With notoriously unhealthy visitors and next-to-impossible parking, it is best to keep away from driving till it is time to go away San Francisco. Fortuitously, there are many wonderful methods to get round.
Most locals stroll, bike, journey Muni (the general public transit community of buses and streetcars) or ride-share as a substitute of taking a automotive. Town additionally has three cable automotive strains which might be frequent, sluggish and scenic; driving one is a should for first-time guests. This is tips on how to navigate San Francisco.
Discover San Francisco on foot
Commonly ranked as one of the vital walkable cities within the US, a bunch of main sights in San Francisco are reachable on foot in a day. Strolling can be at all times one of the best ways to discover a neighborhood.
Beginning in 2020, quite a few streets throughout town are closed to vehicular visitors a number of days per week — some, akin to John F Kennedy Dr in Golden Gate Park, at the moment are closed for the foreseeable future.
Strolling trails
San Francisco has loads of guided strolling excursions on provide. However you may simply simply set off by yourself for an incredible day of exploring, particularly in such locales because the Presidio. It has a lot of trails outlined by SF Crosstown Trails, which join town’s neighborhoods, open areas, and native trails.
Their epic, eponymous 17-mile path from Candlestick Level to Lands Finish is split into 5 sections, which will be tackled individually and provides an incredible overview of town.
Cycle alongside the waterfront
San Francisco goals to be essentially the most bike-friendly metropolis within the US, and plenty of locals have already jumped on the saddle. Many areas, akin to Ocean Seashore, the Marina and the waterfront are perfect for biking.
San Francisco has an intensive bike community and most sights are reachable on two wheels. The community covers 448 miles. A map of the bike network is available. The non-profit San Francisco Bicycle Coalition additionally affords maps and knowledge for cyclists.
Bike Share
Bike-sharing is offered citywide via Bay Wheels. Each conventional bikes and e-bikes (electrical bikes with detachable batteries) will be employed from stations all through San Francisco, the East Bay and San Jose, and can be found for single journeys, day use or with month-to-month entry passes.
Tip for utilizing bike shares in San Francisco: Bay Wheels stations are positioned downtown, and at main intersections – however bikes come with out helmets, and biking with out correct safety is at all times going to be a little bit harmful so convey your personal helmet to play it safer.
You should use Muni to see each a part of San Francisco
Muni operates bus, streetcar and cable automotive strains. Buses and streetcars are referred to interchangeably as Muni. Some areas are higher related than others, however Muni spares you the pricey trouble of driving and parking – and it is usually quicker than driving.
Muni streetcars run in a subway beneath Market Avenue, the place they’re known as Muni Metro. Strains J, Okay, L, M, N and T are wonderful technique of reaching far-flung elements of town. There may be additionally the pleasant historic streetcar line F, which runs above floor on Market Avenue and runs to Fisherman’s Wharf alongside the waterfront.
A highly-anticipated new subway line linking the Giants stadium, Caltrain terminal, downtown and Chinatown is about to open with a delicate launch in November 2022 and full opening in early 2023. It would permit straightforward transfers to all of the streetcar strains.
Map and schedule
For route planning and schedules, seek the advice of Transit 511. For real-time departures, see www.nextmuni.com, which syncs with GPS on buses and streetcars to offer finest estimates on arrival instances.
Important and free Muni Street and Transit Maps can be found on-line. Additionally helpful is the MuniMobile app, which you too can use to pay fares. Notice that service and schedules do change, so verify all routes and schedules upfront and on the day.
Nighttime schedule
Nighttime and weekend service is much less frequent than on weekdays. Owl service (half-hourly from 1am to 5am) operates solely on a couple of principal strains; for schedules, see All Nighter 511.
Tickets and prices
On buses and streetcars, tickets purchased from drivers (precise change required) or at underground Muni stations (the place machines give change) value $3. With a reloadable Clipper card or through the use of the MuniMobile app, the fare is barely $2.50. A single fare is nice for 2 hours of rides.
Fares are 50% much less for individuals age 65 and older. Anybody age 18 or youthful rides totally free.
Tip for getting essentially the most worth out of your Muni journey: Initially of your Muni journey, free switch tickets can be found for extra Muni journeys inside 90 minutes (not together with cable vehicles or BART). After 8:30pm, buses problem a Late Night time Switch good for journey till 5:30am the next morning.
Cable automotive tickets
Cable automotive tickets value $8 per journey and will be purchased at cable automotive ticket kiosks or on-board from the conductor.
Muni Customer Passport passes
A Muni Customer Passport (1/3/7 days $24/36/47, with the MuniMobile app $13/31/41) permits limitless journey on all Muni transportation, together with cable vehicles. It is bought at ticket kiosks and other locations.
Muni Day Cross
The good cut price on the Muni is the day cross which prices solely $5 whether or not purchased with the MuniMobile app or at a farebox or kiosk. It permits limitless rides on the complete system apart from the cable vehicles.
