How to Ride The Iconic San Francisco Cable Cars

Last updated on August 18th, 2024 at 02:27 pm

After a year of being shut down, San Francisco’s cable cars are open! It’s finally time to hop on this iconic ride through the streets of San Francisco. The historic streetcars are high on many San Francisco bucket lists, especially among first-time visitors! They’re one of the city’s top tourist attractions, but locals also use them. Sure, there are cheaper and possibly faster ways to get around the city, but they’re definitely not as fun or scenic! In this post, we will talk about exactly how to ride the San Francisco cable cars during your visit to the city.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a tiny bit of income if you decide to make a purchase or booking. For more, check out my disclosure. 

San Francisco Cable Car History

Cable cars have been part of the San Francisco transportation scene since 1873. Horses, like me, had a difficult time climbing up the steep hills of San Francisco. Andrew Smith Hallidie invented cable cars to alleviate this problem. Allegedly, the iconic cable cars were the first of their kind!

At the peak of the cable car system, 8 cable car companies operated lines servicing Golden Gate Park, the Castro, the Mission, and the Presidio.

As transportation technology developed, the San Francisco cable cars were almost obsolete. But voters made their voices heard and the city kept the three cable car lines you can ride today!

San Francisco Cable Car Routes

There are currently three cable car routes you can ride in San Francisco. All three cable cars intersect at the Powell-California intersection if you want to switch!

Powell-Hyde Line: Downtown to Fisherman’s Wharf via Chinatown & Lombard St.

The Powell-Hyde cable car route is possibly the most popular cable car line as there are a number of hills and excellent views, and it passes the top of Lombard Street.

The line has a turntable location on Market and Powell near Union Square. At this end of the line, you can shop in name-brand stores in Union Square and on Market Street.

The other turntable location is on Hyde and Beach Street, directly across the street from Buena Vista Cafe. It is also right down the street from Union Square and a short (flat) 10-minute walk through Fisherman’s Wharf to Pier 39. 

Interesting Stops on the Powell/Hyde Line

• Chinatown: There are so many fun things to do, see, and eat in Chinatown. Stop for Dim Sum, find out how the Fortune Cookie is made, or simply wander the streets.
• Lombard St: Walk down the street that claims to be the most crooked in the world. While it’s technically not, it is quite photogenic and a nice walk.
• California St: If you want to switch lines, hop off here. Or if you want to take a photo of the hill leading to the Bay Bridge between the tall downtown buildings, this is the spot to do it!
• Fisherman’s Wharf: End your cable car ride in Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39. This area is the super touristy area of San Francisco, but for good reason! Grab an ice cream from Ghirardelli, check out the seals at Pier 39, and eat delicious seafood.

Powell-Mason: Downtown to Fisherman’s Wharf via Chinatown & North Beach

The Powell-Mason cable car route is similar to the Powell-Hyde route. It begins at the Powell Street turnaround near Union Square, climbs up Powell Street Hill, and crosses California. But as the Powell-Hyde line continues down Hyde Street, the Powell-Mason turns on Taylor Steet, passing the outskirts of Chinatown and joining Columbus Street in the heart of North Beach.

The other turnaround is located at Bay and Taylor, just two blocks from Fisherman’s Wharf and a short walk to Pier 39. 

Interesting Stops on the Powell-Mason Line

• Chinatown: Chinatown is one of the most popular places in San Francisco. Hop off here to explore this area on your own, take a walking tour, and catch a glimpse at local life.
• California Street: At the top of California Street, an iconic photo of San Francisco awaits. The bay bridge is lined up perfectly between two tall Financial buildings. 
• North Beach: There are so many fun things to do in North Beach, including great food and shopping. Also known as Little Italy, this is a great neighborhood for San Francisco nightlife. 
• Cable Car Museum: Want to learn more about how the San Francisco cable cars work? This line stops directly next to the Free Cable Car Museum. Simply ask the driver to let you know which stop to get off at, and they will! 

California Street Line: Van Ness to the Embarcadero via Nob Hill & Financial District

While the two Powell lines above are more popular as they ride through tourist destinations, I personally prefer the California line.

The California cable cars have two open seating areas with a closed seating area in the middle. This means more opportunity to stand on the side!

I also really like riding down California Street into the Financial District. It’s one of my favorite views in San Francisco!

The California cable car line, however, does not have a turntable. It has a different mechanism that allows it to move in both directions.

The California Street Cable Car line runs from Van Ness Avenue to Market Street, just one block from the Ferry Building..

