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Getting Here and Around

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San Francisco encompasses 46.7 square miles. As a major metropolitan hub it has a fantastic public transportation system; however, if you stray from the main thoroughfares public transport can get tricky, and renting a car becomes a more practical option.

All the city’s major attractions are easily accessible via Muni (light-rail vehicles), BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) trains, taxis, and cable cars; or if you have a comfy pair of shoes, you can always walk. It’s exactly 8 miles from the west side of the city to the east side. The streets are neatly arranged along two grids that come together at Market Street, and with the area’s well-known landmarks—the Golden Gate Bridge (north), Twin Peaks (south), the Bay Bridge (east), and the Pacific Ocean (west)—as a physical compass, it’s difficult to lose your way.

The East Bay is also extremely accessible via public transport; BART is a good way to get where you want to go. And the North Bay is only a boat or bike ride away. Both are good choices, depending on the weather. A car only becomes necessary when you want to go farther north, for example, to Napa or Sonoma County. Keep in mind that rush-hour traffic isn’t pleasant, so if you do rent a car try to take to the streets between 10 am and 3 pm, or after 7 pm.

Air Travel

The least expensive airfares to San Francisco are priced for round-trip travel and should be purchased in advance. Airlines generally allow you to change your return date for a fee; most low-fare tickets, however, are nonrefundable. (But if you cancel, you can usually apply the fare to a future trip, within one year, to any destination the airline flies.)

Nonstop flights from New York to San Francisco take about 5½ hours, and with the 3-hour time change, it’s possible to leave JFK by 8 am and be in San Francisco by 10:30 am. Some flights may require a midway stop, making the total excursion between 8 and 9½ hours. Nonstop times are approximately 1½ hours from Los Angeles, 3 hours from Dallas, 4½ hours from Chicago, 4½ hours from Atlanta, 11 hours from London, 12 hours from Auckland, and 13½ hours from Sydney.

Airline Contacts
American Airlines.
800/223–5436 | www.aa.com.
Delta Airlines.
800/221–1212 for U.S. reservations, 800/241–4141 for international reservations | www.delta.com.
Southwest Airlines.
800/435–9792 | www.southwest.com.
United Airlines.
800/864–8331 for U.S. reservations, 800/538–2929 for international reservations | www.united.com.

Smaller Airlines
Frontier Airlines.
800/432–1359 | www.frontierairlines.com.
jetBlue.
800/538–2583 | www.jetblue.com.

Airports

The major gateway to San Francisco is San Francisco International Airport (SFO), 15 miles south of the city. It’s off U.S. 101 near Millbrae and San Bruno. Oakland International Airport (OAK) is across the bay, not much farther away from downtown San Francisco (via I–80 east and I–880 south), but rush-hour traffic on the Bay Bridge may lengthen travel times considerably. San Jose International Airport (SJC) is about 40 miles south of San Francisco; travel time depends largely on traffic flow, but plan on an hour and a half with moderate traffic.

Depending on the price difference, you might consider flying into Oakland or San Jose. Oakland’s an easy-to-use alternative, since there’s public transportation between the airport and downtown San Francisco. Getting to San Francisco from San Jose, though, can be time-consuming and costly via public transportation. Heavy fog is infamous for causing chronic delays into and out of San Francisco. If you’re heading to the East or South Bay, make every effort to fly into Oakland or San Jose Airport, respectively.

At all three airports security check-in can take 15 to 30 minutes at peak travel times.

TIP Count yourself lucky if you have a layover at SFO’s International Terminal. The food served by branches of top local eateries beats standard airport fare: Italian pastries from Emporio Rulli, burgers from Burger Joint, seafood and steak from Lark Creek Grill, sushi from Ebisu.

Long layovers needn’t only be about sitting around or shopping. You can burn off vacation calories, too. Check out | www.airportgyms.com for lists of health clubs that are in or near many U.S. and Canadian airports.

