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Cable Cars

2.9 (82 reviews)
Open • 7:00 am - 11:00 pm

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Becky V.

You've got to do it if youre visiting. cable cars are iconic. you just have to. stand on the side, just be dressed warm because you'll feel the wind and this is an francisco afterall, it's almost never warm here. the cable cars are especially decorated and festive during the holidays. each car is done differently and has their own personality

Ticket to ride
Nola M.

My friend had never been to San Francisco before. So we had to go on the cable cars. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful setting. The staff here are top-notch; efficient hitting the brakes and funny. They answered questions and redirected tourists as better seats became available. Now that cable card was less pleasant for this old crank. They moved slower when I was a kid. It felt like we were flying down those hills. I'll stick to walking.

Takes too long. The drivers take forever to help people get inside the cable. We have been waiting for more than 1 hour. It has never taken this long.

I luv the experience of riding a cable car. However, I don't like the lack of customer service of the cable car crew. Exceedingly rude when asking one question with regard to pricing. Yet I don't let this deter me. I luv seeing the city from the cable cars. The turnaround is the most crowded but there are stops along the route, just look for the cable car signs.

At the beginning. Lines are long!
Heather S.

I enjoyed the experience. What I didn't like was waiting an hour in line at the very first station. Hop on it one block up and you will get on the first trolley you see.

James D.

The San Francisco Cable Cars will give you a one of a kind experience. Hanging onto the outside (yes, the outside) of one of these clanging trolleys, making their way through Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square and other city neighborhoods--well, it doesn't get much more San Francisco than this. For a close-up look at how the cable cars have worked since 1873, visit the free Cable Car Museum.

Cable car ride
Jacqueline S.

SF Cable Cars Are A National Treasure! Why would you take a cab when you can meet cool people from all over the world! Tourists love Cable Cars and so do locals. These cable cars are beautiful, strong, climb hills no problem and the conductors are fun and talented. We live here and take cable cars, to Ghirardelli Square, the wharf, numerous restaurants and parks. There are Two lines one heads from Ghirardelli Square to Union Square (shopping) and Market Street the other leaves from California Street and goes through Chinatown and up to the poshest hotels on the hill. Want to learn more? - go to the SF Cable Car Museum. P.s. plan ahead, you need a ticket to board. Sometimes the lines to get on are long, but they go fast. DON'T walk in front of moving cable cars. You can use a mass transit "clipper" card- saves you $$ on transit.

07.30.22 Van Ness Avenue, California and Market Streets
May A.

Take these national landmarks for a spin We purchased a day passport to get around San Francisco. SF is best explored by foot, bike, and transit. We downloaded the MuniMobile app and bought as well as stored our tickets. We presented our day passport to the operator through our mobile phones and off we went... The $13 day pass (per person) was well worth the purchase as we rode the cable cars multiple times as well as ride the streetcar to take us to the Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39. A single ride on the cable is $8 for an adult/child. $3 cash for a streetcar. Some cable car turntables had long lines and the wait could take a long time depending on where you are on the queue. I rode the cable car for the first time with my teen on New Year's Eve 2016 and we both enjoyed it. We took it from Union Square. My second time only a couple of weeks ago with my hubby. There are two lines starting at Powell and Market and continue to the Fisherman's Wharf area... these are the more popular cable car lines. Prepare to wait. The other one starts at California and Market and continues to Van Ness Avenue (the one we frequented). Except for the long lines and terrible waits they are fun to experience, plus what a unique way to explore San Francisco and ride on these cable cars... after all, cable cars have come to symbolize the city. Review #2669

Me on the trolley
Rose A.

Love the history of this rickety, bumpy contraption. If you're going for a ride on the steep hills of SF it is a lot of leaning and getting scrunched up... but I think that's all part of the experience. You have to pay each way ... going up and going down. I did not like how we were taken one way and stranded to figure out how else to return to the starting station. You can sit inside or hang on the sides of the trolley for the full experience. I wouldn't do it again though.

