Getting around the city

The best San Francisco public transport

BART from the airport, Muni buses and metro, cable cars, ferries, the Visitor Passport and when a rental car makes sense: here is how to get around San Francisco, with honest advice on how to pay, what parking really costs, and which pass works where.

By the Things to Do in San Francisco editorial team 6 tours compared Prices checked 22 October 2026

A vintage F-line streetcar on a San Francisco street

Short answer

The best San Francisco public transport is Muni in town and BART from SFO. You do not need a car: Muni buses, metro, cable cars and ferries reach every main sight. BART gets you from SFO to downtown in about 30 minutes for $11.80. Pay by tapping a bank card or phone.

Our 6 picks for getting around

Two hop-on hop-off buses, three bike rentals and one combo with Alcatraz.

24 or 48 hours

Hop-on bus, 17 stops

from €50 per person Our top pick

1–2 days 4.6 (4,147) reviews on GetYourGuide

Hop-on hop-off bus with 17 stops

An open-top bus pass for 24 or 48 hours, with commentary in several languages. Stops include Fisherman’s Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Best for First-timers who want transport and sights in one
Check availability: Hop-on hop-off bus with 17 stops on GetYourGuide
Live guide

Hop-on bus, 20 stops

from €44 per person

8 hours–2 days 4.0 (958) reviews on GetYourGuide

Hop-on hop-off bus with 20 stops

A double-decker bus with a live guide and Wi-Fi on a loop of 20 stops. You can get on at any stop.

Best for Visitors who want a live guide
Check availability: Hop-on hop-off bus with 20 stops on GetYourGuide
from €17 per person

1 day 4.7 (291) reviews on GetYourGuide

All-day bike rental to the bridge

A bike for the whole day, with a helmet, lock, map and route tips. The car-free path runs to the Golden Gate Bridge. Ferry tickets are sold in the shop.

Best for Active visitors who want to ride the bridge
Check availability: All-day bike rental to the bridge on GetYourGuide
from €19 per person

2–8 hours 4.4 (584) reviews on GetYourGuide

Bike or e‑bike with a ferry back

A bike or e-bike for 2 hours to a full day. Ferry options include a one-way ferry from Sausalito to Fisherman’s Wharf.

Best for Riders who want to skip the ride back
Check availability: Bike or e-bike with a ferry back on GetYourGuide
from €17 per person

1 day 4.7 (391) reviews on GetYourGuide

Golden Gate Bridge bike rental

A regular or electric bike for 2 hours, 4 hours or a full day, with a helmet, lock and map. Roadside help is included.

Best for Riders who want a short rental
Check availability: Golden Gate Bridge bike rental on GetYourGuide
from €107 per person

Valid 2 days 4.6 (2,573) reviews on GetYourGuide

Alcatraz, bay cruise and hop-on hop-off bus

An Alcatraz ticket with ferry and audio tour, a 72-hour bus pass and a one-hour bay cruise. Alcatraz is closed from 26 October to 18 November 2026, so book a date from 19 November on.

Best for Visitors after 18 November who want it all
Check availability: Alcatraz, bay cruise and hop-on hop-off bus on GetYourGuide

