How to Ride the Streetcar
- 1. Figure out Where the Streetcar Goes The first step is to figure out if the Historic Streetcar can take you where you need to go. And to do that, you'll have to check the map. ...
- 2. Figure Out When the Streetcar Departs ...
- 3. Another Option: Charter a Streetcar! ...
- 4. Find the Stop on the Street ...
- 5. Pay for your Ride ...
- 6. Enjoy the Ride! ...
Are there still streetcars in San Francisco?
SAN FRANCISCO’S HISTORIC STREETCARS AND CABLE CARS ARE BACK IN SERVICE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, FROM 7 AM – 10 PM. ALL THREE CABLE CAR LINES ARE OPERATING, ALONG WITH THE FULL F-LINE VINTAGE STREETCAR ROUTE. THE E-EMBARCADERO STREETCAR LINE IS NOT YET OPERATING. MASKS ARE REQUIRED TO RIDE.
What to do with a cable car ride in San Francisco?
As it rides north along Powell Street, you pass by Union Square and ride up to Nob Hill where the views can’t be beaten. You'll also pass the Cable Car Museum, worth a visit if you are interested in the mechanics and history of cable cars.
Do you need a mask to ride the streetcar in SF?
THE E-EMBARCADERO STREETCAR LINE IS NOT YET OPERATING. MASKS ARE REQUIRED TO RIDE. The F-Market & Wharves historic streetcar line and the city’s three cable car lines are owned and operated by the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni), a service of SFMTA. Market Street Railway provides this information for your convenience only.
How much does it cost to charter a streetcar in San Francisco?
Another Option: Charter a Streetcar! If you REALLY love San Francisco’s Historic Streetcar, but you don’t want to share your ride with the public, you can charter your own course throughout the city. For a 2-hour private ride for you and up to 58 friends, you can charter the streetcar for $839.50 (that’s only about $15 per person!).
How do you use the streetcar in San Francisco?
A ride on the streetcar costs $2.25 for adults, and $1.00 for kids and senior citizens. You can pay this fee in cash, with a Muni Farecard, or a Clipper Card. If you're paying with cash, you must board up at the front of the streetcar.
How do you pay for the streetcar in San Francisco?
Simply board and pay using the MuniMobile app, a Clipper Card, or cash. A single adult ticket is $3 if paid in cash, $2.50 if paid via MuniMobile or Clipper Card. Youth (ages 5-18), seniors (ages 65+), and travelers with disabilities ride for less ($1.50 if cash, $1.25 if MuniMobile or Clipper).
Are the street cars in San Francisco free?
Cable Car Fares One ride on the San Francisco cable car now costs $8: same price for everyone. Only exceptions: seniors 65+ pay $4 before 7 am or after 9 pm. Note: you pay $8 every time you get on.
How do you pay for trams in San Francisco?
Use your Clipper card on all Bay Area transit systems, including Muni. Cash: Fares can be paid on surface transportation with any U.S. currency or coin; exact change is required. Effective August 15, 2021 - anyone under 19 rides free! No proof of payment (Clipper card) required with the exception of Cable Car.
How long is the cable car ride from Union Square to Fisherman's Wharf?
The best way to get from Union Square to Fishermans Wharf without a car is to cable car which takes 17 min and costs $8.
How much does it cost to go on a cable car in San Francisco?
Fares for the Cable car are: Adult & Youth (ages 5-17) $6.00 each way. $3 for seniors or those with disabilities. An All-Day Passport is sold for $14 by the conductors on the cable cars.
Do tourist need a car in San Francisco?
Although having a car in SF is not advised, some visitors will need a car for day trips or to drive to other parts of California or the West after visiting San Francisco. Where to pick up a rental car? There are three main locations with clusters of car rental offices: Union Square.
Is there a fee to drive down Lombard Street?
There is no charge to drive down Lombard Street.
Is it easy to get around San Francisco without a car?
Downtown, North Beach, and Fisherman's Wharf are easily walkable. The city's local MUNI buses and light rail, trolleys, and streetcars travel citywide, and are an economical and safe way to get around—just know you may need to wait a bit at your stop.
