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    Filbert Steps

    4.6 (250 reviews)

    Filbert Steps Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Filbert Steps

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    Phil A.

    Great stairs that lead directly up to Coit Tower!! These stairs are across the street from Levi's Plaza Park. Be prepared, they are steep in the beginning, but as you get about halfway up, it's still a good climb, but not as steep. The views up here are spectacular!! It's also cool that these stairs take you through the apartment entrances, everybody has a gate and a little patio with flowers. If I lived here, these stairs would be my workout partner!!

    Gerard Y.

    Playing tourist in my own city over this holiday weekend. I took the F Streetcar from the Ferry Building and stopped on Greenwich. I decided to take these steps on my way to Coit Tower and I wasn't disappointed. The views looking back gets more breathtaking as you climb up. There were some beautiful flowers along the way which I'll come back to take photos of. It's a little exhausting but if you take your time and then stop ever so often, it's not so bad.

    Cris I.

    We had a hard time finding it but we didn't give up so after several tries and turns, we finally made it! There it is, the Filbert Steps that'll lead you to Court Tower in Telegraph Hill through Sansomme Street. The stairs seemed steep as we looked up from the base down the street. There were several people going down the stairs when we dropped by. I heard there's 400 steps for the whole trek. There's not much to see by just looking at it from the ground but most reviewers pointed out that the passage is quite beautiful as you pass by various gardens, hidden residential houses and mind you, parrots. That's a lot of things we missed but the million dollar question now would be "will I ever make this trek?". That's something we'll have to wait and see.

    Joan W.

    This is one of my favorite urban hikes. If driving it's better to start near Levi's plaza because parking in North Beach can be difficult. Along the way up the many stairs are lovely gardens, hidden houses, and views of the bay. It feels like a rustic hideaway. The steps itself are very strenuous so it's not for people that aren't in shape. I'm always out of breath by the time I reach the top so I know I'm getting a good workout. After hitting Coit Tower there are a few different options to walk down but I like to go to Washington Square Park or get a coffee at one of the many Italian cafes in North Beach. Hike is about 2 miles round trip if you go all the way from the base at Filbert to Columbus Street and back on the Greenwood steps

    Montage of images from the Filbert Steps
    Ed U.

    A bit overgrown and a tad ragged is the rolling garden that former bathing beauty and Hollywood stuntwoman Grace Marchant grew back in the middle of the last century (photo: http://bit.ly/2P34Ie1). However, it still fits the charm of this aerobic series of steps that connects Coit Tower with the Embarcadero. I think it's less daunting to start from the top rather than climb the initially concrete steps from Sansome. I actually started on Broadway and climbed Montgomery to get the glorious view down Union Street (photo: http://bit.ly/2PXdrUr) before descending on Filbert. The walk down the wooden steps reeks so much San Francisco charm that you kinda expect Armistead Maupin to come out to greet you on Napier Lane. You'll want to check this off your tourist must-see list. RELATED - Interested in other San Francisco landmarks? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2MTlxeg

    Very steep...so many steps!
    Nadine C.

    A workout in San Francisco... Ann S. suggested that we go here for the view. I had bookmarked it and we were in the area. We finally found it with our GPS - at Filbert and Sansome. Gosh...I didn't realize how many (steel) steps up there are - over 400?! Kudos to those who climb up to Coit Tower! We were tired and hungry, so we will leave this for another day! It just looked very overwhelming!

    Filbert Steps
    Stephanie G.

    We actually came from Stockton Street and walked up to Coit Tower. We found Filbert steps and walked down. It was very step and it is slick if it is wet. I enjoyed the view from the top though! If you don't want to take steps, you can drive to Coit Tower and park.

    At first, the steps from afar seemed intimidating. It ended up not being too bad - made it from the bottom to Coit.
    Laura C.

