A cable car rounds a hill in San Francisco with passengers looking out the window. — San Francisco Cable Car

Transportation Basics: How to Get Around San Francisco

Navigate public transportation in San Francisco with ease. Learn how to use BART and Muni, ride cable cars, rent a bicycle and manage airport transit.

San Francisco is a compact, 49 square miles that's full of unforgettable experiences. Getting around the city is incredibly easy, thanks to multiple public and private transit options. Follow our tips for getting to and around San Francisco so you can make the most out of your stay.

SF Public Transit · Ride Shares · Driving in SF · Shuttles, Taxis, Limousines · Ferries · Bicycles · Airport Connections · Train

Public Transportation in San Francisco

Muni

Muni is San Francisco’s bus and metro system that runs throughout the city, operating buses, trains, cable cars and the F-line streetcar. Muni buses remain above ground and on streets while Muni Metro runs on rails and sometimes go underground. Bus stops come in many forms: small bus shelters, yellow paint on street poles, and white paint on streets. Metro stops can be found on an island in the middle of the street and in underground stations.

More Info: How to use Muni

Cable Cars and Street Cars

Cable cars and street cars are San Francisco’s historic public transit. Cable cars are located downtown and run on three lines: Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason, and California Street. The F-Line streetcar runs up and down Market Street all the way to Fisherman’s Wharf.

BART

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is the subway system that serves the entire Bay Area. There are a number of stations in San Francisco that connect downtown, Union Square, Mid-Market, and the Mission. Because they run below ground, BART trains can sometimes save you precious time if street-level traffic is particularly busy. Unlike Muni, BART fares are based on distance traveled; the greater the distance, the higher the fare.

Ride Sharing

Whether you want to jump in a Waymo, Uber, Lyft, or Zoox, you have a number of app-based services to choose from. You must first download the app, register, and set up a credit card payment system to use them. To use these services, set a pick-up location and destination in the app. If your vehicle has a driver, make sure to communicate with your driver; call, text, or wave down their car and always confirm that you are getting in the correct vehicle.

Driving in San Francisco

If you find yourself driving into town, San Francisco neighborhoods and popular tourist destinations are often sprinkled with a myriad of parking options, including metered parking. However, we encourage visitors to take the confusion and anxiety out of the equation and heading to SpotHero to reserve parking ahead of your trip or while you're in town.

If you want to explore destinations beyond San Francisco, you can use any of our local tour partners or you can rent a car yourself.

Like any big city, if you plan on renting a car, please note wherever you park your car, no matter the time of day or night, be sure to take all valuables with you and check signs for parking restrictions.

Shuttles, Taxis, and Limousines

Some of these options might make sense for travelers upon arrival at either SFO or OAK airports.

Shared Van and Shuttle Service

Several privately-owned, shared-ride vans provide service between SFO and passenger-specified locations. The one-way rate from SFO to the city center is approximately $17. Depending on the number of passengers, shared ride vans may make multiple stops, so the travel time can vary. In the Domestic Terminals, shuttles pick up passengers curbside on the Arrivals Level. In the International Terminal, passenger pick-up is on the Arrivals Level roadway center island.

Taxis and Limousines

SFO is served by a number of taxi and limousine companies. Taxis depart from roadway islands on the lower level outside the Arrivals/Baggage Claims area in all terminals. Uniformed taxi coordinators work from 7 a.m. until 1 a.m. to ensure a smooth process for travelers. All cabs are metered. The travel time to popular drop-off points in downtown San Francisco is usually around 30 minutes (depending on traffic) and fares range from $45 to 60.

For a limousine, arrange service in advance with your company of choice or upon arrival via the Lodging, Transportation and Attraction Boards, which provide free phone connections to participating limousine operators. These boards are located on the Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level of all terminals. Contact the service provider for pricing and availability.

Ferries

A ferry ride on the bay is a fun way to travel beyond San Francisco. Enjoy lunch on the water in Sausalito (there's shopping, too) or visit the quaint town of Tiburon with scenic views of the city. The Golden Gate Ferry will take you to Angel Island State Park, Larkspur, Sausalito, and Tiburon to the north and all Golden Gate ferries depart from Gate B at the north side of the Ferry Building. Don't miss the Giants Ferry to Oracle Park or the Warriors Ferry to the Chase Center!

The San Francisco Bay Ferry can take you to Alameda, Oakland, Richmond, and Vallejo to the east and they operate out of the three gates south of the Ferry Building. There are several ways to pay: by Clipper Card, San Francisco Bay Ferry mobile app, paper ticket, at the ferry ticket office, or onboard ferries with cash or credit card. There's even room for bikes on the ferries (space available). The Oakland & Alameda route also serves Chase Center for Warriors and Valkyries games. Both the Oakland & Alameda route and the Vallejo route connect to Oracle Park for Giants games and select events.

