There are basically four choices when trying to navigate the city of San Francisco. Your choice will ultimately depend on your destination, but some are fun to try even if they take you a bit longer to get there. Above all, the best advice anyone will give you is "Absolutely do not rent a car!" It is really unnecessary, parking can be expensive (if you find it), and traffic is terrible. A 3-day Muni pass is only $10. That, and a bit of walking, can get you anywhere in the city.

The Cable Cars

Of course, San Francisco is best known for its cable cars. It is limited in where it will take you, but is a must for first time visitors.

Basically, there are three cable car routes in operation, and it helps to know their respective destinations. At Powell and Market streets, there is a cable car turntable which serves as the beginning stop for two lines, the Powell-Mason and Powell- Hyde lines. The Powell-Mason line begins at the Powell/ Market turntable, and the line runs from there up and over Nob Hill and down to Bay Street at Fisherman's Wharf. The Powell-Hyde line also begins at the Powell Market turntable and runs over Nob and Russian hills before ending at Aquatic Park near Ghiradelli Square. Both these lines end near Fisherman's Wharf, but at different areas, and the routes are significantly different. Paying close attention to the signs on the cable cars will help you distinguish where in Fisherman's Wharf you will find yourself. The signs on Powell street cable cars are color coded. The yellow signs will head towards Bay and Taylor streets, and the red signs will head towards Aquatic Park. The California Street line runs East-West from the Financial District, through Chinatown, over Nob Hill and stops at Van Ness Avenue. Since all the cars on this line have the same routes, the signs are painted directly on the car. Riders can board at any cable car turntable (the beginning/end of each route) or anywhere this brown and white stop sign is posted.

Tickets can be purchased at turnarounds for $5.00 each way. Passports are perfect for visitors and allow riding on streetcars, buses and cable cars. A one day pass is $9.00 and a three day pass is $15.00.

The MUNI

The most common way of getting around the city is the San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni). Founded in 1912, the Muni is one of America's oldest public transit agencies and today carries over 200 million riders per year. Muni provides transit service within the city and county of San Francisco 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Operating Historic streetcars, modern light-rail vehicles, diesel buses, alternative fuel vehicles, electric trolley coaches, and the world-famous cable cars, Muni's fleet is among the most diverse in the world.

The important thing to remember is that the Muni only serves San Francisco, California. Bus, historic streetcar, and Metro trips for adults cost $1.50, including a free transfers. Fares can be paid with any US coins. Except in Muni Metro underground stations, fares can be paid with US $1 bills plus additional coins to add up to your fare. Exact change is required. Drivers and station agents do not provide change.

How do I find a bus stop? Look for a bus (or streetcar) shelter. These are in the middle of the sidewalk and made of glass. The line numbers served by that bus shelter will be listed on the glass overhead at each end of the shelter. Not all stops are at corners. Sometimes they are in the middle of the block. Make sure you board the right bus. Some stops serve multiple lines. Some lines have not only local but express and limited service, and a few lines have multiple branches. Always ask for a transfer when you pay your fare. Notice the expiration time of the transfer. Transfers are good for 90 minutes of riding. If your transfer is going to expire before the end of your ride, you need to pay a new fare and get a new transfer.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)

The Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) rail system connects the San Francisco Peninsula with Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, Walnut Creek, Dublin/Pleasanton, and other cities in the East Bay. This is the most common, cost-effective way of getting to and from the airport. BART provides service to 43 stations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Children 4 and under ride free. Everyone else must have a BART ticket. BART fares are based on distance traveled. You can determine the cost of your trip by using the BART Fare charts located at each station.

You can buy BART tickets at station vending machines. All vending machines accept nickels, dimes and quarters, $1, $5 and $10 bills. Select machines accept $20 bills and provide change. Vending machines sell tickets for any value between $1.40 and $60.00, so one ticket can be used for several trips. To enter the BART system, insert your ticket into the fare gate. The ticket will be returned to you, then the fare gate will open. Use the same ticket when you exit the station. The correct fare will automatically be deducted from it, and a ticket with any remaining value will be returned to you. If your ticket has too little value, a sign on the fare gate will read Underpaid: Go to Addfare. A nearby Addfare vending machine will tell you how much additional fare to pay. Insert the additional fare into the Addfare machine to increase the value of your ticket, then use that ticket to exit the station.

BART to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

BART fares are very economical when compared with other modes of travel to the San Francisco International airport:

BART takes you directly into the International Terminal at SFO. When your train arrives at the SFO Station, just turn to your left as you exit the train and proceed through the gates. International check-in counters are just steps away.

