Haight-Ashbury

Visiting the Haight, as it’s known, is mostly about people watching and enjoying the laid-back vibe. Walk up and down Haight Street to visit landmark record store Amoeba Music and the popular Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop, located at the intersection of Haight and Ashbury streets.

Many San Francisco city tours will take you past the neighborhood, but opt for a VW van tour, Haight-Ashbury walking tour, or themed hippie tour for a more in-depth experience with a guide, who can often point out places of interest such as where Janis Joplin or the Grateful Dead used to spend their time.

• Haight-Ashbury is a must-visit for counterculture history buffs and architecture enthusiasts.

• Metered and non-metered street parking is available on and around Haight Street; read the street signs to check time allotments and street-cleaning days.

• Haight Street ends at the eastern edge of Golden Gate Park, making it easy to explore both in the same day.

Haight-Ashbury is in central San Francisco, tucked between the green spaces of Golden Gate Park, its Panhandle, and Buena Vista Park. MUNI buses 6 and 7 have stops along Haight Street, or take the N light rail to the Cole Street stop and walk four blocks north.

To get the full effect of the bustle of Haight Street, go in the late morning, when the shops typically open and lots of folks are out and about; the neighborhood is particularly popular for brunch. The evening scene is also lively, with many dinner options and a hopping bar scene.

It’s just 1 mile from the corner of Haight and Ashbury streets to Alamo Square, a popular city park that draws visitors looking for the Painted Ladies. This multicolored row of Victorian houses is known for being featured in the intro to the television showFull House and also appeared in the 1978 remake of the horror classicInvasion of the Body Snatchers. Before or after you explore the Haight, head to Alamo Square to enjoy a view of Postcard Row with downtown San Francisco in the background.

Haight-Ashbury is known for its hippies, revolutionary thinkers, and musicians who lived there in the 1960s and 70s. It was where the Summer of Love took place in 1967. At that time, there was cheap rent, communal living, and a feeling of love and peace. There is plenty of history here.

Spend an afternoon hanging out at the hip Haight-Ashbury, wandering into boutiques and vintage stores, smoke shops, and feeling the vibe. Eat in one of the area’s delicious restaurants, or grab some drinks and listen to live music in one of the bars. Tourists and locals both hang out here.

Plenty of famous names took residence in Haight-Ashbury during its heyday. Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and many more artists lived here. It’s possible to see the houses they lived in while taking a Haight-Ashbury tour, with guides filling you in on all the gossip.

Yes, Haight-Ashbury is safe for tourists to walk around in, especially in the daytime. In the evenings, like any busy city area, stay with friends, walk in well-lit areas, and mind your belongings. But generally, the Haight is safe for walkers and visitors.

Plenty of San Francisco tours head to Haight-Ashbury. Take a cable car tour, the Painted Ladies tour, or try a hop-on hop-off tour that stops at Haight-Ashbury. Private and group tours visit the area, so it all depends on what kind of flexibility you want while touring San Francisco.

Yes, the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco is worth it. Its history, where so many of the greatest artists spent time and created music, is one of its many draws. The vibe is cool, the restaurants are tasty, and plenty of boutiques, smoke shops, and live music keep you entertained.