Cable Cars

In San Francisco, a cable car ride is a must! The city's signature mode of transport is perfectly equipped to tackle steep hills, and since their premiere in 1873, cars have run the same way – by gripping huge loops of steel that constantly cycle underground. The system, declared a National Historic Landmark in 1964, has 40 cable cars that operate on the Powell-Mason, Powell-Hyde and California Street lines. The California Street line is usually less packed than the other lines for those who might be crowd-phobic. Purchase tickets at one of the end-point turnarounds or from the onboard conductor at any stop along the route.