San Francisco, California Hotels and City Guide

San Francisco - Transportation

Getting Around San Francisco

Moving from one place to another in San Francisco is fairly easy, but it is important to remember that it is a big city. In such cases, knowing where to go, how to get there, and what places to avoid are the keys to staying safe. Big cities have questionable areas as well as friendly areas, so if you are unsure of a particular street or area, your best bet is to steer clear just in case.

San Francisco on Foot

Keeping these tips in mind, walking is a great way of getting around. It allows you to take your time as you pass by little shops, smell the delicious foods cooking in delis and cafes, and appreciate the vibrancy of your surroundings and of the people. If you are in shape, then San Francisco’s large hills may not pose much of a problem. But these hills are steeper than anything you may have encountered before, so reaching the top may provide a fantastic view, but also could leave you out of breath. Not every street forces you to trudge up unassisted; some have stair walkways instead of a straight up and down incline. Picking up the right map can give you a great look at the grade pitch of all the streets (marked in color) and help you to best decide which streets will suit your abilities or what you are willing to attempt. Always make sure to bring plenty of water and use sunscreen, as even with the cool temperature, you may find yourself in the sun a great deal.

Certain maps will also give you a look at hiking trails, bike paths, and other areas that are perfect for scenic or otherwise enjoyable walks. A few of these walks include:

Chinatown - Travel Grant from Bush to Broadway and you’ll go right through the center of the district. On your return trip, opt for Stockton or Powell in order to get a deeper look at the life of the people. Both streets offer up plenty of unique items to examine or purchase.

Telegraph Hill - A steep little walk, you can head up via the Greenwich and Filbert Steps on the east side of the hill. It may take some work, but the views are worth it. Stop and enjoy your fill at Coit Tower.

Ocean Beach – Swing in through either the Richmond or Sunset districts to take in the gorgeous views. You can stop for a little something to eat at Cliff House restaurant. Travel south for a nice, long walk to take in all the sights, or opt for a shorter walk by starting at the windmills near Lincoln and head north.

The Fillmore – Heading from Laguna to Fillmore will showcase swank shopping areas and restaurants as you find yourself in Japantown. Eventually, you may bump into Turk, which will give you a look at the jazz venue and an interesting mix of African-American and Korean vendors.

North Beach – Travel down Columbus from North Point in Fisherman's Wharf and you will see everything from renowned cafes to the TransAmerica pyramid.

Haight Ashbury – From Divisadero to Stanyan you can run the gamut of famous shops known for their hippie style and coveted bargain prices. Eventually, at Stanyan you can step onto a path that will lead you through Golden Gate Park.

The Castro and Noe Valley – Take a left down Castro St to 19th and you will reach what has become known as the city’s famous “gay mecca.” If you continue up Castro St. and reach 24th St, you can indults in the bohemian style of Noe Valley.

Cow Hollow – Between Gough and Fillmore you’ll find Union Street. Here you’ll discover one of the most excellent places for shopping once you leave the city center.

Pacific Heights – Fillmore has an interesting jumble of shops, great views, tall hills, and posh houses.

Traveling by Car

Renting or driving your own car is always an option, but it is not recommended. Those unfamiliar with San Francisco’s steep hills, hair-pulling traffic, confusing complexity of one-way streets (sometimes unexpected), expensive parking, and strong parking enforcement can leave visitors frustrated, uncertain, or just plain lost.

If you do plan on coming by car, there are several things to keep in mind.

Watch out for Lombard Street (located between Hyde and Leavenworth). This street is known as "The Crookedest Street in the World." It is one-way, moves down a very steep hill, and has eight extremely sharp turns. This street is treacherous to a point that oversized vehicles (pickup trucks, SUVs) should not even attempt to take on this street.

A parking garage will cost you anywhere from $20-$30 per day, and that is if you manage to find a spot. Failing to follow any particular parking laws can leave you with a ticket. This is especially true when you park on a hill. Make sure to turn your wheels to either face the curb (downhill) or turned out to rest against the curb (uphill) and set your parking break. Failing to do so will not only result in a ticket, but also creates a potentially dangerous situation. If your car is not properly parked on a hill, it may very well roll down it and lead to a great deal of damage.

Public Transport

The Travel and Leisure Website named San Francisco as city with the best public transit in the country. For people who refuse to get on buses in their own town, even they will find that hopping onto a bus or cable car is a mini-attraction in itself. In fact, it is nearly impossible to ignore the call of the bell of the cable cars, which have become a symbol of San Francisco itself.

If you are unsure of where to go and what system to use to get there, purchase a map that includes lines and stops. You can find good maps online or purchase small pocket maps to carry with you.

