Here’s some advice for anyone planning a San Francisco visit: You don’t really need a car. Due to a chronic lack of parking spaces, some very steep hills and frequent traffic congestion, driving is more of a headache than a convenience. But fortunately this city provides a number of public transportation alternatives, and you’d be wise to take advantage of them.
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) connects the San Francisco Peninsula with Berkeley, Oakland and other cities in the East Bay. Provided you aren’t loaded down with luggage, BART is an easy (and cheaper) way to get into the city from San Francisco International Airport than taking a cab or using one of the shuttle services. The SFO BART station is on level 3 of the International Terminal, a short walk from most domestic flight gates (ask at any information desk if you get sidetracked). Purchase a ticket from one of the ticket machines at the station entrance, which you’ll need in order to enter and exit stations through the fare gates. There are eight BART stations in the city; depending on the station, one-way fare is $7.60-$8.10. Compare that to an average of $15-$20 for a shuttle van or $40 and up for a taxi. 

A key thing to remember is that BART and San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) are separate services although they share underground stations in the city; watch for signs to make sure you’re entering the right system. Muni streetcars run underground in the downtown core and above ground farther out. There are eight lines; the J (Church), L (Taraval), M (Ocean View) and N (Judah) all run along Market Street and are convenient to downtown and neighborhoods like SOMA, the Mission and the Castro.

At Muni entrances and exits you’re sure to be regaled by everyone from saxophonists to pensive guitar pickers to bass-voiced a capella singers. Of course a monetary contribution is up to you, but for some people busking in subway stations is a livelihood. And here’s another tip: When riding up or down escalators, stand to the right if you’re not walking so the walkers can pass you, and don’t stand next to someone and block the way. This is a commonly accepted courteous practice; consider yourself lucky if failure to adhere to it provokes only a loud sigh or a sharp “Excuse me!”
 

Riding the bus is a fact of life for many San Franciscans. Buses lurch, they stop frequently, they can be packed like a sardine can, but let’s face it—they’ll get you where you want to go. Muni buses reach every corner of the city, and a bus is a godsend when the only way to get from point A to point B is up a steep hill. A route map is a handy item; I take my now-tattered copy everywhere. You can get one at the kiosks at the Powell and Market street or Beach and Hyde street cable car terminals, and at many places that sell books and periodicals.

The fare for Muni streetcars, buses and trolley buses is $2 for adults; 75 cents for those over age 64, ages 5-17 and the physically impaired. This fare includes a free transfer good for use on any two other vehicles within a 90-minute period; ask for it when you board. You’ll find, however, that single rides add up rapidly, so if you’re going to be in town longer than a day it makes sense to get a multi-use Muni Passport. A 1-day pass is $13; a 3-day pass is $20; a 7-day pass is $26. They’re good for unlimited rides on all city transportation, including cable cars. Pick one up at the same places that sell bus route maps (cash only at the kiosks).

Note: The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency is transitioning paper monthly fare passes to the plastic Clipper card. New faregates and ticket vending machines have already been installed in Muni stations. For more information about the new Clipper card, click here. 

Riding a cable car is about as touristy a San Francisco experience as you can get, so of course you have to do it. There are three lines. If you’re just riding for fun, the California Street line (from Market Street to Van Ness Avenue) is likely to be the least crowded, but the Powell-Hyde line, running from Powell and Market streets downtown to Beach and Hyde streets near Ghiradelli Square, is the most fun. If you don’t already have a Muni bus pass or Passport, the one-way fare is $5.

Probably the most delightful way to get from here to there is to take a ferry. Ferries to Alcatraz, Sausalito, Alameda Island and other visitor destinations depart regularly from the Ferry Building at the foot of Market Street and from various piers along The Embarcadero, and San Francisco Bay sightseeing cruises are plentiful. Two well-known companies are the Blue & Gold Fleet, departing from Pier 39, and the Red & White  Fleet, next door at Pier 43½.

And finally, you’re probably going to be doing a lot of walking. This is a city that rewards long walks with any number of fantastic views, and the numerous hills will give your legs a vigorous workout. But it’s also a city densely populated with pedestrians and vehicles. The No. 1 rule to staying safe: Only cross streets with a WALK signal. Cars (and cyclists) can come out of nowhere, and some major thoroughfares have five-way intersections. I can’t tell you how many times—impatient and itching to cross—I’ve been pulled out of the street and back onto the curb by friends who live in the city and know better. Even seasoned San Franciscans don’t jaywalk.