Long an icon of the San Francisco cityscape, cable cars and trolleys are synonymous with life in the city. While the number of cars and trolleys have declined over the years, they are still widely available and popular means of getting around the city as well as providing a classic method of sightseeing.
The San Francisco cable car system has not only been providing convenient public transportation to the city's inhabitants since the late 1800s, but it also offers a no-frills tour of the city aboard authentic cable cars. The system's three remaining routes give visitors an opportunity to see of some of San Francisco's most popular landmarks. The Powel-Hyde Line, for instance, includes stops on Nob Hill, Russian Hill before terminating at Ghirardelli Square. Alternatively, the California Line stops in Chinatown, the Financial District and Market Street. Cable cars run seven-days a week from morning till night. Riders can board at a terminal or at designated stops along each route.
San Francisco Cable Car System
sfcablecar.com
If your looking for a more traditional tour experience, consider Classic Cable Car Sightseeing Tours (CCCST). Using either original cable cars that have been refit for road travel or newly built cars that recreate the classic cable car look and feel, CCCST provides a extensive two-hour route with stops at Cow Hollow, the Marina District, Transamerica Tower, Pacific Heights and the Golden Gate Bridge. In addition to public tours, CCCST offers private tours for weddings, birthday parties or company events. Public tours run everyday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Classic Cable Car Sightseeing Tours
classiccablecar.com
For those who want the ability to explore parts of the city on their own, Gray Line offers a convenient one-hour narrated tour of the city where you can stay on for the full tour or "hop off" at designated locations for further exploration. When finished, you can "hop on" the next scheduled trolley that comes along to continue your tour. Tickets are good for the day of purchase. The tour includes a one hour cruise of San Francisco Bay which you can do prior to starting the trolley tour or at the end. Tickets are not for set times. You simply need to arrive at the the tour terminal between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Gray Line: San Francisco Trolley Hop
grayline.com