Our green tickets to board!
Lisa G.

A touristy thing to do, but pretty cool experience. To be honest, I've always wanted to ride one of these for the heck of it due to Princess Diaries. Climbing up the hills in San Francisco is no joke! The line to go on was super long, but after seeing the process of how they manually have to do a lot of things, I could see why. We were at the way bottom so a few guys had to have the cable car come down, then maneuver it to switch to the other rails. Was very calming to zip by the cars as the cable car went on the rails. In the front is a area where everyone clambers to try to go to as you experience the full on seating experience of having you legs in the open while the cable car is moving. There are also poles to hold onto. The back has indoor seating, which would be good if you wanted to keep warm. I will say that this is most likely a one time thing for me though, unless I needed to travel up and there were no uber/lyft/taxis available. The tickets were pretty fancy looking and also have a discount to go to ghirardelli square on chocolate.

Cable car operators
Lisa W.

Touristy thing to do, not for actual transportation! This is a must do when you're being a tourist in SF. It's fun, slow and funny. We got 2 free one way tickets from our hotel and why not?! We went from the end near Ghiridelli square and ended up in Union square. It was slow but a fun way to see the city. I wish they let you hop on and hop off at times.

Maruko X.

The stop at Lombard Street give tourists the opportunity to hop off and take pictures. This cable car was an convenient choice to select for me when heading straight to Lombard Street, Ghirardelli Square, Aquatic Park on the west end of Fisherman's Wharf.

Amanda K.

While the cable car ride itself was actually kind of fun this was totally not worth the wait and attitude you get from some employees. We found a schedule online and they just don't seem to follow it. There are multiple cars lined up in the turnaround area waiting around while tons of people stand around freezing (it was so cold while we were here!). There's no communication, scheduled times come and go with no movement and the guy taking tickets at the fisherman's wharf area was so nasty. The guy actually running the car was pretty nice though. I'd say if you're lucky enough to see them turn the car around then stick around to watch that. It's quick and kind of fun (video posted to save you time). Otherwise save your money and a ton of time and don't do this.

These SFMTA workers don't suck as bad as Governor Gavin Newsom.  They are indicative of the shit show he left behind.

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Review Highlights - Cable Cars

“You purchase your ticket on the Muni app, you can purchase a one-way ticket or a day pass, the price is reasonable.”

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Cable Car - California Street Line - It's always fun to ride up front.

Cable Car - California Street Line

4.1(145 reviews)
1.8 km•Polk Gulch, Nob Hill

The California Street Cable Car operates daily from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Powell-Hyde and…read morePowell-Mason lines run later, until 11:00 p.m., making it a great way to explore the city during the day or in the evening. Fares: Adult single rides are $9. Children under 4 ride free, and seniors (65+) pay just $4. You can pay using the MuniMobile app, a Clipper Card, or exact cash onboard. Hot tip: Grab a seat on the outside of the back of the California Street cable car. You'll be rewarded with a breathtaking view looking back down California Street with the Bay Bridge in the distance. It's one of the most iconic views in San Francisco and has inspired countless photos and paintings. (I even have a painting of this view in my living room!) There really isn't a bad seat on the cable car, but if you're trying to avoid extra hill climbing, be sure to get off at the correct stop. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a local, San Francisco's historic cable cars are both a fun attraction and a practical way to get around the city. Highly recommended!

We hopped on the California line in the morning with our day pass and had a great experience riding…read moreit back and forth. The operators were really friendly and informative. We were able to connect to the F in the Financial District as well and it got us to exactly where we wanted to go. I love the history and nostalgia that riding the cable cars evokes, and I'm really glad that in 2026 they're still operating well and they're a vibrant and vital part of San Francisco's public transportation infrastructure. Peace.

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Cable Car - California Street Line
Cable Car - California Street Line
Cable Car - California Street Line - The Mrs always enjoys the ride.

