Cable Cars
The last manually operated cable-car system in the world, with a 45-minute line for it.
The call
Worth it if you are traveling with kids and you are traveling as a couple.
Why
- 01
Hanging off the running board as you crest a hill is pure SF joy, for about four minutes.
Our read - 02
The rest is queueing at Powell & Market behind two cruise ships' worth of people.
Our read - 03
These are the world's last manually operated cable car system — a gripman still clamps a hand lever onto a moving cable under the street, exactly as in 1888.
streetcar.org - 04
Time Out flatly counts it among the postcard clichés that 'actually are worth the time, effort, money and maneuvering.'
timeout.com
Is it a fit?
Go if
Think twice if
You are watching the budget
Cable Cars can strain a tight budget. Go only when it is a priority.
You only have one day
Keep Cable Cars only when it outranks a half-day elsewhere.
You prefer local life to spectacle
Cable Cars offers some local authenticity, but not enough to make it the reason to go.
Plan it well
- Cost
- $8 / ride
- Timing
- Cars start around 6:30 AM; ride between then and 8 AM for the shortest waits.
- Booking
- No reservation; pay the single-ride fare (~$8) onboard, or use a Muni day pass / the MuniMobile app — bring backup cash.
- Allow
- 1 hr (mostly the line)
- Accessibility
- Cable cars are not wheelchair accessible — the historic cars have steep steps and no ramps or lifts.
- Getting there
- Three lines: Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason from the Powell/Market turnaround, and the quieter California Street line.
Consider instead
Sources and method (8)
- San Francisco's is the world's last manually operated cable car system; only 3 of the original 23 lines built between 1873 and 1890 remain en.wikipedia.org ↗
- A single cable-car ride is sold as its own fare with no transfers (SFMTA sets the price) sfmta.com ↗
- streetcar.org ↗
- timeout.com ↗
- sanfranciscojeeptours.com ↗
- sftravel.com ↗
- timeout.com ↗
- streetcar.org ↗