Painted Ladies San Francisco

Painted Ladies: Discover the Colorful Victorian Houses of San Francisco

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It’s rare that private houses become a tourist attraction. It can happen with the homes of celebrities (for example, the mansions in Beverly Hills or Bel Air), but this is not the case. What makes the Painted Ladies of San Francisco famous is simply their appearance!

What makes these Victorian houses, located next to each other on the corner of Alamo Square, so striking is their variety of colors and refined elegance. It’s really hard for you not to want to stop and look at the Seven Sisters, another common nickname for this row of houses, and it’s no coincidence that, along with “iconic” attractions such as Lombard Street and the Golden Gate Bridge, they are one of the most photographed locations in all of San Francisco.

Are you ready to go see them for yourself and take a picture? Here’s how to get to San Francisco’s famous colorful houses.

What Street Are the Painted Ladies on in San Francisco?

The Painted Ladies are located on Steiner Street, the street overlooking Alamo Square. To get to the exact spot, you can take Bus 21, which will drop you off at the intersection of Hayes Street and Steiner Street just a short walk away from the colorful houses. There are also guided tours available, but remember that the Painted Ladies are private homes, so it is not possible to enter the houses.

The Best Spot to Photograph the Painted Ladies

San Francisco Painted LadiesA good place to take great photos of the Painted Ladies is the side of the park overlooking Hayes Street. Since the park sits on a hill, if you climb a little bit, you can take a picture of the famous Victorian houses with the skyline in the background, one of the panoramic views most featured on postcards of the city (see photo below). Some say that midday is the best time of day to take a picture, because it seems that the lighting is ideal.

The Other San Francisco Victorian Houses

The ones I’ve told you about so far are the most famous Painted Ladies, but actually, every Victorian house with 3 or more colors is considered a Painted Lady, and San Francisco is full of these fine examples of Victorian architecture. If you’re curious, you can go in search of these homes that also deserve to be photographed.

Victorian houses around Alamo Square


In addition to the Painted Ladies on Steiner Street, there are other interesting houses near Alamo Square. From Steiner Street, head north (the Painted Ladies will be on your right as you walk away from them) along the park, turn left into Fulton St, and then right onto Pierce Street. When you reach the intersection with McAllister St, on your right, you will see elegant houses with pointed roofs. Take a picture and keep walking.

Now go back down Fulton Street, turn left again along the park, and you’ll notice on the corner to your right an old-fashioned villa called the William Westerfeld House. On the opposite corner, on Scott St, there is another series of pretty, colorful Victorian houses.

A bit further away (30-minute walk), although you can easily get there in a few minutes by bus (line 22) is Mrs. Doubtfire’s house (2640 Steiner St). If you’re a fan of the movie, seeing the house will be an exciting experience for you…

The Victorian Houses of Haight-Ashbury

Dove dormire a San FranciscoIf you are interested in searching for Painted Ladies, one of the best neighborhoods to go to is definitely Haight-Ashbury, the neighborhood of the Summer of Love, where, in addition to being surrounded by Victorian houses with a variety of colors, you can also experience the hippie atmosphere of the 60s that is alive and well still today.

To see the most interesting houses near Alamo Square, you’ll have to walk a good 20 minutes, but luckily there are many bus stops at the intersection of Madison Ave and Haight Street (6, 7, 37, and 43). This is the hub of the neighborhood and a great starting point for visiting the area.

Painted Ladies San FranciscoHere are the houses that you shouldn’t miss out on, to see strictly one after the other:

  • Painted Houses: After the Painted Ladies of Alamo Square these are certainly the most photographed by photographers. To find them you have to go to 144-146 Central Avenue.
  • Four Seasons Houses: At the intersection of Waller Street and Masonic Avenue (address 1303 Waller St), you’ll find another very famous Painted Ladies complex, known as the “Four Seasons Houses”.
  • Grateful Dead House: Head to Ashbury Street, you’ll find a parade of colorful houses waiting for you. At 727, you’ll see the Grateful Dead House, named after the band that symbolizes the Summer of Love. If you are like me and you’re particularly interested in this period of history, walk along the stretch of Haight Street from Madison Ave to (at least) Cole Street, where you’ll be immersed by the 60s hippie atmosphere.

Below is a map with the route to the Victorian houses in Haight-Ashbury.


Obviously, there are many more Victorian houses, in San Francisco and if you are fond of Victorian architecture, I suggest you look beyond Haight-Ashbury and expand your search to Nob Hill, another area with a high concentration of Victorian houses, even if, in my opinion, a little less interesting because they are not as colorful. Enjoy the search!

Where to Stay in the Area

Finding accommodations near the Painted Ladies may be recommended for those who want to feel like a San Francisco resident for a few days. However, accommodations in the immediate vicinity of Alamo Square are scarce, while there is a greater selection in the rest of Haight-Ashbury.

To find accommodations in the Alamo Square area, I recommend these 2 links:

If you want to search in the neighborhood of the Summer of Love, I suggest you read my tips for finding accommodations in Haight-Ashbury.

However, it is likely that you will not find many rooms available if you limit your search to Haight-Ashbury, so I also recommend you look at our overview of the best neighborhoods to find accommodation in San Francisco.

Our tips on where to stay in San Francisco

 


Our Tip:
Looking for accommodations for your trip from California to other parts of the Southwest? Read our guide that contains reviews of hotels and strategic tips for finding accommodations near major attractions: Where to Stay: Our Tips for the SouthWest Area

Warning: Operating hours can change and closures for extraordinary events can occur, so we strongly suggest to check the venues official websites.

lorenzo puliti
lorenzo puliti

I am fascinated by the wonders of the world I never tire of going in search of them.

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