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The Mrs always enjoys the ride.

Powell & Mason Cable Car Turnaround

Powell & Mason Cable Car Turnaround

3.8(6 reviews)
0.6 km•North Beach/Telegraph Hill

The Powell/Mason Cable Car Turnaround is at Taylor and Bay Streets. It's the northern end of one of…read moreSan Francisco's famous cable car lines. Since these cars can't go in reverse, they use a wooden turntable to turn the nine-ton cars around 180 degrees so they can head back to Union Square. You can actually watch the gripmen and conductors push the cars by hand, which is pretty cool. For years, when I first moved to San Francisco, I used to catch the cable car here every morning and ride it all the way to the very end at Market Street, then walk to work. I did that just because it was fun, not because it made my commute faster or shorter! Over time, I got to know the cable car operators who worked the early shifts and many neighbors who also took the cable car to work, and we often chatted and shared a few laughs while waiting. We also enjoyed live performances from street musicians. It is a fun ride, especially for visitors and their families who take the cable car as part of their San Francisco visit experience.

Great tourist experience riding the cable car. They are beautiful original works of engineering…read moreart. The vistas and buildings along the way between Fishermans wharf and market are gorgeous. Only downside is side is the long long wait in queue. They took ages to load every act. I am sure there is a valid reason for the delays between departures ( the cars were there waiting). But it was a pain to wait. Perhaps a sign saying the cars go every 15 mins might have helped.

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Powell & Mason Cable Car Turnaround
Powell & Mason Cable Car Turnaround
Powell & Mason Cable Car Turnaround

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Cable Car - Powell/Mason Line

Cable Car - Powell/Mason Line

3.4(127 reviews)
2.8 km•Union Square

"I left my heart in San Francisco To be where little cable…read morecars climb halfway to the stars" (Tony Bennett) The San Francisco cable car is a cultural icon. It's the world's last manually operated cable car network, providing public transit since 1873. The Powell-Mason Line starts at Powell and Market Streets, climbs over Union Square and North Beach, and terminates at Bay and Taylor Streets near Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 4. We walked over to the station to jump on, but being a weekend, the wait would have been over an hour. We waited a few days and found the line much more manageable, so we did grab a cable car down to Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 for some sightseeing lunch at Fog Harbor. Buying a ticket was easy -there's a kiosk and ticket window right there and you can purchase a variety of ticketing options depending on your plans for one day or more. Our car was very comfortable, the wood benches were in great condition and it was a fun experience to be a part of awesome living history.

First off, the staff is amazing! All of the drivers are hilarious, polite, and enjoyable to spend…read moretime with. The lady selling tickets was super kind and steered us in the right direction for a one day pass. It's a great value for your dollar for $15 means you can jump on and off all day long. The cable cars are very clean and the staff ensures that those who need to sit have a spot to sit. You may wait a minute because it's in high demand. Though it's completely worth it. If you come to San Francisco for the day or week I highly recommend you try it out. Made our stay so much more enjoyable and fun. We were traveling with someone from Germany and he thought it was awesome as well.

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Cable Car - Powell/Mason Line
Cable Car - Powell/Mason Line - Buy your tickets here

Buy your tickets here

Cable Car - Powell/Mason Line - Obligatory tourist photo op

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Obligatory tourist photo op

SFMTA - Powell & Market Cable Car Kiosk

SFMTA - Powell & Market Cable Car Kiosk

3.2(28 reviews)
2.7 km•Union Square

Powell street was decked out for NBA All Star and I was one of the lucky few that got to be able to…read morecheck out some cool events. There is going to be a foot locker and shoe palace opening on the Powell street locations which will be really good for the city because there is a major bounce back happening. I truly believe that the city is on an upward trend which is really good for the beautiful city of San Francisco. A lot of NBA Players and Legends were walking around the area and how truly lucky we are to live in a beautiful city like San Francisco so let's please take care of it!

