San Francisco Without a Car: How I Easily Get Around SF in 2026

I’ve been to San Francisco a couple of times now, and getting around without a car has never been an issue for me. In fact, I’d go as far as saying that I’d actually prefer not to have a car here. I love exploring cities on foot, getting on public transport and discovering some of the neighborhoods I probably would’ve missed if I’d been driving everywhere.

I just got back from a 4-day trip to San Francisco, where I explored the city entirely without a car. And honestly, it worked out great!

So, in this guide, I’ll explain how to visit San Francisco without a car, how I got around during my trip, which transport options I used, and what I’d recommend if you’re planning your own visit.

Can I Visit San Francisco Without a Car? My Quick Answer

The quick answer is YES, you can absolutely visit San Francisco without a car. In fact, I’d argue that for most visitors, renting a car isn’t necessary at all.

I’ve visited San Francisco more than once now, and I genuinely love exploring the city on foot. You get to see just so much more of the different neighborhoods, stumble across little cafes and shops, and actually experience the city rather than just driving between attractions.

We made sure to stay somewhere fairly central, at Cow Hollow Inn in the Marina District. From there, we could walk to Fisherman’s Wharf, walk to Pier 39 to see the famous sea lions, and even walk toward the Golden Gate Bridge.

For longer distances, we used Uber and Waymo, and for getting to and from the airport, you can use the BART train system, depending on where you’re staying and which airport you’re flying into.

I honestly never missed having a car.

And there are some pretty good reasons to leave it behind. You don’t have to pay for hotel parking, look for a parking spot every time you visit an attraction, or worry about your rental car getting broken into. Parking in San Francisco can be a headache, and having a car can end up costing you quite a bit of extra money.

Is San Francisco Walkable?

I would say yes but im not gonna lie to you i walked a lot, more than many other people might want to but we did, we stayed in the marina district hich is fairly central to many of the touristy attractions so for instance we walked 1 hour by the ocean to get to the golden gate bridge, we walked to chinatown, we walked to fishermans wharf and pier 39 to see the sea lions and even to pier 33 to take the ferry to to alcatartaz they all werent necessarily short distances but i loved seeing the city like that muuuuuch better than just driving everywhere.

When it comes to walking i want to mention thought hat just me mindful to not wander around too much in certain areas, the tenderloin nd parts of union square i personally just dont think are safe so just stay away from those.

Using Public Transportation in San Francisco

Public transportation in San Francisco is actually surprisingly good. I don’t know why, but before visiting, I somehow had no idea the city had such a decent public transport network. Between the Muni Metro, buses, BART trains and, of course, the famous cable cars, you’ve got plenty of options for getting around without a car.

I used public transportation a few times during my visit, and it was easy enough that I never felt like I needed a rental car. Here’s what I’d recommend using and what you should know before you go.

Muni Metro

Muni Metro is San Francisco’s light rail system, and it connects various neighborhoods with downtown and other parts of the city. There’s also a great bus network, so between the two, you can get to most places you’d want to visit.

I used Muni a few times during my trip, and I found it affordable, convenient and easy enough to figure out. A single ride cost me around $2.85, and you can pay contactless or use a Clipper card, which is a rechargeable transit card used across much of the Bay Area.

BART

BART is the regional train system connecting San Francisco with other parts of the Bay Area, including Oakland and Berkeley. It’s also a really convenient option for getting to and from San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

We didn’t need to use BART much during our actual sightseeing, but I’d definitely consider it for airport transfers if you’re trying to keep transportation costs down.

The fare depends on how far you’re traveling, but the trains can be much quicker than taking an Uber during rush hour, when traffic around San Francisco can get pretty crazy.

Just keep in mind that Oakland International Airport is a little different. BART doesn’t take you directly into the airport terminal; you’ll need to use the airport connector from the Coliseum station!

The Famous Cable Cars

Of course, we can’t talk about public transportation in San Francisco without mentioning the famous cable cars.

Technically, they’re part of the city’s public transport system, but I’ll be honest: I’ve never really used them to get from A to B. To me, they’re much more of a tourist attraction than something I’d actually rely on for everyday transportation.

Riding one is a fun San Francisco experience, and if you’ve never done it before, I’d definitely consider giving it a go.

Just be aware that a single ride costs around $9, regardless of how far you travel, so it’s definitely one of the more expensive ways to get around the city.

A Little Tip: Get the SFMTA Visitor Passport

Here’s a little tip if you’re planning on using public transportation quite a bit: look into the SFMTA Visitor Passport.

It’s an unlimited transit pass available for different durations, including one and three days, and it also covers the cable cars. That can be a pretty good deal when you consider that a single cable car ride costs around $9!