Bus passes and bike rentals compared

Bus passes and bike rentals compared
Tour	From	Duration	Pickup	Free cancellation	Who it suits	Why we picked it
Hop-on hop-off bus with 17 stops 4.6 (4,147)	€50 per person	1–2 days	Meet on site	Yes, 24 h	First-timers who want transport and sights in one	The most-reviewed pick: 4.6 from over 4,100 reviews.
Hop-on hop-off bus with 20 stops 4.0 (958)	€44 per person	8 hours–2 days	Pickup included	Yes, 24 h	Visitors who want a live guide	The lowest bus price, from about €44, rated 4.0.
All-day bike rental to the bridge 4.7 (291)	€17 per person	1 day	Meet on site	Yes, 24 h	Active visitors who want to ride the bridge	From about €17 a day, rated 4.7.
Bike or e-bike with a ferry back 4.4 (584)	€19 per person	2–8 hours	Meet on site	Yes, 24 h	Riders who want to skip the ride back	The only bike pick with a ferry ticket included, rated 4.4.
Golden Gate Bridge bike rental 4.7 (391)	€17 per person	1 day	Meet on site	Yes, 24 h	Riders who want a short rental	Flexible hours from about €17, rated 4.7.
Alcatraz, bay cruise and hop-on hop-off bus 4.6 (2,573)	€107 per person	Valid 2 days	Meet on site	No	Visitors after 18 November who want it all	Alcatraz plus transport, rated 4.6. A full refund only up to 12 days before.

Hop-on hop-off bus with 17 stops
€50 per person1–2 days 4.6 (4,147)
More details
Pickup
Meet on site
Free cancellation
Yes, 24 h
Who it suits
First-timers who want transport and sights in one
Why we picked it
The most-reviewed pick: 4.6 from over 4,100 reviews.
Hop-on hop-off bus with 20 stops
€44 per person8 hours–2 days 4.0 (958)
More details
Pickup
Pickup included
Free cancellation
Yes, 24 h
Who it suits
Visitors who want a live guide
Why we picked it
The lowest bus price, from about €44, rated 4.0.
All-day bike rental to the bridge
€17 per person1 day 4.7 (291)
More details
Pickup
Meet on site
Free cancellation
Yes, 24 h
Who it suits
Active visitors who want to ride the bridge
Why we picked it
From about €17 a day, rated 4.7.
Bike or e-bike with a ferry back
€19 per person2–8 hours 4.4 (584)
More details
Pickup
Meet on site
Free cancellation
Yes, 24 h
Who it suits
Riders who want to skip the ride back
Why we picked it
The only bike pick with a ferry ticket included, rated 4.4.
Golden Gate Bridge bike rental
€17 per person1 day 4.7 (391)
More details
Pickup
Meet on site
Free cancellation
Yes, 24 h
Who it suits
Riders who want a short rental
Why we picked it
Flexible hours from about €17, rated 4.7.
Alcatraz, bay cruise and hop-on hop-off bus
€107 per personValid 2 days 4.6 (2,573)
More details
Pickup
Meet on site
Free cancellation
No
Who it suits
Visitors after 18 November who want it all
Why we picked it
Alcatraz plus transport, rated 4.6. A full refund only up to 12 days before.

Group size is stated for one tour only: Bike or e-bike with a ferry back, up to 50. 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.

Do you need a car in San Francisco?

No, you do not need a car in San Francisco. Muni covers the city, and BART links the city with the airports. Parking is paid and hard to find. A car helps only for day trips like Monterey or Yosemite.

For Highway 1, Monterey or Yosemite on your own schedule:

Compare SFO rental cars

Airport to the city: SFO and Oakland

BART is the best way from SFO to downtown. The ride to Powell Street takes about 30 minutes and costs $11.80. Trains run about every 5 to 10 minutes at midday on weekdays.

The first train leaves SFO at 4:58 a.m. on weekdays, 5:47 a.m. on Saturdays and 8:08 a.m. on Sundays. Service runs until midnight.

Bus: SamTrans 292 costs $2.25 cash, but takes about 80 minutes to downtown.
Taxi: the meter starts at $4.15, plus a $6 SFO pick-up fee.
Ride apps: domestic pick-ups are on Level 5 of the Domestic Garage.
From Oakland airport: BART to Powell Street takes about 40 minutes with one change at Coliseum. It costs $13.45.

Guides on getting around

Getting around: Muni metro and buses

Muni is the best way around the city. One ride costs $2.85 with a Clipper card, a bank card or the app, or $3 in cash. Your ride is good for 120 minutes, so you can change buses.

