Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) is the car-free way to see the many unique attractions in and around San Francisco. San Francisco Travel offers suggestions of popular “BARTable” destinations that visitors can enjoy.
Downtown San Francisco
Civic Center/UN Plaza Station: The Asian Art Museum, Civic Center Plaza and the shopping and dining district of Hayes Valley are all in easy walking distance from this stop. BART is a prime public transit option when catching a performance at one of the city’s many performing arts venues, including SFJAZZ, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, the War Memorial Opera House, Davies Symphony Hall, and others.
Powell Street Station: This station drops travelers at the foot of popular Union Square. The Westfield San Francisco Centre, Macy’s, Nordstrom, and Gump’s are just some of the big name shops mixed in with numerous specialty stores in this shopping district. There are also many hotels, dining and theater options such as the Curran, SHN’s Golden Gate and Orpheum Theatres, the Marines’ Memorial Theatre, the American Conservatory Theater and the EXIT Theatre. Sprinkled throughout the neighborhood are many live music cafes and lounges, including blues stalwart Biscuits & Blues and Feinstein’s at the Nikko. The Redwood Room, the Starlight Room and Cityscape Lounge are examples of notable cocktail lounges perfect for a nightcap or a pre-dinner stop.
Montgomery Street Station: Closest to the Financial District, the Montgomery Station also has the best to access Chinatown and North Beach to the north, and The Moscone Center to the south in SoMa (South of Market Street). The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is a must-see for art lovers and the Yerba Buena Gardens offer public gardens, galleries, the Children’s Creativity Museum and shopping, dining, and movies at the Metreon complex. The Museum of the African Diaspora, the Contemporary Jewish Museum and the California Historical Society are also nearby cultural stops.
Embarcadero Station: Stepping out from this station, visitors will be one block from the Ferry Building and a short ride on Muni’s historic F Line streetcars to attractions along the Embarcadero. The Exploratorium, cruises to Alcatraz, the shopping and dining at PIER 39, and Fisherman’s Wharf are popular spots to visit. The station is also best to reach AT&T Park for events and Giants baseball games at the ballpark. Connect to the E Line streetcar at the Ferry Building to head south on the Embarcadero.
Outside Downtown San Francisco
16th Street Mission & 24th Street Mission Stations: Both stops put travelers within the colorful and flavorful Mission District. The area is perfect to explore many of the city’s well-known murals. The Mission Street stations are also the best to access the dining and nightlife of the lively Castro District.
East Bay
19th Street/Oakland, 12th Street Oakland City Center, and Lake Merritt Stations: These stops take you to the heart of Downtown and Uptown Oakland, with a vibrant variety of dining, nightlife and cultural attractions, including the Oakland Museum of California. The waterfront area of Jack London Square is best accessible from the 12th Street Station, while the Lake Merritt Station puts you a few blocks away from the popular recreational lakefront.
Downtown Berkeley Station: From San Francisco, take an Antioch or Richmond-bound train to this stop to best access the University of California, Berkeley and the heart of its off-campus life on Shattuck Avenue. A not-to-miss attraction is the revamped Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.
Coliseum Station: Dublin/Pleasanton-bound and Warms Springs/South Fremont-bound trains stop here, which is located adjacent to Oracle Arena, home of the Golden State Warriors, and the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, home of baseball’s Oakland A’s. Use this station to transfer to the Oakland International Airport shuttle for a quick and easy trip to the airport.
West Dublin/Pleasanton and Dublin/Pleasanton Stations: The Dublin/Pleasanton Line takes you deeper into the East Bay, where the Tri-Valley region offers golden hills, wineries and small-town charm.
San Francisco International Airport Area
SFO Station: BART is the hassle-free and traffic-free way to access the San Francisco International Airport. Take the SFO/Millbrae-bound train for a 30-minute journey from the city.
Millbrae Station: This last stop on the BART system’s southwestern arm is a great connection point to the communities of the peninsula. At Millbrae Station, riders can transfer to the Caltrain system to travel south to charming Burlingame or south into Silicon Valley to explore the communities of the rapidly-expanding center of the tech world.
BARTable options are endless. For more information about great places to go and fun things to see and do, visit the fun side of BART at http://bartable.bart.gov/. For information about visiting San Francisco – including hotels, restaurants, attractions, tours and events – visit San Francisco Travel at http://www.sftravel.com.
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