Civic Center is a practical starting point for getting around San Francisco, with BART and local transit connections near Market Street. The station also serves destinations around the city’s civic and arts district.
- Civic Center/UN Plaza BART station: 1150 Market Street.
- Nearby destinations include City Hall, the War Memorial Opera House and the Asian Art Museum.
- Cable-car single ride: $9.00; one-way, with no transfers between cable-car lines.
Civic Center as a starting point
Civic Center/UN Plaza station connects with BART, Muni and Golden Gate Transit around Market Street. The station address is 1150 Market Street, and nearby destinations include City Hall, the War Memorial Opera House, the Asian Art Museum, Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall and the Main Branch of the San Francisco Public Library.
The Bill Graham Civic Auditorium is about a 5-minute walk from European Hostel; the Asian Art Museum is about a 7-minute walk, and the War Memorial Opera House and SFJAZZ Center are about 10 and 11 minutes away on foot, respectively.
If you’re planning a day around the area, the one-day San Francisco itinerary starting in Civic Center follows the same central starting point.
How do you get from the hostel to nearby stations?
Civic Center/UN Plaza, Van Ness and Powell Street stations provide different access points around this part of San Francisco. The Civic Center station street elevator is between 7th and 8th Streets on Market Street. A second elevator connects the concourse to all trains; if you use it, Clipper must be processed at the platform faregate enclosure.
BART says Civic Center station has no parking. Bike racks are available, but bike lockers are not. If step-free access matters for your trip, keep the elevator locations in mind and check station details before setting out.
Using Market Street and BART
Market Street is the main reference point for finding Civic Center/UN Plaza BART access and connecting with local transit. The station connects with San Francisco Muni and Golden Gate Transit, while BART provides regional rail service.
At Powell Street station, exits lead to different corners and streets. Exit A1 is for the Powell Street cable cars; A2 leads to Market and Ellis Streets, A4 to Market and 4th Streets, B1 and B2 to Market and 5th Streets, B3 to Market and 4th Streets, and B4 to 4th Street and Moscone Center. The station map marks A3, for Ellis and Stockton Streets, as closed.
For a day that combines central neighborhoods and transit, identify the nearest station entrance to your destination, then choose BART or a Muni connection. Routes and service can vary, so check the official site before you go.
Cable cars and Powell Street
Powell Street station connects directly to the Powell Street cable cars at exit A1.
A cable-car single-ride fare is $9.00 for one-way travel and does not allow transfers between cable-car lines. Children aged 4 and under ride free. San Francisco youth aged 18 and under ride free with a Free Muni for Youth Clipper card. Seniors, disabled riders and Medicare cardholders have a $4.00 fare before 7 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
You can pay with MuniMobile using a credit or debit card, PayPal, Apple Pay or Google Pay; with a Clipper card or the Clipper app; or in cash with exact change.
At the Powell & Market, Bay & Taylor, and Hyde & Beach terminals, buy a fare before boarding from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. At other nonterminal stops, or outside terminal-kiosk hours, you can pay the operator in cash with exact change.
SFMTA Visitor Passports cover 1, 3 or 7 consecutive days of unlimited rides on Muni, Muni Metro, historic streetcars and cable cars.
They are not valid on BART, other transit systems, tour buses, or transportation to or from SFO. For Powell Street and the cable-car route, Union Square San Francisco and the Powell Street cable cars offer a complementary neighborhood focus.
Choosing a route for your plans
Choose BART for regional rail connections, a Muni service for local connections, or a cable car when the Powell Street route suits your plans.
Civic Center/UN Plaza station is a useful starting point for destinations such as City Hall, the Asian Art Museum and the War Memorial Opera House; Powell Street station is the direct access point for the cable cars.
Civic Center station is about a 6-minute walk from a one-star hostel in San Francisco.
FAQs
Where is Civic Center/UN Plaza BART station?
The station is at 1150 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102.
Can you use a cable-car ticket to change lines?
No. The $9.00 single-ride fare covers one-way travel and cannot be used to transfer between cable-car lines.
Are Visitor Passports valid on BART?
No. Visitor Passports cover Muni, Muni Metro, historic streetcars and cable cars, but not BART or other transit systems.
Where is the Civic Center station street elevator?
It is between 7th and 8th Streets on Market Street. A second elevator connects the concourse to all trains, and Clipper must be processed at the platform faregate enclosure when using it.