How much is a Clipper card in San Francisco?
All stations have Clipper vending machines. Funds are immediately available when added using a vending machine at BART. There is a one-time $3 fee to purchase a plastic Clipper card from a BART station vending machine.
Are SF trams free?
Once you have your luggage, follow the signs for AirTrain, a free tram service to all terminals. Take either the Red or Blue AirTrain line to the Garage G and BART stop in International Terminal G to take BART. BART fares are based on distance traveled; the greater the distance, the higher the fare.
Are San Francisco cable car rides free?
To board cable cars at Powell & Market, Bay & Taylor and Hyde & Beach Streets, you must purchase your fare in advance (applies 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily). Single ride fares can be purchased at a number of locations. For all-day travel, you may want to purchase a visitor Passport.
Do you have to pay for the trolley in San Francisco?
To board cable cars at Powell & Market, Bay & Taylor and Hyde & Beach Streets, you must purchase your fare in advance (applies 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily). Pricing details for cable car single trips can be found here. For all-day travel, you may want to purchase a visitor Passport.
Do you have to pay to ride the San Francisco trolley?
Buy your ticket from the cable car conductor. To do this you must pay with small bills ($1,$5, $10, $20). The driver won't take any money larger than a $20 bill. You can buy your tickets from the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (also at Powell and Market).
How does the San Francisco trolley work?
3:406:30How Do Cable Cars Work? Cable Car Museum - San Francisco, CaliforniaYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipEach of the four cables for the four different routes here in san francisco. Have one continuousMoreEach of the four cables for the four different routes here in san francisco. Have one continuous loop cable. These are the big wire cables. And these are the individual strands.
Can you use Clipper card cable car?
Can You Pay for Cable Car Tickets with a Clipper Card? Yes! Clipper is the all-in-one transit card for the Bay Area. To ride our world-famous cable cars using Clipper, buy a one, three or seven-day Visitor Passport for discounts on multi-day rides.
What is a streetcar in San Francisco?
Similarly to the cable car (and not to be confused with it), the Streetcars (trams) are a historical form of transportation and a different way to explore San Francisco. The historical "F" line has trams that are over 150 years old, which have been brought over from different parts of the world (Hiroshima, Moscow, ...
How old are the F trams?
The historical "F" line has trams that are over 150 years old, which have been brought over from different parts of the world (Hiroshima, Moscow, Porto and Hamburg are some examples) for their restoration and subsequent use.
Where to Ride: In Or Out?
One of the best spots is between the rows of benches at the back, just behind the grip where you can see out and also watch them work. For safety, you'll have to stay clear of their workspace.
What to do if you find a long line at the cable car stop?
If you find a long line when you arrive at the cable car stop, be smart. Send one person to buy tickets while the rest of your group gets in line.
What happens if you charge off to ride a cable car?
If you charge off to ride a cable car, your fun adventure could turn into an annoying one. If you show up at the busiest boarding area, you stand in line so long that you start wondering if you need to file a change of address form. Getting on a cable car mid-route can also be confusing - and getting them to stop isn't obvious, either.
How far ahead can you signal cable cars?
Cable cars take a little while to come to a halt. Signal at least a half-block ahead, or you might have to wait until the next stop.
What to do if you want to get off along the way?
If you want to get off along the way, you'll have to notify the grip person and conductor.
Where to take Powell Hyde Line?
For maximum fun, take the Powell-Hyde Line from Union Square to the top of Lombard Street, get off and walk down the "crooked" street. From there you can continue to the waterfront, or get off at the end of the line near Ghirardelli Square and walk two blocks along the waterfront to Fisherman's Wharf .
Where to go to Union Square from the waterfront?
Use the Powell-Mason line to go to Union Square from the waterfront. Its boarding area is less busy than the one at Hyde Street.
When is the best time to ride the F line?
