The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps

I went on a small adventure in the city and this was on my list of things I wanted to go to that day. We took muni and a bus to get there.
We went on a gorgeous day and hiked up all the steps. The view at the top is gorgeous. You can see all the houses and the beach. Also Golden Gate Bridge.
Walking up the steps you notice the great detail put into creating it. I liked how it starts with the ocean and sea life and as you climb up you see flowers, then the moon and at the top there’s the sun. I definitely want to come back here.

The famous 16^th avenue stairs have become a landmark in San Francisco. Because it lives near Sunset, it is relatively secluded from tourists. Its a great place to catch a sunset with a loved one or friends. Offers a great view on a clear day and gives a very different perspective of the more residential side of SF. Can be nice to catch your breath here away from the hustle and bustle of city center. Very often, you’ll see residents running the stairs. At sunset, the mosaic pieces on each flight of stair do a great job reflecting and casting light back to the viewer which results in an intimate and gorgeous view both direction.

Beautiful. I have to hand it to the artists who created this. I’m sure a lot of work was spent planning. The borders of the the ocean waves, forest, sun, moon, etc line up perfectly despite the fact that the entire mosaic is fragmented by the stairs. I also love the gardens on sides. The succulents are beautiful. Great view of the city near the top.

The steps are absolutely beautiful, and so is the view once you get to the top. I took my time and managed to climb them all. The people my friend and I met were polite and friendly — the weather was beautiful and people were in a good mood. There was even a girl taking pictures of shoes with interesting backdrops, for a class photography project. I did not know this until my friend took me there, but there is another (smaller) set of beautiful steps very near called the Hidden Garden Steps.

We were beat up by the wind and rain hiking over the hill to get there, but well worth it seeing the urban art. The thousands of colorful tiles creating a beautiful creation spilling down the many steps is really something cool to see.
Tiles shaped into moon, stars, sun, flowing, cascading stream with green grasses and flora and woodland animals, tiles with names of donors stamped into leaf mosaics, makes you appreciate an eclectic city like SF even more.

WARNING!!!
Frequent daytime car break-​ins. Do Not leave ANYTHING in your car!!!
Please trust this posting. Prowlers in the area now.
Tiled Steps Director

THEIVES IN THE AREA!!!
Be careful when you park your car to visit the steps.
There are people that watch and observe tourists as they leave their car. Once the tourists are busy at the steps they break in to the car and steal whatever they can grab.
This happened to me. I was gone for 15 minutes and when I came back I found my rental car window smashed and my belongings were missing.
As I drove around I noticed other empty parking spaces with shattered glass on the floor.
According to SFPD, this is a common thing in this area because of the amount of unaware tourists always visiting the steps.
Be on the lookout, if you notice someone at the top or the bottom of the steps by themselves, not taking any pictures and are just observing people then most likely that person is the lookout while their friends break in to cars.
Hide your belongings, lock your doors, and try to avoid parking in an isolated area.
San Francisco is a shady city in disguise.

I’ve seen a lot of pictures for this place and so I was «inclined» to come here. –ba dum tisss-​The designs for these stairs are beautiful! I hate climbing stairs but this was enjoyable.
A few of the tiles also have names commemorating loved ones and each section of stairs has a slightly different theme. The entire stairway comes together nicely and it isn’t common to find a place to enjoy the climb and the view. At the top you can see a good section of SF and behind you will be a park if you decide to climb that as well.
A lot of people come here to jog but quite a few people come here to take pictures as well. So you won’t feel left out if you do either. The people here are friendly and definitely glad to help if you need any photos taken. Do be aware that because of the traffic on these stairs, there is mud on them at times. Be careful where you sit.
It is within residential area so you will have to find street parking. Luckily we found a spot literally in front of the bottom of the stairs.

I don’t want to call myself lazy but I saw the steps, I saw they were beautiful, and it never once, not even for a second, occurred to me to walk up them.
I brought my family here and my Dad asked if I was going to climb them and I think my response was quick and sharp, as if he were the dumb dumb, «Nope. I’ve climbed a step before. I know what it feels like. I’m good.»
If only I’d known the view I was missing.
But in my defense, my 70-​something year old grandmother was there and it would have been super rude of me to take off without her so yeah, she’s my bonafide scapegoat on this one.
Next time, I’ll climb.
I’ll climb and I’ll stop on every step to take in the tiles that start at the sea with the colorful little fishes and gain elevation to the swirling sky, topped by the sun and moon.
The best part is that this destination is totally free to do and located in a beautiful residential neighborhood just far enough away from the main tourist destinations of SF that you can usually get some version of privacy here.