Several organizations provide various methods of public transportation. There are several stations to hop on and off at, and it is a good idea to decide which system you want to use the most because tickets are very rarely transferable across these systems. The three major transit systems are:

Muni

Officially known as Municipal Railway, they contain the most services, including streetcars, metro lines, buses, and cable cars. They operate within San Francisco.

Purchasing an all day Muni passport allows you to ride on any Muni vehicle. A passport costs $11. If you plan on being in San Francisco for a longer period of time, you can purchase a 3-day pass for $18 or a 7-day pass for $24. You can also purchase a monthly “FastPass.” These are $10 for children under 18 and $45 for adults, allowing for unlimited rides on any vehicles in the system. They’re not your typical passport cards; these utilize a scratch off method, so scratch off the correct date before you start using the card. You can purchase these cards at information booths at the San Francisco Airport, cable car ticket booths, and many other locations.

If you don’t need a pass, you can pay for single, one-way rides. If you travel for 90 minutes on the Metro, F-line, or any buses, the cost is $1.50. Keep a transfer ticket with you as an inspector may request to see it. Transfer tickets act as proof of payment. A cable car costs $5.00 or $11.00 per day. If you are a senior or disabled and need to travel before 7:00am or after 9:00pm, then cable cars are a great, cheap method of transportation, as their price shrinks to a mere $1.00. You must pay with exact change or have a pass in order to ride a Muni vehicle.

Muni Metro

The Muni Metro (Lines J, K, L, M, N, S and T) is a modern light rail and subway system. Operating hours are 4:30am-1:30am, seven days a week. The Metro is a great way to travel as it connects many San Francisco neighborhoods together, from the southern area all the way to downtown. At the downtown station, you can opt to transfer over to one of BART’s four stations or the CalTrain terminus if you need to go elsewhere that Muni does not have lines. You can buy a Metro ticket from a ticket vending machine any time before you board. Metro stations require coins, but many Muni stations do not have change machines and the staff do not give change, so carrying exact change with you at all times is important. If you arrive at a stop and need another ticket and the stop does not have a machine, you can purchase one from the driver. Failing to travel with the appropriate ticket can lead to a fine by the fare inspector. From 1:30am to 5:00am, OWL buses pick up passengers from the entire Metro system.

Cable Cars

The world-famous Cable Cars run on three lines: steeper streets between Market Street and Fisherman's Wharf; the north-south Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde lines; and the east-west California Street line. People love to ride the cable cars, for their ambiance, their openness to California sun, and can be especially fun if you get to stand on the running board. San Francisco is renowned for its clean cable cars and their well-known bells. Visitors and regulars alike use their services. In some cases, they are so popular that it actually takes less time to walk up a hill on foot than it does to wait in line to board a cable car. Make sure to buy a ticket from a ticket booth or the onboard conductor. Scam artists tend to sell phony tickets to unsuspecting tourists. The tickets are checked by the conductor after you hop on (or just grab a pole and hang on!).

Buses

San Francisco buses utilize both diesel and electric power and serve parts of the city that the Metro and cable cars do not. You can purchase tickets from the driver, or just show your pass or transfer ticket. Bus rides can last anywhere from a few minutes to up to 20 minutes, all depending upon where you are going and where you started from. However, don’t be surprised if the bus gets delayed for up to 30 minutes at a time. It can come in handy, though. The bus service operates 24 hours a day and 7 days a week and can get you to a few places that the other lines can’t. The late OWL service hooks up with the Metro lines late at night to offer safe transfer from location to location.

BART

BART stands for Bay Area Rapid Transit and provides regional rail services throughout the Bay Area. It has eight stations located in San Francisco, which offers a great way to sneak through well-trafficked areas of the city. Serviced by 107 miles (172 km) of track lines and stopping at 46 stations, BART has plenty of room to move and to ferry people from across the Bay to Berkeley, Oakland, and to the airports of Oakland and San Francisco. It’s fast and efficient, soaring along at 80mph (120km/h) and running seven days a week, 4:30am to 12:30am. After 12:30am, overnight bus services pick up passengers at key BART stations until 6:00am. Maps show different lines in different colors, which you can find online or in many San Francisco shops. Plan out where you want to go and get your ticket in before you board a train.

CalTrain

CalTrain provides regional rail services to the San José area. There are three main stops in San Francisco: 4th and King, 22nd St. Station, and the Bayshore Station (off of Tunnel Ave). While the 4th and King terminal can lead you to some interesting sights, the other two stations are not particularly interesting. Traveling outside the city of San Francisco is different; you can see Stanford University and Diridon. Operating seven days a week from 5:00am-12:00am, make sure to have your ticket ready and board at the correct station. Check maps for lines and times.

Hotels in San Francisco, California