Getting to San Francisco

San Franciscos central west coast location makes it easy to reach by a number of means. The most convenient access is by air into San Francisco International Airport, located 14 miles from the downtown area. San Francisco is also connected by Amtraks train network, and long-distance Greyhound buses provide extensive access, connecting almost every town in America. If you are driving, San Francisco lies along the path of several major interstate highways.

By car

The City by the Bay is easily accessible by several major highways. I-5 is the main route from destinations farther north, and US101 also runs north-south through the peninsula from San Jose and across the Golden Gate Bridge. Of course, if you have the time, the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) is an incredibly scenic and slow road that hugs the entire length of the Pacific Coast.

By rail

Amtrak trains travel into the Bay Area from several cities in California and across the US. The scenic Coast Starlight is the main west coast line, running from Los Angeles to Seattle, passing through San Francisco on the way. The California Zephyr line travels from Chicago to the Bay Area, and also passes through some beautiful sections in the Sierra Nevada mountains. All trains stop in Emeryville, on the other side of the Bay Bridge, from where special Amtrak buses take passengers into San Francisco.

By bus

San Francisco is one of the major stops for Greyhound buses, which comprehensively cover the entire country. Next to flying, bus travel is the most popular way to get around in America, as prices are cheap and the buses go everywhere. The central bus depot is downtown on Mission Street near the Financial District.

By air

The northern Bay Area is serviced by two major airports: San Francisco International and Oakland International. Both are equally convenient to access the city, but most international travellers tend to fly into San Francisco Airport as it has more long-distance connections. Nearly every airline carrier in the world has at least one regular flight into San Francisco, so it should be no problem finding a convenient flight.

By ferry

Even though San Francisco lies on the Pacific Coast, there is no long-distance ferry service into the city.

San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco International Airport is just outside the city limits, and offers the easiest way to reach the Bay Area. The beautifully modern and efficient airport has four terminals which each serve different purposes. The 24-hour AirTrain light rail efficiently links the International Terminal with the other three terminals, the parking garages, BART subway station and car rental centre.

The airports expansive complex has all the usual facilities which a traveller might need. ATMs, banks and currency exchange offices can be found in the International Terminal, as well as restaurants, news stands, gift shops and duty-free shopping. Wireless Internet is also available at points throughout the airport. An information desk can be found in the Arrivals hall of each of the four terminals (tel: +1 650 821 8211).

San Francisco International Airport transportation

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 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.