    I've been on a few "step" walks around SF and I would rate Filbert Steps as one of my favorites so far. It has views, gardens, flowers, lush foliage, a nice mix of sun & shade, quaint homes, isn't too crowded, and is a nice workout. Check, check, and check. We made the uphill trek from Sansome & Filbert all the way to Coit Tower. As you walk the steps, you'll see lovely views of the Bay and the Bay Bridge. We frequently passed jogging locals and tourists, but it wasn't overly crowded (on a Saturday afternoon). It's a pleasant walk, considering most of the area lacks any traffic (no car access) and there was a nice mix of sun and shade to the path. There was at least one lovely garden and you certainly notice the lush foliage along the path - one might forget and think you're in the tropics and no longer in SF. The wooden steps added to the aesthetics as well. Tips: -If you're walking along Embarcadero/piers, it's about a 6 or 7 minute walk from Pier 19 (you head West). -If you want to walk uphill, start at Filbert & Sansome. If you prefer to go downhill, you can start at Coit Tower and head East. I'm not sure if parking will be an issue; and, for the directionally challenged, it could be hard for you to find the path to Filbert Steps from Coit. I noticed several trails going out of Coit Tower. As an alternative, you can start at Montgomery and Filbert as well (if you want to avoid Coit Tower parking and have a shorter walk). I think you can also park further West of Coit on Filbert if you want a longer descending walk (see Google Maps). -If you're relatively unfit, this may be hard for you (going uphill). I saw one lady who seemed to struggle not too far into the walk. Our group's fitness level ranged from below average to average and we did OK on the hike. It helped since we stopped periodically to admire the scenery, which allowed us to rest. Bring water as there are a lot of steps. There are handrails for most of the path for those curious. -The start of the steps (near Filbert & Sansome) is minutes away from Levi Plaza. Levi's Plaza has their company HQ, a Levi store, a man-made waterfall, and benches. The main building which houses the store does have bathrooms inside by security (if you need to pee before or after your hike). Right across Battery Street is Levi's Plaza Park that's a small, clean park. -If you'd like to stop & picnic before/after your walk, you can do so at Levi Plaza Park (bottom of the hike) or at Coit Tower (top of the hike). Along the hike, there were a few spots to stop off and rest or admire the views, but nowhere to really sit or do a proper picnic.

    Tram N.

    My kids went. I stayed behind. Even staring up at them made my heart flutter. I am afraid of heights. It was just.. "Hell-no!" Pro Tip: there is parking and a short walk to Pier 39.

    Christy A.

    Filbert Steps are KILLER! Looking for an amazing workout? Just visit Filbert Steps for an hour. I promise it'll give you a full body workout that'll leave you feeling sweaty, sore and accomplished. The steps are steel, don't play it cheap. Wear comfortable shoes that offer stability on the steel, wood & concrete pavements. Again, these are very steel and winding. There is railing for your support. Trash cans to keep the area immaculate, alarms for fire & police should you need assistance and epic views. Take your camera and capture the moments, I did. ~Christy

    Luke L.

    Filbert Steps are flights of stairs that take you all the way up from Sansome Street (near Levi's Corporate Headquarters) to Coit Tower. Expect lengthy steps (took us 15 minutes to get to Coit Tower), various public gardens (including Grace Marchant Garden which named after a resident who dedicated her time to beautify the wooden Filbert Steps back in late 1940's), hidden residential houses, and wild parrots (I didn't get to hear any of them). I was surprised by how lengthy these steps were, but hey at least it was an excellent work out. These stairs also have handrails, so you can grab them if you have some fear of heights. Unlike The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps and Lyon Street Steps, you won't have too many opportunities to take bird-eye scenic pictures on Filbert Steps due to surrounding trees. Even if you reach to the designed viewing area outside of Coit Tower, these same trees prevent you from taking breathtaking 360-view pictures (I feel like someone did this intentionally so that visitors are forced to pay and go up to Coit Tower for panoramic pictures). Overall a great steps for exercise and gardens, but there are better steps for better city views. P.S. - Greenwich Street Stairs are in parallel with Filbert Steps. So you can make a loop to go up and down.

    you've made it to the top! now where to?
    Julie C.

