Lombard Street: San Francisco’s Crookedest Street

Lombard Street is one of San Francisco's most recognisable streets, but it is not famous for being long or wide. Its reputation comes from one short section on Russian Hill, where the road makes eight tight hairpin turns as it descends the hill. Brick paving, flower beds, Victorian-era homes and views across the city make this unusual stretch instantly recognisable.

Aerial view of the famous hairpin turn on Lombard Street in San Francisco.

The famous crooked section is on the 1000 block of Lombard Street, between Hyde Street and Leavenworth Street. It is a residential street as well as a major tourist attraction, so the area can become extremely busy, particularly during peak travel periods.

For many visitors, Lombard Street is a quick stop in a San Francisco sightseeing itinerary. For anyone interested in unusual roads, however, its design tells a more compelling story: the curves were created to deal with a steep hillside while allowing vehicles to travel through the block.

Where Is Lombard Street in San Francisco?

The famous portion of Lombard Street is located in the Russian Hill neighbourhood of San Francisco, California. It runs between Hyde Street and Leavenworth Street, with the crooked section occupying a relatively short part of the much longer street. Its position also gives visitors some attractive views. From the upper part of the street, the surrounding cityscape and parts of San Francisco Bay can be seen beyond the houses and steep streets. The area is easy to recognise because the road itself looks almost like a switchback trail rather than an ordinary city street.

Why Is Lombard Street So Crooked?

The steep hill was the main reason.

Lombard Street was not designed with eight curves simply to make it look unusual. The famous section descends a steep hill, and the switchback design creates a longer, less direct route down the slope. According to Guinness World Records, the crooked section has a 27% incline and contains eight tight hairpin turns. The design transformed an extremely steep straight descent into a series of short curves. Today, those curves are the feature that draws visitors from around the world.

Eight hairpin turns in one short section

The most striking fact about Lombard Street is the concentration of its curves. There are eight hairpin turns in the famous section. The Guinness World Records recognises Lombard Street as the world's most crooked road, based on those eight turns packed into a short downhill stretch. That is why photographs taken from above are particularly impressive. From street level, the next bend can hide behind the landscaping, but from an elevated viewpoint, the entire zigzag pattern becomes obvious.

First Photo Credit: DroneEddie / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Image source: Daniel

When Was Lombard Street's Crooked Section Created?

The switchback design dates to 1922, the year associated with Guinness World Records' record for the most crooked road. The concept was utilitarian, not decorative. Instead of sending vehicles straight down the steep hill, the road was made into a series of curves. Over the years, landscaping and flowers were added to the curves to create the look that Lombard Street has today. Engineering and landscaping transformed an ordinary residential street into one of San Francisco's most recognisable landmarks.

What Makes Lombard Street Famous?

Several details come together to make Lombard Street distinctive. First, there are the eight hairpin turns. Then there is the red-brick road surface, which contrasts with the greenery and flowers along the curves. The surrounding Russian Hill homes add another layer to the scene. San Francisco Travel describes Lombard Street as the “Crookedest Street in the World” and highlights its eight hairpin turns, landscaping, and city views. The street has also become a popular photography location. An aerial photograph shows the complete pattern much better than a photograph taken from the road itself.

Image source: Wei Ping Teoh

Is Lombard Street Really the Crookedest Street in the World?

There is a little more to this question than the nickname suggests. “Crookedest Street in the World” is the famous description used for Lombard Street, and Guinness World Records currently recognises the road under the record “Most Crooked Road.” The record specifically concerns the eight hairpin turns on the short section of Lombard Street. That distinction matters because Lombard Street is not an eight-turn road from one end to the other. The famous curves occupy only a small section. 

It is also important not to confuse crookedness with steepness. Lombard Street is steep, but it is not the world's steepest street. Guinness currently lists Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand, as the steepest street at 34.8%. So Lombard Street's unusual reputation comes primarily from the number and tightness of its curves, not from holding the world record for steepness.

Can You Drive Down Lombard Street?

Yes, the famous crooked section is a real road rather than a pedestrian-only attraction. Visitors can walk along it, while vehicles can travel through the winding section under the applicable traffic rules. Because Lombard Street is also a residential neighbourhood, the attraction's popularity has led to significant congestion for both pedestrians and vehicles over the years. A San Francisco County Transportation Authority study found that the crooked section attracted around 2 million visitors annually, with much heavier crowds during peak periods.

Visitors should therefore treat the area as both a neighbourhood and a tourist attraction. Staying out of private property, keeping entrances clear, and following posted traffic and parking rules are important. For current visitor information, the official San Francisco Travel guide to Lombard Street is a useful source before visiting.

Image source: RH&XL

What Is the Best Way to See Lombard Street?

Walking gives you a close view of the individual curves, flowers, and brick roadway. An elevated viewpoint or aerial photograph, meanwhile, makes the unusual design much easier to understand. The San Francisco County Transportation Authority's Lombard Crooked Street project also provides background about the famous section and its transportation challenges. For photographers, the upper and lower ends of the crooked section offer different perspectives. Looking uphill emphasises the repeated bends, while an aerial view shows the entire switchback pattern.

Image source: Paul Kimo McGregor

Frequently Asked Questions

How many turns does Lombard Street have?

The famous crooked section of Lombard Street has eight tight hairpin turns.

Where is the crooked part of Lombard Street?

It is on the 1000 block of Lombard Street between Hyde Street and Leavenworth Street in San Francisco's Russian Hill neighborhood.

Why does Lombard Street have so many curves?

The curves were designed to deal with the steep hillside. The switchbacks create a winding descent instead of a direct, extremely steep roadway.

Is Lombard Street the steepest street in the world?

No. Lombard Street is famous for being crooked, not for holding the world's steepest-street record. Guinness currently lists Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand, as the steepest street.

Can you walk on Lombard Street?

Yes. The famous section is both a roadway and a place visited by pedestrians. Because it is also a residential neighborhood, visitors should follow local rules and respect residents.

Image source: Eddie

Image source: David Yu

Image source: kkprince

Image source: brianv4

Image source: Frederic Rivollier

Image source: Jan Modrák

The crooked section of Lombard Street winds downhill through eight tight hairpin turns on San Francisco's Russian Hill.

Image source: The Hamster Factor

Conclusion

Lombard Street is a remarkable example of how an ordinary piece of infrastructure can become a landmark. Its eight hairpin turns were created to accommodate a steep San Francisco hillside, but the unusual design eventually became the street's defining feature. Today, the crooked section on Russian Hill is recognised worldwide for its switchbacks, brick surface, flowers, and city views. Whether seen on foot, from the top of the hill or from above, Lombard Street's unusual shape is what makes it one of San Francisco's most memorable streets.

References & Sources

• San Francisco Travel — Lombard Street
• San Francisco County Transportation Authority — Lombard Crooked Street
• Guinness World Records — Most Crooked Road
• San Francisco County Transportation Authority — Lombard Study PDF