07/08/2019

5 Painted Stairways in San Francisco: Colorful Mosaic Steps (2026 Guide)

San Francisco’s painted stairways are mosaic-tiled public staircases scattered across the city’s steep hills. The most famous is the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps in the Inner Sunset — 163 steps of sea-to-sky mosaic. They’re free to visit, perfect for photos, and honestly a better workout than any gym stair master.

Lately I’ve been really into stair master exercises, but the gym gets boring fast. So I started hunting down San Francisco’s prettiest stairways for my workouts instead. Fun fact: a lot of these staircases used to be filled with trash before neighbors got together to tile them into public art. The designs definitely make exercising more enjoyable! And if you’re not into working out, these staircases are perfect for Instagram photoshoots and tourist photos.

The 5 Most Colorful Painted Stairways in San Francisco

1. 16th Avenue Tiled Steps

These are by far the prettiest painted steps in San Francisco. The mosaic design starts with a sun at the top of the staircase and flows down to an ocean at the bottom. There are 163 steps, so it’s a real workout (minus dodging all the people). This is the most popular mosaic staircase in the city, so it gets crowded on weekends — go on a weekday morning if you want it to yourself. You also get a nice view of the city from the top.

Location: Inner Sunset, 16th Ave & Moraga St, San Francisco, CA 94122

2. Hidden Garden Steps

This colorful mosaic staircase is just a few blocks from the 16th Ave Tiled Steps, but way less crowded — which makes it even better for an actual workout. There are 148 steps of flower mosaics created by the community. There’s shade here too, which is a lifesaver, though you don’t get much of a view.

Location: Inner Sunset, 16th Ave & Kirkham St, San Francisco, CA 94122

3. Lincoln Park Steps

Another pretty mosaic staircase, but shorter and wider than the others — only 52 steps, which makes it nice for going up and down repeatedly. It leads up to Lincoln Park and the Legion of Honor area with a golf course nearby.

Location: Outer Richmond, 32nd Ave & California St, San Francisco, CA 94121

4. Athens Avalon Greenspace Steps

This tiled staircase has a simpler design — the colors start light at the top and gradually get darker as you descend. There are 99 steps, so still a solid workout. It’s in the Excelsior, well off the tourist path, so you’ll likely have it to yourself.

Location: Excelsior, 743 Avalon Ave, San Francisco, CA 94112

5. Tompkins Stairway

This rainbow-colored staircase was newly completed when I visited — very bright, very fun. There are 66 steps with wide landings between flights, so it’s probably the easiest one to start your stair workout on.

Location: Bernal Heights, 200 Putnam St (corner of Putnam St & Tompkins Ave), San Francisco, CA 94110

Tips for Visiting San Francisco’s Painted Stairways

Go early on weekdays to avoid crowds, especially at the 16th Ave Tiled Steps.
Be respectful — these are residential neighborhoods. Keep noise down and don’t block the stairs for people who actually live there.
Bring water. 163 steps doesn’t sound like much until you’re on step 100.
Combine 16th Ave and Hidden Garden Steps — they’re a few blocks apart, so you can easily do both in one trip.

Skip the gym — 163 mosaic steps with a city view beats any stair master. If you’re planning a longer Northern California trip, check out my Downtown Napa staycation guide and my Yosemite viewpoints guide for more outdoor adventures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the painted stairs in San Francisco?

The most famous painted stairs are the 16th Avenue Tiled Steps at 16th Ave & Moraga St in the Inner Sunset. The Hidden Garden Steps are a few blocks away at 16th Ave & Kirkham St. Others include the Lincoln Park Steps in the Outer Richmond and stairways in Bernal Heights and the Excelsior.

How many steps are the 16th Ave Tiled Steps?

The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps have 163 steps. The nearby Hidden Garden Steps have 148 steps, and the Lincoln Park Steps have 52 steps.

Are San Francisco’s mosaic stairways free to visit?

Yes, all of the painted stairways are public staircases and completely free to visit. They’re outdoors and open 24/7, though mornings are best for photos and fewer crowds.