To get the most enjoyment out of your F-line streetcar ride, especially in June, July, and August, pick one of the least crowded times to ride, generally right after morning rush hour (8:30 to 9:30 a.m.), mid afternoons (2 p.m. to 5 p.m.), or early evenings (7 p.m to 9 p.m.). The E-Embarcadero is rarely crowded, except around game time at the Giants’ ballpark, and you get a very pleasant ride the length of the waterfront.
How long do you have to wait at the turntables for cable car?
During peak periods, including most summer days between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., you can often wait an hour or longer in line at the turntables for a ride on the Powell Street lines. And while there is a cable car stop at virtually every corner along the route, during peak periods, the Powell lines are usually filled to capacity or very close to it as they leave the terminal, which means they are forced to pass up riders waiting at stops along the way.
How much is a Muni pass?
If you’re just riding on Muni buses, light rail, and the vintage streetcars, the best deal by far is the $5 one-day pass that you can get through the Muni Mobile app. This lets you ride any Muni vehicle, except cable cars, all day for less than a round-trip cash fare.
How early can you get cable car terminals?
The earlier in the morning you can get to the cable car terminals, the faster you’ll get aboard. If you’re staying in the Union Square or general downtown area, try to get to Powell and Market Streets no later than 8:30 a.m. for a ride to the Wharf. When you arrive at the Wharf, stop for a cup of coffee or a quiet walk along the water if the attractions you want to visit aren’t open yet. Same concept in reverse if you’re staying near the Wharf.
Do cable cars accept transfers?
Remember, the cable car lines do not issue or accept transfers, so if you get off a cable car along the route, you will have to pay a second fare to continue your journey. (By contrast, the F-line vintage streetcars, besides having a much lower fare, issue and accept transfers, so you can hop on and off anywhere during the 90-minute validity period of the transfer. In particular, we invite you to take a break at the halfway point of the F-line and visit our free San Francisco Railway Museum at the Steuart Street stop, across The Embarcadero from the Ferry Building.)
Is the F Market and Wharves streetcar line in service?
Click on the map thumbnail at left to view Market Street Railway’s map of San Francisco’s historic rail lines. The F-Market & Wharves streetcar line is currently in service; the E-Embarcadero streetcar line is suspended until further notice. The world-famous cable car lines – the Powell-Hyde line, the Powell-Mason line, and the California Street line – are back in service. The 39-Coit Tower motor coach is back in service as well.
Does San Francisco have pickpockets?
Oh, and though it pains us to say it, San Francisco, like any big city, has pickpockets. If you’re on a crowded streetcar or cable car, keep a close watch on your valuables.
What was the only form of mass transit in San Francisco?
Before cable cars were invented, the only form of mass transit was horse-drawn trolleys. That’s fine on flat areas of the region. But San Francisco is well known for its steep hills.
How many days can you take a San Francisco MTA?
You can purchase a one-day, three-day, or seven-day Passport ( Must be consecutive days). If you are interested in taking more than one ride or doing a self-planned hop-on/hop-off trip, you may want to buy a Visitor Passport Ticket. For more information check the San Francisco MTA website.
What is worth visiting in the Cable Car Museum?
You'll also pass the Cable Car Museum, worth a visit if you are interested in the mechanics and history of cable cars.
What is cable car ride?
Riding a cable car is somewhere between riding an open-air bus and taking a roller coaster ride (but a slow roller coaster!) If you have never ridden a cable car before, it’s good to know the ‘rules of the road’, especially if you want to have the best views or most comfortable ride — or both!
Where are the stops on the MUNI cable car line?
Stops are located about every two blocks along each line , and you'll see a brown and white sign that says MUNI Cable Car Stop.
Which side of the car do you ride on when you go to Powell's Market?
TIP: For the best views, we suggest riding on the right side of the car if you're departing from Powell & Market, and the left side if you're departing from Hyde & Beach.
Where to keep your bags in a car?
Be sure to keep your backpacks, bags, and purses toward the center of the car and not dangling outside of the car because trucks, buses, and other cable cars pass in close proximity. Most importantly make sure to keep your arms and legs inside the car–we don’t want anybody getting hurt!
Where are the busiest cable cars?