Bicycles

You can get around San Francisco on two wheels thanks to the many bikes available.

The Bay Wheels bike share program, operated by Lyft, provides 4,500 bikes and more than 6,000 docks for them across San Francisco. A bike share is great for one-way trips between neighborhoods and is often the quickest, most affordable way to get around.

For longer trips or crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, consider renting a bike or signing up for a guided tour.

If you are going to explore San Francisco on two wheels, here are some vital do's and don'ts to remember:

Do check brakes and wheels before riding.
Do wear a helmet and follow traffic rules. Only ride in the bike or travel lane.
Do obey traffic signs and signals.
Do park your bike upright and with care on the sidewalk or in a designated bike rack.
Don't ride on sidewalks.
Don't park in ramps or at blue, yellow or white curbs. Blocked paths can be dangerous for people with disabilities.
Don't block sidewalks or building entrances.

Getting To and From Bay Area Airports

San Francisco International Airport Transportation (SFO)

Moving between terminals at SFO is easy, thanks to the AirTrain—which is free, frequent, and makes connections to both a BART station and the airport's rental car center. A round-trip fare from SFO to downtown San Francisco is $22.30 ($11.15 one-way).

Lyft and Uber drivers will pick up passengers on Level 5 of the Domestic Garage while Waymo's will wait at the rental car center.

The San Mateo County Transit Agency (SamTrans) runs public buses between SFO and downtown San Francisco on the SFO, 292, and 398 lines for $2-$5 one-way for adults. Find SamTrans bus stops in the following locations at each terminal:

Terminal 2: Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level, center island adjacent to Courtyard 2.
Terminal 3: Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level, curbside adjacent to Courtyard 4.
International Terminal: Level 1 at Courtyard A and curbside adjacent to Courtyard G.

Oakland International Airport Transportation (OAK)

Taking BART from OAK is an easy and low-cost option to get to San Francisco. The station is located across from the Terminal 1 baggage claim area and a short walk from Terminal 2. Board a train for the quick eight-minute ride from OAK to the BART Coliseum station, where you can transfer to the BART train bound for your final destination in San Francisco. Trains depart every 5 minutes from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Service is less frequent at other times. Round trip BART fares from OAK to San Francisco ($25.30), downtown Oakland ($8.50) or other East Bay cities are less than half the cost of taxis or shuttles to the same destination.

More Info: How to Get to San Francisco from Oakland

Lyft and Uber serve OAK. Arrange your ride via the app, and then follow the signs for Smartphone App Rides in Terminals 1 and 2. Drivers wait for passengers on the second curb of the pickup area.

San Jose International Airport Transportation (SJC)

Caltrain provides commuter rail service along the San Francisco Peninsula. From the San Jose Airport, take the Airport Flyer-VTA Route #60 bus to the Santa Clara Transit Center. A new shuttle departs approximately every 15 to 30 minutes from 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. One-way fare is $2.

Caltrain fares are based on the number of zones that are partially or wholly traveled through by the passenger. There are two Caltrain stops in San Francisco: 22nd Street and Fourth Street. Both are in Zone 1. Allow a minimum of 60 minutes to arrive in San Francisco. Occasionally, the trip might take longer.

More Info: How to Get to San Francisco from San Jose

Getting to San Francisco by Train

Amtrak offers a comfortable and enjoyable way to get to San Francisco. The city is served via Thruway bus connections at Emeryville. Ride with the convenience of amenities and picturesque scenery right outside your window as you explore what the Bay Area has to offer.

From the North, take the Coast Starlight from Seattle and Portland.
From the South, the Coast Starlight travels daily from Los Angeles.
From the East, the California Zephyr travels from Chicago and Denver daily.
The Amtrak San Joaquin offers departures from Bakersfield and Fresno.

The Capitol Corridor, also operated by Amtrak, serves 18 stops between Sacramento and Silicon Valley.

FAQs

Frequently Asked
Questions

The most important things to know about getting around San Francisco.

How do I pay for public transit in San Francisco?

Do I need to rent a car when I visit San Francisco?

Can I rent a bicycle in San Francisco?

Activities

Top 10 things to do
in San Francisco

Discover iconic attractions and unforgettable things to do in San Francisco, from riding a cable car up its famous hills to exploring world-class museums, scenic waterfronts, and vibrant neighborhoods.