Hotels near The Cable Cars

San Francisco's cable cars are the last manually operated cable cars in the world and a working national historic landmark, hauling passengers up the city's steepest hills by gripping a continuously moving underground cable. The Powell-Hyde and Powell-Mason lines are the most scenic, clanging down toward Fisherman's Wharf with the bay opening up ahead.

Riding one is a genuine experience rather than a museum piece, with passengers hanging from the running boards as the car crests Nob Hill. The free Cable Car Museum nearby lets you watch the giant winding wheels that drive the whole system from below.

Pro Tip: Queues at the Powell Street turnaround are long; walk a block or two up the line and hop on at a quieter stop instead. The Powell-Hyde line has the most dramatic hills and bay views, and a Muni day pass covers unlimited rides.