Getting Around San Francisco
Find the best way to access the city from anywhere.
San Francisco Airport Information
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Approximate taxi fare: $61 USD
Located 14 miles south of downtown San Francisco, San Francisco International has been ranked as one of the world’s 30 busiest airports, serving more than 33 million passengers every year. The three-terminal, 90-gate airport debuted a $383-million renovation of Terminal 2. The renovation project resulted in a new 575,000-square-foot terminal with 14 gates, 33,633 square feet of retail space – including 12 restaurants, nine retail stores, a gourmet market, wine bar and spa – and a pedestrian bridge to the airport’s fully automated people mover.
Currently, San Francisco International is committed to showcasing its home city. Nearly all of its eateries are branches of local restaurants, bars and cafes, so passengers can get a true taste of San Francisco even if they can’t leave the airport. Much of the airport’s eclectic mix of bookstores, gift shops, travel outfitters and luxury boutiques has ties to local purveyors as well.
San Francisco International is also home to the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, a 7,000-square-foot public exhibition space with various historic transportation artifacts. Admission is free and groups of up to 250 people are welcome to hold private events in the sprawling space.
San Francisco International offers parking in hourly, daily and long-term areas. The airport also provides direct service to the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Rapid Rail and San Mateo County Transit (samTrans) bus system.
Traveling between terminals is easy thanks to AirTrain, a fully-automated people mover that runs 24 hours a day. AirTrain’s Red Line connects all terminals and terminal garages, as well as provides direct access to the BART station. AirTrain’s Blue Line connects all terminals and terminal garages, as well as provides direct access to the BART station and the Rental Car Center.
Airline carriers serving San Francisco International Airport
Aer Lingus
AeroMexico
Air Canada
Air China
Air France
Air New Zealand
AirTran Airways
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
All Nippon Airways
Asiana
British Airways
Cathay Pacific
China Airlines
Continental
Delta/Northwest
Emirates
EVA Air
Frontier
Hawaiian Airlines
Horizon
Japan Airlines
JetBlue
KLM
Korean Air
LACSA
Lufthansa
Mexicana
Midwest
Philippine Airlines
Qantas
Singapore Airlines
Southwest
Sun Country
TACA
United
United Express
US Airways
Virgin America
Virgin Atlantic
WestJet
Approximate taxi fare: $61 USD
Located 14 miles south of downtown San Francisco, San Francisco International has been ranked as one of the world’s 30 busiest airports, serving more than 33 million passengers every year. The three-terminal, 90-gate airport debuted a $383-million renovation of Terminal 2. The renovation project resulted in a new 575,000-square-foot terminal with 14 gates, 33,633 square feet of retail space – including 12 restaurants, nine retail stores, a gourmet market, wine bar and spa – and a pedestrian bridge to the airport’s fully automated people mover.
Currently, San Francisco International is committed to showcasing its home city. Nearly all of its eateries are branches of local restaurants, bars and cafes, so passengers can get a true taste of San Francisco even if they can’t leave the airport. Much of the airport’s eclectic mix of bookstores, gift shops, travel outfitters and luxury boutiques has ties to local purveyors as well.
San Francisco International is also home to the San Francisco Airport Commission Aviation Library and Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, a 7,000-square-foot public exhibition space with various historic transportation artifacts. Admission is free and groups of up to 250 people are welcome to hold private events in the sprawling space.
San Francisco International offers parking in hourly, daily and long-term areas. The airport also provides direct service to the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Rapid Rail and San Mateo County Transit (samTrans) bus system.
Traveling between terminals is easy thanks to AirTrain, a fully-automated people mover that runs 24 hours a day. AirTrain’s Red Line connects all terminals and terminal garages, as well as provides direct access to the BART station. AirTrain’s Blue Line connects all terminals and terminal garages, as well as provides direct access to the BART station and the Rental Car Center.
