San Francisco International Airport is located in San Bruno, just 13 miles south of downtown San Francisco. For those traveling to Union Square (downtown), the best way to get from the airport to downtown San Francisco is to take the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART). It is the fastest and most effective way to travel. The airport provides AirTrain, a free train on an elevated track connecting all terminals. The AirTrain also takes you to the BART station and to the car rental offices. The BART station is located in the Boarding Area inside International Terminal G.
Tourists who need to travel from San Francisco International Airport to downtown San Francisco should avoid taking the Caltrain, whose final destination is the SoMA’s Caltrain Station. Caltrain trains go all the way to downtown San Francisco, but it’s not very practical for tourists to take the Caltrain. Therefore, it is more useful for those who have to go from Gilroy/San Jose to San Francisco or vice versa. If for some reason tourists have to take the Caltrain, at the airport, they need to board the SamTrans SFO Route bus to Millbrae Station, from where they can take the train.
When tourists reach the station, they need to purchase their ticket to San Francisco for $9.65 ($9.15 with the Clipper Card). They can do this at the machines at the airport or purchase them in advance as vouchers to exchange at the SFO Information Booth, which is located near the BART station. Trains leave every 15-20 minutes, i.e. three to four times every hour and take about 30 minutes to get to San Francisco. Besides Powell Station, there are five other stations in the city, namely 16th and 24 Mission, Civic Center – UN Plaza, Embarcadero, Montgomery Street, and Glen Park. The price to travel from the airport to these stations does not change.
Tourists who do not want to take the BART, they can take a taxi or shuttle to get directly to their hotel. However, BART remains the fastest and most effective way to travel from San Francisco International Airport to downtown San Francisco. This is a crucial consideration for tourists who are in San Francisco for a short time and want to make the most of their visit. In conclusion, tourists can take the BART from San Francisco International Airport to downtown San Francisco or take a taxi or shuttle to get directly to their hotel, but the BART remains the most effective way to travel.
