San Francisco cable cars
San Francisco cable cars: tours, rides and the free museum
The free museum, the three lines, fares and where to board, and guided cable car and walking tours: here is how to see the San Francisco cable cars, with honest advice on the long lines, what a ride costs, and which tour includes the museum.
See our 3 picks
The Cable Car Museum is free. It sits at 1201 Mason Street. Below the floor, you can watch the huge wheels that pull every cable car. A single ride costs $9, and a 1-day Visitor Passport costs $15. To skip the long line, board at Powell and Sutter instead of Powell and Market.
Our 3 picks for cable car tours
Three guided tours that mix cable car rides with walking. None of them is a museum ticket: the museum is free.
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from €89 per person Our top pick 4 hours 4.6 (23) reviews on GetYourGuide
Half-day tour by cable car and on foot
A 4-hour tour from Market and Drumm Streets with two cable car rides and a historic streetcar. It covers Nob Hill, the Castro, the Mission and Haight-Ashbury. On weekends it stops at the Cable Car Museum.
Best for Fit walkers who want the history
Check availability: Half-day tour by cable car and on foot on GetYourGuide -
from €115 per person 4.5 hours 5.0 (13) reviews on GetYourGuide
Cable car and walking tour in one day
A 4.5-hour walk from the Transamerica Pyramid through Chinatown, North Beach and Nob Hill. Your $9 cable car ticket and entry to Grace Cathedral are included. You also stop at a fortune cookie factory.
Best for First-time visitors who want the city in one go
Check availability: Cable car and walking tour in one day on GetYourGuide -
from €125 per person 8 hours 4.9 (10) reviews on GetYourGuide
Full-day tour by cable car and on foot
An 8-hour version of the half-day tour. It adds the Painted Ladies, Lombard Street, North Beach and Chinatown in the afternoon. It stops at the Cable Car Museum on weekends.
Best for Visitors with one full day
Check availability: Full-day tour by cable car and on foot on GetYourGuide
Cable car tours compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Half-day tour by cable car and on foot | €89 per person | 4 hours | Fit walkers who want the history | The only half-day tour here that visits the museum (on weekends). |
| Cable car and walking tour in one day | €115 per person | 4.5 hours | First-time visitors who want the city in one go | The best-rated pick: 5.0, and the ride is in the price. |
| Full-day tour by cable car and on foot | €125 per person | 8 hours | Visitors with one full day | The most ground covered in one day, with a guide. |
Half-day tour by cable car and on foot
€89 per person4 hours 4.6 (23)
More details
- Who it suits
- Fit walkers who want the history
- Why we picked it
- The only half-day tour here that visits the museum (on weekends).
Cable car and walking tour in one day
€115 per person4.5 hours 5.0 (13)
More details
- Who it suits
- First-time visitors who want the city in one go
- Why we picked it
- The best-rated pick: 5.0, and the ride is in the price.
Full-day tour by cable car and on foot
€125 per person8 hours 4.9 (10)
More details
- Who it suits
- Visitors with one full day
- Why we picked it
- The most ground covered in one day, with a guide.
Group size is stated for one tour only: Half-day tour by cable car and on foot, up to 15. None of the 3 includes hotel pickup: you meet on site. All 3 offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 22 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Visit the Cable Car Museum: free entry and hours
The Cable Car Museum is free to visit. It is at 1201 Mason Street. From October to March it is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. From April to September it closes at 6 p.m.
It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. The museum home page also says "Closed Mondays", so check before a Monday visit.
Riding a San Francisco cable car
To ride a San Francisco cable car, buy your ticket first and board at a stop. Pay with the MuniMobile app, a Clipper card or exact cash.
At the turnarounds at Powell and Market, Bay and Taylor, and Hyde and Beach, you must buy before you board from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason and California lines
There are three lines. The Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason lines run from Powell and Market to the Fisherman's Wharf area. The California line runs from California and Market to Van Ness.
The Powell-Hyde line stops at the top of the crooked block of Lombard Street. Carry a San Francisco cable car map to follow the route.
Where to board without the line
Board at Powell and Sutter to skip the line. At Powell and Market, the wait can be more than 30 minutes. The busiest time is 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cable car fare in San Francisco
A single cable car ride costs $9 for adults, with no transfers. Children aged 4 and under ride free.
Seniors and riders with a disability pay $4, but only before 7 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
- Visitor Passport, 1 day: $15, with unlimited cable car rides.
- Visitor Passport, 3 days: $35.
- Visitor Passport, 7 days: $47.
Cable car hours and timetable
The California line runs from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The two Powell lines run until 11 p.m. The official pages give these hours but no stop-by-stop timetable, so just wait at a stop.
Guided cable car tours
A guided cable car tour is worth it if you want the stories behind the hills. All three picks mix rides with a lot of walking. They are not suitable for wheelchair users.
Only the two tours from Market and Drumm Streets visit the Cable Car Museum, and only on weekends. For a ride with less walking, see our hop-on hop-off bus guide.
Tips for the cable cars
Board at Powell and Sutter
The line at Powell and Market can take more than 30 minutes. Board one stop up the line at Powell and Sutter to skip it.
Buy a Visitor Passport for two rides
Two single rides cost $18. A 1-day Visitor Passport costs $15.
Ride early or late
The busiest time is 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ride in the morning or the evening.
Check the cancellation line
All three tours can be cancelled up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund. Check the cut-off on the booking page before you pay.
San Francisco cable cars: questions and answers
How much is a cable car ride in San Francisco?
How do you pay for a San Francisco cable car?
How do you ride a San Francisco cable car?
How does the San Francisco cable car work?
Where can I ride a cable car in San Francisco?
More cable car tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
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More San Francisco tours
Facts checked on 23 October 2026 against: Cable Car Museum: visitor info · Cable Car Museum: home · SFMTA: fares · SFMTA: cable cars · San Francisco Travel: cable cars · San Francisco Travel: Lombard Street.
Written by the Things to Do in San Francisco editorial team.