Russian Hill in San Francisco

Russian Hill is an upscale residential neighborhood that offers outstanding views of the surrounding area, rides on iconic cable cars, and the major attraction of Lombard Street. Here you can find plenty of independent shops, from boutique clothing stores to quirky gift shops, and you can explore a wide range of neighborhood bars and trendy, old-school restaurants. Whether you're looking to shop, eat, or just take a stroll along peaceful sidewalks, this is a great place to be.

You'll find Russian Hill north of Nob Hill, west of North Beach, and south of Fisherman's Wharf. This places Russian Hill within an easy jaunt of a whole world of fun and exciting things to do on your couple's, individual, family, or group vacation. Over the years, Russian Hill has been home to many famous people and has been featured in iconic novels and films.

Russian Hill in San Francisco - one of the highlights of 11 Most Popular Neighbourhoods in San Francisco (Read all about San Francisco here)

Highlights of Russian Hill

Arguably the most famous feature of Russian Hill is Lombard Street. This roadway features 8 switchbacks, sharp turns that have given the street the moniker "The Crookedest Street in the World." The turns were added in 1922 and were designed to reduce the grade of the street, which was too steep for many vehicles at the time. Another popular attraction here is the cable car that runs along Hyde Street. Not only can you ride the iconic cable cars of San Francisco, but you can also head to many shops and restaurants.

The historic plaque at the top of Vallejo Street memorializes Russian Hill's namesake, a Russian cemetery found by gold rush settlers. This memorial was placed here by the Russian government. Art lovers will want to visit the San Francisco Art Institute in this neighborhood. It also overlooks and offers views of the Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Marin County.

History of Russian Hill

Russian Hill was first established as a San Francisco neighborhood during the gold rush, but settlers here discovered that they weren't the first to visit the hill. In fact, they discovered a small Russian cemetery at the top of the hill where sailors from the Russian navy apparently were buried, as Russian merchant ships had come here as far back as 1806. When settlers put their first homes up, the neighborhood was given the moniker of Russian Hill in honor of the cemetery.

Over the years, it developed into an affluent and upscale neighborhood, known for its quiet streets, small parks, and great views of the city below. Today it's a clean and serene neighborhood with a low-key nightlife mostly contained in small local bars and pubs, and Victorian and Edwardian homes lining the street. It's right in the heart of San Francisco.

Good to know about Russian Hill

Most of the attractions in Russian Hill are of the low-key type. You can explore streets lined with historic homes. You can hit up small independent shops. You can visit quiet neighborhood bars. You can catch views of the surrounding city. For the most part, however, the advantage of Russian Hill is that it's central to North Beach, Fisherman's Wharf, Nob Hill, and Pacific Heights, all of which are just a few minutes away.

One thing to keep in mind about Russian Hill is that it's the highest altitude in San Francisco, and some people find this exhilarating, while others find it a bit disconcerting. Because it is at the top of a hill, while the streets are quite wheelchair friendly, the grade might be steep enough to cause difficulties for some. In general, the area is very family friendly and safe.

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