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United States

San Francisco

A city of fog and hills. The cable cars are still working public transit, while BART and Muni do the daily grind.

Muni bus and trolleybus

There are no fare gates - tap a bank card or phone on the reader as you board and the fare is $2.85. A bank card only ever pays the full adult fare, though; day passes and visitor passes live on Clipper or the app.

Updated on August 2, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Any door if you've paid, front door for cash
    With a Clipper or bank card you can board at any door; paying cash means using the front door.
  2. 2
    Tap the reader as you board
    Hold your card, phone or Clipper against the reader beside the door you used.
  3. 3
    Cash goes into the farebox, exact change
    Feed bills or coins into the farebox by the front door. No change is given; it prints a paper ticket.
  4. 4
    Keep your proof of payment until you get off
    Keep the paper ticket, or the card you tapped with, for the whole ride - inspectors check on board.
  5. 5
    Tap the same card again when you transfer
    On your next bus or Muni Metro ride, tap the same card you used the first time.
  6. 6
    Signal for your stop, then get off
    As your stop approaches, pull the cord along the window or push the button.

Fares

Single fares2

Adult single ride (Clipper, bank card, MuniMobile)
Good for 120 minutes of travel across buses and Muni Metro.
2.85 USD ≈ $3
Adult single ride (cash or Metro ticket machine)
Front door only on the bus, exact change; the farebox prints a paper ticket.
3 USD ≈ $3

Passes & multi-ride4

Muni Day Pass
Muni buses, trains and historic streetcars until 11:59 p.m.; cable cars are not included.
5.7 USD ≈ $6
1-Day Visitor Passport
Adds the cable cars; not valid on BART or for travel to or from SFO.
15 USD ≈ $15
3-Day Visitor Passport
Expires at 11:59 p.m. on the third day of use.
35 USD ≈ $35
7-Day Visitor Passport
Expires at 11:59 p.m. on the seventh day of use.
47 USD ≈ $47

Children & discounts1

Age 18 and under (free)
Free for anyone 18 or under regardless of residency; no card or application needed. Cable cars excluded.
0 USD

Estimates use exchange rates as of September 5, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
DiscoverVISAMastercardAmex
Tap the reader on board as you get on; full adult fare only.
IC card
The Clipper card - plastic, or added to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet.
App tickets
MuniMobile; single-ride tickets are withdrawn on September 1, 2026.
Paper tickets
The paper ticket the farebox prints; paper Visitor Passports also exist.
Cash
Front door only on buses, exact change; Metro stations have ticket machines.

Tap for where to get the app

Quick facts

Hours
Owl routes run all night
Fares from
2.85 USD+

Heads-up

  • One card cannot pay for your travel companions

    You can't cover your travel companions with one card. Every rider has to tap their own card or device, and the discount for transferring between agencies - which has to happen within two hours of your first boarding - only follows someone who keeps tapping the same card for the whole trip.

Timetable

Operating hours Owl routes run all night
Typical duration The way across town where Muni Metro doesn't go - you pick the bus for coverage, not speed
Check the official site for the latest times and service status