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Cable Cars

Cable Cars

10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Since 1873, cable cars have run up and down the hilly city, though after the 1950s, these cars have been kept in operation more out of historic nostalgia. Seventeen miles of track remain and have been deemed a historical landmark.
Duration: < 1 hour
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The area
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Swanky and stylish, Nob Hill sits in the heart of the city and is home to amazing architecture and views. The hike to the top can be a challenging workout for those who forego a cable car ride, but they will be rewarded with some of the city’s most beautiful architecture adorning its peak. Originally populated with mansions after the Gold Rush, most if not all were devastated in the 1906 earthquake and fire that followed. Luckily all is not lost; storied hotels and Grace Cathedral surround Huntington Park. Having a drink or dinner while taking in the sunset and views at the "top of the Mark" is tough to beat.
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See what travelers are saying
  • Rameshlcfc
    Leicester, United Kingdom917 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A must do in San Francisco
    A must do ride in San Francisco. As the previous reviewer said, the most iconic tram ride in the world. Scenic and photogenic. Costs $8 one way. We went one way to Fisherman's Wharf. Looked around pier 39-41. Walked back from Pier 41 up Powell Street all the way to the starting point. It took us 45 minutes at reasonable pace.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 11, 2023
  • Ian M
    Perth, Australia27 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great way to get around
    Great way to get from Union Square to fisherman’s wharf, very convenient for us as tram stop outside of hotel. Downloaded the muni app you ride all day for $13 or single ticket is $8. Great way to travel as a tourist. Each tram has a story as well. Managed to get off and WALK up Lombard st
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 15, 2023
  • BBB-MLJ
    London, United Kingdom358 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Excellent - must do
    To get the full experience, hang off the side or sit outside. If catching it from the Fisherman’s Wharf end be prepared for a wait. It seems the drivers/operators take a 20 minute break before the trams sets off again to it’s a bit of a wait. However, it’s well worth the wait. This should be on a San Francisco ’to do’ list.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 21, 2023
  • Moni S
    Columbus, Ohio64 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great SF experience
    A must when you visit San Francisco. I took the cable car from Union Square to Fisherman’s Wharf. I really enjoyed it, especially when I was able to move to an outward facing seat. A couple of tips; 1) You have to pay with cash or download the MuniMobile and pay for an online ticket. 2) Avoid boarding at the turn arounds as you will wait over an hour. There are stops every few blocks, and you can catch a car much faster. With all the hills in SF, it made for a very enjoyable ride.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written October 30, 2023
  • wombatdavid
    Hobart, Australia2,757 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    You will do this
    Buy a day pass for $13 and it pays for itself if you do 2 trips. We also used our pass on the street cars. We were disrupted by APEC but still did a partial ride to the wharf area. A lot of fun!
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 13, 2023
  • guennie3
    Cambridge, United Kingdom460 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    San Francisco cable cars-what’s not to love?
    Absolutely loved the SF cable cars. We went from Fisherman’s wharf to Union Square and back. Hopped off at the museum-it is free and so interesting. You see the mechanism working the cars there. Heard that the other route to Union Square was steeper and more fun so did that later. We also watched the turn around. Not so busy at the end of November. Bought $13 day passes on the MuniMobile app. Very simple to set up and use.
    Visited November 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 30, 2023
  • Kendra G
    9 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    San Francisco vibes
    We were fortunate enough to visit San Francisco in the quiet season and the Cable Car was one of the highlights of our trip. Easy to use, just purchase your ticket next to the tram stop and off you go. For USD8 you can ride all day. There are 3 lines with 2 of them running straight from Fishermans Wharf to Union Sq. Compared to other attractions in Fishermans Wharf this was by far the best value. You can get on and off or just ride them. You are allowed to stand outside which my teens loved. We rode all 3 lines then the Fishermans Wharf line again after dark, the city lights were spectacular and the cold if the night added to the experience. The drivers are masters of their craft and handling these cable cars up and downhill is an art still practiced today as they have done for 150 years as is watching them turn around on the turntable once they reach the end. Highly recommended and an unforgettable experience.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written January 10, 2024
  • Venture754838
    Ingersoll, Canada527 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great way to see the sites.
    We purchased the one day passport for $16 each. We took the cable car to just outside Fisherman’s Wharf. The weather was idyllic and we had the opportunity to see quite a lot during our ride. After spending the day in Fisherman’s Wharf, we lined up to take the cable car back to downtown San Francisco. Not sure why we had to wait so long to depart at both ends. Especially after being informed that it departs every 20 minutes.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 15, 2024
  • Garret A
    3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Charming Ride Through History
    A charming and iconic way to explore the city. With stunning views and historic appeal, they provide a memorable experience for locals and tourists alike. A must-do for anyone visiting the Golden State! ⛰🚃
    Visited December 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written March 21, 2024
  • Sammy M
    Nairobi, Kenya359 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Iconic Cable Car Experience: A Nostalgic Journey Through San Francisco's Scenic Streets
    Riding the iconic cable cars was my childhood dream come true! This San Francisco experience transported me back in time as we rolled up and down the city's famously steep hills. The unbeatable views of the City's skyscrapers, classic homes and eclectic neighbourhoods made the ride most memorable. It's an absolute must-do. Tip: Book your return trip through the cable car app for a discounted fare - it's much cheaper than paying per ride.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written March 31, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles25,615 reviews
Excellent
14,861
Very good
6,931
Average
2,610
Poor
688
Terrible
528

