Painted Ladies San Francisco: What to Know Before You Visit

The Painted Ladies stand on Steiner Street, opposite the eastern side of Alamo Square Park. The pastel-colored Victorian homes are also known as Postcard Row; find them between Hayes and Grove streets. They’re an easy city outing from Twin Peaks Hotel, a San Francisco base with local transit nearby.

San Francisco Travel says the homes were built between 1892 and 1896 and survived the 1906 earthquake and fire. The name “Painted Ladies” first referred to the homes in 1978, though credit for the name is disputed.

These are occupied private homes, not a public interior attraction. You can view them from the street and park, but give residents space: don’t linger on their steps or driveways.

Alamo Square Park is at Hayes and Steiner streets, San Francisco, CA 94117. From the hotel, Church station is about a 2-minute walk. For a broader look at local options, see this guide to getting around San Francisco by transit and on foot.

San Francisco Travel lists Muni routes 5, 5R and 6 as buses serving the Painted Ladies from downtown and Union Square. The 6 Hayes/Parnassus stops at Hayes Street and Steiner Street in both directions and runs between the Inner Sunset and Civic Center. Schedules and service can change, so check the SFMTA official site before you go.

If you’re fitting Alamo Square into a day of city stops, use this practical one-day San Francisco itinerary to plan the rest of your route.

Alamo Square is a hilltop park with lawns, flowerbeds, willows and walking trails. It also has a picnic area, tennis court and a dual-level playground. The elevated slope gives you a view over the Painted Ladies’ roofs toward the downtown skyline.

The park includes an accessible children’s play area, picnic area and restroom, along with a playground, tennis and a designated off-leash dog area. Dogs should be leashed on the typically busier east side. The accessible entrance is at the southeast corner, at Hayes and Scott streets.

Nearby, Divisadero Street is one block west and Fillmore Street is one block east. San Francisco Travel also points to dining on Haight Street and in Hayes Valley.

For a brief visit, allow about 20 minutes; Alamo Square also works as a place to spend hours. The park’s east side is popular with visitors. Weekday crowds are busiest from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., while weekend crowds can start forming as early as 10 a.m.

San Francisco Travel recommends late morning or early afternoon as a general window to avoid fog. Afternoon light from the west illuminates the houses; morning sun rises behind them and can leave the row in shadow. For a different angle, walk up the park’s elevated slope for the view over the roofs toward downtown.

There’s no charge to visit Alamo Square Park or observe the Painted Ladies. The park is open from 5 a.m. to midnight. Restroom hours vary by season: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in spring and summer, and 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in fall and winter. Check the San Francisco Recreation and Parks official site before you go.

The supplied visitor information does not specify parking options, so plan around the transit details above rather than assuming spaces are available. While taking photos, be considerate of residents and other park users. Pick up picnic trash, respect other people’s space and keep noise down at night.