Most visitors arrive by plane into SFO or Oakland, or by train and ferry from around the Bay. BART runs from both airports into the city, and Caltrain ends at 4th and King.
Everything here comes from the transit agency’s own page. Where an agency page did not state a fact, we say so below instead of guessing.
Checked against the agencies’ own pages on 27 October 2026.
By Air: SFO
BART trains connect SFO with downtown San Francisco, downtown Oakland and other Bay Area destinations. BART says the ride to downtown San Francisco takes about 30 minutes. BART fare gates accept contactless bank cards, Google Pay and Apple Pay, and each rider needs their own card or device.
Our other pages explain what to do once you land: Muni vs BART vs Cable Car compares the three, and Getting Around San Francisco has the fares.
By Air: Oakland
BART also serves Oakland Airport. Riders change at Coliseum station and go upstairs to Platform 3 for the airport train. BART says the average wait is 4.5 minutes and the trip takes about 9 minutes, and that you pay when you arrive at Coliseum Platform 3. Oakland Airport lists rideshare, taxis, rental cars, shuttles and scheduled vans and buses on its own site.
By Train
Caltrain runs up the Peninsula and ends at its San Francisco station at 700 4th Street. The station lists these Muni connections: 15, 30, 45, N Judah, T Third, 91 Owl and N Owl. It has ticket machines and Clipper add-value machines in the lobby.
Amtrak says Emeryville is the closest Amtrak station to San Francisco, and that an Amtrak Connection bus goes to downtown San Francisco. Its page gives no schedule, fare or stops for that bus.
By Ferry
Golden Gate Ferry lists four routes on its own schedule page: Larkspur to San Francisco, Sausalito to San Francisco, Tiburon to San Francisco, and San Francisco to Angel Island State Park. BART’s Embarcadero station page says the station is close to the Ferry Building. Our Ferry Building page and the day trips guide cover what to do at the other end.
What We Could Not Confirm
- SFO’s own page (flysfo.com) could not be read this session, so we give no AirTrain, ground transportation or distance figures from SFO. The BART times above come from bart.gov.
- BART’s page gives a fare formula and a $2.55 minimum Clipper balance to enter, but no dollar fare for SFO or the airport trip. Use the BART fare calculator.
- Caltrain’s station page gives no fares or travel times.
- Oakland Airport’s own site does not state a distance or time to downtown San Francisco.
- San Francisco Bay Ferry routes, terminals and fares could not be read, and Golden Gate Ferry’s page does not name the Ferry Building terminal or list fares.
- Amtrak and Capitol Corridor service to the Salesforce Transit Center, and the Greyhound or FlixBus stop, were not confirmed from official pages.
Questions People Ask
How long does BART take from SFO to downtown?
BART says about 30 minutes.
Does BART go to Oakland Airport?
Yes, with a change at Coliseum station to the airport train on Platform 3. BART says the trip takes about 9 minutes.
Where does Caltrain stop in San Francisco?
At 700 4th Street, per Caltrain’s station page.
Sources
- BART, Airport guide (SFO): https://www.bart.gov/guide/airport (read 27 October 2026)
- BART, Oakland Airport: https://www.bart.gov/guide/airport/oak (read 27 October 2026)
- BART, Embarcadero station: https://www.bart.gov/stations/embr (read 27 October 2026)
- Caltrain, San Francisco station: https://www.caltrain.com/station/sanfrancisco (read 27 October 2026)
- Amtrak, Emeryville station: https://www.amtrak.com/stations/emy (read 27 October 2026)
- Golden Gate Ferry: https://www.goldengate.org/ferry/ (read 27 October 2026)
- Oakland Airport: https://www.iflyoak.com/ (read 27 October 2026)