🌉 Getting Around San Francisco

From cable cars climbing steep hills to ferries crossing the bay, San Francisco's transit is as scenic as the city itself.

San Francisco Wine Bars & Solo Dining

Main Transport Options

BART

Regional heavy rail connecting SF to Oakland, Berkeley, SFO Airport and Silicon Valley

•Direct train from SFO Airport to downtown in ~30 min
•Connects SF to East Bay, South Bay & airport
•Runs 5am–midnight weekdays
•Distance-based fares from $2.10+

Pro Tip: Use BART from SFO — it's $9.65 vs $50+ for a taxi!

Muni Metro & Buses

San Francisco's main public transit — light rail, buses, and the iconic cable cars

•Muni Metro: 7 light rail lines
•Muni Bus: 80+ routes covering the entire city
•Flat fare of $2.50 with 2-hour free transfers
•Includes historic streetcars on the F-Market line

Pro Tip: The F-Market vintage streetcar line is a tourist attraction disguised as public transit!

Cable Cars

San Francisco's world-famous moving National Historic Landmark

•3 lines: Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason & California Street
•Powell-Hyde has the best views
•$8 per ride or included in Muni Visitor Passport
•Running since 1873

Pro Tip: Board at the California Street line — shorter queues, same experience!

Ferries

Scenic bay crossings to Sausalito, Tiburon, Alcatraz, and Oakland

•Golden Gate Ferry: SF to Sausalito & Larkspur
•SF Bay Ferry: Oakland, Alameda, Vallejo routes
•Alcatraz Cruises: Book well in advance
•Stunning Golden Gate Bridge views from the water

Pro Tip: Ferry to Sausalito + bike back across the Golden Gate Bridge = perfect SF day!

Passes & Tickets

Clipper Card

Reloadable transit card accepted on BART, Muni, Caltrain, ferries and more

Best for: Everyone — Bay Area's universal transit card

✓Works on 20+ transit agencies
✓Auto-loads available
✓Discounted transfers between systems

Muni Visitor Passport

Unlimited Muni rides including cable cars for 1, 3 or 7 days

Best for: Tourists wanting cable car access

✓1-day: $24, 3-day: $36, 7-day: $47
✓Includes cable cars (saves $8/ride)
✓All Muni buses & metro

Single Ride (Muni)

Pay-as-you-go with Clipper or Muni Mobile app

Best for: Occasional riders skipping cable cars

✓$2.50 flat fare
✓2-hour free transfers
✓Clipper or mobile payment

Navigation Apps & Tools

Muni Mobile

Official app for Muni fare payment and real-time arrivals

BART App

Real-time BART train tracking, fares and trip planning

Citymapper

Multi-modal trip planner combining BART, Muni, bike & walking

Bay Wheels (Lyft)

Bike share stations across SF, Oakland & San Jose

Most Instagrammable Transport Spots

Cable Car on Powell-Hyde Line

Iconic cable car cresting a hill with Alcatraz and the bay behind

F-Market Vintage Streetcar

Colourful historic streetcars from around the world

Golden Gate Bridge from Ferry

The bridge from the water — a perspective most tourists miss

BART Embarcadero Station

Brutalist underground architecture with dramatic lighting

Bike across Golden Gate Bridge

Cycling the most photographed bridge in the world

Insider Tips

1Cable car queues at Powell & Market can be 45+ minutes — walk a few stops up to board mid-route
2Muni is included in many hotel packages — ask before buying a separate pass
3BART and Muni are separate systems with separate fares — Clipper works on both
4Fog rolls in fast — carry layers even if it's sunny when you leave
5Bike rentals near Fisherman's Wharf are overpriced — use Bay Wheels bike share instead