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SFO

San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco, United States

Where to start
BART

BART from SFO directly connects to downtown San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland, and the East Bay — far more affordable than rideshare and often faster during commute hours. The BART station is at the International Terminal; from other terminals, take the free AirTrain to reach it. Uber and Lyft pickup is on SFO Garage Level 5 (top floor), at the T3/International Terminal connector.

Ride Options

BART

transit

Affordable, fast, direct to downtown SF and the East Bay — avoids traffic

AvailabilityRuns until about midnight; reduced weekend mornings
Pickup NoteBART station is at the International Terminal. From Terminals 1–3, take the free AirTrain to reach it. About 30 min to downtown SF (Powell St). Tap a Clipper card or contactless bank card.
Convenience
Relative costLower cost
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Uber

rideshare

Door-to-door to SF neighborhoods and the Peninsula / Silicon Valley

AvailabilityCommonly available; Bay Area traffic extends rides at commute hours
Pickup NoteSFO Garage Level 5 (top floor), at the Terminal 3 / International Terminal connector — not the arrivals curb.
Convenience
Relative costHigher cost
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Lyft

rideshare

Alternative rideshare

AvailabilityCommonly available
Pickup NoteSame SFO Garage Level 5 (top floor) pickup as Uber.
Convenience
Relative costHigher cost
Visit Website

Licensed Taxi

taxi

No-app option; metered fare

AvailabilityAvailable 24/7
Pickup NoteOfficial ranks outside each terminal at the Ground Transportation level. Metered fare plus airport surcharge.
Convenience
Relative costHigher cost
Visit Website

SIXT Ride — Pre-booked Airport Transfer

Private Transfer

Fixed-rate pre-booked door-to-door transfer

AvailabilityAvailable at San Francisco — book via SIXT app or website
Pickup NoteDriver meets you in arrivals with a name sign. Fixed price, flight tracking, up to 60 min free waiting.
Convenience
Relative costHigher cost
Book Transfer

Pickup Guidance

Rideshare

Uber and Lyft pick up on SFO Garage Level 5 (the top floor), at the Terminal 3 / International Terminal connector — not at the arrivals curb. Follow the signs for ride-app pickup.

Taxi

Official taxi ranks are outside each terminal at the Ground Transportation level. Metered fares plus an airport surcharge; cards accepted.

Shuttle

Bay Area shared shuttles and hotel shuttles depart from the Ground Transportation level. The Grand Hyatt at SFO connects directly to the airport via AirTrain.

Transit

BART runs directly from the SFO station at the International Terminal to downtown San Francisco in about 30 minutes, and on to Berkeley, Oakland, and the East Bay. From Terminals 1, 2, or 3, take the free AirTrain to the BART station. Caltrain is reachable via a Millbrae transfer. Tap a Clipper card or contactless bank card.

Private Transfer

Pre-booked private transfers and SIXT Ride meet you at arrivals with a name sign — fixed price, flight tracking.

Travel Extras

Need a SIM?Need a lounge?Need a hotel?Need bag storage?

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Local Tips

  • BART from SFO is far more affordable than rideshare for downtown San Francisco, and often faster during commute hours because it avoids freeway traffic.
  • Uber and Lyft pick up on SFO Garage Level 5 (the top floor) — not at the arrivals curb, where many travelers look first.
  • The free AirTrain connects all terminals to the BART station — you don't need to walk between terminals or pay to reach BART.
  • Tap a contactless bank card directly at BART fare gates — no need to buy a Clipper card or paper ticket for a one-off trip.
  • For the Peninsula or San Jose, transfer from BART to Caltrain at Millbrae.

Tarmyq local tip

Tap a contactless bank card directly at BART fare gates — no need to buy a Clipper card or paper ticket for a one-time trip. Apple Pay, Google Pay, and tap-to-pay cards all work.