Airport Information
San Francisco International Airport
(SFO). | 800/435–9736, 650/821–8211 | www.flysfo.com.
Oakland International Airport
(OAK). | 510/563–3300 | www.flyoakland.com.
San Jose International Airport
(SJC). | 408/392–3600 | www.flysanjose.com.

Ground Transportation

From San Francisco International Airport

Transportation signage at the airport is color-coded by type and is quite clear. A taxi ride to downtown costs $50 to $55. Airport shuttles are inexpensive and generally efficient. Lorrie’s Airport Service and SuperShuttle both stop at the lower level near baggage claim and take you anywhere within the city limits of San Francisco. They charge $15 to $17, depending on where you’re going. Lorrie’s also sells tickets online, at a $2 discount each way; you can print them out before leaving home. SuperShuttle offers some discounts for more than one person traveling in the same party ($17 per person and $10 for each additional passenger), but only if you’re traveling to a residential address.

Shuttles to the East Bay, such as BayPorter Express, also depart from the lower level; expect to pay between $38 and $42. Inquire about the number of stops a shuttle makes en route to or from the airport; some companies, such as East Bay Express, have nonstop service, but they cost a bit more. Marin Door to Door operates van service to Marin County for $35 to $40 for the first passenger, and $12 for each additional person; you must make reservations by noon the day before travel. Marin Airporter buses cost $21 and require no reservations but stop only at designated stations in Marin; buses leave every 30 minutes, on the half hour and hour, from 5 am to midnight.

You can take BART directly to downtown San Francisco; the trip takes about 30 minutes and costs less than $9. (There are both manned booths and vending machines for ticket purchases.) Trains leave from the international terminal every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 20 minutes on weekends.

Another inexpensive way to get to San Francisco (though not as convenient as BART) is via two SamTrans buses: No. 292 (55 minutes, $2 from SFO, $4 to SFO) and the KX (35 minutes, $5; only one small carry-on bag permitted). Board the SamTrans buses on the lower level.

To drive to downtown San Francisco from the airport, take U.S. 101 north to the Civic Center/9th Street, 7th Street, or 4th Street/Downtown exits. If you’re headed to the Embarcadero or Fisherman’s Wharf, take I–280 north (the exit is to the right, just north of the airport, off U.S. 101) and get off at the 4th Street/King Street exit. King Street becomes the Embarcadero a few blocks east of the exit. The Embarcadero winds around the waterfront to Fisherman’s Wharf.

From Oakland International Airport

A taxi to downtown San Francisco costs $40 to $45. By airport regulations, you must make reservations for shuttle service. BayPorter Express and other shuttles serve major hotels and provide door-to-door service to the East Bay and San Francisco. SuperShuttle operates vans to San Francisco and Oakland. Marin Door to Door serves Marin County for a flat $50 for the first passenger, and $12 for each additional person; make reservations by noon the day before travel.

The best way to get to San Francisco via public transit is to take the AIR BART bus ($3) to the Coliseum/Oakland International Airport BART station (BART fares vary depending on where you’re going; the ride to downtown San Francisco from here costs $3.80).

If you’re driving from Oakland International Airport, take Hegenberger Road east to I–880 north to I–80 west over the Bay Bridge. This will likely take at least an hour.

From San Jose International Airport

A taxi to downtown San Jose costs about $17 to $23; a trip to San Francisco runs about $150 to $155. South & East Bay Airport Shuttle transports you to the South Bay and East Bay; a ride to downtown San Jose costs $29 for the first passenger, $10 for each additional, and a van to San Francisco costs $109 for the first passenger, $10 for each additional. Reservations are required to the airport, but not from the airport; call from baggage claim before you collect your luggage. Reservations are also required for VIP Airport Shuttle, which has service to downtown San Francisco for $80 for the first passenger, $8 for each additional passenger; to downtown San Jose costs $26, $8 for each additional passenger.

To drive to downtown San Jose from the airport, take Airport Boulevard east to Route 87 south. To get to San Francisco from the airport, take Route 87 south to I–280 north. The trip will take roughly two hours.

