Haight-Ashbury

Haight-Ashbury has hippie history and vintage shopping but also drug problems and safety concerns, especially at night. Interesting to visit during the day for the culture, but most people don't stay here.

Haight-Ashbury still trades on its hippie history, but these days it's a mix of vintage shopping, tourists taking photos at the famous street signs, and some genuinely sketchy street activity. The vintage stores are cool if you're into that scene, but expect to pay a lot for authentic band tees. There's definitely drug dealing happening here, and the panhandling can be pretty aggressive. During the day it's mostly fine if you stay on the main drag, but it gets sketchier after dark. The eastern end toward Castro is safer because it's more gentrified, but the western end near the park can feel unpredictable. It's worth checking out for the culture and shopping, but I wouldn't recommend staying here, especially as a solo female traveler. Better to visit during the day and head back to a safer neighborhood for the night.