedest street in San Francisco should be Vermont Street, between 20th and 22nd Streets in the Potrero Hill neighborhood. It\u2019s not quite the show-stopping sight that Lombard Street is, though, so I still recommend passing by Lombard, at least for a bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local tip:<\/strong> If you\u2019re itching for more steep spots (that are scenic, too), try a detour by the hidden gardens on 16th Avenue\u2019s Tiled Steps<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to visit Lombard Street<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Pedestrians<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

If you\u2019re wondering if you should walk or drive down Lombard Street, I can tell you that both are fun experiences, but it\u2019s best to come prepared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walking down Lombard Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re going to walk down Lombard Street, try parking a short distance away and be sure to take any valuables with you as you get out of the car. As a touristy area, this can be a place for thieves to target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The road is steep, remember, so even if it\u2019s a brisk San Francisco day (we have a lot of those), you might work up a sweat. Wear sunscreen, and carry some water with you. And don\u2019t forget your camera to snap photos of the houses, flowers, and vistas along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Driving Lombard Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you decide to drive, be mindful of surrounding traffic \u2014 this is a residential neighborhood, after all. You may experience a wait to enter the crooked part of Lombard, which is normal in peak tourist season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is driving down Lombard Street difficult? Not especially. You won\u2019t be going that quickly (just 5 miles an hour), but you will need to stay focused to steer through those hairpin turns. And afterward, you get bragging rights for successfully navigating San Francisco\u2019s \u201ccrookedest\u201d street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local tip:<\/strong> If you\u2019re driving and there\u2019s a wait, you\u2019ll have to enter the downhill turns from the previous block of Lombard, not a cross-street. You won\u2019t be able to turn onto Lombard directly, as that could back up traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Riding a cable car on Lombard Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Experiencing this crooked street by San Francisco cable car<\/a> is a great way to \u201cdo\u201d Lombard Street without the hassle of where to park your car safely or waiting in a line of traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s such a fun activity that we included riding a cable car down Lombard Street as a must-do on our highlights tour of San Francisco<\/a>. Consider it a twofer \u2014 you can see Lombard Street and ride in a cable car, a SF attraction in its own right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More on how to catch a ride<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Picture perfect<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Photographing
Photographing Lombard Street at sunrise<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The views up, down, and along Lombard Street, are unbeatable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you love photography (or just want some Instagram candy), Lombard Street delivers. Here are a few shots I recommend taking, whether you’ve packed a fancy DSLR or are snapping a quick pic on your phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n