Muni (Municipal Transportation Agency) operates buses, light rail (Metro), historic streetcars, and cable cars throughout SF. Single rides $3 (cash) or $2.50 (Clipper card). Day passes available: 1-day ($13), 3-day ($31), 7-day ($41). Download MuniMobile app for easy fare payment.
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) connects SF to East Bay, SFO Airport, and Peninsula cities. Fares based on distance ($2.50-$11). Essential for airport transfers and regional travel. Use Clipper card for seamless transfers between Muni and BART.
Cable Cars - Three lines (Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason, California Street) offering scenic rides and National Historic Landmark experience. $8 per ride (cash exact change or Clipper). Cable Car Day Pass $17. Lines can be long at peak times; board at terminal stations for better chance of seats.
Historic Streetcars (F-Line) - Vintage streetcars run along Market Street and the Embarcadero from Castro to Fisherman's Wharf. Beautiful restored cars from cities worldwide. Regular Muni fare applies.
Uber and Lyft operate extensively. Convenient but expensive, especially during surge pricing. Useful for late nights, steep hills, and traveling with luggage. Wait times vary by neighborhood.
Traditional taxis available but less common. Can be hailed on street in downtown areas or called. Metered fares with standard rates.
Driving NOT Recommended - Challenging steep hills, heavy traffic, aggressive parking enforcement, and extremely limited expensive parking ($5-10/hour, $25-50/day in garages). Many neighborhoods have residential permit parking. Street parking requires careful attention to complex posted rules. If driving, use parking apps like SpotHero or ParkWhiz for pre-booked parking.
Bay Wheels (Bike Share) - 500+ stations throughout SF. Perfect for short trips. $3 for single 30-minute rides, $20 for day pass with unlimited 30-minute rides. Download Bay Wheels app.
Bike Rentals available near Fisherman's Wharf for Golden Gate Bridge rides to Sausalito. Protected bike lanes expanding but hilly terrain can be challenging.
SFO (San Francisco International Airport) - 13 miles south of downtown.
• BART: Direct service to downtown (30-45 min, ~$10). Most economical option.
• Rideshare: $35-55 to downtown, pickup from designated zones
• Door-to-door shuttles: $17-20 per person
• Taxis: $45-65 to downtown
Oakland Airport (OAK) - Across the bay, often cheaper flights. BART accessible via AirBART shuttle ($6 shuttle + $11 BART = ~$17 total).
Money-Saving Tip: Get a Clipper Card ($3 card fee) at BART stations or Walgreens. Saves money on fares and eliminates need for exact change on Muni. Can be used on all Bay Area transit systems.