Union Square is a public park in downtown San Francisco, at Post and Stockton streets. It brings together public space, shopping, dining and cultural institutions, with Powell Street BART station and the Powell Street cable cars close by.
- Location: Post and Stockton streets, San Francisco, California 94108.
- Park hours: 5 a.m. to midnight.
- BART: Powell Street Station serves Union Square and the Powell Street cable car.
- Cable cars: Two lines start at Powell and Market streets and continue toward the Fisherman’s Wharf area.
Where is Union Square in downtown San Francisco?
Union Square is a public park at Post and Stockton streets in downtown San Francisco. The city describes the area as a destination for retail shopping, hotels, cultural institutions, public space and dining.
From a San Francisco hostel, Powell Street station is about a 16-minute walk.
How do you get from Civic Center to Union Square?
BART connects Civic Center/UN Plaza Station and Powell Street Station, which serves Union Square. Civic Center/UN Plaza Station is at 1150 Market Street; Powell Street is the station to use for the square and cable cars. The station’s transit connections are part of getting around Civic Center San Francisco.
Civic Center/UN Plaza is served by the Dublin/Pleasanton–Daly City, Antioch–SFIA/Millbrae, Berryessa/North San Jose–Daly City, and Richmond–Millbrae/SFIA lines. If you are starting at the hostel, Civic Center station is about a 6-minute walk away. The station’s street-to-train route requires two elevators: one to the concourse and another to the platforms.
Civic Center station also serves City Hall, the Orpheum Theatre, Main Library, Asian Art Museum and Opera House. Chinatown is another downtown destination you can visit from Civic Center, as described in this guide to visiting Chinatown from Civic Center.
How do the Powell Street cable cars connect to Union Square?
The Powell Street cable cars start at Powell and Market streets, near Union Square, and two lines continue to the Fisherman’s Wharf area. The Powell/Mason and Powell/Hyde lines both stop at the Powell Street turnaround.
The Powell and Market, Bay and Taylor, and Hyde and Beach stops require you to buy your fare in advance from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
SFMTA lists MuniMobile, Clipper and exact-change cash as payment options, and recommends MuniMobile or Clipper to avoid lines. Cable cars are not equipped for accessible boarding, and neither full-size nor folding bicycles are permitted aboard.
The Powell/Mason line operates daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Hours and fare rules can change, so check the official site before you go; SFMTA is the cable car operator.
What can you see around Union Square?
The square itself is public space in a downtown district known for retail shopping, hotels, cultural institutions and dining. Its location also puts you by the Powell Street cable car connection, while Civic Center’s museums and performance venues are served by the other BART station.
The city’s annual Union Square calendar includes the Safeway Holiday Ice Rink, SFSPCA Holiday Windows at Macy’s, Macy’s Great Tree and Bill Graham Menorah.
Its Union Square in Bloom program features oversized floral displays in May; American Tulip Day draws 35,000 visitors each year. The Union Square in Bloom Summer Music Series has had weekly attendance of as many as 1,000 people.
Practical visit planning
Union Square park hours are 5 a.m. to midnight. The Powell Street station entrance is a useful landmark when you are meeting someone or heading onward by BART or cable car.
For a day that combines downtown stops, Civic Center offers access to City Hall, the Main Library and several cultural venues. A one-day San Francisco itinerary starting in Civic Center can help you connect that area with other city stops.
FAQs
What is Union Square known for?
Union Square is a downtown public park surrounded by retail shopping, hotels, cultural institutions and dining.
Which BART station serves Union Square?
Powell Street Station serves Union Square and the Powell Street cable car.
Where do the Powell cable cars go?
The Powell/Mason and Powell/Hyde lines begin at Powell and Market streets and continue toward the Fisherman’s Wharf area.