Hill climbs
Steep and slow.
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The last manually operated cable car system in the world and an icon of San Francisco: wooden cars grip steel cables running under the streets, climbing and slowly descending the steep hills with their bells clanging. Of the 23 lines built between 1873 and 1890 only three remain: two from downtown near Union Square to Fisherman's Wharf, one of which passes the top of crooked Lombard Street, and a third along California Street. Riders stand on the side steps holding the poles while the gripman works the brakes by hand; at the end of the lines the cars are turned on turntables by the crew, and the powerhouse holds the free Cable Car Museum, where you can see the huge wheels that pull the cables. A single ride costs $9 for adults, per the city's transport agency, paid with a Clipper card, the app or contactless payment. The start at Powell and Market gets long queues, so board a stop further on, and hold tight on the hills.
Steep and slow.
At the ends.
The big wheels.
Powell and California lines; Cable Car Museum on Mason Street
Coit TowerA white concrete tower 64 metres tall on top of Telegraph Hill in San Francisco,12 minutes walk4.7
Lombard Street (Crooked Section)A famous stretch of Lombard Street on Russian Hill in San Francisco, one steep b14 minutes walk4.7
Pier 39A shopping centre and visitor attraction built on a pier at the edge of Fisherma20 minutes walk4.7
Fisherman's WharfA tourist district on San Francisco's northern waterfront. It was once a real fi20 minutes walk4.7
San Francisco Ferry BuildingA terminal for ferries across San Francisco Bay, a food hall and an office build20 minutes walk4.7$9 for an adult single ride, per the city's transport agency.