Hello- I need some help with planning transportation in San Francisco. I am arriving into Oakland and will be spending four days in San Francisco. What is the most cost effective mode of transportation? Bart from airport, trolley, bus, taxi, around town? Can I buy passes ahead of time for all of these?

Thanks for the help!

AirBart - a bus connecting the airport with BART - is $3 now. Exact change needed. I don't know if buying a ticket for BART is possible, but not economical is you won't be using it till it's time to go home. Check BART website for more info.

The system of buses in the city is MUNI. I think an advance fast pass is possible to buy, but not sure. Check MUNI website.

As Faina said, you take an air bus from the Oakland airport to the BART station. Just be sure you are not carrying tons of luggage.

Once in the city you can get public transportation everywhere. I believe a Muni pass covers everything except the cable cars, but you may be able to get a pass for that, I am not sure.

At the Powell Street BART station is a visitor's bureau place where you can buy passes and get information, if you are there when they are open. Otherwise, check with the concierge or desk staff at your hotel.

I,too, have heard that the Muni Pass is really the way to go.

Just to clarify for you the streetcars/subway AND the buses are both part of the MUNI system. It costs $1.50 per trip (2 hours total) on either form and there are 5-day passes (available at the Powell Station visitor's information office).

You'll take the AirBART shuttle to the Oakland Coliseum/Airport BART stop. Then it's a short ride (25 minutes) into the city on BART. From there you can transfer to a bus or subway MUNI.

I would avoid taxis unless it's after service hours or you're trying to get to a far-away part of the city. Generally the buses and trains are very good for getting around.

You can use buses (cheaper than the cable car) to get to Fisherman's Wharf, Fort Mason and Ghirardelli Square from downtown. Take the cable care only once as a $5 splurge for something "San Franciscan." Use buses/trains the rest of the time.

You can explore my favorite parts of the city - Mission/Castro/Noe Valley neighborhoods - by train.

Actually, only the buses, trolleys and streetcars are in the MUNI system.

The subway is BART, and is separate, of course. They couldn't all play in the same sandbox.

You can buy MUNI "passport" passes that are good on the buses, trolleys, and streetcars for 1,3,7? days. They will get you all around San Francisco, all times of the day and night, and are efficient and pleasant to ride. They're crowded at rush hour of course. The website for info is http://www.sfmta.com/cms/mfares/passvend.htm#adults

To get from OAK to San Francisco, take the AirBart shuttle from OAK to the BART station, then the BART subway to whatever station is closest to your hotel. You can buy the tickets separately $3 each way on the shuttle, and about that for the BART or they sell an "airport packet" online. Just google BART.

Get the Metro program for your Palm PDA. It'll help you figure out how to get around. So will a good map of course. You can download them from the MUNI site. Lots of the buses run up and down major streets rather than meandering all around so they're easy to figure out.

I've always liked taking the old F trolley from Ferry Plaza down Market Street Hope you have a great time!