From the airport to the city centre San Francisco

Shuttle. The easiest way to get from the San Francisco airport to the hotel is to book a transfer service with a driver waiting for you upon arrival with a sign with your name on it. You can book it at welcomepickups.com

Bart. The most classic way to get from the airport to San Francisco is to use the Bart, the local subway. You can get downtown in about half an hour for less than US$9.

Bus. This is the cheapest service. Routes 292, 397 and KX connect the San Francisco Airport to the Transbay Terminal in downtown San Francisco. Fares range from US$2.25 to US$4.00.

Cab. The trip from the airport to downtown costs about US$50.

Shared vans. They have an average price of 17 US$ per person per trip.


Arrival by train San Francisco

Amtrak (www.amtrak.com) operates a huge rail network across the country. Rail is rarely the fastest, cheapest or most convenient option, but it does offer a scenic and comfortable way to travel. Amtrak offers several major routes from east to west and north to south. It connects the nation's largest cities and many smaller towns

Amtrak offers packages that include train tickets, car rentals, hotel reservations, excursions and tours. In general, the earlier you book, the less you pay. The USA-Rail package allows you to make an unlimited number of trips in a given region for a given duration

We get off at South San Francisco. The station is located on the east side of Highway 101 under East Grand Avenue. Downtown South San Francisco is on the other side of the highway.

Arrival by boat San Francisco

San Francisco has an extensive ferry system that allows you to reach other cities in the Bay Area while avoiding traffic jams and the cost of gas. And what could be more magical than a short trip on the water?

Most of the departures are from the Ferry Building, on the PIers, and the trips are quite fast. To the east, you can reach Oakland and Alameida in less than 35 minutes, passing under the Bay Bridge and close to the commercial port with its impressive industrial cranes. To the north, you pass close to Alcatraz to reach Sausalito (25 minutes), Tiburon (30 minutes) or Angel Island (50 minutes). And keep your eyes open, it is not uncommon to see dolphins in the waters of the bay!

Public transport San Francisco

With the exception of major cities, public transportation is rarely convenient for travelers and does not serve outlying towns and suburbs well. However, it is generally cheap and reliable. Shuttle buses provide convenient and inexpensive transportation to and from airports. The city has a good network of city buses. They are designed for residents going to work and there is limited service in the evenings and on weekends. The cable car provides access to the hilltops. The Muni company manages these different lines.

Bike, scooters & co San Francisco

It is possible to get around the city using electric scooters from companies such as Lime and Bird. All you have to do is download the applications and flash the code of the vehicle to start. You can park your scooter anywhere as long as you don't block traffic. Be careful though, the scooter stops by itself if you try to cross the Golden Gate Park.

With a driver San Francisco

Cabs operate in the busiest areas of major cities. They are metered and charge between US$1 and US$2 for pick-up and at least US$1.20 per mile (1.6 km). Don't forget to add an extra charge for luggage and a tip (15-20% of the fare)

VTC. In San Francisco and the Sillicon Valley, Uber and Lyft, both born in the Bay Area, dominate with attractive rates.

By car San Francisco

For a stay of less than three months: the French driver's license of more than one year is valid in all states. For California, it is preferable to get an international license before leaving. You must be at least 21 years old (in some cases 25) to rent a car in the United States. As soon as the stay exceeds three months, the French license is no longer sufficient and it becomes mandatory to take the driver's license in the state of residence. Since the laws are different in each state, it is best to contact the French consulates in the states concerned

Renting a car is undoubtedly the ideal solution when traveling with two or more people. It is the most flexible way to visit the United States. Autonomous, the traveler can get off the beaten track and reach points not served by public transportation. Rental rates are generally lower than in Europe, toll roads are rare (although there are a few toll bridges around San Francisco) and fuel is about four times cheaper than in France

At the Golden Gate Bridge, all tolls are collected electronically - in the southbound direction, towards San Francisco - without stopping at the toll booth. There are four ways to pay: a FasTrak account, a license plate account, a one-time payment and a toll bill. Tolls can be paid by credit card, cash, check or money order, and can be paid online, by phone or in person. With a FasTrak account, a badge mounted on the vehicle is automatically read. Otherwise, cameras are placed in each toll lane to record the front and rear license plates as the vehicle passes. If nothing has been set up, a toll bill will be issued and sent to the vehicle owner

Accessibility San Francisco

The United States is one of the best equipped countries to accommodate people with disabilities. TheAmericans with Disabilities Act requires that all public places, including hotels, restaurants, theaters and museums, as well as transportation, be wheelchair accessible. Many banks have ATMs with Braille instructions. Telecommunication companies provide relay operators, accessible through teletypewriter numbers for the hearing impaired. All major airlines, Greyhound buses and Amtrak trains offer assistance for people with disabilities. Several car rental agencies (e.g. Avis) offer pedal-less cars at no extra cost, which can be reserved in advance. The Access-Able Travel Source website (www.access-able.com) is very comprehensive and provides many links.

Tourist traps San Francisco

The cable cars , which are more for tourists, are a bit expensive, with tickets at 8 dollars.