At $8 for a one-way ticket, there is no question that Caltrain provides the most affordable option for traveling between San Francisco and San Jose’s airport. However, the Caltrain station in San Francisco at 4th and Townsend streets is not in a conveniently central location. It’s on the eastern side of the South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood and not easily accessible by other public transit. You’ll need to take a taxi or walk from the nearest bus line. From San Francisco it takes 90 minutes and costs $8 to reach the Santa Clara Caltrain station, from which a free shuttle runs every 15 minutes, whisking you to and from the San Jose International Airport in 15 minutes.

Contacts
American Airporter.
415/202–0733 | www.americanairporter.com.
BayPorter Express.
415/467–1800 | www.bayporter.com.
Caltrain.
800/660–4287 | www.caltrain.com.
East Bay Express Airporter.
877/526–0304 | www.eastbaytransportation.com.
Lorrie’s Airport Service.
415/334–9000 | www.gosfovan.com.
Marin Airporter.
415/461–4222 | www.marinairporter.com.
Marin Door to Door.
415/457–2717 | www.marindoortodoor.com.
SamTrans.
800/660–4287 | www.samtrans.com.
South & East Bay Airport Shuttle.
800/548–4664 | www.southandeastbayairportshuttle.com.
SuperShuttle.
800/258–3826 | www.supershuttle.com.
VIP Airport Shuttle.
408/986–6000, 800/235–8847 | www.viptransportgroup.com.

BART Travel

BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) trains, which run until midnight, travel under the bay via tunnel to connect San Francisco with Oakland, Berkeley, and other cities and towns beyond. Within San Francisco, stations are limited to downtown, the Mission, and a couple of outlying neighborhoods.

Trains travel frequently from early morning until evening on weekdays. After 8 pm weekdays and on weekends there’s often a 20-minute wait between trains on the same line. Trains also travel south from San Francisco as far as Millbrae. BART trains connect downtown San Francisco to San Francisco International Airport; the ride costs $8.10.

Intracity San Francisco fares are $1.75; intercity fares are $3.10 to $5.95. BART bases its ticket prices on miles traveled and does not offer price breaks by zone. The easy-to-read maps posted in BART stations list fares based on destination, radiating out from your starting point of the current station.

During morning and evening rush hour, trains within the city are crowded—even standing room can be hard to come by. Cars at the far front and back of the train are less likely to be filled to capacity. Smoking, eating, and drinking are prohibited on trains and in stations.

Contacts
BART (BART). | 415/989–2278 (San Francisco/Daly City), 510/465–2278 (East Bay) | www.bart.gov.

Boat Travel

Several ferry lines run out of San Francisco. Blue & Gold Fleet operates a number of routes, including service to Sausalito ($10.50 one-way) and Tiburon ($10.50 one-way). Tickets are sold at Pier 41 (between Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39), where the boats depart. Alcatraz Cruises, owned by Hornblower Yachts, operates the ferries to Alcatraz Island ($27 including audio tour and National Park Service ranger-led programs) from Pier 33, about a half-mile east of Fisherman’s Wharf ($3 shuttle buses serve several area hotels and other locations). Boats leave 10 times a day (14 times a day in summer), and the journey itself takes 30 minutes. Allow roughly 2½ hours for a round-trip jaunt. Golden Gate Ferry runs daily to and from Sausalito and Larkspur (each costs $9.25 one-way), leaving from Pier 1, behind the San Francisco Ferry Building. The Alameda/Oakland Ferry operates daily between Alameda’s Main Street Ferry Building, Oakland’s Jack London Square, and San Francisco’s Pier 41 and the Ferry Building ($6.25 one-way); some ferries go only to Pier 41 or the Ferry Building, so ask when you board. Purchase tickets on board.

Information
Alameda/Oakland Ferry.
510/522–3300 | www.eastbayferry.com.
Alcatraz Cruises.
415/981–7625 | www.alcatrazcruises.com.
Blue & Gold Fleet.
415/705–8200 | www.blueandgoldfleet.com.
Golden Gate Ferry.
415/455–2000 | www.goldengateferry.org.
San Francisco Ferry Building.
1 Ferry Bldg., at foot of Market St. on Embarcadero | 94111 | 415/983–8030.

