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Travel Options & Tools
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Transit Information:
The San Francisco Municipal Railway, or Muni, operates the city's cable cars,
buses, and Metro streetcars. For customer service.
San Francisco International Airport:
Just south of the city, off U.S. 101. Several domestic airlines
serve the Oakland Airport , which is across the bay but not
much farther away from downtown San Francisco via I-880 and I-80, although
traffic on the Bay Bridge may at times make travel time longer. Flying times:
6 hours from New York, 4 hours from Chicago, and 1 hour from Los Angeles.
New SFO International Terminal;
Highlights of the new 2.5 million square foot terminal include: 24 additional
gates with expanded U.S. Customs facilities to have passengers on their way in
45 minutes.
Faster baggage handling, with ten more baggage carousels than at the current
International Terminal.
Twice the amount of ticket counter space as in the previous International
Terminal to reduce lines.
18 new restaurants serving a wide variety of international cuisine.
37 new retail stores.
A $10 million permanent art collection.
An 11,000 square-foot Aviation Library and Museum.
3,200 new parking spaces.
A taxi ride from SFO to downtown costs about $30. Airport shuttles are
inexpensive and efficient. The SFO Airporter $10 picks up passengers at
baggage claim lower level and serves selected downtown hotels. SuperShuttle
stops at the upper-level traffic islands and takes you from the airport to
anywhere within the city limits of San Francisco. It costs from $11 to $13
depending on your destination. Inexpensive shuttles to the East Bay among them
Bayporter Express also depart from SFO's upper-level traffic islands; expect
to pay around $20. To drive to downtown San Francisco from the airport, take
U.S. 101 north to the Civic Center 9th Street, 7th Street, or 4th Street exit.
If you're headed to the Embarcadero or Fisherman's Wharf, take I-280 north the
exit is to the right, just past 3Com Park and get off at the 4th Street-King
Street exit. King Street becomes the Embarcadero a few blocks east of the
exit. The Embarcadero winds around the waterfront to Fisherman's Wharf.
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By Train:
Amtrak: trains-the Zephyr, from Chicago via Denver, and the Coast
Starlight, traveling between Los Angeles and Seattle-stop in Emeryville 5885 Landregan St. and Oakland 245 2nd St. in Jack London Sq.. Shuttle buses
connect the Emeryville station and San Francisco's Ferry Building 30
Embarcadero at the foot of Market St.
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Driving a Car in the City:
Driving in San Francisco can be a challenge because of the hills, the one-way
streets, and the traffic. Remember to curb your wheels when parking on hills.
Exploring the city involves navigating a maze of one-way streets and
restricted parking zones. Cable cars, buses, and trolleys can take you to or
near most attractions. If you plan to visit distant outlying areas which are
not accessible by subway, it is best to ret a car for the length of such
trips, and plan to walk or use public transportation in the city of San
Francisco and environs.
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Subway:
BART, or Bay Area Rapid Transit provides efficient
transportation to Oakland, Berkeley, Concord, Richmond, Fremont, Colma, and
Martinez and other points. Trains also travel south from San Francisco as far
as Daly City and Colma. Fares are low.
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Taxi:
Whenever possible, avoid using taxis. Rates are high, and it is almost
impossible to hail a passing cab, especially on weekends. If you must use one,
either phone or use the nearest hotel taxi stand.
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MUNI:
The Citywide public transportation agency is the San Francisco Municipal
Railway, better known as Muni. It operates the world-famous cable cars, buses,
trolley buses, a metro system, and historic streetcars trams.
The Muni:
Passports include the cable cars, Muni buses, Muni Metro and the F-Market
streetcars. You can travel anywhere within San Francisco with the Passport. In
addition, you will receive savings on your entrance fees at most city museums
and many of our city's attractions when you show your Muni Passport. One,
three and seven day passports available.
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Cable Cars:
There are three cable car routes in San Francisco. Two of these routes, the
Powell-Hyde and the Powell-Mason, begin at the corner of Powell and Market
Streets, and run north-south to and from Nob Hill and Fisherman's Wharf. At
Fisherman's Wharf, you can board the Powell-Hyde line at Hyde and Beach
Streets and the Powell-Mason line at Bay and Taylor Streets. The third line is
the California line running east-west on California Street between Market
Street and Van Ness Avenue, serving the Financial District, Chinatown and Nob
Hill. This line tends to be the least crowded. The transfer point for all
three lines is at Powell and California Streets. Cable cars can be boarded at
any designated stop along the route. However, during the busy summer months,
it is a good idea to wait at the terminal, as the cable cars usually fill up
at the beginning of the line. There may be a 45- to 60-minute wait during the
summer.
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Buses-Trolley Buses:
Muni's buses and trolley buses run all over The City in frequent intervals
usually every five to 20 minutes. Each route has a number and a name, i.e.
5-Fulton, 24-Divisadero, 42-Downtown Loop, which are prominently displayed on
the front and side of the bus, along with the route's destination. Some
routes, such as 38L-Geary Limited or 14L-Mission Limited, make only limited
stops along their routes. Others, such as 9X-San Bruno Express or 31AX-Balboa
"A" Express, operate nonstop from downtown to the outer regions of The City.
For more clarity on Muni service, purchase a Muni map.
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Historic Streetcars Trams: You can travel back in time on the
distinctive collection of historic streetcars.. Each car is painted in its
original colors designating its origin in Boston, Chicago, Milan, or some
other country in the world. . You can find these beautiful streetcars running
along the center of Market Street from the Transbay Terminal in downtown to
the Castro District. They are collectively known as line F-Market.
Metro:
Beginning downtown at Embarcadero Station, the Muni Metro's five underground
streetcar lines J-Church, K-Ingleside, L-Taraval, M-Ocean View and N-Judah
take you under Market Street to various points of interest in the western and
southwestern regions of The City. The J and N lines branch off after Van Ness
station and operate on the surface, and the K, L and M continue underground to
West Portal Station before splitting into their own separate surface lines. In
the subway section of the system, J and N cars are often coupled together, as
are K, L and M cars.
Because of ongoing repairs, the Metro currently closes every evening at 10 pm.
Shuttle bus service is available until 12:30 am on the K, L, M and N lines,
and the F-Market historic streetcar service is extended during this time to
cover the J line. Board F-Market streetcars and shuttle buses at the island
stops on Market Street.
Call for current fare schedule.
Please have the exact fare ready when you board; Metro fare gates do not
accept any dollar bills.
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Transfers: A two-part transfer slip is provided when you pay your fare
on buses, streetcars and Metro lines. This transfer allows you to transfer two
more times to any bus, streetcar or Metro line. No transfers are given or
accepted on cable cars; single fares must be paid each time you board.
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Hours Of Operation:
Monday-Friday 5:30 am-12:30 am
Saturday 6 am-12:30 am
Sunday 7:30 am-12:30 am
Limited late night service is also offered on some lines.
Muni offers three discount transit passes, subject to availability. All can be
purchased at the Visitor Information Center at 900 Market Street, downstairs
from the Powell-Market cable car terminal. Just walk to Powell and Market. The
banners hanging above the cable car terminal will point you to the Center.
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