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The Most Frequently Asked Questions at the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau's Visitor Information Center in Hallidie Plaza, Market and Powell Streets.

 

"How do we get to Alcatraz?"

	Alcatraz aerial  Photo by Phil Coblentz

Alcatraz Island, the notorious former federal prison in the middle of the San Francisco Bay, is accessible to the public through the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Blue and Gold Fleet.

To reach Alcatraz Island, you travel by ferry from Pier 41 at San Francisco's famous Fisherman's Wharf. The ferry ride will take you approximately 20 to 25 minutes. The ferry is easily reached from the Union Square by bus (lines 15-Third or 30-Stockton), by cable car (Powell-Mason line), or by the "F" line streetcar.

Once you arrive at Alcatraz Island you must walk up a steep hill. There are no elevators. A free shuttle service is available for visitors with mobility or health concerns. The shuttle runs once an hour up the hill (at 40 minutes after the hour) and once an hour down the hill (at 20 minutes after the hour). Seating is limited and available on a first come, first served basis.

For all others, you may choose to either rent a self-guided audio tour of the island or tour the island on your own.

To charge tickets with a credit card by phone or to check the tour schedules, please call 415-705-5555 or visit the ticket booth at Pier 41, Fisherman's Wharf. The ticket booth is open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm and Saturday-Sunday, 8 am to 2 pm. Call 415-705-5555 for an update on extended summer hours.

During the summer and fall months, YOU SHOULD RESERVE AT LEAST ONE WEEK IN ADVANCE.

"How do we get to Fisherman's Wharf?"
To get to Fisherman's Wharf from Union Square you can travel either by cable car or bus. For additional information on routes from other locations, click here.

Cable Car:
You may take either the Powell-Hyde or the Powell-Mason lines to reach Fisherman's Wharf. TRIP TIME: 20-25 minutes.

Bus:
If you do not wish to wait in line for a cable car, you may wish to consider taking a Muni bus. You may board lines 15-Third or 30-Stockton at the corner of Kearny and Market Streets. Lines 15 and 30 travel through Chinatown and North Beach, two of San Francisco's most colorful neighborhoods. Line 15 terminates at Bay and Kearny Streets near PIER 39; line 30 operates on North Point Street from Columbus Avenue west to Van Ness Avenue and serves The Anchorage, The Cannery and Ghirardelli Square. Or board the "F" line streetcar at Market and Fifth Streets. TRIP TIME: 25-30 minutes.

"How do we use Muni (cable cars, buses, metro)?"
The Citywide public transportation agency is the San Francisco Municipal Railway, better known as Muni. It operates the world-famous cable cars, buses, trolley buses, a metro system, and historic streetcars (trams).

Types of Transportation:

Cable Cars:

There are three cable car routes in San Francisco. Two of these routes, the Powell-Hyde and the Powell-Mason, begin at the corner of Powell and Market Streets, upstairs from the Visitor Information Center, and run north-south to and from Nob Hill and Fisherman's Wharf. At Fisherman's Wharf, you can board the Powell-Hyde line at Hyde and Beach Streets and the Powell-Mason line at Bay and Taylor Streets. The third line is the California line running east-west on California Street between Market Street and Van Ness Avenue, serving the Financial District, Chinatown and Nob Hill. This line tends to be the least crowded. The transfer point for all three lines is at Powell and California Streets. Cable cars can be boarded at any designated stop along the route. However, during the busy summer months, it is a good idea to join the queue at the terminus, as the cable cars usually fill up at the beginning of the line. Please be aware that you may experience a 45- to 60-minute wait during the summer.

Buses/Trolley Buses:

Muni's buses and trolley buses run all over The City in frequent intervals (usually every five to 20 minutes). Each route has a number and a name, i.e. 5-Fulton, 24-Divisadero, 42-Downtown Loop, which are prominently displayed on the front and side of the bus, along with the route's destination. Some routes, such as 38L-Geary Limited or 14L-Mission Limited, make only limited stops along their routes. Others, such as 9X-San Bruno Express or 31AX-Balboa "A" Express, operate nonstop from downtown to the outer regions of The City. For more clarity on Muni service, we recommend purchasing a Muni map for $2.95 (includes tax) at the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau's Visitor information Center or at various stores throughout The City.

