You’re planning a trip to San Francisco, but are you also getting a rental car instead of public transportation? Maybe you should think about the costs. After all, rental car prices are through the roof, even without a sunroof. What’s more, local gas prices are among the highest in the nation. This is also not to mention that crowds are now at pre-pandemic levels, along with predictable traffic. The solution to that, then, is to consider using public transportation.
Why Public Transportation?
If you’re traveling with family members, that could present challenges. But use this handy guide to see your options and everything you want to see. And don’t forget that parking spaces are at a premium – Sometimes so high that you will get sticker shock. Don’t forget that hotel parking prices are among the highest in the country. If you find San Francisco public transportation challenging, try using apps like Rome2rio, Wanderu, or Moovit.
San Francisco Public Transportation
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit)
If you’re flying into SFO, you can rent a car that could cost $100 or more a day. Instead, you can save money by taking a shuttle or using BART. This high-speed public transportation rail service has a direct line from SFO to downtown San Francisco.
San Francisco Transportation From BART Stations
To make planning easier, try booking a hotel within walking distance from a BART station. Alternatively, you can use rideshare services like Uber and Lyft from a station. Please note that BART service ends at 9 p.m. due to the pandemic. In other words, the last train departs the end of the line at 9 p.m.
Related: Transportation Options To Outside Lands
Attractions Near BART Stations
You can also use BART to get to popular destinations in San Francisco. For instance, BART stations are within walking distance of the Ferry Building, Chinatown, and Union Square. Among other attractions are the Asian Art Museum, Contemporary Jewish Museum, and SFMOMA. BART is one of the Bay Area’s most widely used public transportation services.
San Francisco Muni
San Francisco Muni manages the city’s public transportation system, including bus routes and Muni Metro light rail. It also operates the city’s iconic cable cars. However, cable car service is temporarily out of service until early August. Face masks are still required onboard all forms of public transportation until further notice.
Temporary Route Changes/Suspensions
Due to the pandemic, several routes have been temporarily suspended until further notice. See the latest information on route changes or closures.
Fare
San Francisco Muni accepts cash for fares on “surface transportation.” However, like other transit agencies across the country, Muni has adopted cashless fare systems. Cashless fare allows Muni to operate more efficiently, as cash slows down a transit vehicle. Moreover, those who use cashless fares will pay less for rides.
Cashless Fare
The three cashless fare options are a Clipper card, the Clipper app on your smartphone, and the MuniMobile app. Clipper cards can be purchased online or at selected locations. Discount fares are available for older adults, youths, and people living with disabilities.
Related: FAQs For First-Time Visitors To San Francisco
Buses
Muni operates 44 routes, serving extensive sections of San Francisco. However, please note that service has been reduced due to the pandemic. On a vacation, not many bus routes may have to be used. Still, BART and the light rail don’t cover some spots you might want to see.
Suggested Bus Routes For Visitors
Routes 5, 7, 30, 38, and 45 are suggested bus routes. Route 5 serves Golden Gate Park, while 7 serves Golden Gate Park and the Haight-Ashbury district. Bus route 30 serves Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, and the Legion of Honor. Bus route 38 serves Japantown and Land’s End, while 45 serves Chinatown and Fisherman’s Wharf. Please note that service has been reduced until further notice.
Bus Service To The Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Transit offers three bus routes (30, 70, 101) from downtown San Francisco to the south end of Golden Gate Bridge. Buses can be picked up at the Salesforce Transit Center or designated stops along Market or Mission streets. Golden Gate Transit also provides bus service to Fisherman’s Wharf. Muni’s closest stop to the Golden Gate Bridge is at Crissy Field on Route 30.
Related: Celebrate the Holidays at One Market Restaurant
Light Rail
Muni Metro light rail is one of the fastest ways to get around San Francisco. However, service is limited to certain portions of the city. Nevertheless, this is the way to go if you want to visit Oracle Park, the Embarcadero, and Chase Center. Metro can also take you to the Castro and Mission districts and Ocean Beach. A route to the San Francisco Zoo also requires a transfer to West Portal.
Cable Cars
San Francisco’s iconic cable cars will resume service in August. During this month, Muni will provide free rides while the cable cars are being tested. Schedules are said to be close to normal during the testing period. On September 1, regular service will resume with paid fares required. The cable cars are easily the most famous public transportation service in San Francisco.
Streetcars
Service on the city’s historic streetcars has resumed on Market Street and Fisherman’s Wharf. It can get very crowded on weekends from the Ferry Building to Fisherman’s Wharf. F Market further provides service along Market Street to the Castro District. The E-Embarcadero line south of the Ferry Building will not run until further notice.