Bus Travel

Greyhound serves San Francisco with buses from many major U.S. cities; within California, service is limited to hub towns and cities only. The Greyhound depot is located at the Transbay Temporary Terminal, in the SoMa district. Reservations are not accepted; seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Cash, traveler’s checks, and credit cards are accepted.

Greyhound.
Transbay Temporary Terminal, 200 Folsom St., between Main and Beale Sts., SoMa | 94105 | 415/495–1569 | www.greyhound.com.

Cable-Car Travel

Don’t miss the sensation of moving up and down some of San Francisco’s steepest hills in a clattering cable car. Jump aboard as it pauses at a designated stop, and wedge yourself into any available space. Then just hold on.

The fare (for one direction) is $6 (Muni Passport holders only pay a $1 supplement). You can buy tickets on board (exact change isn’t necessary) or at the kiosks at the cable-car turnarounds at Hyde and Beach streets and at Powell and Market streets.

The heavily traveled Powell–Mason and Powell–Hyde lines begin at Powell and Market streets near Union Square and terminate at Fisherman’s Wharf; lines for these routes can be long, especially in summer. The California Street line runs east and west from Market and California streets to Van Ness Avenue; there is often no wait to board this route.

Car Travel

Driving in San Francisco can be a challenge because of the one-way streets, snarly traffic, and steep hills. The first two elements can be frustrating enough, but those hills are tough for unfamiliar drivers.

Be sure to leave plenty of room between your car and other vehicles when on a steep slope. This is especially important when you’ve braked at a stop sign on a steep incline. Whether with a stick shift or an automatic transmission, every car rolls backward for a moment once the brake is released. So don’t pull too close to the car ahead of you. When it’s time to pull forward, keep your foot on the brake while tapping lightly on the accelerator. Once the engine is engaged, let up on the brake and head uphill.

TIP Remember to curb your wheels when parking on hills—turn wheels away from the curb when facing uphill, toward the curb when facing downhill. You can get a ticket if you don’t do this.

Market Street runs southwest from the Ferry Building, then becomes Portola Drive as it nears Twin Peaks (which lie beneath the giant radio-antennae structure, Sutro Tower). It can be difficult to drive across Market. The major east–west streets north of Market are Geary Boulevard (it’s called Geary Street east of Van Ness Avenue), which runs to the Pacific Ocean; Fulton Street, which begins at the back of the Opera House and continues along the north side of Golden Gate Park to Ocean Beach; Oak Street, which runs east from Golden Gate Park toward downtown, then flows into northbound Franklin Street; and Fell Street, the left two lanes of which cut through Golden Gate Park and empty into Lincoln Boulevard, which continues to the ocean.

Among the major north–south streets are Divisadero, which becomes Castro Street at Duboce Avenue and continues to just past César Chavez Street; Van Ness Avenue, which becomes South Van Ness Avenue when it crosses Market Street; and Park Presidio Boulevard, which empties into 19th Avenue.

Gasoline

Gas stations are hard to find in San Francisco; look for the national franchises on major thoroughfares such as Market Street, Geary Boulevard, Mission Street, or California Street. Once you find one, prepare for sticker shock—the fuel is notoriously expensive here.

Aside from their limited numbers and high costs, everything else is standard operation at service stations. All major stations accept credit and ATM cards; self-service pumps are the norm. Most gas stations are open seven days a week until 11 pm or midnight. Many national franchises on well-traveled streets are open 24/7.

Parking

San Francisco is a terrible city for parking. In the Financial District and Civic Center neighborhoods parking is forbidden on most streets between 3 or 4 pm and 6 or 7 pm. Check street signs carefully to confirm, because illegally parked cars are towed immediately. Downtown parking lots are often full, and most are expensive. The city-owned Sutter-Stockton, Ellis-O’Farrell, and 5th-and-Mission garages have the most reasonable rates in the downtown area. Large hotels often have parking available, but it doesn’t come cheap; many charge in excess of $40 a day for the privilege.

