Getting Around San Francisco
Find the best way to access the city from anywhere.
San Francisco by Air
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Approximate taxi fare: $61 USD
Located 14 miles south of downtown, the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) remains one of the busiest airports in the country, serving 50+ million passengers annually. With four terminals and 121 gates, SFO continues to expand and modernize its offerings, with 55 total airlines and 3,340 nonstop departures per week.
SFO was named one of the top 10 airports for food and dining by Food & Wine Magazine in April 2025. The airport offers an impressive lineup of locally owned eateries, bars, and cafes throughout all terminals. Retail shops highlight Bay Area brands, offering groups a distinctly San Francisco experience from the moment they arrive until the moment they leave.
Ground transportation remains convenient with direct access to BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and SamTrans bus lines. Parking options include hourly, daily, and long-term facilities. AirTrain, SFO’s 24-hour, fully automated people mover, makes navigating the airport easy. The Red Line connects all terminals, parking garages, and the BART station, while the Blue Line also extends service to the Rental Car Center.
Notable Awards:
Named One of the World’s Most Beautiful Airports, 2025 (UNESCO)
Top Ten Airport for Food and Drink, 2025 (Food & Wine)
Named Best Airport in North America, 2025 (Business Traveler Magazine)
Approximate taxi fare: $61 USD
Located 14 miles south of downtown, the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) remains one of the busiest airports in the country, serving 50+ million passengers annually. With four terminals and 121 gates, SFO continues to expand and modernize its offerings, with 55 total airlines and 3,340 nonstop departures per week.
SFO was named one of the top 10 airports for food and dining by Food & Wine Magazine in April 2025. The airport offers an impressive lineup of locally owned eateries, bars, and cafes throughout all terminals. Retail shops highlight Bay Area brands, offering groups a distinctly San Francisco experience from the moment they arrive until the moment they leave.
Ground transportation remains convenient with direct access to BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) and SamTrans bus lines. Parking options include hourly, daily, and long-term facilities. AirTrain, SFO’s 24-hour, fully automated people mover, makes navigating the airport easy. The Red Line connects all terminals, parking garages, and the BART station, while the Blue Line also extends service to the Rental Car Center.
Notable Awards:
Named One of the World’s Most Beautiful Airports, 2025 (UNESCO)
Top Ten Airport for Food and Drink, 2025 (Food & Wine)
Named Best Airport in North America, 2025 (Business Traveler Magazine)
San Francisco by Train
While San Francisco does not have a central Amtrak train station, it is well-connected to nearby stations via Amtrak Thruway buses. These buses make stops at eight curbside locations throughout the city, including downtown near Salesforce Transit Center, and provide direct service to the Emeryville Amtrak Station, located about eight miles across the bay.
Emeryville Amtrak Station
Emeryville is the primary connection point for train travelers coming to or from San Francisco. It offers access to four major Amtrak routes:
Capitol Corridor: With up to 32 daily trains, this route connects the Bay Area with Sacramento, serving commuters and travelers throughout Northern California.
Coast Starlight: A long-distance route running daily between Seattle and Los Angeles, passing through Portland, Sacramento, the Bay Area, and Santa Barbara.
Gold Runner: Offering daily service between the Bay Area and California’s Central Valley, including cities such as Stockton, Fresno, and Bakersfield.
California Zephyr: One of Amtrak’s most scenic routes, traveling daily between Emeryville and Chicago, passing through the Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains.
Amtrak Thruway buses ensure timed connections between San Francisco and these routes, making train travel easy and seamless for passengers based in the city.
Oakland Jack London Square Station
While Oakland’s Jack London Square station also serves Capitol Corridor, Coast Starlight, and San Joaquins trains, it does not currently have direct Amtrak Thruway bus service from San Francisco. Travelers must instead connect through Emeryville for convenient train-bus transfer service.
Emeryville Amtrak Station
Emeryville is the primary connection point for train travelers coming to or from San Francisco. It offers access to four major Amtrak routes:
Capitol Corridor: With up to 32 daily trains, this route connects the Bay Area with Sacramento, serving commuters and travelers throughout Northern California.
Coast Starlight: A long-distance route running daily between Seattle and Los Angeles, passing through Portland, Sacramento, the Bay Area, and Santa Barbara.
