Whether it is the Golden Gate Bridge, the famous China Town, Alcatraz Island or the vintage saloons, San Francisco has a lot to offer. The City by the bay is a brilliant place to visit. There are loads of ways to get around San Francisco, from public transit to ride-sharing services, so we have put together a guide to help you.
Here are our top tips for getting around San Fran:
Table of Contents
Getting around San Francisco by car
Driving in San Francisco can be stressful, parking is expensive, and finding a spot can be difficult. Traffic during rush hour is especially bad; no one wants to sit for hours in gridlocked traffic. If you do drive in, you can find parking spaces for rent in san francisco starting from $50 a week, which will make it slightly easier than trying to find ever-elusive street parking.
Using BART to get around San Francisco
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) is the rapid transit system that connects San Francisco with the East Bay. It is a subway system, and there are three BART stations in San Francisco: Embarcadero, Montgomery and Powell. Fares start at $1.95, depending on where you plan to go. It’s best to find out which station you need before you arrive in the city so that you can plan your trip ahead of time. BART trains run from 4 am to midnight on weekdays and 6 am to midnight on weekends.
Taking the bus or Muni in San Francisco
Muni is a citywide bus system with trains connecting to BART lines and Caltrain stations. It’s easy to get where you need to go on a Muni bus or train. However, fewer buses run late at night, and fares increase in price during rush hour. A one-day Muni passport costs around $24.
Use the Caltrain for trips between the city and suburbs
Caltrain is a commuter rail system that runs between San Francisco and San Jose. It’s the only commuter rail system in the country that operates fully on electric power. In addition, Caltrain operates as a single-track railroad between its terminus stations at Fourth and King streets in downtown San Francisco and Tamien Station in San Jose. So if your trip is going to be within those four stations (or vice versa), you’ll never need to deal with switching tracks. In other words, get ready for some smooth sailing!
Ride a cable car
Riding cable cars is a fun way to get around San Francisco. Children can ride them for free, so it’s a great option if you’re on a budget.
There are several different types of tickets available:
- The cable car line offers one-way rides between Market Street and Fisherman’s Wharf for $6. You can pay cash or use your Clipper card. There is also an option for children ages 5-12, who will be asked for proof of age when buying their ticket. Children under five ride free, with an adult paying the full fare. If you don’t have your own transportation and want to explore beyond Fisherman’s Wharf, then this may be the best option for you!
- If you’d like to sit in front or back of the car (which isn’t always possible), then there are two other options: front seat ($8), middle seat ($6) and rear seat ($4). These types of tickets must be purchased online in advance; they cannot be purchased at any station along the route itself
Using Uber, Lyft, or other ride-sharing services in San Francisco
If you plan on using Uber or Lyft, it’s best to download the app before your trip. If you don’t have a smartphone, there are still other options for getting around town—you can use public transportation or rent a car from the airport.
Ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft are popular in San Francisco. They’re especially useful for people who need to get to and from the airport because Lyft has an exclusive partnership with them (Uber does too). Both Uber and Lyft cost less than taxis; however, they may take longer than cabs do, depending on how many other people are requesting rides at any given time.
Hop-on/hop-off bus tours
There are many different operators of these bus tours, so it pays to make a quick comparison before you go. The average cost is around $45 for a day, depending on the tour. These are a great way to see all the famous sights
Walking tours of San Francisco neighborhoods
Walking tours are an excellent way to get acquainted with a city. You’ll learn about the history, culture, and architecture of neighborhoods you may not have thought to explore. These tours can be free or paid. But San Fran is hilly and not for the faint-hearted.
Rent a bike
There are loads of bike rental services all across San Francisco. If you are okay with riding in traffic, this is a great option. Bikes can be rented by the hour, day or more. You can often pay for these using a clipper card which you can pre-load. You can also use your clipper card on the BART, MUNI, and cable cars.
Getting around is easy if you know what your options are
Your first step should be to get familiar with your options. San Francisco is a great walking city, but if you have time constraints or are travelling with people who aren’t up for it, public transportation and ride-sharing services will be there for you. If self-guided tours are more your thing, plenty of guided tour options exist too.
Conclusion
With so many options, getting around San Francisco should be a breeze. The city is well-planned and easy to navigate, with wide streets and plenty of parking spaces in most neighborhoods. With these tips in mind, we hope that you are able to have a fantastic time exploring this beautiful city!
