San Francisco Transport

San Francisco has a very efficient and extensive public transportation network known as BART. This system uses subways, light rail trains and buses to cover the entire Bay Area and is quite easy to navigate. Once you get to a particular neighbourhood, its best to walk, and the hilly nature of the city will give you a bit of aerobic exercise to boot. You really don't need to have a car for travelling within the city, as parking is a nightmare and the steep hills are challenging for even the most experienced drivers.

By Metro

BART trains are most useful for getting between the city centre and the outlying areas such as Oakland, Berkeley and other small towns in the Bay Area. Within San Francisco itself, BART trains only service a few stations limited to downtown, the Mission and a couple of other neighbourhoods, including the airport. They arent really useful for getting around within the city. BART trains run from early in the morning until midnight.

By train

Caltrain is the citys regional train network, connecting San Francisco to nearby cities such as San Jose, Palo Alto and Santa Clara. The main train station is at 4th and King Street, in the downtown area. These trains are useful if you need to get to a distant town, but they dont service the Bay Area itself.

By bus

BART also operates the citys bus system, which covers the entire Bay Area and is the best way to get around within the city, especially if you are travelling short distances or going from one neighbourhood to another. Buses run from early in the morning until midnight.

Ferries

A number of ferry lines operate out of San Francisco to local destinations. The most popular stops include Alcatraz, Angel Island, Sausalito and Tiburon. Tickets can be bought at Pier 41 next to Fishermans Wharf, where the ferries depart. You can also take a ferry across the bay to Oakland, which makes for a fun and scenic way to travel around.

Taxis

Unlike most major world cities, taxis are notoriously unreliable in San Francisco. Hailing a cab can prove to be nearly impossible, even if youre in a populated area. However, taxi stands can be found at most major hotels, and you can always call for a pickup.

Tourist services

A trip to San Francisco wouldnt be complete without a ride on the iconic cable cars which trudge up and down the citys hills. When one pauses at a designated stop, simply jump on and wedge yourself in. You can buy a ticket on board or at the kiosks at the two turnarounds. Lines to get on the cable car which runs from Fishermans Wharf can be incredibly long in the summer, so be prepared to wait. A better idea is to take the California Street line, which is rarely overcrowded.

From the airport

With a convenient location just 14 miles from downtown, there are several quick ways to get from the airport to your destination. The most direct way is to hire a taxi, which will go anywhere in the Bay Area. A much cheaper, and just as convenient option, is to take one of the private shuttle van services which operate from the airport, such as SuperShuttle. You share a van with several other passengers, and will be dropped off at your hotel. The SFO Airporter bus runs a similar service to the shuttles, except that it follows a designated route which stops at several major downtown hotels. The cheapest option is to take the rapid transit train, called BART, which runs right from the airport into the downtown area and several other areas. If you dont have a lot of baggage, its a great way to go. An airport hotline (tel: +1 415 817 1717) can give you all the information on ground travel options.