Overview
San Francisco's public transport is anchored by Muni Metro, a light rail system operated by the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA). As a visitor, you'll use Muni Metro alongside buses, ferries, and regional rail services to navigate the city. Muni Metro is one of North America's surviving first-generation streetcar systems, modernized into a light rail network with seven lines that blend surface operation in residential neighborhoods with underground subway sections in the downtown core. To ride end-to-end, you'll need a valid fare—buy a Clipper Card at a ticket machine, use tap-to-pay with a credit card, or use the MuniMobile app—then board at any station, tap or show your proof of payment, and exit at your destination. The system averaged 113,600 boardings per day as of early 2026 and is the fifth-busiest light rail system in the United States.
The network
Muni Metro light rail
Muni Metro operates seven light rail lines using a fleet of 249 Siemens S200 light rail vehicles (LRVs), serving 117 stations of which 63 are accessible. Five lines—the J Church, K Ingleside, L Taraval, M Ocean View, and N Judah—run on street surfaces through the southwestern quadrants of the city and merge into a single east–west tunnel beneath Market Street in downtown San Francisco (the Market Street subway). The supplementary S Shuttle operates only within the Market Street subway and the Twin Peaks Tunnel. The T Third Street line uses a north–south tunnel in the downtown core (the Central Subway), which opened on 19 November 2022 with three new subway stations.
- J Church: Runs from Church Station through the Twin Peaks Tunnel and Market Street subway to Embarcadero.
- K Ingleside: Runs from Balboa Park through the Twin Peaks Tunnel and Market Street subway to Embarcadero.
- L Taraval: Runs from Forest Hill through the Twin Peaks Tunnel and Market Street subway to Embarcadero.
- M Ocean View: Runs from Forest Hill through the Twin Peaks Tunnel and Market Street subway to Embarcadero.
- N Judah: Runs from Judah and LaPlaya through the Twin Peaks Tunnel and Market Street subway, with an extension along The Embarcadero to the Caltrain terminal at Fourth and King Street (opened 1998).
- S Shuttle: Operates only within the Market Street subway and Twin Peaks Tunnel.
- T Third Street: Uses the Central Subway in downtown San Francisco and extends to serve the southeastern portion of the city (opened 2007).
Regional rail: BART and Caltrain
The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system operates five routes, of which four run through San Francisco via a tunnel under Market Street, with downtown stations providing direct transfers to Muni Metro. BART connects downtown San Francisco to the East Bay, the San Francisco Airport, and Millbrae, typically with three or four trains per hour and generally less than a 5-minute wait within the city.
Caltrain operates regional rail from San Jose to its San Francisco terminal at Fourth and King Street in SoMa, with Muni Metro connections available there. On weekdays, Caltrain provides two trains per hour for most of the day with more frequent service during commute hours; weekends have hourly service except after 10 p.m.
Heritage streetcars
The F line operates heritage streetcars and began service in 1995, reviving surface streetcar operation on Market Street.
Ferries
Ferry services operate from San Francisco Bay Ferry and other operators to destinations around the bay.
Buses
Muni buses complement the light rail and regional rail network throughout the city. SamTrans routes also serve San Francisco International Airport.
Tickets & fares
Payment methods
You have several options to pay for your ride. The Clipper Card is a plastic smartcard accepted on all Bay Area transit systems (including Muni, BART, and Caltrain); you tap it on card readers inside vehicles and at Metro fare gates. A digital version can be added to a smart phone for contactless payment. The MuniMobile app lets you purchase and activate fares directly from your phone when boarding. Tap-to-pay with chip-enabled credit or debit cards is now accepted for adult single-ride fares. Cash (exact change required) is accepted aboard buses and at ticket vending machines in Metro stations, though machines do not give change but issue vouchers for future use.
Proof of payment and fares
Proof of payment is required at all times on Muni services; failure to display a valid ticket, pass, app, or Clipper Card may result in a fare citation. An inter-agency transfer discount is available when using a Clipper Card or MuniMobile. Single-ride passes sold through the MuniMobile app were discontinued effective September 1, 2026.
Youth and children
Youth ages 18 and under ride free on all regular Muni services (cable cars excepted). Children ages 4 and under ride free on cable cars.
Fares
Specific fares vary by service and distance. BART fares from San Francisco International Airport to downtown start at $8.95 one-way and vary by destination; the ride takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes depending on the time of day. Caltrain fares from San Jose to San Francisco cost $7.50 one-way. For current, detailed fare information by service, consult the official SFMTA website or the operator's app, as fares change periodically.
From the airport
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
SFO is located about 16 km (10 miles) south of downtown San Francisco. The most convenient public-transport option is BART: from most terminals you can walk (approximately 5 minutes from United's domestic terminal) or take a free airport shuttle (AirTrain) to the adjacent BART station (near the G side of the International Terminal). BART runs frequently, every 15 to 20 minutes depending on the time of day, and costs $8.95 one-way to downtown stations. BART operates from 4 a.m. on weekdays, 6 a.m. on Saturdays, and 8 a.m. on Sundays, until midnight. Trains pass through San Bruno, South San Francisco, Colma, and Daly City before reaching San Francisco's downtown stations, where you can connect to Muni for onward travel throughout the city.
Alternatively, SamTrans routes 292, 397, and 398 connect SFO directly to San Francisco for $2 per ticket and operate non-stop.
Oakland International Airport (OAK)
Oakland Airport is closer to downtown San Francisco than SFO and typically has clearer weather. A people mover connects the terminal to the BART station; the total fare from Oakland Airport to downtown San Francisco via the people mover and BART is $10.20 (with the connector comprising $6), automatically deducted from your Clipper Card.
San Jose International Airport (SJC)
A free shuttle called the Airport Flyer (VTA Route 10) connects San Jose Airport to both VTA Light Rail and Caltrain. From there, Caltrain provides direct service to San Francisco's Fourth and King Street terminal for $7.50 one-way. Caltrain also links with the BART system at Millbrae. When using Caltrain, purchase your ticket at automated station kiosks or use a Clipper Card before boarding, as tickets are not sold on trains.
Etiquette & customs
While specific local etiquette details for San Francisco public transport are not documented in the source materials, standard courtesy applies: keep to the right on escalators to allow others to pass on the left, avoid eating and drinking in restricted areas, give priority seating to elderly passengers, pregnant women, and those with disabilities, and be mindful of rush-hour congestion by having your fare ready and boarding efficiently.
Official links
Survival terms
San Francisco's transit system operates in English, so a glossary of local-language terms is not necessary.
Always have your Clipper Card or active MuniMobile fare loaded before you board, and remember that proof of payment must be displayed at all times to avoid a fare citation.