Those arriving on Amtrak should terminate in either the Emeryville station or in Oakland s Jack London Square station, both in the East Bay, east of the City. Pier 39, the popular waterfront shopping area, is just a few blocks to the west. Just beyond that is Fisherman s Wharf. Ticket machines are located at all terminals. The San Francisco Municipal Railway, MUNI , provides transportation throughout the City on trolley buses, streetcars and the world-famous cable cars.
Exact change is required.
Service on some lines is available 24 hours. Cable Cars San Francisco s cable cars , which started running in 1873, are a national historic landmark. The first will take you over Nob Hill to the heart of Fisherman s Wharf s tourist shops and close to Pier 39 and the ferries to Alcatraz. The California Street line runs from the Embarcadero at Market Street through the Financial District and Chinatown over Nob Hill to Van Ness Avenue. You can catch the cars at any stop.