Driving around San Francisco presents many hazards: the rush hour traffic, the unconventional outlay of streets and, of course, the legendary parking difficulties. Chances are that if you're spending much time here you'll end up using some form of public transportation at least once. Here's a rundown of what you need to know, plus where to find out more.
It's sometimes late and crowded, but Muni is woefully necessary for getting around San Francisco. It's also the way to see the real city and the best option for budget transportation. Muni operates buses, streetcars and cable cars in the city 24 hours a day, but service is limited at night.
Special service is available to both Monster (Candlestick) Park and AT&T; Park on game days. For schedules and fares, call (415) 673-6864.
The F-line streetcar is a great alternative to the cable cars. The vintage electric rail vehicles serve the City's main artery, Market Street, and its grand waterfront boulevard, The Embarcadero, linking downtown San Francisco to Fisherman's Wharf/Pier 39. Board the F-line at specially marked center islands along the route.
Fares
Bus and streetcar fare is $1.50 for adults and 50 cents for seniors (65+), youth (5-17) and persons with disabilities. Exact change is required. Free transfers are issued when the fare is paid, and they're good for two more rides in any direction for the next 90 minutes. Note that different rates apply to cable car rides (see below).
Passes
The Passport Pass is available in 1-, 3- and 7-day increments and is good for unlimited bus, streetcar and cable car rides. The Weekly Pass, good for unlimited bus and streetcar rides Monday through Sunday, is cheaper than the 7-day Passport but cable car rides cost an extra $1 each. The San Francisco CityPass is good for seven consecutive days on Muni and is also good for admission to several attractions in the city. If you're planning a week of sightseeing, it can save you money over buying individual ticets and Muni fares. A monthly Fast Pass is good for unlimited rides on buses, streetcars, cable cars and BART within the city limits. For more information on passes, visit the SFMTA website.
Maps
It's a good idea to pick up an official San Francisco Street & Transit Map ($3), which are sold at many local shops and bookstores, as well as at cable car ticket booths. The SFMTA website also has numerous schedules and maps (including cable cars).
A trip to San Francisco is simply incomplete unless you ride a cable car at least once. If you really want to get to Fisherman's Wharf, take the Powell-Hyde line or the Powell-Mason line. Both start at the cable car turnaround at Powell and Market and end at Fisherman's Wharf, but the Powell-Mason line has the best views. It ends on the east side of Fisherman's Wharf. The Powell-Hyde line takes you right past the crookedest street (Lombard) and ends on the west side of the Wharf. The lines to get on at Powell and Market and at Fisherman's Wharf can be very long -- try getting up at the crack of dawn if you don't like to wait. Don't try to catch it at the stop on the corner of Post and Powell by Union Square (known locally as Fantasy Island); the car is full by that time and won't admit more passengers.
Otherwise, take the California line, which runs on California Street from Market to Van Ness Avenue. It's generally less crowded, and takes you through Chinatown, past Grace Cathedral and up and down some impressively steep hills. Hang on tightly and be careful to keep all body parts inside the cable car -- sometimes cars pass very close.
The cable cars operate daily from 6 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Tickets are $5 per one-way ride and can be purchased on the cable car; change is given up to $20. Cable car tickets and one-day Cable Car Pass ($10) are sold by the conductors on the cable cars. See the Muni section for more information about passes, maps and schedules.
Both Powell lines stop at the free Cable Car Museum (1201 Mason St. at Washington), which chronicles the world-famous trolleys from their first run in 1873 to the present. For more information, call the museum at (415) 474-1887 or visit their Web site.
Generally on time and fairly clean, BART is the subway/commuter rail to the East Bay (Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond or beyond), Fremont, Dublin/Pleasanton, the San Francisco Airport and Millbrae. To view the current schedule for each line, visit the BART website.
BART fare depends on the length of your trip (see the fare calculator for exact fares), and each rider must have his/her own ticket. Bicycles are allowed, except during rush hour on certain trains. BART is wheelchair accessible but sometimes (i.e., often) the elevators are out of service; call 510-834-LIFT or 888-2-ELEVAT for station elevator information.
