Painted Ladies

The Painted Ladies sit directly across from Alamo Square, a centrally located park 11 blocks east of Golden Gate Park. It's easy to stop by on your way to the Golden Gate Bridge if you're coming from Union Square or Fisherman's Wharf. 

Because of certain bus restrictions, you'll need to book a small-group tour by minivan or an alternative activity such as a bike or walking tour if you wish to take a Painted Ladies tour with a guide. Otherwise, put on your comfiest shoes and walk there from other popular neighborhoods like Haight-Ashbury, Hayes Valley, or Pacific Heights.

• The Painted Ladies are private homes where San Francisco residents live, so be respectful of their property by not posing for photos on the front steps or near the front doors.

• Street parking can be hard to find in this residential neighborhood, so give yourself time to circle the block if you're driving. There are time limits, so check all signs carefully.

• Bring a jacket for the potential wind or fog that can roll across the city at any minute.

• Tour buses can't stop on the streets closest to the Painted Ladies, so be ready to do a little walking if you're taking a bus tour.

The Painted Ladies are on Steiner Street between Grove and Hayes streets. The area is well-connected to downtown San Francisco and elsewhere in the city by public transportation. Bus lines 5 (Pierce and McAllister stop), 21 (Hayes and Steiner stop), 22 (Hayes and Fillmore stop), and 24 (Divisadero and Hayes stop) will get you the closest to the Alamo Square Painted Ladies (tickets are available onboard). You can also take the N light rail line to Duboce Park, seven blocks away.

The houses face west, so go just before sunset for a glowing photo op in the best light. Evening and early morning provide better chances for fewer crowds. If you want to do as the locals do, head to Alamo Square on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon with a blanket, food, drinks, and a Bluetooth speaker for a relaxation session on the grass.

After a multimillion-dollar renovation that ended in 2017, Alamo Square Park features new paths, trees, landscaping, and an accessible restroom. The 12-acre park is home to a tennis court, playground, picnic tables, and plenty of green space. The park is dog-friendly, making it a favorite place for locals to gather—the Tanner family included.

No, not unless a resident invites you in. The Painted Ladies are private homes and not open to the public except on rare exclusive tours. Be mindful that people live in the candy-colored Victorians—visitors can respect the San Francisco residents by not posing for photos on the front steps or near the front doors.

Yes, the Painted Ladies are worth seeing. Made famous by the opening credits of the late-’80s TV show Full House, they're a prime example of San Francisco's candy-colored Victorian architecture. They're also free to visit within walking distance of Alamo Square, Golden Gate Park, and the Lower Haight.

The best times to visit the Painted Ladies are mid-morning and at sunset. You’re less likely to bother residents if you visit during mid-morning, when many people are out for the day. Visitors should remember that these ladies face west, making sunset a great time to take pictures.

Does the TV show Full House ring a bell? The Painted Ladies appeared in that sitcom's opening credits, dozens of movies, and endless postcards. They're also a prime example of the Victorian homes built in San Francisco until the early 20th century—and repainted in candy colors in the 1960s.

It's hard to get a bad shot of the Painted Ladies, no matter where on Steiner Street you happen to be standing. To snap the best photos, stand atop the staircase entrance to Alamo Square in front of Grove Street or farther up the park path towards Hayes Street.

Yes, people live inside the Painted Ladies. These colorful townhouses may be a tourist attraction, but they are also private homes and not open to the public except on rare exclusive tours. Avoid posing for photos on the front steps or near the front doors, as doing so could disturb residents.