San Francisco cruise port

Where the ship docks

• James R. Herman Cruise Terminal, Pier 27 · 1.5 km to the centre

  Main terminal on the north Embarcadero. Taxis and private cars can drop off at the terminal entrance. No parking and no luggage storage. Ships can plug into the port's 12 MW shore power. Nearest streetcar stop: The Embarcadero & Sansome Street.

• Pier 35 (overflow) · 2 km to the centre

  Used on busy days, mainly for port-of-call ships. A 6–8 minute walk north of Pier 27. Nearest streetcar stop: The Embarcadero & Bay Street.

Can you walk? Yes, about 20 min. The Embarcadero is flat. Fisherman's Wharf is about 20 minutes' walk north, with Pier 39 on the way. The Ferry Building is to the south; the full Ferry Building–Pier 45 walk is 25–30 minutes and Pier 27 sits roughly midway. Telegraph Hill and the cable car routes are steep.

Getting to town

When to head back

Be back on board 60 minutes before all-aboard; leave the Golden Gate Bridge 2 hours before.

From Fisherman's Wharf the walk is about 20 minutes. Allow 45 minutes from Union Square because of cable car queues and traffic. Embarcadero traffic is heavy on summer afternoons, so taxis are not always faster than the streetcar.

If you are running late: Take a taxi or rideshare to Pier 27 (or Pier 35 if that is your berth). If you will miss all-aboard, call the port agent number on your daily programme. Emergency number: 911.

Where people go wrong: Arriving without an Alcatraz booking and finding the day's ferries sold out.

A day in San Francisco

Assumes the ship docks at Pier 27 at 07:00 and all-aboard is 17:30, with an Alcatraz ticket booked in advance.

1. 08:00Walk off the ship and north along the Embarcadero to Pier 33 (Alcatraz Landing).
2. 08:30Alcatraz ferry and cellhouse audio tour.
3. 11:30Back at Pier 33. Walk north to Pier 39 for the waterfront and bay views.
4. 12:15Lunch at Fisherman's Wharf: chowder in a sourdough bowl at Boudin Bakery, 160 Jefferson Street.
5. 13:30Walk a block or two up Hyde Street and ride the Powell–Hyde cable car over Russian Hill, then back.
6. 15:00F-line streetcar from Fisherman's Wharf to the Ferry Building.
7. 15:45Walk back north along the Embarcadero to Pier 27.
8. 16:30Back on board, 60 minutes before all-aboard.

What to see

Beaches

What to eat

• Clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl · Boudin Bakery, 160 Jefferson Street, Fisherman's Wharf
• Oysters and chowder · Hog Island Oyster Company, Ferry Building
• White or red chowder · Chowders, Pier 39
• Seafood and chowder · Scoma's, Pier 47 (1965 Al Scoma Way)
• Farmers' market snacks · Ferry Building Farmers Market (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday mornings)

On your own or a ship excursion?

Do the waterfront, Alcatraz and cable cars on your own: they start within walking distance of the ship and public transport is simple. A ship tour makes sense for Muir Woods, Sausalito or wine country, which involve bridge traffic and fixed timings. If your ship arrives and leaves the same day, book Alcatraz before the cruise or not at all.

Common mistakes

• Hoping to buy Alcatraz tickets on the day.

  Book on the official site before the cruise; summer dates sell out a month or more ahead.

• Leaving luggage or bags in a car on embarkation or disembarkation day.

  Car break-ins are common at Fisherman's Wharf, the Embarcadero near Alcatraz Landing and Union Square. Use the Pier 39 lockers or keep bags with you.

• Driving to the terminal expecting to park there.

  There is no parking at Pier 27. Reserve a nearby garage, such as the Metropolis lots at 55 and 80 Francisco Street.

• Queuing an hour for the cable car at the Hyde & Beach turnaround.

  Walk a block or two uphill and board at a later stop.

• Dressing for California sunshine.

  Bring a windproof layer; the waterfront and the bridge are often cool and foggy, even in summer.

Safety, access and bad weather

Safety

The waterfront from the Ferry Building to Fisherman's Wharf is busy and generally safe by day. The real risk is theft: car break-ins are common at Fisherman's Wharf, the Embarcadero near Alcatraz Landing, Union Square and Lombard Street, and phones are snatched on BART near the doors. Keep bags in front of you on crowded streetcars and cable cars. Avoid wandering into the Tenderloin and the Mid-Market stretch of Market Street (roughly 5th to 10th Streets), especially after dark. Emergency number: 911.

Scams to know

• Unofficial Alcatraz tickets and 'Alcatraz' boat trips: only Alcatraz City Cruises from Pier 33 lands on the island. Other bay cruises only circle it.
• Phone snatching on BART: thieves grab phones from riders near the doors just before departure. Keep phones away from the doors.
• Pickpocketing on crowded buses, streetcars and cable cars: carry wallets in front pockets and bags in front of you.

Accessibility

Pier 27 is a modern terminal and the Embarcadero promenade is flat and step-free from the Ferry Building to Fisherman's Wharf. Muni buses and many F-line streetcars are accessible, but cable cars are not wheelchair accessible. Telegraph Hill is steep and the Filbert Street Steps are stairs only; take a taxi to Coit Tower instead. On Alcatraz the path from the dock up to the cellhouse is steep; ask the ferry operator about access help when booking.

If it rains

On a wet or foggy day, spend time at the Exploratorium (Pier 15), the Ferry Building food hall and Alcatraz, whose cellhouse tour is indoors. Skip the Golden Gate Bridge walk if visibility is poor.

Crowds

Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 are busiest from late morning on summer weekends. Do Alcatraz first, on the earliest ferry you can book, and the Wharf at lunchtime. The Ferry Building is calmer on weekdays; Saturday mornings bring the largest market crowds.

San Francisco cruise port FAQ

Sources

Checked November 2026. Spotted something out of date? Email hello@porttrip.com.

1. Port of San Francisco – Cruise terminal information
2. SFMTA – Muni fare changes effective 1 July 2025
3. SFMTA – Board of Directors approves new budget (April 2026)
4. Presidio Trust – Getting to the Golden Gate Bridge
5. SFGate – SFMTA approves cable car fare increase (April 2026)
6. SFist – Proposed SFMTA budget and fares (April 2026)
7. Cruise Critic – Port of San Francisco parking, address and amenities
8. Cruiseline.com – Homeport destination guide: San Francisco
9. Cruise Maven – What to do on a port day in San Francisco
10. ShopBack – Is an Alcatraz tour worth it, and how far ahead to book (October 2026)
11. Free Tours by Foot – Coit Tower
12. Inside Guide to San Francisco Tourism – San Francisco crime in 2026
13. Nomado – The Embarcadero
14. SF Tourism Tips – Clam chowder in San Francisco (October 2025)