Haight-Ashbury Travel Guide

San Francisco

Haight-Ashbury showing street scenes, a house and heritage architecture
Haight-Ashbury which includes a city
Haight-Ashbury showing street scenes and a house
Haight-Ashbury which includes heritage architecture and a house
Haight-Ashbury showing signage, a city and a house

Home of the Summer of Love, flower power and the Grateful Dead in the ’60s, this neighbourhood is still a San Francisco landmark rich with history.

Haight Ashbury was the epicentre of 1960s flowered-power fuelled counterculture, a refuge for rebellious teens, society dropouts and peace-loving dreamers. Janis Joplin and The Grateful Dead are long-gone, but many remnants of the tie-dye wearing, incense-burning, love-not-war generation are still evident in this bohemian neighbourhood. Students and other local young people, as well as tourists, hang out in the coffee houses and music clubs, book stores, boutiques and shops selling ethnic clothes and smoking paraphernalia.

If you want to get in touch with your inner flower child and sample some of the history of the Haight, you can still find Hendrix and Jefferson Airplane records (actual vinyl!) in a few of the music stores and “hippie” relics in the souvenir shops. But the neighbourhood is considerably more gentrified than in its ’60s heyday. Expensive clothing boutiques, hip restaurants and internet cafes all add to the eclectic vibe.

In the ’70s, most of the hippies moved out and the yuppies moved in, snapping up the colourful Victorian row houses, “painted ladies,” that draw tourists from all over the world. Some of these “painted ladies,” a term for Edwardian and Victorian homes painted in three or more colours—typically pink, purple, lemon and lavender—to embellish the intricate architectural details, date back to the mid-1800’s. The entire district is unique in that it survived the 1906 earthquake that destroyed more than 80 percent of the city.

The best way to enjoy and discover this laid-back yet lively neighbourhood is by strolling the streets with a camera. Consider finishing your day at historic Buena Vista Park, the oldest park in the city, which covers 37 acres (nearly 15 hectares) along a steep hillside with amazing views of the city and the ocean. This is a great vantage point to watch the sun go down over the Golden Gate Bridge.


Popular places to visit

Things to do


Top hotels in Haight-Ashbury

Holiday Inn Golden Gateway by IHG

Holiday Inn Golden Gateway by IHG

3.5 out of 5
1500 Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA
The price is Rp2.185.732 per night from 9 Nov to 10 Nov
Rp2.185.732
Rp2.572.498 total
9 Nov - 10 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the pool and the ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (4,695 reviews)
"Overall, my experience at Holiday Inn Golden Gateway was mixed. The room itself was clean and comfortable, and the staff inside the hotel were friendly and helpful during our stay. However, we had an issue with the security outside late at night. We came back around 2 a.m. and didn’t realize we needed ..."

Reviewed on 18 Oct 2025

Holiday Inn Golden Gateway by IHG
Best Western Plus Grosvenor Airport Hotel

Best Western Plus Grosvenor Airport Hotel

3 out of 5
380 S Airport Boulevard, South San Francisco, CA
The price is Rp1.515.331 per night from 2 Nov to 3 Nov
Rp1.515.331
Rp1.791.683 total
2 Nov - 3 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3-star business-friendly hotel in South San Francisco. Enjoy free breakfast, a free airport shuttle and room service. Our guests praise the helpful ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (1,642 reviews)
"The property was older yet maintained very well. The entire staff from the front desk staff to the breakfast attendant were very kind and cordial. The mattress was very comfortable. Overall I would give them a B+ grade."

Reviewed on 16 Oct 2025

Best Western Plus Grosvenor Airport Hotel
Crowne Plaza San Francisco Airport by IHG

Crowne Plaza San Francisco Airport by IHG

3.5 out of 5
1177 Airport Blvd, Burlingame, CA
The price is Rp1.509.690 per night from 2 Nov to 3 Nov
Rp1.509.690
Rp1.716.567 total
2 Nov - 3 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 3.5-star business-friendly hotel in Burlingame. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, room service and a fitness centre. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the ...
7.6/10 Good! (2,304 reviews)
"Good Rooms with greate view"

Reviewed on 17 Oct 2025

Crowne Plaza San Francisco Airport by IHG
Handlery Union Square Hotel

Handlery Union Square Hotel

3.5 out of 5
351 Geary St, San Francisco, CA
The price is Rp3.413.973 per night from 16 Nov to 17 Nov
Rp3.413.973
Rp4.018.075 total
16 Nov - 17 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a fitness centre and valet parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the pool and the helpful ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (2,779 reviews)
"A good stay. I travel a lot to the SF area. This was a big nightly price for me, much more than I usually choose to pay. It was nice but it was a lot per night."

Reviewed on 19 Oct 2025

Handlery Union Square Hotel
Fairmont San Francisco

Fairmont San Francisco

5 out of 5
950 Mason Street Atop Nob Hill, San Francisco, CA
The price is Rp3.882.060 per night from 10 Nov to 11 Nov
Rp3.882.060
Rp5.252.333 total
10 Nov - 11 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 5-star luxury hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy a full-service spa, 2 restaurants and 2 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the property ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (1,403 reviews)
"Obviously, this is a historic, classic, original Fairmont hotel. Friendly staffs, and great services. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about this property. Firmaont San Francisco, enough said."

Reviewed on 13 Oct 2025

Fairmont San Francisco
Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf

Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf

4 out of 5
2500 Mason St, San Francisco, CA
The price is Rp2.189.056 per night from 30 Oct to 31 Oct
Rp2.189.056
Rp3.259.917 total
30 Oct - 31 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this business-friendly hotel in San Francisco. Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and a 24-hour fitness centre. Our guests praise the breakfast and the ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (7,027 reviews)
"I can't speak to whether it's healthy or not, but plentiful and plenty of options and it was nice to have an included breakfast. Not typical in US hotels"

Reviewed on 18 Oct 2025

Hotel Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Haight-Ashbury

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Western Addition

4/5(24 area reviews)

Alamo Square and Painted Ladies are top sights in Western Addition, and you should be sure to explore the popular shops. Hop aboard the metro at Duboce Avenue & Noe Street Station or Duboce Ave & Church St Stop to see more sights in the area.

Western Addition
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Noe Valley

Appreciated for its churches and architecture, you might consider exploring Noe Valley. Check out the variety of things to see and do like 22nd St Hill, and jump on the metro at Church St & Clipper St Stop or Church St & 24th St Stop to get around the city.

Noe Valley
Pacific Heights featuring a garden

Pacific Heights

4.5/5(2 area reviews)

Take time in Pacific Heights to visit attractions like Van Ness Avenue and Mrs. Doubtfire House. You might also appreciate the abundant dining options, and you can hop on the metro at California St & Van Ness Ave Stop to see more of the city.

Pacific Heights
California Academy of Sciences showing interior views as well as a large group of people

Golden Gate

If you're spending time in Golden Gate, check out sights like San Francisco Botanical Garden or Japanese Tea Garden and hop on the metro to see more of the city at Irving St & 9th Ave Stop or Irving St & 8th Ave Stop.

Golden Gate
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Mission District

3.5/5(11 area reviews)

You might enjoy the bars while in Mission District. San Francisco Public Library is a notable sight, and you can get around town at 16th Street Mission Station or 24th Street Mission Station to see more of the city.

Mission District
Cow Hollow featuring signage and street scenes

Cow Hollow

3.5/5(9 area reviews)

Gourmet restaurants a bustling marina and top sights from Union Street to Van Ness Avenue – discover Cow Hollow, a destination also famous for its shopping.

Cow Hollow


Haight-Ashbury Travel Guide