Gold Runner: Offering daily service between the Bay Area and California’s Central Valley, including cities such as Stockton, Fresno, and Bakersfield.
California Zephyr: One of Amtrak’s most scenic routes, traveling daily between Emeryville and Chicago, passing through the Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains.
Amtrak Thruway buses ensure timed connections between San Francisco and these routes, making train travel easy and seamless for passengers based in the city.
Oakland Jack London Square Station
While Oakland’s Jack London Square station also serves Capitol Corridor, Coast Starlight, and San Joaquins trains, it does not currently have direct Amtrak Thruway bus service from San Francisco. Travelers must instead connect through Emeryville for convenient train-bus transfer service.
San Francisco by Public Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is San Francisco’s regional rail system, connecting downtown with San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and the East Bay. The 100-mile system operates eight stations in the city and 29 in the East Bay. Trains run every 15 minutes, with service hours from 4:00 AM to midnight on weekdays, 6:00 AM to midnight on Saturdays, and 8:00 AM to midnight on Sundays. The fare from SFO to downtown San Francisco is $5.15, and children under five ride free. Plus, BART now enables "tap to pay," allowing visitors to use their own credit card or personal digital wallet.
San Francisco Municipal Transit
San Francisco’s Muni is one of the oldest and most extensive public transit systems in the U.S., offering 80+ bus and rail routes throughout the city. Its 1,000-vehicle fleet includes buses, modern light rail, cable cars, and historic F-line streetcars. Muni Metro trains run both underground in downtown areas and above ground in outlying neighborhoods.
Rental Cars
Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Sixt, Dollar, and Thrifty service the San Francisco International Airport's Rental Car Center. The center is accessible by the AirTrain's Blue Line.
Rideshare
At SFO, traditional rideshare options like Uber and Lyft are fully operational; passengers simply request via their app and head to designated pickup locations—Level 5 of the Domestic Garage for domestic terminals, or Zones 14–17 on the departures level for the International Terminal. Premium services (e.g., Uber Black, Lyft Black/XL) may still use curbside areas.
Taxis
Taxis can be found at the San Francisco International Airport's designated taxi zones on the Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level of all three terminals. Fares from the airport to downtown San Francisco typically range from $55 to $65, including a $5.50 airport surcharge and a $2 departure fee. Additional tolls may apply depending on the route. Taxis can also be hailed throughout the city or requested via the hotel's front desk.
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is San Francisco’s regional rail system, connecting downtown with San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and the East Bay. The 100-mile system operates eight stations in the city and 29 in the East Bay. Trains run every 15 minutes, with service hours from 4:00 AM to midnight on weekdays, 6:00 AM to midnight on Saturdays, and 8:00 AM to midnight on Sundays. The fare from SFO to downtown San Francisco is $5.15, and children under five ride free. Plus, BART now enables "tap to pay," allowing visitors to use their own credit card or personal digital wallet.
San Francisco Municipal Transit
San Francisco’s Muni is one of the oldest and most extensive public transit systems in the U.S., offering 80+ bus and rail routes throughout the city. Its 1,000-vehicle fleet includes buses, modern light rail, cable cars, and historic F-line streetcars. Muni Metro trains run both underground in downtown areas and above ground in outlying neighborhoods.
Rental Cars
Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Sixt, Dollar, and Thrifty service the San Francisco International Airport's Rental Car Center. The center is accessible by the AirTrain's Blue Line.
Rideshare
At SFO, traditional rideshare options like Uber and Lyft are fully operational; passengers simply request via their app and head to designated pickup locations—Level 5 of the Domestic Garage for domestic terminals, or Zones 14–17 on the departures level for the International Terminal. Premium services (e.g., Uber Black, Lyft Black/XL) may still use curbside areas.
Taxis
Taxis can be found at the San Francisco International Airport's designated taxi zones on the Arrivals/Baggage Claim Level of all three terminals. Fares from the airport to downtown San Francisco typically range from $55 to $65, including a $5.50 airport surcharge and a $2 departure fee. Additional tolls may apply depending on the route. Taxis can also be hailed throughout the city or requested via the hotel's front desk.