    My little girl has been looking forward to one of our mother-daughter adventures here so we celebrated our school-free summer by tackling this walk. We began our walk early as we got off at Embarcadero BART(Montgomery BART may be closer). When we got to Levi's Plaza, we saw the sign indicating "steps to Coit Tower." After sliding past a sleeping man, we began our journey. The gardens are beautiful and lush. The noises of a busy city fall away as you climb higher. We didn't hear or see the parrots though my daughter hoped every chirp and squawk she heard meant they still live here. Once you get to the bottom of Coit Tower, you can visit the landmark or head downhill into North Beach . We did both. This is definitely worth a visit especially since you can treat yourself to Italian deliciousness as a reward. Tie on your sneaks, bring a water bottle, and dress in layers. It may be a tourist treat but it's also a legit workout. Make sure to pause to take in amazing views of the Bay Bridge and Embarcadero.

    Christina R.

    These stairs are definitely urban hiking at it's best. Be warned that it is a workout. There are spots where you can stop and rest but use them as an opportunity to turn around and get a good look at the view. It's incredible, especially on a clear beautiful day. And bring water! I failed to do this and suffered a little. The gardens tended by the residents here are amazing! You can tell they really love their neighborhood. I haven't seen a passion flower in a long time so it was great to be able to bask in the glory of these gardens. I read somewhere to take the Filbert St Steps up (and continue up Telegraph Hill to Coit Tower) and take the Greenwich St Steps down (if you happen to be headed back that way) and not the other way around. I'm sure glad we did this because the Greenish St ones are much steeper and slightly dicier. There were a few loose steps that scared me a little. It actually hurt both our knees a little to go down these steps. However, if you're looking for a harder workout, do it!

    Steps

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    5 years ago

    Great set of stairs. Worth noting, however, that you cannot buy Schlitz cocktails here.

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Filbert Steps

    Would it be possible to start the Filbert steps from the top, then descending steps? I'll be travelling with some older people that could have some difficulties to step up. In that case, where should we start from and how could we get there?

    Yes you can drive to the top where the monument is and walk down. There are different paths to take. You would have to walk back up to retrieve your car.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Filbert Steps

    On an otherwise overcast day, the sun was shining on Levi's Plaza where we began our ascent (Filbert & Sansome).

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    San Francisco Chinatown - CA Lottery selling lotto tickets and doing promo prizes at the Chinese New Year Community Street Fair, Feb. 16, 2025.

    San Francisco Chinatown

    4.1(602 reviews)
    0.6 miChinatown

    A special place in SF…read more Love how many dim sum spots there are, grab and go. Lots of Chinese restaurants too And takeout spots. Really happy about the new businesses opening up here! Yes bring the energy and charm! Parking can be hard so park at Portsmouth Square garage

    San Francisco Chinatown: 2026 Feb 7 (5 of 5)…read more Rediscovering San Francisco Chinatown: It's been eleven years since I last visited the Chinatown in San Francisco. What I remember: Chinatown was a bustling, dense, and vibrant enclave. The atmosphere was unique, created by the combination of its architecture, street life, sounds, and smells. Human activity was electric. It was a rush, as ladies pulling shopping carts jostled their way through the crowds, while little children tugged at their sleeves, trying to catch up with their mothers. I remember elderly men playing chess with one leg bent, and ladies practicing tai chi in the park. Today's Chinatown seemed more subdued. The high-energy I once experienced has toned down quite a bit. The scenes looked different. The once triple parked streets and crowded walkways looked almost deserted. San Francisco Chinatown is easily walkable. We walked along Waverly, Montgomery, Grant, California, Jackson, Columbus, Broadway, towards North Beach. Along the hidden alleys, I noticed colourful arts and paintings on the walls. A queue has formed outside the fortune cookie shop, so we joined in to take a peek. We stopped and peeked at the menus posted outside eateries. The menus still looked exotic - some items I couldn't even pronounce. San Francisco Chinatown's historic charm still exists and the walk is still adventurous. Would I return to this walkable enclave? You bet I will. There's always something that's 'new' to fresh eyes.