It May Not Be Too Practical Now, But It Sure Is Fun And A Vision Of Our Future Selves We Should…read moreHave Pursued Ardently More Than 100 Years Ago. SITREP I love cable cars. They are fun. Great to ride. Great to catch on Powell Street. And great to ride up the hills of San Francisco. For me, it's a time-trip up & down memory lane. It's sad that this costs $6 as a single-rate trip, rather than as a free community-sponsored endeavor to convince people of the benefits of mass transit. Both Muni and BART our outgrowths of these modest cable car-beginnings. But in addition, it's critical to drive home to the citizenry with these tangible object-lessons when comparing the vast amounts of money that were poured into fossil fuels and cars, and how little that accomplished for the community good by comparison. SAD SAD HISTORY As such, cable cars on this line remain a vestige of a bygone era when we, as a society, were on the "right track" (har har, I love puns) to creating a transportation infrastructure that was both useful and did not have a huge carbon footprint such as the one created by cars & gad that are imperiling our lives today. However, the very tragic greedy collusion of oil magnates, coal barons, and car company overlords at the turn of the 19th to 20th centuries, ensured that for at least for a full century (and until well into another century) that fossil fuels, such as gas and coal, would continue to drive our cars and trains. And not only was it greedy, but it has damaged our planet. If we had remained an enlightened American society - instead of a greedy capitalist one - we would not be facing be the level of global warming we are today. And perhaps we would not have implicitly set a bar for industrialization that the Chinese and Indian sub-continent feel the need to duplicate now, furthering endangering our planet. MORE THAN A TOY OR TOURIST TRAP So when I see the beloved cable cars today, I think a lot of "what if?". What if the cable car had led to the earlier development a bullet trains? What if the cable car tracking mechanisms had been advanced faster, from chains, cables and tracks, to high-speed levitation? What if the trains of some future Sci-Fi dream were in fact the trains of NOW, a hundred years earlier, because we had actually engineered them to be? THE LOWDOWN If not for a greedy hiccup in time, this would have been the path we would have firmly remained upon.

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SFMTA - Powell & Market Cable Car Kiosk
SFMTA - Powell & Market Cable Car Kiosk
SFMTA - Powell & Market Cable Car Kiosk

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SFMTA - MUNI - Cable Cars - Loved the floral deco on this cable car!

SFMTA - MUNI - Cable Cars

3.6(188 reviews)
1.6 km•Nob Hill

Back on the cable car ..it's $9 for a single ride ..most days and until 11 pm…read more Fun delightful SF past time

Horrible experience…read more I have been living in San Francisco for 10 years and never had the desire to ride this before, mostly because I had never heard anything good about it. Unfortunately, my experience confirmed everything I had heard. My child loves trains and buses, so we decided to give it a try to make him happy. We waited for two hours, and then out of nowhere they announced it was delayed. When someone asked how long the delay would be, the staff said, "I don't know." It was extremely frustrating -- isn't it their job to know what's going on? If they had been clear from the beginning, we would have left, but we thought it might only be a 10-minute delay. Almost 40 minutes later, they said it was closed and they didn't know when it would reopen. They mentioned there was a "free bus" around the corner, but people were fighting just to get on it because it was the only one they provided. Just a reminder: each ticket costs $9, yet no one explained anything or offered help. Unfortunately, I didn't learn my lesson. Wanting to make my child happy, we tried again another day. I honestly hope my child never asks to ride it again. After waiting another hour, just as we were about to get on, the man taking tickets told me -- in a very rude way -- that he would not accept my ticket and told me to move so others could get in. When I asked why and what he meant, he just repeated, "I'm not taking your ticket. Move." No explanation, no help, just rudeness. My husband told him we would buy another ticket, and even then he refused to let us on -- despite the car staying there for another 10 minutes. Completely unacceptable service and an awful experience overall.

