The one-block stretch of Lombard Street between Hyde and Leavenworth is famously billed as the crookedest street in the world. Eight hairpin turns zigzag down a 27-percent grade, lined with hydrangeas and perfectly maintained gardens. It was built this way in 1922 because the hill was simply too steep for cars to drive straight down.
The street is one-way downhill and open to traffic, though on summer weekends as many as 17,000 visitors clog the block. Visit early in the morning to avoid the crowds. The Powell-Hyde cable car stops at the top, making it easy to combine with a ride. Even if the crooked block itself is a bit of a tourist circus, the views of Coit Tower and the Bay from the top of the hill are excellent.