san francisco trolley

The Best Ways to Get Around in San Francisco

Getting around San Francisco may seem tricky, depending on where you want to go. San Francisco has many public transit options that make commuting a breeze but the city also sits on a diverse landscape. Some neighborhoods are closer to BART (S.F.’s version of the subway) or Muni (which includes the bus, streetcars and cable cars), while others may require a scooter or car.

When thinking about how to get around San Francisco, the good news is that it’s one of the better cities for public transportation. However, you should get familiar with the different types of transportation, as they’re unique to the city. A benefit of not driving your own car is not having to search for parking, plus San Francisco is notorious for car break-ins.

While public transportation isn’t perfect, it’s still an inexpensive and relatively quick way to get around town — here’s what you need to know.

Is San Francisco easy to get around?

San Francisco has pockets of high-rise buildings (such as SoMa and FiDi in downtown) but also has plenty of communities that are mostly single-family homes, such as in Daly City or Ingleside. These neighborhoods are good for Muni access but still a lot more convenient if you have a car.

The city is relatively easy to get around, especially if you know the lay of the land and what kind of transportation will get you from point A to B. For example, BART doesn’t go to the North Beach area, so it’s helpful to rent a bike or grab a scooter. Of course, there are always ride-sharing options, such as Uber or Lyft.

How to get around San Francisco without a car

The first thing you should do is understand what the different forms of transportation are. Here’s a quick snapshot of San Francisco’s many forms of transportation, including:

BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit)

bart san francisco ca

This is basically the city’s subway system. It can get you around the city, and it connects commuters to the East Bay. BART is also great for getting to and from the airport.

BART operates public transit throughout the entire Bay Area, so it covers a much wider range than the Muni system. BART is great if you want to live outside of San Francisco and commute into the city because it connects to Richmond, Oakland, Fremont and other areas.

Within San Francisco, BART only travels one route, running from Balboa Park through the Mission District and ending downtown at Embarcadero.

Muni

This is the city’s above and underground transportation system, and it operates busses, trains, cable cars and a streetcar. The trains are underground downtown but operate above ground once they get into some of the less crowded areas.

Muni runs throughout the city. The light rail system consists of seven metro lines that run from the downtown area into several different neighborhoods in the city.

They all begin beneath Market Street and the Embarcadero, but they then split up, running through a variety of neighborhoods, including San Francisco State University, the San Francisco Zoo and Ocean Beach areas.

The historic F-Line is the most popular since it uses old streetcars from around the world and runs from Fisherman’s Wharf along the Embarcadero to the Ferry Building.

The only downside to Muni is that they’re slow — most probably never go above 35 mph.

If you aren’t sure if the Muni stops in your preferred neighborhood, check out the app.

Cable cars

san francisco cable cars

San Francisco’s cable cars are one of its biggest tourist attractions and a fun way to get around if you’re located downtown. There are three cable car lines: the Powell to Hyde, the Powell to Mason and the California line.

The California line runs from Van Ness Avenue to the Financial District, and the other two lines begin at Market Street and run to either Ghirardelli Square or Fisherman’s Wharf.

At the time of writing, a single ride for a cable car in SF is $8.

Transbay Bus

The Transbay buses are a part of the AC Transit bus system, which is different than Muni and only runs only a few routes within the city. It’s great for getting to San Francisco from Oakland, Berkeley and other East Bay neighborhoods.

It has around 30 bus lines and is an easy way to commute if you live in the East Bay.

Ferries

san francisco ferries

The best thing about ferries? No traffic! Commuters from Alameda, Oakland or Sausalito use the ferry to cross the bay and into the Embarcadero in SF. This is a fantastic way to get around if you would rather live outside the city.

People use ferries every day to cross the bay during a commute from Oakland, Sausalito or Alameda.

E-scooters and bikes

You’ll find both e-scooters and rent-a-bikes scattered throughout the city. All you need is the app downloaded on your phone, in order to ride.

Biking or taking scooters are excellent options for getting around in San Francisco because the city has plenty of bike lanes and trails that will get you where you want to go (as long as you don’t mind some literal uphill battles).

Plus, you won’t have to deal with inner-city traffic and outrageous parking prices!

Here are a few more of the best ways to get around the San Francisco Bay Area:

  • CalTrain: This train that takes you from the Peninsula and the South Bay into S.F. These trains are large, double-decker trains. Think Amtrak.
  • Car share: There are car-sharing options in the bay that allow you to rent a car for however long you need it. All you have to do is download an app to pay for the ride and unlock the vehicle. Google “car share in SF” and you should see reliable options.

san francisco bus

How do you pay for public transportation in San Francisco?

Most locals in S.F. use a Clipper card to “tap” in and out of BART stations, buses and on the Muni trams. This is a plastic card you purchase online for about $3. Keep in mind that’s just the price for the card itself. You’ll then need to set up an account and fill it up with money to get around town.

  • If you purchase a Clipper Card online, it will be mailed to you. However, you can purchase the card at a few places around the city, including Walgreens.
  • If you already have a card, you can load the pass online or at a ticket booth.

You can also load your MuniMobile app with money, and of course, there are paper versions of tickets you can purchase inside BART station kiosk machines.

How to use a Clipper Card

At any ticket turnstile in a BART station, just hold or tap the card and the gate will open. When you reach your destination and walk out of the station, you’ll tap your card again to get out and the payment will be deducted.

If you’re walking into a bus or Muni tram, you’ll have to tap the card on the Clipper logo. Once you do, it’ll light up green.

2020 update for San Francisco public transportation rules

Face masks are required on all buses, trains and ferries. Bus routes and general public transportation schedules have been cut back.

Here are some handy links for each type of transportation and their updated schedules:

Getting around San Francisco

The type of public transportation option you choose to get around San Francisco really depends on where you’re going and how you want to see the city.

You could certainly take BART to get from downtown San Francisco, but you could also hop on a ferry from the Embarcadero (and soak in the sun and fresh air!).

No matter how you choose to get around San Francisco, grab a Clipper Card for convenience and load it up before you head out.

Looking to make San Francisco your new home? Check out the apartments for rent and homes for sale in the city.

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