Airline carriers serving San Francisco International Airport
Aer Lingus
AeroMexico
Air Canada
Air China
Air France
Air New Zealand
AirTran Airways
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
All Nippon Airways
Asiana
British Airways
Cathay Pacific
China Airlines
Continental
Delta/Northwest
Emirates
EVA Air
Frontier
Hawaiian Airlines
Horizon
Japan Airlines
JetBlue
KLM
Korean Air
LACSA
Lufthansa
Mexicana
Midwest
Philippine Airlines
Qantas
Singapore Airlines
Southwest
Sun Country
TACA
United
United Express
US Airways
Virgin America
Virgin Atlantic
WestJet
San Francisco Train Information
San Francisco has eight curbside bus stops that provide connecting service to Amtrak stations in nearby Oakland and Emeryville, both eight miles outside of San Francisco.
Oakland Amtrak Station
Trains at the Oakland station travel on three routes: the Capitol Corridor, Coast Starlight and San Joaquin. With multiple daily trips along the Sacramento region and San Francisco Bay Area, the Capitol Corridor route runs from San Jose to Auburn. The Coast Starlight route provides daily service from Seattle to Los Angeles, passing through Portland, Sacramento, Santa Barbara and the San Francisco Bay Area. Finally, the San Joaquin passes through California's Central Valley, with daily trips from Sacramento to Bakersfield.
Emeryville Amtrak Station
The Emeryville station is serviced by the Capitol Corridor, Coast Starlight and San Joaquin routes as well. It also offers service on the California Zephyr route, which runs daily between Emeryville and ChicagoChicago.
Oakland Amtrak Station
Trains at the Oakland station travel on three routes: the Capitol Corridor, Coast Starlight and San Joaquin. With multiple daily trips along the Sacramento region and San Francisco Bay Area, the Capitol Corridor route runs from San Jose to Auburn. The Coast Starlight route provides daily service from Seattle to Los Angeles, passing through Portland, Sacramento, Santa Barbara and the San Francisco Bay Area. Finally, the San Joaquin passes through California's Central Valley, with daily trips from Sacramento to Bakersfield.
Emeryville Amtrak Station
The Emeryville station is serviced by the Capitol Corridor, Coast Starlight and San Joaquin routes as well. It also offers service on the California Zephyr route, which runs daily between Emeryville and ChicagoChicago.
San Francisco Public Transportation Information
Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), San Francisco's 104-mile-long light rail system, links eight downtown stations with San Francisco International Airport to the south and 29 stations in the East Bay region. The system runs weekdays from 4 AM to midnight, Saturday from 6 AM to midnight and Sunday from 8 AM to midnight; trains typically run every 15 minutes. Fares vary by destination but passengers under 5 ride free. The fare from the airport to downtown is $5.15.
San Francisco Municipal Railway
Founded in 1912, the San Francisco Municipal Railway system, or the Muni, is one of the country's oldest public transit agencies. Today it is the 7th largest of its kind in the United States. Known for its 1,000-vehicle fleet of historic street cars, modern light rail vehicles, diesel buses, alternative fuel vehicles, electric trolley coaches and cable cars, the Muni sees more than 200 million riders every year. This number is not surprising, seeing as how the system's 80 routes throughout San Francisco offer stops with two blocks of 90 percent of all residences in the city.
The Muni's nine light rail, or metro, stations allow for both underground downtown travel and aboveground service in San Francisco's outer neighborhoods. Historic streetcars, or the F-line, operate along Market Street beginning in the Castro District and ending at Fisherman's Wharf. Cable cars operate among three routes: the Powell-Hyde line, terminating near the Maritime Museum and Aquatic Park; the Powell-Mason line, terminating three blocks from Fisherman's Wharf; and the California Street line.
Schedules vary based on route and vehicle. Bus, metro and streetcar fare is $2 each way, while cable car fare is $5 one-way or $11 for an all-day pass. Children under 5 ride free.