    Photos
    San Francisco Chinatown - CA Lottery selling Lotto tickets and doing promo prizes at the Chinese New Year Community Street Fair, Feb. 16, 2025.

    CA Lottery selling Lotto tickets and doing promo prizes at the Chinese New Year Community Street Fair, Feb. 16, 2025.

    San Francisco Chinatown - Hang Ah's dilapidated signage

    Hang Ah's dilapidated signage

    San Francisco Chinatown - San Francisco Chinatown: 2026 Feb 7 (5 of 5)

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    San Francisco Chinatown: 2026 Feb 7 (5 of 5)

    Lombard Street

    Lombard Street

    4.2(852 reviews)
    0.8 miRussian Hill

    Like a real world Disneyland ride!!! I loved the thrill of careening down this curvy switchback…read moreroad! It was an unexpected glitch in our cross town trek and so much FUN! I immediately wanted to do it again! All the time I lived in San Francisco, I never drove down this crazy road with all the hairpin turns! Probably because my VW convertible had so little engine power, that I frequently had to turn around before I reached the top of some hills!! We were powering along in an SUV, and it was up to the task! Hopefully the pedestrians walking up the hill (use the sidewalks)! weren't too terrified.

    As we headed out for the day to explore Downtown San Francisco, we figured we needed to check out…read morethe iconic Lombard Street. Some claim, the "crookedest street in the world". Apparently, we were not the only ones looking to check it out. There was a short wait to get on the street, due to traffic. But once on it, yep, we can confirm it's pretty damn crooked. it was a cool drive, with lots of hair pin turns to drive one block, but not something I'd want to have to deal with every day. It was a fun detour, and worth checking out to say you did it. Side note - I can't imagine living on this street, paying San Francisco real estate pricing, having tourists driving down it 24 hours a day, I'm not even sure how these people get out of their driveways, there's got to be constant traffic.

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    Lombard Street - Lombard street 1/2025

    Lombard street 1/2025

    Lombard Street
    Lombard Street

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    Japantown - Cherry Blossom Festival vendor

    Japantown

    4.2(548 reviews)
    2.0 miLower Pacific Heights, Japantown

    Came to San Francisco during Super Bowl week and had the chance to explore Japantown and Lower…read morePacific Heights again, and it honestly reminded me why I love this city so much. After being in Washington, D.C., where it was much colder, the warm SF weather felt amazing and made walking around the neighborhood even better. The food was incredible! We tried several different restaurants, and every place had something special, from comforting ramen to fresh sushi. Japantown has such a great mix of authentic flavors, cozy spots, and unique little shops that make the whole experience feel lively and welcoming. Being back in San Francisco, enjoying great food, good weather, and the energy of Super Bowl week, was just an all-around great feeling. I truly believe this is one of the best Japantowns in the country, and I can't wait to come back and explore even more.

    Japantown has always been a go to spot for us when we miss Japan, of course there is no comparison,…read morebut Nijiya Market has always been a good spot for Bento boxes, sushi, Sashimi, anything you want- quality has always been good, and if you get there later before closing, they discount some of the items. It's located on Post and Buchanan, street parking if you can find it but they have a parking garage underneath the shops and restaurants. They have so many good spots for Sushi, Ramen, Sophie's Crepes is another fav, Boba, you won't be disappointed! We will be back!

    Photos
    Japantown - The last of the cherry blossoms

    The last of the cherry blossoms

    Japantown - 12/28/25 FYI. Food & drink options.

    12/28/25 FYI. Food & drink options.