Philip D
Tucson, Arizona369 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
They only sell single (one-way) tickets and they are $7 each. Then you wait at the
Powell Street turnaround for over an hour as they are so popular. Fortunately, on the
day we visited there was a decent busker but I've seen Disneyland (ride) lines move
faster than this. There is nowhere to sit whilst waiting. The cable car trip is OK. The
shocking things was the paucity of cars ... Jeez, just buy/build some more cable cars
or stop taking $7 for what is a poor experience. Since there were 4 of us, a Lyft back to
the hotel from Ghiradelli Square was just as much fun. Yeah, it's that good.
Written January 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alfred O
Amsterdam, The Netherlands32 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019 • Family
My first time to Sanfrancisco i took a ride on these cable cars . It was worth it then . The fare used to be a quarter then too and this City didnt have any Ugly Modern Highrise buildings yet to mess up our Citys Sky-line . Now we are off the scale with terrible ugiest Crap . And the monthly rent or Condo fees on one of them is $4,000.00 a month . SAN Francisco didnt have any buildings back then thats rent was that much yet . Now a One bedroom Apartment costs that much a month . I went to Europe in 1987 and rent for a One bedroom was $800 a month for a 3 bedroom apartment in Paris . What happened to our Values in this World ??? This city of Sanfrancisco Stinks to high heaven . Now these Cable cars cost over $5.00 to ride .And these cars arent maintained good anymore either . The Views from the top of one of the hills can be great from one of these Cable car rides too .And now their really crowded too .
Written June 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GordyBGone
San Francisco, CA19 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
Because I am encorporating my feelings under this encompassing San Francisco landmark. Cable cars are grand ... but. I am a former resident of many years. Up until this year, for the past ten years I have traversed across the country 2 or 3 times a year to visit The City. No more. The patina of San Francisco has been scuffed away. Particularily, the past five years have shown astronomical price rises while delivering a dramatic decline in a safe and appealing environment. I miss the view. I miss the feel. I miss the people. I have my memories. I will now spend my dollars where I am valued and appreciated as a person. It's not the cable cars; it's where they take you. That's why "1" star is for San Francisco.
Ps: I remember when a cable car ride was 15 cents, not today's 7 dollars.
Written February 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

amandallam
Lakewood, CO39 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
I thought that hanging off of the cable car was something of days past and in movies, but you can really do that here. You absolutely cannot leave SF without riding at least once. Tickets are $7 each per way. We got a MUNI pass (public transportation system of SF) that allowed us unlimited rides on the buses, trains, and cable cars. If you plan to ride at least twice, this makes for an excellent value. Beware that lines can get long, even in the dead of winter, especially at the terminal stops. We waited around 40 mins at Fisherman's Wharf one night to catch a cable car. I would recommend you head to one of the intermediary stops to shorten wait time.
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

markandsian
Chester, UK190 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
We spent a whole day just travelling on the 4 lines up & down & jumping off & on. What a fun day. You think you are going to fall off (on the open seating) but you don't. A lovely slow way to ride & see the city. The Cable Car Museum has free admission and is a must as well to see how they work. Just get a clipper card (from Walgreens) to enjoy the rides which give you unlimited rides on buses/cable cars for the day/3 days as opposed to $8 per ride.
Written February 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

maryjanelk
Pleasant Valley, NY51 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
We waited about 20 minutes in order to board the cable car. As it was later in the day, it was a bit chilly (60) but we rode outside for the full experience. Our driver slowed down and told us when and where the views were and we loved the trip from the Wharf area to Union Station. (we traveled through China Town up the steep cobbled streets) On our return we took a different route because it was closer to our hotel $8 per trip - a bit more expensive than a taxi, but a lot more fun!
Written January 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Vivienne G
Melbourne, Australia22 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
Would suggest you try to “off peak” you cable car trip. It’s not cheap and so many passengers were packed in that my sight seeing consisted of the sweater of the guy standing in front of me!
A little better on the way back but still pretty crowded. This was on Super Bowl Sunday in lovely weather so everyone was out and about. Just bad luck but something to consider.
Written February 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

moorthyr
Baltimore, MD301 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Family
Nice ride...

It is a bit expensive... $7 a person for what is at most a short ride. But that’s ok - it’s a pretty cool novelty.

Make sure you visit the Cable Car museum too (it’s free). Seeing the big generators that pull the cables is really cool, and if you stand over the cable car lines on the street you can hear the cables moving!!! You also see how the clamps that grip the cables to move the cars work too. Pretty best system.

We used it to go from Fisherman’s Wharf to the Cable Car museum and back, which served the purpose!
Written January 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ALynn83
Woodbury, MN52 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020
The opperators clearly hate their jobs and I can understand that when you work in public transit it is not always the most desirable job. People should know thisisn't just a local tour or experience travelers should seek out. This is everyday (way over priced) option for public transit. Also be warned to ask clearly for a single ride ticket or round trip ticket. $8.00 to be dumped in the dumpy streets in SF in a not so nice neighborhood isn't an experience for most people and we spent the same amout of money on a Uber to get back down to the Wharf during rush hour. The lines to get onto the cable cars are also extremly long. Waited longer to board the cable car and then sat parked for no good reason for an additional 15 mins. In the middle of the ride the opperator stopped the cable car right in the middle of a four way road and did a shift change with two other men who randomly showed up, jumped on and continued to drive us. It just isn't worth the price.
Written February 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PamKFam
Los Angeles, CA72 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
We rode the cable cars all day with our MobileMuni app on our phones. We got the all day $18 pass that let us ride busses and cable cars all day. We saw every corner of the city and listened to the Gripman tell us about how he runs the cars.
Written January 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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CABLE CARS (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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