Alamo Square and the Haight
The best of the Painted Ladies
The Painted Ladies at Alamo Square, the Full House house, Haight-Ashbury and the Summer of Love: here is how to see them, with honest advice on private homes, the best light and crowds, and the small tours.
See our 4 picks
The Painted Ladies are seven Victorian houses from the 1890s on Steiner Street at Alamo Square. They are private homes, so you view them from the park. Go in the late morning for the best light. To add Haight-Ashbury, a guided walk starts from €33.
Our 4 picks for Haight‑Ashbury and the Painted Ladies
Three small-group tours of the Haight, then a self-drive car tour. Only one has more than 4 reviews.
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from €33 per person Our top pick 2 hours 5.0 (40) reviews on GetYourGuide
Haight‑Ashbury walk: the bohemian past
A 2-hour walk past the homes of Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead, Victorian houses and murals. Groups are up to 10, and it is for ages 16 and up.
Best for Music fans and first-timers
Check availability: Haight‑Ashbury walk: the bohemian past on GetYourGuide -
from €39 per person 2.5 hours 5.0 (4) reviews on GetYourGuide
Haight‑Ashbury architecture and murals walk
A 2.5-hour walk through the area's houses and street art, including the oldest mural in the city. It also covers the dark side of the 1960s.
Best for Architecture and art fans
Check availability: Haight‑Ashbury architecture and murals walk on GetYourGuide -
from €85 per person 2 hours 5.0 (4) reviews on GetYourGuide
Summer of Love e‑bike ride
A 2-hour e-bike ride past the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin houses, the Panhandle and Golden Gate Park. Groups are up to 6, with a helmet and water.
Best for Riders who want to cover more ground
Check availability: Summer of Love e-bike ride on GetYourGuide -
from €239 per group up to 2 4 hours 4.5 (3) reviews on GetYourGuide
Self-drive car tour with the Painted Ladies
A 4-hour drive in a small three-wheeler with a GPS audio guide. The price is per car for up to two people, and drivers must be 21 or older.
Best for Couples who want to drive themselves
Check availability: Self-drive car tour with the Painted Ladies on GetYourGuide
Haight‑Ashbury and Painted Ladies tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haight‑Ashbury walk: the bohemian past | €33 per person | 2 hours | Music fans and first-timers | The best-known Haight walk here: 5.0 from 40 reviews. |
| Haight‑Ashbury architecture and murals walk | €39 per person | 2.5 hours | Architecture and art fans | Rated 5.0, but from only 4 reviews. |
| Summer of Love e-bike ride | €85 per person | 2 hours | Riders who want to cover more ground | Rated 5.0, but from only 4 reviews. |
| Self-drive car tour with the Painted Ladies | €239 per group up to 2 | 4 hours | Couples who want to drive themselves | The one pick that goes to the Painted Ladies and the bridge: 4.5 from 3 reviews. |
Haight‑Ashbury walk: the bohemian past
€33 per person2 hours 5.0 (40)
More details
- Who it suits
- Music fans and first-timers
- Why we picked it
- The best-known Haight walk here: 5.0 from 40 reviews.
Haight‑Ashbury architecture and murals walk
€39 per person2.5 hours 5.0 (4)
More details
- Who it suits
- Architecture and art fans
- Why we picked it
- Rated 5.0, but from only 4 reviews.
€85 per person2 hours 5.0 (4)
More details
- Who it suits
- Riders who want to cover more ground
- Why we picked it
- Rated 5.0, but from only 4 reviews.
Self-drive car tour with the Painted Ladies
€239 per group up to 24 hours 4.5 (3)
More details
- Who it suits
- Couples who want to drive themselves
- Why we picked it
- The one pick that goes to the Painted Ladies and the bridge: 4.5 from 3 reviews.
Group size is stated for 2 tours only: Haight‑Ashbury walk: the bohemian past, up to 10; Summer of Love e-bike ride, up to 6. None of the 4 includes hotel pickup: you meet on site. All 4 offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 22 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Things to do at the Painted Ladies
The best thing to do at the Painted Ladies is to sit in Alamo Square and look. The houses are on Steiner Street between Hayes and Grove, on the east side of the park. They were built from 1892 to 1896.
They are private homes. You cannot go inside, so view them from the park or the sidewalk. Alamo Square is open from 5 a.m. to midnight.
Best time to see the Painted Ladies
The light is best in the late morning and early afternoon. On weekdays, the crowds peak from 1 to 5 p.m. So aim for late morning.
The Full House house: which one it really is
The Painted Ladies appear in the opening credits of Full House. But the Tanner family house is a different one. It is at 1709 Broderick Street, a few blocks away.
That house is a private home too. Look from the street, and keep your voice down.
Haight‑Ashbury walking tours
Haight-Ashbury is famous for the 1967 Summer of Love. More than 100,000 people came to the area that year. Start your visit at the corner of Haight and Ashbury Streets.
A walking tour shows you the music houses and the stories. The Grateful Dead lived at 710 Ashbury Street from 1966 to 1968. It is a private home today.
Next door: the Castro and the Mission
The Castro and the Mission are both a short ride south of the Haight. The Mission has murals and taquerias. Our tours here do not go there, so plan it as a separate visit.
Getting to Alamo Square and the Haight
Alamo Square is a walk of about 20 to 25 minutes from Haight and Ashbury. Many visitors do both in one morning, then walk on to Golden Gate Park.
Our Chinatown and North Beach guide plans a day on the other side of town. To compare the Haight with other areas, look at the San Francisco neighborhoods.
Tips for the Painted Ladies and Haight‑Ashbury
Go before 1 p.m.
Weekday crowds at Alamo Square peak from 1 to 5 p.m. Late morning also has the best light.
Respect the homes
All the famous houses here are private. Take photos from the park or the street.
Check the age rules
The bohemian walk is for ages 16 and up. The car tour needs drivers aged 21 and up.
Check the cancellation line
All four picks can be cancelled up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund.
Painted Ladies and Haight‑Ashbury: questions and answers
What's so special about the Painted Ladies?
Are the Painted Ladies worth visiting?
What was filmed at the Painted Ladies?
What is Haight‑Ashbury known for?
What famous people lived in Haight‑Ashbury?
More Haight‑Ashbury tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
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Next door in Golden Gate Park
Facts checked on 23 October 2026 against: SF Travel: Painted Ladies · SF Recreation and Parks: Alamo Square · SF Travel: Haight-Ashbury · SF Travel: Grateful Dead trip through San Francisco.
Written by the Things to Do in San Francisco editorial team.