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SFMTA - MUNI - Cable Cars
SFMTA - MUNI - Cable Cars
SFMTA - MUNI - Cable Cars

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Cable Car Turntable - guitar slide  - LeMonde Studio

Cable Car Turntable

3.7(9 reviews)
2.6 km•Union Square

The cable cars are a staple of San Francisco. And if you're a tourist, it's most likely high up on…read moreyour bucket list of things to do. However, do yourself a favor and don't get on to the cable car from this location. This is the beginning (or end) of 2 lines. Because of that, it is busy but turning the cable cars around can take time which means load time can be slow. And given that it is in the heart of downtown, it is an area of very heavy foot traffic. That means long long lines. It's going to eat up a ton of (what could be) precious time in your day. If you are here to just see a cable car and see what it looks like to have them turn around/switch lines, then great. You can see that from the area easily. However, if you are wanting to actually ride one of the cars, It's a better plan to get on to the other end of one of the lines and ride it in to Union. You will have a much quicker/shorter wait.

This review is for the Cable Car Turntable at Powell and Market Streets in the Union Square/SoMa…read more(South of Market) area in San Francisco. The cable cars are fun and iconic. They've been a symbol of the city for over 150 years now, since 1873. There are four turntables: 1. Powell and Market Streets (this one) in Union Square near SoMa. 2. Taylor and Bay Streets in North Beach near Fisherman's Wharf. 3. Hyde and Beach Streets in Fort Mason near Fisherman's Wharf. 4. Car barn next to the Cable Car Museum in Nob Hill. There are three lines: 1. California 2. Powell/Hyde 3. Powell/Mason The California line is a straight shot, roughly east-west, on California Street from the Financial District to Nob Hill, Pork Gulch, and Pacific Heights. The California line doesn't include any turntables. The Powell/Hyde and Powell/Mason lines travel roughly north-south between the Union Square/SoMa and Fisherman's Wharf areas. These two lines include the four turntables mentioned above. The cable cars are a popular tourist attraction and therefore, you'll always see tourists lined up waiting to board at the turntables. This turntable at Powell and Market is located "downtown" in a retail area. There are a lot of shops nearby as well as the San Francisco Centre shopping mall across the street (formerly Westfield San Francisco Centre): https://www.yelp.com/biz/westfield-san-francisco-centre-san-francisco-3 During our most recent visit to San Francisco, we stayed at the Axiom Hotel ( https://www.yelp.com/biz/axiom-hotel-san-francisco ) which is adjacent to this turntable. The hotel is home to the Turn Cafe and Little Sweet, the former being aptly named: https://www.yelp.com/biz/turn-caf%C3%A9-little-sweet-san-francisco-12 I recommend all of these places. Along with retail and hotels, this area also has numerous restaurants and office towers/buildings, and the turntable is situated right next to a major BART station (Powell Street Station) and an SF Muni station (Powell Station). In addition, each day, vendors set up tables and canopies to sell stuff and you're likely to run into street performers and religious folks holding signs and speaking into megaphones. So, there's a lot going on around this turntable. As for the turntable experience itself, it can be interesting to watch the SF Muni staff (the cable cars are operated by SF Muni) manually operate the turntables. Coming and going from our hotel, we noticed this turntable was consistently busy with riders, day and night. Cable car tickets must be purchased in advance. I like to use the Clipper Card on my phone because it works for BART too. For more information on buying tickets, visit https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/muni/cable-cars Also, I recommend checking out the Cable Car Museum in Nob Hill, just west of Chinatown. Admission is free: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cable-car-museum-san-francisco

Photos
Cable Car Turntable - Powell and Hyde Streets cable car on November 5, 2023.

Powell and Hyde Streets cable car on November 5, 2023.

Cable Car Turntable
Cable Car Turntable - Curb-A-Peel sculpture

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Curb-A-Peel sculpture

Cable Cars - cablecars - Updated October 2026

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