One of the greatest views in San Francisco!
After trying to find this place for a while now, my friends and I finally got to come here. Parking wasn’t a problem for us when we went. We conveniently found one literally across the street.
It was also perfect when we went because there wasn’t a lot of people so we were able to take some great pictures. The steps were a workout but that’s totally fine! On top of the stairs, you could see Moraga clearly and the beach.
It was definitely a breathtaking experience with an awesome view and I highly suggest coming here.

Beautifully Tiled and Colourful Steps & Gorgeous Views of the City from the Top — An Off the Beaten Path Hidden Gem in San Francisco!
My mother and I visited the 16^th Avenue Tiled Steps, also known as the Mosaic Steps, on the morning/​afternoon of July 30^th, after visiting the Golden Gate Bridge.
The Mosaic Steps were located at the corner of Moraga and 16^th Avenue, just south of Golden Gate Park.
We took the MUNI bus from the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center parking lot to the corner of 19^th Avenue and Moraga. From there, it was a short walk to the steps. The walk up Moraga Street was on a very steep incline to the base of the stairs.
We were the only people at the steps at the time and it was nice to be able to explore the entire place on our own. The steps were located in amongst a quiet residential neighbourhood and the atmosphere was very peaceful and relaxed.
The stairs are a community project (the history of them is interesting and I would encourage you to read up on it) and they were tiled beautifully in a variety of colours, patterns and designs, from the bottom to the top. The artwork was amazing and very impressive. This made for some fantastic photo opportunities, and I enjoyed admiring the work that had been to beautify these steps.
They were located on a hillside and were surrounded by lush greenery and vegetation, as well as houses. We began climbing. The stairs were on a very steep incline and hiking up them was a great workout! We finally made it to the top and were rewarded with gorgeous panoramic views of the expansive city surrounding us. It was breathtaking and the views were definitely worth the climb! It was incredible how far we could see, from the densely treed Golden Gate Park to the ocean and more.
The Mosaic Steps are off the beaten path from the typical tourist attractions and activities in San Francisco, but they are definitely a hidden gem! It was an incredible experience to admire and climb these steps and they were definitely worth seeing.

Sunday, 11:00 AM.
Quickie:
+ Artsy, cool
+ Clean
And then???
Mosaic staircase that aggregate to a larger visual (though each layer has its own picture). Walk the stairs and a view of the Bay (Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge) awaits you at the top. Put this on your list to check out!

I expected more from this place but really, it was just the tile steps. The designs were really pretty. The stairs were easy to step onto! Once I got up all the way to the top, i got to see the view of San Francisco. Breathtaking moment! It was definitely worth going up those stairs. Definitely a tourist attraction. The parking was really easy too.

After a litte cardio by beautifully decorated steps, you are rewarded with a pretty cool view of the city. I think this is one of those not so hidden spots that will soon become saturated by tourists, worth a visit.
I enjoy a bit of exercise, not too many steps and this is a spot not to be missed!
Bring a camera and tennis shoes.

At last! I was finally able to experience this tourist attraction. Here is what I thought of this place.
Parking
Neighborhood street parking. The roads are pretty tight so be careful. If you can’t park at the bottom of the stairs, try the top.
Feels
Beautiful. 10 years old and it’s crazy how it still attracts many people. The art itself is beautiful as it takes you from the earth to the moon! Also don’t forget to enjoy the view and the plants around it.
Overall
5 stars. Coming here on a Wednesday afternoon, it wasn’t too packed. We did get lucky with parking as for the art itself, kudos to the community members for creating this beautiful piece of art. It’s inspiring to see what a community can do. I definitely recommend this place to tourists rain or shine.
TL;DR Tips:
* There is a mini park above to get a wonderful view of the city.
* SPOILER-​163 steps.
* Think of a pose before you go, this place is busy ²⁴⁄₇

Taking in the local flavor of the city. We drove specifically to visit these steps and they didn’t disappoint. Found parking easily on the street below. Beautiful tiled stairs made of mosaics (I thought they were painted when I was told about them). We got there an hour or so before sunset so it was getting dark but there was still a good amount of people there. Some took the opportunity to do a photo shoot (???) which makes it difficult for others to walk up the stairs and take their own pictures. But it was still a nice local spot and got a mini workout. We walked to the top (about 140~ steps) and enjoyed the view of the city. Quick tourist stop and a unique part of the city.

Hidden gem tucked away in this residential area! The mosaic steps were created by the community and continue to be maintained by them. It is truly a lovely piece of work. Parking is decent in the area since this is more of a photo op. Definitely climb to the top once to see the breathtaking view of Ocean Beach in the distance. Come during sunset for great pictures and a great view from the top. You’ll probably spend no more than 15 minutes here, but worth putting on your list of places to visit in the city.