Clipper Card
Clipper Cards are a reloadable fare system that works on Muni, BART and different transit methods throughout the Bay Space. It robotically deducts fares and applies transfers (e.g. just one Muni fare is deducted per 90-minute interval). You possibly can put a Clipper Card in your telephone totally free or buy a bodily card for $3.
Downtown Muni/BART stations have machines that promote Clipper playing cards and fare credit score. Clipper Playing cards, whether or not digital in your telephone or in bodily kind, will be linked to a bank card in order that they robotically refill with worth.
Transcend town heart on the BART
BART (Bay Space Speedy Transit system) is the quickest hyperlink between downtown and San Francisco Worldwide Airport, Oakland and Berkeley. 4 of the system’s six strains cross via SF. BART serves downtown, Market Avenue and the Mission District effectively however doesn’t attain most different areas of town.
Tickets and fares
The reloadable Clipper Card system is the one technique to pay your fare on BART. You should buy one for a one-time charge of $3 at BART stations, or buy one nearly and set up it in your telephone (that is free). Notice, in case you’re arriving at SFO, arrange your telephone with a Clipper Card earlier than you arrive so you may keep away from the lengthy strains of jet-lagged passengers attempting to make use of the BART ticket machines.
BART fares are primarily based on distance, so that you’ll want your Clipper Card (or telephone) to each enter and exit the system. The fare from SFO to downtown San Francisco is $9.65.
Go for a day journey on the practice
Caltrain is the practice service linking San Francisco to cities alongside the Peninsula south of town and on to the South Bay and San Jose. It runs companies a minimum of hourly all through the day and in all fairness quick and really snug.
Purchase tickets from machines in stations, utilizing the Caltrain app or with a Clipper Card. From the depot at 4th and King Sts in San Francisco, Caltrain heads south to Millbrae (connecting to BART and San Francisco airport; half-hour), Palo Alto (one hour) and San Jose (1½ hours).
Relaxation your weary legs in a taxi
Taxi fares begin at $3.50 and run about $3 per mile. Add 15% to the fare as a tip ($1 minimal). For the quickest service in San Francisco, obtain the Flywheel app, which dispatches the closest taxi.
Lyft and Uber are primarily based in San Francisco and are ubiquitous. Notice that with surge pricing, conventional taxis are sometimes cheaper.
Take to the water and journey by ferry
The enduring Ferry Constructing is a vacation spot in itself, not the least for its wonderful consuming and ingesting choices plus the good bay views. It is also the bottom for ferry routes that radiate out throughout the Bay Space.
Alcatraz
Alcatraz Metropolis Cruises runs the boats for the Nationwide Park Service that serve ‘The Rock.’ Boats depart from Pier 33 all through the day; advance reservations are important.
East Bay
San Francisco Bay Ferry operates from each Pier 41 and the Ferry Constructing to Oakland/Alameda, Richmond and Vallejo within the East Bay.
Marin County
Golden Gate Transit Ferries runs common ferry companies from the Ferry Constructing to Marin County ferry terminals in Larkspur, Tiburon and Sausalito. These ferries cross Alcatraz and provide nice sightseeing along with important transit.
Blue & Gold Fleet operates ferries to Tiburon and Sausalito from Pier 41 close to Fisherman’s Wharf.
The right way to navigate the effort of a automotive or motorcycle
In the event you can, keep away from driving in San Francisco: heavy visitors is a given, avenue parking is more durable to search out than real love, meter readers are ruthless and car break-ins are a plague.
Site visitors
San Francisco streets largely comply with a grid bisected by Market St. Keep away from driving throughout rush hours. Earlier than heading to any bridge, airport or different visitors choke-point, verify 511.org for visitors updates.
Parking
For real-time particulars on tips on how to discover parking within the metropolis, and likewise tips on how to pay your parking meter by app, see SF Park. Parking is difficult and dear, particularly downtown. Lodge parking prices round $30 to $60 per day, about the identical as public parking heaps and garages.
Parking Restrictions
Parking restrictions are indicated by the next color-coded sidewalk curbs (in some well-liked neighborhoods, it could actually appear to be all of the few out there parking spots have restrictions):
● Blue Disabled parking solely; placard required.
● Inexperienced Ten-minute parking lot from 9am to 6pm.
● Pink No parking or stopping.
● White For selecting up or dropping off passengers solely; observe posted instances.
● Yellow Loading zone throughout posted instances.
Rental
All main automotive rental corporations function at SFO (San Francisco Worldwide Airport) and at areas throughout town and area. Charges fluctuate relying on demand – when massive conventions come to SF, you could discover no vehicles out there in any respect. Notice that taxes and charges tremendously enhance the preliminary charges quoted.
Tip for automotive rental in San Francisco: A wise technique is to keep away from renting a automotive throughout your time within the metropolis and wait till you enterprise additional afield. Notice that something left seen in a automotive is taken into account truthful sport for smash-and-grab thieves within the metropolis.
Accessible transportation in San Francisco
Muni, BART, Caltrain and the ferries are all absolutely accessible. Town streets are additionally largely accessible to individuals with differing mobility wants.
For extra data on accessible journey, download Lonely Planet’s free Accessible Travel ebook.