The busiest cable cars lines are the Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde routes. The crowds of visitors wanting to take them near Fisherman’s Wharf and Aquatic Park can be sizable and the cars are small, often meaning long lines at peak times. Maybe try to take the line from Market Street, which tends to have fewer passengers, or take the California line, which is the least busy of the three. The F Market & Wharves line is great to take to get to Castro or Fisherman’s Wharf.
Who invented the cable car?
Andrew Hallidie is considered the inventor of the cable car. An immigrant, he arrived in California from London in 1852 with his father, who had an interest in a gold mine in Mariposa county. The following year, when the father returned to the UK the son remained, and became a gold miner. While working there Hallidie began making wire rope, which he was skilled in because his father had a business designing and manufacturing them back in London, for use with the rail cars used to take ore out of the mines.
Where is the cable car stop in the city of San Francisco?
The cable car stops at the top of the crooked block of Lombard Street, where you can get a great picture of the city and bay, with Coit Tower in the distance.
What is the best thing to do in San Francisco?
Riding the iconic San Francisco cable cars is one of the best things to do in the city. Why are most of the people on the car smiling? Because it really is a blast!
How to pay for cable car ride?
How to pay for the cable car ride. Pay after you get on. There are two people running each cable car. One is the grip man (or woman) who operates the car, and the other handles the payments and helps people get on board. They take payments after everyone is on board.
What was the battle to save the cable cars?
But a fierce battle followed when citizens formed action groups to save the iconic cars, and ultimately, locals voted on a referendum the same year to keep the cars running.
What happened to the cable car system in San Francisco?
Then disaster struck: the 1906 earthquake destroyed much of the cable car system along with most of San Francisco. The extensive cable car system was reduced to only three lines, running on the steepest streets that weren't as practical for the new streetcars.
How many people ride the San Francisco cable cars?
They were the first cable cars in the world and now they're the only remaining manually-operated cable car system still in use. The current system. Over 13 million people ride the cable cars every year.
Where do people get on cable cars?
Most people get on at the turnaround points at either end of the cable car lines.
F-Line, E-Line and Cable Car Route Map
Fares
- Vintage streetcar fares are the same as Muni buses and light rail vehicles. Kids under 19 ride buses and streetcar free! Cable cars have higher fares with no discounts for seniors or kids. The fare structure can be complicated, so if you’re looking to ride both types of vintage vehicles with multiple rides per day, we strongly recommend these simple saver options. The Clipper Card let…
F-Market & Wharves Historic Streetcar Line
- If you are paying with cash, please have the exact cash fare ($3.00 adult; $1.50 senior/disabled) ready before boarding. Muni streetcar and bus operators carry no change. Deposit cash fares into the farebox near the operator. Show transfers and passes to the operator. Transfers are issued only when boarding, good for 90 minutes. Transfers may not b...
Cable Car Lines
- When in normal operation, the cable car lines carry passengers 365 days a year from 6:30 a.m. until just after midnight. Cable cars are scheduled to operate every 6-15 minutes, depending on the time of day. Cable cars are operating less frequently and for shorter hours at the moment. Cable car tickets and one-day Cable Car Passes are sold on board cable cars by the conductors…
Single and Multi-Day Passes
- Muni offers a choice of passports good for unlimited rides on cable cars, historic streetcars, and all other Muni services (including the Muni Metro subway under Market Street and all bus lines except for special event service). One-day passes may be purchased on board cable cars (but not streetcars). Current prices: 1-Day, $24; 3-day, $36; 7-day, $47. These may not be your best value …
Riding Tips
- We have compiled all the best rider tips and information about San Francisco’s historic streetcars and cable cars in our pocket-sized book, ON TRACK, available at our San Francisco Railway Museum or here in our online store. In summary, the best advice we can give visitors wishing to ride the cable cars or streetcars is this: timing is everything. The earlier in the morning you can g…
Lost & Found
- Leave something behind? If you think you left something on a Muni vehicle, call Muni Lost & Found by calling (415) 701-2311. Market Street Railway does not operate the cable cars or streetcars and cannot offer assistance with lost items.