Cable cars and historic streetcars

A cable car ride costs $9 one way, with no transfers. 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. Pair a ride with a walk through Chinatown SF.

From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. you must pay before you board at Powell and Market, Bay and Taylor, and Hyde and Beach. The conductor taps your card on a handheld reader. The Visitor Passport also covers the historic streetcars.

A cable car on a steep street between parked cars

BART in San Francisco: lines, fares and how to use it

BART is the train that links San Francisco with SFO, Oakland and the East Bay. Tap a bank card, Apple Pay or Google Pay at the gate. Use the same card to enter and to exit.

BART no longer takes paper tickets. The Muni Visitor Passport does not work on BART, not even inside the city.

Ferries, walking and bikes

Ferries are the nicest way to cross the bay. The Golden Gate Ferry to Sausalito takes about 30 minutes and costs $8.50 with Clipper or a bank card.

Alcatraz ferries leave from Pier 33. Alcatraz Island is closed from 26 October to 18 November 2026 for dock repairs, and the dates may shift. Ticket holders can get a refund, change the date or take the 90-minute Bay Discovery Cruise, which does not dock. For the island itself, see our guide to the Alcatraz prison.

Bikes are a good way to reach the Golden Gate Bridge. Bike rentals near Fisherman’s Wharf include a helmet, lock and map.

Clipper, MuniMobile and passes: what to buy

For most visitors, a bank card or phone is enough. Tap it on Muni, BART and the cable cars. A card tap pays the full adult fare; discounts need a Clipper card.

The Visitor Passport covers Muni buses, metro, streetcars and cable cars. It costs $15 for 1 day, $35 for 3 days and $47 for 7 days. It does not work on BART or to SFO. Buy it at kiosks, on Clipper or in the MuniMobile app.

MuniMobile stopped selling single rides on 1 September 2026, but it still sells passes and cable car tickets. The city plans to retire the app by mid-2027. A Clipper card costs $3; on your phone it is free.

Hop-on hop-off buses: sightseeing with transport built in

A hop-on hop-off bus is sightseeing first, transport second. It loops past the main sights with commentary. It costs more than Muni, but you do not have to plan routes.

Parking in San Francisco

Parking in San Francisco is paid, and fines are high. Most meters run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Saturday. An expired meter costs $107 outside downtown and $108 downtown.

On Sunday most meters are free. Fisherman’s Wharf, the Embarcadero and the Oracle Park and Chase Center event areas still charge. Near Chase Center, meters can cost $12 an hour during big events.

The SFO Rental Car Center: when a rental car makes sense

Rent a car only for day trips out of the city. Inside the city, Muni is faster than finding parking. The SFO Rental Car Center is at 780 N. McDonnell Road. The AirTrain Blue Line takes you there, and it runs 24 hours.

In the 2026 San Francisco Travel Cost Study, car rental sites quoted average daily prices of $47 to $77 for San Francisco and California, from 3 sources.

A car pays off for Highway 1 and the coast to Carmel‑by‑the‑Sea, or for Yosemite. Add parking at your hotel before you decide.

