The bends
Among the flowers.
Christopher Michel — CC BY-SA 4.0 · phxhawke — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Alen Ištoković — CC BY 3.0 · The original uploader was Ramgeis at German Wikipedia. — CC BY-SA 3.0 · L DuncanClegg — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Rob Young from United Kingdom — CC BY 2.0 · William J Sisti from Morristown, NJ, USA — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Cornflower123 — CC0
A famous stretch of Lombard Street on Russian Hill in San Francisco, one steep block with eight tight hairpin turns, billed as «the crookedest street in the world». It draws around two million visitors a year. Cars inch down between flower beds and clipped hedges lining the red-brick bends, elegant houses stand on both sides, and visitors walk down the stairs that run alongside the street. From the top at Hyde Street there is a view down over the bends to Coit Tower and San Francisco Bay in the distance, and the famous cable car line passes right at the top, bringing two of the city's best-known sights together. Walking the stairs is free, and the street is residential, so keep noise down and respect the residents. Early morning, before the crowds, is best, and the flowers are at their peak in spring and summer.
Among the flowers.
To the bay.
At the top.
Russian Hill, between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets, San Francisco
Fisherman's WharfA tourist district on San Francisco's northern waterfront. It was once a real fi10 minutes walk4.7
San Francisco Cable CarsThe last manually operated cable car system in the world and an icon of San Fran14 minutes walk4.8
Pier 39A shopping centre and visitor attraction built on a pier at the edge of Fisherma14 minutes walk4.7
Coit TowerA white concrete tower 64 metres tall on top of Telegraph Hill in San Francisco,15 minutes walk4.7Yes, on the stairs alongside it for free, respecting the residents, as it is a residential street.