Garages
766 Vallejo Garage.
766 Vallejo St., at Powell St., North Beach | 94133 | 415/989–4490.
Ellis-O’Farrell Garage.
123 O’Farrell St., at Stockton St., Union Sq. | 94102 | 415/986–4800 | www.eofgarage.com.
Embarcadero Center Garage.
1–4, Embarcadero Center, between Battery and Drumm Sts., Financial District | 94111 | 415/772–0670 | www.embarcaderocenter.com.
5th & Mission / Yerba Buena Garage.
833 Mission St., at 5th St., SoMa | 94103 | 415/982–8522 | www.fifthandmission.com.
Opera Plaza Garage.
601 Van Ness Ave., at Turk St., Civic Center | 94102 | 415/771–4776.
Performing Arts Garage.
360 Grove St., between Franklin and Gough Sts., Civic Center | 94102 | 415/227–0114 | www.performingartsgarage.com.
Pier 39 Garage.
Embarcadero at Beach St., Fisherman’s Wharf | 94133 | 415/705–5418 | www.pier39.com.
Portsmouth Square Garage.
733 Kearny St., at Clay St., Chinatown | 94108 | 415/982–6353 | www.portsmouthsquaregarage.com.
Sutter-Stockton Garage.
444 Stockton St., at Sutter St., Union Sq. | 94108 | 415/982–7275.
Wharf Garage.
2801 Leavenworth St., at Beach St., Fisherman’s Wharf | 94133 | 415/775–5060.

Road Conditions

Although rush “hours” are 6–10 am and 3–7 pm, you can hit gridlock on any day at any time, especially over the Bay Bridge and leaving and/or entering the city from the south. Sunday-afternoon traffic can be heavy as well, especially over the bridges.

The most comprehensive and immediate traffic updates are available through the city’s 511 service, either online at | www.511.org (where webcams show you the traffic on your selected route) or by calling 511. On the radio, tune in to an all-news radio station such as KQED 88.5 FM or KCBS 740 AM/106.9 FM.

Be especially wary of non-indicated lane changes.

San Francisco is the only major American city uncut by freeways. To get from the Bay Bridge to the Golden Gate Bridge, you’ll have to take surface streets, specifically Van Ness Avenue, which doubles as U.S. 101 through the city.

Rules of the Road

To encourage carpooling during heavy traffic times, some freeways have special lanes for so-called high-occupancy vehicles (HOVs)—cars carrying more than one or two passengers. Look for the white-painted diamond in the middle of the lane. Road signs next to or above the lane indicate the hours that carpooling is in effect. If you’re stopped by the police because you don’t meet the criteria for travel in these lanes, expect a fine of more than $340.

Drivers are banned from using handheld mobile telephones while operating a vehicle in California. The use of seat belts in both front and back seats is required in California. The speed limit on city streets is 25 mph unless otherwise posted. A right turn on a red light after stopping is legal unless posted otherwise, as is a left on red at the intersection of two one-way streets. Always strap children under 80 pounds or under age eight into approved child-safety seats.

Car Rentals

When you reserve a car, ask about cancellation penalties, taxes, drop-off charges (if you’re planning to pick up the car in one city and leave it in another), and surcharges (for being under or over a certain age, for additional drivers, or for driving across state or country borders or beyond a specific distance from your point of rental). All these things can add substantially to your costs. Request car seats and extras such as GPS when you book.

Rates are sometimes—but not always—better if you book in advance or reserve through a rental agency’s website. There are other reasons to book ahead, though: for popular destinations, during busy times of the year, or to ensure that you get certain types of cars (vans, SUVs, exotic sports cars).

TIP Make sure that a confirmed reservation guarantees you a car. Agencies sometimes overbook, particularly for busy weekends and holiday periods.