Interesting Stops on the California Line

• California St.: Hop off at the top of California Street to snap a photo of this epic view. Then, hop back on the next cable car and continue the journey downhill into the financial district. 
• Nob Hill: The California line passes through the Nob Hill neighborhood, which is home to the stunning Grace Cathedral and a couple of very ritzy hotels. While pricey, these hotels have great bars, such as the Tonga Room in the Fairmont and Top of the Mark in the Mark Hopkins Hotel.
• Polk Street: Get off at Polk Street for some excellent food, shopping, and people-watching. This area has a great local vibe!
• Ferry Building: Walk to the Ferry Building for lunch or the Farmers Market. You could then extend your walk along the Embarcadero south to the Bay Bridge and Cupid’s Span or north towards Fisherman’s Wharf. 

How to Ride the Cable Car

Getting On the Cable Cars

You can get on the cable car at any of the stops on the route. There are usually long lines at the turntables, but if you walk to the next stop, you’ll have a better chance of squeezing on! The cable car stop signs look like the photo above!

Getting Off of the Cable Cars

Getting off the cable cars is a unique part of the process.

The cable cars actually stop in the middle of the intersection, literally in the middle of the road. So, as you exit, there will be cars driving by. Don’t just jump off and cross the street!

Make sure to look for traffic and cross only when safe.

Also, don’t cross in front of the cable car. Cross behind it.  

Where to Sit on the Cable Cars

For the two Powell lines, try to snag a seat on the wooden benches on the Bay side of the car. This will provide you with the best views!

For the California line, snag a spot in the section facing downtown. This provides a thrill when you’re heading downhill towards the Embarcadero. And when you’re leaving downtown towards Van Ness, you’ll also have a great view of the hill. 

There are outdoor and indoor seating options. I love the outdoor area, but it can get chilly. If it’s a cold day, the inside might be more enjoyable.

I highly recommend standing if you can manage it for the entire ride. Just don’t lean out and hold on to your valuables!

How to Stand on the Cable Cars

As I mentioned above, standing is an exciting way to ride the cable cars. There are designated places you can stand on the side, and the driver will let you know if you’re in the wrong spot. 

If the cable car is busy, be prepared to stand for the entirety of the ride, which is roughly 30 minutes from start to finish. You’ll also have to move if people sitting need to get off.

Cable Car Price

A single ride cable car tickets cost $8, and a round trip ticket is $16. If you happen to get off the cable car mid-route but want to hop back on, it will cost you another $8. There are no transfers. 

A more cost-effective way to ride cable cars is to purchase a one-, three-, or seven-day passport. This ticket is valid for travel on the cable cars, street cars, and buses throughout the city. It costs $24, $36, and $47, respectively. This is the best way to utilize public transit in San Francisco during your visit.

How to Purchase Cable Car Tickets

If you’re getting on at the turntable stations, you can purchase your ticket from the ticket booths. If you’re getting on mid-route, you can purchase your tickets from the driver in exact cash.

You can also purchase tickets using the Muni Mobile app. Or, if you happen to have a Clipper Card, you can use this to pay for your Cable Car ticket as well. 

Insider Tip: If you purchase a 1-, 3-, or 7-day Passport through the Muni Mobile app, you can get a discount! They’ll be $13, $31, and $41, respectively!

Cable Car Hours

The cable cars are back to full service as of September 1, 2021. They run from 7:00 am – 10:30 pm Monday through Sunday

Cable Car Safety Tips

sprinkled some safety tips for riding cable cars throughout this post. But I want to make sure I highlight them as well. 

1. Don’t lean out! If you choose to stand, make sure you’ve got a strong grip on the bar and don’t lean out.
2. Check for traffic: as much as this seems like a rollercoaster ride, it’s still public transportation. Check for traffic before crossing the street to get on or off the cable car. 
3. Cross behind the car. When you get off, cross behind the cable car just in case it starts moving!
4. Keep hold of all belongings. Yes, get that video of you cruising on the side as it rolls down California street. But have a tight grip on that cell phone! 

Riding the cable car in San Francisco is seriously a fun way to see the city. Is it pretty touristy – sure. But you’ll still see locals hopping on and off with you. They know better than to wait in the lines at the cable car turnarounds! And now, so do you! You are now fully equipped to have a fun day riding the San Francisco Cable Cars!

If you have any questions – feel free to reach out. And don’t forget to download your San Francisco bucket list bingo card and add these other sites to your San Francisco itinerary.

Like this post? Pin it to Plan Your San Francisco Itinerary!