Hotels near The Painted Ladies and Alamo Square

The row of pastel Victorian and Edwardian houses on Steiner Street, known as the Painted Ladies or 'Postcard Row', is one of the most recognisable sights in San Francisco, their ornate gables framed against the modern downtown skyline behind. They date from the 1890s and survived the 1906 earthquake and fire.

The grassy slope of Alamo Square Park opposite is the place to take in the view, a favourite picnic spot and a famous backdrop from film and television. The surrounding streets of Hayes Valley and the Western Addition are full of more elaborate Victorian facades worth a wander.

Pro Tip: Climb to the top of Alamo Square's lawn for the classic shot of the houses with the skyline behind, best in late-afternoon light. Combine it with a stroll and coffee in nearby Hayes Valley, one of the city's most pleasant shopping streets.