Totally worth the stop. We had a rental car so we didn’t have trouble getting to the location. We walked up the stairs then to the park and up to the top of that hill to see the whole city. This is one of the most beautiful views and it was easy for the 2 of us. It’s a great place to snap pics. The stairs are beautiful themselves– I love the detail and craftsmanship that went into them. This is a must visit!

This place was very busy during my visit which I wasn’t surprise. It has great view of the city from the top. And when you walk down is a great view to look up at. The stairs are beautifully made. Is hard to get a good picture with all of the people around. stop by to see this beautiful art.

Came by the other day and the views at the top was fantastic!
The tiled steps seems to be unknown to tourists and visitors alike thus making this a hidden gem!
The steps were well maintained and plenty of street parking was available!

Hotspots like the 16^th Ave Tiled Steps make me wonder why other locations like Lombard Street and the Painted Lady’s get so much hype. If you’re the kind of person who gets inspired by breathtaking views, then I highly encourage you to check out the steps on Moraga. It’s very accessible from anywhere in SF, it’s SUPER quiet, and the view is drop dead GORGEOUS.
You won’t have to fight for parking unlike other tourist hotspots. The Tiled Steps are located in a quiet neighborhood that seems like it’s made for rich people. But anyway, the location is very quiet and gives off the appearance that you are in some other world, far away from the city.
The steps don’t actually go very far up, but I implore you to try to see the difference in view as you walk up to the top. Unfortunately there’s a big tree at the end, but if you climb up to the second-​third to last platform, you will get a raw view of San Francisco residential areas. It kinda beats seeing all the hustle and bustle of the financial district amirite?
All in all, this place is a nice break from reality when you are busy with your life. Bring your friends, bring your partner, bring your lover and have a blast while checking out the nice view.
Have fun and prosper!

The «Moraga Steps» or the «Mosaic Steps» or the «Tiled Steps» or the «Grand View Park Steps»…whatever! Call them what you will… these steps are both beautiful themselves and provide beautiful views of the city. The adventure can be extended by making it all the way to the top of the hill to Grand View Park.
I discovered these steps by looking for «Local Flavor» spots in SF on Unilocal-​. I took my kids here recently and it was very cool. Even with the extended adventure to the «top of the hill» at Grand View Park it wasn’t a very long visit, maybe 30 minutes round trip if you start at the base of the stairwell. Its a photogenic spot for a number of reasons, so come prepared to take pictures. The city views, the stairwell, and the close-​ups of the tile art are all cool for pictures.
The [arking situation isn’t too bad. It’s all residential so be conscious of the signs.
The stairs are hugged on both sides by well manicured gardens.
I will definitely be returning.

Beautiful mosaic tiled steps in the Golden Gate Heights neighborhood… Located near the base of Grand View Park where 16^th Ave hits Moraga St. The tiles are beautifully arranged to create mosaics. Great to look up at from the base. And im sure great exercise too with a great view as a reward once you reach the top.
It’s a nice stop in the City that’s not your tyipcal tourist destination although you will find those here too. The sides of the long staircase also has nicely manicured plants and flowers.
Very nice neighborhood find. One of the many reasons I am proud of my hometown.

How can you not love these amazing stairs!!! If these babies were within a 10 mile radius of my home or work I’d be here at sunrise & sunset 7 days a week.
They are steep, beautiful on the eyes with an artistic touch and names inscribed for a personal touch. They also offer a breath taking view of San Francisco.
Head to the top… the payoff is worth it
Thank me later,
~Christy loves you SF

At 16^th and Moraga lies the tiled steps, which is a beautiful collection of art tiles that line up and beautify the city of San Francisco. It goes up the hill to 15^th. There were a group of people exercising by running up and down the steps. Oh dear gosh ._​. That is intense. Parking is really easy. Either park down on 16^th so you can walk up and then down, or park on 15^th so you can enjoy the view :)
Grand View Park’s entrance is really close by, so you can go up there as well. Why? They have an amazing 360 view of San Francisco. :)

I swear I’m a sucker for beautiful architecture and artwork. After seeing it on IG for years, I decided it’s finally time I make a visit to these famous mosaic steps. Of course, my pictures didn’t do justice of how vibrant it really looks as I upload it from my go pro.
We were able to find street parking nearby and make a quick visit just to take pictures on the stairs. Maybe if we wore proper outfits then we’d probably walk it all the way up to see what the view was like. But we were on a time limit as well so we just made quick photoshoot one for the memory books.
I loved how each set of tiles were different from each other that make each walking set of steps unique and beautiful. Surprisingly there wasn’t really any one there so we enjoyed the view to our self for a bit as we only went ¹⁄₃ of the way just to get our pictures. ;) I wouldn’t mind actually hiking up these stairs the next time I ever come around this area.