For domestic flights, you can either walk or take a free AirTrain shuttle from the BART station to your gate. Domestic flights leaving from Terminal 3 are just a 5 minute walk from the BART station. Flights leaving from Terminal 1 are a 10-15 minute walk from BART. See the airport diagram below to locate your terminal. To walk to the terminal, take a left as you exit the train and proceed through the gates.

To take the AirTrain shuttle to your flight, turn to your right as you exit the BART train and proceed up the stairs (or escalator, or elevator) to the next floor where you can catch the Airport's free AirTrain (either color line heading to the terminals) to the domestic terminal. All domestic flights are approximately a 5- to 10-minute AirTrain ride from the BART station.

When returning to the Bay Area, take the Red AirTrain line from your domestic flight to BART. Or, walk to BART, following the signs to the International terminal. If your ultimate destination is San Francisco or the East Bay, take a Dublin/Pleasanton-bound BART train . If necessary, use Balboa Park Station as a transfer point for other lines. If you want to travel to San Jose or the South Bay, take a Millbrae-bound BART train from SFO to the Millbrae Station (a 5-minute ride) and transfer there to CalTrain or connecting bus service for the trip south.

The heart of San Francisco is only a 1/2 hour ride away. Powell Street Station puts you within easy access to many major hotels and San Francisco's Muni system. Montgomery Station is in the famous Financial District and only a three block walk from Moscone Convention Center and the Embarcadero Station is near easy connections to SBC Park, Fisherman's Wharf and other San Francisco attractions. Downtown Oakland is a 45 minute ride from the airport and 12th Street Station is just three blocks from the Oakland Convention Center.

BART ticket machines accept nickels, dimes, quarters, $1, $5, $10, and $20 bills (Please note the ticket machine will not dispense more than $4.95 in change for any one transaction). You can also use a credit card in select machines at all stations.

When bringing luggage on a BART train, please keep the aisles clear by storing your luggage under your seat or holding it on your lap. Some cars have space cleared by the doors to accommodate wheelchairs, bikes or strollers. If the space is not being used by a person with a disability, you may store your luggage there, but please keep it within your control at all times.

San Francisco Ferries

A San Francisco Bay ferryboat ride is a sublime experience of the first order. Figuring out which one to take can be a bit daunting because there are many ferry companies and no centralized schedule. But with the tiniest bit of planning it's possible for anyone, visitors and Bay Area residents alike, to quite easily experience the romance and unspeakable beauty of a short cruise on the Bay. And it costs surprisingly little. The commuter ferries present an especially attractive deal.

Alcatraz
By far and away the most popular ferry ride destination on San Francisco Bay is the retired federal penitentiary on Alcatraz Island; it's the default ferry ride experience. It's also a popular ticket to get and single tickets can be had only from the Blue and Gold Fleet at (415) 705-5555 or www.blueandgoldfleet.com. Call well in advance. The cost is $9.25 roundtrip for adults, $7.50 for seniors and $6.00 for children 11 and under. Audio is a little extra and there is a $2.25 per ticket additional charge for phone and web orders.

Angel Island
Angel Island is the thinking person's Alcatraz. It's a large, hilly, tree-covered hiker's paradise, in sharp contrast to the tiny, treeless crag that is Alcatraz. The wide, well-maintained trails on Angel Island offer sweeping vistas of the Bay in all directions, and as you go higher up the hill, they just get better and better. It's easily possible to get the sense that you are on a deserted island, plunk in the middle of San Francisco Bay.

Bay Cruises
An easy and convenient way to get on the Bay is to take one of the many Bay Cruises offered by either Blue and Gold or the Red and White Fleet (877-855-5506 or www.redandwhite.com). Bay Cruises involve a one-hour trip to nowhere, usually consisting of a loop in the direction of the Golden Gate Bridge and back to Fishermen's Wharf, from which all Bay Cruises depart and return. Audio guides are available in many languages. The cost for both companies is $18.00 for adults, $14.00 for seniors and $10.00 for children 11 and under. The Angel Island Ferry also offers Sunset Cruises (see the Angel Island section for more).

Commuter Ferries
Three public agencies and one private company provide ferry service connecting San Francisco to seven communities (3 in the East Bay, 3 in Marin and Vallejo; see details following). Though Balkanized and a bit confusing, the existing commuter ferry system is a great deal for everyone: commuters, residents and visitors. The boats are largely modern, clean and spacious. It is recommended to take a ferry during the midday or on a reverse commute direction; you have the boat virtually to yourself so long as you make your trip after 10 in the morning and before 3:30 in the afternoon (or away from San Francisco in the morning commute and towards San Francisco for evening commute). A cocktail cruise, even on a crowded rush-hour boat, is wonderful fun. The ferries serve a variety of interesting destinations; the best idea of all is to take one, get off and wander, and return on the next boat.