Bike & Ride Sharing in San Francisco

Bike Sharing

Bikes were definitely one of the types of transportation I used the most in San Francisco. I was actually surprised by how much I ended up using them because cycling around the city is just so much fun.

I used Lyft Bikes, which used to be called Bay Wheels, and I’d definitely recommend downloading the Lyft app before your trip. The only thing to keep in mind is that San Francisco is pretty hilly, so cycling everywhere can get a little exhausting. I mostly stuck to Fisherman’s Wharf and the waterfront, where it’s much easier to ride around without constantly going up and down hills.

Ride Sharing

San Francisco had more ride-sharing options than pretty much anywhere else I’ve visited. Of course, there’s Uber, but there’s also Waymo, which uses self-driving cars.

I tried Waymo while I was in San Francisco, and honestly, it was both suuuper scary and suuuper cool at the same time. Getting into a car with no driver behind the wheel feels pretty strange at first, but it’s also a really cool experience.

I’d recommend downloading Uber, Lyft and Waymo before your trip so you can compare your options. And here’s a little tip: compare prices between the apps before booking. I’ve seen differences of 50–70% between apps for similar journeys!

Ferries in San Francisco

San Francisco also has also some ferries, which is worth knowing about if you want to explore some of the places around the bay.

We took the ferry to Alcatraz, which I’d highly recommend visiting. It’s one of those places that I think is absolutely worth making time for when you’re in San Francisco.

But there are other options, too. You can take a ferry to Angel Island, where you’ll find some beautiful hiking trails and incredible views over the Bay Area. You can also take the Golden Gate Ferry to Sausalito, a cute little Mediterranean-style town on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge. It’s a great place to spend a few hours, wander around and grab something to eat.

Getting to and From the Airport in San Francisco

BART (Train)

If you’re flying into San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and staying downtown, I’d generally recommend taking BART (Trains) into the city. The airport has its own BART station, and the journey to downtown takes around 30 minutes, depending on your destination.

We paid around $10 per person when we traveled, so it’s also a pretty affordable option compared to taking an Uber.

Uber

We actually took an Uber into San Francisco on our last visit because we weren’t staying downtown, so it was more convenient for us to go directly to our hotel.

However, the traffic was absolutely insane, and the journey took close to an hour. We also paid around $45, which was quite a bit more than taking BART.

So if you’re staying downtown or near a BART station, I’d probably take the train. But if your hotel is further out, like ours was, an Uber can still make sense, especially if you’re traveling with luggage or don’t want to deal with changing trains.

FAQs About How to Get Around San Francisco, California

Is San Francisco Expensive to Visit?

I’d say yes and no. I managed to keep my budget fairly low by staying in a more affordable hotel, walking a lot and doing free activities. But if you stay in a nice hotel, eat out at fancy restaurants and take Ubers everywhere, San Francisco can get expensive pretty quickly.

Can I Walk Around San Francisco?

Yes, absolutely! San Francisco is a pretty big city, but many parts of it are very walkable. I walked around a lot during my visit and used public transport, bikes or Uber for longer distances.

Just keep in mind that San Francisco is pretty hilly, so walking everywhere can be more tiring than you might expect!

Is San Francisco Safe?

Generally, I felt pretty safe in San Francisco. I walked around a lot and never had any major issues.

The main areas I’d be more cautious around are the Tenderloin and parts of Union Square, which I found unpleasant and didn’t feel particularly comfortable walking around at night. I’d also avoid booking a hotel in those areas if you’re visiting for the first time, especially if you want to walk around in the evenings.

Where Should I Stay in San Francisco?

Whenever someone asks me where to stay in San Francisco, I usually tell first to NOT stay at Union Square.

Personally, I stay in areas like the Marina District, Japantown or even Fisherman’s Wharf. Fisherman’s Wharf can feel a little cheesy and touristy, but I still think it’s a good option for first-time visitors.

How Many Days in San Francisco Do I Need?

I’d say you need at least two full days to see the main highlights, but I’d recommend three to four full days if you actually want to explore the city rather than just tick off the Golden Gate Bridge and a few other famous sights.

Final Thoughts on Getting Around San Francisco Without a Car

All in all, I think San Francisco is by far the easiest major city in California to explore without a car.

San Diego is only manageable with a car, while Los Angeles is just terrible in general. But San Francisco is genuinely pretty easy to get around. It’s walkable in many areas, there are bike-sharing options, and you’ve got Uber, Waymo and a public transport system that actually surprised me with how useful it was.

You really don’t need a rental car for a typical visit to San Francisco. In fact, I’d probably avoid getting one unless you’re planning day trips outside the city.

I hope this guide on getting around San Francisco without a car helps you get your bearings and makes planning your next trip a little easier!