    Japantown - Godzilla

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    Godzilla

    The Parrots of Telegraph Hill

    The Parrots of Telegraph Hill

    4.6(108 reviews)
    0.1 miNorth Beach/Telegraph Hill

    I've never actually seen 'the Parrots of Telegraph Hill' on Telegraph Hill but have seen them all…read moreover the Northeastern part of the city like Russian Hill, Pac Heights, North Beach, and the Embarcadero area. This is one of those things at least for me is that when I'm looking for them I won't find them but they turn up all the time when I least expect it. They are very distinct because these birds are LOUD. Especially if they are in a big group, they are really noticeable. It sounds like they are constantly arguing about something or chanting together with high pitched voices. The birds are quite pretty with a rich green hue and red head. If you are looking for them specifically the best bet would be to go to Ina Colbrith Park or across the street from Sue Bierman Park in the Embarcadero at the aptly named 'Parrot Park'.

    Dang! These guys are loud! (But adorable)…read more First of all, this neat group of animals have a documentary featuring them: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0424565/ and a really cool website discussing their existence: http://www.markbittner.net/parrot_pages/wildparrots.html (by the author of a book bearing their name) Scoping out the parrots is one of my favorite free hobbies in San Francisco (free hobbies are few and far between in SF - hahaha!) The best way to hear and see them is in Sue Bierman Park, which is just west of the Ferry Building or on Telegraph Hill in and among the trees along the Greenwich and Filbert Steps. I find that they are loudest in the afternoons until sunset.

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    The Parrots of Telegraph Hill
    The Parrots of Telegraph Hill
    The Parrots of Telegraph Hill

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    Tenderloin National Forest

    Tenderloin National Forest

    4.6(20 reviews)
    1.4 miTenderloin

    What a special find. I truly mean it, very very special, when I stumbled upon the Tenderloin…read moreNational Forest I stood in awe, awash in that warm feeling you get when finding something amazing. A rare gem. When thinking of The Tenderloin, what pops to mind? Drugs and homelessness. Robberies and prostitution. Not the happiest of thoughts. The reality of The Tenderloin is along with it's rough and aptly assigned reputation it's also the neighborhood with the densest population in the city, including the highest proportion of families and children. I was lucky, I grew up with playgrounds and parks, fun that certainly didn't include all the aforementioned dangers. What about the children of the TL? I'd often pondered how rough it must be to be a child growing up here where you're too worried about what's in the shadows to even think about playing in the sun. The TNF is an alley turned oasis for those that will not accept that there can't be sunshine in their neighborhood. A community garden with beautiful murals, trees and plants, even gold fish lazily swimming about. I walked from one end to the other completely overwhelmed by the artistic courage I found tucked away in the heart of an area most people don't even want to drive through. I took plenty of pictures which I've attached but they do no justice. There is a feeling from being there, I can sense the love and hard work that was invested. A sanctuary. Look at the pictures, you'd never guess this inspiring beauty was anywhere even close to the Tenderloin. The TL isn't always what one might think and I implore you to check out their website, they need donations of dirt. Next time you find yourself on foot instead of avoidance I say head down Ellis, during the day of course, and stroll through the Tenderloin National Forest. While physically not the size one might think of for the term "forest", I promise you it's all that and more in spirit.

    Many reviews mentioned battling the grimy neighborhood before stumbling in so I won't focus on…read morethat. Instead, I want to give a quick update for the little gem that this forest is, sitting in the middle of what seems like a sea of shady transactions and city stench. Coming by after a rainy weekend in April 2018, we didn't expect much. But the forest was teeming with red and purple flower buds! The art was intricate and few trees towered us despite being pancakes between two 3-4 story apartments. There is a great variety of plants from cacti to air plants to cycads and even little ponds. It felt very dystopian in contrast with the neighborhood. The boat and oven I saw in older yep reviews aren't there anymore, but there is a cute stone "beach" with little ponds. The forest looks wilder than it was 5-6 years ago, but still offers a peaceful spot nonetheless. Worth checking it out during the daytime. Don't come into this neighborhood after sunset.

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    Tenderloin National Forest
    Tenderloin National Forest
    Tenderloin National Forest

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    Filbert Steps - localflavor - Updated May 2026

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