Car-rental costs in San Francisco vary seasonally, but generally begin at $30 a day and $150 a week for an economy car with air-conditioning, automatic transmission, and unlimited mileage. This doesn’t include tax on car rentals, which is 9.5%. If you dream of driving with the top down, or heading out of town to ski the Sierra, consider renting a specialty vehicle. Most major agencies have a few on hand, but the best overall service is with two locally owned agencies: Specialty Rentals and City Rent-a-Car. The former specializes in high-end vehicles and arranges for airport pickup and drop-off. City Rent-a-Car likewise arranges airport transfers, and also delivers cars to Bay Area hotels. Both agencies also rent standard vehicles at prices competitive with those of the major chains.

In San Francisco you must be at least 20 years old to rent a car, but some agencies won’t rent to those under 25; check when you book. Super Cheap Car Rental is near the airport and rents to drivers as young as 20.

Alternative Rentals

City Car Share and Zipcar are membership organizations for any person over 21 with a valid driver’s license who needs a car only for short-term use. You must join their clubs beforehand, which you can do via their websites. They’re especially useful if you only want to rent a car for part of the day (say four to six hours), find yourself far from the airport, or if you’re younger than most rental agencies’ 25-years-or-older requirement. The membership fee often allows you to use the service in several metropolitan areas. If using such a service, you can rent a car by the hour as well as by the day.

GoCar rents electric vehicles at Fisherman’s Wharf and Union Square. These cars can travel between 25 and 35 mph and are very handy for neighborhood-based sightseeing, but they’re not allowed on the Golden Gate Bridge. GoCars are electric, two-seater, three-wheeled, open convertibles with roll bars (so drivers must wear helmets) with GPS audio tours of the city. You can pick up a GoCar at three locations: two in Fisherman’s Wharf and one in Union Square.

Automobile Associations
American Automobile Association (AAA). U.S.: American Automobile Association; most contact with the organization is through state and regional members. | 415/553–7200 | www.aaa.com.
National Automobile Club.
National Automobile Club; membership is open to California residents only. | 800/622–2136 | www.thenac.com.

Local Agencies
City Car Share.
415/995–8588, 877/363–0710 | www.citycarshare.org.
City Rent-a-Car.
415/359–1331, 866/359–1331 | www.cityrentacar.com.
GoCar.
800/914–6227 | www.gocartours.com.
Specialty Rentals.
800/400–8412 | www.specialtyrentals.com.
Super Cheap Car Rental.
650/777–9993 | www.supercheapcar.com.
Zipcar.
415/495–7478 | www.zipcar.com.

Muni Travel

The San Francisco Municipal Railway, or Muni, operates light-rail vehicles, the historic F-line streetcars along Fisherman’s Wharf and Market Street, trolley buses, and the world-famous cable cars. Light rail travels along Market Street to the Mission District and Noe Valley (J line), the Ingleside District (K line), and the Sunset District (L, M, and N lines); during peak hours (Monday through Friday, 6 am–9 am and 3 pm–7 pm) the J line continues around the Embarcadero to the Caltrain station at 4th and King streets. The T-line light rail runs from the Castro, down Market Street, around the Embarcadero, and south past Hunters Point and Monster Park to Sunnydale Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard. Muni provides 24-hour service on select lines to all areas of the city.

On buses and streetcars the fare is $2. Exact change is required, and dollar bills are accepted in the fare boxes. For all Muni vehicles other than cable cars, 90-minute transfers are issued free upon request at the time the fare is paid. These are valid for two additional transfers in any direction. Cable cars cost $6 and include no transfers .

One-day ($14), three-day ($21), and seven-day ($27) Passports valid on the entire Muni system can be purchased at several outlets, including the cable-car ticket booth at Powell and Market streets and the visitor information center downstairs in Hallidie Plaza. A monthly ticket, called a Fast Pass, is available for $70, and can be used on all Muni lines (including cable cars) and on BART within city limits. The San Francisco CityPass, a discount ticket booklet to several major city attractions, also covers all Muni travel for seven consecutive days.

The San Francisco Municipal Transit and Street Map ($3) is a useful guide to the extensive transportation system. You can buy the map at most bookstores and at the San Francisco Visitor Information Center, on the lower level of Hallidie Plaza at Powell and Market streets.

