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San Francisco Cable Cars, San Francisco, CA

Photo: Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingIconicFamily FavoriteHistory Buff

San Francisco Cable Cars

Car barn and Cable Car Museum, 1201 Mason St · San Francisco, CA

Why you should go…

San Francisco runs the last manually operated cable car system in the world, a National Historic Landmark since 1964. Two lines start at the Powell and Market turntable and head toward Fisherman's Wharf, while the California line runs from Market Street to Van Ness Avenue. Grip operators work the cars by hand, and crews turn them around on turntables at the ends of the Powell lines. At the busiest terminals you must buy your fare before boarding.

  • #cable car
  • #historic transit
  • #national historic landmark
  • #city sightseeing

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to San Francisco Cable Cars, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

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