Rideshare
Uber and Lyft are both headquartered in San Francisco, so it’s not surprising to see an abundance of rideshare vehicles. However, these vehicles have contributed to increased congestion in downtown. Because of this, public transportation is often a faster way to a destination. Still, rideshares are often convenient, although fares have gone up. Another challenge is to find a suitable place to get picked up.
Taxis
Although the preference is to use rideshares, SF taxis also deserve consideration. Taxis in San Francisco can use red lanes, which are designated for transit vehicles only. This is something ride-hailing services can not do. Moreover, there are several designated taxi stands, and vehicles use alternative fuels. Additionally, there are mobile apps for taxi service through Flywheel and YoTaxiSF.
City Bus Tours
San Francisco has plenty of options for those who prefer tour buses over transit.
Hop-On, Hop-Off Bus Tours
Among the most popular are hop-on and hop-off tours. These buses allow you to hop on and off many of the city’s most popular attractions. This includes leading spots like the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf. CitySightseeing, San Francisco Deluxe Sightseeing Tours, and Big Bus Tours are suggested tour operators.
Standard Bus Tours
Gray Line
Gray Line offers several tours, including a grand tour by bus and a wine country tour. Additional options include a tour to Muir Woods and Sausalito and a sunset tour. Gray Line also offers walking tours and combined boat-bus tours.
Additional Bus/Van Tours
A handful of small tour operators, like Magic Bus, provide unique options to see San Francisco. Among the other best-rated are SF Love Tours, Dylan’s Tours, Painted Ladies, and Vantigo.
San Francisco Boat Transportation
As summer kicks into high gear, there’s already increased interest in boat tours. Fortunately for you and other visitors, there are many options. This includes ferry tours to Alcatraz, passenger ferries, sailing charters, and high-speed boats.
Ferry Boats
Ferry Tours
Blue & Gold Fleet and Red & White Fleet are among the most popular ferry tour operators. However, the only ferry service to Alcatraz Island is CityCruises by Hornblower. Blue & Gold has the largest fleet, with tour options like Angel Island and Oracle Park. Red & White Fleet is the city’s oldest operator, with popular bay cruises and more. Reservations for any tour ferry service should be booked online in advance.
Commuter/Tour Ferry Services
Fare Prices
Fares can be paid in person, with a Clipper card, or via the Clipper app. San Francisco Bay Ferry also accepts fares from the Hopthru app. Discount fares are available for older adults, youths, and people living with disabilities.
Golden Gate Ferry
Commuter ferries like the Golden Gate Ferry allow visitors more options to see the city and other places along the San Francisco Bay. However, Larkspur and Tiburon currently only offer service on weekdays. Furthermore, the top-rated service to Sausalito has been temporarily suspended. Instead, bus transportation is being provided to Sausalito. Ferry service is expected to resume at any moment’s notice.
San Francisco Bay Ferry
San Francisco Bay Ferry provides service to points in the city and communities in the East Bay. Current service is restricted to weekdays only, with some services temporarily suspended. However, major changes to the schedule are expected to start in July. This includes a reduction in the price of the fare and additional service.
San Francisco Water Taxi
San Francisco Water Taxi provides various services, including hop-on/hop-off and one-way rides. The water taxi has hop-on/hop-off stops at Pier 1.5 near the Ferry Building, Pier 15 at the Exploratorium and Pier 39. Reservations can be booked online with discounts for children under 14. The water taxi also provides express service to Oracle Park and the Chase Center.
Additional Boat Tours
Visitors have over a dozen other options for local boat or sailing tours. Among the best are San Francisco Whale Tours and CityCruises. For the more adventurous, Adventure and Bay Voyager are taking reservations.
Bicycling
Bicycling can be a remarkably affordable option for getting around San Francisco. However, traffic can be highly congested in certain areas, like Union Square and along Market Street. If bicycling is a preference, cyclists should always wear helmets and be alert. The city’s top resource for biking is the San Francisco Bicycling Coalition.
Shared Bikes
San Francisco is part of the bike-sharing program Bay Wheels, which covers heavily populated regions in the Bay Area. Managed by Lyft, Bay Wheels offers classic and e-bikes, with prices starting at $3 for 30 minutes. Several bike locations are available throughout San Francisco, as detailed in this map. Please note that bike helmets are currently not provided.
Bike Tours
Several bike tour groups operate in San Francisco. Bicycles can be rented by the hour or on a guided tour. Both e-bikes and conventional bikes, including hybrids and road bikes, are available. Some businesses like Blazing Saddles and Unlimited Biker also offer tandem bikes as an option. Other reputable bike tour businesses are Bay City, Dandyhorse, and SF Bike Rentals.
Related: How To Use The Montreal Metro Subway
About The Author:
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS Local from 2012 to 2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including CBS New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. His other stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBSNews.com, CBS Radio, Engadget, NBC.com, NJ.com, and Radio.com. He is a Media Fellow of Stanford University.