SF residents: Clipper card or CityPass?
 

Which one would you recommend us to get around? We will be in SF for 1 day then drive out of the area and come back and stay for 3 days. Will the Clipper card cover crossing the GG fee?

I like city pass more than clipper. They are both very similar though

The Clipper Card is more for residents. I would recommend the SF Muni 3-day Passport which costs $22 and is good on all Muni cable cars, buses, trolleys, light rail (Muni Metro). City Pass includes admission to several museums, aquariums, and a Bay cruise, besides a 7-day Muni passport. The City Pass costs $84 and may be worth it only if you are going to visit all of the attractions on the pass.

The Golden Gate Bridge has all-electronic tolls. You must have a FasTrak transponder or set up a one-time payment. See the GGB web site http://goldengate.org/tolls/index.php

The City Pass is nothing like a Clipper card. As noted by jowalker the City Pass includes admission to several museums and other "attractions", the Clipper card is basically a money card that residents can use on most Bay Area public transportation (BART, MUNI AC Transit, SamTrans) without having to have separate passes. Your best bet is to buy a 3 day MUNI pass. Neither the Clipper, MUNI Pass or City Pass work for bridge tolls.

Thanks for the information! I have learned so much as I plan this trip. I think we are going to go with the City Pass since there are a couple attractions on there that we wanted to see and buy the BART passes as needed. We will ask about GGB toll when we pick up our rental car. @jowalker: thanks for the link! what a great system SF has! love the technology!

We will be taking BART from SFO to SF, then public transport to Ferry to Sausalito...2 days later, BART to Berkeley for 3 days, then BART back to SF for a day; finally, BART to SFO. Would the Clipper Card be the way to go?????

A few more details: As SAB noted, the Clipper card allows you to avoid scrambling for cash to pay Muni, BART, and ferry fares. You preload the card with funds and then swipe it per ride ($2, with free transfers within 90 minutes). You can add money to it if you need to. The card is usable on all public transit methods (but not on the bridges) but won't give you any discount, unless you are a senior or youth. And each person needs his or her own card--you can't share one. You'll find complete information at www.clippercard.com. I live in San Francisco and use my Clipper card several times a week.

Muni passes are $23 for 3 days or $29 for 7 days and can be used on Muni only (buses, Muni Metro, F-line historic streetcars, and cable cars)--not on BART or ferries. http://sfmta.com/getting-around/tran...tor-day-passes. Add up the number of Muni and cable car trips you plan to take and see if it makes sense for you.

As jowalker mentioned, City Pass ($86 per adult) is useful if you plan to visit most of the sites it covers (all worthwhile). Full info at www.citypass.com/san-francisco.

A good site for detailed, official transit information and trip planning help is 511.org.

Enjoy your trip!