Getting Around
Having a car in San Francisco isn't necessary most of the time. San Francisco really caters to walkers, with benches appearing just when you need one and cafes at hand for a shot of caffeine when energy flags. Getting around on a bus or Muni metro streetcar is cheap if not perfect. In the rare instance that you do need a car, renting one downtown is easy and convenient. San Francisco International Airport is on the western edge of the bay, 14 miles (22km) south of the city center. The simplest way to get to the city is by shuttle vans, the Airporter bus, taxis or rental cars. There are also bus-BART combinations, which are useful if you're heading to the East Bay. Oakland International Airport is 8 miles (13km) south of downtown Oakland. Shuttle buses run between the airport and the Oakland Coliseum BART station, as well as into town. San Jose International Airport, at the southern end of the bay, is a few miles north of downtown San Jose and just over an hour's drive from San Francisco. A free shuttle bus links the airport with a light rail system that runs to downtown San Jose. The easiest way to get from San Jose to San Francisco is to catch the 80 minute CalTrain service.
Heading out on foot
Walking is the best way to travel if you aren't in a rush, and it's also the only way to really see and enjoy the neighborhoods.
Use caution when walking, as San Francisco has it's share of vehicle/pedestrian accidents. Be alert at all times. Watch for drivers running red lights (a common occurrence here) or turning right on a red light; make sure bus drivers see you entering the crosswalk; and be especially wary of bike messengers, who show no mercy.
Trekking by Bus
The Muni buses are clearly numbered on the front and run through the city from 6 a.m. to midnight (but don't take them late at night). Street-corner signs and painted yellow bands on utility poles and on curbs mark bus stops. Buses come by every 5 to 20 minutes, depending on where you want to go and the time of day. Rapid transit - in the truest sense of the adjective - they are not, but with 80 routes, they are the most complete. Expect most buses to be extremely crowded during rush hours.
Exact change is required on the buses, as it is on the streetcars. The driver will likely hand you a paper transfer, which is good for a second ride within two hours.
Getting Around by Cable Car
There's no city statute that says you have to ride the cable cars, but what self-respecting tourist would leave San Francisco without climbing aboard? Three lines cross the downtown area. If you're in the mood for some scenery, take the Powell-Hyde line, which begins at Powell Street and ends at the turnaround across from Ghirardelli Square. The Powell-Mason line goes through North Beach and ends near Fisherman's Wharf. The California Street line, the least scenic, crests at Nob Hill and then makes its way to Van Ness Avenue. (The lines for the California Street cable cars are usually much shorter because the route isn't as twisty.) Rides are $3 one way, so buy a Muni Passport and take all three as often as you like. The pass is worth every penny. You may only board a cable car at specific, clearly marked stops.
Cable cars operate from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m., but take one early in the day if you want to have a little elbow room as you ride; as the day goes on, tourists jam-pack the cars.
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