Getting Into San Francisco from the Airport: SFO is about 13 miles south of the city. To get to downtown San Francisco from there, you can take public transportation, catch a shuttle, hail a taxi or drive yourself:
The BART runs from SFO into San Francisco and along Market Street. Go to the International Terminal parking garage G and if you arrive at another terminal, take the AirTrain Red Line to get to the station.
Shuttle: Bay Shuttle offers transportation to the area's major airports: Oakland International, San Francisco International and San Jose International.Fares start at $17 per adult. American Airporter Shuttle airport transfers from area hotels. Rates start at $15 per person.
Taxi: Taxis are located at the roadway center island on the
Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level of any terminal. A fare to Fisherman's
Wharf wlll cost $40 to $50, with an additional $2 exit fee charged by
the airport. San Francisco does not allow taxi companies to charge you
an additional baggage fee, so no driver should attempt this.
Rail: Amtrak
Coast Starlight Line goes through Oakland, across the San Francisco
Bay. They run buses into San Francisco, arriving at the Ferry Building.
From San Jose and the peninsula, take CalTrain. From Berkeley, Oakland
or cities in the East Bay, use BART.
Cable Cars-The
San Francisco cable cars are world famous. The open trams are fun to
ride, and San Francisco has preserved 3 of the most thrilling and hilly
routes for tourists and locals to ride. There are three lines
(Powell-Hyde, Powell-Mason, California). The fare is $5 each way
but a Muni Passport for 1-day is $11; 3-day: $18, 7-day: $24 and you
can ride them as much as you want. Tickets and passes are for sale at
the cable car turnaround, and other outlets. Alternatively, you can get
the San Francisco CityPass, which is valid for seven consecutive days
on Muni and is also good for admission to several museums and
attractions in the city.
Muni Street Cars- The “Muni,” San Francisco’s bus and streetcar system and is a cheap way to get around the city. At only $1.50 it will take you most everywhere. Tickets can be purchased on the bus and exact change required or in Muni metro stations. Transfers last 90 minutes in any direction, meaning you can go roundtrip for just $1.50! A MUNI Passport 1-day: $11; 3-day: $18, 7-day: $24, and these passes include rides on the cable cars, which are ordinarily $5 each way, so the pass quickly pays for itself! A monthly pass is also available for $45.
Car:Take the I-80 West from Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, the I-280 North from San Jose or the US Hwy 101 South from Northern California.