Cable Cars

San Fran has the world's last manually operated cable car system - an old-fashioned ride with breathtaking views.

TravelCurious Tip

For the best views, always nab a seat on the side that faces the bay

The San Francisco cable cars are part of the world’s last manually operated cable car system. Every cable car is tugged along its hilly track by an underground cable which is gripped by a vice-like mechanism operated via the grip lever in the front of the car. If that sounds perilously like a creaking handbrake is the only thing between you and a rocket-ride down into the bay, fear not: every car has three separate breaking mechanisms. You’d have to be pretty unlucky.


Used by commuters and tourists alike, the ultra-safe cable cars are among the most popular tourist attractions in the city. Even the surliest passenger can’t help but me charmed by their wonderful views from this quaint mode of transport. However, you have a few lines to choose between, depending on whether you’re zipping from A to B or lingering for the scenic route.


With the Powell-Hyde Cable Car, the medium is the message: as you crank along this hilly line the Golden Gate Bridge will pop in and out of view. The Powell-Mason Cable Car slowly winds up Nob Hill, as if preparing for a sickening rollercoaster drop on the other side. At the terminus you can find the wonderful Musée Mecanique with its array of mechanical toys and arcade machines.


The California St Cable Car is quieter, riding through Chinatown and climbing Nob Hill to Grace Cathedral. Hop off at Polk St for some boutique browsing. However, it is the Friedel Klussman Cable Car Turnaround which has the best story. In 1947 a lady rallied her garden club against the mayor’s plot to replace the cable cars with buses. When it went to vote, he was trounced. And when Klussman died in 1986, all the cable cars in the city were draped in black.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in San Francisco
Nob Hill
This affluent neighbourhood is one San Francisco's original Seven Hills.
Ghirardelli Chocolate
Started by an Italian confectioner in San Francisco during the gold rush, Ghirardelli chocolate is a San Francisco institution and a must for all travelers.
Old Saint Mary's Cathedral
Built in the heart of Chinatown, the historical landmark has served as a safe and holy place since the beginning of the Gold Rush.
Eastern Bakery
The Eastern Bakery is the oldest Chinese bakery in the City and is famous for traditional sweets served to go and shipped nationwide.
Open Air Product Markets
Stroll through the colorful produce and import goods market of Stockton street to experience bustling Chinatown.
Painted Ladies
These colourful Victorian homes are an icon of the city.

Related Tours

San Francisco in a Day: Private Full-Day Tour including Alcatraz
Immerse yourself in the heart of San Francisco, one of the most iconic cities in the world, on this private full-day tour where you will discover the history and culture of the city before embarking on a journey through some of its most famous landmarks, including a visit to Alcatraz Island to uncover the secrets of the infamous prison. 

On your private tour of San Francisco, you will:

  • Explore Union Square— San Francisco's bustling shopping area;
  • Discover Chinatown, passing through the magnificent Dragon Gate, the entrance to the largest Chinatown outside of Asia;
  • Visit Nob Hill, and after a short tram ride, take a stroll down North Beach and learn the fascinating history of this Italian-American enclave,;
  • Immerse yourself in the customs, cuisine, and curiosities of Chinatown;
  • Take a cable car across town for fantastic cityscapes and soak up the San Francisco skyline from the top of iconic Nob Hill;
  • Visit Ghirardelli Square, with breathtaking views, fantastic shopping, dining options, and of course - world-famous chocolate!
  • Enjoy striking views of the Golden Gate Bridge from the atmospheric Fisherman's Wharf;
  • Walk around the historic Pier 39, and see the famous seals basking in the sun;
  • Dig into some of San Francisco's famous seafood - like clam chowder soup in a sourdough bread bowl (not included);
  • Finally, the guide will depart as you take a ferry to visit the world’s most notorious island penitentiary: Alcatraz, where you will enjoy a self-guided audio tour of the island or choose to join one of its small ranger-led tours when you disembark.

Your Private Full-Day Tour of San Francisco Highlights will take you through an urban landscape, set on the northern tip of a peninsula, shaped by glaciers, earthquakes and the Pacific’s rolling waves. 

At the top of Nob Hill, soak up an extraordinary cityscape at cable car height. Set on San Francisco's picturesque steep slopes, enjoy a stunning skyline across streets crisscrossed by streetcars, yellow taxis, and jogging trails. 

Wander through some world-class shopping malls in Union Square, where big-name brands and local stores nestle amongst chic boutiques. 

Lastly, Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39, lined with seafood cafés, are home to basking sea lions, jugglers, and mime artists, with striking views across the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and Angel Island. Enjoy lunch at one of the many eateries on Pier 39 before your guide takes you to Pier 33, where you will board a pre-booked ferry ride to Alcatraz Island. 

Please note: your guide will not be joining you on the island, as private guides are not permitted to operate on the island. On arrival at Alcatraz, take an audio tour at a leisurely pace to hear tales of notorious felons such as Al Capone and Robert Franklin Stroud in this former fort, a military prison and maximum-security federal penitentiary. Once you are finished exploring Alcatraz Island (most people spend about 2 hours), you can hop any return ferry to San Francisco, where you will be dropped off at Pier 33. 
The Best of San Francisco: Private Half-Day Walking Tour
Dating back to 1776 and considered by many to be the USA’s most beautiful city, San Francisco - a.k.a. The City by the Bay - is a vibrant mix of exotic cultures, and is renowned worldwide for its liberal free-thinking ideals. 
San Francisco’s strong historical bonds with Spanish America and Mexico are evident all over the city and reflected in its Hispanic population, vibrant arts, music, and festival scene.

On your private half-day tour, you will:

  • Learn the history of its famous neighbourhoods, including downtown, the Financial District, Nob Hill, Chinatown, and Little Italy;
  • Explore Union Square, San Francisco's bustling shopping area;
  • Immerse yourself in the customs, cuisine, and curiosities of Chinatown;
  • Take a cable car to the top of Nob Hill for spectacular views of the San Francisco skyline;
  • Venture through North Beach to absorb the community’s Italian heritage;
  • Enjoy striking views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and Angel Island from atmospheric Fisherman's Wharf – and glimpse the basking seals!

On this private half-day tour of the best of San Francisco, you will learn about the city’s foundation in the 18th century, when Spanish colonists settled the area during the gold-rush fever, to the city in the modern era, famous for its political activism and social inclusivity the world over. 

See first-hand San Francisco’s colourful mix of quaint buildings and modern architecture in a stunning ocean-facing city.

Learn about San Francisco's long-standing progressive stance on activism: the city is credited with trailblazing the “Flower Power” peace movement, and powering the gay rights movement as one of the largest and most prominent LGBT communities in the world.

You will explore this fascinating urban landscape, set on the northern tip of a peninsula, shaped by glaciers, earthquakes and the Pacific’s rolling waves. Set on San Francisco's picturesque steep slopes, enjoy a stunning skyline across streets crisscrossed by streetcars, yellow taxis and jogging trails. Wander through some world-class shopping in Union Square, where big-name brands and local stores nestle amongst chic boutiques. 

Enjoy a historic cable car ride from one part of the city, over Nob Hill to the waterfront. At beautiful North Beach, known colloquially as Little Italy, soak up the ambience of the city’s lively historic Italian-American community. 

Lastly, Fisherman’s Wharf, lined with seafood cafes, is home to basking sea lions, jugglers and mime artists and enjoys striking views across the Golden Gate Bridge, the infamous island prison on the sea, Alcatraz, and Angel Island.
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