Fisherman's Wharf

By ship

Several companies offer ferries serving the piers of Fisherman's Wharf:

Blue & Gold Fleet

Offers ferries from Sausalito, Tiburon, Angel Island, Vallejo, and Alameda/Oakland to Pier 41.

Vallejo Baylink Ferry

Offering ferry service to/from Vallejo.

Getting here on foot or via public transportation are certainly the best options if you are already in or near San Francisco.

On foot

Due to its proximity to the Downtown area, one of the best ways to get to the Wharf is simply to walk! Eastbound through Fort Mason from the Marina 15 mins, northbound along Columbus Ave from North Beach and Chinatown 25 mins, or from either the the Ferry Building or the Financial District, walk northbound along the Embarcadero promenades 25 mins.

By Cable Car

The Powell/Mason cable car (http://www.sfcablecar.com...) line brings you a few blocks south of the center of the district, at Taylor and Bay Sts.

The Powell/Hyde cable car (http://www.sfcablecar.com...) line brings you to Fisherman's Wharf western end, at the intersection of Hyde and Beach Sts.

Both cable car lines start at Market and Powell, near the BART and Muni station there, pass Union Square, and traverse the charming hills and houses of San Francisco before reaching Fisherman's Wharf.

MUNI

(http://www.sfmta.com/cms/...) offers several bus routes to Fisherman's Wharf. The frequent 30 Stockton trolley bus and the 47 Van Ness bus go from the Caltrain station to Fisherman's Wharf, using very different routes. The 30 bus goes through downtown, passes Chinatown and North Beach, and then west via North Point St up to Van Ness. The 47 bus takes longer; it goes first through the grubby parts of the SoMa area, then via the Civic Center up Van Ness, and finally east on North Point St. Additionally, the 10 Townsend and 19 Polk also serve the area. The 39 Coit heads up to Coit Tower in North Beach.

By car

Driving here is easiest but often slow by going north on Van Ness Ave which is part of U.S. Highway 101 up to North Point St a block beyond Bay, turning right, and then locating a parking space after a few blocks. There are a number of smallish lots, and two major garages near Pier 39, at Stockton and Beach. If you plan to spend much time, you may want to park on a street farther away but watch the posted limits and take public transportation to the Wharf.

If you are so inclined and have good brakes, you can go from Van Ness Ave onto Lombard St east, up Russian Hill and down the "crookedest street" in San Francisco. Turn north on any of the streets except Taylor, because of the cable cars into Fisherman's Wharf. Stockton St, 2.5 blocks past Columbus Ave, gets you to the garages. Note that pedestrians and cable cars have the right of way.

From the Bay Bridge it is best to get off soon, head north and east towards the Embarcadero, and then go west into the Fisherman's Wharf area. These exits are still being reconfigured to cope with future earthquakes. You'll see the garages across the way near Pier 39.

San Francisco is small, so consider taking a taxi, at a cost of around $10 from downtown, and double the price from outlying areas.