TIP During football season Muni runs a special weekend shuttle to Candlestick Park for $12 round-trip.

Bus Operators

Outside the city, AC Transit serves the East Bay, and Golden Gate Transit serves Marin and Sonoma counties.

Bus and Muni Information
AC Transit.
510/839–2882 | www.actransit.org.
Golden Gate Transit.
511, 415/455–2000 | www.goldengate.org.
San Francisco Municipal Railway System (Muni). | 311, 415/701–3000 | www.sfmta.com.

Taxi Travel

Taxi service is notoriously bad in San Francisco, and hailing a cab can be frustratingly difficult in some parts of the city, especially on weekends. Popular nightspots such as the Mission, SoMa, North Beach, the Haight, and the Castro have a lot of cabs but a lot of people looking for taxis, too. Midweek, and during the day, you shouldn’t have much of a problem—unless it’s raining. In a pinch, hotel taxi stands are an option, as is calling for a pick-up. But be forewarned: taxi companies frequently don’t answer the phone in peak periods. The absolute worst time to find a taxi is Friday afternoon and evening; plan well ahead, and if you’re going to the airport, make a reservation or book a shuttle instead. Most taxi companies take reservations for airport and out-of-town runs but not in-town transfers.

Taxis in San Francisco charge $3.50 for the first 1/5 mile (one of the highest base rates in the United States), 55¢ for each additional 1/5 mile, and 55¢ per minute in stalled traffic; a $2 surcharge is added for trips to the airport. There is no charge for additional passengers; there is no surcharge for luggage. For trips outside city limits, multiply the metered rate by 1.5; tolls and tip are extra.

Taxi Companies
DeSoto Cab.
415/970–1300.
Luxor Cab.
415/282–4141.
Veteran’s Taxicab.
415/648–1313.
Yellow Cab.
415/626–2345.

Complaints
San Francisco Police Department Taxi Complaints
415/553–1447.

Train Travel

Amtrak trains travel to the Bay Area from some cities in California and the United States. The Coast Starlight travels north from Los Angeles to Seattle, passing the Bay Area along the way, but contrary to its name, the train runs inland through the Central Valley for much of its route through Northern California; the most scenic stretch is in Southern California, between San Luis Obispo and Los Angeles. Amtrak also has several routes between San Jose, Oakland, and Sacramento. The California Zephyr travels from Chicago to the Bay Area, and has spectacular alpine vistas as it crosses the Sierra Nevada mountains. San Francisco doesn’t have an Amtrak train station but does have an Amtrak bus station, at the Ferry Building, which provides service to trains in Emeryville, just over the Bay Bridge. Shuttle buses also connect the Emeryville train station with downtown Oakland, the Caltrain station, and other points in downtown San Francisco. You can buy a Californian Rail Pass where you get 7 days of travel in a 21-day period for $159.

Caltrain connects San Francisco to Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, and many smaller cities en route. In San Francisco, trains leave from the main depot, at 4th and Townsend streets, and a rail-side stop at 22nd and Pennsylvania streets. One-way fares are $2.75 to $12.75, depending on the number of zones through which you travel; tickets are valid for four hours after purchase time. A ticket is $6.75 from San Francisco to Palo Alto, at least $8.75 to San Jose. You can also buy a day pass ($5.50–$25.50) for unlimited travel in a 24-hour period. It’s worth waiting for an express train for trips that last 1 to 1¾ hours. On weekdays, trains depart three or four times per hour during the morning and evening, twice per hour during daytime non-commute hours, and as little as once per hour in the evening. Weekend trains run once per hour. The system shuts down at midnight. There are no onboard ticket sales. You must buy tickets before boarding the train or risk paying a $250 fine for fare evasion.

Information

Amtrak.
800/872–7245 | www.amtrak.com.
Caltrain.
800/660–4287 | www.caltrain.com.
San Francisco Caltrain station.
700 4th St., at King St. | 94107 | 800/660–4287.

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