Route by route: which way to go

How to get from San Francisco to the airports and the top day trips, with times and prices from each operator's own page.
Route	Option	Time	Cost	How often	Hassle	Source
SFO airport to downtown	Train	about 30 min	$11.80 one way	every 5–10 min on weekdays at midday	Low: station inside the airport, tap a bank card or phone at the gate	BART: SFO to Powell St fare and schedule
	Bus	about 80 min	$2.25 one way (cash)	every 20 min on weekdays, every 30 min on weekends	Medium: slow, many stops, exact cash or Clipper	SamTrans: Route 292 timetable
	Taxi	not stated by SFMTA	metered: $4.15 first 1/5 mile, $0.65 each further 1/5 mile, plus $6.00 SFO pick-up fee	on demand	Low: door to door, cost depends on traffic	SFMTA: Taxi fares
Oakland airport to downtown	Train	about 40 min	$13.45 one way	airport shuttle train every 6 min on weekdays	Low: one change at Coliseum station	BART: Oakland Airport to Powell St fare and schedule
Downtown to the Golden Gate Bridge	Bus	not stated by SFMTA	$2.85 one way ($3.00 cash)	every 12 min on weekdays, every 15 min on weekends	Low: Muni 28 from Fisherman's Wharf stops at the bridge parking lot; Visitor Passport valid	SFMTA: 28 19th Avenue route
San Francisco to Sausalito and Muir Woods	Ferry	about 30 min to Sausalito	$8.50 one way (Clipper or bank card), $14.00 paper ticket	7 departures on weekdays, 5 on weekends	Low: from the Ferry Building, Gates B & C; Muir Woods needs a separate shuttle or parking booking	Golden Gate Ferry: 2026 schedule and fares
San Francisco to Napa Valley	Car	about 1 hour on weekdays, up to 2 hours on weekends	not stated by Visit Napa Valley	any time	Medium: weekend traffic; someone has to skip the wine	Visit Napa Valley: Getting to Napa Valley
San Francisco to Napa Valley	Ferry	about 60 min ferry to Vallejo, then about 40 min VINE bus	$10.00 ferry + $2.00 bus, one way	VINE express bus: 5–6 trips a day, weekdays only	High: two legs, few connections, no weekend express bus	VINE: Route 11X Napa–Vallejo Express
San Francisco to Monterey and Carmel	Car	about 2½ hours to Carmel	not stated by Carmel-by-the-Sea	any time	Medium: long drive, but no direct train	Carmel-by-the-Sea: Maps and directions
San Francisco to Yosemite	Car	4–5 hours	$35.00 park entrance per vehicle (7 days); non-US residents 16+ add $100	any time; no entry reservation in 2026	High: long drive, best as an overnight trip	NPS Yosemite: Driving directions
San Francisco to Yosemite	Bus	about 3–3½ hours from Merced (after Amtrak to Merced)	$22 one way from Merced	4 buses a day from Merced (winter)	High: train to Merced first, then the YARTS bus	YARTS: Highway 140 schedule
San Francisco to Stanford and Palo Alto	Train	about 40 min express, about 50 min local	$8.50 one way	every 30 min at midday on weekdays	Low: Caltrain from 4th & King, tap Clipper	Caltrain: Weekday schedule

Read from the operators' own pages on 23 October 2026. Fares and timetables change; check before you travel.

Tips for getting around

Tap your own card
Use one bank card or phone per person, and the same one to enter and exit BART.
Skip the pass on BART
The Visitor Passport does not work on BART or to SFO. Pay BART by card.
Carry a little cash
Muni buses and cable cars take exact cash if your phone dies.
Book Alcatraz with care
Alcatraz is closed from 26 October to 18 November 2026. Pick a later date and a free-cancellation option.

Getting around San Francisco: questions and answers

Do I need a car in San Francisco?

No. Muni buses, metro and cable cars cover the city, and BART runs to the airports. Rent a car only for day trips.

How do you get to the Golden Gate Bridge?

Take the Muni 28 bus from Fisherman’s Wharf to the bridge parking lot stop. It runs every 12 minutes on weekdays. Golden Gate Transit buses 101 and 150 also go there from the Salesforce Transit Center.

Is parking free on Sunday in San Francisco?

Mostly yes. Sunday meters run only at Fisherman’s Wharf, the Embarcadero, nine lots and the Oracle Park and Chase Center areas during events.

What is BART, and how do you use it?

BART is the train that links San Francisco with SFO, Oakland and the East Bay. Tap a bank card or phone at the gate to enter, and tap the same one to exit.

Can you take a driverless taxi in San Francisco, and does it go to the airport?

Yes, Waymo runs driverless rides for anyone in San Francisco. You book in its app, for up to four people. It does not serve SFO.

More San Francisco hop‑on hop‑off buses, live

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