Service begins at 4 a.m. on weekdays, 6 a.m. on Saturdays, and 8 a.m. on Sundays and holidays, and the last train is around midnight. Check the schedule for your station for exact times.
511.org has a great online trip planner to help you get where you're going by BART and other public transportation.
Call 415-989-2278 for SF/Daly City information, 510-465-2278 for Oakland/Berkeley information. BART also has an excellent website with an interactive schedule and maps.
Oakland Airport
From the Oakland Coliseum stop, BART operates a shuttle (called AirBART) to the Oakland Airport ($3 one way; $1 for children under 12, seniors over 65 and people with disabilities). Buy your ticket at the machines in the station or in the airport before boarding the shuttle. Shuttles run every 20 minutes run from 5 a.m. to 6 a.m. and every 10 minutes from 6 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. (Sundays every 10 minutes from 8 a.m. to 12:00). The trip is 15 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic. Call (510) 577-4294 or visit the BART website for more information on AirBART.
San Francisco Airport
Although BART travels directly to SFO, it's a 5- to 15-minute walk from the BART station to the airport terminals. An alternate option is the free AirTrain, which operates 24 hours a day, every day, and loops past all airport terminals. For more information on AirTrain, visit SFO's AirTrain page.
Ferries to Alcatraz leave frequently each day from Pier 33, east of Fisherman's Wharf. Though tickets can be purchased at the Alcatraz Cruises box office window at Pier 33, advance purchase is strongly recommended, as tours do sell out. More information and online ticket purchases at www.alcatrazcruises.com.
For ferry service to most Giants games, see the S.F. Giant's Web site for directions.
The Blue and Gold Fleet runs from Pier 41 and San Francisco's Ferry Building to Sausalito, Tiburon, Angel Island, Oakland's Jack London Square, Alameda and Vallejo. For schedule and fare information, or go to www.blueandgoldfleet.com.
The Golden Gate Ferry runs daily high-speed service from San Francisco's Ferry Building to Sausalito and Larkspur; call (415) 923-2000 for fare and schedule information, or visit www.goldengateferry.org
The Vallejo Baylink Ferry runs from San Francisco (Fisherman's Wharf/Pier 41 and the Ferry Building) to Vallejo. Schedules and fares can be found at www.baylinkferry.com
Caltrain runs between downtown San Francisco and San Jose, through several Peninsula cities (for a list of stations, click here, or check out the system map). Weekday commute-hour service is also available to Gilroy.
As of April 2, 2007, one-way fares range from $2.25 - $11, depending on how many zones you travel through. See below for specific services. For schedules, fares, special event service and other info, visit www.caltrain.com or call (800) 660-4287.
Caltrain to SFO: The closest stop is the Millbrae station, but riders can easily take BART from there to the San Francisco Airport.
Baby Bullet (weekdays only): This speedier option takes weekday riders between San Francisco and San Jose in less than an hour. Service is limited to specific stations; check the timetable carefully.
Note on buying tickets: Purchase your ticket at a vending machine or a staffed station before boarding -- while riders were once able to buy tickets on the train, now anyone caught on board without a ticket is fined up to $250.
AC Transit provides bus service in Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the East Bay, and transbay service from San Francisco. Transbay buses leave from the San Francisco Transbay terminal (Mission St. between First and Fremont streets). For current fares, schedules and other rider info, go to www.actransit.org or call (415) 817-1717.
Golden Gate Transit provides daily bus service within Marin, Sonoma, and San Francisco counties. Information on fares, routes and schedules for both buses and ferries is available on their website: www.goldengatetransit.org
SamTrans buses serve San Mateo County and connect to San Francisco, Palo Alto and Hayward BART. SamTrans also has bus service to the San Francisco Airport -- the 292 originates at the Transbay terminal (Mission St. between First and Fremont streets) and stops at SFO. Fares vary by route, so call 800-660-4287 or visit www.samtrans.com for fares, routes, and schedules.
Access Northern California (ANC) offers a free publication for anyone planning an accessible trip to San Francisco. Click here for more details.
(Updated 3/07)
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