Historic Streetcars (Trams):

You can travel back in time on our distinctive worldwide collection of historic streetcars which have been gracing The City with regular service since 1995. Each car is painted in its original livery, be it from Boston, Chicago or Milan. You can find these beautiful streetcars running along the center of Market Street between the Castro District and Fisherman's Wharf. They are collectively known as line F-Market.

Metro:

Beginning downtown at Embarcadero Station, the Muni Metro's five underground streetcar lines (J-Church, K-Ingleside, L-Taraval, M-Ocean View and N-Judah) take you under Market Street to various points of interest in the western and southwestern regions of The City. The J and N lines branch off after Van Ness station and operate on the surface, and the K, L and M continue underground to West Portal Station before splitting into their own separate surface lines. In the subway section of the system, J and N cars are often coupled together, as are K, L and M cars.

Adults: ages 18-64
Discount Fare: ages 5-17, 65+, and disabled riders

Please have the exact fare ready when you board; Metro faregates do not accept any dollar bills.

Transfers:

A two-part transfer slip is provided when you pay your fare on buses, streetcars and Metro lines. This transfer allows you to transfer two more times to any bus, streetcar or Metro line within a 90-minute timeframe. No transfers are given or accepted on cable cars; single fares must be paid each time you board.

Hours Of Operation:

Limited owl night service is also offered on some lines; click here for details.

For all other information on Muni, click here.

"Is there a discount transit pass?"
Muni offers three discount transit passes, subject to availability. All can be purchased at the Visitor Information Center at 900 Market Street, downstairs from the Powell/Market cable car terminal. Just walk to Powell and Market. The banners hanging above the cable car terminal will point you to the Center.

The Muni Passports include the cable cars, Muni buses, Muni Metro and the F-Market streetcars. You can travel anywhere within San Francisco with the Passport. In addition, you will receive savings on your entrance fees at most city museums and many of our city's attractions when you show your Muni Passport.

For more public transit information, visit our Public Transit Page

"How do I get information in a foreign language?"
The San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau's Visitor Information Center has multilingual staff and literature available to you when you arrive in San Francisco. We speak German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and, of course, English. Or you may call any of our five information hotlines and listen to current events in these language (all area codes 415):

What information is available on accessibility?
For detailed information on accessibility needs, please visit the following web sites.
www.accessnca.com
www.sfdpw.com/SFMOD

"Is there a self-guided driving tour?
The San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau's Visitor Information Center can provide you with a map that includes the 49-Mile Scenic Drive. This is a 49-mile, self-guided driving tour of San Francisco. It takes approximately four-five hours to drive, depending on how often you stop.

"We will be in San Francisco for only one day. What should we do?"
If you can, stay longer. In any case, call the The San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau's Visitor Information Center at 415-391-2000 for an information packet to be sent to you, or click here to use our convenient online ordering system. The VIC is located on the lower level of Hallidie Plaza, 900 Market Street at Powell Street. We are open seven (7) days a week:
Monday-Friday 9 am-5 pm
Saturday-Sunday 9 am-3 pm

"How do we get to Yosemite and information on accommodations?"

By car: From San Francisco, take the San Francisco- Oakland Bay Bridge heading east to Interstate 580. Continue east on Interstate 580 to Highway 205 east, which will take you to Highway 120 east. Highway 120 enters Yosemite.

By train: Call AMTRAK at 800-872-7245 for information.

Reservations are required during summer; please call Yosemite Concession Services Reservations at 559-252-4848.
Campground information line: 800-436-7275.
Winter road condition information: 800-427-7623.

"Who should we call regarding hotel reservations?"
Call the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau's Leisure Reservation Service - 1-888-782-9673 (1-888-STAY-N-SF).

"How can we obtain information on guided tours?"
Call the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau's Visitor Information Center at 415-391-2000 for an information packet complete with listings of sightseeing companies.

Use our Business Directory to find information on a variety of sightseeing options.

 

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