Golden Gate Transit
Golden Gate Transit offers ferry and fixed-route bus service throughout San Francisco and Marin and Sonoma counties. Three ferry terminals offers daily transport between San Francisco and Larkspur in central Marin County as well as Sausalito in southern Marin County. The transit's bus system operates daily along 45 routes throughout six zones.
Ferry fares are $4.90 each way for passengers ages 6-18 and $7.85 each way for adults. Bus fares vary by zone, ranging from $1.70 to $9.25 each way. One-day, seven-day and 41-day bus passes are available. Children under 6 ride the ferry and bus systems for free.
San Mateo County Transit
San Mateo County Transit offers bus service throughout San Francisco to communities on the Peninsula as far south as Palo Alto. It also has direct service to the San Francisco International Airport and the Moscone Center. The 446-square-mile service area covers 54 routes and serves 15 million passengers every year. One-way daily service fare is $1 for youths ages 17 and under and $1.75 for adults.
Rental Cars
Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty service the San Francisco International Airport's Rental Car Center. The center is accessible by the AirTrain's Blue Line.
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 range from $40 to $44 from the airport to downtown San Francisco, with an additional $2 pass-through airport departure fee. Once in San Francisco, taxis can be hailed on the street or called from hotel front desks.
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), San Francisco's 104-mile-long light rail system, links eight downtown stations with San Francisco International Airport to the south and 29 stations in the East Bay region. The system runs weekdays from 4 AM to midnight, Saturday from 6 AM to midnight and Sunday from 8 AM to midnight; trains typically run every 15 minutes. Fares vary by destination but passengers under 5 ride free. The fare from the airport to downtown is $5.15.
San Francisco Municipal Railway
Founded in 1912, the San Francisco Municipal Railway system, or the Muni, is one of the country's oldest public transit agencies. Today it is the 7th largest of its kind in the United States. Known for its 1,000-vehicle fleet of historic street cars, modern light rail vehicles, diesel buses, alternative fuel vehicles, electric trolley coaches and cable cars, the Muni sees more than 200 million riders every year. This number is not surprising, seeing as how the system's 80 routes throughout San Francisco offer stops with two blocks of 90 percent of all residences in the city.
The Muni's nine light rail, or metro, stations allow for both underground downtown travel and aboveground service in San Francisco's outer neighborhoods. Historic streetcars, or the F-line, operate along Market Street beginning in the Castro District and ending at Fisherman's Wharf. Cable cars operate among three routes: the Powell-Hyde line, terminating near the Maritime Museum and Aquatic Park; the Powell-Mason line, terminating three blocks from Fisherman's Wharf; and the California Street line.
Schedules vary based on route and vehicle. Bus, metro and streetcar fare is $2 each way, while cable car fare is $5 one-way or $11 for an all-day pass. Children under 5 ride free.
Golden Gate Transit
Golden Gate Transit offers ferry and fixed-route bus service throughout San Francisco and Marin and Sonoma counties. Three ferry terminals offers daily transport between San Francisco and Larkspur in central Marin County as well as Sausalito in southern Marin County. The transit's bus system operates daily along 45 routes throughout six zones.
Ferry fares are $4.90 each way for passengers ages 6-18 and $7.85 each way for adults. Bus fares vary by zone, ranging from $1.70 to $9.25 each way. One-day, seven-day and 41-day bus passes are available. Children under 6 ride the ferry and bus systems for free.
San Mateo County Transit
San Mateo County Transit offers bus service throughout San Francisco to communities on the Peninsula as far south as Palo Alto. It also has direct service to the San Francisco International Airport and the Moscone Center. The 446-square-mile service area covers 54 routes and serves 15 million passengers every year. One-way daily service fare is $1 for youths ages 17 and under and $1.75 for adults.
Rental Cars
Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty service the San Francisco International Airport's Rental Car Center. The center is accessible by the AirTrain's Blue Line.
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 range from $40 to $44 from the airport to downtown San Francisco, with an additional $2 pass-through airport departure fee. Once in San Francisco, taxis can be hailed on the street or called from hotel front desks.
