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Now, for those arriving early (or staying over), here’s how to get around “The City†-


Public Transit in San Francisco is operated by MUNI. This is a system of buses, streetcars and cable cars that run 24 hours a day, 7 days a wek, but service is limited at night. Unfortunately, they are not well interconnected and so traveling throughout the Bay Area can require you to transfer from one form of transit to another. It's sometimes late and crowded, but MUNI is woefully necessary for getting around San Francisco. It's also the best way to see the real city and the best option for budget transportation.


Cable Cars -


A trip to San Francisco is simply incomplete unless you ride a cable car at least once. If you really want to get to Fisherman's Wharf, take the Powell-Hyde line or the Powell-Mason line. Both start at the cable car turnaround at Powell and Market and end at Fisherman's Wharf, but the Powell-Mason line has the best views. It ends on the east side of Fisherman's Wharf. The Powell-Hyde line takes you right past the crookedest street (Lombard) and ends on the west side of the Wharf. The lines to get on at Powell and Market and at Fisherman's Wharf can be very long -- try getting up at the crack of dawn if you don't like to wait. Don't try to catch it at the stop on the corner of Post and Powell by Union Square (known locally as Fantasy Island); the car is full by that time and won't admit more passengers. Otherwise, take the California line, which runs on California Street from Market to Van Ness Avenue. It's generally less crowded, and takes you through Chinatown, past Grace Cathedral and up and down some impressively steep hills. Hang on tightly and be careful to keep all body parts inside the cable car -- sometimes cars pass very close. Cable cars operate daily from 6 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Tickets are $5 per one-way ride and can be purchased on the cable car; change is given up to $20. Cable car tickets and one-day Cable Car Pass ($10) are sold by the conductors on the cable cars.


The F-line streetcar -


A great alternative to the cable cars. The vintage electric rail vehicles serve the City's main artery, Market Street, and its grand waterfront boulevard, The Embarcadero, linking downtown San Francisco to Fisherman's Wharf/Pier 39. Board the F-line at specially marked center islands along the route.


Bus and streetcar fare is $1.50 for adults and 50 cents for seniors (65+), youth (5-17) and persons with disabilities. Exact change is required. Free transfers are issued when the fare is paid, and they're good for two more rides in any direction for the next 90 minutes. Note that different rates apply to cable car rides.


The Passport Pass is available in 1-, 3- and 7-day increments and is good for unlimited bus, streetcar and cable car rides. The Weekly Pass, good for unlimited bus and streetcar rides Monday through Sunday, is cheaper than the 7-day Passport but cable car rides cost an extra $1 each. The San Francisco City Pass is good for seven consecutive days on Muni and is also good for admission to several attractions in the city. If you're planning a week of sightseeing, it can save you money over buying individual tickets and Muni fares. A monthly Fast Pass is good for unlimited rides on buses, streetcars, cable cars and BART, within the city limits. For more information on passes, go to: http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/fareinfo.htm


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